Chapter Nine

Kyrie woke in agony, weakened severely and barely able to move. Her mouth and throat were dry and bitter and the revolting sour taste of bile made her gag. Instinctively, she dove at a glass of water that was on the bed side drawers besides her, downing it instantly. Her face contorted as she noted the water tasted like salt and badly fermented beer. She realized why as she spotted the pill bottle near the glass and realized someone had dissolved a few in the water, for her convenience. She read the label carefully, realizing that they were for her infection, and to help relieve pain.

Kyrie replaced the bottle and stared around the room, trying to figure out why she felt insecure. At a first glance she missed him, back up against the corner in the failing light; Cell was in his meditating state, oblivious to her consciousness.

Kyrie studied Cell closely; a little shocked that he was here, watching over her when the two had supposedly parted ways. She smiled at his loyalty though and slowly pulled herself up a bit, fluffing up some pillows behind her. She could feel the pain subsiding slowly, and she sat in bed, her cast leg to one side, the other folded under her for balance of comfort ability. She watched Cell with curiosity, her eyes slowly adjusting to the lack of light due to the setting sun beyond the mountains, turning the sky shades of violet and pink, beyond the constricted view of the balcony ledges.

She sighed after a while and turned away from Cell, staring at the empty glass for a moment, wishing it was full again. She was thirsty, but she had lost her appetite. She sighed again and relaxed back a bit, reaching for her remote absently.

The TV buzzed with life, but didn't show anything particularly great. The tournament for the battle of the planet was in two days time and everyone had their hopes on Hercule, a strong and impressive man, whom coward from a real fight. She had seen him before, flaunting in front of TV cameras and boasting ridiculous things. She thought him a clown, not a warrior and she thought absently, that they were all doomed if it came to a fight between Cell and Hercule to determine the world's fate.

"I don't know why he wants to destroy Earth…" Kyrie muttered to herself as her gaze returned to Cell's motionless form. "But I wish he didn't want it so badly…" She sighed and rolled her eyes, wandering if it was such a bad idea to crawl to the bathroom with her glass to have a drink.

"I'm stubborn, like you. I don't deter from something once I have my mind on it." Kyrie stared a little shocked at Cell for a moment before smiling.

"Sorry, I was talking about you again."

"I don't take offence when you're expressing your personal opinions to yourself." Cell replied. Kyrie felt a small shiver run down her spine as Cell's pale pink eyes slowly opened.

His arms unfolded and he let them fall to his side, his gaze locked with Kyrie's.

"… Thanks… Again for helping me when I needed it…" Kyrie began sort of a little lost on what to say. She felt uncomfortable in Cell's presence, but lost when he wasn't around. It was beginning to confuse her, as she didn't know what she wanted, or why. Cell smirked and glanced at the pills.

"Make sure you keep taking them, otherwise you will end up in a bad way." He warned. Kyrie nodded and smiled in appreciation.

"I don't know if it's the drugs or just the fact I'm dazed still, but I just realized that you've done a lot for me… More than I thought possible in the past few days… Thank you…"

"Not really. If I wasn't around, then you'd be perfectly fine." Kyrie shrugged.

"But you are here, surprisingly, but I'm grateful." A smile fluttered to Cell's mouth, and for a moment, he seemed like a different person altogether.

"You're welcome." Kyrie frowned slightly, realizing that Cell was smiling so broadly because of his memories of the future. She sighed slightly and hung her head, choosing to talk in a whisper.

"Seru, I know this may sound harsh, but as much as you like to think so, I'm not your dead girlfriend. I never will be. I'm a different person, and I'd like you to remember that."

"I know…"

"You may share special memories of her, but don't go trying to recreate them. Why not try making some new ones instead and stop living in the past… future…" Kyrie frowned in confusement at the last part of her sentence, not truly knowing which tense to use. Cell stared in silence, his face neutral as he thought. Finally he broke the silence with a laugh.

"I agree." He stated coolly and with dignity and pride she admired in him. "I should stop living in my memories."

Kyrie smiled and the two stared. Finally Kyrie smiled sheepishly and held up the glass she had been absently fondling as they spoke.

"Seru, can you please get me a glass of water?"

