AN: Wow, who can believe that I just missed my Fourth Anniversary with in January. O.o Four years of ups and downs, successes and failures, improvement and disasters. (Remember the days when there were no crossover sections and the only SM/DBZ fics were scattered throughout the SM section? Remember when a new chapter had to be uploaded separately, posting it as if it were a new story? Remember when the formatting was so much easier to do for these fics?)
I also missed the half-year mark from the last time I updated this fic, ack!
No apologizes are acceptable, but I am very sorry for the delay. As life picks up, the time on dwindles. C'est la vie. :( If any of you are still around and read this, I cannot express my amazement and gratitude at your patience. Special thanks to Shade, whose emails finally got me writing again. More review responses at the bottom, as always.
With no more delay, here at last is ch. 19 of "Memories of You". It too, is only nine months away from being four years old. Thank you and enjoy!
-Calli-chan
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They reappeared for about the fifth time, now upon the small island of a marshy planet. Vegeta grabbed Cosmos' arm as she was about to teleport again.
"Onna, how long does this take! I thought you knew instant transmission! Why are you taking side-trips!"
Her concentration lost, Cosmos looked down and glared at Vegeta. "First of all, of all my names, 'onna' is NOT one of them," she fumed. "Second of all, I do NOT know instant transmission, and if you do you'd better stop making me drag you along and start helping out! This is teleportation, baka! That planet is a lot further than you might think, and though I can hop multiple galaxies, I can't go all the way across the universe with one jump! So be quiet or get yourself there!"
"At this rate, I could fly there faster than this technique," he grumbled.
With sarcasm dripping from her lips and her eyes glaring dangerously, she turned to him. "Fine, be my guest. There's several billion light-years you'll have to traverse, but no problem of course. It'll make my job easier."
Vegeta mumbled something inaudibly. "I'm saving my strength for Majin Buu," he said arrogantly.
Cosmos raised her eyebrows mockingly. "Very well, oh impatient prince of all high and mighty. We're almost there; only a few galaxies to go." With that, she grabbed his arm, concentrated on her next location, and was gone in a flash.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
As Fate would have it, they arrived on the Planet of the Kais just as a flash from a distant hill signaled a newly-powered Gohan's return to Earth.
"Kakarott!" cried Vegeta as he stalked towards the hill, angry at having missed the 'training'. His cry attracted the attention of Goku and the two Kaioushins, as they turned around with surprise.
"Vegeta! Hey!" laughed Goku as he bounded towards him. Vegeta growled and continued stalking forward as Cosmos followed.
"Vegeta," smiled Goku, slapping him heartily on the back, "I thought you were still on Earth. How did you get here?"
"The onna," growled Vegeta without turning to her.
"I have a name, Vegeta."
At the sound of her voice, Goku noticed Cosmos for the first time. "Cosmos, right? Sorry I didn't get the chance to introduce myself properly last time," he laughed with his hand behind his head. She simply nodded with a smile, hiding any secret disappointment. "It was a bit crazy with the boys and the fusion training going on."
"Kakarott," began Vegeta seriously. "How are the boys?"
Cosmos watched Goku's face transform from childlike to aged as his smile turned grim. "Hard to say," he said gravely. "They ran out of time and were forced to end the fusion until they could gain more energy. They were trying to take on Buu at their unfused levels! With the Lookout destroyed, there're just fighting upon a wasteland…"
Goku stopped as he noticed Vegeta's gaze turn distant and steely at the mention of the Lookout, a rare but comprehendible sign in the prince. "Vegeta, we will bring them back. We will use the Namek dragonballs and wish them back as soon as it is safe—"
"And when will that be, Kakarott?" Vegeta said coldly. "As we sit here, doing nothing and waiting for your son to prove himself, how long until Buu is destroyed? Or how long until he destroys all of the earth and moves on the destroy Namek as well? Then what, oh great Kakarott?"
Standing apart from the two warriors, Cosmos raised her head curiously at the strange emotion hidden under the arrogant prince's words.
"Vegeta, I know you love Bulma, and I know you hate to admit it," Goku said with sudden passion. "I feel the same way about my ChiChi. I still can't comprehend… she's always been there…" Unnoticed, Cosmos lowered her head and a part of her heart shattered. She had failed him; she had never been there when he needed her most, it is natural that he would move on. But she'd always imagined that he'd married for duty, not for… love. Unseen and alone on a distant planet, she steeled her face and shoved her emotions away, not allowing them to dominate her actions or expressions. None could see the turmoil underneath the mask of her smile.
Goku was still speaking passionately. "But we will bring them back! If only I weren't dead!" he cried in frustration. "If only there was more I could do then sitting and waiting on this distant planet!" He banged his fist against a nearby rock, causing the rock to shatter under the force.
The Kaioushins looked up at his desperate cry. "Goku," called the elder Kaioushin, "perhaps I can help. You have proved yourself to be a worthy warrior, and your son might soon need your aid. I've been cramped up in that sword for so long that I really don't need my life anyways. Come here."
