Set Me Free
A/N: Long time no see, huh? This was done about a week ago but I only post on Fridays now. Well let's hope this chapter makes up for it. This is a long, long (I must stress the word "long" for this) one so grab a seat and make sure you clear your schedule for a while. Thank you everyone so far who has reviewed. Enjoy.
Chapter 2
Videl looked behind her and continued to hear the wolves' cries. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear, a deep frown settled upon her lips as the howls grew fainter and fainter.
Swift Wolf, dear, dear Swift Wolf. She closed her eyes.
She wished he and The People would come here too. But she knew from the moment she met them they were a prideful tribe, though kind and understanding, they were mysterious and stubborn. They would never dream of abandoning their home, no matter the cost.
She took a deep breath, turned around and looked at the marvelous cave before her. A blue, almost-transparent shield was formed around it. Prior to this the dingy old cave wouldn't have compared with some of the others she'd seen on her way here. Now the cave seemed to have come to life with a breathtaking waterfall beside it appearing out of nowhere. Tory still had his mouth wide open, his navy-blue eyes wide with confusing and amazement.
"Holy shit, this is it. This is it!" he smiled. Videl shook her head. Funny, she would have thought he'd have thrown a fit at the sight of this cave compared to their luxurious housing he was use to. As the president of the once standing Foley corporations he lacked nothing, except humbleness. But he loved the outdoors, the smell of nature, the feel of fresh cut grass beneath his fingertips, the dimming rays of the setting sun and the soft cleansing of an afternoon breeze. Truth be told, Mr. Cool and Suave was an all-out Nature lover—though he kept it a secret from his employees.
Seeing he wouldn't stop gawking for sometime at these new turn of events, Videl cleared her throat loudly. "Perhaps we should go inside and not gawk too long. What say you Mr. President?"
Tory shrugged. "Might as well. We came this far and why get caught now?" he frowned suddenly. "I wish I got to say "thank you" though." He said this not realizing he'd spoken out loud.
"I am sure Swift Wolf would be grinning from ear-to-ear if he heard you just now." Videl assured Tory.
The two gathered what little they had and went forward. Videl took a deep breath, closed her eyes and walked straight. She never anticipated the smoothing sensation of fresh air that tickled her skin. In fact, she expected a sharp intense pain when she passed through the shield. When Videl had disappeared, Tory remained rooted to the same spot hesitantly a bit. Videl poked her out head scaring Tory half to death. "Are you coming?"
"Damn it, don't do that again!" Tory snapped feeling embarrassed that he'd been easily frightened.
Videl scoffed. "Whatever. Are you coming or not? Next thing you know it will close leaving you all alone at the saiyans mercy too."
Tory glared at her. "Don't even chance it, kid." He stepped forward.
"Don't call me a "kid," old man." Videl slipped back into the shield seconds before Tory entered.
"Not bad." Tory muttered.
The fire grew larger and Goku was sure it could be seen half way around the world. Goku winced at the sounds of the human's wails and pleas. Dear Kami he didn't want this. He never did want this—he never had, nor would.
"If just one set of individuals must be sacrificed for our cause so be it, Kakorat. You are a saiyans for Kami sakes, do you damn job!" King Vegeta had snapped.
Goku sighed. "Damn."
A young blonde teen girl scurried as far as her legs could carry her holding the hands of a young boy. The forest hid them well as they blended in with their body covered his dark, damp mud and twigs. Their breaths came out in short pants, their faces were flush and their bodies drenched with fresh sweat. Suddenly the young boy tripped over a rock hidden beneath some fallen leaves. He groaned underneath his breath and didn't move.
"Come on, Kuroki, we can make it! We can make it." The young woman encouraged him kneeling before him and offering him a hand.
He smacked it away receiving a confused look. He looked to his left, away from her bewildered blue eyes and questioning look. He was only fourteen, scrawny from the lack of food and at least 5' 3". His brown hair hung loosely around his semi-muddy face and his emerald-shaded eyes dark and solemn. He looked tired, hopeless and in pain. He clenched his fist until his nails dung deep, the pain was nothing compared to what he was feeling.
He shook his head. "We can't." he moved slightly and she saw blood on his coming from his nose and knees.
The young woman frowned, concern growing quickly. "Yes we can, Ro. We have to. Mother and father…Kema…they…we need to." She saw he wasn't responding to reasoning, so she sighed deeply, looking at the gray sky above. "Kami help me—!"
"—KAMI IS DEAD! DEAD, DEAD, DEAD! Do you hear me?" he shrilled, shocking the blonde so much that she tumbled onto her bottom. He lowered his voice. "He's…dead, perhaps even has forgotten us." His voice was filled with remorse, guilt and disgust. His eyes grew misty and his voice grew hoarse. "Everyone's dead…mom…dad…Roukema…my friends…everybody…" he his body shook violently. "Their dead…and I…I couldn't do anything…I just watched…h-helpless…s-sc-scared…being stupid—"
"You're not stupid." His sister snapped. "You're just a kid. They're monsters, Kuroki—monsters! We couldn't do anything else for them."
"It's not fair. Why can't we just go back to the way things were? With mom laughing and playing the piano, dad and me watching the football game on the widescreen TV, you and Roukema arguing over who had the best boyfriend. W-with dad showing me all the old plays he did when he was a quarterback o-or when you showed me how to throw my first curve ball…I just…I just want to be free, Rasa." Tears began to stream down his cheeks and he wiped them away angrily leaving a smear of mud in his wake. He hated crying. He hated the feeling of being a sissy even more.
"W-we are free." Well, sort of. She thought grimly. She didn't think being free included being covered in mud, running from bloodthirsty aliens and smelling like old gym socks. Definitely not!
"Free?" he scoffed. "Free? T-this is free, running like some criminal through forest that has all sorts of wild animals roaming nearby gazing at us like a piece of gourmet beef? Going without food for weeks and weeks while watching t-those, those monkeys slobbering down every last bite? Free? You call this free? I rather die than have to face another day of this so called "freedom", Rasa."
