The Kakarrotto Saga
Chapter 12: The Shocking Hatred! Tenchi and Gohan speaks their feelings!
By Claudius
I do not own the copyright to any of these characters.
Dani (Mirage), Illyana (Magik), Sam (Cannonball), Amara (Magma), Roberto (Sunspot), Doug (Cypher), Shan (Karma), Tenchi (Light-Ken), Rahne (Wolfsbane), Betsy (Psylocke)
Walking away from the New Mutants, Goku's brain memorized his previous encounter with them. He mentally pictured their mean faces, their angry and cruel words of hostility, their refusal to forgive him. He thought getting Dani's approval meant getting the rest of her team's. She was the leader after all. Wasn't the team supposed to obey her? Guess not, since the rest of the team had different ideas, and were not willing to drop them out of loyalty. On the other hand, it wasn't like Goku ever took anyone's orders in a battle. What could he expect from them?
Goku then thought about what he did to them. That is, the actions he remembered. Was he rash to attack Warlock? Sure, the kid attacked him first, but none of his hits, like Magneto said, were enough to hurt him. It was just that whenever anyone fought him, Goku felt the need to fight back. Too bad the kids didn't understand that. They might think he just blows up things whenever he wants.
Although the loss of his eye gave him a great blind spot, Goku could still sense a good Ki moving to that area. "Ya sure it's okay t' get so close t' me, Kuririn?" Goku only mouthed the words, without any real wish that they be obeyed. "Those kids might turn on you too."
"No way I'll abandon you," Kuririn gave full meaning to his own words. "We're buddies for life!" He nudged his elbow softly on Goku's shoulder.
Pleased at the support, Goku turned to the real problem. "I'm tryin' t' help those kids, but all I'm gettin' 'r snaps an' yells."
"They'll get over it. Remember, all your friends started off as your enemy. We didn't hit it off on day one."
Goku's memories approached the comforting words. But new meanings halted any satisfaction. Except for Kuririn, his friends Yamucha, Tenshinhan and Piccolo were not only his enemies long ago, they also were also on the bad side. Since it looked like the New Mutants were the good guys, it didn't take much for Goku to know whose side he was in during this conflict.
This brought him back to the core of the problem, that he had spent a lot of time as a bad guy. Goku didn't like it, ready to let ignorance take over. Unfortunately, the New Mutants' opposition made this problem as obvious as his lost eye. This made them understandable in a way. Although their hostility was misguided, it was fair…sort of. Goku wasn't completely convinced that he should let the Mutants pick on him. Also, how did he know if their reasons were true? He couldn't remember anything about being an evil Saiya-jin. Did it really happen? Because of this doubt, Goku couldn't help feeling that all this treatment was really unfair.
"I don't like being hated."
"Who does, Goku?" Kuririn did his best to ease his best friend's dilemma. "It'll change. They haven't seen enough of the real you. All they saw was Carrot Guy."
"Carrot Guy?" Goku's face expressed puzzlement. He remembered that name before, when Psylocke spoke to the team through her mind.
"That's what the kids called Kakarrotto," explained Kuririn, keeping to his belief that his Saiya-jin friend and the Saiya-jin villain were not one and the same.
Now the idea of this name was really hard to ignore. Goku couldn't contain it. A blow of laughter exploded from his mouth. He had to admit it; 'Carrot Guy' was a funny name.
"You always know when to put on a happy face," Kuririn sighed.
Before Goku, the mutants had left the room where their teammate Doug had recovered. Their journey took them outside of the house. Some were together like Dani and Rahne, and Sam and Roberto. Distance surrounded others like Tenchi. Magneto walked behind his students. Gohan followed.
"Doug's frightened of Warlock?" Rahne recited the previous event. "How daft can tha' be?"
"Ah ain't no psychiatrist, but ah've a good idea why," Sam seriously answered. "Remember how Warlock usually put himself together when he got hurt? Wolverine too? Musta hurt like hell. Would any o' us wanna experience that?"
Roberto and Tenchi saw that the ill expressions from their teammates proved Sam's deduction correct. To those two boys, their teammates' faces pointed to that one experience they both did not share. By absence, they were spared the New Mutants' death and resurrection at the hands of the Beyonder. Despite this alienation, they understood how horrible that experience might be. Equally thinkable was what Doug may have felt when he and Warlock were blown up by Carrot Guy. After all, how would it feel to get the pain of death, but not die? A healing factor wasn't all that was cracked up to be.
"Sam is correct," agreed Magneto, his hard voice attempting some discretion with the guilt it held. "The trauma of re-assimilation has given Doug a fear of Warlock. Afraid of being in a similar experience again, he has distanced himself from Warlock to avoid a repetition."
Warlock could understand binary codes, but Magnetoteacherfriend's explanation was incapable of deciphering. "BUT- selfsouldougfriend- CANNOT- desist- UNITY- with- SELF. Illogical."
"But Doug's awake now," Gohan pointed to the best of the situation. "That's good, right?"
"It's not that easy, kiddo," Illyana plunged the negativity deeper. "Doug hasn't got the best self-esteem."
"Who would with his powers?" Roberto was honest, unfortunately.
"You always know when to say the right words," Tenchi threw cruel honesty on Roberto's rude honesty. It was the best he could do for Doug. He really should be at his side, and Warlock's. They were practically his best friends of the team (those that didn't have psychotic tendencies). But some inhibition inside him kept Tenchi from acting out such comfort.
Despite his younger age, Gohan understood the explanations well. Perhaps too well, considering he felt more troubled. Couldn't any good thing from this disaster stay good?
Meanwhile, Sam sighed on the future hostility that Roberto kept inspiring into people. Why did he have to play keeper? Thankfully, Tenchi didn't exhibit much enthusiasm to take on Roberto, at least right now. "Well, at least we got no more surprises," Sam rubbed the whiskers on his chin.
"Wanna bet?" Dani made her contribution. She walked in front of the company. "Guys an' gals, now that Doug's out of catatonia, he's no longer under my responsibility. Now, with a free conscience, I resign as chief leader."
All eyes pointed at their soon-to-be-ex-leader, their mouths crying out some words like "What?" and "Huh?" So much for no more surprises!
'Dani…?" Rahne spoke her confusion. The rapport they shared gave her no hint of this!
"What is the meaning of this?" Roberto's response was angry accusation.
"What's the deal, chief?" asked Illyana.
"Why?" asked Gohan.
"Are you sure about this?" asked Tenchi.
"DESCENT- in- RANK- possible?" asked Warlock in disbelief.
"Let her speak," Shan was more understanding to Dani's situation than her teammates.
