Disclaimer: see part one.
Pre-reads none. Well, I did it myself this time, so it might suck more than normal. I'm not really sure what happened to my two beta readers this time though. Court has a good reason I'll have to question Mike about his notable absence.
* * *
Parallel and Perpendicular
A romance/fiction story by ShaggyDiz
Chapter One: You May Think You Hate Me
Part Six: Face of an Unwanted Individual
* * *
Begin Part Six
* * *
The rain pounded relentlessly on the stone path, coming down in sheets, and at times, blown completely sideways by the wind. Shelter was impossible to find, save for one spot in the middle of the town: a castle, tall and menacing. A hooded man stood just outside of its gates, hoping beyond hope and shouting above the driving winds for someone to open the large doors.
Just as the wind picked up even more, they creaked open, and for dear life, he pulled himself inside, pulling the gate shut as best he could before running to an archway. He breathed a deep sigh of relief, finally thankful for receiving some sort of shelter.
It didn't stop a crossing wind though, for as he stood there, he got a deep chill from the mixing of the wind and his damp clothes. He got nowhere trying to rub his arms down, and he knew that he would eventually get sick standing there.
He desperately looked around for any sort of enclosed shelter, but found none in the archway he was in. Looking out though, he happened to see a wooden door in the distance. It was facing away from the wind, so he knew that it wouldn't be jammed closed or held wide open. He held his hand out into the wind, hoping for a slight break. Standing like that for nearly thirty seconds, he finally felt the break he was looking for and took off, heading out once again into the pouring rain, only this time it came more from above him than from the side.
It took him ten seconds to cover the distance between the archway and the tower, and in those ten seconds, the wind unpredictably – or predictably, in case of viewpoint – change, slamming right into the door. It took all of his might – and another wind change – to finally pull the door open. He threw his body inside, just as the wind turned again, slamming the door and holding it shut.
he muttered, catching his breath as best he could. He climbed to his knees and looked straight up, his eyes going wide at the site of the stairwell before him. It was a spiral staircase, going up ten stories easily. He leveled down some, coming upon a figure about halfway up.
A girl? he questioned, his voice filled with curious confusion. There was a soft laughter in the tower before the sound of feet running filled the air. The girl had started to climb the stairs, looking down every two or three steps she took to see if he was following. He stayed on his feet for a few more moments before standing up, preparing to fly up and greet her at the top.
The problem with that was he couldn't fly up. What the hell? he said aloud, looking down at his feet and wondering if the proverbial magic boots of energy stored within him disappeared to. He shrugged before looking up again at the stairs, seeing the girl now up three-quarters of the way. He took to the stairs, taking the steps two at a time in an attempt to get to the top faster.
He reached the top in about three minutes, slowing his pace as he climbed higher and higher up. Pausing for a few moments to catch his breath at the top, he slowly made his way down the single hallway, arriving in front of the only door there. It was slightly open, and he took that as an invitation to enter. He pushed the door open and quietly stepped in, closing it behind him and moving into the dark room.
He looked over to his left, seeing the only light in the room coming from a window. There wasn't much light – just the general blue dark associated with the night – so he could gauge the true depth of the room. He saw a lone coat stand by the window, and in the distance, he saw the edge of a bed with its covers hanging over the side.
It wasn't until a lightning strike outside showed the true size of the room – and the revealing of the room's other occupant. The light, in that brief instant, showed the girl that he had been following. She was set in a long white nightgown that hung to her body nicely. She was petite, but not too petite, and she was perfectly proportioned for her size. He couldn't see her head though, as the lightning strike didn't reach that far.
Don't worry I won't hurt you, he said reassuringly, hoping that she didn't think him as a serial killer of young women. I just need a space for the night, and I'll be gone by morning, after this storm lifts. He took off his jacket, hanging it over the coat rack before moving forward, coming into the soft light provided by the window. He looked at it again, hearing the wind slam off of it. The window creaked noisily, and he wondered how the single pane of glass held its place.
It'll hold. It's been through worse, she said softly. He redirected his attention to her, trying hard to focus on where she was. He heard the bed rattle slightly, and he figured that she had taken to sitting on it.
That voice
Where should I stay? he asked her. The clothes on my back are my only belongings, though I can wait for my jacket to dry and sleep on that. He turned to look out the window, trying to see anything out in the distance. Even a flash of lightning couldn't penetrate the thick, pounding rain.
