Immortality
Chapter 7: Goodbye to you...for now
Story by: Lady of Earth
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon (c) Naoko Takeuchi and DBZ (c) Akira Toriyama.
I make my journey through eternity
I keep the memory of you and me inside
Fulfill your destiny
Inspired by: Michelle Branch's "Goodbye to you" and Koizumi Kouhei's "Strength"
She got out of bed and judging from how the day looked, she knew the time has come. She drew in a deep breath and got dressed quickly. No use of going to school if she was leaving anyway. Not that she really liked school in the first place. The thought drew a small smile as memories of her old life flitted through her mind.
She opened the door to the balcony and began to soar high in the air. Without a second to hesitate, she began flying at top speed to her destination. She took the scenery flashing by to her memory, so she could treasure it forever. Tears were threatening to spill but she blinked them away. She wasn't going to cry today. Tears were a waste of time and they never help anyway.
The mountain came to view and she slowed herself down. "Here we are." She whispered. The majestic view before her triggered a memory to come to mind.
**flashback**
"Beautiful isn't it?" Gohan asked. She nodded, feeling rather breathless.
"I'd do anything to protect this." He whispered softly, a serene look on his face. She watched him in wonder before wincing and looking away quickly. She was the destroyer of worlds, she had no right, absolutely no right to comment on that.
But she couldn't help that she feels she should protect this world as well.
***********
She drew out her sword and raised it to the air.
"Malice and Devastation, Chaos and Death. Rid this planet of misery." She whispered, beginning the incantation.
Forgive me Gohan. Mother, give me strength.
Chichi was fixing breakfast, like she would at any ordinary day. What she and the rest of the Z fighters didn't know, however, that today was no ordinary day. Piccolo had arrived in midst of breakfast and was talking with Goku. In actuality, of course, Goku was the one who did all the talking while Piccolo sat and listened, when they felt the sudden flare of ki.
"Is that-" Goku didn't finish as Piccolo nodded his head darkly.
"Yes, it is." He replied. "Vegeta anticipated this. I talked to him yesterday."
"How did he know?" Goku asked.
"I don't know, I guess he has a sense to things concerning destruction." Goku managed not to sweatdrop, taking in the gravity of the situation. There wasn't any time to sit around, they had to prevent the planet from being destroyed. Again.
"Let's go then. I'll get Gohan." Trunks said, but before he could finish his sentence, Gohan was all ready out of the door.
"We better hurry before anything happens." Goku said seriously.
The group flew out towards the mountain. "Do you really think...." Trunks didn't finish his question as he looked expectantly at Piccolo. Worry was evident in the voice of the demi-Saiyajin. He had grown to like Usagi despite the little time that they had spent together. Not to mention the fact that his friend Gohan had grown very fond of Usagi. Though from what he could see of Gohan's reaction, this little crush had turned into something, much, much more.
"The mind of the Shi no Tenshi cannot be read. We can't be absolutely certain of anything when it comes to her." Piccolo said, although Goku looked to him sharply. There seemed to be some sort of silent communication between the two that resulted in Goku glaring at the Namek with anger, something rarely seen from the usually cheerful Saiyajin. But no one else understood what this exchange was and none really dared or wanted to ask.
"I do." Gohan said, his voice urgent. He and Trunks hadn't been totally oblivious to the exchange between Goku and Piccolo, even though they fought hard to maintain expressions on their face to reflect otherwise.
"Really? You do? What is it then?" Asked Trunks.
"She's going to save this planet, by sacrificing herself." Gohan said, before flying off in a flash of light.
"Gohan! Wait!" Trunks shouted, muttering a curse as he tried to keep up with his friend.
"Open the portals, unleash the power."
It took him a while to catch up with Gohan, but it wasn't long after he did when Gohan suddenly stopped. Trunks rolled his eyes and then stopped as well, though he frowned, reminding himself of the magnitude of the situation. "Can you see her, Gohan?" He asked, just as he felt Goku and Piccolo's ki closing in. They had left the older two behind in their sudden rush.
