Finding Hope
Disclaimer: Gee... Do I look creative enough to come up with something like our beloved anime? No? Well, obviously I didn't then! But... I'd love to own my very own Vejiita... *sighs sadly* Alas, it will never happen.
By: Selenity Jade (Jadesama@aol.com)
Chapter Seven: Buruma's Return
Rating: PG13
Vejiita glared around the empty room, his fists clenched at his sides, his entire posture stiff with barely suppressed rage. Anger was what fueled him now. As long as he held onto that rage, he was functioning. It didn't matter that his soldiers were even more fearful of him now. It didn't matter that most thought he had snapped finally. It didn't matter they avoided him like the plague unless absolutely necessary. None of that mattered to the angry Saiyajin no Ouji.
He growled softly under his breath, pacing in the large, empty sitting room, eyeing the white box on it. He glared at the box, as if he had a personal vendetta against the inanimate object. It would have been humorous to Vejiita if he had dared let go of that rage that kept him going. Kept him from feeling things he should not. Anger was fine. Anger was not weak. Anger was not shameful.
He finally stalked over to the table and snatched the white box from it and looked down at it. He popped the lid with a single movement, eyeing the capsule within it with just as much anger as he had the box. He picked one randomly and clicked the button, tossing it gently, despite the urge to throw it as hard as he could, on the floor. After a small explosion that caused the Saiyajin no Ouji to blink, a large chest sat in front of him. A large blue chest. Simple. He watched the chest with more than anger, walking slowly towards it.
Just as he reached it, a timid knock interrupted him. He snarled. "What!" he roared. 'Keep that anger going, idiot. Keep it fueled.'
Bardock peaked his head into the room cautiously. "Vejiita-sama? We enter the Amudeku quadrant in one hour."
"Fine," he hissed, his voice filled with deadly rage, an all-consuming rage. "How long since she was taken?" Vejiita demanded.
The third-class warrior blinked. "A month and a half, Sire."
Vejiita growled loudly. "Fine. Out."
"Yes, Sire," Bardock said quietly, leaving the Saiyajin no Ouji alone with his rage.
Vejiita snapped the latch on the chest open and lift the lid angrily. He blinked at what lay within it and his beloved anger fled him. And he was left exhausted. Exhausted and grieved. Hurting.
He lifted the little personal items out of the chest. A blue book, with images of people he could only assume were her friends and family. How happy she looked. Happy with them, her smiled graced every image. He grimaced. She rarely smiled when she had been there; her eyes had always held a deep pain within them. But in those pictures, he saw her before. Saw her happy, angry, playful, in some she was even sad, and a few with her crying joyfully. He grimaced again and shut the book.
He picked up a picture frame, snarling at it when he saw a human kissing the blue-haired female on the cheek and she was smiling brilliantly. He felt an irrational pain in his chest that he had never given her any reason to smile, not like that. He snuffed out that emotion, trying to bring back the rage that had kept him going for this passed month and a half. But it eluded him.
He snapped the lid closed on her chest and knelt there, silently, beside it. He was weak. After all these damn years of priding himself on being the strongest warrior outside of Furiza, he really wasn't. He was as weak as a third-class fool. He always had impeccable control over his feelings, his emotions. He didn't care for anyone, never even liked anyone, not even his father. He didn't feel, damn it! Yet here he was, the strongest Saiyajin warrior, on his knees in the room of his 'mistress', fucking hurting because of what she was put through. He knew she had to be dead by now. She couldn't have survived this long, damn it. She couldn't have. She was too weak, too vulnerable, too... He shook his head angrily.
'No, I need anger! Not pain and weakness! Anger. Go destroy Zarbon for her. Anger, vengeance. Not pain, regret, grief and, loneliness... damn it!' He growled and rose, stalking from the room. He hadn't even touched it since she had been gone. 'Stupid weak emotions.' What the hell is wrong with him? He didn't actually care for her, did he? Care that she had been taken from him, raped, and by now, dead? He growled. And her selflessness amazed him. She had sacrificed herself so that they may live, for not a goddamn thing but that he and his warriors survived. He'd avenge her, kill Zarbon, and then he'd travel to Namek. And wish the fool Onna back... He couldn't believe he was going to do something so emotional, so... selfless.
Gods, he hated her.
