Dragonball Alternate Dimension
Chapter Fourteen
Three hours later, Akiko knelt in the living room. Trunks stood with his arms crossed and watched her.
"Soma? Can you hear me?"
He held his breath.
"Soma..." Akiko squeezed her eyes shut. "Please, can you hear me?"
Bulma bit her lip and looked up to Zarbon. It was clear that the Goddess was unable to send her thoughts to her daughter. "I can't hear you if you are trying to reply. Do as I've said. Go to your brother and live with his family." She hung her head.
"I'm so sorry," Bulma whispered.
"Hello, earth to Bulma, your son's been trapped in another dimension! Why are you feeling sorry for the responsible party?!" Niwatori scowled.
Bulma looked hurt. Tori didn't know what to say, her anger was too great, so she left the room in a huff.
"She's right and I am sorry," Akiko stood. "I wish there was something I could do. I wish my powers weren't fading. This is so frustrating!"
Zarbon's eyes lit up. "Wish?" he began to smile. He poked Bulma in the side. "Did someone say 'wish'!?"
"Wish..?" She gave him a strange look, but soon got the hint. "WISH!"
Trunks and Akiko exchanged befuddled glances.
"Don't you get it!? We'll wish Trunks back!"
Niwatori ran back into the room. "Oh my god, why didn't we think of that from the freaking get-go!?!"
"You guys have...?"
"You mean in this dimension there are..?"
"DRAGON BALLS!!!"
-*-
As evening descended on the Western Capitol, Adonai finally left the gravity chamber. His grandfather put his hand on his head and pushed him out the door. Although, this would seem like a mean gesture to the uninformed onlooker, as the elder did this, he tousled the young Prince's hair. Ado wore a satisfied grin behind his back and dragged himself to bed. Vegeta watched him go, then headed up to bed himself.
Ado walked past his father's room and slowed his pace. He masked his ki and listened carefully. There was a distinct sound of someone pacing inside. Something was up, but he was too tired to find out what it was.
He flopped down on his bed at last and fell asleep instantly.
As the boy snored lightly he began to toss and turn. "What...?" he murmured and buried his head in the covers. "Go away..!" He paused for a moment and the dream seemed to have passed. He sat bolt upright suddenly and cried out. "What!?" His eyes popped open and he looked around the room feverishly for the voice: the wispy voice that called his name. "Who's there!?" The room was dead silent. He growled and flopped back down. He'd never had a nightmare a day in his life. Why the hell was he having one now!?
-*-
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
"We can WISH Trunks back!" Niwatori jumped up and down with joy.
Akiko's face was stern. "This is good news, but I'm afraid it isn't that easy. You cannot wish him here."
"What do you mean, we can't!? Do you have any idea what we're talking about? We have Dragonballs. We can wish my Trunks back here and send this guy home!" Tori yelled at her, smiling from ear to ear. She thought she was right and was all too happy to rub it in.
Akiko was the picture of patience. "Shenlong is a magical creature and being so he cannot defy the laws of magic. I'm sure you know that he cannot bring a person who has been deceased for more than a year back from the other side." She looked to Bulma who nodded solemnly. "To bring Trunks here would create a paradox because he is technically already here." Akiko motioned to Chibi Trunks.
"But we were together back home.. er.. in Etibi," Trunks pointed out.
"Yes, the key does not have a conscious. It is the wielder's responsibility to adhere to the laws. If I had the key, I could make things right."
"So, a paradox is bad," Zarbon tried to understand what was being said.
"In a word, yes. It is my job to fix such disturbances. They add up over time and cause rifts. Dimensions can collide or be terminated because of problems like those."
"Sounds bad," he tried to sound like he DID understand.
"So what the hell can we do!?!" Tori became angry again.
"We must wish Soma and Adonai here."
"What!?" She took a few steps towards the Goddess. "You're joking!"
"No, they will bring the key to me. No matter if I am empowered or not, I will be able to control it. I will go back to Etibi, get Mirai Trunks, bring him back here, and take Adonai, Soma and Chibi Trunks back where they belong."
