Only Because I Like Living In Hell

By SariaSubi-kun

SariaSubi: Woot! I love you Erica! Oh, and the camp was drama camp. I love acting, it's so fun. I'm a drama nerd…oh well. Anyways, the updates (I hope) will be a lot more frequent

Navi: Yes, so we can actually get up to the part of the story where I appear

SariaSubi: Shut up, ya stupid fairy. You're making me start to put lame humor into my introductions again.

Anyways, I'm sorry Erica if this took so long. I put so much thought into my chapters, then I come to a block. I usually think too hard when I write, and so when I come to a block, I really don't know what to do. And I'm also sorry…I was on my only vacation of the year, and I had no computer access down there. So I'm really sorry for making you upset…I'll try harder, okay? I'm sorry.

Chapter 8 – The Countdown to Kami-Knows-What's-Gonna-Happen

The ten minute intermission lasted too long and too short at the same time. For Tien, it was too long…his chilling encounter with Hallie wouldn't let his mind rest at all. And for the rest of the Z Fighters, it was all too short. The strangeness of their opponents (mainly being Saria and Hallie) had taken all the fun out of this tournament.

Yamcha looked at Tien as he arrived. "So, what took you so long?"

"Nothing, man." Tien tried to shrug it off, but Yamcha was getting insistent. Why was he doing this? In front of the other guys, nonetheless? He looked at Yamcha out of the corner of his eye, then around to make sure the girls were on the roof. He pulled Yamcha by his orange gi and into another section of the lobby.

Trunks and Piccolo heard from snippets already. While Piccolo stayed put (he could hear well enough from any distance), Trunks quietly followed.

Yamcha narrowed his eyes at the triclops. "So, what's up with this Hallie girl? She didn't do anything to you, did she?" He started to make a fist.

Tien stopped his friends hand with a feeling of urgency. "It's not worth it getting mad, Yamcha." He shook his head. "And no, nothing happened. She just smiled in a way that gave me the creeps…and she said that Saria will crush Vegeta."

Yamcha leaned in closer, and from his hiding place around the corner, Trunks' eyes widened. "That's still bullshit, Tien. You and I can crush Krillin if we really want to, too. But we're no match for Vegeta."

"Yeah, but Yamcha, did you see that technique that she finished off Krillin with?"

"No different than your Tri-Beam."

"But that's the thing, Yamcha!" Tien exclaimed, though trying to do so in a hushed whisper. "You can't feel their energy level, haven't you realized that? We have no idea how much power was in that blast." Then he looked up and realized Trunks was standing there. He focused on the youth now. "You sensed it, too, didn't you Trunks? That they didn't have any power levels?"

Trunks nodded and came out of his hiding space. His expression was grim. "Yeah. And it doesn't make sense. Nothing fits together."

Yamcha looked between the two and sighed. "Well, guys, if we think about this too hard, it's never gonna make any sense. The best thing to do is wait and see what happens."

Trunks looked down. "Yeah, I guess….No! We can't wait! If we do, more people will get hurt like Krillin." Yamcha and Tien looked at him. "Don't you see? They came here with the intention of hurting. So that's what they're going to keep on doing."

"Yeah, but Trunks, there isn't much more we can do except settle this in the ring." Then he patted the youth's shoulder. "Listen, I'm going up against Hallie. We'll see the extent of their power. And don't worry about your father." Trunks' head whipped up, with a How did you know? look on his face. Tien smiled understandingly. "If I can beat Hallie, then there's no way Saria can beat Vegeta. He'll be fine."

Kind of still unsure by his friend's words, Trunks looked down and nodded, his eyes and mind still heavy with worry.

. . . . . . .

Hallie leaned back in the sun and grinned, swinging her feet over the edge of the tile roof. Saria was slurping up the last bit of her soda, and looked over at Hallie. "What are you so happy about?"

The girl just grinned to herself. "Mmm…nothing. Just generally happy."

Saria turned back to the stadium. "My, what a talent to have," she mumbled. Hallie looked at her friend out of the corner of her eye in irritation. But she shrugged it off and went back to basking in the sun.

