Chapter 9: Haunted

6 months later

Codie was gone, and that's all I can say about it. His death would be permanent, as was Cell's, Piccolo's, and Goku's, and all the Sayjins… my list could go on forever.

I visited Codie's grave every month, on the 20th. In fact, that's where I am now. I just can't see why a universe could be so cruel to its greatest hero. That's what Vegeta said to me. I don't believe I'm a hero. I'm a dammed creature.

Codie Allen Briefs

June 3rd 803- September 20th 826

A beloved son and warrior

A Crystal that broke too soon

He was buried in the West City shrine, the same place Mirai and I were married. Quite an ironic place, but it was beautiful there in the spring and summer.

My family and friends know what I did, and after Mirai and Vegeta explained the situation they understood, but still, Kanji and Andy give me funny looks when they see me after a visit to Codie's grave.

My guilt was strong, so strong at times I got sick.

I looked at his grave, sitting on my knees and talking to him. I do that every time I visit.

"Hey there, Codie. I'm back, just as I promised. At least this promise I can keep. I promised to never hurt you, but I did… I'm sorry, I hope you can… I hope you can somehow forgive me…" I had tears rolling down my cheeks as I talked, the pain was overwhelming, "Can you see why I did it? I saved you months of pain… but that doesn't change the fact that it was my fault that I got you sick… I hope you're with someone who can watch over you up there in Otherworld. I'll never be there, not after all I've done." I lowered my head as more tears came, "I'm so sorry… please Codie… please… forgive me…"

I sat there and cried. There was nothing else I could do. I couldn't save him, nor could I have when he was alive.

I've lost loved ones, but never a child permanently. When I lost Mirai, Kanji, and Andy, I lost my memory over the trauma. What would happen to me now without my Crystal Keeper?

I opened my eyes and saw a shadow next to me. I looked to see a pale figure, and looking closer it was Codie. I stood up fast.

"Codie?" he turned toward me, smiled, and disappeared.

No, just an image.

I sat back down, crying harder. I sat there a long time, and people passed by now and then, visiting their departed loved ones.

The sun started to set, and I opened my eyes as I felt the cold.

"I never got to tell you, Codie, but I was going to name you as earth's next protector. But just under a year ago you got sick…"

"He would have done a great job." I turned to the voice. It was Vegeta, "Let's go home."

"Yeah." Vegeta helped me up, and he walked close by. He knew how weak I had become. Weak from grief, hopelessness. I trained harder than ever, but I was still weak.

We walked there in silence, and we went our separate ways once inside the Capsule Corp. building. I went straight to bed, not bothering to eat. I hadn't had a good meal in weeks. I haven't been hungry.

A few days later I was in the Gravity Room, practicing my SSJ4 form. I have to keep in shape since I'm still earth's protector.

I was sweating hard, hitting the air hard enough to make dents in the walls, going fast enough to see my own after images, and making Ki blasts that equaled the intensity of the sun. But it still wasn't enough.

I turned the gravity to 1,000x and started over with my training, but still, it wasn't enough.

"Katie?"

"I'm busy, go away!" I called back to Mirai.

"You've been in there for two days nonstop! You'll get sick again!"

"It isn't enough!" I cried.

"When will it be enough?" I heard him yell.

"… I don't know! But if you want me to stop now, right as I'm getting warmed up, then come and get me!"

That was a bluff, I was far past a warm up, far past my regular breaking point, but I couldn't stop now, I could never stop.

The door opened, and Mirai transformed to SSJ2 as he came in. He had trouble standing, much less walking, but as he came in I stopped.

"Mirai, stop, you'll hurt yourself."

"It hasn't stopped you! Look at yourself, Katie! Look at yourself!"

I switched off the gravity, and as I did I passed the mirror above the machine. The sight of myself, even at this high level of power, was terrible.

The bags under my eyes were as dark as my hair, my skin tone was pale, and my eyes glassy. My form was thinner than my usual weight, and my hair (and fur) color had faded.

"I didn't know…"

"You haven't stopped moving since-" Mirai began, dropping his SSJ2 form, but I already knew what he was going to say.

"I know, but… Mirai…"

"I miss Codie, too. We all do, but making yourself train like this isn't healthy. Dad never ever went at it this hard, now did he?"

"… No, no he didn't." I said, reverting to normal.

"He's gone, once you accept that it'll be easier to lessen the grief. I know, I've been there."

"I have accepted it, that's why I didn't stop. If I stopped training then I'd have to focus on-"

"Life?"

"Yeah. And that's the scariest thing." I said, remembering Vegeta's quote.

"Let's go in, get something to eat. Then I want you to take a nice, long bath and go to bed early. Do you think Codie would have wanted you to act like this?"

"No, he wouldn't."

I couldn't lose hope. Codie never did.