She didn't like it, but Niwatori was satisfied with this answer for the mean time.
"Well, let's get on it!" Zarbon looked to his mate.
"I'll go get the Dragon Radar and we'll head out immediately."
"I must remain here in case something happens." Akiko announced. Trunks narrowed his eyes and looked away from her.
"I guess I'll stay too. Just in case."
Niwatori looked from him to the stark, white-skinned Goddess. "I'm staying too. To hold down the fort."
"Suit yourself!" Bulma smiled and ran off to get the device with which she could locate the fabled Dragon Balls.
-*-
Bra put Korosette to bed and strolled down the hall. She smiled to herself and hummed lightly. She stopped at her brother's suite and made a face.
Trunks heard the knocking at his door and jumped. "Who is it?"
"It's me, Bra. Can I come in?"
He went to the door, swallowed hard and opened it. He motioned her in. She sat in a comfy chair and looked up at her brother. "What's up?" she smiled strangely.
"Nothing," he replied, a little too innocently.
"Come on, Trunks. Spill. There's something going on and I want to know what it is."
He shrugged his shoulders and tried hard not to stare at her. He thought that meeting his father all those years ago had been difficult, but this was agonizing. And once again, he couldn't tell who he really was.
She squinted at him and made a cute face. "I'll get it out of you, Bro. You can't hide whatever it is for long!" Bra got up, shook her finger at him and left him dazed. "Good night!" The door slid shut and Trunks sighed deeply.
-*-
Trunks and Niwatori went to sleep. Akiko stood and looked out at the stars. There was no moon here either, which made sense, since this was a Mirai dimension. She walked to a book shelf and pulled a volume out. "Journey To Topaz," she read the title and standing, proceeded to read it and several other books.
*
When morning came, Trunks rose first and found her still standing, turning the pages of a novel; a pile of books at her feet.
"You haven't been up long have you?" he asked groggily.
"Up?" she asked innocently. "I do not sleep."
He was taken aback by this and pouted a bit. "Do you eat?"
She shook her head.
"..Breathe?"
Again the Goddess told him no.
"That's pretty creepy, Akiko."
She shrugged and turned away from him.
"She doesn't breathe?" Niwatori appeared holding a cup of tea.
"Apparently not." Trunks shivered. He got an evil gleam in his eye. "So, you're my wife in this dimension, huh?"
Tori choked on a sip of tea. Akiko closed her eyes, but stood where she was. Trunks seemed disappointed that he couldn't get a rise out of her. He shrugged and rolled his eyes. Tori was baffled. "This is too weird." She sat down and looked to the blue-haired superior being. "Why are there two Trunks's?"
"There are a lot more than two. Thousands in fact."
"Really?"
Trunks raised an eye brow and put on a self-satisfied smirk.
She nodded. "There are also many Bulmas and Zarbons, but not all of them are together. In Etibi, Zarbon was killed long ago at the hands of Vegeta."
Trunks whirled. "THAT'S where I know his name from! He was a Freeza flunky!" He smiled, pleased he could place the name. Tori looked shocked. His smile fell. "What the hell is HE doing with my mother!?!?"
"Trunks, things have progressed differently here. Vegeta died when you were a baby. She has been alone for many years."
"Besides, she loves him!" Tori was on Akiko's side for once.
He folded his arms and pouted, but dropped it.
"How many me's are there?" Tori inquired.
Akiko glided forward. "Give me your hand." She did so, reluctantly, and Akiko closed her eyes. "Four."
"Only four?" She looked skeptical.
"And not all of them are with Trunks. There are only one of me, Adonai and Soma. At least, so far."
"So far?" Trunks chuckled a bit.
"Yes, so far," she shot back in her twinkling monotone. Suddenly, Akiko shut her eyes and lowered her head. Her face scrunched up a tiny bit. She glided slowly to a chair and seated herself.
Tori shook herself out of her thoughts. She noticed that the Goddess wasn't looking well. "What's wrong?"
