Chapter 40: Love
When I got to the rebel base everything was quiet. I walked into the middle of the camp. The foggy air of early morning shrouded the land.
Did I really fight all through the night? No wonder I'm exhausted.
I walked up to Tien's tent and found that he was awake and leaning on his 'conference' table, a.k.a. the ping-pong table. Both of his normal eyes were closed, but his third eye was wide open.
Does that eye even blink?
"Hello, Katie. Sorry there was no welcome party." Tien said as he sat up straight, opening his eyes.
"That's okay, I'm too tired to party."
"Then tell me this before I let you go to bed. Did you win? Is she dead?"
"I defeated her, but she is alive. I couldn't kill her."
"Why? Was she too powerful? Is the Angel power really immortal?"
"I couldn't kill her because too many people love her."
"I see… but everything's okay now?" I nodded, too tired to even talk, "Was it fun?" Tien asked, smirking. I returned the smirk.
"The most fun I've had in a long time… I needed it."
"You still love him, don't you?" Tien asked. I knew exactly who and what he meant.
"I miss him so much, and it seems as soon as I'm able to get over him… something new like this happens. Cell was my best friend… but I was so stupid to that fact… I didn't think… he was evil, right? How could someone who is evil be my friend? I found that out the hard way when he protected me and died for me… but, he's with his mate, and he's emperor of the universe. He isn't evil…"
"Do you really believe that a life with Cell would have been better than the life you live now?"
"No, I don't. But I still love him, and I wish with all my heart I could have him back."
"Thus is the lot of we mere mortals… to want what we can never have." Tien said. His eyes narrow, "But you gave us something back we thought we could never have again."
"What's that?" I asked.
"Hope… a life. With Empress Katrin back to her good old self, things will get better. Those days before were so pure…"
"I'm glad I was able to help." Goku would be proud… but did I do it for Goku, Cell, or myself?
"I'll walk you to your tent. You look like you could use some rest."
"Thanks, Tien." He got up and left the tent. I stood and stared down at the Vegetian map for a moment, and then I followed after him.
I've traveled earth, Namek, and now Planet Vegeta. I've saved the people from these worlds… but why did I do it? Because it was right, or because I thought someone else thinks I should?
Did I do what I felt was right? Should I have killed her and let it end like that? No… killing is never a good option, even when it's the only one. But is this my thought, or a thought from Goku?
What am I doing?
Maybe I was just tired, or maybe it made sense, but either way, sleep would help me clear me head. Tien stopped in front of a tent and smirked.
"You sure did do a number on your mate, huh?"
"Katrin hurt his arm, I just knocked him out."
"I'm… sorry about Gohan."
"We can get him back when we go home. We have our ways." I said, opening the flap.
"I'm sure you do."
I slipped into the tent, only to be strangled by the pink-eyed boy that was my whole reasoning for coming to this dimension in the first place. His arms were so tight around my neck at first I thought I was really under attack.
"Mom! I knew you could do it!" he was excited, but he kept his voice low as I hugged him back. Mirai was still asleep on a bunk.
"Codie, are you okay? No one hurt you, did they?" I asked.
"No, I was treated like a prince the whole time." He said once we broke off the hug.
"Good. Once your dad wakes up we'll go home-"
"Mom?" Codie looked serious as he called my name, interrupting what I was about to say. He was looking toward the wall as he thought.
"What is it, Codie?"
"Uh… I, I want to… I want to see Cell again before we go home. Can I?"
Codie turned to face me. His eyes were full of hope and curiosity.
"Codie… you know I will, but why?"
"Think about it, mom. He's the closest thing to a father-" he stopped and looked at Mirai, "Dad is great, but Cell is my biological father, I guess."
"I get it. Alright, we'll go tomorrow, after I've rested some."
"Tomorrow?" he whined, and I had to hold in laughter, "What am I supposed to do until tomorrow?"
"You could always train." I said. He frowned at that, "What's that for?"
