Notes: I'm so glad that everyone is enjoying my story. One of my great fears was that I was boring people to death. As for how Cell and Faye ended up connected, that will be revealed soon. I'm cruel I know. Anyway, enjoy this chapter and because I'm feeling so grand, I didn't end it with a cliffhanger. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Dragon Ball Z and its characters are the property of Akira Toriyama.
Chapter 6: Shiren
If she had been strong enough, Faye would have yanked her hand away from Cell. The fact that he had cut her palm had infuriated (and hurt) her enough, but the sight of both of their hands bleeding and healing in time, was too much.
"Let go." She hissed frenetically, ready to struggle tooth and nail if she wasn't. However, Faye felt relief set in when Cell released her hand instantly and smartly moved away from her.
Feeling more than a little overwhelmed, Faye crouched down on the ground and put a hand on her temple. Tell me this isn't happening, she thought tensely. I came here to kill Cell, but this…it defies all logic. I bleed, he bleeds, I heal, he heals…it's insane! Completely and utterly mad.
Faye sighed loudly. She didn't even want to try and comprehend how it had happened. She wanted to leave, be absolutely anywhere other than near a homicidal android that had tried and failed to kill her twice. She wanted-
Wait…the thought that abruptly came to Faye made her smile…
~*~
Cell watched her with swiftly dwindling patience. His 'experiment' had proved what he had theorized briefly and he was far from pleased. To share any connection to a human, especially a headstrong young woman who was doing what he felt was an impression of a pouting child, was not only demeaning, but humiliating as well.
He might have said something sarcastic to rouse her from her futile fit, had he not noticed a cool smile cross her face. Cell was curious, but more than a little wary. No matter their strength, when dealing with someone who was unpredictable, a measure of caution was always needed.
Cell watched as she stood quickly and, giving him little more regard than one would give a stone, walked past him to end of the arena. Her audacity is astonishing. And given the limits of my patience, most annoying, Cell thought irately as he moved to intercept her.
~*~
Faye could swear she felt Cell's eyes boring holes in her back as she walked away from him. She knew she had been rude by turning her back on him, but she cared as much as she cared about most things these days. Not a great deal.
Still, she hadn't expected him to suddenly materialize in front of her before she had taken ten steps. Too surprised to stop, she crashed directly into him. Faye fell backward and glared at Cell coldly. She had been optimistic about him letting her go unmolested, but if he wanted to be stubborn, she still had her recently thought of ace to play.
"Judging by your behavior, it seems that I was unclear when I said you weren't leaving." Cell's spoke curtly.
Faye shook her head. "No, you were perfectly clear. I just chose not to listen." She smirked when Cell frowned at her. "I hate you and you obviously aren't too fond of me. For some weird, strange, take your pick of words here; reason we have some kind of physical connection. So instead of wasting both our time, why don't you let me go on my merry way and you can stay here and blow things up to your heart's content. It's one of those win-win situations."
As if he found her genially amusing, Cell laughed. "You have threatened, insulted and now you wish to bargain with me?"
"I don't see the humor in this."
Cell ceased his laughing and became serious. "Then allow me to present the logic. For an unknown reason and through unidentified means, you and I have been rendered able to feel any wound that which is inflicted upon us. And through my abilities of regeneration, you are able to heal from those wounds as I would. Knowing this information, would it be wise for me to release you and put my life in the hands of one who has suicidal tendencies?"
Faye scowled angrily. "I don't have suicidal tendencies."
If Cell had had eyebrows, Faye was sure he would have raised one. "How quickly you forget, my dear. You came to me, didn't you?"
Clenching her hands at her sides, Faye growled. "Damn you!" She knew he was right and it frustrated her beyond imagining. It was like fighting a loosing battle, for no matter what she thought of; Cell was always one step ahead of her.
~*~
And so the child returns, Cell mused as he listened to her curse him vehemently. Having neither the interest nor the time to observe humans, he found the many aspects of the girl's personality to be conflicting. Rage driven lunatic one minute and a petulant child the next. The fact that she considered herself a threat to me is laughable at best.
When she seemed to run out of names to call him, Cell spoke. "If you've finally finished your ridiculous diatribe, there is something I desire of you."
Her eyes narrowing, Cell could see her tense. "Really." She replied snidely.
Cell resisted the urge to roll his eyes at her infantile behavior. "Merely your name. The way that you wish to be addressed, as it were."
"I know what it means." She spat back. "And if it will keep you from calling me "dear," I'll tell you. It's Faye."
"Faye…" Cell repeated coolly. "A strange name. Nevertheless, it does suit you."
"I'll bet." Faye muttered. "So what do we do now?" She inquired tiredly, her irritation slowly draining.
Cell gazed at her, his expression unreadable. "Now, my dear Faye, we wait." Not waiting to hear her furious response, Cell closed his eyes, bowed his head and focused upon meditating. There was something he was missing; some small insight that he hoped would shed some light upon his current situation. And no matter what it took, he would find it.