~~~
Buruma was rudely awakened from her nightmare world with a kick to her ribs. She screamed out and flung herself away from her assailant. She then looked up fearfully, her eyes narrowing as she came face to face with the man that had taken everything from her, her life, her virginity, and her pride. Everything.
"Zarbon," she whispered, cursing herself for the fear her voice betrayed.
"Well, little female. It seems that Vejiita's ship has entered this quadrant and will find us soon. You'll be going back to the bastard. Aren't you happy?" he sneered.
Buruma flinched, but didn't back down, her insides in knots. She felt the need to be sick, but swallowed. She didn't think she'd survive throwing up on him...
"I'm disappointed I didn't get you more than one night, but, well, it was enjoyable. It isn't often I get to take someone's virginity." He laughed cruelly. "Now, it's time to be beaten a bit... The worse you look, the better," he said with a smirk.
Buruma keened softly in the back of her throat as the man wrapped his hand around her throat and threw her into the wall. She mercifully hit her head hard enough to render her unconscious and she didn't feel anymore.
~~~
"Furiza," Vejiita hissed, his voice low and angry.
"Hello, Vejiita. About time you found me. I've been waiting for you," the white lizard said. He eyed the Saiyajin from his side of the vidscreen. "I thought I'd be nice to you for a change."
"Oh, really?" Vejiita sneered.
"Yes, and I'm sure you'll just love my present, monkey prince."
Vejiita growled. "Not unless it's Zarbon. I would like to pay him back," he growled.
Furiza chuckled. "Well, I'll give you two choices, Vejiita, my dear."
Vejiita arched an eyebrow. "They are?"
"I could give you Zarbon, if you *really* want him, but I think you'd rather have what I had in mind in the first place..."
"And that is?"
"Your female."
"She survived?!" he exclaimed in shock and horror.
Furiza chuckled. "Oh, yeah. She's alive, all right. A bit bloody right now, but alive." He laughed a bit harder. "Vejiita, you should have told me you weren't fucking her, it would have made things so much easier."
Vejiita blinked. "What are you talking about?"
Furiza smirked. "When she was brought on board, I met her. And I found out something very interesting, monkey. I smelled her... she was untouched!" Furiza cracked up happily. "Untouched! She hadn't been in your bed like that after all! What a great joke, Vejiita!"
Vejiita's mind completely shut down. Untouched? A virgin?
"But, well, I decided to have your friend Zarbon have her and make sure to keep her alive. She's alive, but quite a mess," the monster said with a grin. "Now, which do you want more? Zarbon or the female? Now that she's spoiled goods. Which one, monkey prince?" he taunted.
Vejiita snarled. He then chose the only one he could.
"The Onna."
~~~
Vejiita blinked down at the bloody mess that had once been the beautiful blue-haired female he had acquired nearly two months ago. He growled loudly, unaware that he had done so. He snarled at Dodoria who laughed happily and skipped off the ship. If he thought Furiza would have tolerated it, he would have killed the pink blob. He had dropped, *dropped*, the Onna on the floor. With her injuries!
He could feel Bardock come up behind him, but ignored the third-class warrior, and knelt beside the wounded female. He touched her bloody face, which was so covered in cuts and bruises that she was damn near unrecognizable. But her hair gave her away, even as bloody as it was. "Bardock!" he snapped.
"Yes, Sire?" the warrior replied, both nervous and worried.
"Go to the medical wing and get a rejuvenation tank ready."
"At once!" the warrior stated in relief and ran to do as ordered.
Vejiita carefully scooped her into his arms, his heart contracting painfully as he felt her blood through his clothing, soaking them. She whimpered slightly in her unconscious state and he found his heart going out to the female. He had often received beatings this bad... but he had strength, power. She was so frail. And he was scared to death he would lose her.
He walked swiftly towards the medical wing, careful not to jar her, fearing dislodging broken bones or worse. He entered the now empty medical wing and nodded at Bardock. He set her down gently on one of the tables, gently tearing away the bits of clothing she still had left, wincing with every whimper and moan of pain that came from her lips. When she lay naked before him, not that you could tell with the blood, he motioned Bardock into opening the tank. He moved to pick her up, blinking in shock as her eyes opened suddenly. Wide, frightened, soulful eyes stared at him, no recognition appearing when they settled on him.
"Onna," he whispered softly. "Onna."