"There isn't anyone around here strong enough for me to train with."
"Oh… for a second there I thought you were sick or something. You're just like your grandpa Vegeta, you know."
"Is that a good thing?" again, I had to keep from laughing.
"You could tame an Ayokii. I've got it all worked out, we're taking a small group home with us." I said.
"Really? Why?"
"They went extinct because of Frieza… and I know Vegeta use to ride as a kid. I bet it would give him something to do when he isn't training."
"Grandpa stops training? When's that?" again, laughter was repressed.
"Are you trying to be funny?"
"What'd I say?" he was completely honest with that statement.
"I guess not. It's obvious that you're Goku's cousin as well." I sighed.
"Get some rest, mom. You look awful."
"Ah, thanks!" I said sarcastically. He left and I saw him head toward the Ayokii corral. I turned back to Mirai, still asleep.
Maybe we've just been too busy to love each other like we did as kids… but that still doesn't mean we don't love each other.
"I love you, Mirai no Trunks."
With all my heart and soul…
I climbed into the bed next to him and snuggled closer to his back. He reacted and rolled over, so I put my head on his chest and snuggled in closer.
For now, I can finally rest. For tomorrow, one last meeting with the dragonfly that once held my heart prisoner… I should write that one down…
I know now… I did it for love… so what if I was trying to be a bit like Goku or Vegeta, I still did it because I wanted to… for his love…
XxX
When the warm body next to me suddenly grew cold, I opened my eyes. Mirai was trying to sneak away without waking me. I can say this about the Sayjin men, they cannot sneak.
"Mirai, where are you going?" I asked, still have asleep.
"I didn't want to wake you, so I was going to ask Tien or Codie what happened." He said.
"I defeated her, but I couldn't kill her." I said, sitting up, wide awake.
"I see… it sounds as though there was more."
"Cell almost died… he had a wound similar to Gohan's, but he wasn't strong enough to regenerate. Somehow I was able to save him."
"You saved him but not Gohan!" Mirai screamed, "How could you?"
"Mirai…" I was at a lost. Mirai and I had never had a fight before, and I didn't know how to explain myself.
"Katie, how could you save the enemy but not Gohan? He was your cousin!"
"Mirai No Trunks, don't you dare! I love Gohan! Or didn't you see me freeze when I heard that he was hurt?"
"Sorry, but bleeding to death kind of makes you lose track of things like that!" he screamed.
"I don't know why, I just knew I could save Cell and I knew I couldn't save Gohan. I would have done anything to save both of them, but I couldn't! And you know what? If I had to choose I'd save Cell again. Do you know why? Because I know, somehow I know that we can restore Gohan when we return home. We couldn't restore Cell."
"Do you love him?"
"I love them both. Don't ask me that again." I sneered.
"You've doubted our relationship lately, haven't you?"
"No, I haven't. I love you with all my heart and soul."
"How can I be sure you aren't just saying that?"
I stepped up and kissed him, pulling him closer. I put my hands on his neck and held on as I deepened the kiss even more.
"Does that answer your question?"
"Does it ever…"
I laughed, and Mirai laughed.
"I'm glad that's settled. Pick out your own Ayokii, we're taking some home. Tien and I already worked out the details."
"Really? But-"
"Capsule Corp. has tons of space. Your grandpa kept all kinds of animals, remember? Now that space is just space."
"But can we? I mean, the vortex-"
"I had a feeling before the vortex opened up. I asked Elder Kai, he said it shouldn't be a problem for animals, only sentient beings like us. Weird, huh?"
"Codie said something about visiting Katrin and Cell again?"
"Yeah, he wants to talk to Cell once more. You get that, don't you? You never knew your dad-"
"I get it." Mirai said.
XxX
So here we were, Mirai, Codie, and I, riding our Vegetian equine animals to the castle. I was still exhausted, and afraid of what would happen if I tried to teleport, and Ayokii/Mirna are much faster than flying (untransformed) Sayjins.
