Hikari No Will Power

Act Two, Chapter Five - The Chief of Police's Surprising Proposal! Yumi Kaname for President?!


A short moment after the alarm clock started to wail its morning symphony, a half-awake Yumi let out a groan, rolled over, and leaned her hand on the snooze button, silencing it. Groggily, she picked it up, held it closer to her face to check the time, before she dumped it back on the table, pulled her sheets over her head, and slept on. It was too early for her to be up and about, after all.

But an explosion occurred.

She jumped out of her bed, startled by the loud boom that completely snapped her out of her sleep, and hurried down the stairs with much speed, almost tumbling down the steps as she skipped one after the other. She was still meters away from the kitchen when she noticed that it was where the smoke was coming from. Grabbing the fire extinguisher, she kicked the door of the said room open, and sprayed at where the fire was.

What she did not notice, however, was that there was someone standing in between her and the fire, and that most of the water soaked him rather than the fire, which was the original target. Even so, the dwellers of the apartment were in luck, because the amount of water that landed on the blaze was enough to put it off. Seeing that the smoke was accumulating inside the kitchen in an ugly haze of black and gray, she threw the empty canister away to open the window, only to hit the demi-saiyajin who was entering the area right in the face.

She turned around, breathing heavily in relief as the fumes sped out of the area and towards the open. She leaned against the window sill, her adrenaline wearing off --- only to see a dizzy Goten, who eventually stumbled by the doorway with swirling raven eyes, and a drenched Trunks, who stood still in front of the oven, water dripping continuously from his purple hair.

"Goten! Trunks!" the young woman exclaimed in surprise, approaching the two cautiously to check on their condition. She then put a hand over her mouth as she saw the state they were both in, stifling a gasp. "Oh my Kami, are you all right?"

"Oh yeah, I'm just soaked."

Goten only groaned in reply, rubbing his forehead.

"I'm really sorry! You know how I am when I get startled," she apologized, helping the younger demi-saiyajin up, before taking a towel from the cabinet and handing it to other. She then began cleaning up the mess, the other two helping her out a short while after. "What in the world were you doing anyway?!"

That was when Goten nudged his friend, flashing him a meaningful look. "I... uh..." Trunks stammered, speechless all of a sudden. "I was... uh... trying to prepare breakfast, to... uh... make up for last night." He looked at Yumi for a second before he hung his head and stared at the dirty floor in disappointment. "But I can't even do that right. I'm really someone who's good-for-nothing."

She looked at the demi-saiyajin with sympathy-laden green eyes, before she sighed. "Not all people can cook, you know?" she told him as she went back to wiping away the oil that was all over the oven. "It's some kind of talent, I suppose. Some people are really good at it, while others---"

"---can't even stay in the kitchen for two minutes without burning anything."

At that, the two of them blushed, turning away from each other to hide their faces. Goten, who was standing between them, folded his arms in front of his chest, looked at Yumi, then at Trunks, and smirked. He opened his mouth to comment on the situation, but he was interrupted by a suspicious-sounding news alert from the house next door. Upon hearing the words "Cessa," "hostage," and "Capsule Corporation," he immediately grabbed the plastic bag that was hidden behind the large flower vase and ran back to the kitchen.

"Well, work calls. See ya," he told his friends who still weren't on speaking terms for some reason, before he flashed a crooked grin and took up an informal salute. He rushed out of the area, but just as he disappeared from their view, he peeped back in, still grinning. "Oh, by the way? In case you haven't noticed, it's the bonding hour. So make good use of it."

As the door of their apartment slammed shut, the two wanted to say something to destroy the tension that was floating around them, but found themselves too embarrassed to do so. When they finally had the courage to speak, they began with, "Um..." at exactly the same time, causing them to turn away from each other with pink cheeks.

"You go first," Yumi said.

"No, ladies first."

"Um..." the young woman stammered, shuffling her feet. "I really don't know what to say."

"Me either," the demi-saiyajin admitted.

The air grew thicker by the minute, as did the silence that spread between them. Yumi felt that something was really going on, so she turned around to check what it was, only to come face-to-face with Trunks, who, too, turned around at the same time. By then, their faces were only a few inches apart, yet they weren't able to notice, because his eyes were locked on hers just as her eyes were locked on his.

And then, their lips touched, all their differences immediately forgotten.

"Hold it right there!"