"There are only a few more hours remaining until I revert."
Akiko was taller than she, but, seated, Tori could look down on her. The young woman stared at her. She didn't want to feel sorry for Akiko, but she looked pitiful. "Why don't you go back up to the guest room and lie down, Akiko."
She nodded. "That's probably a good idea. I don't know what this transition is going to be like." She struggled a bit to stand and for the first time Tori saw that she did in fact have feet; bare, white, perfectly arched feet. The dress dropped down over them and she glided up the stairs.
-*-
Adonai finished his morning routine and bowed to Vegeta.
"That was pathetic."
"I apologize, Grandfather."
"You haven't slept. You're slow to react." He caught the boy off guard and swept his feet out from under him. Adonai landed with a thud and vowed to work ten times harder that day to make up for the morning.
-*-
Akiko lay down on the bed and curled up in the fetal position. Her body was racked with spasms as her muscles re-activated. Her vocal chords seized up as they converted and her cries hissed out in a series of unholy shrieks. As her blood flowed back into her veins, the pain was too great and she lost consciousness.
*
Trunks looked up to the clock. It was four thirty. It was past the time he had arrived in this dimension yesterday. He found himself getting nervous. He stood and paced to the sliding glass doors.
"Trunks," Niwatori came up behind him. "What's it like in your world? You… Sorry. He told me a little bit about his trip to the past and his father, but I'm sure a lot has happened since then."
He turned, laughed and smiled. "Yeah, a whole lot…" She had spoken up at the right time. He needed to think about something else and story telling would sufficiently distract him.
*
Akiko woke as night was falling. She gasped involuntarily and stared at the ceiling. She listened to her breathing for a few minutes before trying to move. Everything hurt at first, as if all her limbs had fallen asleep. She rubbed her face and coughed, clearing her throat. "Unnn.." she moaned and stood slowly. She sighed as she ran her hands over her upper arms. Her muscle tone was pitiful. Passing by a mirror, she saw her reflection. The robes and haircut looked strange with her rejuvenated skin-color. She scratched her side and winced uncomfortably. Surprise dawned on her face and she tore at her gown. she removed the outer layers and sashes until only the under dress remained. She grasped the lower back and ripped a small hole. Her furry, blue tail snaked its way out of this and wrapped around her. She began to cry and hugged the appendage tightly.
*
"That's so strange..." Niwatori marveled at Trunks's stories. She looked past him and saw Akiko come around the corner.
Trunks turned and stared. "Akiko, are you ok?"
She smiled appreciatively, but was obviously embarrassed by her appearance. "I guess. I'm breathing now!"
He laughed a little before remembering their history.
"Niwatori?" she asked politely. "Would you happen to have something I could wear? I feel kinda silly..."
Tori was surprised to hear her real voice and see her smile. She was about to show her where to find some clothes when she was surprised by yet another one of her features. "You have a... a..." She pointed and her eyes bulged at the tail.
Akiko smiled wider. "Yup. It's back!"
"So you had to remove it when you became a Goddess?" Trunks asked.
She nodded. "Soma and Adonai's were removed magically as soon as they were born."
"Akiko, do you mind if I ask why this was necessary?" He wasn't happy with her having made such a decision.
"I didn't have a choice. The palace was lit by a light six times more powerful than pure moonlight."
"Ah…" He pouted, having nothing else to fuel his anger.
Tori didn't seem to pick up on their conversation. She continued to stammer at the Blue-Haired Saiyan.
-*-
Adonai's dreams the next night were too vivid and surreal. He furrowed his brows in frustration. Slowly, something was forcing him awake.
"Adonai..."
"Nnnng..."
"Adonai..? Adonai!"
"Wha...?" he rolled over and buried his head under his pillow.
"Adonai, please... Can you hear me?"
He began to snore again.
"ADONAI!!"
"Huh, whaddaya want..?" he grumbled, but was sufficiently startled that he woke up. His head was still under the pillow.
"Adonai, can you hear me, please, Adonai!?"