Dani sighed, supporting herself against the wall. "Lately, my record has sucked- hard. I got cocky and made some bad judgments. When everything didn't work out, I wimped out into self-pity. It's our good luck that we all got out of this mess alive, and that ain't sayin' much."
Dani saw the non-member of this group march in protest before her. "Dani, is it because of what happened to me?" Gohan attempted to purge the guilt of others. "That was my fault."
Such vindicating remarks failed to make much sweep. "That's just it, kiddo," Dani was unchanged. "It's because of my arrogance an' negligence that nearly got you screwed. And Illyana wouldn't have been where she was if my plan didn't go half-baked."
Gohan saw what Dani considered to be good reasons for quitting were hardly that. "But you're a great leader!" His praise ignored his earlier qualms about her bossiness.
"We all make mistakes, Dani," Sam joined in Gohan's support.
"And whatever the results, it was your plan that saved us in the end!" said Illyana.
"Guys!" Dani loudly protested her refusal to hear any more attempts to change her mind. "My decision is final." She looked to Magneto. "Sir, I want your acceptance."
Magneto carefully studied his student, unsure whether to agree or be stubborn. Then again, she was asking for his advice, something rare from them (though she made it sound like a demand). "Do as you wish."
The final defense to this plan gone, the New Mutants despaired.
"Okay, that does it," Dani used her free reign fully. "As my final act as chief, I will make the choice of who will take my place. Sam will now become chief leader."
Roberto softly punched Sam's arm. Despite his reluctance to Dani's decision, he was glad for his best friend's promotion.
"I've also decided to make Illyana temporary deputy."
Roberto ran out of friendly encouragement. His eyes, like everyone else, stared at Dani as if she was crazy (and there voices made many a shudder). "Why not get Shan?" he complained, hiding well his own ambitions.
"You can keep it," Shan spoke to Illyana. "I am finished with leadership."
Illyana, for all her vanity, was among the most doubtful. "Sure, I'm the ruler of a dimension, but I'm no administrator."
"But you've had your moments," reminded Dani. "It was you who saved me an' my folks from the Demon Bear, as well as getting' all o' us outta Farouk's control."
Illyana looked to Tenchi for advice. Tenchi just shrugged away. This abandonment had an effect of dislike on Illyana. There was going to be a reckoning. But this was not the moment to think about her love life. Flustered by the very idea of leadership, unable to give a good defense, Illyana reluctantly nodded. "Sure, I'll be the new deputy. So who's gonna replace me?"
"I'll tell you that later," Dani had said enough. She walked away from the dissatisfied crowd she created.
"Well," Illyana spoke that word, hoping more words can come to her presently empty head. "Right now, I…entrust my wisdom…to my superior Sam. Now if you don't excuse me, I have to talk to Tenchi." And she too went off, pulling her boyfriend with her. Tenchi made a rare agreement to this. He and Illyana were going to have a little talk.
The news gave the group some foreboding about the new regime, as well as the succession. Roberto's intelligent mind went over his insulted ego in figuring out who will take over as deputy. It had to be someone not with them right now. There had to be only one choice…Blessed Madonna!
While Roberto vented some frustration in his hypothesis, the new chief Sam responsibly thought about the consequences of his new role. There was going to be some tough waters for the eight of them.
Eight? Sam's mind triggered to the mistake of that number. There were originally eight New Mutants here, and Doug was definitely not included in that count. "Where's 'Mara?"
The remaining New Mutants turned left and right, realizing her absence. Actually, they discovered that Amara hadn't been seen since breakfast. A search was to be done. But a larger figure blocked his way.
"Samuel Guthrie," Magneto sternly commanded. "The responsibility given to you has now been increased. May you be the wiser for it."
"Uh…thanks, teach," Sam rushed his thanks. "Ah gotta find 'Mara."
"Rahne?" said Magneto. "Help Sam with guidance."
"I'll help," cried Gohan, following the transformed wolf-girl and Sam on their search. He had to make it up to the team by his assistance. Doug suffered through a catatonic state, and was afraid of his closest friend. Now Dani has quit as leader. All because of his father.
"Very well," Magneto again gave the demi-Saiya-jin his blessing to assist his students. He too failed to predict Dani's resignation. But it was something that could be respected as an acceptable punishment. It was assumed that Dani was not altogether happy with giving up her role. This showed that she understood the depth of her actions enough to make a sacrifice.
But her choice of a deputy leader! Then again, Magneto figured, who else could it be? Amara and Roberto were too hot-headed, Shan had other responsibilities, Doug's abilities cancelled him out, while Warlock was too much of a novice for leadership. It seemed Illyana was the only acceptable choice. Not that he had a good feeling about it.
"Thanks for telling me," Doug was putting his uniform on, but his voice lacked this activity. "Kind of you to include Mr. Fifth Wheel in your declaration."
Dani tried to be supportive. "Doug, you know that ain't true. You did save the earth once."
"Once," Doug threw that word on himself like a dart. "Too bad none of the other adventures had something my powers could work on."
Dani had never saw Doug so down. Now that was something, considering the couple of times Doug had told her about his supposed uselessness (Actually, a couple of times was stretching things). But he was usually a bit optimistic in his earlier frustrations. That was missing now. Doug now actually believed he was a loser.
"Hey, you're not the only one without a defensible power. And I was the leader!"
"Sorry, I'd take a power to scare people any day. And you had more to do for the gang than showing your powers."
"Yeah, look where it got the gang and you."
"Oh, don't worry, mommy Dani!" Doug gave exaggerated pathos. "The baby of the New Mutants is okay now."
"I didn't mean it…" Dani quit her sentence with a groan. Talking to Doug in this mood was an uphill battle. Plus, she didn't have the authority. She was no longer the leader. Advice to her teammates was not her priority anymore. Still… "The only person who's treating you like a baby is you." She left the room.
Doug stopped his dressing incomplete. Alone now, the strong mask he used with negativity cracked. He covered his face with his bare hands. His eyes gazed between his fingers, but his mind did not concentrate on seeing his surroundings. He was viewing himself, and it was not pretty or strong.
What was he doing here? Doug remembered Gabrielle Haller saying she once lived in a mental cage that kept her from the outside world. It was a lonely existence, but it was a safe one, free from pain. Doug had no memory of his own psychological cocoon, but it was possible that he didn't feel pain in his either. So why did he come out of it?
Whatever his lack of memory on getting out of his catatonic state, Doug sure remembered how he got there. Unfortunately, those memories stayed like a machine gun, totting bullets nonstop into him. He thought he had died, but he was being put together again, piece by piece. That feeling was overwhelming. This was not the quick death-and-resurrection that the Beyonder gave him. It was slow, with each step agonizing. How could anyone live like that? Did Wolverine feel that way? The memory of seeing that guy's injuries a few days ago stuck out in his thoughts like a sore thumb. A bloody sore thumb. Doug knew he was no Wolverine. He didn't want to think of the idea of becoming a tough guy like Wolverine, feeling what he had to feel.