Goku approached slowly, unsure but eager to understand what the Dai Kaioushin had in store. As Goku crouched before him and closed his eyes in meditation, the old Kai began to chant some sort of magic as he waved his arms about. Suddenly at the height of the spell, the old Kai fell over dead. Younger Kaioushin let out a cry of shock, and all moved forward to see if the old man was all right.
In a moment, the old Kai sat up smiling with a halo over his head. Goku opened his eyes suddenly and stood up, feeling for a halo over his head. There was only air. The old Kai smiled at his naivety. "Now, young Saiyin, I suggest that you spar with your friend and strengthen yourself before returning to your planet."
Goku danced and laughed about. "Yippee! Thank you so much, Kaioushin-sama!" To the old man's shock, he threw the elder Kaioushin into the air and caught him, hugging him and dancing about. Cosmos could not suppress a smile at his antics, but Vegeta quickly barked for him to spar. Goku eagerly obeyed. Cosmos kept herself aloof and apart as they fought, preferring to strengthen herself in her own ways. As the Saiyins sparred and the Kaioushins observed the events on Earth, Cosmos let herself slip into meditation.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
No emotions. She would let no emotions dominate her concentration. Yes, Goku had moved on—the natural thing to do. Yes, she would have also moved on and married Mamo-chan, had Fate not intervened. After Fate followed its course, both Mamoru and ChiChi were dead, but according to the actions of their spouses, both would be given a new chance at life. However, with the help of the dragonballs, ChiChi would be returned to a life with her husband; Fate passed Mamoru and the senshi onward, to a time where they might live in peace and never meet their leader again. Like Goku and the people of Chikyuu, the senshi and Mamoru had undoubtedly forgotten her and moved on. She was alone and forgotten for eternity.
No. Focus. Beyond this unrest. Deeper…
-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Goku's thoughts wandered as the spar progressed at the usual intensity. He knew he should have cleared his mind and focused on the fight; his thoughts drifted from his sons on Earth to the strange Cosmos as he observed her meditating with an oddly familiar style.
"Who is she?" Goku wondered out loud as he dodged punches and kicks methodically, but didn't bother to land any. "Kaioushin was quick to trust her, of course, but what to we really know about her?"
Vegeta took advantage of Goku's distraction to gain the upper hand. He remained focused and only answered between blows. "She claims… to have been born… on the Earth of this world." Vegeta aimed a hard punch, but Goku managed to duck and spin around. They broke apart for a moment.
"This world? On Chikyuu!"
Vegeta nodded curtly and they slammed together again, fazing in and out as they battled through the air far above the surface. "Born in this world…. Sent to another."
"What about her past?" Duck, dodge, kick, faze out.
"Nothing. Has many names… that's all." Punch, block, kick, faze out, punch, slam.
"And her powers?" Block, spin, faze out.
This time Vegeta broke apart willingly as they floated in the atmosphere high above where Cosmos meditated and the Kaioushins watched over Earth. "Kakarott," his voice annoyed and angered. "Twice she has robbed me of my death. Twice! I do not like being indebted to anyone, especially not to an onna for my life! I do not know all that she can do; like you have seen yourself, she fights strangely, often relying on magic rather than strength, and battles like one not of this universe."
"She seems so familiar. The hair, I think, but it doesn't seem right. Can you think of no one like her that you may have encountered that I might know?"
Vegeta's frown deepened and his voice grew cold and dangerous. "Once, Freiza encountered a few strange onnas that fought similar to her style. We fought them, but somehow they escaped us and masked their planets as we tried to track them. Freiza was constantly returning to that area of space, never letting an opponent live, but we were never able to find the women or the planets again."
Goku's face scrunched into thought. "And these were just a few women, able to hide entire planets?"
Vegeta was clearly annoyed. "Strange onnas," he repeated, "that did not seem to comply to the laws of this universe."
Goku's face scrunched even more, if that was possible, revealing his confusion. "Magic," Vegeta stated with exasperation. Goku still didn't seem to get it; Vegeta sighed. "They appeared thin and weak, with a similar (cough) outfit as this Cosmos. Though they caused us little harm, they were very defensive and cast powerful spells that none could break."
A light seemed to dawn on Goku's face, but Vegeta did not wait for him to get it. "Enough talk, Kakakott, I've come to spar!" Vegeta flew towards him and began to fight with renewed ferocity. Goku's dazed look quickly faded as he devoted himself to the fight, knowing that the outcome of earth might depend on this exercise.
-o-o-o-o-o-
After countless minutes of a spar that no human eye could follow, Goku suddenly spoke again. "It's not the magic."
In surprise, Vegeta accidentally let his guard down a bit more than he intended, but he was able to recover before the punch could impact. "What!"
"I've just thought through all the enemies I could remember: Cell, Freiza, the Ginyu force, Raditz, all the past opponents in Tournaments… None of them used magic. Even Babidi didn't seem to use the same kind. No, I don't think that she's an enemy. But she's somehow familiar… somehow that is just off the edge of my tongue…"
"Goku! Vegeta!"
