Chapter 6: Masaka (Impossible)
Left behind she had wandered around for days. Deserted villages she'd visited before were the only thing that reminded her of reality. The harsh reality that she was an evil that people feared. She remembered a time when people tried to resist. People had tried to attack her, to prevent her from killing and destroying. But without any effort, she got rid of them. Or, they, more like it. It had always been her and Seventeen. And now he was gone.
She looked to her left and noticed a group of humans, in an alley. She could hear them talking, even though they were far away. She could see their stares, and also the fear in their eyes. She stroke her hair and sighed. They weren't going to attack her. They gave up trying, she knew.
"Hey you."
Eighteen looked up and stared in the eyes of one of the humans. He had a frown on his face. She studied him for a moment, wondering if he was going to attack her. He tried to look confident, but showed every sign of fear. Eighteen merely stared at him.
"W-where's the other one?" he then asked.
"Yeah!" Another voice sounded, from a bit further away, "That guy, where is he?"
Eighteen glanced over to see who was talking, and saw a man holding a shuffle. He had asked her where Seventeen was.
Of course they would ask that. They were always together. No one had ever seen the two of them apart. It had always been "them" or "the androids". Never just her.
She focused on the man in front of her, again. He had repeated his question, a bit louder this time. Eighteen wasn't sure what to say. And if she should say anything at all.
"He's dead." She then admitted, surprised by her own honesty.
Several pair of eyes widened, some even sighed with relief.
"He's dead?" The man repeated.
"Did I stutter?" she said, with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"But.." The man stepped back upon noticing her tone.
"He's dead, I'm not, that's the story." She said in a dull voice. Eighteen noticed how different she felt.
Normally, the humans annoyed her to a certain level, and they would die once she reached that level. She wouldn't hesitate to kill them. And destroy some buildings in the process. But today was different.
Everything had changed, and no one gave her time to think about it. People had to bug her.
The humans didn't know how to respond, either. The bearded man who had bravely asked her the questions, had stepped back and was now studying the android in front of him.
"How did he.." he started, but quickly shut up when he earned a glare from the woman in front of him.
"Die?" she almost hissed. "Wouldn't you like to know. That there's a guy who killed him in mere seconds, and had mercy on me. That he condemned me of a life without my brother, in a world I destroyed without a purpose in this fake life I'm living?"
The eyes of the man widened. As he slowly repeated what the android had just told him, Eighteen panted, and, for the second time that day, she felt more and more human.
Again, tears filled up her eyes. This time, she fought them back, not willing to show these humans what had happened to her. But she already told everything to the stranger. Why, she didn't know. It was a fatal mistake, too, probably. She cared little, and waited for a response of the man.
Any other human would have attacked her within the second. She was, after all, defenseless, emotional confused and without her strongest ally. It was possible to kill her, because she had just admitted another man had killed her brother. She wasn't immortal, and it wasn't impossible to destroy her. Any other man or woman would have done so.
Eighteen was lucky, if you could call it luck. While the other men further away hadn't heard a single bit of the story and were just staring, the bearded men lowered his weapon.
His frown disappeared into a shy smile. Eighteen had never seen such a smile before. It was sympathy, but she had never witnessed it.
"Go, then." He nodded.
Eighteen raised a brow.
He glanced over at the group and turned back to her.
"Go, and live your life. Find your purpose. Be careful." The last bit was an obvious warning.
She stared at him, utterly confused. As if she needed permission from this *human* to go on. She was about to yell at him, when she realized she couldn't. She had no desire. She just didn't care anymore.
Did she ever?
So she nodded. And walked past him. Pas the group of armored men. Past the shop filled with people, hiding under tables and behind bars. She walked out of the city, into another. She kept walking, and walking, until she collapsed.
Androids have no limit to their energy. But Eighteen was tired.
It didn't take Bulma long to find her.
After Trunks had left Eighteen behind, he couldn't decide wetter to go home or not. He had failed, but knew his mother would be the one person who'd forgive him. Still, he had done something he hadn't counted on. He'd spared Eighteens life, after he had taken her brothers'. Was it right to call Eighteens existence a "life"? He didn't know, but frankly, right now he didn't even want to think about it. He was afraid he had made the wrong choice. What if she fooled him, and what if the change he had seen in her wasn't sincere? What if she was laughing right now, as she was killing hundreds of people? Trunks didn't want to know.
But what if she was struggling out there, left behind with her tears. He had seen it. Or so he thought. He had seen her save a boy's life. He had seen her disagreeing with her brother. He had seen how tears rolled down her cheek.
She had been as surprised as he was. He was almost certain she had some kind of regret.
