Woohoo! I squeezed another chappie around that huge writer's block in my head! Some revelations included. Feel free to review. Ta!
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To Me
Chapter 8: Unfold
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My hands are high
And I'm holding out, holding up
Because I figure that I just might make it
And I'm waking empty but seldom sleeping
And the words repeat breathing histories into stories untold
And I unfold
(Unfold - James Mraz)
Anysis stood over the kneeling Saiyan, his hands clasped over his ears, his face screwed up in agony.
:I'm here less than a day and I've already caused you pain. But you didn't listen…:
She used a little of her reserve power to form clothes for herself, becoming unsteady on her feet as her vision dimmed. "Vegeta…" She managed to croak out before her world started to spin. "I think I need to lie down." 'Having a lie down' was her grandmother's answer for every ill. :I suppose it is still a pretty good idea.: She stumbled past him through the doorway, not sure if he heard her and not really caring. About half way to her bed, her vision blurred and then blacked out completely and her head felt fuzzy. Anysis half smiled. :That'd be right.:
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Vegeta reached out with one hand, the other still clutching an injured ear. He was about the grab the woman and demand an explanation when she fell to the floor like a rag doll. He stood staring at her crumpled form for a while, debating whether or not to just leave her there when he heard a small sigh.
"The attacks are becoming more and more frequent. And she was drained after the trip here and all the changes she made." There was another sigh. "Thank the Goddess she was in the water at the time, or we'd have lost her."
Vegeta slowly turned to his left and found himself looking at a tiny woman, approximately the size of his hand. She had silver skin, sky blue hair and black eyes and wore a tiny pair of jeans with a pink shirt. The floating pixie turned to look at him.
"And at least he didn't see you."
He stared at her blankly. :Has the universe gone mad?: His ears ached and his head throbbed and now he was imagining things. All because of the woman. :I'm going to get an explanation out of her…: He grit his teeth as a wave of dizziness washed over him. : …after some rest.: He went to walk around her unconscious body when the pixie flew in front of him.
"Aren't you going to pick her up?"
"No."
She frowned. "A Prince you may be, but princely you are not."
"Whatever." He swatted her away, but his hand went through her. :Just in my imagination. Agh, my head…:
"Are you usually this rude, or does it get worse?" She folded her arms. "Hardly the behaviour for a member of royalty."
"And who are you to be such an authority on royal behaviour?"
The pixie smirked. "I am Elra, Anysis' computer."
Well, now he'd heard it all. And why was he talking to an imaginary creature again? He glanced over at the woman again. :I'm definitely getting an explanation.:
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The first thing she saw when she came to was a giant shadow looming over her. After the initial shock, she realised it was just the back of the couch. It was then she got the second shock of her life – she was on the couch. :How did that happen?:
Everything hurt as she moved to sit upright and she groaned as she put her head on her knees.
"Elra?"
"Yes, Anysis?"
"How… how long have I been out?"
There was a moment of silence before she received a reply.
"I calculate approximately 2 days, 8 hours and 36 minutes."
"2 days?!"
"And 8 hours 36 minutes, yes."
She groaned again. "No wonder I feel like I was hit by a train." Staring at her feet, she considered her next question. "How is Vegeta?"
"You can ask him yourself." A deep voice cut in.
"Vegeta?" Anysis pushed herself upright and sank back into the couch, eyeing the Saiyan wearily.
He frowned at her and folded his arms. "You look like crap."
"Thanks. I feel a lot worse." She smiled. "Well, how's my roomie?"
"Hn. Satisfactory."
"Anything interesting happen?"
He snorted. "No."
"Oh, well." Her smile faded and she stared at the floor again. "You're not going to let this little incident slide, are you?" It was more of a statement than a question and she received no reply.
"I didn't think so." Coughing a little she stood, wincing from the pain. "Oh, that hurts." She shuffled slowly towards the kitchen, under Vegeta's critical gaze.
She looked at him from the corner of her eye. "You think me weak don't you?"