She blinked in confusion, flinching from him as she noticed his proximately.
"Onna," he said again, this time more firmly. "Onna, you're safe. Do you understand?"
She blinked rapidly at him, her mouth opening, but nothing emerged. She tried again, this time succeeding in a slight croak.
::Onna?:: he projected into her mind, worried suddenly that her voice might have been damaged and things like that weren't always fixed in the rejuvenation tanks. And he felt an odd pain at the thought of never hearing her voice again. ::Onna, do you know me?::
::Vejiita?:: her weak mind voice reached him, hesitantly, fearfully.
He smirked gently. ::Good. You're on my ship now, understand? You're safe. But I've got to put you in the rejuvenation tank. Got that?::
::Yes,:: she said weakly.
::Onna... Gods, I'm... sorry. I'm so sorry.::
She flinched slightly. ::No, not now. Can't think of it, please... don't mention it.::
He blinked and nodded. ::Okay, Onna. I'm going to pick you up, okay? It might hurt. A lot.::
::Okay...::
He grimaced and picked her up gently, pretending not to notice her fear, her fear of him. He repressed the growl that rose in his throat and moved her into the rejuvenation tank, quickly, but gently, setting her up in it. As the fluid began to fill the tank, he placed a gloved hand on the glass as he watched her wide, fearful eyes.
::Onna. You are safe,:: he whispered into her mind again. ::I swear. No one will touch you here.::
::Thanks... for coming for me...::
He grimaced. ::I shouldn't have given you up,:: he muttered angrily.
::No, it was all you could do...::
::No! I should have-::
::Don't... please...::
He sighed inwardly. ::Onna, why did you not tell me you were untouched? Why did you not tell me that!?::
::Either way, I had to go, it wouldn't have made a difference...::
Vejiita growled and leaned his forehead against the tank, closing his eyes. "Bardock, leave."
"Yes, Sire."
After he felt the third-class warrior leave him alone, he sighed aloud. ::I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was too weak to protect you... from that.::
::Don't. Not your fault. You came for me, just as you promised.::
::Not soon enough, damn it! I shouldn't have let you go!::
::It's over now...::
::Not for you,:: he muttered. ::It's not over for you... not yet. Sleep, Onna. Heal. You'll be let out tomorrow morning...::
::Vejiita?::
::Hn?::
::Thank you.::
He snorted softly and pulled a large chair over to the tank, sitting down and crossing his arms. He sat staring up at her, the water having long since turned pinkish-blue from her blood. But her nakedness now showed. As did her injuries. And he wanted to kill Zarbon even more than he had thought possible. He didn't just want the bastard dead, or just killed slowly. He wanted that idiot's nuts on a platter and fed to him... Wanted to torture the bastard for days, weeks, months, hell, even years!
::You're staying here?:: she asked, her mind betraying her surprise.
He smirked gently. ::No way am I letting you out of my sight.::
::Oh. I thought you'd have something more important than me...::
::Not at the moment,:: he teased, making sure it was gentle and not as harsh a comment as he usually gave her. ::Let the tank heal you. Pass out now.::
She shuddered. ::I'm afraid to...::
::Nightmares,:: he stated more than asked.
::Yes.::
::Sleep. I'll guard your dreams.::
She gave him an unreadable look. ::What?::
::Just sleep, Onna. I swear you will not have nightmares.::
She gave him a disbelieving look, but grudgingly agreed to sleep. She closed her eyes and he felt her mind slow as she began to drift off. ::Vejiita?::
::Hn?::
::I mean it, thank you. For coming as you promised... I thought... that you might not.::
He growled softly. ::I always keep my word. Sleep.:: He breathed a sigh when her mind finally went into a sleepy state. He watched her silently throughout the night, keeping tabs on her dreams, pushing away the bad ones by introducing nicer thoughts into her mind... He nearly shuddered at that. He'd be damned if anyone knew he was doing this. It was a trick some Saiyajin parents used on a child that was weak-willed and saw something during their first battle that gave them nightmares. Saiyajin parents learn the trick from their parents, and now here he was using something he never thought he would ever need. Something he had called his mother demented for forcing him to learn. And for the first time in his life, he prayed a silently thanks to his late mother for the foresight.
~~~
AN: Okay, that's just plain OOC. No way around it. No idea where it came from... It's just weird!
