Tansei Kibito
by Amazon and Masquerade

Chapter 8

Tansei flew rapidly through the clouds, enjoying the feel of the cool mist caressing her skin. She knew Aria was behind her, so she didn't worry about it. She spread her arms to the sides, like a bird and twirled through a particularly large cloud that reminded her of a creme puff. Aria giggled.

"Having fun, Tan-chan?"

Tansei sped up her twirl making the cloud look like a mini tornado in the sky. Her giggles radiated from the woman made cyclone and she soon came to a dizzy stop. Aria shook her head.

"And she says I'm way too silly....."
"I'm feeling particularly silly tonight, Aria. Let's have a contest! The last one home has to do what the winner says for a day! Ready?! GO!!" Tansei breathed and she tore off through the sky.
"Hey!" Aria called, then flew off after her as fast as she could. "Tanseiiiiiii! Come baaaack!"

Aria suddenly sensed something strange below her and and stopped flying.

"Huh? What the.......oh no! Cell!"

The android flew up to her with a stern face.

"What are you doing up here?" he asked. Aria started getting nervous, twiddling her thumbs even.
"Well....Tansei and I are heading home, and.......she decided to have a race back home......anyway, I have to catch up to her, bye!"
"A race, huh?" Cell smirked.

Then, he seemed to vanish in thin air. Aria looked around for him, but sensed him flying away at a very fast speed.

"Oh jeez...." She just kept flying on. "What a day this was...."

Tansei sped toward her house, her ki flaring around her wildly. Her hair rippled behind her and she was laughing in pure joy. The rush of the cold wind against her skin and through her hair just enchanted her. She felt Aria slow down to a stop as was perplexed, she slowed a bit and looked over her shoulder. Cell then spotted Tansei, and stopped right in front of her.

"Well, hello again, Tansei. What are you and your friend doing all the way out here?"

Tansei almost stopped completely, a mere inch away from him.

"We're having a race of sorts. To see who's faster. If I win, Aria will be my slave for a day. And I'm not looking forward to doing what she wants me to, so I have to get to the house first."

Cell smirked at her, looking very mischievous.

"Mind if I join in?"

Tansei smirked.

"Two slaves for the price of one...can't resist!" Tansei yelled as she sped off at top speed.
"That's true." he laughed, flying after her at a much faster speed.

Tansei sensed him closing in and pushed herself even faster to a breakneck speed. Cell cruised at a faster speed, finally catching up so that he was right next to her.

"Not bad, Tansei. You're pretty fast."

Tansei looked at him from the corner of her eye and powered up with an almost evil smirk on her face.

"You haven't seen anything yet," she replied as her speed increased and she opened a gap between them of about a couple of yards.

Cell powered up and flew faster until he had caught up to her again.

"Is that so? Well, I'm waiting."

Tansei growled and her aura flared a bright silver as she pushed herself to her limit, making a gap of almost a mile between them in a the span of a few seconds.

Almost there, she thought, Just a few more miles...

Cell then went at top speed to catch up, finally finding her. He flew up behind her and grabbed her ankles playfully.

"Impressive, but not good enough!" He let go then, flew next to her again, neck and neck. "And this is your best?"

She started to feel the results of so much energy output, but continued to press forward. She was determined to win. She tapped into all of her energy and pressed it behind her to propel herself forward at such a speed that she broke the sound barrier. A large boom resounded to where Aria was presently located.

"No...this is...my best," she gasped out to herself.
"Where did they go?" Aria growled to herself. Then, the boom reached her along with a large gust of wind. "Hey, whoa! What the...... I hope they're not fighting up ahead! Now I'll have to be Tansei's slave for a day!"

Tansei saw her house just up ahead and smiled anticipating victory. Cell fanned out his wings and continued to fly after her.

"The house....hmmm...." He quickly zoomed for the ground, flying five feet above it.

Tansei flipped so she would land feet first at the angle she was approaching the house. Cell stopped himself in the air, and the second his feet touched the ground he ran for the front porch. Tansei's feet touched down a split second later and she tore off to the porch, her chest burning from the exertion and sweat droplets on her forehead.
Cell smirked at her from the stairs.

"What a shame. If you got here a split second earlier, you would have won."