"No." Gohan replied, just as Goku and Piccolo arrived on the scene. Goku surveyed the area, brows furrowed as he tried to track her barely detectable ki.
"Father, where is she?" Asked Gohan after a while.
Suddenly, a flash of blue light tore through the sky and descended like a lightning one the top of one of the towering mountains.
"Does that answer your question?" Muttered Trunks.
There wasn't time for discussion as they flew off to that direction. The scene that greeted them, however, nearly made them fall from the sky. They saw a lone figure standing on the tip of the mountain, draped in black clothing. For Slowly she floated near where they had paused. Despite the situation, Trunks noted how her pale skin was a striking contrast to her clothes. It wasn't an appalling contrast, instead it made her look beautiful. And as her sad blue eyes locked with Gohan's and her mouth curled to a soft smile, Trunks was convinced that she was the perfect example of a tragic heroine.
"Something told me you'd come." She said softly. All within hearing range knew that she was speaking to Gohan and him alone. The other three knew that although they were there, her sole attention was the man who had risked everything just to be her company. The very person who would pay the price of the destruction of this world, just to see her alive...if only his fate didn't happen to be the protector of this world.
"Don't do it, Usa." Gohan pleaded.
"My duty is all that I have left. I cannot abandon it." She said softly, almost wistfully. The look in her eyes wasn't that of a lucid, focused destroyer. Instead, she looked as if she was distracted over something.
"So you're going to-"
She shook her head. "Of course not, Trunks. This planet alone has brought me joy I haven't felt in centuries." She replied with a smile. "I will spare this planet, even though it means I have to face the wrath of the ancients." She paused, looking at the sky.
'If only...' She thought wistfully.
She opened her mouth and chanted in words foreign to all ears. It was a language that was left forgotten to almost all. It was the language spoken of her people, before Earth became the bustling world it was and before it was destroyed...before any of that occurred, when she stilled lived on the Moon.
"Save them." She finished with a whisper.
The Earth rumbled, the sky turned into a dark gray and then everything was still. She gave them one smile but it was wiped quickly off her face as pain took over. She let out a strangled cry. The sensation isn't foreign, she felt it many times before. But there was always something about it that makes her want to cry out, scream it out of her system. But for once, she held it in, giving one last look at the man who could only watch helplessly as she began to disappear.
"I'll always think about you." She whispered breathlessly, before she disappeared completely.
"Pluto-san, the Ancients require your presence." A figure in dark cloak said, appearing before Pluto. The Guardian of Time frowned.
"Why? Is anything the matter?"
"It has to do with the Shi no Tenshi." The messenger said.
Pluto's eyes widened. "Serenity?" She whispered, thoughts swirling in her head. For a moment she thought she would lose control and shake in fear. But she reminded herself that she had to keep her cool, she mustn't lose her senses in front of a messenger. That thought seemed to have given her some sort of strength.
She looked at the messenger with authority and with such iciness that only the Guardian of Time could muster, she said, "I'll be right there."
As soon as the form disappeared, she swallowed, gripping the Time Key, she opened a portal to face the Ancients. She walked through the portal only to pause in front of the big doors. They had carvings, so many carvings of so many faces. It was the faces of those seated or were once seated at the board. Taking a deep breath, Pluto pushed the two doors opened. It had always amazed her how light the great doors were.
"Be seated, the Guardian of Time." A soothing voice called out from the Ancients.
Pluto nodded, bowing before the Ancients before seating herself down.
"I am not sure you have heard about this Pluto, but it appears that the Shi no Tenshi has failed to carry out another mission." A deep male voice said.
Pluto looked up to the Ancients. It consisted of twenty members, all of whom she knew far too well. And the male voice too, she knew who it belong to. The King of Pluto himself, her father...no, the man who used to be her father. The man she used to call father.
"She had every reason to, the dimension had no trace of evil. There was nothing there that needed purification." Pluto said with the same icy tone she used on the messenger. She didn't care who he was, there was no way she would let anyone speak of her Princess like that. Not after what she had been through.