You will stay with me, in my bed, she answered back, her voice as soft as it was before.
He was shocked, to say the least. He looked in her direction, still unable to see her. I wish not to stay in your bed, he said after recovering. It would be indecent. What would your parents say? It was safe to say that she was young, around seventeen or eighteen. Someone of that age wouldn't have an entire tower – much less a castle – to herself.
My parents have no say. They are away on business. She lit a candle and placed it on an end table. Even then, he couldn't see her face.
It was like she had none.
As for this storm, it has been like this for three straight days. It will continue to be like this for three more. She stood up and walked to him, stopping mere inches from his body. He looked down into her face, and even with the added candlelight, he still couldn't see her face.
You have no choice but to stay with me. She grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him with her. Knowing where the bed was, she fell down onto it, pulling him on top of her.
I know that voice
What are you doing? he asked her, though he didn't know why. In a sense, he answered his own question, judging by the way he was slowly being manhandled.
I wish to make love to you. She brought her right hand around his neck, pulling him to her lips. It was a soft, passionate kiss set solely on the lips, as it was her hope that he would want more.
And he did, responding by kissing her in earnest. His arms found their way around her back, supporting her body. Meanwhile, her free arm found its way to his shirt, and in one swift movement, three buttons were yanked off.
Where have I heard this voice?
He gasped on her mouth, confused and yet aroused by her fiery nature. He reluctantly released the lip lock though; moving away from her face and breathing in some much needed air. She caught her breath as well while removing the last remaining buttons of his shirt. She slipped her hands underneath the rain soaked cloth and locked them around his lower back.
All the while, they were looking into each other's eyes, and for the first time, he recognized something from this girl.
Soft, blue eyes
Why do you want this? he asked her.
That's when she moved up next to his ear and whispered: I'm desperate.
It's her
Fuck me now.
Videl
And then he woke up.
* * *
The first thing Gohan found odd as he sat in his bed was how soaked he was. As he evened out his breathing, he felt around on the sheets behind him.
They're drenched, he muttered. I got to get some new ones. He got out of bed, idly looking at his clock. It read twelve twenty-three.
Gohan removed the sheets, tossing them in a random corner of his room. He pulled on a pair of shorts, covering his boxers, before walking out of the room, heading straight for the bathroom. He stuck his head underneath the facet, turning on the cold water and letting his head get cooled off. He eventually got out from under it, coming up and looking straight in the mirror.
Why her? he said aloud. Why did I dream about her?
Was it her in that dream last week as well? He knew the answer to the question, but then, it only left him in a greater state of confusion. He had met Videl earlier, and yet, he already had four dreams about her. He didn't want to start worrying about it now though. School was in less than seven hours, and he really wanted to get back to sleep.
Turning to the closet, he pulled out a new set of covers, tucking them under his arm. He began walking back to his room when he made a small glance down the stairs. The light is still on, he muttered. Should I talk to her? Against better judgment – and the need for sleep – Gohan descended the stairs, looking to see if his mom was still awake, slaving away at the now current day's lunch.
he asked, peeking his head into the kitchen. Instead of finding her at the counter, Gohan found his mother sleeping at the table with her arms under her head for support. I guess she overworked herself, he joked lightly.
Gohan went over to her, carefully pulling her out of the seat and into his arms. Slowly, he made his way back upstairs, turning out the light by way of his teeth. Along the way, Chichi curled herself into Gohan's chest, causing him to stop in his tracks. He looked down oddly at his mother's actions.
What's she doing? he whispered. He was answered by a soft sigh escaping her lips, followed by a single utterance.
She's dreaming about Dad? Gohan whispered. He blinked a couple of times before letting a soft smile set on his face. It'll be nice to see him again I'll talk to her later about this dream. He resumed walking, making his way to his mother's room. He set her on the bed and pulled a cover around her, letting the sheets be her new warmth. She wiggled around for a moment before finding a comfortable spot to settle in.
Night Mom, he said, pulling the door closed as he left. He returned to his room, putting the new sheets on his bed before climbing back in. Gohan was thankful that Goten didn't wake up this time to his little outburst.
He got to sleep after ten minutes, and for some indescribable reason, he would never dream this dream again.