Doug wanted no more of this feeling, or anything that could bring him to that outcome. It turned his nerves into ice. Warlock was the chill. His buddy had become a symbol for his traumatic experience. Doug could not separate the techno-organic being from his slow death-and-resurrection. The very presence, the very thought of his best friend scared him. He couldn't stand his presence any longer.
But the separation from his best friend did not make Doug relax. Warlock must be heartbroken by his rejection (or whatever the guy had as a heart). He was sorry for Locke. He really was. And he was sorry about himself. He would never be with his best friend again. And without him/it, Doug was useless. The weakest link of the group.
The thought of becoming a New Mutant had become ill to him. No more did he think of it as an opportunity to play the hero, joining with Warlock to fight baddies. Now they were sick memories that gave pain. He needed a cure.
Elisabeth Braddock's presence in the kitchen, away from Doug, brought no comfort. She regretted what she had almost done, and what she did instead. She had no right to take advantage of Doug like that. But if she felt wrong in kissing him, she gave herself no favors completely abandoning him. Doug wanted her for comfort, to ease his anxiety-riddled condition. She felt his pain enough to understand that need. She could have done other things to help him besides getting romantic. But when embarrassment came, she quickly left him.
Again did Betsy think about the sane reasons for her refusal of Doug's advances. The boy was half her age. For all his maturity, Doug was still a kid. He should be hanging around someone younger like Dani (better her than Illyana or Rahne or Amara). She had the experience of loving and losing men her own age. Why was Doug different?
But yet again, logic did not prove satisfying to her feelings. And, truth be told, she was feeling something large for Doug. That led to this question: If Chichi hadn't come in, would she have rejected his advances?
Betsy was not alone to deal with her problems. The kitchen she was in included Chichi. The hostess was dividing her time washing dishes and serving some food to Luna. She could still speak too. "I might be no mind-reader," her words dripped with suspicion. "But I know somethin' strange's goin' on 'tween you an' Doug."
Betsy was roused. Chichi knew! First in her reactive thought was to mentally revise Chichi's mind, making her forget her suspicions. But that was wrong! She felt even more shame.
Chichi took the silence as a message. "Am I right?"
A shameless smile fell on Betsy's mouth. "Just because I spoke nothing does not mean your accusation is true."
"What accusation?" Chichi didn't believe a single thing in Betsy's denial.
Betsy didn't need telepathy to know her failure. Chichi was touching something that felt like a raw nerve. Like some animals in pain, Betsy fought back cruelly. "Let us change the subject. How is your husband?"
Chichi's face, so sure and decisive, quickly became opposite to those expressions. She now shared Betsy's defensiveness, and aggression. "How dare ya look into my brain!" An enraged Chichi ricochet the situation back to Betsy. She had a lot of respect for the girl, considering that she helped her find Gohan, as well as mind-frying Yamucha (who lay on a couch in the other room, his eyes twitching everywhere). But reading her mind? That was crossing the line.
Chichi's rage could humble the strongest males, but Betsy was no male. "I do not pry into other people's thoughts unless necessary."
"Ya read Goku's mind." Chichi's cruel eyes made a strong alignment to Betsy's own concentrated gaze. "Was that necessary?"
"We had to learn the situation somehow," Betsy saw her hard stare attract Chichi like a tractor beam. "Since your husband was a threat, I had to learn about his actions before he caused any harm. And harm he did!"
Now did these strong-minded heads face off. What could follow might be violent, and Chichi waved no olive branch with her words. "Ya should be ashamed of yourself!"
The truth broke Psylocke's guarded anger. Hurt, she went against the pain of her guilt to calm down. She now acted calmly and very ladylike. A trait she rarely wanted to exhibit.
"My dear Chichi, most of the time I cannot help myself. You do not know how difficult my power is. The test of a telepath is not how to read minds, but the effort to not read them. And most of the time the effort fails. My mind is sensitive to all thoughts, like honey attracting a swarm of bees. Their thoughts sting and sting, ready to drive me crazy. All I want to do is hide myself for a moment's peace. But I swear that I did not read your thoughts just now."
The moment of existence had passed. The face off now had very little reason to continue. The heads of Betsy and Chichi turned to different directions. Neither of them snobs, they gave little disdain in their retreats. Chichi decided not to press the Doug subject. She really didn't want to pry on other people's problems if it meant a reversal.
But Betsy no longer needed such restraint. Doug was in her mind, and what she almost did to him brought out a strong injection of fear. Not for the actions, but her acceptance in doing it. She was confused about her feelings for Doug, just as much as Chichi was confused about her feelings for Goku.
Then Doug entered. This was more than Betsy could take. "Excuse me," her voice was beginning to fail her. She left.
Doug read her departure loud and clear. Betsy didn't want to be near a weakling like himself.
Magneto next entered the kitchen. It aroused Chichi, at least in the subtle way that Doug noted. Oh brother! The possibilities he thought of were more like consequences of punishment. The idea of Chichi at the school…wasn't he depressed enough?
Doug looked to Magneto, latching onto a good sign. The teach was looking toward his granddaughter, acting in a different way from Chichi's reaction. Thank god. At least that was one good thing his powers gave him. It wasn't enough though.
Now Magneto turned to him. "I see that you are on your feet." He spoke with little sympathy, though his body movements gave a larger amount.
"Sir, when we get back home," Doug spoke like a shell-shocked soldier. "I'd like to leave the school."
Magneto's eyes did not waver. But there was no refusal. "I understand. Will you be returning to the Massachusetts Academy?"
"No," Doug enthusiastically pointed his wish. "I don't want to be anywhere near a battle anymore. I want a normal life."
"We are not normal," Magneto sternly corrected the boy's words. "But if it is your wish, I will accept it. The School of Gifted Youngsters will always be open to you."
The invitation was both kind and dreadful. Doug closed his eyes, lowering his head.
None of this escaped Chichi's notice, or her sympathy.
The sensory abilities of Wolfsbane made it easy for Sam to locate Amara. At a field did the three spot the girl, wandering the area in a daze.
"She's troubled," spoke Wolfsbane as she shifted from wolf to human girl. Sam didn't need any great senses to know that. Amara was pretty shaken last night, but the presence of Carrot Guy and Doug's condition took priority. It was really dumb of him to ignore the girl's problems, a guilty Sam realized. Wasn't he supposed to be the big brother for the team?
"Y'all go away," Sam shooed his companions without looking at them, his attention on other things. "Ah'll handle this."
