So They Say; Dirait-on
Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z or any of the Dragon Ball Z characters. They are owned by those who own them. I do, however, own the original characters (if any) and the fic all of this is in. That is all.
Author's Note: I normally have chapters for fics up in a two to four week period, depending on my idea's for a fic, my work schedule, and the things I have to do for my college classes. Due to the fact that I have THREE four to ten page papers due in the next few weeks (two of them are for English), I really won't be writing my fics as much. If I didn't have a Sign Language paper to do, I would be fine, but I do (even though the teacher has never really given the class much instruction on the paper.....no, wait. Scratch that sentence. He has given NO [as in, none except for the first day of class] instruction on it AT ALL, so I am kind of doing THAT paper in the air right now).
Also, my internet connection will be gone after the end of May, and I highly doubt I can write a 7+ chaptered fic in a less then a month with all the crap that is going on now. Plus, I am moving to another state after my finals (on or the day after my last one) are finished, so don't expect more then this chapter (or the next, if I can work Chapter Five in the fray) from me. I don't know when I would have any internet connection in the future (if I ever get it back), so please bear with me while I go through this.
Thank you and enjoy this chapter for what it is worth.
Chapter Four
The building was bigger inside then it was outside, the twisting hallways entering into rooms that were on the other side of the building itself. Many hallways lead to nowhere in particular, quite possibly leading to somewhere leas that would move into hidden chambers. Or it was a wonderful deterrent for those that broke into the complex to steal the Briefs' idea's and inventions. The other rooms where filled with gadgets and other such technology, many of which were either unfinished or forgotten about by the genius's that lived inside. There were several windows that overlooked the compound while the glass also allowed sunlight to put into the building.
Tien stood in the middle of one of the bigger rooms, his eyes moving along several of the gadgets that had been piled upon silver plated tables. Some were a little dusty from age, time, and misuse, settling into the circuits so that the particles did not allow them to work again. The others were covered in a cloth-like material so that the dust many not enter the gadgets that lay hidden underneath. He couldn't imagine what half of them were for and didn't bother to ask since he figured that he was asking for too much already.
He hadn't been there for then five minutes when he told Bulma of what had happened and how he had found the girl in the rocks. He expected her to blow up at the fact that any kind of woman that lived with Master Roshi was more likely to put into a situation that she didn't like. However, not even two seconds after he had closed his mouth after finishing his tale of playing 'Hero' did she start to go off on why he should have taken her straight to the hospital. He cowered back a little bit, slightly less afraid of her then he was of Goku's wife, Chi-Chi. And who wouldn't be? Both woman were capable of making any strong fighter, with the exception of Vegeta perhaps, fall down to their knees.
Tien had attempted to explain himself moments after Bulma had allowed him to speak, but she cut him off once again, going directly onto the subject of Master Roshi. From what she had said, or least made a point to say, by bringing any female to Roshi's island was the biggest mistake anyone could have made and thus making it harder for that woman to get any rest whatsoever. He managed to cut in, telling the woman in front of him that Rose could take care of herself without anyone there. Besides, Chaotzu was there and he ward off at least Oolong for a while. And, yet, it wasn't the pig she was worried about. It was Roshi that she, or anyone else for that matter, had to really watch out for.
Bulma had gone on for another moment or two before she calmed herself down and asked why he was there other then to tell someone that he had found someone along the rocks. Tien had explained it to her that the woman had no clothing to wear since her own had been too tattered to allow to be worn on anyone. Before Bulma could say anything about that, he jumped on the words that it was actually Oolong's idea for him to come to her for help more so then anyone else. She didn't say anything at first, blinking her eyes at his words as if she was thinking about all the information that she was taking in. It was a couple of moments before she sighed, muttering something under her breath as she left the room alone without any words spoken directly to him.
That had been an hour ago and now Tien was growing even more restless then he had been before. He didn't like leaving Rose alone with Oolong and Roshi even with his friend there with her. Oolong wasn't that bad, but he was no where near being Master Roshi. Of course, if anyone asked the females that had come into contact with the duo, they would have a different opinion in the matter. A small part of him was glad that Chaotzu was with her instead of her being totally alone. However, he still felt that the old man would try to do something even far worse then what he would do to anyone else though Chaotzu would even attempt to constantly push him away. I don't know why I am so worried about her, He thought to himself, turning his eyes away from the gadgets to the window that was on the left of him. If she could survive being under those rocks for all that time, no matter how long it had been, then she can survive being Roshi for a while.