"She had a duty, Pluto. This is nothing to be considered lightly. She disobeyed a direct order from the Ancients and therefore should be punished." Said the Queen of Mercury.
Pluto flinched, as did the Queen of the Moon, Serenity herself.
"But the Princess' judgment was right, the world-" She protested, only to be cut off completely.
"The world needed purification, so we have ruled. And the Shi no Tenshi," Oberon, King of Uranus paused, stressing the title of Serenity. "Has disobeyed us. She has done it before and she knows the consequences. She will follow it."
Pluto remained silent, knowing there was nothing much she can do. She looked at the Queen of the Moon, who silently looked away, pain hidden deep within her eyes. The Ancients had to test the Princess. It was told in the prophecy that one day the Moon Princess would become the Shi no Tenshi and endure the life of destruction. But that was only one part of the prophecy.
The echoes of a scream that ripped through the room disrupted her thoughts. The Shi no Tenshi appeared before the court of the Ancients. She fought to keep the tears away from her eyes as she slumped down before them.
"You have failed to follow your orders. You must face your punishment." Came the cold voice of the King of Earth. A small, inaudible gasp escaped from the mouth of the woman sitting beside him, the Queen of Earth herself. The Queens of Earth and Moon were great friends after all. And young Serenity had been a favorite 'adopted niece' to the Queen of Earth since the day the girl was born.
The Ancients must pass every law and must give every punishment, but they each must follow their own set of rules. And that meant no matter how hard it was they must punish all who are guilty according to the laws. Despite the coldness in the King's voice, he knew the Princess since she was little and the mere sight of her caused a pang in his heart. And he knew, the others too were effected by this. But they know that they have to follow the rules, they cannot spare her, they can't spare anyone. Not even one of their own.
The angel's head tipped back and her eyes rolled back. A hot, stinging liquid passed through her body, causing a painful sensation. It was as if her bones were slowly grinded and her insides were being twisted and turned. Her mouth opened in a silent scream but only a strangled sound came out. When the sensation passed through her system and began to move towards her heart, she let out an ear-piercing shriek that caused all the members of the Ancients to turn away. The image was too much for them to take.
As her body fell limp to the ground, Pluto walked over to her fallen body and picked her up. With a deep breath, she walked out of the room, carrying the motionless form of the angel in her arms. "My dearest Princess." She whispered, looking at the angel sadly and disappeared back to the Time Gates.
Days later
Usagi opened her eyes and let out a groan. She wanted to sit up but found no strength in doing so. She blinked and tried to let her eyes focus. She recognized where she was straight away, being there more than a couple of times. "Pluto?" She managed to croak out.
"Rest now, Serenity." Pluto said, entering the room. She helped Usagi into a sitting position and gave her a glass of water.
"Thank you." She whispered, before drinking the water. Her throat was dry but not even the water helped. Her body was sore all over and noting her trembling hand as she held the glass, her body has yet to recover from the 'event'.
"How long has it been?" She asked. Pluto took the glass from the hand and placed it on a table beside the bed.
"It's been five days. You must rest some more." Told Pluto.
"Don't you need to watch the gates?" Asked Usagi weakly, managing a weak grin.
"I have someone doing that for me." Pluto told, before placing a hand on Usagi's forehead and frowned. "You are a priority for me."
"They seem more angry this time." Usagi commented. "Why is it?" She asked.
Pluto didn't answer, she knew the answer she would give would not make the Princess happy. "Pluto?"
"Because of the test, Serenity. You failed the test." Pluto replied.
"How important was it anyway? Can't be that important." Muttered Usagi, closing her eyes. Pluto let out a sigh and looked at the girl on the bed.
"It is important, Serenity. It's very important for you." She told.
Usagi opened her eyes and looked at Pluto with questioning eyes. "Why?"
"Because if you had destroyed that world you would have won..."