Rahne threw bestial eyes on Sam, even though she was in human form. Sam would always take care of Amara, a smarted Rahne rued in her mind. But she obeyed, taking Gohan with her. Her companion noticed her tense behavior, but he waited until they were distanced from Sam to ask what was up.
"Boys," Rahne stormed the word. "They ne'er change."
"Huh?" said Gohan.
Amara's wandered the field of Mount Paozu lost in herself. She had become a young woman without hope, bereft of something vital to her spirit.
She knelt to the ground, her hands spread out in her way of prayer. "Oh holy Zeus, forgive one who was forsaken you through her own selfish desires."
Like most of the other times she had prayed, she received no answer. But such silence gave her no problems before. Now it has. Had the gods truly abandoned her?
There had to be reasons. Many a careful explanation was created in Amara's mind, fulfilling to her question. None of their comforting logic lasted long. Only one answer lingered, and it was the one she dreaded.
"Yo!" came a bright voice that broke her morose thoughts. It was Sam, coming toward her. Amara only gave him a brief look, than deserted that attention.
Walking into the woods, Goku thought about Dani quitting as leader of the New Mutants. Boy, did he pick the wrong person! He should've talked to Sam instead. Guys make better leaders than gals.
Still, the lack of an important supporter from the team now made reconciliation harder. Why was it so hard? The New Mutants were kids. For a man of near thirty, Goku felt very much like a kid himself. Why was there so much a difference between him and these kids?
Then again, except for Gohan and Upa, Goku never really knew anyone younger than him. As a child, his friends were either his age or older like Buruma (or much, much, much older, like Kame-sen'nin). Did being older make him a stranger to younger people? Goku didn't understand these kids and their weird ideas, like working together to tear down that tree. Couldn't they just let Gohan make the firewood by himself? His son would do more than enough, Goku thought in pride. At least he had no problem with Gohan. The barrier that separated him from the New Mutants was not there for father and son. They got along great.
A light flickered in Goku's brain with an idea. Maybe Gohan can help him make friends with the New Mutants. Those kids were close to his son, and his boy could convince them that he was an okay guy. Goku knew that Gohan looked up to him (although he modestly didn't know how big that admiration was).
Grasping that idea, Goku looked for his kid through his nose. The lack of an eye didn't hinder his other senses. It helped that Gohan always had this good smell since birth. It would be stupid of Goku not to recognize it from the scent of an apple, a comparison that made him a little hungry.
While his nose searched for smells, his ears picked up some strong sounds. Curious, Goku located these sounds. From a tree, he spotted Illyana and Tenchi. They did not see him, their attention directed to each other. Goku remembered Kuririn saying that these two were a couple. From the way they were acting, it didn't look like it.
"I don't know anymore."
Illyana's mind pulsed a thousand denials to what was happening now. Sure, she knew what might happen after that incident, with Tenchi afterwards being wary of her. But when she awoke from that beating Carrot Guy gave her, to see Tenchi staring at her with caring eyes, it brought her hope. But Tenchi now was different. That would have been a clear warning of what was to come. And she was unready for it. True, no experience could protect her heart from the damage that was coming. But that didn't make things better.
Strange enough, Tenchi's words were not specific. All he said when Illyana asked about their future, was "I don't know anymore." But the way his eyes avoided her, and how hollow his voice spoke, gave undeniable truth about the future nature of their relationship: 'I don't know anymore,' couldn't convince a moron that it had some other meaning besides 'We are through.'
"Don't know?" Illyana finally spoke with a demand. Risking fate, she had to know more. "About us?"
Tenchi made a heavy breath. More bad news. "I think what we did was a mistake."
"It's my darkside," Illyana ran freely into the abyss. She pathetically searched for a way to fix this. "Right?"
Tenchi finally watched her. "Yes."
Illyana's pain spread wider areas now. It was her fault this happened. Half remorseful, half stubborn, she was not willing to let it end. She had to grasp on to the cracking remnants of their coupling in futile hopes of repairing it. "But in Gunsmoke, you said that entering a relationship was scary, that you knew about my darkside, but you were willing to ignore it all for me!"
Tenchi remembered. But that promise felt a lifetime ago. The person who said that wasn't here now. This relationship had thrown him into an insane environment. He wanted out of the chaos that troubled him since he got together with Illyana. He was not going to let anything stop him, not even Illyana's feelings. "I'm sorry. It's just not working out."
Illyana was not going to act like a crybaby. Nor was she going to act like a bitch. But she made promises before. Polite and kind acceptance was not habitual to demons, not even half-ones. "Why do you think it's just me, you emotional cripple?"
Tenchi jerked forward to this new word. "What did you say?"
"You heard me!" Illyana spit her poison. "I know what you feel, remember? You really don't want to get too close to people. Whenever that happens, you want to back out."
Tenchi's mouth curved to a frown. He didn't expect Illyana to insult him. Her words were so wrong. He wasn't what she called him. So why was he feeling sensitive all of a sudden?
"To quote Roberto," Illyana continued, "about your relationship with your harem: are you dead?"
The word harem, full of nasty implications, sparked Tenchi to raise his voice. "How dare you insult my friends!"
"Of course, I'm sorry." Illyana pretended to be remorseful. It was a calm before the storm that was her comeback. "A harem would mean intimacy. Something that's really not you!"
The implication made Tenchi silent for a moment. The fears he had about hurting Illyana got lost in his mind. He couldn't help but reciprocate. "Fine, whatever, believe what you want! After all, demon sorceresses like to hurt people with cruel lies!" His mind came up with a clever sendoff. "Go to hell!"
Illyana froze at the insult. "Nice choice of words." Rage flustered through her face and voice. "Ice prince!"
No more words were exchanged. Both had given and received painful blows. The wounds rendered them uncomfortable to the other. Right now, they honestly couldn't stand being together. Tenchi escaped for relief from this hostile person before him. This left Illyana alone, and it was then that her hostility to Tenchi faded. New emotions replaced them. Remorse. Regret. Loss. For one who knew how to harden herself against emotional destruction, Illyana was surprisingly weak this time. God, Illyana thought with unstable resentment, why are you doing this to me! Wasn't Sy'm, Belasco, and the Beyonder enough?
Worse, she had no one right now to help her handle this. The girl who comforted Kitty when Peter broke her heart found no one to comfort her own heartbreak. No Kitty. No Peter. Only her own hands to give consolation. A trivial feeling came over everything important to her responsibility. Her promotion as deputy leader. The threat of Limbo. Only the loss of Tenchi was worth her attention.
A strong hand came touching her shoulder. "Hey there," spoke a voice that gave a soothing effect of compassion. But the recognition of its speaker built up walls inside Illyana's heart. "You!" she shrilled with utter hatred. A swing of the Soulsword broke space between the two.