"Shh." She soothed him and tore a piece of her shirt. "Roll over." He did, well to the best he could. "You're losing a lot of blood, kiddo." She took out her water bottle that was now filled with fresh rain water and used a small piece to clean the cuts. Her younger brother winced slightly through clenched teeth but other than that he made no indication that he felt anything. Then she bandaged him up in a matter of minutes and tugged to make sure it was secured. "Maybe we'll reach a river nearby so that we can change it."
"Maybe…" her brother muttered. His morale was sinking faster than ever before. At first they'd hoped it would have been over quickly but it had been ten years now. Their parents' and Roukema's—their sixteen year old sister—deaths were still fresh like open cut wounds left to bleed. It had been just four days and the pain wasn't getting any easier if anything it was getting worst.
After a few moments Kuroki had fallen asleep with his head resting on a tree. He was exhausted and hadn't slept for days now. Meanwhile his sister curled up nearby and began writing in her small dairy. It was nearly finished, she had about three or so pages left out of the 100. She'd had a wonderful senior year…that had ended with the deaths of her parents, sister and her best friend. She looked briefly at her last entry
Dear Dairy,
This should have been a year were I was suppose to be going to college, not running for my life from a bunch of wacko aliens. Soto my boyfriend of six years is dead. I know he is because I feel it. We had a special connection in which we could practically sense each other, and now it's gone. Soto, you were too good for this world. Hair as golden as wheat, eyes a wide and clear as the morning sky, a smile bright and large and a heart the glowed and reached far. I loved you, still do, will always love you.
Love, Rasa (I love you Soto)
She took out a blue pen from her back pocket and sat with her back to a nearby tree, got comfortable and began to write. The words came flowing at all at once. She had no one left to talk about her fears, hopes and dreams—which were dimming quickly. Oh she had her younger brother but why and on more stress for the kid when she was not only older but his only guardian and only living family member left. She'd seen him breakdown already once, if she added her own fears and worries he'd have one or two major nervous breakdowns within an hour! She couldn't, she wouldn't—WON'T—put all that on him!
Dear Dairy,
It's been a while since I've wrote but you are the only thing left other than Ro, that's keeping me going. That and the promise I made to our parents. I still wonder—I hope—this place they'd talked about existed. Ro shrilled about Kami being dead and I feel for him. It's not fair, I agree. Why should people have to fear for their lives, dread what the next moon or sun rise might bring; wonder about their family, friends and of what to do. The screaming has ended—for now. I can see the smoke of the once burning village is beginning to fade now, as are my hopes. The Military and the Navy were defeated within a minute flat! Now that's saying something. There's no where really left to hide. No more defenses, no more fabrications of what was happening, nothing but the cold facts that leave you alone and frosty at night. What is there left to believe in? Ala
s I must go now. Time is of the essence. We should reach our destination by midday. Kami, I do hope you are alive—I believe you are. Save me, save Ro—save us!
Desperate with (10 of hope remaining), Rasa
Her eyes grew droopy and she cast the small pink book beside the two backpacks. She looked at her brother, they had both became quite good at awakening at the slightest twitch of a leaf or the change in the winds. Why not? It was the only way to survive.
She yawned slightly and huddled near her younger brother. Tomorrow will be better…tomorrow always would be better…or that's what mom always used to say…
Rasa chocked back a sob. Oh Mom.
"Wake up…"
Tory muttered something underneath his breath and rolled away from the voice.
"Wake up!" the voice said a bit louder and clearly annoyed.
"Not now…give me a second…" he yawned in his sleep and curled himself into a tighter ball.
"GET UP YOU BONEHEAD!" Videl yelled.
Tory jumped awake with a loud yelp. "What the—!" he saw Videl glowering at him from across the now lit room. "What the fuck—why'd you do that for? Gees, are you trying to kill my eardrums or give me a heart attack?"
"Maybe both," Videl said sarcastically then she grew serious. "Get up. It's time to move on into the cave. We have to get into the real shield, this is a weak one. Once there then you can dream and drool all you want, Mr. President."
"Funny." Tory scowled, rubbed his stomach and glared at Videl. "I'm hungry. We'll eat first, and then walk."
"No, we'll walk, and then we'll eat." Videl countered.
Tory shook his head. "No way, eat first! I'll kneel over before I take my first step."
"Then I'll drag you the rest of the way." Videl shrugged.
Tory was flabbergasted and it took a few tries before he got a few words in. Deciding he was too hungry to say the choice of words he knew that would have her reconsider, he said one word with such power and plead that it nearly took all his strength away. "No!"
Videl sighed. It was 10 in the morning and they hadn't eaten for a good twelve or so hours. She heard her stomach begin to grumble too. "Ok, ok. We'll eat while we walk, fair enough?"
Tory thought this over for a good two seconds. "Uhm…Maybe—." He cracked open one eye and still pouting but a sly look entered that almost effective look. "—but only if I get first dibs on the candy bars."
"Whatever." Videl shook her head. "Just one, there's only a few leftover."
"Cool!" Tory clasped his heads together and a burst of energy erupted within him as he dashed towards the corner and began ripping a wrapper from one of his favorite chocolate bars. He moaned slightly savoring the taste. "Hot damn, this is so…so good. So damn good."
After eating two rice balls each, a quarter bottle of water and half a protein bar, they headed deeper into the bleak cave. Tory fumbled once or twice with the flashlight every time he heard an unexpected dripping sound of the water above.
"Chill out." Videl snapped in a hushed tone.
Tory scowled. "I am, I am and quit snapping at me!"
"Lower your voice, and I am not snapping at you. I just want us to be careful. Who knows who else is here?"
Instantly Tory found he was nodding and growing a bit paranoid. "Y-yeah, l-like ex-cons, or-or ax murders, or those psychos they have on the most wanted shows, or-or one of those wacko—"
"—don't get paranoid on me, T."
