Well I got quite a mixed response from the last chapter. Two things that stood out for me were:
1) I need a better summary for my story (Hiaburi said, and I quote, 'I was avoiding this story because it sounded kinda stupid...' Hehe, that actually made me laugh quite hard), and 2) I managed to confuse some people.
That second one I had issues with, because although more that one reviewer stated confusion, none told me where or why. And that got me confused. Can I point out that as I was the one who wrote it, everything makes perfect sense to me, therefore you need to be a little more specific, (or just a little specific in the first place!)
-reaches into bag of excuses-
Here we go. "This chapter has taken so long because one late night when I was avoiding homework I stumbled into the deep dark realm of harrypotterfanfiction and got stuck. Sorry 'bout that."
But since it has indeed been a long time, I've decided to give you a quick run down of what's been happening. Everyone pick your favourite announcer's voice, and let's go!
Previously on Nightlife...
- We had a brief insight into the unstable family life of Kat, but this was soon forgotten as an innocent seeming conversation turned into a full blown row, in which both parties became a little heated and said things they should've thought through better first. (Author also realises she should've had a language warning).
- Gohan's body finally caught up with him, alerting both the Nightlife management and Fate's various forces to their whereabouts, and causing the Bulma monitoring his body to panic at its disappearance from his room.
- Couple of bad puns, 'cause I really can't help myself and it is in keeping with grand DBZ tradition.
- Nightlife guards break up the scene, and after exchanging insults and a few displays of mightily mighty might from Gohan the opponents come to something of a stalemate. Fate makes a decision, which is to be put in motion by the actions of the leader of the Nightlife guards (unwittingly I should add).
Lastly I would like to dedicate this chapter to Kaye, who was the first person to ever pester me for an update, and even set me a deadline (which in grand Nightelf tradition I have missed by about two weeks now). But she achieved her intended purpose of giving me a kick up the behind, and I'm a firm believer in 'better late than never'. So give thanks to Kaye!And now I hereby claim this chapter disclaimed, so that we can read it already!
Chapter 15
()-()-()-()-()-()-()
Gohan didn't know why, but he held his breath as he waited for the leader of the Nightlife guards to come to a decision. His stomach felt as if it'd tied itself into knots, and there was a cramp developing in his neck - a clear indication he was very tense.
After an agonisingly long stretch of time the leader's eyebrows snapped together. "Seize him!"
That was his cue. Blazing into Super Saiyan level one Gohan allowed his energy to flare violently out from his body in all directions. As one the guards threw up their arms for protection, but only the strongest managed to avoid being thrown into the walls. Those few still standing were disorientated enough to be easy targets for Gohan's fists, and soon they were standing no more, leader included.
Raking the room with his eyes Gohan quickly picked out Kat, lying half buried beneath her captors against one wall. Panicking, and cursing himself for letting his instincts once again get the better of him, Gohan roughly shoved aside the two guards.
Kat felt the oppressive weight upon her suddenly lifting, and gratefully took a deep breath. She opened her eyes, but all she could see were dancing spots.
"Are you alright?" He sounded very anxious. So he should be. Damn bugger could've at least warned her to shut her eyes.
"What the bloody hell was that?! A supernova? I can't see a thing!" She wriggled, struggling against the device that had bonded her fists across her collarbone.
"I'm sorry- I. I'm so sorry." His voice cracked as though he was holding back tears. Kat sighed as she felt all the fury and annoyance melt out of her body. Blinking rapidly she was relieved to see that the spots were slowly clearing.
"S'alright, no permanent damage done I think. But could you break me out of this stupid thing?" She was quickly getting ticked off at being denied the use of her hands, as her eyes were itching and watering something dreadful.
He choked out a relieved laugh, and lifted her into a more comfortable sitting position with her back against the wall. Tenderly he brushed the defensive tears from her cheeks. "I'm sorry." She groaned, but before she could to tell him to 'shut up already!' he added, "Guess mum was always right. I am a very bright young man."
"Now THAT hurt." Kat desperately wished she could wack him on the head.
"Just some pun payback." He replied impishly. She gave a tiny growl of frustration and Gohan paused in surprise as darkness seemed to cloud the very edges of his vision. Then, with a comically loud pop, Kat wrenched her fists away from her collarbone and, though her fists were still covered and tied together with a short chain, she still managed to bop him on his head. And he felt it too.