"Hey, I'm not gonna hurt ya!" Goku exposed his palms for peaceful intentions. He saw that the girl had different intentions. Her eyes looked very strange for a child her age. Very creepy. Those dark pupils viewed an enemy before her, her defensive face bearing no hesitance to how she was going to use that sword (Where did that sword come from, thought Goku. Was that her power?). Another problem was the amount of dark Ki this girl was registering. Kuririn was right about it rivaling Freeza's. And this girl was on the good guys' side? "Ya looked like ya needed some help."
The pupils in Illyana's eyes grew narrower. Her tongue was to the point. "I need no fucking help from you!"
Again did Goku find a kid obviously bugged by his presence. Although he knew the reason, he refused to give it much thought.
Ideas reached into Illyana's mind, each one a depraved thought. Her hatred had found a target without true justification. The man standing before him symbolized everything wrong in her life. She hated his peaceful look. What right did he have to be okay while she and her friends weren't? Better to stamp that out, make him feel what she was feeling. So what can she do? Send Carrot Guy to Limbo? No. There were problems getting there. Pounce him, rip off her own clothes, and scream 'Rape!'? Oh, that would really screw him big time. Then again, would her teammates believe her? Another way was needed.
Her smile showed a desire of victory. She lowered her sword. It vanished from her hand.
This act of peace brought a smile to Goku. Things looked good. "So you're not afraid of me?"
But a closer look showed Illyana's smile to be devoid of goodness. It made her scarier. "Why should I be afraid of you?" her words lowered in cool tone. A giggle passed her mouth. Goku's confusion returned. Something was wrong.
"You're not worth it," Illyana turned up the smugness in her delivery. "I mean, it must suck to be you. We all hate you."
"Well…" Goku shrugged from this fact. He had heard enough of it. Since there was not going to be anything different from their hostility, it was worth ignoring.
That is, before Illyana threw her trump card. "Even your own son hates you…"
Goku dived on this new line. "What did ya just say?"
Illyana relished the advantages of it. "I said…"
Goku repeated it himself. "Gohan hates me? No." He beamed a smile, totally doubting these words. "No. You're kidding. Gohan's my kid. He an' me 're buddies!"
Such affectionate remarks passed intangible though Illyana. "Poor deluded idiot."
Her words were likewise ephemeral to Goku. "You're the one who's the idiot. I could be t' ya kids…some bad guy," his words tiptoed on the subject, "but Gohan understands."
"Have you actually been near Gohan since last night?"
Goku's answer was slow in coming and naïve in reply. "No."
Illyana acted coy, putting her hands behind her. "Not even once?" she made a curious look that was only face deep.
Goku bought it though. "No, but that don't mean a thing."
Illyana curved her lips into a grin, her eyes soul full. "Then let's see if you're right."
"Kay," Goku quickly accepted this invitation, knowing it as a wild-goose-chase. He resumed the search for his son. He was very close. Behind some bushes nearby. Approaching the area, Illyana pressured discretion. No flying, or 'porting. "Since we're gonna see your son speak his true feelings 'bout you, it's best that he doesn't know you're around."
Goku agreed, dropping his Ki to a discretionary point. It was a waste of time though. He and Gohan were like best friends. Illyana was just here a day ago. She wasn't around these nine years. What did she know? She was bound for some disappointment.
Soon they came to the bushes.
"Stay here," a smug Illyana gave her command, moving further into the bushes. Excitement and sinister pleasure filled her movements. Guilt was also inside her, but it was ignored.
Before their discreet position was Gohan playing with a wolf. A regular wolf would try to tear its way through the child's jugular, but the worst this animal was doing to this kid was wetting his face with her tongue.
"Quit it!" Gohan made his protest with laughter. It was good to feel this way again.
Wolfsbane desisted in her tongue-lashing. Her face grew more human, albeit the snout, fur, and fangs. Gohan didn't mind the bizarre and monstrous overtones of this form. What he did mind was her sudden face of worry. His own senses gave concern as well.
"Come outta there, Illyana!" Wolfsbane's fur, fangs, and snout dwindled into nothing.
Indeed, out from the bushes came Illyana. Her smile gave much suspicion to both Rahne and Gohan. Nevertheless, Gohan tried his firm decision to trust the girl. "Why were you spying on us?"
"Spying on you?" Illyana threw her best innocent face, though her dark eyes totally undermined that effect. "What made you say that?"
Her response was met with unconvinced faces. She sighed. "Okay, so I was watching you. Nothing wrong with that," her eyes posed their calculating look, "unless you two were doing something to make it that way."
Red covered the faces of both persons. This caused Rahne to resort to her lupine form. Fur proved perfect to hide red cheeks. "Ye have na' right t' consider that!"
"Alright, alright, peace!" Illyana pacifistically grew defensive. "I'm sorry, okay?"
Calmness returning to the atmosphere around these three, Illyana knelt before the shortest member. "So Gohan, how's everything?"
Gohan stared at her. How could she see everything that happened and still come up with that question? Was it second nature for her to be nasty? It seemed like kind faces these days carried darker beings.
Illyana knew she had hit a nerve in Gohan. Good. "Okay, bad question."
Back to human form, Rahne kept with her suspicions. What exactly was Illyana planning? And why was she suddenly being so friendly to Gohan? Then again, the dear boy had nearly killed himself saving her life. Why shouldn't she be nice to him?
Gohan, meanwhile, was more annoyed than suspicious.
Illyana finally gave her point. "I haven't seen you with your pops much."
Gohan nearly let out a breath. His eyes stared at Illyana as if her words were as potent as an energy blast. But he was silent.
Illyana was pleased. She had found a vulnerable spot in Gohan. Time to claw it. "I thought the two of you were tight."
Gohan made ready for departure. He didn't want to hear this! He would rather face Freeza again than think about those times. Those wonderful times. Now long gone.
"Sorry if I'm sounding rude, but I remember how you'd rather die than believe your old man was bad."
Gohan's nerves now felt like a chalkboard being scratched. Why was she bringing this up? Couldn't she control her evil self better than his dad's?
"But don't you love him?"
Now in Gohan exploded a revolt, not in cry but in whisper. "I hate him." For a person with keen hearing, Gohan might as well have screamed his words.
Illyana got what she wanted. She felt happy about the dam she had burst. This glee scared her. Despite this, she put more fuel to the fire. "Come again? I didn't hear that."
"I hate him!" Gohan hollered his words, no longer content to be discreet. For the two Mutants present, his face had taken a darker, volatile form, with growling teeth, flaring nostrils, and cold stares. "I hate him! I wish Goku wasn't my dad! I don't want him anymore!"