What if it was true? What next? He let the world most dangerous creature go. The one responsible for this earth's change. He let her go without making her pay. And that was something he had trouble accepting.
Eventually he did go home. His mother took him in her arms and comforted him. He was in tears, of rage, of grief, of confusion. He was tired, exhausted. Fed up with fighting, especially *her*. Bulma understood. Bulma comforted the boy. Bulma watched as Trunks refused to get out, anymore. He had no spirit left, was tired all the time and wouldn't leave the house. Their disagreements resulted in big fights, and it was Trunks, of all people, who forced Bulma out of the house.
She was fed up with her son acting like that. Something had to change, she knew. She hoped things would change soon, because this was destroying both of them.
It was at that time when Bulma found Eighteen. She stumbled upon an unconscious blonde girl, in a heap on the ground. Bulma dropped her groceries and kneeled down, to see what's wrong.
"Goodness!" she exclaimed and stroke some of the filthy blonde hair away. Only then she recognized her.
"No!" she whispered and crawled back a bit.
"Her." She then stated, as she stood up and grabbed her groceries. Bulma was about to run away, leaving the android behind where she found her when she saw Eighteen opening her eyes.
The two women stared at each other. Eighteen didn't blink or look away, nor did Bulma. And then Bulma recognized panic in her eyes. And exhaustion. And Bulma wouldn't be Bulma if she didn't help those who asked her for help. Eighteen silently asked her for help. When the android moaned softly and fainted again, it was Bulma's queue to place her in the car and take her home.
Why she didn't hesitate to take her former enemy into her own home, she didn't know. It was as if she had already decided on it, before she even found Eighteen. It was *her* after all, who had told her son that he shouldn't hold a grudge and that it wasn't necessary to kill the androids. Which was definitely a strange advice, considering it was *her*, who sent him to the past in the first place.
Bulma didn't know anymore, either. But one look at the blonde android and she knew she wasn't a threat, not anymore. What would happen now, was a mystery to her, but she'd try her best.
Bulma bit her lip when she opened the door. She slowly opened her mouth and called her son.
"Trunks! Can you get down here?" she yelled and heard her voice echoing through the empty house.
"What's wrong mom?" Trunks' voice replied, and she heard footsteps coming her way.
"Promise me you won't freak out and just help me here." She ordered him before she stepped aside so her son could see her 'problem'.
His eyes widened.
"Her." He said in a whisper.
Bulma nodded slowly and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"She – " She started but Trunks shook her hand off, "She needs help, Trunks." She repeated firmly.
He stared from the android to his mother and back. Then, he focused on the ground. He stroke his long purple hair aside and sighed.
"Where do you want her?" he asked, the sound of defeat obviously present in his voice.
Bulma smiled painfully. "The lab, I suppose?" she said carefully and stepped inside to let her son pass. Trunks walked up to the car and grabbed Eighteen. He raised a brow upon touching her, something he had only done in a battle. It felt strange to treat her this carefully, and carrying her inside the house made him feel light headed and very confused. This wasn't right, and not supposed to happen.
When he told Eighteen to go away, he never expected she would end up in his house. If only his mother wasn't.. so Bulma like. Trunks shook his head. Of course his mother would help her. She would help anyone, every bastard and mortal enemy. Just like she helped Vegeta, that one day in the past.
Trunks stare at the unconscious Eighteen.
"You're lucky, android." He muttered.
Eighteen didn't blink, or open her eyes. She heard, however. Lucky. That was one way to call it.
"It's nice to meet you." She heard herself say.
Eighteen gave a polite nod and shook the hand offered to her. She was about to turn around when Marron grabbed her mothers attention.
"Mom! This is Mitsuko, you know? The girl I told you about?"
The two exchanged meaningful looks and at that point, Eighteen turned to Mitsuko, as if she saw the girl for the first time.
"Right!" She said, and the tone of her voice changed instantly. She studied Mitsuko and smiled.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know it was *you*." She explained. "Marron told me about you."
Somehow, that surprised Mistuko, but as usual she suppressed that feeling and merely smiled.
"Wow, I'm almost honored." She joked, and some of them began to laugh. Mitsuko didn't, however. She already forgot what she had said and stared at the woman in front of her. Eighteen did the same thing.
The room was filled with people, talking and laughing at each other. Only a few stood out. Marron, of course, because it was her birthday, and she looked absolutely stunning. Then there was Bura, the tag along who had joined her mother and father at the party and looked beautiful as always. It was obvious both Trunks and Goten were looking at their best. It was amazing how no one seemed to notice that there were two people in the room who looked so much alike. As Eighteen and Mitsuko stood in front of each other, only Pan was a bit surprised at how this seemed.