"Ow!" Rubbing the top of his head he asked, "What did you just do?"
"Whaddya mean?"
He opened his mouth to try and explain the weird darkness, but froze as he sensed movement behind him. Before he could turn around a beam of energy hit him square in the back, causing him to fall forward. Luckily it was more the surprise than the strength of the attack that pushed him off balance, and as such he was able to throw his hands against the wall to both protect Kat from the blast, and avoid squishing her. He didn't think she'd appreciate being squished twice in one day. Heck, twice in ten minutes.
As soon as the attack ceased Gohan spun around on his knees and fired back one of his own. The hapless guard, who was holding a large gun type device and therefore probably wasn't even strong enough to form his own energy blast, was rammed into the wall for a second time, and didn't look as though he'd recover in the near future this time around.
"Are you okay?" Kat gasped, staring wide-eyed at his back.
"Yeah, of course." Gohan answered, turning back to face her. Kat shook her head and replied with a wry smile,
"Don't think you can say the same for your shirt."
Gohan craned his neck and caught a glimpse of the large, smoking hole in the back of his garment.
"Crap."
"Language Mr Son."
"Practise what you preach Miss Moon."
They blinked at each other. "You know, I never noticed that before." Kat said. "Think it means anything?"
"Yeah." Gohan grimaced. "That someone up there has a terrible sense of humour."
"Why me?" Kat sighed theatrically.
Gohan opened his mouth to retort, but his words were choked from him as a thin rope suddenly wrapped itself around his neck. With a startled cry, that too was soon cut short, he was yanked backwards by the guard holding the other end of the whip-like device.
"Hey!" Kat protested angrily, which was all she could come up with on short notice. "Let him go!"
Staggering to regain his balance Gohan scratched at his neck, trying to slip his fingers underneath the rope doing its best to block his airways. When he found the whip wrapped too tight, he changed tactics and faced his attacker. The guard barely had time to blink as Gohan powered up more, causing the muscles in his neck to expand and forcing the whip to break of its own accord. The backlash from this was enough to send the guard flying, and this time he stayed down for the count.
"Methinks we should find somewhere else to conduct our flirtations." Kat commented dryly. "Somewhere with less interruptions."
Gohan grinned at her, absently rubbing his neck. "And you don't want to have to explain why there are ten unconscious men in your living room."
"That too." She started to struggle to her feet. Instantly Gohan was there to pull her up, and steady her as she swayed slightly.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah sure. Just a little tired, for some hellish damn reason."
"I think you used some of your Dark energy before." Gohan replied, remembering the darkness that had appeared briefly in his peripheral vision. "When you broke whatever force it was that was binding your hands."
"Really?" Kat asked in excitement. She looked down at her cuffed hands, and tried to yank them further apart than the chain holding them wanted them to be. Gohan watched her fighting unsuccessfully for a little while, before grabbing the chain and easily splitting it.
"Hey! I almost had it."
"Uh huh." He gave her a sceptical look.
"Yes, but since you're so determined to do it yourself, you might as well free my fingers as well." For at the moment her hands were bound into fists and covered by whatever alloy the alien handcuffs were made from.
Gohan snickered. "Pleasure's all mine, I'm sure." He replied as he tore away the metal mittens as easily as opening an envelope.
"Don't mention it." She sniffed, flexing her stiff fingers. On impulse he caught her in a swift kiss.
"C'mon, let's get out of here." He said softly. As Kat's senses had been temporarily scrambled by his sudden desire, he grabbed her wrist and proceeded to drag her across the room. Gohan grinned and decided he very much liked having the upper hand. They were almost out the door before Kat pulled back.
"Oh wait!" She ran back into the room and delivered a sharp kick to the guard that had hit her across the head before. Then she rejoined Gohan in the small entrance hall that connected to the living room. "Okay. We can go."
"Uh, perhaps you should lead the way. This is your world after all."
Kat took an uncertain step towards the door, before turning back to him and admitting, "I'm not sure exactly where to take you." A sudden panic gripped her. "They'll send more guards. It's only a small station, they have to find us eventually, and we can't even leave 'cause you don't have any form of I.D at all!"
"We'll think of something." Gohan said reassuringly, and with a glance to verify that no guard was yet awakening he started to guide her out her own front door.
