Chapter Seven

It was dark when Cell landed on the hotel balcony. He stared around him, his slit cat like eyes dancing wildly and the taste of his victims still on his tongue. His beak parted slightly and he grinned, his long tail thrashing twice in a show of arrogance before the curtains opened. There was no door on the balcony, as it had been torn off, many long years ago when the androids were still causing riots. But that had been so long ago and so much had changed. There were so few people left now…

Kyrie stood in the empty doorframe a slight smile on her full lips.

"You had fun I take it?" She asked. Cell smirked, a slight rasped echo in his voice.

"How could you tell?"

"You look so full of fire. So proud." She replied, brushing a few loose strands of her hair behind her ears. She was wearing a pair of cotton pants and a T-shirt. Her hair was tied back loosely in a long plait, but a few stray strands stood out every which way.

Cell suddenly leapt from the edge of the balcony and stood to his full height only a foot in front of Kyrie. She stared up at him, her eyes so full of admiration and trust. She smiled and he leant down. She let him kiss her neck in a hungry manner, but she didn't respond. After a moment, he let her go, and sat back on his hunches, watching her for a moment. She smiled, and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"It's getting late. I think I'll go have a shower, then go to bed." Cell smirked and followed her, on all fours, like a giant dog as she headed into the bathroom. Everything was on a partial lean, as the hotel building itself was partially collapsed.

Kyrie stripped herself naked, Cell seating himself on his usual place, on the rim of the bathtub, opposite the shower cubicle. Soon the bathroom was full of steam as she enjoyed the warm shower. Cell watched her, half awed, half bored. He often sat in the same spot, watching her. Sometimes they'd talk. Sometimes, he'd just sit silently. Sometimes, he'd join her.

Today,he just sat, watching her. This woman he knew so well. She was stubborn, yet so friendly. Mysterious on occasions yet accepting. Not always, he noticed, and it had taken a fair few weeks for her to build up her trust enough for her to not feel afraid of the most powerful man in the universe, sleeping in the same room as her.

"Seru…" Kyrie began as she washed the soap from her hair. "You know you're my best and only friend and that I will care for you, for as long as eternity stretches, right?" Cell snickered slightly at this but nodded.

"Yes."

"That's all right then." Cell smirked and watched her as she finished and wrapped a towel around her, stepping out of the cubicle. She smiled at him, those amazing emerald eyes flickering in the lights of the candles she used. No electricity ran through the walls any more.

Cell stood back to his full height and slowly took Kyrie into his arms, hugging her warm and wet body to his own. She smiled and hugged him back.

"You'll be here forever." He stated boldly. She suddenly frowned and hung her head slightly.

"No… I won't be here forever. As a matter of fact, I won't be here much longer…" Cell suddenly let her go and stared in mortification at her. She smiled her irresistible smile though and he knelt to her height again.

"What do you mean? What's wrong?!"

"I'm dying Cell… I have been for a few years now."

"What?! How?! Why?!"

"I have a very bad illness and I'm beginning to grow weaker from it. But don't worry."

"Kyrie! I can give you my blood, my energy, it will make you better again." Kyrie smiled and held up her hand.

"No thanks. I've had a good life Cell. You made it so much better. I'm so thankful I got to meet you, and even more so that you stayed. But I'm ready to die."

"Kyrie…" Cell hung his head slightly, letting Kyrie hold his head in her hands.

"Don't worry about me. You've got a lot of potential and power Cell. You should be out living your life. Not staying here and wasting away with me. Just… Take care. I'm feeling a little tired. Lets go to bed."

Cell's eyes opened slowly and he stared up at the sky, a deep mournful frown on his thin white lips. He sighed heavily, remembering that that particular night was the last time he slept with Kyrie. She had told him then, because it was too late for him to do anything. She had wanted him to live his life, to fulfil his purpose. But like the Kyrie of this world, she believed he had a different purpose, not the complete destruction of the world.

"Kyrie…" He muttered, watching the stars as they flickered slowly.