Lovies!
Disclaimer: Gee... Do I look creative enough to come up with something like our beloved anime? No? Well, obviously I didn't then! But... I'd love to own my very own Vejiita... *sighs sadly* Alas, it will never happen.
By: Selenity Jade (Jadesama@aol.com)
Chapter Seven: Buruma's Return
Rating: PG13
Vejiita glared around the empty room, his fists clenched at his sides, his entire posture stiff with barely suppressed rage. Anger was what fueled him now. As long as he held onto that rage, he was functioning. It didn't matter that his soldiers were even more fearful of him now. It didn't matter that most thought he had snapped finally. It didn't matter they avoided him like the plague unless absolutely necessary. None of that mattered to the angry Saiyajin no Ouji.
He growled softly under his breath, pacing in the large, empty sitting room, eyeing the white box on it. He glared at the box, as if he had a personal vendetta against the inanimate object. It would have been humorous to Vejiita if he had dared let go of that rage that kept him going. Kept him from feeling things he should not. Anger was fine. Anger was not weak. Anger was not shameful.
He finally stalked over to the table and snatched the white box from it and looked down at it. He popped the lid with a single movement, eyeing the capsule within it with just as much anger as he had the box. He picked one randomly and clicked the button, tossing it gently, despite the urge to throw it as hard as he could, on the floor. After a small explosion that caused the Saiyajin no Ouji to blink, a large chest sat in front of him. A large blue chest. Simple. He watched the chest with more than anger, walking slowly towards it.
Just as he reached it, a timid knock interrupted him. He snarled. "What!" he roared. 'Keep that anger going, idiot. Keep it fueled.'
Bardock peaked his head into the room cautiously. "Vejiita-sama? We enter the Amudeku quadrant in one hour."
"Fine," he hissed, his voice filled with deadly rage, an all-consuming rage. "How long since she was taken?" Vejiita demanded.
The third-class warrior blinked. "A month and a half, Sire."
Vejiita growled loudly. "Fine. Out."
"Yes, Sire," Bardock said quietly, leaving the Saiyajin no Ouji alone with his rage.
Vejiita snapped the latch on the chest open and lift the lid angrily. He blinked at what lay within it and his beloved anger fled him. And he was left exhausted. Exhausted and grieved. Hurting.
He lifted the little personal items out of the chest. A blue book, with images of people he could only assume were her friends and family. How happy she looked. Happy with them, her smiled graced every image. He grimaced. She rarely smiled when she had been there; her eyes had always held a deep pain within them. But in those pictures, he saw her before. Saw her happy, angry, playful, in some she was even sad, and a few with her crying joyfully. He grimaced again and shut the book.
He picked up a picture frame, snarling at it when he saw a human kissing the blue-haired female on the cheek and she was smiling brilliantly. He felt an irrational pain in his chest that he had never given her any reason to smile, not like that. He snuffed out that emotion, trying to bring back the rage that had kept him going for this passed month and a half. But it eluded him.
He snapped the lid closed on her chest and knelt there, silently, beside it. He was weak. After all these damn years of priding himself on being the strongest warrior outside of Furiza, he really wasn't. He was as weak as a third-class fool. He always had impeccable control over his feelings, his emotions. He didn't care for anyone, never even liked anyone, not even his father. He didn't feel, damn it! Yet here he was, the strongest Saiyajin warrior, on his knees in the room of his 'mistress', fucking hurting because of what she was put through. He knew she had to be dead by now. She couldn't have survived this long, damn it. She couldn't have. She was too weak, too vulnerable, too... He shook his head angrily.
'No, I need anger! Not pain and weakness! Anger. Go destroy Zarbon for her. Anger, vengeance. Not pain, regret, grief and, loneliness... damn it!' He growled and rose, stalking from the room. He hadn't even touched it since she had been gone. 'Stupid weak emotions.' What the hell is wrong with him? He didn't actually care for her, did he? Care that she had been taken from him, raped, and by now, dead? He growled. And her selflessness amazed him. She had sacrificed herself so that they may live, for not a goddamn thing but that he and his warriors survived. He'd avenge her, kill Zarbon, and then he'd travel to Namek. And wish the fool Onna back... He couldn't believe he was going to do something so emotional, so... selfless.
Gods, he hated her.