The armed men, who were part of the terrorist group Cessa, looked around to see who it was, but saw nobody. Their captive, on the other hand, continued to squirm and wriggle, desperate to get out of the chair in which he was strapped in, and desperate to call out for help. Although Iori Moriya, the Chief Executive Officer of Capsule Corporation, was a sly entrepreneur who managed to get things done his own way, he was a man full of fear as well.

One of the terrorists held the gun to Moriya's head, scowling. "Don't even think about it, Mr. CEO," he threatened, loading the weapon with a soft click that made the man pale considerably. "I know you're eager to get out of here, but you must wait. If you won't, then you'll never get out of this place alive."

The voice returned. "I said, hold it right there!"

That was when the window just behind Moriya shattered into pieces, and a figure clad in silver and turquoise garments crashed in. The terrorists immediately got into their positions and began shooting the intruder, but the Great Saiyaman was too much of a match for them. The superhero only stood there as they fired, catching the bullets one after the other with much ease, just as what his predecessor used to do.

When the armed men ran out of bullets, they dropped their weapons and attempted to escape, fearing what would happen to them with such a powerful adversary. But the Great Saiyaman would not let them leave without meeting the police, so he soared above them and landed by the doorway, blocking the way out. He gestured towards the window, suggesting that they escape through it, but his enemies only backed off in fear. "W-who are y-you?" a stout young man asked, stuttering.

The super fighter stopped to think. What was Gohan's battle cry again? he asked himself, looking at his opponents and making sure that they were still in their places. As much as the demi-saiyajin resented the thought of that he had become a silly, costumed superhero like his older brother, he was beginning to appreciate the situation he was in. And that was when the notion of living up to the Great Saiyaman's standards struck him.

If he would indeed live up to it, Gohan would be proud.

He then stepped forward, making the terrorists step back in fear. Perfect, he thought with a satisfied grin, before he flung his magnificent blue cape behind him and took up a pose that he thought only Gohan would be daring enough to do. "Heaven cries out, the Earth cries out, the people cry out and even I cry out for me to defeat the forces of evil! Can't you see this evil-fighting helmet? I am the strong, the invincible, the ultimate hero... the Great Saiyaman!"

As he finished up his routine, he heard his best friend's mocking voice from the back of his head, but he pushed it away, savoring the moment. So what if he was acting silly? He was having fun, and helping those who need help at the same time. It's not such a bad thing, is it?

And once again, the Great Saiyaman saved the day.

Because neither of them knew how to cook, Trunks and Yumi were forced to eat popcorn and potato chips for breakfast while watching television and waiting for Goten to return from his work. As they sat next to each other on the couch, the young man suddenly let out a sigh. "Where have you been all this time? I mean, during the androids' reign of terror..."

"Hiding underground. Like everyone else. Praying that the nightmare would end."

"It did end."

She smiled at the demi-saiyajin, her gleaming emerald eyes scanning his handsome features. "Well, it's because you," she whispered, poking him on the chest playfully, "put an end to it. And you said you were good-for-nothing."

A tinge of pink crept up to Trunks' cheeks, his embarrassment at the young woman's compliment shining through. He was about to say something in return when his sensitive ears caught the sound of someone knocking on their apartment's door. Grinning at her, he stood up to see who it was --- but to his surprise, he found no one.

"Who is it, Trunks?" Yumi called out from the living room.

"Oh, nobody," he answered as he reached for the doorknob, when something on the doormat caught his eye. It was a small, transparent plastic bag, and it contained a compact disc. The young man looked around to see who might have dumped it, but saw no one suspicious among the people who moved about the area, minding their own businesses. Sighing, he closed the door and headed back to where his friend was. "But someone left this."

She examined it carefully, when she noticed that there was a small piece of paper stapled to the plastic at the rear end. "To be opened in the presence of Yumi Kaname, heiress to the Kaname Empire," she read, frowning. She then looked at Trunks, who sat down beside her. "Kaname Empire? Some joke. But then again, I think we should check this out. What do you think?"

He shrugged. "You're the boss."

Yumi nodded, unable to contain her curiousity. As soon as she did so, the demi-saiyajin rose up, removed the disc from the plastic bag, and inserted it to the player. He then grabbed the remote control and pressed the keys to access the Video mode, before he sat back down, leaned back against the comfortable couch, and pressed Play.

The screen remained blank for a few seconds, until a woman appeared in the picture. She was stern-faced but attractive, with short black hair and icy blue eyes that livened up her serious features. Trunks immediately identified that she was a fighter, judging from her attentive demeanor, and the keen look in her eyes.