Rahne looked on frightened at this exposed dark side of Gohan. So like Kakarrotto. The boy's fear of becoming like his evil ancestors was no longer groundless paranoia. "Gohan…?" She mumbled in shock.
Gohan's loud declaration had rendered his throat scratchy. Now he was able to sense things other than his own voice. This freedom led to him feeling a sudden burst of Ki. Over in the bushes. So, he knew it now. Well, so what? Gohan hoped it hurt. He hoped it hurt!
Emotions overwhelmed Gohan to the point of embarrassment. He couldn't stay. So he ran off, Rahne following him. Illyana looked on with a victorious expression. With a grin did she approach the bushes. So far, Carrot Guy had not arisen from his hiding place. Her hands parted the leaves like dirt from a sculpture. The head she unveiled from it was a different one from the one she left before.
"So you and your son are tight?" Illyana continued with her smugness, happily exposing her creepy eyes. "Ha!"
Goku was very still on the grass. His widened eyes remained planted at the spot where his son declared his hatred. His face had given up pink for white. His chest went with a sharp pain, forcing Goku to grab it with his hand. Did he have the disease now? He had to get the medicine. No, he changed his mind, that wasn't it. But his heart still hurt.
"I hope your kid's words hurt, Carrot Guy." Illyana nudged her venomous face lower. Her words showed no warmth. "I hope you got a wound that never heals. It is the best punishment a creep like you deserves."
Goku breathed hard, stomaching the sickness suddenly growing within him. His eyes fell on Illyana's face, seeing no sympathetic agony in it. She was enjoying this?
"Gohan's a nice kid," the evil in Illyana found a moment for respect. "He saved my life." Her mouth danced upon words with a devilish intent on her wounded victim. "Too bad about where he came from. I gotta tell you, what he's done now is the smartest thing he's ever done."
Suffering his own pain, Goku really felt worse by Illyana's words. How could she be so cruel to his pain? This girl could not be a hero. How could those kids allow someone so evil in their team, let alone lead them?
He got back up, done with great effort. He heard Illyana laughing, chuckles that to Goku rivaled Freeza's own demonic laughter. "Stop it." He groaned, clutching his ears in vain. The girl had now become someone that stood alongside his most dangerous enemies. But she didn't attack him or his friends. It was only her words that caused pain. He couldn't just use his fists on her. Could he?
His hands started closing.
"Stop it!" Goku resorted to words instead of strength. But the witch's laughter resumed. "Stop it!" He shouted louder. His screams still made no progress. Illyana's evil voice could not be screened out here. So he escaped.
But Illyana continued laughing over what she had done. She couldn't help it. She had destroyed Carrot Guy, through actions by her own ability. According to the desire of her soul. Her evil soul. She laughed and laughed until she couldn't laugh anymore. Then came the sobbing. She couldn't help herself. She wept and wept.
Two persons collided. Each with a resolve. Both in pain. They bumped into each other, both tumbling into the ground.
"What the?" cried Tenchi, looking at the attacker. "Gohan?"
Gohan didn't smile, but he was far from rude. "Oh, sorry Tenchi. I just…wanted to be alone."
Take a number, Tenchi thought as he stood up. He gave a hand that brought Gohan back to standing. Despite his own problems, Tenchi felt he had been the rude one. Gohan had enough trouble on his mind for someone to shrug him off.
"How are you doing?" the younger asked, trying to strike a conversation with someone he liked.
"I'm okay" Tenchi's pleased face was a total lie to the boy. Then again, he hadn't been truthful to the boy at present. That was good. No words came from Tenchi about getting paralyzed by his father. About how Carrot Guy added insult to injury by urinating on him, wanting to demean Tenchi as much as he demeaned Gohan. No, there had to be a time of healing. Whatever his own disagreements toward him, Tenchi obeyed the idea that Carrot Guy had to be given a second chance. Gohan had a long road ahead to forgive his father. Tenchi had no right to add more roadblocks with the truth.
A weight fell on his already strained condition. Tenchi realized that he had parallels to Gohan's position. However, he had treated the kid with alienation since this mess ended.
The only expression Gohan saw from this weight was a long sigh from Tenchi's mouth. It was enough for the boy's suspicion to arise. "Tenchi?"
"Yeah?"
The perfection of it overwhelmed the boy. "Oh…nothing."
"Now, now," Tenchi mouthed happiness in his otherwise true words. "Can I be of help?"
Gohan went to a different need. "Can we talk for a bit?"
Tenchi's good nature conflicted with his painful mood. After what happened, he really wanted to be alone. But he saw that Gohan needed a friend. That need took more priority than his own selfish troubles. "I'll do more than that."
The wolf incarnation of Rahne Sinclair wandered a track noticeable to her animal senses. With every footprint, Goku's departing steps were discovered and followed.
Rahne witnessed the heartbreak of Gohan's father. With rightful suspicion, she stopped pursuing Gohan and returned to the bushes. She hid behind a tree, hearing all through her sensitive ears. How evil Illyana was to Gohan's father! She knew Goku was no longer Carrot Guy. So the father did not deserve it. What could Dani be thinking making this witch their deputy leader?
Finding Illyana's laughter hard to take, Rahne left before it could end. She took full wolf form and chased after the trail of the fleeing father. Fortunately, Goku's departure was by foot, so the trace of his steps could be obvious for the wolf's keen senses. The real problem was catching up to the father. He was rather swift in his movements.
Any choice of failure was not to be for this wolf. She knew too well the consequences of cruel words. She would see no more victims of it.
Gohan and Tenchi shared fierce glares at each other. Their bodies bowed and turned at strange postures, their arms and legs taking on different angles. An outside viewer would think that the two were performing some weird ritual dance. How each drew their wooden sticks at the other added to the unreal mood of their movements.
But the acting died quickly. Soon the sticks turned to real swings and stabs, bringing on a realistic conviction in speed and intention. Blows were now occurring, only to be blocked or avoided, and this continued for a few minutes. No quarter was given, or asked by either opponent.
The two sticks made another parry. Snap! One broke. The breaker smiled confidently. But the disarmed still attacked with his broken weapon. The two lunged again, than stopped. The breaker's weapon was at an advantageous position, but the broken's position was more so, his stump directed to the neck of its opponent. It was inevitable for pain, if pressure was given.
Tenchi glared. For a moment, he found himself unable to squander his advantageous position. But he did, breathing irregularly. He kept this from Gohan, giving a smile instead. "Good job, Gohan."
"Really?" The pleasure Gohan felt overcame any sense of disappointment.
Tenchi felt no pride in his victory. Would he have been successful? For all he knew, Gohan's tough physiology would have changed the tide of victory. "You really know how to use a sword."