"I'm not. Just gotta be careful, just like you said." He nodded and found himself using the flashlight to look around at the sides of the cave. The walls felt unnaturally soft to the touch unlike the caves he'd seen and been in. How odd. But then he realized maybe it wasn't a real, real cave but one to look like one.
Flump.
Tory jumped. He heard something. He knew he did. Videl glared at him but said nothing.
They remained still and not a sound was heard. Videl and the now paranoid Tory continued to walk with Tory now behind Videl with the flashlight wavering just a bit. He heard it again and he darted the light to the small rocks that were now rolling to his feet.
"Damn, Tory. What is it now?" Videl snapped, whirling around and glaring daggers at Tory. "Give me the damn thing if you can't hold it right." She held out her right hand and tapped her left foot impatiently.
Tory gulped for he saw something coming, in his fright he lost his grip on his flashlight and it went sailing. The flashlight dropped behind him and the light fazed out. "Oh damn!"
"Oh nice going…" Videl muttered and ignoring Tory's heated glare. She knew he was glaring at her for she could feel it but she made no comment about it. "Well?"
Tory blinked. "Well what?"
"Well, aren't you going to pick it up?" Videl asked expectedly.
"Yeah…I guess." He got to his knees and Videl did too as they looked for the object that blended in nicely, to their disappointment, with the darkness.
"I've got it!" Tory exclaimed and held up the flashlight and flicked the switch.
Nothing…
"Damn." He looked up and saw something golden flash before him, and then it was gone. Then it went off again, it was growing closer. Closer! The thought finally registered in his shell-shocked brain. "Ah shit…" he trailed off trying desperately to get the thing to work as he scurried back further away. He was about a good few yards from it but noticed it was smack-dab right behind Videl.
Holy Shit! He had to warn her! His first try at saying her name hadn't come out more than a whisper, the next a hoarse whisper and then finally, "VIDEL!"
"Wh—?" Videl looked up right in time to see darkness.
"There are only two more hours left in your time here son and still no candidates." Kakorat frowned.
Gohan shook his head. "Well, duh dad! Do I have to spell it out for 'ya?—"
"—well that would be nice." Goku said sarcastically.
"—half of them are dead if not too this or too that for me!" Gohan finished ignoring his father's joke.
"I never took you to be a shallow person, son." Goku frowned.
Gohan bit down hard on his tongue. He wasn't about to tell his father about his dream. He still couldn't shake it no matter how hard he tried. She was his dream girl; his suppose mate and he knew sooner or later his father would ask about if he had his visions yet. At first he decided he'd deny it and be done with it but now with the visions so real, he wasn't so sure he could deny them.
"I'm not. It's just…well, I'm just picky. If I have to choose and have to mate, live and have children with the woman I have to at least like her. She has to be appealing to me and not just for show. I could have picked a girl out of the ones I saw but there wasn't anything."
"…anything?" Goku blinked then he nodded. "Oh, no zing, huh."
"Bingo! They're all too plain, too scrawny, and too…too common."
"I say that's shallow." Goten piped in carrying a bowl of hot soup. Gohan ignored him so Goten took a sip of the vegetable soup and exclaimed, "Yum!"
"We'd you get that from?" Radditz demanded wiping off the sweat off his face with a towel. "You don't know the first thing about making soup, let alone boiling water. That's a woman's job—ouch, what the hell?" he grimaced from the blow that Celipa had given him.
Her brown eyes were flaring. "Didn't expect me to be standing behind you, eh jackass?"
Radditz looked expectantly at Bardock who he knew had witness the blow. Sure, he wasn't a wimp but his damn head hurt!
Bardock blinked then he shrugged. "What? I taught you to respect women but you failed to listen. Now deal with it."
Radditz scowled. He knew what was next.
"Why can't you be more like your brother, Kakorat?" his father, and even his own mother, would say.
He'd always reply. "Simply because he's a scumbag; he doesn't deserve his life or his heritage. Because he married a silly earthling!—" Because you guys love him more! He added silently. "—because I hate him and damn it I always will!" then he'd storm out.
Radditz scowled.He'd be damned if he let anybody know how much he craved his parents affections. Sure they loved him. Didn't they have to? But not the love that glowed with great pride at the sound of their favorite son's name "Kakorat". Kakorat, the first saiyans to achieve SSJ in over 100 centuries, the first to bring in not one but two heirs to the family, the one that had rescued their weakened father from the enemies grasp, the one who was in high favors with the royal family, the one his parents really wanted.
Blinded by childhood hurt he longed to forget, Radditz dashed the bowl to the ground.
Goten shrieked as he watched the food spreading further on the floor. "No!" he glared at his uncle. "Why'd you do that?"
"You're not to eat their food." Radditz snapped. "Because they—!"
"—don't tell my son what to eat and what not to eat. Goku snapped. "We eat both Saiyan and Earth-originated meals before and the food is rather scrumptious—or perhaps that's just Chichi's great cooking. And "they" have a name have a name, so use it."
Radditz fumed, his brother just had to humiliate him once more but this time with words. "Oh yeah, just shove that right into my face why don't you."
"Shove what—?"
"—oh don't play dumb, jackass! A mate, heirs, ascending to SSJ, the favorite son—"
Kakorat frowned. "—I never—"
"Oh sure you didn't, you—"
"All right, boys—!" Bardock yelled, cutting in between his two sons.
"No it's not all right." Kakorat said. He sounded concerned which made Radditz angrier. It wasn't concern, Radditz knew that. It was pity, it had to be! And like all saiyans, he hated pity.
Bardock opened his mouth to speak but was cut off quickly by Radditz.
"You know what dad? Just fuck off, will you?" Radditz snapped at the now stunned Bardock. He glared at his father, aunt, brother and his nephews before stalking off shoving every saiyan in his wake. He never felt such anger in such a long time and he wasn't sure if he could handle it. He wasn't sure were he'd gotten the courage to say such words to his own father but they came out before his wiser side had a chance to stop him. He'd thrown away a rule that had been pounded into his brain from day one. A rule all saiyans must abide. A rule so strict it was never met to be broken—"never shout your parent in vulgar words." It was especially unforgivable if it was done before or to your own mother.