Kat allowed herself to be led, only dimly aware of the strong supporting arm wrapped around her shoulders. "This's all my fault."
"No, we've already covered that angle. Everything is always my fault remember?" He joked, looking around in open curiosity. They appeared to be in a normal suburban neighbourhood, even if the architecture was a little strange. All the houses were so square! There was grass between footpaths, and even a few small gardens filled with brightly blossoming flowers. He glanced up, expecting blue skies and a warm mid-spring sun, only to discover a light-grey ceiling some three storeys above their heads.
"Interesting. So this is what it's like being on a space station? It's nice."
"That's just because we're in the posh part of town. Dad was an inter- galactic ambassador, so we've always had good accommodations." Kat replied unenthusiastically. "Do try to bring your attention back to the matter at hand. What are we going to do?!"
When Gohan didn't reply her already substantial worry managed to grow exponentially. "Why aren't you answering? Why don't you have an answer?! Can we do nothing? Is that it?"
"Doing nothing is still doing something. It is the act of not acting." In truth this answer was more of a delaying tactic than anything else, and if he hadn't been preoccupied with trying to find a preferable solution to their current situation himself, he may have noticed the frantic look in Kat's eyes that signalled she was about to flip out, and subsequently reconsidered the wisdom of such a non-reply.
"Why don't we just save them the trouble of finding us and turn ourselves in then!" And before Gohan had time to pull himself from his deliberations she wrenched away from him, threw her head back, and screamed, "HEY IDIOTS, WE'RE OVER HERE!"
"Kat! You're making a scene." Gohan hissed nervously, seeing passers-by turn to look curiously at them. He half expected her to huff and shout all the louder, perhaps even lapsing into one of her many dramatic soap operatic roles now that they had entered into a busier area with which to supply her with a crowd. So he was rather surprised when, instead of wailing at the top of her lungs 'You don't love me any more!' she gasped and whispered,
"That's it!"
"What's it?" He obediently replied, glad that her scream seemed to have had a cathartic effect and that she didn't look nearly as frantic as she had before.
With her eyes glittering in glee she elaborated. "Nightlife won't risk making a scene. They're all so incredibly hush-hush remember? If we keep to crowded public areas, they won't be able to touch us!"
"Kat, that's a brilliant idea. Why didn't I think of that?"
She smirked triumphantly. "Maybe you're loosing your touch?" She supplied airily, latching onto his arm and pulling him into an easy stroll down the path leading to the nearest commercial area.
"No, that can't be right." He smiled, sliding his hand down to rest securely on her hip. "I bet some manipulative demoness has been tampering with my logic and reason faculties."
"Oh, my devious plot has been discovered." She replied with heavy sarcasm.
"And now she has caught me in her lair of artificiality." He gestured with his free hand at the ceiling/sky and the precisely clipped little carpets of grass. "How shall I ever escape?"
At that the grin died on her lips. "How is this ever going to work Gohan?"
"Why do you answer a question with a question?" He promptly replied, now keeping determinedly cheerful.
"Stop dancing around the subject." She snapped. "Let's face it. We're in the mother of all long distance relationships. Separate dimensions, for crying out loud. It's cliché, but conclusively proven. They. Don't. Work."
"Listen to yourself." He spat, and the sudden vehemence in his tone was enough to make her stop short. "You've already given up on us have you?" He spun around to face her. "Well excuse me if I'm not willing to let you go just yet. Nightlife didn't just teach me how to party, or that chilli ice cream is strangely delicious; it proved to me that while it may be that the universe is out to get us, it's for the very real reason of being because we're important."
"What are you going on about?" She demanded weakly.
He crossed his arms in a pose he often took when arguing one of his notions. "Well it defies the very laws of reality doesn't it? Why should we, out of the billions of individuals in billions of possible realities, be allowed to step out of our lives for hours every night? Everyone has problems. Why shouldn't every abused child, every depressed teen, every guilt-ridden miserable-ball-of-angst have access to night time relief?"
"I don't know." She replied, though she didn't really need to say anything. Caught up in his hypothesis, he wasn't likely to listen to anything she had to say until he was finished.