Tansei panted and growled.

"Damn...I never realized I was so slow," she replied.

She suddenly felt a bit dizzy and took a hold of the railing on the porch to steady herself, hoping he wouldn't notice her condition.

"Well, you won...fair and square," she said between breaths.

Cell smiled.

"And what was the prize? Two slaves for a day?"
"Technically no. Unless Aria agreed to you joining in the race, I'm your only slave."

He thought a minute.

"Well, I didn't hear if she agreed or not....but that's all right. It looks like you are under my command now."
"Starting tomorrow, ne? I'm exhausted," she said, leaning her forehead on his shoulder.

Fate seemed to pick that moment for Aria to finally arrive, her hair completely in wreck.

"You guys! I can't believe you! Tansei, that was so random, that wasn't funny! Now I have to be your slave! That was unfair!" She glared at Cell. "As for you.......well....." she quickly let that drop. "So, what's my first task, master?" she grumbled.
"Water! I need some water!" Tansei said dramatically, falling into a lounge chair, "And a sandwich would be great!"
"No prob." Aria agreed. "Be right back!" She headed into the house as Cell glared at Tansei.
"So, you get to order your slave around, and I have to wait until tomorrow?"
"Hey, she didn't express a problem with it...," Tansei said in her defense.

She sweat dropped, knowing he was right though.

"But all right. What is my first order, master?" she asked with a small smile.

Cell crossed his arms again.

"Well, let's see.....what should I have you do......" He shook his head. "Well, before we do that, I need to talk to you. That's why I came to see you again."

Tansei nodded. Cell remained standing.

"Did you know that you have become the only thought in my head since last night?"

Tansei blushed slightly and looked up at him, waiting for him to continue.

"It has been getting harder for me to concentrate. I can't think straight, and I've become more impatient. I'm becoming worried that something will happen to you.......because I just had a rather frightening thought......"

Tansei's face took on a look of concern.

"What thought?" she asked.

He looked her right in the eye, dead serious.

"If any of the other men found out about you and me being in love, they would attack you. I don't know if I could protect you if that happened."
"Hey. I'm not just a weak female you know," she said half jokingly, "I'm stronger than most people on this planet, Cell. I can take care of myself."

She placed her hand over his soothingly.

"I know." he moaned. "The worrying has been eating at me. I can't shake it off......"

Aria then came out with the glass of water.

"Hey, master! What kind of sandwich do you want?" She noticed Tansei with her hand on Cell's and her face felt flat. "This again?"

Tansei shook her head.

"Cold cuts, cucumber, black olives, and pickles on a toasted white bun. Oh and provolone cheese! Extra cheese, please!"

Tansei took the water and shooed Aria back inside. Aria nodded.

"All right. Be back." She headed right inside without saying another word.

Cell kept his eyes on Tansei.

"Don't go to the tournament, Tansei."

Tansei sat back down and looked back at Cell, thoughtfully. She then leaned toward him and placed her forehead against his.

"Trust me to stay alive, like I trust you with my heart," she whispered.

He closed his eyes and frowned.

"I wish it was that simple..... I've never felt like this about anyone before....this love..... and if it was taken away from me...... how would I live?"

Tansei took a hold of his chin and gently kissed his lips.

"I feel the same. I don't know if I could stand to go on without you. But what choice do we have? You will hold the tournament to achieve your goal. And I will fight in it to protect the earth. It would have been easier if these feelings hadn't developed. But I wouldn't take back these past few days. They are precious to me, and you mean everything to me."
"And you are everything to me." Cell agreed, feeling his breath starting to become slightly heavier. "And I wouldn't take the last few days back either. I just wish we weren't on opposite sides. You have never seen my rage, Tansei. If you managed to release it somehow........I would have no control over myself.....I would be a different person. I want to kill Son Goku, not you." He felt a tear squeeze out of one eye, and he quickly wiped it away.
"How easily you forget. I have tasted your rage...the very first day we met," she replied.

He shook his head.

"I held it back. You were too interesting to kill at the time. I would have killed you otherwise...... I probably would have killed your friend if she challenged me."

Tansei pulled back and her visage changed notably, showing her internal decision.