He smirked. "Like an old crone."
"Yeah, well if you'd just…" She stopped and frowned. Her head had started spinning again. Unconsciously, she had reached out and grabbed hold of the nearest sturdy object to keep herself from falling over. That object was a very sturdy Saiyan Prince.
Anysis absently looked at her small hand encircling Vegeta's arm and then smiled awkwardly up at him.
"Like warm steel."
His eyes narrowed at her comment, unsure of her motives. Her face became warm and she knew her cheeks had gone a particularly unflattering shade of red. :I can't believe I said that out aloud! Water… I need water.: She continued on to the kitchen, letting her hand slip from his arm with no further comment. Reaching her goal, she grabbed a tall glass and filled it with water. In it's reflection, she saw Vegeta move to stand a couple of feet behind her.
"Well, now is as good a time as any." She turned around and leant back against the sink. I am an Aminta, from the planet Minaan."
"Never heard of it."
"It's surprisingly hard to get to from here." She smiled wistfully. "Anyway, water is my element, allowing me to manipulate it and its various forms. It also means that I'm revived by water so… bottoms up." She raised her glass and promptly poured it over her head.
"What are you doing?" Vegeta bellowed as he stepped back to avoid getting wet.
"Reviving myself." At that, the water started to glow with a blue light and she closed her eyes to revel in the feeling. "Mmmm, that's good." The water disappeared, leaving her perfectly dry. Her eyes reopened, now with a healthier spark in them.
"A few more of those and I'll be right again. Of course, I'd usually do this in the shower, but I doubt you would have given me any privacy."
When he just folded his arms in response, she shrugged and turned to fill the glass again. Her hand became unsteady as the events that led to her current condition rushed, with vivid clarity, back through her mind. :Soon, this will all end. One way… or another.:
Anysis felt her strength returning with each glassful, the water's energy slowly refilling her depleted reserves. Satisfied with the small amount of energy she had for the moment, she turned to deal with a silent and abnormally patient Vegeta. He was leaning back against the kitchen table, arms folded as usual, with a determined look on his face.
"What you witnessed in the bathroom was…" She sighed, her eyes falling to the floor. "… An act of desperation."
"Explain."
"Well, firstly you have to know that I'm not the norm where I'm from." She pushed off from the kitchen bench and walked over to the table. Pulling out a chair, she continued. "Others have the same powers that I do, – the manipulation of water and making things – but I have some abilities that make me somewhat… unique."
Seated, she stared at her hands resting limply on the tabletop. Hands that sometimes felt alien to her.
"Most people from my home are scared of me. A few want me dead. They're all happy that I'm nowhere near them." She laughed bitterly. :They know that, from here I can't kill them all.:
Anysis lifted her gaze to the Saiyan who was looking at her from over his shoulder.
"Let's just say there was an 'incident' and leave it at that."
He stared at her a moment longer before resuming his forward outlook.
"And the mist wraith?"
She winced. "Dinand. He's the exception." Her hands became fists as she looked back down at them. Anger filled her voice. "He wants me in a cage, shackled to him for the rest of my life, my powers at the ready to grant his every whim." She was shaking with rage. "I'll never let that happen! "I'll…"
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Cut off in mid-sentence, the room was eerily silent. Vegeta turned to see why the woman had stopped her diatribe and was surprised to discover a pair of red eyes staring back at him. A half-smile formed on her lips.
"It will never happen. Not while there's breath in this body." She leant her chin on her left hand. "Poor Anysis, she's chosen her champion poorly and without need. I'll handle the necessary evils." She grinned like a Cheshire cat. "I always do." Then the smile was gone. "So don't you go sticking your nose into my concerns, forcible one, or you may not like the consequences."
Suddenly, she gasped and her eyes became blue again.
"It happened again, didn't it?"
Instead of answering her, he asked a question of his own.
"What do you mean by 'champion'?"
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What does she mean? Ooohhh, some plot development coming up in the next episode:
To Me
Chapter 9: Rain