"I'll tell you why. It's because, unlike most everyone else, our universes need us. Whether it's to defeat those supremely powerful psychotic killers, or for some more subtle reason, we're needed to do what we are born to do, because the consequences of us not fulfilling this role are...well, I dunno what they are just yet. But they can't be good." He cut her a look to make sure she wasn't going to comment on the small lapse in his theology, or more likely make some sarcastic remark about know-it-all geniuses not knowing it all, at all.
"And it's because of this that the kais, or the fates, or whoever, will make concessions for us to make sure that we stick around to do what needs doing."
"Like...letting us into Nightlife?" She ventured uncertainly.
"Even creating a place like Nightlife in the first place! But it makes you wonder, doesn't it? If we're so important that we're members of Nightlife, what would they give us if we actually asked for something?"
A wicked smile slowly spread itself across Kat's lips. "If we went on strike..."
"And especially you. You haven't even done whatever it is you're needed to do yet." Gohan pointed out, slightly smug.
"It could work." Kat murmured, and Gohan found something in him relax again as he recognised a certain sparkle return to her eyes. But this sparkle was fed by more than a penchant for mischief; it burned bright with that most precious of motivations. Hope.
()-()-()
"Ouch." This appropriate yet entirely unappreciated comment was issued forth from a long-haired blonde man with narrow brown eyes. He was the very picture of chiselled, masculine, narcissistic godly beauty, right down to the ethereal quality to his presence that marked him as a non-mortal. He was seated casually draped across a throne-like chair, in a pose that verily oozed with the smugness of one who knows everything before anyone else even has an inkling.
For in actual fact, he did. His name is Consequence, and his function is to inform Fate of every single direct and indirect consequential result arising from implementation of her various plans, thereby allowing her to take a measure of the worth and wisdom of those plans.
Although in the beginning of time Fate had been able know these things herself, circumstances had seen fit to have the ability focussed, and given the form which had eventually developed into the distinct personality laughing at her expense right now. And despite however much she sometimes wanted to simply dispense with the personality and take back the ability, he did have his uses. Generally, these outweighed the disadvantages of such an arrangement.
"But I mean, I did warn you."
Fate did not concede to reply, eyebrows drawn into a frown of displeasure as she considered the ramifications of Gohan not only understanding as much as he did, but enlightening Kat of these things also.
"Although the overall plan is sound, it's always those little long-term effects that come back to bite you in the posterior, isn't it Boss?"
"Indeed." Fate admitted with a sigh. "Though it was vital for the two to build a secure relationship when they were still too young for prejudices to impede this in any way, exposing Gohan to Nightlife while his mind and intellect were at such crucial stages of development has rather noticeably expanded his limitations."
She received a bark of laughter in response. "Limitations? What limitations? Through you sending him into Nightlife he has gained such a quantity of variable experiences from across most of the mulitverse so as to broaden his ways of thinking until he has a completely open mind. Do I also need to remind you that he likewise has inherited his father's ability to achieve anything he sets his mind to?"
"Yes, I am aware of that." As usual his smug tones were successful in causing her irritation. "Just as I am aware that Nightlife has also taught him to be flexible in the accepting of future ideas, so that his potential remains infinitely unlimited."
"You've set yourself up a right challenge here." He smirked haughtily at her, knowing that she would feel it even though her back was to him.
"Oh no. He's still Gohan at heart and in the way in which he reasons out his decisions. As long as he retains his respect for decent authority and his inherent benevolence we shall get along just fine." Then she sighed once again. "I only wish he hadn't seen fit to share his theory with her. I fear many headaches with that one, especially once her demonic tendencies to ambition come online."
Consequence laughed. "She'll react badly when she realises she's being used in one of your schemes, even if it is for the grand purpose of enhancing multidimensional stability."
"I'll have to rely on Gohan to influence her should it come to that, I think." She replied, ignoring his sarcasm in reference to one of the many projects she was actively working on, on top of her other various duties.
"He will be the curse of all who are set in their ways. Much like yourself, I dare say."
She sent him an amused look. "Oh very smooth. Now get out of my seat before I reconsider doing away with you once and for all."
"You're the Boss." He bowed mockingly as she reclaimed the chair that supported her body while her mind wandered.
"Don't call me that." She replied idly, thoughts already occupied with another scene in another time and place.
"You allow your little messenger boy to call you Boss."