He realized at last that he was awake and the voice wasn't going away.
"Who's there!?" he barked.
"Adonai…"
He leapt out of bed and prepared to fight, but feeling no presence in the room, began to panic. The breeze picked up a tapestry on the wall. He spun to confront it and sighed, relieved. His already spiky hair began to raise as he noticed a faint light out of the corner of his eye. Turning slowly, he spied the illuminated figure of a girl standing in the window. Her kimono was blue, her hair was pink and there was a star just like his in the middle of her forehead. Having never been confronted by the supernatural, he did not fully understand what he saw. She was sort of see-through and still beckoning to him, although he stood in plain sight of her. He knew it wasn't real and that she looked somehow familiar, but he had no idea why. This combination added up to a pile of terror.
Mirai Trunks woke to the sounds of a child screaming and ran out into the hallway. Ado ran out of his room and almost slammed into him.
"THERE'S A GHOST IN MY ROOM!!" he cried.
"What?" Mirai Trunks was alarmed that this intense little boy was so frightened. He burst into his room and slapped on the lights. "Looks like the coast is clear." He scratched his head.
Ado inched around him and staggered in. "But.. she was right there.." he pointed to the window.
"Probably just the drapes?"
"No. It was a girl. She was calling my name..." Ado began to insist, but stopped. This just added to the weirdness. 'First father seems a little off, then this ghost-Rasha shows up...'
"Are you all right, Adonai?"
"Mmm," he clamed up. "Must have been a dream."
Within an hour of his falling back to sleep, the 'dream' returned to Adonai.
"Adonai, please, I'm scared. Can you hear me?"
"Gnnn.. what?"
"If you don't answer this time, I'm coming through."
He bolted up. "What?! Who's saying that!?! Show yourself!" His fear ebbed as he became angry.
The room went quiet. Ado strained to hear, but his own breath and heartbeat were all that echoed in the dark. He sighed. "Maybe this IS a dream..." He stared at the open window and watched the drapes flutter for a while until his eyelids wouldn't stay open anymore. He yawned and laid back down to sleep.
Before his head hit the pillow, he was disturbed again by a strange sound, like an electrical appliance talking to birds. Ado turned his head slowly and saw a lavender glow begin to form where the girl had appeared before. A portal opened up in his bedroom. Too shocked to scream, Ado got out of bed and prepared to beat the hell out of whatever might emerge. The girl stepped gingerly through the oval of light. She saw him and smiled wide. "Adonai!" As her entire body entered the room, the portal slammed shut.
Adonai turned pale. The Rasha girl stood her ground. She didn't glow. Her hair was long and in two braids. She stood straight and wore a look of pure innocence. Memories stirred in Adonai that hadn't entered his mind in six years. He reeled as he tried to make sense of what he'd witnessed. An image surfaced to help him understand.
He was playing by the stream with her. Somehow, they both fell in. His head went under the water. As he surfaced he gasped for breath and began wailing. Someone plucked him from the water, stripped him of his soaked garments and wrapped him in a soft, warm blanket. He was picked up and hugged.
The warmth flooded him now for an instant. He recalled only snippets of the memory; the feeling, the warmth. The bitter taste of abandonment forced all other details to remain locked deep inside his subconscious. "Who ARE you?"
The girl's smile faded. "You, you don't know me?" She looked like she was going to cry. "Adonai, it's me, you twin sister.."
Her name bubbled up through the barrier and crested like a brick through a plate-glass window. "Soma..."
She beamed, relieved, ran to him and hugged him, fiercely. Adonai peeled his sister off of him and stared at her. "What's going on? What are you doing here?"
"Moma and Father are trapped in another dimension and the key is here, Moma told me to come to you because she's powerless and there's nothing she can do, so I went through the mirror and.."
He shushed her and grabbed her shoulders. "Slow down. Where's Father?"
She told him everything her mother had told her. Adonai was amazed, but it made sense. There was something not quite right about his father and this explained it. He took control of the situation. "I bet the sword is close to him. Come on."