"Tien?" Bulma's voice asked quietly from behind him. Tien turned around quickly, not expecting her to be there after all this time of being quiet. The blue-haired was standing there, watching him with an amused look on her face.
"Y-yes?" He stammered out, unsure as to how long she had been standing there or what she had been doing.
"Don't look so scared or surprised," She assured him, a smile lighting up her face some. "Maybe you could bring this woman.....what is her name again?"
"Rose, I believe."
"Okay, then. Why don't you bring her here? I am sure she would be much more comfortable here then on Roshi's island. Besides," She stopped for a moment as if she had to thing about her words before she started to speak again, "she will be away from Roshi entirely. I am sure she has been tormented enough by him and that damned pig."
Tien didn't say anything, shifting his eyes away from her nervously. This was his chance to get rid of the girl, but would she be safe there with them? It wasn't really the Briefs that he was that concerned about as they were nice as they could be and really wouldn't do any harm to anyone. It was Vegeta's attitude towards anyone that was something a few could really ignore. Anything could set him off, no matter how small, quite possibly directing his anger towards anyone that was within his range. What would the Saiyan think of Rose? What wouldn't he do to her that he would not hesitate to do to anyone else?
"Well?" Bulma demanded, placing her hands upon her hips. Tien shrugged sheepishly with a small smile.
"I could ask her if she wants to be here instead of the island," He said quickly. "I know she wouldn't want to be in the same room with Roshi much less a house."
"I am sure of that," She mumbled, taking one hand from her hips, twisting her body around enough to look behind her. She leaned downwards, picking up a small bag before straightening her back and turning towards the other as she held the bag out to him. "Here. There are some of my older clothing that I haven't worn for a while in these bags." She motioned with her other hand to two other bags behind her. "Don't even know why I had bought them in the first place. Must have been spur of the moment." She took another pause at this moment, looking thoughtful. "Think she could also use some make-up? After all, a woman...."
"Uh, no thanks Bulma. I am sure that she will be happy with the clothing that you have, ah....." Tien muttered, stopping as he took the bag from her with a quick nod. "Um, thanks. I owe you."
Before she could say anything, he rushed past her with wide eyes before grabbing the rest of the bags that were behind her. I don't need Roshi going after her any more then he already is, He thought to himself, ignoring Bulma's cries of anger. Whatever she was saying to him he could hear at a later date as he darted down the hallway, ready to get rid of something he never should have gotten in the first place.
****
Things aren't always what they seemed to be even at a second glance and, yet, somehow she lived up to those assumptions. Many believed she was not of this world and there right on some level even if she denied it countless times. They believed that she was out to destroy something and that was correct once again. Perhaps there was something that she wanted to destroy, but didn't say what. However, they were wrong on one assumption: that she had been created by Dr. Gero, the one that had created the Androids and Cell that came about several years prior. The person who had been killed by his own damned creations. The being that never lived to see the destruction of the ultimate power at the hands of a child.
Perhaps they were also right about that. Perhaps there was some truth behind those words that she did not want to hear. No one could be sure what she was until they got a real good look at her body. A body that she would never let anyone see alive. Not even the old man could catch a glimpse of what lay underneath the blanket that she held close to her body. Why should they? This was her privacy and no one else's. She couldn't have someone always trying to sneak a peek at things only a select few could see.
She had ignored the smaller being's questions of food and drink, instead cuddling up even deeper inside the blanket. There were hunger pains that went up and down her body, but she didn't trust them yet. At least, with things that she could consume. Many people believe that she was an android for not wanting to eat and such, but how could they think that if they did not know her? She would eat when she felt like it and not having someone trying to force something down her throat. Besides, her stomach felt more then capable of tossing anything that entered it back out and she figured no one would want to clean that up.
Her eyes closed, mumblings of a life before this escaping her lips. She did not care if anyone came near her as she started to fall into a deep sleep that she did not need.