"Won what?" Asked Usagi, feeling her Guardian's unease. When Pluto didn't answer, she exclaimed, "Pluto!"
"Won your freedom, Princess." Pluto whispered.
Usagi's mouth fell open and she shook her head in disbelief. "It can't be!"
"But it can. They gave you a chance of it."
"B-but they didn't tell me!" Shouted Usagi.
"Would you have done it?" Asked Pluto. "Would you have destroyed that world?"
Usagi paused. Would she have destroyed that was filled with beauty, filled with love and most importantly, that Gohan protected? "No." She whispered.
"My point exactly. Luckily, the Ancients are willing to give you one more chance." Pluto said with a sigh.
"They are? When?" Asked Usagi, her eyes sparkling with hope for once.
"Probably your next mission, they have yet to decide it."
Usagi nodded, trying to digest the information fully. In her next mission, if she succeeded, she will be able to win her freedom! No more destruction!
Everything she hoped and prayed for. But at the cost of lives?
Chichi walked into the room, carrying the tray of food. He sat by the window, looking outside. But he didn't seem to be looking at anything in particular, seemingly more focused on some distant space.
"Gohan, I have some food for you." She told. He didn't answer. He looked at his mother and then at the food, but then shrugged his shoulders and looked away. Chichi sighed. She had once complained that her son had to take after her husband because they both eat like the Saiyajins that they are, but at that moment, she wished more than anything that her son would regain his appetite again. Goku walked through the door, seeing the same picture he had seen in a week.
"If he goes on like this, he won't make it through the week." He said quietly.
This caused his wife to look at him angrily. "Then do something about it!" She hissed angrily.
"There's nothing much to do. But I am waiting for Piccolo, he might have the answer for this one." Goku told. Chichi frowned.
"What answer might that be?" She asked.
"We'll soon see."
"You know there's one thing that puzzles me still." Bulma said.
"What is it?" Asked Trunks.
"Why did that girl ask for Gohan to kill her, if Piccolo already told us she can't be killed?"
Gohan was sitting by the stairs; the discussion about Usagi finally drew him out of his room. He began to frown. Bulma had a point there. But realization hit him and horror-stricken, he turned to his sensei. Piccolo knew then there was no avoiding it.
"You knew." He whispered. "You could have stopped her from killing herself yet you let her die!" He shouted.
"The process of self destruction could easily have been avoided for her, but I chose not to. This planet would be destroyed if she didn't kill herself. By not preventing her from killing herself, we have saved this planet." Piccolo said.
"You don't know that!"
Anger was all he felt as he walked to his sensei. Not the same anger he felt while fighting Cell, no, this was far more intense than that. This was the anger of a heartbroken man. And even his sadness had been consumed by it. He drew back his fist, ready to send his sensei well into orbit, Goku caught his punch just in time.
"Gohan, calm yourself." He said. There was an intense glaring competition between father and son before Gohan finally gave in. He sat far away from Piccolo, where he didn't have to see him, knowing just by looking at him he might not be able to contain his anger.
"I want to see her." Gohan said suddenly.
"What? That's not possible! She's probably in another dimension right now." Bulma exclaimed. Goku thought for a moment, he knew a couple of people at high places. He might be able to arrange something.
"Why not ask the help of Kaioushin?" He suggested.
"A brilliant idea, Goku-san!" Exclaimed Trunks.
"What can that old fool do?" Scoffed Vegeta, who had suddenly added his ten cents into the conversation, much to the irritation of some. He had been the only person who knew about the Shi no Tenshi and her capabilities and yet he kept quiet about it.
"He might be able to talk to someone and arrange the meeting." Piccolo said.
"The question is how do we get there? It's too far away for teleportation." Trunks pointed out.
"Baka." Muttered the Prince of the Saiyajin. "Dragon Ball."
"Oh yeah! I forgot completely!" Exclaimed Goku.
"What are we waiting for? Trunks, get the radar from home. Minna, get ready to find them!" Bulma shouted.
'Wait for me, Usa.'
'-Usa.'