The cry came from far below, as Kaioushin's voice echoed through the entire atmosphere of his home planet. Without question, the two darted down to the surface, knowing well that the battle on Earth had changed for the worse.
-o-o-o-o-o-
"What's wrong?"
"Buu—he's too strong!" The two Kaioushins stared with horrified wide-eyes at the crystal ball. "How could he have let it come to this?" wailed the older Kai.
"What happened?" said Cosmos as she ran from her meditative area, eyes deadly and glaive in hand.
"Gohan!" cried younger Kai, and Goku instantly tensed. The five crowded around the crystal ball as they tried to understand what was happening.
"It was going excellently well," explained Dai Kaioushin gravely. "Gohan arrived and saved the day for Gotenks. He easily blew Majin Buu to pieces. But these pieces were able to regenerate, of course. Goten and Trunks fused together again, but they were not on their guard! Majin Buu overwhelmed the fused warrior and absorbed him!" The three listeners' eyes widened in shock. "Now Majin Buu has gone through more transformations and gained greater power from Gotenks. He is too strong! Gohan cannot beat him!"
"I'm going down there," said Goku, his voice steely and his eyes thin. He has his hand on his forehand and prepared to instantly transmit himself.
"Wait!" called Dai Kaioushin. "We have something that might help you." He handed Goku a set of earrings. "Alone, it may be that we can do nothing against this monster, but fused together…" He looked meaningfully at Vegeta.
Vegeta responded with a look of utter disgust. "This is a joke, is it not?" he exclaimed arrogantly. "I, the Prince of the Saiyins, fuse with Kakarott!" His face was incredulous. "You must be mad!"
Cosmos' face made it clear that she was in no mood for his antics. "Enough, baka! I've had enough arrogant royalty in my life," she threatened, shaking her glaive dangerously close to his face. "Admit that you're not strong enough alone, none of us our. People are dead because of this monster. We must stop him now, before he can destroy our planet as well."
The Kaioushins and Vegeta looked at her curiously as she spoke of "our" planet, but Goku didn't seem to hear. His eyes were still steely, dulling all pain from the potential deaths of his sons.
"Enough," he echoed, his voice nearly monotone as he clutched the earrings in his hands. "I don't have time to argue; I'll fuse with my son if need be. Gohan needs me. I'm going now."
"I'm coming," said Vegeta haughtily, and Goku touched his shoulder just as he was about to disappear. The two Saiyins vanished in an instant.
Three wise warriors were all who remained on the holy planet—two Kaioushins and Cosmos. Cosmos was clearly split and unsure whether she should undertake the long trek to follow them. She itched to do something rather than just sitting here. But her intuition showed her that she would have a part yet to play—and it would not be on Earth. She could do little but hinder what must take place on Earth; no, she must sit and watch, lending whatever energy she can and preparing for the final encounter.
"Now the waiting begins…" murmured Dai Kaioushin, as the three peered close into the crystal ball.
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AN: Ch 19- FIN
Not too bad writing it either. The main problem continues to be a severe lack of time to write anything... and I'm trying to disperse it between all my fics (though I keep favoring LotR/SM lol). Hopefully the writing will continue to come easily for this fic; if only Time would also flow freely ack.
Review Responses!
Mystical Jade- Yah, it was so sad when Buu killed everyone at the Lookout. Cosmos might find peace eventually but not yet haha. evil!Calli
Eo- Yep, Cosmos will be paired with the same guy as was suggested in Part I. ;D
Katlin Grace- What am I going to do about Chichi? Lol, that is the reason why there will be Three parts to this fic. ;)
Nerf-or-Nothing- Heh. Sorry the "Time" I took did end up being months... but at least it wasn't a full year! Whew.
angelwings6117- Oh don't worry, no one will be able to put it all together for quite a while. :D evil!Calli
Shade- I really can't thank you enough. You kept reviewing and emailing and hoping for more even when I was doing nothing for it. Thank you thank you thank you for your incredible dedication!
ArikaMorance- Well, Cosmos will have the same "someone" she was with before. :D And yes, it is slow. But I want to make sure its detailed and there's some character development and I don't want to rush anything. "Now let's not be hasty, Master Meriadoc." (Gotta love Treebeard from Lotr lol)
KuroNoTenshi- LOL "Onna" Bulma: "?" V: "No, the other one" Haha, I may have to include that later in here :D
shelum- Oh no, Cosmos is a very secretive person. She won't be willingly telling anything about herself. They have to put the puzzle together.
Thank you also to:
Neo-Crystal
erika
angel313
SKY UNICORN
Kallista Starshooter
Leeanna-Marie-Malfoy
Zachana16
Kochou-hime
AlyRain
Thank you all for your reviews; they continue to encourage me. Apologies again for the horribly long wait. Thank you for your patience and dedication! And as always. "Your reviews are the ink for the author's pen." So please drop one!
Ja!
-Calli-chan
P.S. If you want to be alerted of my updates, say so in a review and be sure to leave your email. Thanks!