Dinner was served in Kyrie's bedroom, considering she could not go to the dinning room, and no dinner was appropriate without the host present. It was a talkative thing that particular dinner, as Kyrie was in a particularly good mood, unlike what she had been suffering lately. Cell, as per usual, didn't say a lot, but he listened, standing to the side, arms folded and legs slightly apart, towering over the two friends who sat on the bed, looking imposing. Kyrie and Sen enjoyed home made hamburgers and sodas, whilst Cell, typically, ate nothing.

Finally though, a silence befell them. It was awkward and strange, given they had been chatting about seemingly pointless things, such as the weather and fashion and art supplies.

"…So what are you going to do when you win the tournament." Kyrie finally asked, directing her question at Cell. He smirked and stared intently at her. She was slowly beginning to get used to his unnerving eyes though and simply stared back.

"I'm not entirely sure." He replied smoothly.

"Are you going to destroy the planet and move on, or are you going to name yourself king, or what?" Sen enquired. Kyrie frowned slightly at this.

"I'm not entirely sure." He repeated, "Although ruling this planet does seem like an interesting alternative." Sen smiled half heartedly, her mind distracted slightly. Kyrie watched for a moment before rounding on Cell.

"What will you do if you don't win?" Cell's eyes seemed to flicker with a burning fire at this.

"I will win." Kyrie's face distorted slightly in an exasperated way.

"There is always that possibility Seru."

"No, there isn't. I am too perfectly designed. I can not be destroyed, and I have simply too much power to be conquered."

"What if everyone ganged up on you." Cell laughed at this.

"That would be dishonorable to the Senshi, and honor is practically what they live by. Vegeta especially."

"Why?" Kyrie enquired.

"Because he is the prince of sayains. His arrogance and pride far outmatch my own."

"Wow." Sen exclaimed.

"Yeah, that's saying a lot." Kyrie added. Cell frowned slightly.

"Charming women you both are." He muttered sarcastically, but playful.

There was a heavy echoing knock on the front door, sounding muffled from the distance Kyrie's room was from the Entrance Hall. Sen immediately leapt from the bed.

"I'll get it." She said.

"Wait!" Kyrie pleaded. "What if it's more violent men, like before?!" She turned frantically to Cell, to find his face looking revolted.

"It's not anyone like before…" He began, his eyes burning madly with anger. "It's the Senshi…" Sen and Kyrie turned to Cell with confusement playing on their faces. Cell looked at them almost pitifully. "The ones who I am anxious to fight. They are all very powerful." He explained. Kyrie nodded slightly then turned to the hallway.

"What are they doing here?"

"They are probably wondering what I'm doing here with you two. After all, I'm the bad guy, remember?" Kyrie frowned as cell spoke with resentment and anger.

"What should we do then?" Sen asked. Kyrie frowned for a moment.

"Seru is here as my guest. I suppose I'll have to make that clear, as politely as possible." Cell smirked at this and lowered his head slightly in a sort of curt bow.

"I'll go let them in then." Sen said almost exasperatedly. Kyrie nodded and watched as Sen left. She heard her feet hurrying down the stairs. She smiled up at Cell with a weary expression.

"Just when I was starting to get used to you too." Cell smirked and turned away from her, exiting the room.

Sen opened the door to an array of weirdly dressed men. A spiky blonde haired man at the front was casually enough dressed, and a younger boy with similar shaped and colored hair was wearing a Japanese komodo.

"Hi." Sen said cautiously. She stared a little frightened as she spotted a tall green skinned man with pointed ears and onyx eyes, watching her, sheathed in a turban and cape.

"Hi." The blonde spiky haired man replied. "I'm Goku… Err… Is… Cell around?" He asked, peering behind Sen. She frowned and nodded slowly, throwing the doors open.

"I'm Serenity Ashes, Sen for short."

"Do you live here?" Goku asked. Sen shook her head.

"No, I'm here with my friend. Her uncle owns this place, but he's overseas. She's upstairs, injured." At the last word the Senshi all seemed to stare at her in a sort of angry shock. She bit her lip and stood to the side as everyone filed into the Entrance hall.