It remained silent for about ten solid minutes before everyone slowly looked at Kakorat. "I wonder what's crawled up his ass and died." Then he shrugged, walked towards the pot of soup and poured Goten another bowl.
Videl blinked. Was she hallucinating? She didn't think so because she'd eaten enough to have herself in stable condition for the day. Or maybe she was…dead? Where else could she see this person before her? Her vision began to become less blurry and the words the woman was speaking became clearer.
"Videl…? Videl, can you hear me? Oh Kami, did she hit her head so hard? Oh damn it."
"You were never one to curse so boldly, Erasa." Videl chuckled slightly.
Erasa beamed instantly. "You remember me!" she lunged forward and hugged Videl tightly. "Oh I thought you were dead, Videl. Oh let this not be a dream in which I awake upon the grass with muddy clothes on thinking "I should have stayed asleep a bit longer"!" she released her and pinched herself. "Ouch. No dream here. I thought you had died along with half our graduating class that day, Del. I didn't see you and I feared the worse." She hugged her again. "But I found you. You're alive, I'm alive—!"
"—and I'm alive." Tory wiggled his eyebrows seductively and smiled sweetly. "Hi there, remember me?" he looked around. "Oh, and I see no Soto with ya."
"He died, you pervert!" Kuroki snapped. He was sitting by a nearby corner changing his bandages with a new cloth. His jeans were torn jaggedly into a pair of shorts and his shirt was muddy but in decent condition.
Tory frowned. "I'm sorry."
"Sure you are." Kuroki muttered in an unconvinced tone. He took a few sips from his water bottle, wiped his mouth with his hand and said again but lower, "Sure you are."
"That's not nice, Ro." Erasa said in a warning tone. "Tory, Videl and I have been friends since Pre-K. Say you're "sorry", now." She waited but all she got was a scoff.
Tory shrugged. "It's ok."
Erasa shook her head. "No it's not. It's unacceptable! If mom would never—"
"Well, duh, Blondie. You're not mom, so back off. I'm tired ok? I don't gotta say I'm sorry. This cut hurts like hell, we could die any moment and this pervert comes along flirting like if it's an average Friday night at the club!" Kuroki snapped as he angrily shoved his water bottle back into his backpack.
"All right, everyone calm down. Let's get something to eat then get some shuteye before we say something we'll regret." She glared slightly at her brother who merely folded his arms over his chest and gave a look of a clear rebellious teenager.
Well, so be it. Erasa thought angrily.
"Well we did pass a convenient store a while back." Erasa said. "It was small but it had some stuff there but we had too much already to carry plus we were too tired to carry any extra weight. So—"
"—I'll go." Videl volunteered.
"Y-you…?" Tory questioned.
"Yeah me and why not, do you have a complaint? I know where it is, so you can't play that card."
"I'm the oldest, I'll do it." Tory grinned. "Plus I was in the military for three and a half years."
"Yet I'm the wisest, I'll do it!" Videl countered.
"Well, I'm the—hey! What's that suppose to me? I'm like two years your senior, toots. A lot can be learned in two years."
Videl rolled her eyes. "Oh let me see. How to seduce my professor into giving me an A in—"
"Don't even try it." Tory muttered. "I never did that that! That was Kyle Ruinous because he sucked in Chemistry, both academically and relationship wise. Now that was a loser. I mean look at his ex-girlfriend, Marissa for in stance. Was he blind? Even though, last year he break the school record of the number of touchdowns and Mrs. Juneau was pretty hot for thirty-three." He shrugged. "But still…what a lo-ser…!"
"It takes one to know one, T." Videl grinned and ignored Tory's slight glare. "I'll go. If I don't get back in let's say an hour you can send in the reinforcement." Videl walked off not waiting for a reply.
"You better be back or else." Toru threatened.
"Sure." Still with her back to them, she waved. "Hold the fort down while I'm gone, Mr. President. Forget flirting or Kuroki as I see it, won't be held responsible for beating you into a bloody plump. Later."
Bloody plump? That scrawny brat? Tory opened his mouth and stuttered. He snapped his mouth to a close when she had disappeared and sighed deeply.
"We better get moving." Erasa said simply.
"M-moving…? Moving where?" Tory blinked.
Kuroki scowled. "To the interior, do you not know anything?"
Tory narrowed his eyes and returned the scowl. "Of course I do." He grew cocky and smirked. "I know things that will take you months—no years, to figure out, kid." He laughed inwardly at Kuroki's flinch.
Serves that jerk right! He's trying to make me look like some dumb ass before his sister. Tory thought smugly and looked at Erasa who was currently bending over to inspect the cave walls for something. Oh, nice…very nice.
"If you'd stop checking out my assets you pervert, and try to help me find the entrance to the interior base, we'd be a lot better off!" Erasa snapped and wiped a bit of perspiration from her forehead.
Tory nodded briskly and ignored the younger teen boy's low chuckle. Tory dusted his hands and said, "Sure. I'll check over here and the munchkin can check over there."
"Munchkin…?" Kuroki grumbled something else underneath his breath but compiled even though he limped part the way.
The sun was now setting and the afternoon breeze felt good to the saiyans as several dipped into the lake to remove the blood and dirt from their bodies. Gohan sat a few feet away on a boulder drying his hair and readjusting his gloves.
Bardock stretched, yawned and walked up to Kakorat who had just finished eating. "So, did he found an eligible mate yet?"
Kakorat sighed. "Not one. I'm just about to give up here. There's less than an hour left before he departs. He said they're too skinny, too grimy, too coarse looking, too this and too that. It was interesting at first, I think, but now it's just getting damn annoying and predictable. He's making up all these lame excuses—my son is not a good liar about certain things and this is one of them."