~~~
Buruma was rudely awakened from her nightmare world with a kick to her ribs. She screamed out and flung herself away from her assailant. She then looked up fearfully, her eyes narrowing as she came face to face with the man that had taken everything from her, her life, her virginity, and her pride. Everything.
"Zarbon," she whispered, cursing herself for the fear her voice betrayed.
"Well, little female. It seems that Vejiita's ship has entered this quadrant and will find us soon. You'll be going back to the bastard. Aren't you happy?" he sneered.
Buruma flinched, but didn't back down, her insides in knots. She felt the need to be sick, but swallowed. She didn't think she'd survive throwing up on him...
"I'm disappointed I didn't get you more than one night, but, well, it was enjoyable. It isn't often I get to take someone's virginity." He laughed cruelly. "Now, it's time to be beaten a bit... The worse you look, the better," he said with a smirk.
Buruma keened softly in the back of her throat as the man wrapped his hand around her throat and threw her into the wall. She mercifully hit her head hard enough to render her unconscious and she didn't feel anymore.
~~~
"Furiza," Vejiita hissed, his voice low and angry.
"Hello, Vejiita. About time you found me. I've been waiting for you," the white lizard said. He eyed the Saiyajin from his side of the vidscreen. "I thought I'd be nice to you for a change."
"Oh, really?" Vejiita sneered.
"Yes, and I'm sure you'll just love my present, monkey prince."
Vejiita growled. "Not unless it's Zarbon. I would like to pay him back," he growled.
Furiza chuckled. "Well, I'll give you two choices, Vejiita, my dear."
Vejiita arched an eyebrow. "They are?"
"I could give you Zarbon, if you *really* want him, but I think you'd rather have what I had in mind in the first place..."
"And that is?"
"Your female."
"She survived?!" he exclaimed in shock and horror.
Furiza chuckled. "Oh, yeah. She's alive, all right. A bit bloody right now, but alive." He laughed a bit harder. "Vejiita, you should have told me you weren't fucking her, it would have made things so much easier."
Vejiita blinked. "What are you talking about?"
Furiza smirked. "When she was brought on board, I met her. And I found out something very interesting, monkey. I smelled her... she was untouched!" Furiza cracked up happily. "Untouched! She hadn't been in your bed like that after all! What a great joke, Vejiita!"
Vejiita's mind completely shut down. Untouched? A virgin?
"But, well, I decided to have your friend Zarbon have her and make sure to keep her alive. She's alive, but quite a mess," the monster said with a grin. "Now, which do you want more? Zarbon or the female? Now that she's spoiled goods. Which one, monkey prince?" he taunted.
Vejiita snarled. He then chose the only one he could.
"The Onna."
~~~
Vejiita blinked down at the bloody mess that had once been the beautiful blue-haired female he had acquired nearly two months ago. He growled loudly, unaware that he had done so. He snarled at Dodoria who laughed happily and skipped off the ship. If he thought Furiza would have tolerated it, he would have killed the pink blob. He had dropped, *dropped*, the Onna on the floor. With her injuries!
He could feel Bardock come up behind him, but ignored the third-class warrior, and knelt beside the wounded female. He touched her bloody face, which was so covered in cuts and bruises that she was damn near unrecognizable. But her hair gave her away, even as bloody as it was. "Bardock!" he snapped.
"Yes, Sire?" the warrior replied, both nervous and worried.
"Go to the medical wing and get a rejuvenation tank ready."
"At once!" the warrior stated in relief and ran to do as ordered.
Vejiita carefully scooped her into his arms, his heart contracting painfully as he felt her blood through his clothing, soaking them. She whimpered slightly in her unconscious state and he found his heart going out to the female. He had often received beatings this bad... but he had strength, power. She was so frail. And he was scared to death he would lose her.
He walked swiftly towards the medical wing, careful not to jar her, fearing dislodging broken bones or worse. He entered the now empty medical wing and nodded at Bardock. He set her down gently on one of the tables, gently tearing away the bits of clothing she still had left, wincing with every whimper and moan of pain that came from her lips. When she lay naked before him, not that you could tell with the blood, he motioned Bardock into opening the tank. He moved to pick her up, blinking in shock as her eyes opened suddenly. Wide, frightened, soulful eyes stared at him, no recognition appearing when they settled on him.
"Onna," he whispered softly. "Onna."