"What are you going to do, Adonai?"
"I dunno. I'll think of something." He smirked reassuringly at her. She pouted but followed his lead.
They walked down the hall silently and entered Mirai Trunks's room. Ado waved for her to stay by the door and crept around until he found the gleaming object. Mirai Trunks's breath was rhythmic and deep. Ado put his hands around the hilt and it made his skin crawl. This thing's power was peculiar. He watched a distant light reflect off its shiny surface in the dark.
"Adonai..." his sister begged him to return.
He put his finger to his lips and started back to her. Just then, Mirai Trunks woke up. Ado froze in place and masked his ki even further. "Who's there!?" Trunks barked.
"Shit," Ado hissed in Saiyan and ran for Soma. "Come on!"
Mirai Trunks bolted out of bed and turned on a light. Ado growled and spun around as the man ran ahead of him blocked the door. "What are you doing?" He saw the sword and panicked. "Adonai, no!" He charged the boy.
Ado gripped his sister to keep her in back of him, raised the katana high and brandished it to ward Mirai Trunks off. The portal opened and closed quicker than he could blink. A second passed before Mirai Trunks sat down, defeated, at the edge of his bed. His 'son' and the strange girl were gone.
-*-
Soma gawked at the darkness and clung to her brother. "Oh, Adonai, what have you done?" she whispered.
"Whaddaya mean? I didn't DO anything!"
"Yes you did! You've placed us in another dimension!"
"What!?" He had thought that the lights had gone out, but now, as he felt out for the other Trunks's ki and found nothing, he knew she was right. There was no one in the entire building. As his eyes adjusted, he could see the window was in the same place, and the door, but there was no furniture in the room. "What the hell..?"
She seemed to know what he was doing and sighed. "This is another dimension, Adonai. They're not here,"
"Well, how do we get back!?" Adonai yelled at her.
Soma scrunched her brows together and pouted. Her lower lip wriggled and her eyes filled with tears. Adonai's eyes grew wide. 'What is she doing!?' His sister began to whimper. "Now, stop. Hey, cut that out!" he yelled some more and she broke into a full wail. "Hey, stop it! Come on, I, I didn't mean to yell at you!"
As he was still yelling, she sank to the ground and kept crying. Adonai growled and clenched his hands into fists. He was aggravated enough by the circumstance, but this drove him nuts! He stammered and waved his hands, trying to get her to stop crying. "Soma, come on… I'm... I'm..."
She sniffed and looked up at him.
"I'm... sorry."
Soma sniffed again and wiped her face.
"Now tell me, what just happened and what do we do next?" he said as calmly as he could.
"Well, we can't get back, because we can't control the key. It goes where it feels like, but always to a place the bearer can breathe in and stand in and always the same place, just a different dimension," she rambled
"So," Ado slowly examined the sword. "If I move it around like I did before..."
"It'll cut a new portal to a new world." Soma stood and watched the sword glisten in the dim light of dawn.
"So, we could end up where Father..," he paused a bit, "and Mother are."
She nodded. "We could, eventually. There are millions of dimensions on Earth, Adonai."
"Yeah, but how many of them have Capsule Corporations? You said they were at a Capsule, right?" he looked at her.
"Oh yeah! So, if we hit a Capsule, they may be there. That narrows it down some. There are only thousands of different Capsule Corp. buildings." Soma stated innocently.
"Thousands..?" Adonai asked weakly.
"Mmhmm.. but only one with Moma in it!"
Adonai looked surprised. He reached out finally and motioned to his sister. "Come on, let's get a move on."
Soma smiled and got up. She took Ado's right hand and he carved a portal with his left.
They stepped through into a lit bedroom and scared Trunks out of his mind.
"Excuse me, but, you wouldn't happen to be our father, would you?" Soma asked sweetly. He was shocked, but managed to shake his head 'no'. "Welp. One down."
"Uh, Soma, maybe we should go outside and knock first." Ado offered as he ushered her out of the room.
-*-
"What do you mean, he's gone!??!" Vegeta barked at Trunks.