Bardock took a seat on a nearby stump. He took a large bite out of the red apple he had in his hands. He chewed, swallowed and turned to look at Kakorat. He saw Gohan was out of earshot but he kept his voice low. "Have you noticed anything…peculiar about him lately?"
Kakorat shook his head and removed his dirty gloves. "Per…no, at least nothing out of the ordinary, why?"
"I heard him muttering about seeing someone in a dream but when I asked him about it he said it was nothing. Said she was dying or something and he had to rescue her. I said "your mate?" and he said "hell no!" like if having a mate is a bad thing." Bardock said. "I think the Fates are getting a little bit inpatient and frustrated that he refuses to do as they commanded and the fact that he doesn't believe in their powers—mostly in the love category."
Kakorat shrugged. "What do you want me to do?"
A look only a man growing old, yet looked half his age, who desired great grandkids before he started to discover the growth of gray hair on his head, Bardock said, "Oh I don't know…how about saying "choose a mate or I'll choose one for you!" I think it works."
"No it doesn't. It didn't work for me and definitely not for Radditz, but he's another story. Anyways, you know the tale of the two saiyans but together by the saiyan council and killed each other after mating? Well I didn't at the time you threatened me but I learned pretty damn quickly."
"It's in all the history books we had to learn in level 1 training, Carrot boy." Prince Vegeta said hovering a few feet by in the air. His hands were crossed over his broad chest and he had his trademark scowl on his face.
Bardock frowned.
"Well, unlike you I was at level 3 at the age of four while you were twiddling your thumbs praying to advance, Vegetable boy." Kakorat countered and made a fake yawn come from his mouth.
Prince Vegeta's eyes flared from the insult but he didn't say anything. His gritted his teeth and fought for control.
Watch that temper, boy. A good leader must have patience. Saiyans are not to run hastily into a fight. We mustn't be foolhardy but use our heads and strength to our advance. King Vegeta scolded. It was a lesson Vegeta had to learn the hard way, a lesson he kept dear but in the back—way, way back—of his head.
Bardock cleared his throat trying to find a way to cut through the tension. Seeing it would be nearly impossibly, Bardock looked around and blinked. "Where'd Gohan go?"
The other two males looked around. Gohan was nowhere in sight. They'd all left their scouters discarded on in their small tents, a thing they rarely did. But then again, who on Earth could stand up to and/or defeat the saiyans?
"Huh? I could have sworn he was right over there." Kakorat blinked.
Videl breathed in deeply, the water clung to her clothes which clung to her like a second skin. She moved a mop of hair from her face that blocked her view. She staggered a bit and drew in a few deep breaths.
"That was…too close." Videl said shivering as the winds began to pick up. She'd catch a cold if she didn't change out of these clothes. She looked around and found what must've been a beautifully decorated store that sold clothing. Half the building was in ruins and the other half was standing, barely. She felt a bit guilty as she went in and grabbed a few shirts, jeans, shorts and some unmentionables, but she made herself shake it off. This was no time for guilt but a time for survival.
She changed in a dark corner, sparing no time to be caught in any risky situation. She had once, just earlier, and she couldn't afford another one. The last time she could have died or drowned if they hadn't had left.
She wasn't sure how much time had really passed but she had collected enough food to barely feed a rat. There were only a few measly scraps of food left in the once flourishing town. She'd come across lots of dead bodies and just the thought of the damage the saiyans did worldwide made her shiver and then her body filled with rage at the thought of these beasts doing such inhumane things to innocent people. It was disgusting!
But they aren't human so perhaps they think its right. Ha, stupid is more like it! Videl thought. How could they not see this was wrong? They were said to be a very intellectual race that had even surpassed Earth's technology. Flying jet-cars, moving sidewalks, they were all like a Stone Age era to the saiyans now.
Videl heard a low musical sound, it was her cell phone. A message had been left. She glanced at it and knew it would soon need to be charged. Luckily technology had advanced enough the even without the lines she had unlimited reception and a charger in the cave.
I'm coming to get you, Videl. You've been gone way too long (3 hours!)
-Tory.
Videl rolled her eyes. Did he think she couldn't take care of herself? Videl sighed; a small little smile graced her face. Well, it was nice to have someone look out for you for a change. She glanced at the message, it was sent about thirty minutes ago.
How odd. I should have heard—perhaps it was the water. Videl thought and shrugged.
She was nearing the hideout, which was a good mile or so away, when she heard a low chuckle behind her. Arms reached for her but sensing the unknown figure, she moved out of the way but not fast enough. She heard the sharp ripping sound and knew the person had torn off part of her clothing. If it was Tory he would have called to her saying it was a joke by now. But she had a feeling it wasn't Tory…nor was it human. She could sense its presence all around her. Whoever or whatever it was gave off such a sense of danger and an eerie aura that it made her body all the more cautious.
Tory pulled Erasa's hold off of him and narrowed his eyes. In a sober tone he said, "Go back with the kid." In the background, Kuroki stiffened. "I'll be back soon, I promise. Videl's like a sister to me—"
Erasa blinked. "But she is—"
"—and she's also my responsibility. We grew up together and know each other like the back of our hands. We almost share like a link with each other and that link is going haywire. She's afraid and worried and if you put two and two together you get saiyans—"
"No, you get—"
"I know, I know! Four! You get four." he sighed exasperatedly and threw his hands into the air. "Fine, you know what? Follow me but if we're attacked and you break a nail, it'll be your fault, not mine!"
"Break a—you sexist pig!" Erasa snapped and stormed through the forest with her brother trailing behind her sticking out his tongue, pleased at the outcome concerning Tory and Erasa. Tory responded back in the same manner.
Little brat! Tory thought grimly and stuck his hands into his jeans pocket and followed behind them.
The sounds of her rapid, shallow panting filled the narrow space between the trees of the maze the humans called a "forest". Trees, so many trees! She felt as if the tall trees were closing in on her. She inched down a narrow lane, her exhausted body creeping silently over the cool, lush grass, her chest now heaving. She dared not call out for help because no one would here her, except the enemy of course. She jerked her face wildly to the left, hearing movement on the other side of the dense hedge.