In the weeks Mitsuko had been around her, she had always acted a bit strange. Especially upon meeting new people, she could act very unnatural. Almost inhuman. Most of the time, she would simply stare at the other person, her face not showing the slightest expression. This time, it wasn't any different. The girl with her long black hair raised a brow, when she noticed the sudden silence in the group. The laughter around her had stopped and it seemed as if everyone – Marron, Goten, Trunks and several other people who stood close – was focused on Eigtheen and Mitsuko. Both blonde, but Eighteens hair was cut short, which made the ageless android look young and fresh. Mitsuko's hair, however, was even longer than before, tied in tail which she wore sideways over her shoulder. The two somehow looked alike. It was bizarre.
'You are going to talk to her' she heard a soft voice in the back of her head tell her.
'Smile, joke, sneeze, anything'
She blinked. 'Don't look at her. It isn't her.'
Slowly, she regained control of her limbs.
'It could have been'
It wasn't Mitsuko who broke the silence. It wasn't Eighteen who looked away. It wasn't even Marron who had frowned at both of them. It was a soft cough, coming from Pan.
"Mitsu-chan?"
Mitsuko's head jerked in Pan's direction. 'That nickname'
"What's wrong Pan?" she said, smiling sweetly at her younger friend. Pan stared at her toes uncomfortably.
"You were.. staring, so.."
Mitsuko laughed. She forced herself to. Inside, she heard that same voice telling her to look back at the woman, but she couldn't.
"Ugh."
Eighteens voice made her wince in pain, but Mitsuko managed to control her body.
"It's Roshi, he's bothering her again." Eighteen sighed. Trunks and Goten looked in Master Roshi's direction.
"I'd hurry up and save her." Goten said, obviously amused.
Eighteen rolled her eyes. "My lucky day." she muttered and walked past Mitsuko, looking at her from the corner of her eyes.
"I'll catch up with you kids later." she said, and hurried towards Master Roshi.
"Kids." Trunks pulled a face.
Everyone seemed to have forgotten about Mistuko, except for Pan. She moved closer towards Mitsuko and whispered.
"What was that with Eighteen? You froze, again!"
"Nothing." Mitsuko said surprised. "I.. don't know what you mean?" and before Pan knew it, she had turned to Trunks and Goten, and involved herself in a conversation about Master Roshi.
Pan quirked a brow, slightly upset, but then shook her head in defeat. Her eyes met Marrons', who gave a non understanding expression.
Mitsuko wasn't blind. She wasn't oblivious. She knew Pan was upset, and that she was now exchanging looks with Marron. She knew she had screwed up once again. Mitsuko was absolutely sure she had made a wrong impression. But seeing Eighteen, seeing her mother, shattered something inside. Her feelings took control. Her body didn't obey. She had experienced this before. And should have known better. Her mind and body were bothered by her heart. And the loving memories.
Glancing over Trunks' shoulders, she saw Eighteen, looking pleasantly calm. She was different.
I saw you in a way
But that's another life
No, she was exactly the same, but then again, she wasn't. She looked so much alike, but this Eighteen was calm. She couldn't remember the last time her Eighteen had been calm.
Maybe they're the same
I wonder where you are
Yesterday is gone
She knew there was no way of comparing. She knew what had happened here, and knew that the timelines were twisted. She had been stuck in a destroyed world, with only a mother and father and grandmother to love her. This Eighteen, this Trunks, and .. Marron, shared a family, a group of friends and a world in peace.
But it ain't far away
I guess it's far enough
She blinked and forced a smile on her face, smiling at a joke Goten had made. It was a long time ago. She should forget.
I'm older in my head
My innocents is gone
What was it again? What did Eighteen say, when Mitsuko wondered about the past?
It's all the same
No matter where you are
She said
Mitsuko had put faith in those words for a long time. She never doubted the truth, until she came to see for herself. She landed in a world that could've been hers. It was all the same, according to her mother.
But she was wrong
Mitsuko never knew how she made it through that night. And she never realized that Eighteen was fully aware of how long Mitsuko had been looking at her.
The ending is a bit odd, I am aware. In fact, the entire last bit is. I'm experiencing a writers block, I think. I have to admit, I haven't read a DBZ fanfic in months. I haven't even seen any of the episodes lately. I'm a lousy fan. Just been busy with school, and life and such. Hopefully, I'll get inspired to continue this and other stories, but.. *sigh* I don't know. This story if my favorite one, but it's taking forever to write. And I am fully aware you probably don't understand a thing, haha. I'd appreciate a review, however ;)