"Well, when I was little," Gohan obliged to share some similarities with his friend. "I had to use a sword to survive in the desert."
"You what?" A concerned Tenchi suddenly stared at the boy. "That's terrible!"
Gohan gave silence for his agreement. Growing up in the desert wasn't a time he could consider with a happy memory (except for the times he savored with Piccolo). But he didn't want to think about bad things from the past right now. He changed the subject. "That was some weird movements you had me duplicate. Is that the real way Juraian knights started their exercises?"
"I guess so," Tenchi was equally discreet in his past. The fight he had with Illyana before this had really shook him up. It was like he was a spring coiled tightly, feeling the strain to release. Fortunately, he was able to control this pressure in the exercise he had with Gohan. "It's what my grandfather taught me, and he's a Prince of Jurai."
Gohan's imagination tried to picture Tenchi's grandfather. But he could only dwell to the descriptions of the old people he knew, like Grandpa Gyu Mao, or Kame-sen'nin. He couldn't help seeing this grandfather as a big man with a long beard.
"You copied my movements perfectly," Tenchi was not at all like the 'cold, unfeeling teacher' stereotype, instead giving Gohan his praise. The kid was really something, definitely able to become as powerful as…his father. In that case, Gohan should be careful.
"I'm hungry," Gohan charged to the waters before him. Quickly did he shed his clothes, diving into the lake in only boxers. Tenchi spied around. No Magneto was around. He began to follow Gohan's example. But after Tenchi shed his gloves and shirt, Gohan splashed out of the waters, bearing a giant fish. The elder boy could only stare in wonder at the boy's quickness. It was worth some laughter, and very worth it. Good to lose this stress.
It was the only relief in what had been a hard time, topped with Illyana. Tenchi felt like he had done a mistake, but it was the only solution he could think of. He really didn't want to be in a relationship right now, whether it was Illyana or someone else. But he had hurt Illyana's feelings, and that guilt remained greatly in his mind. Not even her cruel remarks could encourage him that his actions were right.
But there had to be a good side to this! Tenchi desperately wished for some fulfillment. He was out of the relationship that had been bugging him since it started. He was his own person again. Didn't that count as something to be happy about? But right now he wasn't happy. Too much had happened to make a longer joy nearly impossible.
Tenchi still covered his frustrations away from Gohan's knowledge. He had to show him there was nothing wrong. Tenchi enthusiastically pulled out the Tenchi-Ken from his boot. Clothing himself, Gohan gazed the hilt, with its detailed craftsmanship and the powerful gems on its end. But such contact for him was limited; he wasn't part of the Jurai royal family.
"Didn't you say you were a prince?"
Tenchi nodded.
"Do you live in a palace in outer space?"
"No. I lived at a normal house on Earth. Still do."
"So have you ever been to Jurai?"
"No," Tenchi steered to the comfortable line of explanation. "Even though my ancestors came from it, I was born on Earth like you."
Gohan agreed to that similarity rather somberly. It appeared Tenchi's alien ancestors were nothing like his own evil ancestors.
"I know of friends who came from there, but I've never been there myself."
"Like that demon from your story?"
"Her name is Ryoko," Tenchi sharply wanted a correction.
"I'm sorry!" Gohan quickly apologized. "I'd feel angry if somebody called Piccolo a monster."
"It's alright," Tenchi calmed Gohan's fear of insult. "To tell you the truth, Ryoko wasn't from Jurai. But I know of two princesses, Ayeka and Sasami."
"The one who cooks as good as mom?" Gohan answered. "You must really miss them."
"Yes," Tenchi's emotional reply was irrepressible. Gohan said nothing to that. It furthered a sadness in him. Soon Tenchi, with Rahne, and the others would be leaving, once Kami-sama got the Dragon Balls fixed.
Tenchi understood Gohan's potential loss. "Have you talked to your father yet?"
"Forget about him," Gohan snapped, disdain showing in his eyes. Tenchi also noticed a little pain in those pupils as well. The kid was hiding it well, but underneath this anger and hatred for his father were hurt feelings. Submerging it wasn't the right thing to do.
His feet vibrated. Tenchi flinched with a yell. His instincts ran wild, urging great aggression. He pushed himself into a fighting stance, ready to kill.
Then he realized it was just an earthquake. Not the type of threat to unsheathe his sword at. But enough to spark a great anxiety in him. It was as if every ordered part of him had broken into pieces, freeing the madness and violence within him.
He looked at Gohan, staring at him with confusion. He now felt embarrassment. He bit his lip in humiliation. He had to change the subject. Now. "What is this?"
"It's an earthquake!" said Gohan, becoming equally defensive, though in a slower, less fierce rate than Tenchi's flich.
Sanity now back to him, Tenchi's intelligence guided him to the responsibility this quake went to. "We've got to find Amara!"
He was far from Illyana, but the sounds of her laughter still lingered greatly in Goku's mind. Other sounds echoed as well.
(I hate him!)
He should have fled to another region, or another dimension. Not close to the house. But right now, he didn't know what to do. Where to go? What had he done? No answer could be made to satisfy all these questions.
Much as he didn't want to, Goku had to remember what happened.
(I hate him!)
He sat down on the grass, laying down toward the sky.
(I wish Goku wasn't my dad!)
If there was any doubt about his mysterious actions, it should be gone now. Whatever Kakarrotto did to his body, Goku now realized the quality of the cruelty, if not the experience of it. He couldn't hover above it anymore. And yet, Goku couldn't help feeling all this anger on him was undeserved. He wasn't a narcissist. He never thought of himself as someone important. But he never believed himself to be worth any hatred either. He never wanted anyone to hate him. But these kids surely hated him. Warlock hated him. Illyana (whose laughter still repeated in his ears) hated him. Each of their disdains was a drop of pain to him.
(I hate him!)
And Gohan's own words were a tidal wave. Those words came from his son's lips. He never knew how words could hurt so much. It was like a Super Saiya-jin-powered Kamehameha Wave.
It was all hard to understand. Gohan hated him? The kind and gentle son who always wanted to be with him? The boy whose sad frowns looked for support and comfort from him? The child who was happy with his presence? Why?
(I hate him!)
Goku found a harsh future before him. Dying of some disease was never a problem. His son hating him was. It looked like the two of them would never be together again. No more training together, no more relaxing soaks at the bath, no more playing around.
This wasn't fair! This can't happen!
Goku looked to any opportunity. Maybe Chichi could think of something. But Chichi was Gohan's mom. The meaning of that resulted in one more horrible stab into Goku. Did Chichi also not want him anymore, too? It looked like it; Chichi hadn't said anything to him since he got better. They didn't sleep together last night.
What could he do?