"Gohan?" She whispered softly. She could have sworn she heard his voice. She shrugged. She must really be tired after all.
"You will leave tomorrow, Tenshi. Be well rested tonight." Pluto said.
She nodded. They had faced the Ancients that morning and she was sent to a new dimension, this time she was ready to destroy. All in the sake of freedom.
"That's the last of them." Goku said with a satisfied sigh, holding the last two dragon balls.
"Time to unleash the dragon." Trunks said, grinning broadly.
Gohan nodded, just barely, all that was on his mind was his Tenshi, Usagi. Ignoring the fact of course, that she was never his to begin with...or so he thought.
Earth trembled as the sky turned dark in the instant Shen Lon appeared. Goku had a smile on his face, after years not having seen the dragon.
"Speak your wish and I will grant." Boomed the voice of the great dragon.
"I wish that Gohan and I be transported to the world of Kaioushin at once." Goku shouted making sure the dragon heard his words. Unnecessary of course, since years before that he needn't not shout and neither does he have to do that then.
"Done."
The dragon's eyes flashed a sudden red before Goku and Gohan vanished instantly before the very eyes of the Z fighters. "I thought we were going together?" Asked Trunks, after the sky returned back to blue and the sounds of trembling Earth disappeared.
"I think this is something only Gohan can do." Piccolo mused out loud.
It had been an ordinary day in the world of Kaioushin. Rai Kaioushin had been sitting nicely, reading some magazines that Kaioushin had no interest in. Knowing the old dingbat it was probably yet another dirty magazine. Suppressing a groan, he walked away, in hope to catch some sleep before the day draws to a close. Of course, this is where the ordinary day end.
Appearing before the nearly asleep Kaioushin were Son Goku and Son Gohan. "Aieeee!" He shrieked out, it sounds so much like the shrieking of a girl that Goku snorted, ready to laugh. He cleverly disguised this with a cough however.
"Kaioushin." Goku said, bowing his head slightly. Gohan muttered something under his breath, barely audible even to Goku's Saiyajin hearing.
"Son Goku! And Son Gohan! What brings you here?" Exclaimed the now wide-awake Kaioushin.
"I must apologize for going directly to the point, Kaioushin," Goku began, throwing a glance at Gohan. His son seemed more than eager to get going. He must care a lot more for the girl than Goku had thought.
"Do you know the one by the name of Shi no Tenshi?" Asked Goku.
Before the Kaioushin could answer Rai Kaioushin appeared before them. "What do you want with her?" He demanded. Though he might have seemed subdued and like any ordinary old man before, the fire that burn brightly in his eyes reminded Goku much of any enemy he had faced. And he knew that it must be how his eyes looked at times that he fought too.
"I have to see her." Finally, Gohan spoke. The urgency in his voice startled both Kaioushin. At first the old man was about to say something, but something stopped him. Perhaps it was the pleading sound of Gohan's voice or maybe the sadness and pain that was evident in the young man's eyes.
He nodded his head. "I might be able to do something." He told.
"But only he can come!" He shouted out, with a hard frown and finger pointing directly at Gohan. Much like the Rai Kaioushin that they know.
It seemed to Gohan that they had been wandering aimlessly through the hallway. Rai Kaioushin had insisted that he flew them off to this...whatever the place might be. He hadn't even told what or who they would see. But something told him not to ask, just follow and he will know.
Finally they began to approach a large door. The very door to the Ancients.
Rai Kaioushin opened the door, not bothering to knock or even wait before it. The faces of those sitting at the table turned into a frown at the sight of the short old man.
"Not you again." Muttered Terrence, King of Earth.
"Hai, it is I. And you should be happy to see me." Rai Kaioushin retorted.
"Kaioushin-san, I do believe that you have to wait yourself at the door before you enter." Gaea told kindly.
"I will see to it the next time. For now, I have an offer." Declared the old man. The members of the Ancients exchanged glances and looked at him.
"What kind of offer?" Asked Serenity.