* * *
It seemed that waking up from a somewhat erotic dream made Videl's mood even worse. At first, she didn't care much about the soaked sheets. Those could be easily replaced. What bothered her was the fact that her bra happened to feel a little bit tighter at this moment, her panties had a different wet spot on them then what she had on the bed sheets, and the person that was the topic of her dreams was the one she had the most dislike to at the current time.
fucking jerk, she muttered. She looked over to Kagero, seeing the young girl sleeping fitfully. Lucky you not having to worry about fucking boys.
She rolled out of bed, removing and discarding her undergarments. Videl opted for only a new pair of panties, for she had her nightgown lying on the floor next to the bed. She carried it over her chest, exiting the room and making her way down the hall. She made a passing glance at a clock set next to the bathroom door.
It's only eleven fifteen. Faye is still going to be up. She made a look of irritation before locking herself in the bathroom. Videl positioned herself in front of the sink, pulling apart her pigtails while turning on the cold water. She dunked her head in, letting the water cool her off.
Why him? Why that fucking jerk? she asked, looking into the mirror. The dream came back to her vaguely. She remembered opening a door of sorts and standing by a bed. There was a guy that came in and she made idle talk with him before he advanced towards her. They ended up on the bed and he ended up telling her that he wanted her desperately.
That was before the light shone on his face, showing Gohan in all his glory.
Had it been anyone else, Videl would have shrugged it off, not giving a second glance at a weird fantasy with another man – or woman, if it ever occurred. It had been one of the few people that she didn't want to see at this time though, and it made her sour.
Videl resorted to tying her hair back into a single ponytail, since she knew it would be too much of a hassle to tie it any other way. It would be back in her normal pigtails when she woke up the next morning, and it wouldn't take her long to tie them back anyway. She grabbed a new set of bed sheets and held them to her naked chest, picking up her nightgown on the way out of the bathroom.
As she made her way back to her room, she looked down the hallway, seeing a light emanating from the stairwell. I'm not talking to her, Videl muttered. She slowly reentered her room and locked the door before making her way back to her bed. Looking over to Kagero and noticing that she was asleep, she dropped everything to the floor, removing the sheets and haphazardly tossing the new set on. She climbed into bed as she was and tightly wrapped the covers around her body.
The last thing she did before finally settling completely was setting her alarm clock to wake her up five minutes earlier than normal. Videl yawned and fell back into her pillows, falling asleep four minutes later, muttering about Gohan and how much of a jerk he was.
She too would never have this dream again.
* * *
End Part Six
* * *
Pre-reads none. Well, I did it myself this time, so it might suck more than normal. I'm not really sure what happened to my two beta readers this time though. Court has a good reason I'll have to question Mike about his notable absence.
Parallel and Perpendicular
A romance/fiction story by ShaggyDiz
Chapter One: You May Think You Hate Me
Part Six: Face of an Unwanted Individual
* * *
Begin Part Six
* * *
Just as the wind picked up even more, they creaked open, and for dear life, he pulled himself inside, pulling the gate shut as best he could before running to an archway. He breathed a deep sigh of relief, finally thankful for receiving some sort of shelter.
It didn't stop a crossing wind though, for as he stood there, he got a deep chill from the mixing of the wind and his damp clothes. He got nowhere trying to rub his arms down, and he knew that he would eventually get sick standing there.
He desperately looked around for any sort of enclosed shelter, but found none in the archway he was in. Looking out though, he happened to see a wooden door in the distance. It was facing away from the wind, so he knew that it wouldn't be jammed closed or held wide open. He held his hand out into the wind, hoping for a slight break. Standing like that for nearly thirty seconds, he finally felt the break he was looking for and took off, heading out once again into the pouring rain, only this time it came more from above him than from the side.
It took him ten seconds to cover the distance between the archway and the tower, and in those ten seconds, the wind unpredictably – or predictably, in case of viewpoint – change, slamming right into the door. It took all of his might – and another wind change – to finally pull the door open. He threw his body inside, just as the wind turned again, slamming the door and holding it shut.
he muttered, catching his breath as best he could. He climbed to his knees and looked straight up, his eyes going wide at the site of the stairwell before him. It was a spiral staircase, going up ten stories easily. He leveled down some, coming upon a figure about halfway up.