The castle once more was in view, and this time it didn't seem as foreboding. This time I sensed good Ki from it. Whatever I did, it seemed to be good. We rode right up to the gate and it was Raditz who greeted us.
"The emperor sensed you were coming, cousin. Why are you back so soon?" Raditz was always frank, even now and here.
"My son wants to see Cell once more. I was hoping that I could talk to the empress as well."
"We'll have to see, the empress is resting from your battle still. But I'm sure Cell would be glad to see that you haven't left yet."
"Thanks Raditz." I said as we dismounted our Ayokii/Mirna. A guard came and led the animals to a stable as we entered the gates.
I had never been to the castle technically, only near it when I fought. The actually castle was a mix of Sayjin, Namekian, and Icejin styles that I could recognize. For example, the basic shape for the castle seemed Sayjin, but the towers were Icejin, and the surrounding chambers before the main entrance had that rounded form of the Namekian architecture.
We didn't go far inside the main entrance before Cell came to greet us. Codie stood to the side, behind me a little, like a shy little kid. It reminded me of the time Goten first met Goku, and I couldn't stop the smile from spreading across my face.
"Hello friends, why back so soon? I thought you'd be home by now, not that this isn't a decent surprise. I'm afraid any time we spend today must be short, we have much work to do to restore our kingdom to its former glory."
Cell's trying to avoid me for some reason. He hasn't even looked at me yet… I wonder…
"Well, Codie wanted to-"
"I wanted to speak to you again, Cell." Codie said, interrupting me, "I want to know more about you. You are the closest person to me there can biologically be." I saw Mirai's eyes droop when Codie said that.
"I see. Well, come then, we shall have lunch. All of us. Bende?" a Namekian male, not much older than Codie, stepped up, "Show our guests to the dining room."
"Actually, could I speak to you alone for a moment, Cell?" I asked. I knew this would make Mirai nervous, but I had to speak to Cell, just the two of us once more. Cell looked confused.
"Yes, I suppose so." Mirai and Codie followed Bende to the dining room as Cell started walking. I followed him.
"You know this is very awkward." Cell said.
"Yeah, I know." I replied.
"Katrin has almost completely reverted back to her old self. She's kind… loving. She went to the nursery for the first time in years this morning."
"I'm glad."
"The voice… it was him. The baby. She felt guilty over his death and imagined it was her fault, so these voices started. A few were doppelgangers, and the one that scared her most was the voice of our son. He was trying to tell her love was okay this entire time."
"But they've all stopped now?"
"Yes, they're all gone. I made sure of that. You won't recognize her when you see her."
"What do you mean, you made sure of that?"
"Oh, think Katie! My tail? The souls?"
"Oh… yeah… but how'd you know I knew that?"
"You admire me so, how couldn't you know?" he smirked.
"You've got a point there." I said, "Cell, I know you're not the same Cell that… well, I guess I grew up with is the best way to put this." I stopped as I started my statement again, "You're not the Cell I grew up with, but I still consider you a good friend. Before we got back to our lives, there is something we need to do."
"Yes, I've sensed it all along. The only way we can really say goodbye."
I reached up and grabbed behind his neck, and at the same time he lifted me off the floor with his tail. (Remember, Cell is about a head taller than me easily.) We kissed, and then when we pulled away, it was just weird.
"I guess that settles it. We have someone else in our lives. We love each other, though, right?"
"Yes, we're just not in love with each other." Cell agreed.
"See, I knew you'd get the hang of this love stuff." I said, playfully smacking his arm as we continued our walk.
"So… now what happens?" Cell asked.
"We go home, and you fix your universe with Katrin. That's all that can be done." I sighed.
"You're still going to miss me, aren't you?"
"Yes, both you and my friend from my universe. It seems like… I already told Tien this, but it seems like every time my life goes back to normal and I can get past your- Cell's death, something happens. First it was Codie's birth… then I found out Cell's evil half was still alive in HFIL… and now this."