"A test of a kind. To your Shi no Tenshi." He said.
Protests erupted from the Ancients. "Not a chance!"
"We shall have no such thing!"
"What are you thinking old man?"
"Old man you say? I have you know I have the same power as any of you, if not more. My sorcery can deduce any of you in power and you know it." Snarled Rai Kaioushin. The Ancients were quiet in an instant. They knew he had the ability to do whatever it is that he wished. He turned to Gohan and looked back at the Ancients.
"I want this boy right here," He paused as Gohan threw a scowl at him for calling him a boy. "To test your Shi no Tenshi."
There was a stunned silence as everyone, Gohan included, looked at the old man.
"My test, call it. If she is able to destroy this next world despite Gohan's presence, her fate belongs to me."
"If she does not?"
"Then her fate stays with you, with whatever it is that you plan."
"No. We will agree that if you win you can have her for one month, that is all we can offer." Oberon told.
"All right." Agreed Rai Kaioushin, Gohan was about to protest but the old man shook his head. "One thing at a time." He said in a hushed voice.
"Then we agree." Oberon said, noting the rest of the Ancients nodding their heads in approval.
"You need to find Pluto." Serenity told. There was a silent knowledge in her eyes that went unspoken but was noted by Rai Kaioushin.
"Thank you, to you all and to you, Serenity." Kaioushin told.
But before Serenity could nod her head, the old man winked at her. She suppressed a giggle. The old man would never change.
"Where is this Pluto person?" Asked Gohan.
"The only place you would find the Guardian of Time, at the Time Gates."
The mist that had covered the place they were walking upon seem to clear and before them was the great Time Gates. And the majestic lady guarding them, the Guardian of Time. She smiled with amusement at the approaching old man.
"What are you up to yet this time, old man? I hope not flirting with any of the ladies of the Ancients." She said with amusement, something that was not heard often from Pluto.
"Looking beautiful as usual, Guardian of Time." Began Rai Kaioushin.
"Don't even try it old man." Her voice was silky, but the warning was clearly there. Even Rai Kaioushin didn't pursue it any further.
"I take it you know already."
"I have foreseen it, yes. But I cannot see further than this." Pluto admitted. She looked at Gohan, giving him a quick look over. "I know now why she took a liking in you." Pluto said with a smile. She snapped her fingers and a blue portal appeared.
"She went through a same one just ten minutes ago." Pluto told. She then rummaged through the seemingly pocket-less senshi skirt and took a letter. "Give this to her and she will know." She told handing the letter to him. He nodded, everything seem to go about in a blur, looking at the Guardian of Time and Kaioushin one last time, he walked through the portal.
Stumbling out, he could see a different world than his. Perhaps it was the lack of the hover cars or jet cars. Everything seemed so...old fashioned.
But then he noticed the blonde vision that was standing in the middle of the crowded street, gaping at him.
'Usagi.' He thought tiredly.
She made her way to him, with such an urgency, she didn't bother shielding from her eyes.
"How-"
He shoved the letter into her hand, feeling his body weakening. Somehow, by going through the portal his strength seem to have left him. He was swaying back and forth as the Tenshi read the letter, eyes widening as she neared the closing of it. When she looked up—and she did this in time—she caught Gohan by his arm before he fell.
"Gohan!" She called out in alarm.
But she felt his body slump down, knowing the dimension travel had been too much for him. She sighed, it didn't affect her because she was used to it. But for him...
As she looked around, making sure no one is looking, she dragged him with incredible strength to a deserted place. She looked at his unconscious form and couldn't resist to smile, before they both disappeared off to her current residence.
He had been asleep for three hours and she sat by his side all that time. He had yet to regain consciousness and she sat there, worrying, although she knew that it was normal. She went through it before, when she had first traveled through the dimensions. She felt tears stinging in her eyes. She couldn't really believe that he was here with her!