She spared him a droll look. "Because he at least says it with respect, a term I'm not sure you are at all familiar with."
Unconcerned he flipped his hair, a habit he'd picked up from the mortal he resembled.
"Whatever."
()-()-()
"It's going to be risky."
They were seated on a wooden bench, in a moderately populated little park a decent way from Kat's house. It was Gohan who had spoken.
"I mean, we'll basically be bluffing the entire time." He added.
"You leave that part to me then." Kat grinned, looking up at him. "It'll be worth it though."
He returned the grin, allowing himself to be reassured. Looking at her, he could see that she obviously wanted him to kiss her, but they were in public and Gohan couldn't help suddenly feeling strangely shy about such things. Perhaps it was because they were no longer within the Nightlife realm, which encouraged the lowering of inhibitions for therapeutic purposes. So instead he took her hand in his, and tried to convey his depth of emotion through words. "I'm glad you agree with me on that."
For a moment she was confused, and then shock settled in as she truly realised something for the first time. He sincerely cared about her. Maybe...maybe he even loved her? She was scared to ask, because that provoked the question – did she feel the same way?
"Well, we just have to count on the fact that they can't let us do a Romeo and Juliet." She hoped that she sounded blithe, and not as bewildered as she felt.
"A what?" He laughed.
"You know, that famous ancient story...I guess not. Don't worry then."
"If you say so. It's strange, how our world's can be so different, yet identical where it really counts." He mused, leaning back to study the ceiling far above them.
"And where does it 'really count'?" She asked with a teasing smile.
He poked her gently in the chest, and said with quiet conviction, "Right here."
Kat looked down. "In my boobs?"
Gohan burst out laughing, and when he fell sideways off their bench Kat couldn't hold it in either.
"You're impossible." Gohan managed to gasp out after a couple of minutes of senseless laughter, and rolled his eyes when he looked up to see her smirking down at him. She moved to take over his former seat on the bench, and sat down with her feet planted squarely on his stomach, encouraging him to stay lying awkwardly on the slightly springy ground.
Leaning forward and resting her elbows on her knees, she said lightly, "Can I help it if my sense of the ridiculous prevents me from letting you get away with wishy washy romantic stuff?"
"Wishy washy-!?" He spluttered in protest. "Well if that's how it is..."
Kat quickly saw how this ill-considered comment could work against her in the future, and had to think swiftly in order to prevent an imminent drought of gifts and favours. "But I also fully understand that you need to express your sappy romantic notions-"
"Sappy romantic no-"!?
"...and will therefore struggle to restrain my inconsiderate, though witty, remarks so that you may never feel the need to bottle up your emotions, which would be damaging to your sensitive wittle brain."
Gohan laughed out of sheer disbelief, and in case she didn't understand why he was laughing, he huffed, "So, you're saying that out of the goodness of your heart you will accept my declarations of love just to make me feel better?"
"Love declarations, cards, roses, chocolates, whatever." She replied airily, leaning back nonchalantly on the bench.
Gohan took that as permission to sit up also, easily rising despite the pressure being applied to his stomach from Kat's feet still planted there. She herself showed no outward signs that she was pushing down on him with all the strength in her leg and back muscles, and quickly gave up her little experiment when he didn't even seem to notice her attempts to hold him down. Concluding that he was indeed much stronger than he appeared, she looked up in time to see amusement flash across his dark eyes.
"Oh now I see what you mean!" He said with a snap of his fingers. "Even though attempts to woo you with trinkets are fated to be unsuccessful, I should still give you stuff because if I don't then I'll have to repress those impulses which would lead to mental degradation. You've only got my best interests in heart, really you do."
"Of course! What other motive could I have?" Seeing him start to reply she glared, "That was a rhetoric question."
He chuckled and shook his head, and she lost her hold on the glare as she felt the vibrations from his laughter travel pleasantly from where her knees rested against his chest up her legs.
"What is it?" He asked as he saw her give him a strange look. "What're you- "? He trailed off as she leaned forward and tilted his head back as far as it would go, running her fingers over his exposed neck. He swallowed reflexively.
"Exactly how human are you Gohan?" She murmured, tracing the contours of the very well-developed muscles in his neck.