"I'm sure one day you'll be allowed to move on."
"Yeah…"
XxX
When Codie and Cell finally had their own private talk, I had to listen in, telepathically of course, and for only a moment.
"Cell… what was it like… growing up and knowing so much information already?"
"Well, for me it was good. I didn't have to get an education."
"For me… my classes, even the really hard ones, are just too easy. Mom thinks I'm studying all the time when really I'm reading advanced college material and getting bored."
I heard Cell laugh.
"I guess it would be harder when you know it already."
"I just… sometimes I get a lower grade on purpose so people think I'm normal. I pretend to struggle in calculus… but I get it so easily."
"Don't do that. Don't ever put yourself down like that. Think of it like… a fight. You wouldn't hold back in a fight, right?"
"Normally… no."
I stopped listening after that. I had suspicions that Codie held back at school, but I never said anything.
My son… just like his father… he is Cell… and I couldn't be more proud…
I turned my attention away from the guys and came face to face with my counterpart. I had hated her so much, but seeing her now made me think, why?
"Uh… hi." She said. She was dressed in white armor and golden spandex. Her hair was nice and neat, tied into a long braid.
"Hi." I replied. I noticed that she was wearing a crest similar to the royal Sayjin crest King Vegeta was wearing.
"I don't get it… why did you…" she didn't know what to say.
"Don't worry about it. I've been there and back. In fact, I was worse."
"No one could have been worse than me, no matter what universe they live in." she said, turning away.
"Oh yeah? Did you want to taste the blood of your closest friends? Did you kill thousands of people for no reason at all, not even a bad reason? Did you let loose a creature that killed you family and your planet?"
"No… but how could you? Your family-"
"Let's leave it at magic, okay? Magic restored everything."
"I see… you saved us all, Katie. You saved my mate from Oozark's tombs and you… well, you helped me see the light." She shrugged, "I stole your son, sentenced you to jail, crippled you mate and killed your Gohan. Yet when it came to the point where you could have killed me… you didn't."
"I told you, when Kakorot and Raditz and all the others called out, I couldn't go through with it. Love wouldn't let me do it."
"I've pushed away and denied love for so long that Cell even forgot what love was… yet love saved us all in the end."
"Yeah, it did."
"Will your magic be able to restore Gohan?"
"I believe so. I hope so."
"You're welcome to stay here tonight, and we'll see you off tomorrow."
"Thanks. That would give our Cell's time to talk more."
"I want to show you something before you return to your mate tonight. Follow me." She headed down another hallway as I followed. We remained silent as we walked. I noticed how similar these halls were compared to the ones in Frieza's castle.
She stopped in front of a large window, and being so deep in thought I nearly didn't notice until the sound of crying stirred me from my thoughts.
"This is the nursery. Even though I haven't been able to bring myself here, I kept it running. All of these children are orphaned. Part of my plan to restore the universe is to adopt all those children you see in there."
I looked, and it wasn't just Sayjin children in the nursery. All together there were ten kids. Five were Sayjin, two were Namekian, two were Icejin, and one was human.
"All ten?" I asked.
"Yes. You know Cell and I can't have children… this way maybe I can see past that. I'd still have kids, right? They're all orphans, and it's my fault, one way or another."
"Good luck with so many. I thought it was hard raising three, especially with Vegeta's and Kakorot's genes mixed in. And, of course, Cell."
"I've wanted to be a mother for so long, I think I can handle it." Katrin smiled, and I felt happy for her. She was back to her old self, and it was just as good as I had heard.
When she's bad, she was worse than me… when she is good, she is better than me… I guess that's why we're opposite…
AS22: Aww… I guess that proves it.
Katie/Mirai: (kissing) We knew it all along.
Cell: …
Katrin: come on, Cell. We've got work to do.
Cell: yeah… let's go (kisses Katrin)
AS22: one more chapter, so R&R!