"Gohan." She whispered sadly, touching his cheek tenderly. She knew that the Saiyajin never get ill, but if they do...it wasn't exactly a pretty sight. Because of the exhaustion due to the dimension travel, his body needed to rest but apparently there were also side effects to the travel. He had a high fever, much like the one she had, right after she had received her punishment from the Ancients.
She left for a moment to find a cloth to wipe the sweat off of her forehead and to get a cold compress. By the time she got back at his side, preparing the compress, a moan came from him. "Gohan?" She asked softly.
He opened his eyes, only to see clear blue ones staring back at him. Despite his throbbing head, he grinned, happy to see her. "Usa." He croaked out.
"Want some water?" She asked. He wanted to nod, but he didn't trust the stars that danced around his vision.
"Please." She took the glass of cool water by his bedside and helped him to a sitting position. He grimaced at the movement of the room. After he drank the water and got used to the room, he turned to look at her.
"I'm guessing you were surprised." He said with a grin.
To his own surprise, she smiled back. A soft and loving smile played on her lips as she brushed his hair softly. The motion caught him by surprise and he looked bewildered at her sudden change.
"Yes, you did." She replied softly.
"In a good way I hope." He muttered under his breath.
"You're the only person who was able to brighten my dark life." She said, before standing up, pain flashing in her eyes. She regretted her actions, she shouldn't have allowed herself to be close to him. And now, it hurt so much more that he was here with her, knowing that he would have to leave again.
Before he could say anything, she spoke again. "You were the only person who kept me sane in that world of yours. I had so many questions, so many conflicts. Because of you I resolved them even if it did mean..." She paused. She shouldn't go further. To tell him would mean to draw him into her tangled web. She didn't want him to endure what she endured as well. She cared too much for him to.
"Mean what Usa?" Gohan asked, reaching out and taking her hand in his. The pleading of his eyes made her unable to prevent the words from escaping her lips.
"Even if it did mean losing my chance for my freedom." She whispered, and then gasped as she realized what she had just said.
His eyes widened. "What? What do you mean?"
"I..." She sighed, finally giving in. "I was given a test, in your world. That if I were to destroy it, I would be free of my duty as the Shi no Tenshi." She explained.
"Then why?"
"What do you mean why?"
"Why did you save my world when you could have been free?" He asked.
"I couldn't...Because it means so much to you." Then she let go of his hand and walked slowly and quietly out of the room. He slumped against the pillow.
"Usa..."
That evening...
"What are you doing?" She cried out in alarm, jumping to her feet at once.
"I'm walking." He said, cringing inwardly at how cold his voice sounded. "What does it look like I'm doing?" And that snappy remark....
She let out a frustrated sigh. "You can't walk around yet. You're forcing your body too much. It needs time to get used to this dimension and then you can walk around." She told, dragging him back to his room.
"But I'm fine!" He protested. There was really no use resisting the Shi no Tenshi and despite the fact that Gohan is a Saiyajin, he couldn't stand up against her. Especially in the condition he currently was in. She flipped him down to the bed in one swift judo-like move. "OK, I'll stay here." He muttered.
"Good." She huffed, as she tucked him in. His face colored slightly.
"You're not my mother, don't do that." He said, pushing her hand away. One might have not noticed the flash of pain that went through her features, but Gohan surely noticed it. "Usa, all I meant was that you don't need to treat me like this. I can take care of myself." He said quickly.
She nodded. "Of course." She said, struggling to keep her voice from faltering. She didn't even know what was wrong with her. Perhaps years and years of isolation from the human touch and human affection had caused her to be weak. Now, she can't even withstand something as petty as rejection.
He took a hold of her arm. "Usa, I..."
The words went on unsaid as he realize that her face was mere inches away from his. Before another word was spoken from her, he brushed his lips against hers.
The moment their lips touched, she felt the electrifying jolt throughout her system. And though she fought from giving in, the longing in her was too strong. When he felt her responding to his kiss, his heart leapt with joy. The intensity of it all seem to have made the world melt away. Nothing seem to exist and their identities were not important, in that one moment. Everything seem to disappear and the only thing that they were aware of, was themselves and what they meant for each other...But then she broke away.