. . . . . . .

Gohan looked up at his father. "Well, dad, I'm gonna go face Trunks now." But then his slight happiness faded. "I'm kinda nervous."

Goku kneeled down and placed his hand on his son's shoulder. "Why, son?"

Gohan shrugged. "Well, I always thought you were the strongest, dad, and Trunks beat you. I didn't know how much stronger he had become."

But Goku just smiled. "Hey, kiddo, remember you're the stronger one of the two of us. After all, you're the one who beat Cell, not me. And besides, I've been dead for a year. I couldn't have gotten much stronger than I was when I died." He stood and put his hands on his hips. "Believe me, Gohan, you have it in you to defeat any opponent."

Gohan smiled up at his father and then faced the arena. His brow furrowed with determination. Yeah, father's right. I can beat Trunks. He then stole a glance at Trunks before looking away quickly. But the thing is…how did he get so strong over a year?

. . . . . . .

The announcer came back on to the stage, just as the stadium was becoming full again. He raised his hand in the air and the mic to his lips. "Hello, everyone! Are you ready for another round of hardcore smack-downs?" The crowd erupted with cheers, and the blonde man smiled. "Alrighty then! Our first match consists of the mighty Trunks and the child wonder, Gohan! There two won their matches in flying colors—"

Gohan, from the lobby, pouted. "Did he really have to call me a child?"

Yamcha chuckled. "I guess when they hit 13, they're all of a sudden adults."

But Goku just patted Gohan on the shoulder. "Just ignore it, Gohan." Gohan looked up and the father and son shared a smile before they heard—"And now, will Gohan and Trunks approach the ring!"

Gohan nodded, more to himself, and started towards the gate where he met with Trunks. The two fighters stopped and looked at each other. And for a moment, they locked eyes, Trunks' deep, enigmatic cerulean ones against Gohan's sparking onyx gaze. Then Trunks broke the silence and smiled lightly and held out his hand. "Well, let the best man win, Gohan."

Gohan nodded and shook Trunks' hand. "Right." And as he walked to the ring, he secretly smiled inside on how he said "man" instead of "child," like some people had. He gave a three-second glare towards the announcer, but then lightened up.

The two stood on separate sides of the ring, just staring each other down while the announcer was riling up the crowds. Then, to break the tension, Trunks looked the other way as his hair swayed in the wind, and Gohan looked absentmindedly at his hands. Okay, I gotta use this time to revise my strategy. Trunks beat Dad with barely a sweat. I gotta figure out something to work against his moves…

. . . . . . .

Saria's eyes shot open, a strange yellow glowing on the rim of her pupil.

. . . . . . .

Gohan.

The teen's head whipped up at the air. Had someone called him? It sounded like a female's voice…but who was it?

You idiot…who do you think it is?

Gohan's eyes widened, and he looked around in the stands frantically for a trace of energy. When he found none, his searching gaze retreated to the lobby. No…none of the guys were girls (obviously), and none that he knew of, except Piccolo, had telepathic powers. But then who…?

And then he found it. Up on the roof, her legs crossed and hanging over the tiled edge, was Saria, her frightening violet eyes staring right at him. For a second, his heart stopped beating. Why was she talking to him? What was the real reason behind this?

He saw her roll her eyes. I saw five words to you, kid, and you already think I'm out to kill you. And no, this has nothing to do with your friend. Gohan's eyes widened again. How did she know he was thinking about Krillin?

But just listen up, Gohan, before time runs out. But Gohan looked around him. Everything seemed to be moving five times slower. Had she done this? There was still a lot of powers Saria could possibly posses, like this one, and it scared him. But Gohan swallowed and nodded at her, wanting her to continue.

Okay, kid, get used to me in your head, because I'm going to be the whole match. Although her tone changed from sarcastic and serious in her sentences, her eyes were dead on straight, locked with his in a serious glare. Gohan shivered. And stop being so scared, godamnit. If you showed this fear in front of Cell, you wouldn't be standing here now.

