Notes: Hmm…I seem to be loosing my audience. I really am sorry if I'm boring anyone. But I can assure you, this story won't be all talk for very long. Anyway, this chapter brings some of the weirdness to a head and includes some of the Z-Senshi. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Dragon Ball Z and its characters are the property of Akira Toriyama.
Chapter 5: Ihyou
Mirai no Trunks was perplexed. He knew it was hardly appropriate for a warrior to be feeling as such, especially with the Cell Games only days away. The lilac haired youth sighed lightly. Things had gotten nearly out of hand since his most recent arrival and he couldn't help but wonder just how much of it was his fault.
Trunks had come to the present time the first time in order to provide Son Goku with the medication necessary to prevent his death, as well as inform he and the other Z-Senshi of the jinzouningen. It had been a simple enough plan, and even gave Trunks, not only the chance to reduce Freezer and his father King Cold to dust, but also the opportunity to see his father Vegeta. It was something he had been anxious and apprehensive of at the same time.
And with good reason, Trunks thought grimly. Even when he found out who he truly was, Vegeta had been less than…pleased with him. His mocking comments after Trunks hadn't been able to defeat Cell had been the latest incident to reinforce that observation.
And at times, the feeling had been mutual. If Vegeta hadn't let Cell absorb the last jinzouningen, he would never have attained his final, Perfect form. And the fact that he had attacked him when he tried to interfere…Trunks frowned.
We could have killed Cell when we had the chance, ending his rampage before any more innocent people could be killed. Instead, Father let Cell manipulate him, use his pride and lust for a formidable opponent against him and he never even realized it.
Trunks spared a quick glance at Vegeta and found him glaring impatiently at the entranceway to the Room of Spirit and Time where Goku and Gohan had been training for a day. The Namek-sei-jin Piccolo and the triclops Tenshinhan stood nearby, both looking nearly as tense Vegeta.
But the familiar creaking of the door as it opened abruptly, drew the attention of all…
~*~
For the umpteenth time that day, Faye was confused. One minute Cell had been using her neck as a squeeze toy and the next, he was chocking and gasping exactly as she was. It, like so much that had been happening, made no sense.
Giving one last hacking cough, Faye rubbed her tear-filled eyes and blinked repeatedly. What's next? She pondered idly. Big, green aliens falling out of the sky? The appearance of some far-off prince? After being nearly being killed by Cell twice, I'm about ready for anything.
Faye heard Cell clear his throat loudly and glanced at him warily. Unlike her, he stood as he had before, once again calm and composed with his arms crossed in front of him. And speak of the devil…
"What just happened?" She inquired, breaking her usual convention of not speaking directly to him. Whether or not her doing so was of any surprise to him however, she couldn't tell. His vacant, emotionless expression gave nothing away.
"I was hoping you would be able to provide that answer." Cell replied icily. "For these occurrences did begin with your untimely arrival."
Faye snorted derisively. "Oh sure, I really have incredible, unbelievable magical powers. But I chose to shoot you because I needed the target practice."
"Of course." Cell spoke coldly, his magenta eyes narrowing. "I should have known better than to assume you were anything other than the tiresome human you appear to be."
Rolling her eyes at the insult Faye then sighed. "So where does that leave us? What does all of this mean?"
"I do know of one way to determine that solution." Cell replied guardedly, stepping closer. He uncrossed his arms and held out one of his hands. "Give me your hand."
Faye hesitated. She couldn't help thinking, as irrational as it might have sounded, that doing so would result in her loosing the limb. That, combined with the fact she would rather cut off a hand rather than let Cell touch her again only added to Faye's indecision.
Cell made no sign of moving closer and Faye could feel impatience setting in. I can't stand this useless standoff. If he does decide to try something, it's not like I'll be able to stop him. With that thought and her arm shaking slightly, she offered her hand.
Taking her hand swiftly, Cell turned it over in his deathly white palm. Subsequently, with the inhuman speed that made him so deadly, he motioned with his other hand.
Faye yelped as she felt a sharp fingernail slice her palm, though she didn't see it. "Son of a-" She trailed off on her expletive when she noticed Cell staring down at her bleeding hand intently. A minute later, she received another unwelcome surprise. Cell's other hand was beside hers, with an identical, though purple, trail of blood oozing down his palm. Then with a curious quickness, both wounds mended, leaving no trace of the inflicted injuries...