Tears were brimming in her eyes as her mind shouted,
'No...No...NO!!'
She couldn't do this to him, no matter how strong her feelings are towards him. She had willingly let her heart be broken so that he didn't have to be hurt. She had let herself drown again, so that he wouldn't drown with her. She rushed out of the room, despite Gohan calling out her name. She didn't make it out of the door, she had barely touched the handle when a sudden wind swept through and a pair of strong arms were hugging her from behind.
"Please don't leave." The owner of those arms whispered, voice husky with emotions. He was trying very hard not to break down and cry there and then. He had never felt anything like this before. All these emotions that seemed to spill out of him, whenever she's nearby. He knew, he had fallen in love with this girl, even if they had known each other only for a short period of time. There was a void in both their hearts and they have each other and only each other to fill that void.
The tears finally spilled from her eyes and a sob escaped her lips. They stood for what seem to be eternity, until she took his hands away from her waist and turned around to look at him. She knew with all her soul that it was impossible not to love him. Finally, she surrendered into his arms.
Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck and she cried. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tightly. He sunk to the floor, still holding her in his embrace and began to rock her quietly, like a mother would calm her child. Finally, after a while, her sobs subsided.
Hours passed and there they stayed. His arms held her tightly and though she was drifting to sleep, she was full aware of his arms around her protectively.
"Are you alright?" He asked softly, trying to make sure whether or not she was asleep.
"I'm alright." She whispered back, looking up at him. The tears have long dried from her eyes and she was smiling at him. But what truly changed was the love that was radiating from her eyes, the feeling she had once masked from him. He sighed in contentment and kissed her forehead lightly.
"I love you Usa-chan." The words had escaped his lips, he didn't know he said it out loud until a moment later. He froze, fearing it would only scare her off. Perhaps she thought that it was too soon for him to say it. Although it was really what he felt about her. Imagine his surprise when, just moments later, she whispered,
"I love you Gohan." Softly and tenderly, catching his lips with her own. When they broke the kiss and looked at each other, he saw that she wore a soft smile on her face and that her eyes were starting to close. Watching her sleeping form in his arms, he suddenly realized his weakened condition and felt exhaustion taking toll. Knowing he probably wouldn't make it to the couch, let alone bedroom, he let both of them fall asleep there.
Far away from the gates of time, Pluto smiled with content as she watched the couple sleeping in each other's arm near the door. She had thought her Princess would never find a match while being the Shi no Tenshi. But she was wrong and was glad of that error. At least this way, she would be happy.
Her smile faltered as another thought filled her head. "At least for now."
He groaned once more and she shook her head. She placed the compress on his forehead and began to yet again, complain.
"I told you not to force your body but, did you listen? No, of course not." She said. "And now look, fever higher than yesterday and you can't even get out of bed. An excellent work indeed, Gohan." She told.
"Usa-chan, can't you be nice to a sick person?" He pleaded.
"To a sick person who listens to me, yes, I would. But, to a sick person who doesn't listen to me, no, I wouldn't." She said sweetly.
"And I have a headache too." He complained.
"Aw, Saiyajin can be such babies when they get ill. And I thought they were suppose to be the strongest people in all of the Cosmos?" She teased.
"Usa-chan." He muttered grudgingly, closing his eyes.
"Just teasing, koi." She said lovingly, sitting beside him.
He cracked open one eye and grinned at her. "I know you love me." He said.
She rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at his face. He pushed the pillow off his face and grinned at her..
Apologies for such a long wait! It seemed that life in college is harder than I thought. *sighs* Ah well, at least I'm back right? I'm currently writing the next chapters of "The Missing Soldier" and "Reality Bites" and I have a new series that I'm already working on. So...look for more of my stuff, OK?
Oh and if you would note that I'm going to use less Japanese words in my fics now. I don't know, now that I'm actually studying Japanese, I don't feel comfortable using them anymore. And you guys know I always love your reviews!