It was there! She could see the shape of him, tall, bedecked in his finery. She crouched down and moved slightly away. "Don't be afraid, my dear." His mellifluous voice from several feet away made her shudder in disgust. They even spoke English! Where as she'd expected a foreign tongue but then again she'd heard four others speak it. Perhaps it was a requirement for conquest of other planets. "We're not going to hurt you. Come on out. There's nothing you can do now, humanoid."
Videl stifled a shriek. We…? She thought and glanced around slowly to check around her. Were they hidden in the trees? Clenching her fist so tightly her nails dug into her palms, she huddled against the bush, edging inch by inch down the lane. At the end, she pressed her back flat against the scratchy bushes, actually finding herself too scared to move further. The small and silly hope that he—correction, they—would leave was evaporating quickly. She waited, shaking, praying, and trying to gather her nerve while her stomach was in knots.
When you were a kid you had your parents and with them there, there was a false hope that nothing or no one would harm you, if you had parents that is. Then you grew up and realized everything you saw through the naïve eyes as a child was nothing but fabrication of the real world. And the demanding of accepting the world for what it really was. The realization is one of the hardest things in the world. But if you don't have parents to shelter you from that, you realize it far too soon. For a child growing up and moving all about in their life before settling down in one area, it was the hardest of all things. It was harder than the teases at school, even harder than bringing yourself above all others and climbing your way to acceptance.
Videl hugged herself closer. Kami, please…they're coming. She would have cried, but she was too terrified. The breeze rose again. She smelled sweat, the musk of the dewy forest, and strangely enough, her fears.
The saiyan chuckled. "Oh come on now. You have nothing to fear. We could be…friends. Yes, that's the word."
Did he think she was a silly child without knowledge of who to trust? Stupid saiyan! Videl thought grimly. She wished Tory was here but she knew that he, or even both of them together, wouldn't be able to stand a chance. If he did show up, it would be suicide. She realized that years ago. She listened. It was quiet, way too quiet. Had they gone?
"I see you." The male voice said coming directly from behind. She felt his breath hot on her neck. She bolted, her long, black hair streaming out behind her. Her chest lifted and fell, lifted and fell. They were coming and she knew this chase was a thrill to them. She knew they could have attacked her, killed her and be done with it, but they hadn't—yet.
"I grow weary of this chase, human!" the saiyan warned. She saw movement in the trees above her and made out a saiyan tail moving energetically behind its master. She saw the figure jump down and land a few feet from her. Wide-eyed, both hands pressed to her mouth to silence her ragging panting. She knew he was grinning for she saw the shine of his white teeth from the moon's glow. She turned around to run, but he moved fast enough to make the large space between them disappear instantly.
Maybe he moved a bit too quickly for she got loose. "Come back here, you little wrench!" she heard him bellow. She tore free, heard the ripping of the lower part of her shirt once more, stubbed her toes on a rock before she looked back and ran smack-dab into another body, a solid and very warm body.
Videl looked up slowly and met the face of a young man no older than her with tan skin, spiky-black hair and even darker brown eyes. He had an amazing build and a solemn expression on his face, but there was a different aura coming from him. She felt much safer for some odd reason. She relaxed until she felt something brush her arm. She looked down instantly and saw the saiyan tail slowly moving about her. Shit!
She jumped back and landed in front of her first aggressor. "Get away from me!"
"Shut up!" Before she could react he grabbed her and spoke in a language unknown to the humans. He chuckled darkly. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the half-breed. I thought you'd be going back to Planet Vegeta, back to that human mother of yours."
"Don't talk about my mother, Darius." The younger saiyan said in a low warning tone and took a step closer. The other saiyan took a step back but lifted his chin high into the air. He held Videl closer while she fought back in vain to free herself. Her black hair covered her face like a black veil as she continued to struggle against the large man.
"Don't come any closer, half-breed. Or this human girl dies. Now you wouldn't want that to happen, would you?" Play on his weakness. He cares for his human mother so he must have some compassion for her people, right? Darius thought confidently.
"Don't be an ass, Darius." His voice was coolly scornful, his stance relax, but danger emanated from him as he sauntered closer, his body sleek and lean, gold moonlight glancing off his broad shoulders. Impeccably attired in black, he moved with predatory grace.
Videl felt the other saiyan holding her shake but not visibly. She had no clue what they truly spoke of but she knew body language and knew who was in control. And it definitely wasn't the boar that was holding her captive. The younger saiyan spiked Darius with a sharp glance, and a half-smirk on his lips.
He narrowed his eyes, "Is this what saiyans do? Use a useless human to try to annoy the other? Such coward-ness that I expected from humans but not of a saiyan. You surprised me, Darius. But…" He shrugged indifferently and said, "Do what you wish then."
"Fine then, I'm going now but not before I collect enough of the woman's blood to carry back. Wouldn't that mother of yours be thrilled to see her son turn his back away from one of his pep—!"
"She's not one of my—"
"But of course she is. It was said your mother was the ruler of Earth or at least a large majority and when you marry it would be yours to rule. So naturally, she'd be one of yours." He drew a ki blast. "So prince boy, what's it gonna be?"
"You wouldn't dare. Besides, killing has ceased for the night. You'd be fined for going against your commander's direct order. I heard Vegeta is in a bad mood. Now what would a pissed off commander do to a lowly disobedient saiyan? I can't seem to remember…oh yes, death was it."
Darius didn't seem to be affected by the likely threat. "What's this? Is this really possible? Have I found the Great Gohan has an Achilles heel?"
"Hardly," Gohan scoffed and folded his arms. "Dispense the attack and release the human. Surrender is your sole option."
"He grows angry." Darius mused aloud. "He must be captivated by your beauty. Such a weakness inherited from that father of his no doubt. Humph, loving a human…really now, how pathetic."