"Good morning, Miss Kaname. I am Videl Satan, Chief of the Tokyo Police Force. You might be surprised about the fact that I know that you're very much alive, but I have my sources. However, that's not what I wanted to discuss. You see, the citizens of this nation need you. I'm sure you are aware of our country's present situation, despite the fact that you haven't appeared in public for quite sometime now. We've just been hit by two very heavy blows: the androids, who destroyed almost everything we ever had, and the death of your father, Hyouko Kaname, who was the only one who managed to rebuild this country and make a difference.

"Our new Prime Minister, Honoo Shidoosha, apparently has no knowledge in terms of running a country, and he, too, refuses to listen to us and his advisers. Because of his incompetence --- something that will only plunge Japan into catastrophe, especially now that we've been invaded by terrorists --- it has been decided by the Rebel Leader that he shall be assassinated tonight, at nine o'clock. After that, we will need to put someone into office, a new ruler for the new government we will be establishing. And I am referring to you, Miss Kaname. You are young, witty and charismatic. Your father's loyalists, plenty they are, will surely support you in all your endeavors, and on your part, you will have the chance to fulfill your father's promise to make this nation great again.

"Do not even think about saying no, about refusing this proposal. I have two discs here with me --- one containing all the evidences of your father's ill regime, and the other containing the evidences that you friend, Trunks Briefs-Vegeta, who was accused of murdering his own employees back when he was the Chief Executive Officer of Capsule Corporation, is innocent. If you will refuse to participate in this rebellion, you will not only be killed, your father's doings will be exposed to the world, while the truth about your friend will be hidden away forever.

"I want you to meet me tonight, at seven o'clock, at the back lawn of Capsule Corporation in Western Capitol. If Iori Moriya's guards will demand an explanation, tell them that you have an important appointment with Mr. Moriya. My partner will cover it up for you. In exchange for your participation, I shall give you both discs, and you are free to do whatever you wish to do with them. You have eleven hours, Miss Kaname. Eleven hours to decide and act upon the opportunity you have. Your cooperation in this revolution will make Japan great again."

Silence.

"I don't like the sound of it," Yumi whispered, breaking the silence that was disturbing both of them greatly. "Me? President?"

"The question is, how did she know that we're alive and together? I don't think it was through coincidence, especially the fact that she referred to me as your friend," the demi-saiyajin voiced out with narrowed cobalt orbs as he looked at the plastic bag where the disc was put in suspiciously. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"What should I do?"

Trunks sighed, as he pressed the button on the remote control that was labeled Stop. "As much as I would love to be declared innocent," he blurted out, shifting his position to face the worried young woman, "I don't think you should do it. You don't have to worry about getting assassinated; I'm here to protect you. About the discs, we can always steal it from her. If she's the Chief of Police, then we should find those at her office at the station. Besides, if you'll take the job, you'll be carrying the entire Japan on your shoulders at the age of 18, and you'll grow old easily."

She averted her gaze to the disc player, uneasiness evident in her pale features. "Why do I feel obliged to do what she's asking me to do? I do have a bad feeling about all this, but somehow, it seems right." She took a deep breath before she turned to look at the demi-saiyajin, who was observing her intently. "Well, are you still going to love me even if I'll have wrinkles on my face?"

"Of course!" he acknowledged with a laugh.

"Then that's it. I'll do it."

He immediately stopped laughing, her words hitting him hard. He could not believe that Yumi Kaname, the young woman who he called a spoiled little girl just the night before, was accepting the responsibility of ruling the entire country at the raw age of 18. Apparently, she was trying to prove something.

He could not find the words to rebuke her, however. The only statement he managed to utter out loud, in a tone of complete disbelief, was comprised of the words, "You're kidding."

---

Author's Note: I planned to retain the position Yumi would be asked to fill as Prime Minister, but I have no knowledge in that form of government (it's democracy here in the Philippines, after all), so I decided to include in the rebel's motives to totally shift their form of goverment from parliamentary to democratic. It's easier that way, most especially because I studied about that in Social Studies. With that cleared, I'd like to thank all of those who read and reviewed. Muchas gracias.

I start school on the 9th, but nothing to worry, I already wrote until Chapter 13, so you can expect an update every weekend, which is when I'll be free to go online and all. Hopefully, I'll be able to write the next chapters, too, so that you can indeed spot an update every Saturday or Sunday. So anyway, if you have any suggestions or comments, let me know. Thanks. =P