****
Chaotzu stood upon the circular beach that went around Roshi's house, his eyes watching the blue sky intently. White clouds lazily rolled along, moving over the hazy sun without a care in the world. A light breeze hovered over him, caressing his pale skin as the waves hissed at his ankles. The sounds of the ocean swirled around him, engulfing him in a tangled web of pure watery wilderness. And, yet, the small being totally ignored his surroundings, concentrating fully upon the sky above him. There was more to this place then just the beauty of it all and few people saw that.
He had been standing there for at least a half hour, however that time frame could very well be more or less depending on who he asked. But, he found himself just staring off into a world that he knew he was a part of but just didn't feel like he was. Maybe because of all the things that had been going on in the last few years that made him wonder about whether or not this life was real or it was just some dream that he was living. How could anyone not doubt that people could fly without airplanes or use the energy from within their body?
But that was all far from his mind as he scrunched his eyes in the glaring sun.Tien had been gone for several hours already without a single streak in the sky that indicated that it was him, but it wasn't like Chaotzu was worried about him. He was far from it to be exact. There was no real reason for him to be worried about his friend even if he had been gone for all this time. The thoughts of what Vegeta might do to him had passed in a moment's worth, never really returning in the same form. Tien can handle himself. He has done it before, He thought to himself, closing his eyes to rid himself of the light from above.
"Waiting for Tien to come back, I see," Roshi mused from next to him, causing Chaotzu to snap his eyes open quickly and jump slightly away from where the old was standing. The small being stared at him, the small shock of having someone unknowningly speak jolting through his body before it faded away just as quickly as it had come.
"Not really," Chaotzu muttered back several minutes later as he shook his head, his eyes falling upon the other person that stood at the edge of the foaming water. Roshi didn't say anything as he moved his head up towards the sky, his eye smoving along the few clouds, eventunally lowering down towards the horizon of water and air. "What's wrong? Why aren't you....."
"There's something wrong with that woman," He said in a low voice, causing Chaotzu to strain his ears in order to hear him over the surf of the ocean. "But it isn't in a sense that she is hurt beyond that of what we really know. I don't like it."
"Why? She seems okay enough."
"Yes, but you know just as well as the rest of us that she couldn't have survived that without something else helping her to. Something more then what has already been said."
"Are you saying that Tien is lying?" Chaotzu snapped, narrowing his eyes towards him. Roshi shook his head on those words.
"No, far from it," The Turtle Hermit answered easily. "Rose has the scrapes and cuts on her body to prove that she was underneath something heavy, but that doesn't mean anything. I don't know how heavy these 'rocks' were, but she should have been more hurt then she already is."
"What are you saying? Is she...."
"I don't know what she is, but she doesn't seem human and I know no one here has the courage in them to say anything of it."
"Tien might. He could do it."
"Do you really think Tien is the kind of person to ask demanding questions? He knows what he knows and there is little that can change his ways."
"I know," Chaotzu admitted, taking in a deep breath as his eyes turned back towards the sky. Everything that they knew was being challenged yet again, but it was different in a sense then what had happened in the past and, yet, it was still all in the same. They knew nothing of the situation but still went into it without much thought or knowledge of what was really going on. They had no place in getting involved with something that they originally had no intention of getting themselves into. However, this time around, they had experiance on their side and could easily navigate their way through it. They were ready for whatever was coming their way, but was it all worth it?
"Chaotzu, look!!!" Roshi exclaimed, Chaotzu breaking away from yet another train of thought as he moved his eyes towards the Hermit.
"What?" He mused lazily, staring at him for several moments before moving his own eyes towards where the other was staring at as well. In the distance, a small twinge of light sparkled as a feeling of familiar energy washed over him. Almost immediently, a smile came upon Chaotzu's lips as he chuckled. Maybe now he could stop worrying about everything. Maybe now everything would be alright.
Or, would they?
To Be Continued
Author's Note II: Please tell me if I am speeding through or going through the time frame in this fic, meaning that I am making things happen too slowly or too fast for things to happen. See, when I originally started this fic, I had no idea as to what I was going to do next, so I left it hanging. Now, I have some sense as to what is going to happen, but I have to find other things to get the characters from point A to point B then finally to point C. Understand? ^_^ I am confusing, I know.
Alright, have fun waiting for the next chapter because it might be a while. Don't know if I will have time in the next month or so to write any more chapters before I have no 'Net connection whatsoever. Ja'ne!