Was it me or did I see his eyes change colors? Videl thought looking at the scowl Gohan was giving Darius. Whatever the large man had said had obviously angered him.
"Never talk about my mother or my father for that matter." He bellowed and it seemed the ground beneath him shifted from the force of it.
I'm not sure whether killing the saiyan quickly would be as satisfying as killing him slowly…no, it was definitely the latter. Gohan thought.
In the world he grew up with he had come to understand and ignore the taunts and scowls of the upper-class saiyans and he'd helped shield his younger brother whose carefree ways helped hide the child's own distress. He'd been known to challenge or be at the end of a challenge of those who dared talk about him being a half-breed, his mother or the fact that his father fell in love, married and had two heirs by the woman. And he always won. Well not the first time the subject had surfaced. His first and only lost was when he was five and the boy had been ten but he'd quickly learned and defeated him easily a few years later.
Darius smirked and his eyes grew dark. "Tell me, Gohan…between colleagues. Now that your little charge is so, shall we say, grown up, haven't you ever wondered? I mean, look at her, boy—"he thrust Videl forward with enough force that she grunted and her hair fell back to reveal her face. "—some say she is the most beautiful female alive—in the top two, at least. Certainly my patron agrees. Helen of Troy as these humans spoke about. Men fight wars to posse such beauty. Shall we have a little peek, perhaps?"
Videl gasped in horror as Darius ripped the shirt open down her back in one lightning movement. "There, there." Darius crooned in English, "don't fret."
I'm going to end up like those lost souls, abused, beaten and left behind by the saiyans like a lifeless zombie! Videl screamed inwardly and fought back hard.
She nearly sobbed. He gripped her arms tighter until the will to scream wore off as her energy began to drain. She lowered her head, disgusted, exhausted and defeated. She was powerless to stop him as he pushed the ripped ends of her shirt down, baring her upper body. Cheeks aflame, she bit her lower lip, fighting tears of rage, she tried to pull her now loose waist-length hair forward to cover her breasts but Darius protested.
Darius chuckled lowly. "Now, now…let us see what the good Kami has given you, my dear human."
"You dissolute bastard…" Gohan scoffed.
"A bastard I may be…but surely not dissolute, prince boy."
Just then the night sky flung down another swift cloudburst of cold rain, she flinched when the first drops struck her bare skin. Something as quick lightening zipped past her. She could feel a volcanic force of pure rage building from where the young teen prince stood, but somehow the only thing she could focus on was her pride, her last defense. She lifted her head high against the crushing shame. Tears in her eyes, she stared straight ahead at nothing.
"Yes, you know you are stunning, don't you? Ah, you are as prideful as any saiyan, remarkable." Darius murmured, running one finger from the curve of her shoulder down her arm. Videl fought back not to throw up from revulsion. "Lovely indeed, she has skin like silk. Come...touch her, boy. She is exquisite. I see why that father of yours fell to his knees when he found that human and took her as his mate. And look what we have here before us. A beautiful forest nymph I'd say. I don't blame you; any man would have a weakness for such a creature." Then he spoke in English. "We can share her if you like." He raised his eyes from Videl's shoulder, smirking.
At this, her stricken gaze fell to Gohan, but then a cold shaft of horror spiked down her spine, for he was feasting his eyes on her bare breasts, his gaze devouring her nakedness. She wanted to cry out in rage, they were both alike!
His voice smooth and sure that it held a note of triumph, "Come and taste her. No one has to know. Really, after all you're a prince and you've strived so long for acceptance. Isn't she the least you deserve? They say a human girl is more pleasuring in bed than that of a saiyan woman. Let us see."
Eventually, Gohan looked up from his intimate perusal of her body. She caught a flash of white teeth in his cold, wicked smile. He began to walk slowly towards them, and directed his question to Darius. "What do you suggest?"
Darius smirked. "I'll hold her down for you, your highness. They say these humans are known for deceitful tricks when they are at a lost."
"Oh, she wouldn't fight me," he murmured in English and looked at her with a cocky little smile on his lips. "Would you girl?"
Her cheeks turned crimson from both embarrassment and the term "girl". It was obvious as the lustful nature of Darius that she was no girl. Trembling violently and visibly, she could not bear to look at him as he stalked closer. He shouldn't…he couldn't…be he would, Videl knew that. He was a saiyan after all and if the stories were true, as if they couldn't be, saiyans enjoyed that sort of thing. Even if there was a law banning such a thing, he didn't look like a man, or a saiyan, that would obey it. He obeyed no law but his own; he was a prince after all.
One slow, relentless stride after another, he came to stand perhaps three inches away from her, so close his chest nearly brushed her breast. She could feel him breathing against her. She was trapped between two tall, ruthless men, her breath jagged, and her exposed skin racing with shivers, hot and cold. She knew he was going to touch her at any moment. Gohan reached up and ran his fingers through her black hair slowly.
Then it all happened all at once. He seized Darius by his throat and knocked her out of his grasp. Darius threw a ki blast that had broken through Gohan's armor but the young saiyan merely let out a low cruse but didn't let go of the other man's throat. Gohan grabbed Darius's right wrist as Videl went hurtling towards the ground onto her hands and knees. Modesty drilled into her, she reached for the once cotton white shirt and put it on. Flailing wildly, Darius tore free and bolted.
Gohan grabbed Darius by the back of his collar and hurled him around, throwing him down where he made a loud "thump" sound. Videl looked up and heard the soft whisper of metal and saw Gohan's ebony-handled dagger, the slim elegance of the blade kissed by moonlight. When Darius threw up both hands to ward off the first blow, Gohan's dagger slashed across both his open palms. She turned away, willing herself unsuccessfully to stand and run. She longed to run but her body simply wouldn't allow it. She heard every gasp, every choke and every low curse as Gohan attacked Darius.