A girl? he questioned, his voice filled with curious confusion. There was a soft laughter in the tower before the sound of feet running filled the air. The girl had started to climb the stairs, looking down every two or three steps she took to see if he was following. He stayed on his feet for a few more moments before standing up, preparing to fly up and greet her at the top.
The problem with that was he couldn't fly up. What the hell? he said aloud, looking down at his feet and wondering if the proverbial magic boots of energy stored within him disappeared to. He shrugged before looking up again at the stairs, seeing the girl now up three-quarters of the way. He took to the stairs, taking the steps two at a time in an attempt to get to the top faster.
He reached the top in about three minutes, slowing his pace as he climbed higher and higher up. Pausing for a few moments to catch his breath at the top, he slowly made his way down the single hallway, arriving in front of the only door there. It was slightly open, and he took that as an invitation to enter. He pushed the door open and quietly stepped in, closing it behind him and moving into the dark room.
He looked over to his left, seeing the only light in the room coming from a window. There wasn't much light – just the general blue dark associated with the night – so he could gauge the true depth of the room. He saw a lone coat stand by the window, and in the distance, he saw the edge of a bed with its covers hanging over the side.
It wasn't until a lightning strike outside showed the true size of the room – and the revealing of the room's other occupant. The light, in that brief instant, showed the girl that he had been following. She was set in a long white nightgown that hung to her body nicely. She was petite, but not too petite, and she was perfectly proportioned for her size. He couldn't see her head though, as the lightning strike didn't reach that far.
Don't worry I won't hurt you, he said reassuringly, hoping that she didn't think him as a serial killer of young women. I just need a space for the night, and I'll be gone by morning, after this storm lifts. He took off his jacket, hanging it over the coat rack before moving forward, coming into the soft light provided by the window. He looked at it again, hearing the wind slam off of it. The window creaked noisily, and he wondered how the single pane of glass held its place.
It'll hold. It's been through worse, she said softly. He redirected his attention to her, trying hard to focus on where she was. He heard the bed rattle slightly, and he figured that she had taken to sitting on it.
That voice
Where should I stay? he asked her. The clothes on my back are my only belongings, though I can wait for my jacket to dry and sleep on that. He turned to look out the window, trying to see anything out in the distance. Even a flash of lightning couldn't penetrate the thick, pounding rain.
You will stay with me, in my bed, she answered back, her voice as soft as it was before.
He was shocked, to say the least. He looked in her direction, still unable to see her. I wish not to stay in your bed, he said after recovering. It would be indecent. What would your parents say? It was safe to say that she was young, around seventeen or eighteen. Someone of that age wouldn't have an entire tower – much less a castle – to herself.
My parents have no say. They are away on business. She lit a candle and placed it on an end table. Even then, he couldn't see her face.
It was like she had none.
As for this storm, it has been like this for three straight days. It will continue to be like this for three more. She stood up and walked to him, stopping mere inches from his body. He looked down into her face, and even with the added candlelight, he still couldn't see her face.
You have no choice but to stay with me. She grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him with her. Knowing where the bed was, she fell down onto it, pulling him on top of her.
I know that voice
What are you doing? he asked her, though he didn't know why. In a sense, he answered his own question, judging by the way he was slowly being manhandled.
I wish to make love to you. She brought her right hand around his neck, pulling him to her lips. It was a soft, passionate kiss set solely on the lips, as it was her hope that he would want more.
And he did, responding by kissing her in earnest. His arms found their way around her back, supporting her body. Meanwhile, her free arm found its way to his shirt, and in one swift movement, three buttons were yanked off.
Where have I heard this voice?
He gasped on her mouth, confused and yet aroused by her fiery nature. He reluctantly released the lip lock though; moving away from her face and breathing in some much needed air. She caught her breath as well while removing the last remaining buttons of his shirt. She slipped her hands underneath the rain soaked cloth and locked them around his lower back.
All the while, they were looking into each other's eyes, and for the first time, he recognized something from this girl.
Soft, blue eyes
Why do you want this? he asked her.
That's when she moved up next to his ear and whispered: I'm desperate.
It's her
Fuck me now.
Videl
And then he woke up.
They're drenched, he muttered. I got to get some new ones. He got out of bed, idly looking at his clock. It read twelve twenty-three.