Her breath was warm on his skin, and he was having a hard time trying to comprehend her question, its implications, and find a suitable answer all in one go. "Um well, I don't really..." His eyes slid shut of their own accord as her hands trailed upwards to caress the soft skin under his jawbone. "Mmhnm."
Her heart skipped a beat, though her hands didn't falter. That sound had visibly come from deep within his throat, and then rumbled its way through his chest, and from her knees, through her. Without command from her, her heart started to beat faster, and although she dearly wished to see if he could replicate that sound-that-was-almost-a-purr she wasn't sure if the repercussions of the exercise would be a good idea sitting in a public park in the middle of the day.
She forced herself to pull back, feeling rather disappointed as she did so, and did a casual sweep of the area with her eyes while she waited for him to snap out of the stupor he'd clearly fallen into. She experienced a moment of smug satisfaction as she noticed how long it took him to rouse himself. Damn she was good.
Gohan slowly realised that his head was in an uncomfortable position, and that the back of his skull felt like a dead weight on his shoulders. His mind was fogged, but pleasantly so. He lifted his head and rolled his neck to ease the discomfort there. He blinked drowsily, and that managed to chase away the last vestiges of haze over his thoughts, before he looked up to meet his girlfriend's reflective gaze. He raised an eyebrow in silent question.
Her lips curled in a lush smile. "Guess I found a soft spot."
"Guess so." He blinked in surprise at the roughness in his voice, and hastily cleared his throat. Both hearing and intimately feeling this action, Kat felt as though a lightening bolt travelled through her body to strike in her stomach, leaving a warm ache to spread through her lower organs. Noticing her hands twitch in temptation she hastily blurted,
"Cor, I need a drink."
"And you think it'd be beneficial for me to go buy you that drink?" He grinned teasingly.
"Huh? Oh, heh, yeah. That's right."
He sent her a faintly worried look. "Are you okay?"
"Yes!" Inwardly she cringed at her too-forceful assurance. "I mean, sure I am. Look, there's a tea shop just over there." She pointed over his shoulder, but quickly drew her hand back again. "I um, you'll need this to pay." She slipped a flesh coloured band off her wrist that Gohan had noticed but never commented on before, and deftly attached it to his own wrist.
"What is it?" He asked curiously, holding up his wrist to get a better look at the band that had adjusted itself to fit his larger hand.
"My I.D, so don't loose it yeah? They're hell to replace. When the shopkeeper asks you to pay just lay your wrist on top of the dark green pad in front of the register."
"Interesting."
When he continued to examine the simple I.D-bracelet she grew irritated and gave him a light kick in the stomach.
"C'mon, I'm thirsty over here."
Flashing her a conciliatory grin he leapt to his feet and said with a wink, "And I can feel the mental degradation setting in already. Better not take too long then." Quickly backing out of range before she could connect another kick, not that they hurt, he laughed and spun around mid-step.
Right into the vortex that had opened behind him without his notice.
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AN: Okay, with the whole name thing, ("Mr Son...Miss Moon") Kat's adoptive mother's maiden name is Lune, which is the French word for moon. Gohan knows this because when they were first getting to know each other, in exchanging insignificant details about themselves it came up in discussion. That's just background that I didn't think was important at the time, but I realise that some people might've gotten confused about that part. Her father's name then was Satell, which is the first part of the word satellite, which is a scientific term for moon. And there you have my half-hearted attempt at meaningfully corny names.
What was that other thing I was going to say...oh yes! I'm very proud of myself because I've worked out the ending for this, and even roughly know the content of the mini-sequel that will come after. However, while the end is in sight, my depth perception isn't good so I can't tell you exactly how many more chapters there are to go.
The other thing I thought I'd tell you is that I'm coming up to my first block of final school exams, which can mean one of two things, (or a combination thereof.). 1)- In my stressed and frantic state I'll end up writing instead of studying, and you'll be seeing a chapter a week, or 2)- In my stressed and frantic state I'll actually study and you won't see another chapter for at least another two months.
That said, the next chapter is already a quarter written, so there is hope that I might actually break this bi-monthly update cycle I've fallen into. Here's hoping.
Thanks to the reviewers!
Godzilla2, DBZChick1, BladEofThECloudS, Min Farshaw, Gohan2kawaii, Hiaburi, SSGohanStrife, and ILOVEVEGETA (aka Kaye).
Incidentally, would anyone like to write me a new summary?