When she heard Gohan curse in some unknown language, she turned slightly and saw him lift his ki blast in both hands for the final blow, saw his handsome face alight with savagery. She squeezed her eyes shut as the beam plunged straight down like a bird of prey. Darius scream was short, followed by a great silence. When the dust cleared she could make out Gohan's figure. Gohan stood with his hands at his side and stared at the ashes in the form of Darius's body. The wind kicked in and the ashes scattered. Gohan raked a hand through his hair, pushed his forelock out of his eyes, a black, demonic shape against his lesser dark of night. Never taking her eyes off him, she willed herself to stand on her feet in one jerky motion, which proved to be a costly mistake. She felt dizzy and looked to the source of her wooziness, blood, her blood. She looked up slowly and saw him looking at her coolly as he took a step towards her. She turned to run not wanting to become like the rest or suffer the fate Darius had. Another mistake, she missed her footing and it felt like she was flying when she saw the grass coming closer and closer as did the welcoming darkness. After a moment Videl felt something warm cover her chilled body but she was too weak to fight it back. In the mist of it all she heard the distant and frantic cries of her brother and Erasa—thank you Kami, Videl thought and at last slipped into unconsciousness.
"Oh no!" Erasa shrieked seeing so much blood on the grass and on Videl's body.
"She-she's not dead, is she?" Kuroki asked cautiously and hesitantly to come forward.
Tory touched the side of Videl's neck and felt a faint pulse. "Not yet." He looked curiously at the clothing draped over her body. It looked expensive, exotic yet warm. "Let's get some food into her or something to get her consciousness. We can't make the trip with her in this condition, too risky."
Erasa nodded, took off her backpack and grabbed a few things. They all knew they had to feed her small amounts since she, like them had suffered from malnutrition for so long. It took a while but she started to come around. Tory had cleaned, treated and bandaged the two large wounds on her arms and legs. Erasa helped by lending Videl an extra shirt and cleaning the scratches and minor cuts from her body. Kuroki leaned against a lone tree trying to fight off the tears and memories that were too parallel to what was happening now. The death of his mother was too similar to this, except Videl lived. He was glad.
Videl blinked, groaned and muttered a curse underneath her breath. "Tory? Erasa—?" she turned slightly. "—Kuroki? What are you—did you see them? I mean him?"
"Huh…him? Him who? We just heard an explosion and we got a trace on you and we found you alone, bleeding and unconscious. You scared me half to death!" Erasa hugged Videl tightly.
Videl rubbed her bandaged arm. "Let's go." She stood up slowly with the help of Erasa.
Erasa looked at Tory who nodded slowly. "Only if you're up to it, Del...Ok?" Erasa said.
Videl reframed from rolling her eyes. She loved that they cared for her but this was neither the time nor the place for this. "Of course I am." She smiled slightly. "I've gotten cuts before and I've broken bones too. This is a piece of cake."
"You heard the lady." Kuroki staggered a bit. "Let's get outta here."
"Thanks, Ro." Videl winked at the boy. He blushed lightly and turned his face away until the blush faded away.
Kuroki cleared his throat. "Erm…yeah, let's go. This forest's giving me the creeps." he grabbed his sister's backpack, swung it over his shoulders and turned to face the trio. "Last one back is a smelly, stinking saiyan!" Kuroki challenged.
Tory laughed and ruffled the younger boy's hair to Kuroki's dismay. "Yeah, right little man. You can't even stand on your legs straight."
Kuroki shoved him. "Says who? I could whip your ass any day, any time, anywhere! See you later, loser!"
"I maybe a nobody with my company gone but I am not, I repeat, I am not a loser! You hear me?" Tory yelled and ran after the boy. "I shall not lose to a stupid, cocky brat!"
"Sounds like you, Tory!" Erasa laughed. She laughed even harder at his curt scoff, "As if." response. Erasa began to walk in the path the two teens left and paused. Videl was looking up at a tree where it was too dark to see up very high. She had a frown on her face and her eyes were shadowed by several masked emotions.
The wind blew both girls' hair in a gentle sway and they stood like this for a moment. "Videl…?" Erasa asked softly.
Videl gasped and turned around, startled. "…E-Erasa?"
Erasa nodded. "Let's head back, 'k?" Erasa began to walk again. Videl paused once more and stared up at the tree. She'd seen a twinkling light coming from it and a blissful feeling swept around her body, it was like an ethereal aura. How strange, she had never felt it before. It was as if she had a guardian angel watching out for her.
Gohan rested in the tree seeing her still looking up directly at him but he knew human eyes weren't as keen as saiyans. He looked at his hands that were still stained with blood. What had come over him? He'd never acted so savagely even in his fights against the bullies when he grew up. Never in his life had he felt such a surge of possessiveness, a desire to owe what he couldn't have. He desired her, he knew that. But how could such a power, such an uncontrolled power be awakened by a mere human? Had he let his human heart dominate over his saiyan heart? He scoffed, it was time to go. Then he turned and vanished into the night. He would never fall to such a desire—never.
"Never say "never" my dear saiyan boy." The Fates leader, Meriden chuckled softly. "Prince Vegeta did, and what did that get him."
A/N: Long, long chapter huh? Needn't worry not all of the chapters will be this long. I just wanted to set the mood and get a bit of Gohan and Videl into this story, after all it is about them. Besides I owed you guys after not updating for so long. Yeah, there was so graphical stuff and profanity but it was for the moment.
When shall they meet again—if they ever do—and on what circumstances? Why is Gohan so afraid of his feelings? And what exactly do the Fates have in mind for the stubborn teen prince? What of Radditz and his childhood wounds? So many questions, so little answers and all the more for you to wait for chapter three!
1 Based upon Celipa (Gohan's aunt in the story and in the real series) attire she wore.
2 Translation: "I see London I see France I see Mao's under pants.
shadowdragon
2005-05-01
ch 2, anon.
has potential, like where it's going, update soon
Honey
Nut Loop
2005-05-01
ch
2, signed
fantastic. Really original. Update soon. really well written. Now someone please tell me why I'm finding the need to write in such short sentences?
miroku-has-darkness
2005-04-30
ch
2, signed
I just love these saiyan vs human stories