Again, his eyes widened. How could she know? But then he remembered what she said…

"You describe me as if I was…an android."

But he regained his courage. How do you know I wasn't afraid? he answered back.

He watched her lips form into a disturbing grin. Yes, but this is so petty to fret over. And then her eyes went back to being dead and serious. Now listen up. I've slowed time for now, but I won't be doing it during the match. And I don't want to hear anything about you not wanting me to help, because you're stuck with it. I know Trunks' strategy, and it would be wise to listen to me. I can get into his head just as easily as I did yours…and then she smirked again…but he won't know…it's a secret between you and me. And then her gaze turned threatening. Got it, kid?

Gohan just stared at her. So she was proposing to help him? But why? After what she did to Krillin…and what her friend did to that guy…why in hell would she help him?!

Saria again rolled her eyes. I don't have anything against you. Your friend was weak, and he faced the consequences of thinking I was no big deal. But enough about that. Back to reality. And, without even moving, the stillness of time disappeared, and the announcer started talking faster. Gohan noticed Trunks' hair blowing faster in the wind.

Trunks all of a sudden stopped looking at the crowd and noticed Gohan looking at him. "Uh? Gohan, what's the matter?" Then he laughed lightly. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Gohan just gulped and shook his head, and went back to looking at Saria. But she was already looking in the other direction, twirling a lock of her wavy chestnut hair on her finger. But…just as he looked at her for a moment too long, her eyes shot over towards his direction and she glared at him. Even though she said no words in his mind, Saria's eyes right then told him everything. And he turned back towards the ring and readied himself…for the match, and Saria's voice.

. . . . . . .

Hallie raised her eyebrows and sent Saria a strange look. "Can you tell me just why you are helping the saiya-jin shrimp?"

Saria didn't look at her. She kept her eyes focused on Gohan the whole time, and she wouldn't let Hallie's interrogation break her link with his mind. "I don't want to help him. But I am tired of effortless victories…" Then she looked over at her friend. "Including our matches."

Hallie pouted and shrugged. "Well…whatever. So you're gonna make him win?"

Saria laughed bitterly. "I can't do that. Or maybe I can? But I don't want to." She sighed, looking back at Gohan. "But I guess you can call what I'm doing 'helping' him. I just don't want Trunks to throw one punch and win." She narrowed her eyes. "I want to see him work."

Hallie started snickering and grinned mischieviously. "Ha! What do you mean work, eh Saria?" She started nudging her.

Saria slapped her arm away. "Shut up and stop it," she warned. "You're making me lose my link with Gohan."

But Hallie wouldn't stop sniggering. "You're just not admitting you wanna see those tiiight muscles move under his shiiirrt." She narrowed her eyes playfully. "You know what I'm talking about."

"Yes. And you're just shaking with anticipation so you can see Tien in the same way."

And Hallie shut up.

. . . . . . .

SariaSubi: Yes, I know, short chapter, but 'tis for a reason. I want the whole next chapter to be completely based on the fight between Gohan and Trunks. There's gonna be a lot of Saria mind-telepathy and stuff like that, and I felt such a slow and lazy chapter beginning like this one couldn't possibly filter into a high-level fight and the upcoming themes. So I'm writing a new chapter. And I know I said a month ago I'd update in, like, two weeks, but I was on my only vacation of the year, and I was at a block. But that's over. I'm gonna get the next chapter in before school comes around. I should be getting a laptop before school starts. Okay?

But get ready for the best fight yet and mind-control-telepathy-ness!

Navi: Like this! ::holds up gold watch to SariaSubi:: You will update soon.

SariaSubi: I will update soon.

Navi: And I am not hypnotizing you for Erica to Super Reader's benefit and she is not paying me.

SariaSubi: And you are not hypnotizing me for…oi! Wait, you baka fairy!

Navi: ::flies away::

Sorry, Erica. Had to use you for some lame humor ;. I know…the unfortunate fate of giving money to my fairy…but we all must do it some day…ha.

Anyways, keep the love coming! If I don't update before Sept. 7, you can all flame me.