"I love you, Cell, but I must warn you.... On the day of the tournament, I will fight you with everything I have. I won't hold back and I won't hesitate to do what's necessary. I am the daughter of a kaio and as such it is my responsibility to guard this planet. Come tournament day, we are enemies."

Moisture gathered in her eyes making them sparkle, but she refused to let them fall. She refused to take back her words or her decision. She had to keep strong, for his sake. He folded his hands together and turned his gaze down to them.

"Understood...."

Tansei nodded.

"Despite what you may think. I know what you're capable of. But I also know what I'm capable of, something you have yet to taste. So I'm asking you, no telling you, not to underestimate me because of what you've seen so far. Know that I will live through this. I promise you that," she continued, standing up as Aria came back out with her sandwich.
"Just what you ordered!" she announced, handing the plate to Tansei. Then, she noticed Tansei and Cell looked very serious. "Uh.....did I interrupt something?"
"No. We had just finished," Tansei replied, looking at him with a smile and glistening eyes, "Goodnight, Cell."

Cell smiled sadly, then he leaned over and put his lips to hers, perhaps for the last time. Tansei responded to the bitter sweet kiss, memorizing the feel of his lips on hers. At last, her tears fell silently down her cheeks and splashed against his chest. She pulled away and walked into the house without another word. He sighed, and turned away.

"Good night, Tansei...." He then flew off.

Aria bit her lip.

"That's not good. Na-uh....." she went back inside. "Tansei, this is getting serious now, isn't it?"

Tansei was trying to hold her tears in check, but in vain. She had set down her sandwich and was currently staring out the window into the night sky. Aria took a seat at the table.

"Yep. It's getting serious."

Tansei sighed and picked at her sandwich.

"Thank you for the sandwich, Aria," she said quietly, starting to eat it in little nibbles.
"You're welcome." Aria sighed. "Man, what's going to happen now? After something like that, you're still going to the tournament?"
"Yeah. But, Aria. I don't want you to go with me. I want you to stay here and take care of mom for me."
"Huh?" she blinked. "Well, okay.......if you think it'll help......you're still going with our plan, right? Just knock Cell out of the arena so no one gets hurt, right?"
"I somehow don't think that will work, Aria," she replied solemnly, "I plan to fight him...to the death, if necessary. Even if I must break a promise."
"Tan-chan......" Aria gasped. She then pounded the table. "Don't you kill anybody or get killed! Got it?! What if you break his heart or he breaks yours or something?!"
"It's too late for that, Aria," Tansei gasped, trying to hold back a sob, "I've broken my own heart. The only man I ever cared this much about and I must fight against him instead of by his side! This isn't how it was supposed to be, damn it!"

She stood up and threw the plate across the room, it shattered against the wall. Aria jumped in surprise by the action. She looked at her friend in concern.

"Tan-chan......."

Tansei crumbled to the floor, hiding her sobs behind her hand.

"I love him, Aria.... I love him so much it's hurting me."

Aria rushed to her friend's side.

"Tan-chan........you don't have to go to the tournament either. It's not too late....... You don't have to if you don't want to......" She wasn't sure what else to do except keep talking.
"But I would be turning my back on the people of earth. I couldn't live with myself," she shook her head, "I..."

A sudden serene smiled came over her visage.

"Aria, take care of mom for me if anything should happen. I...I think I know what to do now."

Aria became surprised.

"Ah.....Tansei, don't talk like that. It's almost like you're........Tansei, I'll take care of your mom if you don't do anything stupid at the tournament, all right?!"
"Aria, promise me you'll take care of her no matter what happens," Tansei replied, holding onto Aria's shoulders, "I...I'm going to the Tenkai to train with them. You stay here and...don't do anything to anger Cell if he shows up. Stay alive, girl."

Aria nodded.

"Okay. Just.........now you're starting to scare me, Tansei. You're talking like we're never going to see each other again. That better not be it...."
"I won't lie to you, Aria. We probably won't. I'm willing to sacrifice my own life to take his with me if need be. And that's...most likely what I'll do," she replied.

Aria lowered her head.

"Tan-chan........" She tried to brighten up. "Well, here's hoping for the best. Take care of yourself, okay?"
"Promise, Ari-chan. I'm going to bed now. Tomorrow morning I head out to the Tenkai."


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.