She blinked in confusion, flinching from him as she noticed his proximately.
"Onna," he said again, this time more firmly. "Onna, you're safe. Do you understand?"
She blinked rapidly at him, her mouth opening, but nothing emerged. She tried again, this time succeeding in a slight croak.
::Onna?:: he projected into her mind, worried suddenly that her voice might have been damaged and things like that weren't always fixed in the rejuvenation tanks. And he felt an odd pain at the thought of never hearing her voice again. ::Onna, do you know me?::
::Vejiita?:: her weak mind voice reached him, hesitantly, fearfully.
He smirked gently. ::Good. You're on my ship now, understand? You're safe. But I've got to put you in the rejuvenation tank. Got that?::
::Yes,:: she said weakly.
::Onna... Gods, I'm... sorry. I'm so sorry.::
She flinched slightly. ::No, not now. Can't think of it, please... don't mention it.::
He blinked and nodded. ::Okay, Onna. I'm going to pick you up, okay? It might hurt. A lot.::
::Okay...::
He grimaced and picked her up gently, pretending not to notice her fear, her fear of him. He repressed the growl that rose in his throat and moved her into the rejuvenation tank, quickly, but gently, setting her up in it. As the fluid began to fill the tank, he placed a gloved hand on the glass as he watched her wide, fearful eyes.
::Onna. You are safe,:: he whispered into her mind again. ::I swear. No one will touch you here.::
::Thanks... for coming for me...::
He grimaced. ::I shouldn't have given you up,:: he muttered angrily.
::No, it was all you could do...::
::No! I should have-::
::Don't... please...::
He sighed inwardly. ::Onna, why did you not tell me you were untouched? Why did you not tell me that!?::
::Either way, I had to go, it wouldn't have made a difference...::
Vejiita growled and leaned his forehead against the tank, closing his eyes. "Bardock, leave."
"Yes, Sire."
After he felt the third-class warrior leave him alone, he sighed aloud. ::I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was too weak to protect you... from that.::
::Don't. Not your fault. You came for me, just as you promised.::
::Not soon enough, damn it! I shouldn't have let you go!::
::It's over now...::
::Not for you,:: he muttered. ::It's not over for you... not yet. Sleep, Onna. Heal. You'll be let out tomorrow morning...::
::Vejiita?::
::Hn?::
::Thank you.::
He snorted softly and pulled a large chair over to the tank, sitting down and crossing his arms. He sat staring up at her, the water having long since turned pinkish-blue from her blood. But her nakedness now showed. As did her injuries. And he wanted to kill Zarbon even more than he had thought possible. He didn't just want the bastard dead, or just killed slowly. He wanted that idiot's nuts on a platter and fed to him... Wanted to torture the bastard for days, weeks, months, hell, even years!
::You're staying here?:: she asked, her mind betraying her surprise.
He smirked gently. ::No way am I letting you out of my sight.::
::Oh. I thought you'd have something more important than me...::
::Not at the moment,:: he teased, making sure it was gentle and not as harsh a comment as he usually gave her. ::Let the tank heal you. Pass out now.::
She shuddered. ::I'm afraid to...::
::Nightmares,:: he stated more than asked.
::Yes.::
::Sleep. I'll guard your dreams.::
She gave him an unreadable look. ::What?::
::Just sleep, Onna. I swear you will not have nightmares.::
She gave him a disbelieving look, but grudgingly agreed to sleep. She closed her eyes and he felt her mind slow as she began to drift off. ::Vejiita?::
::Hn?::
::I mean it, thank you. For coming as you promised... I thought... that you might not.::
He growled softly. ::I always keep my word. Sleep.:: He breathed a sigh when her mind finally went into a sleepy state. He watched her silently throughout the night, keeping tabs on her dreams, pushing away the bad ones by introducing nicer thoughts into her mind... He nearly shuddered at that. He'd be damned if anyone knew he was doing this. It was a trick some Saiyajin parents used on a child that was weak-willed and saw something during their first battle that gave them nightmares. Saiyajin parents learn the trick from their parents, and now here he was using something he never thought he would ever need. Something he had called his mother demented for forcing him to learn. And for the first time in his life, he prayed a silently thanks to his late mother for the foresight.
~~~
AN: Okay, that's just plain OOC. No way around it. No idea where it came from... It's just weird!
Lovies!