Bulma stared at him with her arms crossed. "Trunks, tell us. What happened?"
"I'm so sorry, Mother. I should have told you from the beginning, but I didn't want to upset you. Now the boy could be anywhere.." he hung his head.
Suddenly, Vegeta rushed forward, grabbed Trunks and slammed him up against the wall. "Who are you, and what have you done to my son?!"
"Vegeta! What are you doing!? Put him down!"
"Father, I AM your son.." Mirai Trunks choked out.
"Bullshit! Trunks hasn't called me Father a day in his life!!"
"Yes, I have, Father." Mirai Trunks fought back and broke Vegeta's hold on him. "It was a long time ago, but I HAVE called you that."
Bulma cowered behind a sofa as the two men powered up. Vegeta seemed to remember something and stopped. "You..." He scrutinized the man before him. He was bigger built and tanner than his son. His eyes had something in them his son's did not, but it was familiar. "But how..? And where's Adonai!?" he growled.
"Let me try to explain."
Bulma crept over the couch. "What's going on!?" she moaned. "Somebody please tell me!!"
"I'm Mirai Trunks," he whispered. Bulma sat down and stared at him, speechless as he wove yesterday's story.
-*-
Akiko stretched on the lawn the next day and grumbled to herself about her lack of muscle tone. She began her routine with tai-chi then worked up to fairly standard moves. She finished the warm-up in a half an hour and went to find Niwatori.
Trunks was telling her another story, and rushing through it. He wanted to hear her Buu story. He couldn't imagine how on Earth they could have defeated him without Goten, Vegeta and Goku. Akiko loomed in the corner of his vision and he leaned in more towards Niwatori.
"Wow, that's really weird," she commented on Gohan's being married to Mr. Satan's daughter.
"Think that's weird..?" Akiko murmured.
"What?"
"Never mind. I came to ask you a favor."
*
The G's felt great. Akiko pumped her elbow and pushed her body up and down. In just a few hours she could tell she was getting it back. It wouldn't be long before she was a fighter again. She felt like she could stay in there forever! Suddenly, the gravity dropped off and without its pull she was propelled into the air.
"Woah! What the..?" She caught herself and righted. The door opened and Niwatori appeared. She looked a little cross.
"Hey, I said five hours. It's been six."
Akiko lighted and grabbed a towel. "Sorry, guess I got carried away."
Tori didn't reply. Akiko could feel her eyes bore through her as she passed. This woman was not happy with her and didn't feel like hiding it. 'Well, hostility should never go to waste!' "Hey, when you're done, wanna spar?"
She blinked at the Blue-Haired Saiyan. Tori was just thinking about what it would be like to fight her. "How bout now?"
"Sure," Akiko shrugged. "Let's go."
Trunks came out of the house just as they were blasting off. He furrowed his brows and followed them at a slower pace.
"Don't go easy on me just because I haven't done this in a while, Niwatori." Akiko landed and punched her left fist into her right palm.
"Oh, don't worry. I won't." She smirked and charged her.
When Trunks came over the horizon the women were already deep into their so-called spar. Tori was relentless and Akiko was tiring quickly. She growled as she struggled to keep up with her. Trunks winced as he saw her take several hits. She used her tail to block one of Tori's lefts but missed her right. Akiko's jaw splintered under her fist and she tumbled backwards head over heels. Trunks gasped and flew to the scene.
Tori stood and smiled at the effect for a moment, but when Akiko didn't move, she too flew over. "Oh Kami, are you ok?"
The younger woman sat up slowly, clutching her jaw. "Nnnnah aing ahhaiah..." she murmured through her hand. She reached out with the other hand and found something on the ground. She picked up two of her teeth and put them in her mouth. Tori stared at her in awe. She sucked the dirt off them and maneuvered them in place with her tongue.
Trunks touched down behind her. "Akiko, what the hell do you think you're doing? You're not in shape enough yet to be fighting."