"Your friend is injured? Was it… Cell?" Goku asked. Sen shook her head again.

"No, a car crash two days ago. She broke her leg pretty badly." Goku nodded in understanding then began to introduce her to the Senshi. Piccolo, Yamcha, Tien, Vegeta, Mirai Trunks, Gohan and Android 16. Sen stared in disbelief at 16, noticing that there were very few similarities between him and Cell. 16 could pass for a tall muscular human. Cell had little chance of pulling that off.

"Hello Goku." Cell's voice silenced everything and everyone turned viciously towards the stairs, except Sen whom simply smiled, and stared up at Cell, who stood, arms folded on the top landing, watching.

"Cell! You fiend! What are you doing here?!" Goku demanded. Cell laughed at this.

"I'm here as a young ladies guest." Cell replied.

"I'm sure you are." Goku replied sarcastically.

"He is actually…" Sen butted in, only to have Piccolo, the tall green skinned Namekian and Vegeta, the hot tempered Sayain Prince glare at her. She bit her tongue and stepped back again.

"I don't trust you Cell!" Goku retorted. Cell laughed his rich smooth laugh and shrugged the comment off.

"That aside, what are you going to do about it?" Cell taunted. Goku growled and glanced behind him at Sen, who stood, looking confused and afraid at what was going on.

"I'll take the girls to a safer location, away from you! I know what youre capable of." Goku retorted loudly. Sen opened her mouth to protest but she silenced herself.

"Taking women against their will. I never thought you'd sink so low Goku." Goku frowned and stood silent for a moment, considering things. Sen could see he didn't really want to take her or Kyrie, but that he didn't want to leave them in the hands of Cell either.

Goku suddenly turned towards Sen with an apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry, but I just can't trust him. He might hurt you." Sen nodded slowly and stared back up at Cell. He smirked and stood his ground.

"Kyrie is upstairs, in bed. You'll have to pass me to get to her." He stated. Goku frowned but stepped forward and slowly up the stairs. He reached the landing and stood in front of Cell, a good 2 feet shorter.

"Let me pass Cell. Save our battle for the tournament." He stated. Cell remained where he was, but watched as Goku began the ascent up the next flight of stairs.

He turned his glare back to the others, making them feel slightly uncomfortable, although they all glared back. Sen sighed and leant against the wall, staring around, noticing the slightly gaping hole where Cell had thrown one of the men away, the second time he had arrived. She turned back to Cell, and gave a sort of half smile. He stared back, his pale pink eyes, unnerving and cold. Sen realized that he was being cast back into his arena, cold and lonesome. He didn't want that.

"LEMIGO, NOW!" Kyrie's sudden roar caught everyone off guard. Cell flexed instinctively and turned to start on Goku, but caught himself, and resumed glaring angrily, as Goku stumbled down the stairs with a thrashing Kyrie, screaming to be put down.

"But you're injured!" Goku argued.

"Then put me back in MY BED!" She roared again. Cell smirked slightly as her competitive spirit flared angrily. He could sense her energy rising slightly. Oh how he wished she was as strong as he was.

"I can't… I have to take you back with… Ugh!" Goku stopped short as he fell backwards, landing on his backside, Kyrie still in his arms.

"OW OW OW OW!!!!" She complained loudly, her injured leg limp but searing with pain. She silenced her howling and screaming as Cell's eyeridge arched and she grinned sheepishly. She spotted Sen standing at the back and caught her eye.

"Can you go and grab my pills? I'll need them since we are being KIDNAPPED!!!" She screeched the last word, causing Goku to flinch.

"I'm sorry!" He repeated again, standing up and resuming the descent. He passed Cell, and for a fleeting moment, Kyrie and Cell's eyes locked in a form of communication, sort of assuring Kyrie that he would see her again.

Sen ran past them up the stairs and disappeared. She re-appeared with the bottle of pills just as Goku finally found his footing on the last step. Sen ran past Cell, without the slightest inclination of fear, much to everyone's surprise, and returned to Kyrie's side.

Cell stood on the verandah watching as the Senshi vanished in the horizon over the setting sun. He frowned slightly, his ears ringing with the sudden silence of the mansion.