Gohan removed the sheets, tossing them in a random corner of his room. He pulled on a pair of shorts, covering his boxers, before walking out of the room, heading straight for the bathroom. He stuck his head underneath the facet, turning on the cold water and letting his head get cooled off. He eventually got out from under it, coming up and looking straight in the mirror.
Why her? he said aloud. Why did I dream about her?
Was it her in that dream last week as well? He knew the answer to the question, but then, it only left him in a greater state of confusion. He had met Videl earlier, and yet, he already had four dreams about her. He didn't want to start worrying about it now though. School was in less than seven hours, and he really wanted to get back to sleep.
Turning to the closet, he pulled out a new set of covers, tucking them under his arm. He began walking back to his room when he made a small glance down the stairs. The light is still on, he muttered. Should I talk to her? Against better judgment – and the need for sleep – Gohan descended the stairs, looking to see if his mom was still awake, slaving away at the now current day's lunch.
he asked, peeking his head into the kitchen. Instead of finding her at the counter, Gohan found his mother sleeping at the table with her arms under her head for support. I guess she overworked herself, he joked lightly.
Gohan went over to her, carefully pulling her out of the seat and into his arms. Slowly, he made his way back upstairs, turning out the light by way of his teeth. Along the way, Chichi curled herself into Gohan's chest, causing him to stop in his tracks. He looked down oddly at his mother's actions.
What's she doing? he whispered. He was answered by a soft sigh escaping her lips, followed by a single utterance.
She's dreaming about Dad? Gohan whispered. He blinked a couple of times before letting a soft smile set on his face. It'll be nice to see him again I'll talk to her later about this dream. He resumed walking, making his way to his mother's room. He set her on the bed and pulled a cover around her, letting the sheets be her new warmth. She wiggled around for a moment before finding a comfortable spot to settle in.
Night Mom, he said, pulling the door closed as he left. He returned to his room, putting the new sheets on his bed before climbing back in. Gohan was thankful that Goten didn't wake up this time to his little outburst.
He got to sleep after ten minutes, and for some indescribable reason, he would never dream this dream again.
fucking jerk, she muttered. She looked over to Kagero, seeing the young girl sleeping fitfully. Lucky you not having to worry about fucking boys.
She rolled out of bed, removing and discarding her undergarments. Videl opted for only a new pair of panties, for she had her nightgown lying on the floor next to the bed. She carried it over her chest, exiting the room and making her way down the hall. She made a passing glance at a clock set next to the bathroom door.
It's only eleven fifteen. Faye is still going to be up. She made a look of irritation before locking herself in the bathroom. Videl positioned herself in front of the sink, pulling apart her pigtails while turning on the cold water. She dunked her head in, letting the water cool her off.
Why him? Why that fucking jerk? she asked, looking into the mirror. The dream came back to her vaguely. She remembered opening a door of sorts and standing by a bed. There was a guy that came in and she made idle talk with him before he advanced towards her. They ended up on the bed and he ended up telling her that he wanted her desperately.
That was before the light shone on his face, showing Gohan in all his glory.
Had it been anyone else, Videl would have shrugged it off, not giving a second glance at a weird fantasy with another man – or woman, if it ever occurred. It had been one of the few people that she didn't want to see at this time though, and it made her sour.
Videl resorted to tying her hair back into a single ponytail, since she knew it would be too much of a hassle to tie it any other way. It would be back in her normal pigtails when she woke up the next morning, and it wouldn't take her long to tie them back anyway. She grabbed a new set of bed sheets and held them to her naked chest, picking up her nightgown on the way out of the bathroom.
As she made her way back to her room, she looked down the hallway, seeing a light emanating from the stairwell. I'm not talking to her, Videl muttered. She slowly reentered her room and locked the door before making her way back to her bed. Looking over to Kagero and noticing that she was asleep, she dropped everything to the floor, removing the sheets and haphazardly tossing the new set on. She climbed into bed as she was and tightly wrapped the covers around her body.
The last thing she did before finally settling completely was setting her alarm clock to wake her up five minutes earlier than normal. Videl yawned and fell back into her pillows, falling asleep four minutes later, muttering about Gohan and how much of a jerk he was.
She too would never have this dream again.
End Part Six
* * *