She closed her eyes tightly and massaged her jaw. It made interesting, stomach turning, crunching sounds as it was repaired. "Whatever," she mumbled and stood. She dusted herself off and glared at him. "I can obviously still take it."
"That's beside the point. You're being stupid."
"Oh, that's a good one." Akiko swished her tail in annoyance.
"What the... How... Huh?" Tori tried to ask Akiko how she had healed herself, but was ignored as the argument built.
"So, I guess you DIDN'T age in the last nine years."
"If you don't want me fighting, Trunks, don't piss me off."
"Did I say that?"
"You alluded to it."
"I take it back!"
"Good!"
Before Tori could try to stop them, they'd come to blows. She watched, helplessly as they pummeled each other.
"What are you waiting for, Akiko, turn it on! Or can't you yet!?" Trunks was annoyed that she was holding back.
"Oh, I can, you just wait!" Akiko blocked a kick and flew back. Both of them powered up to Super Saiyan. Tori wanted to do something to stop them. This fight was too serious. There was something between these two that she wasn't being let in on. She followed their movements as they darted around. Akiko was able to land hits, but Tori could tell Trunks was holding back.
Akiko panted and swung at Trunks again and again. She growled and kneed him in the stomach. He doubled and she raised her hands, clutched tightly together to croquet him into the ground. Her eyes widened and she grinned with satisfaction as they came down, but Trunks reacted faster than she expected and grabbed her hands. She pushed as hard as she could, but he held his position. Their eyes locked and both saw something else behind the aggression. Akiko dropped Super Saiyan and took off like a shot away from him. She wasn't about to let him see her cry.
Trunks fell out as well and drifted down to the ground by Niwatori. "I'm sorry you had to see that," he apologized. "We're both just really worried about the kids."
Tori stared at him. "The kids..? You mean...?"
He sighed and nodded. "Our kids." He stepped into the air and headed back to Capsule.
-*-
Bulma looked a bit confused as Soma asked the same question she had asked hundreds of times already today.
"Have you seen a woman with blue hair who has a star like this?" She pointed to her forehead. The aqua-haired woman shook her head and Soma thanked her for her time. She looked to her brother.
"Next?" he asked and took her hand again.
-*-
A week later, Zarbon and Bulma returned with all seven Dragon Balls. They gathered in front of the house and summoned the Dragon.
"Shenlong, I Bulma Briefs call you forth!" The sky grew dark and he snaked up from the glowing orbs.
"What is your wish?"
She looked to Akiko as she spoke. "I wish for Soma and Adonai from the dimension of Etibi to be here in Kiaditu!" Akiko nodded and they waited.
"I cannot grant your wish.."
"What!?! What am I, jinxed!?!" Akiko screamed, frustrated. She ran to where Bulma stood and yelled at the Dragon. "Shenlong, why can you not grant this wish!?"
"Because, Once-Goddess, your children are no longer in the dimension of Etibi."
"WHAT!?!" Trunks couldn't believe it.
"Where are they!?!"
"That is not within my jurisdiction. Do you have another wish?"
"We can wish the key here!" Trunks shouted.
Akiko clenched her fists. "If they're not in Etibi, they could only have left with the key's help. It's not there, is it, Shenlong?"
"You try my patience, Once-Goddess. I am not an oracle."
Akiko was mortified. "I'm sorry, Eternal Dragon. I have no other wish." She hung her head.
"Wait!" Trunks stepped forward. He looked at Bulma and bit his lip. "I have a wish to make..."
Everyone stared at him as he asked the Dragon for a special wish. It was the least he could do while they had the opportunity.
"What happens now? How do we get Trunks back!?" Niwatori panicked. The wish was completed and Shenlong retracted into the balls which scattered once more.
Akiko stared into the sky which was rapidly clearing. The blue shown through again and sunlight reflected off of her tear-stained face. "I guess we don't."
End Chapter Fourteen
Disclaimer:
Niwatori is owned by Kiadi. Used by permission.
Journey To Topaz by Yoshiko Uchida is a novel about the evacuation of Japanese Americans from the west coast after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.