He sensed the vibrations of a wolf coming toward him. It was the wolf, or girl (girl-wolf?) who played with Gohan. Was it her turn now to hurt his feelings? Goku reinforced himself for the next onslaught of hatred. No more surprises.
"Hi," said the girl-wolf, nervous in her words.
"Leave me alone," Goku defensively expected the future attack. Ready for anything.
His opponent knelt beside him, hands folded to her knees. "I'm sorry."
Goku's legs shot up into the sky, the rest of his body to the ground. He wasn't ready for that! When did 'sorry' become an insult? Goku restored his balance. His limited vision saw the girl looking back at him, very confused. "Are ye alright?"
Goku shared her confusion. "Uh, don't ya hate me?"
Rahne shook her head. "'Course not. Why should I? I na smelled a thing 'n ye t' hate ye about."
With his one good eye, Goku studied the girl. She didn't look angry at all. "Are you sure?"
Rahne nodded her head. It was a naïve, innocent action. Goku felt affected by her image. Her eyes were different from Illyana. Soft, trusting, but determined. But as innocent as she looked, Goku was wary. Should he let his guard down for her? He did so before, only to get the nasty surprises from Illyana and Gohan. Would he expect the same from this girl?
Goku took the risk. He had to. So he relaxingly lay back down on the grass. He hoped this was a good idea.
"I…I heard the cruel things Illyana said," she spoke in nervous hesitations. "And what yuir son said was even crueler." Goku covered his face, making Rahne realize the bad nerve she had been hitting. She quickly changed her words. "But don't ken too much 'bout it. Gohan has been through a lot since we came. He's so confused right now, an' angry. But I know deep down he really dinna mean what he said. Just as I know that you have no ken of what ye done."
But Goku still kept to his sad self. Rahne's words had little effect.
"The past canna be changed," said Rahne.
Wanna bet, thought Goku.
"But ye can change what happened fer tomorrow."
Goku listened well to this part. "But what can I do?"
"Y're his father. Only ye can find the way."
Goku found her answer didn't answer his question.
"Ye musta trained so hard t' become…so strong now," Rahne paused in her study. She fell hypnotized by Goku's wondrous physique. He was also very handsome. Add a beard and he could be a noble warrior from her country's history. That was an opinion made before common sense caused her to return to the original point. "C-can ye na try hard t' restore Gohan's love o' ye? Tis' Gohan worth it? Believe me he is!"
Now was Goku won over. Gohan was worth it. How would he know if Gohan would keep on hating him unless he did anything about it? His spirits rose into the air, away from the depressed ground. "Yes, you're right! I'll do it!"
Happy that she made Goku feel better, Rahne pressed her encouragement. "See, I told ye so! So what are ye gonna do?"
Goku beamed a smile, giving an enthusiastic cry. "I don't know!"
Now it was Rahne's turn to tumble.
Goku gave his hand for the fallen girl. Much to his delight, she accepted it. "Thanks a lot, uh…wolf-girl."
A cheery grin claimed the scotsgirl. "My name's Rahne."
It was a happy moment for the two. Naturally, it could not last. It took the great sound of an alarm to end this one. A black drop swarmed before the two new friends. It took on a recognizable form. "WORRY- not- RAHNEFRIEND!"
The familiar voice brought a renewed sadness to Goku. Warlock's hostile shapes of defense made it clearer.
"Tha's quite enough!" roared Rahne. Her strong voice, coming from her gentle, meek form, was a bit rocking for Goku. Nevertheless, it was good that someone from that group of kids was on his side. "Yeah, Warlock," he walked closer with welcoming hands. "I just wanna…"
"SELF- protection- INITIATIED!" A wall formed before Rahne. Spikes grew from every spot of the techno alien, growing longer to keep his/its opponent farther back. "ENTER-risk- KAKARROTTOMAGUS!"
"Leave him be, Warlock!" A lupine Wolfsbane leapt and darted in front of Goku in protection. "He means us no harm, ye crazy bairn!"
"EXAMPLE- Selfsouldougfriend?" Warlock contradicted Wolfsbane' claim.
"Tha's na' his fault!"
Whether he thought it was or not, Goku wanted to help. "All I wanna do for ya kids' redeem myself t' y'all."
"PROBABILITY- negative!" Warlock elongated his/its neck to Goku. "LENGTH- prior- TO- return- HOME- shortened."
Wolfsbane deciphered the complexity of her friend's words. "Ye mean the Dragon Balls have been restored?" She asked with a mixture of happiness and sadness.
"AFFIRMATIVE!" Warlock's head made a dozen nods, resembling a shaking can. "KAMIBEING- initiated- PSYCHIC- contact- WITH- betsyfriend- AND- magnetoteacherfriend. CONFIRMED- suspicions."
"That's great!" cried Goku, though his smile might as well be a frown. He now saw his chances with the New Mutants vanish. Oh well. At least it wasn't too late for Gohan. He won't let it.
Then the ground quaked.
Minutes flew by in silence as Sam tried to learn Amara's problem. Since he was getting no progress from Amara talking, Sam spoke himself. He told her about Dani's resignation as leader, assigning him the full responsibility of leading the New Mutants. "You will do well," was Amara's first reply…and her only one for that moment.
More long minutes clocked by before Amara could speak about her own problems. But soon enough (say, twenty minutes) she did. Sam realized that her feelings of Kakarrotto were really just worship (that made him feel a little better). She couldn't help it, since the man looked so god-like in form and body. However, during her near-fatal encounter with this false God, Amara came to a shocking realization that her death could be divinely ordained. That she had sinned against the Gods for her blasphemous treatment to Kakarrotto. Soon, she would be punished. "Their wrath may be unspeakable," Amara spoke her thoughts in fear.
Sam took this with discomfort. The last time he saw Amara depressed like this was after the Beyonder incident. Just imagining her pain crimped his insides, and it wasn't just because he experienced the same thing. His mind told him to let Amara deal with her own problems. But this was Amara, a girl he- Sam couldn't ignore this, no matter how much he thought of Lila at this moment - still loved.
"It ain't right t' keep it all t' y'rself."
Amara embraced her own body, as if to protect herself from everything. But Sam's words affected her. They were so warm to her cold feelings. She opened up a little. "I feel so doomed."
"'Member what ya said a few days ago? Th' worse thing ya can do is let despair get t' ya."
Amara gave no living reaction. "At that time, I had the Gods on my side. No longer."
Sam found a wall to his progress. Amara's religious beliefs were always so different from the rest of the team (except for Warlock). They were so pagan. But Amara believed in them so much. For him to advise her not to believe in them would give Sam her disdain instead of gratitude.
"Look, ya had a terrible shave with dyin'. We all know it ain't pretty. But it'll pass."
Amara wished it could. But could she handle this by herself? Perhaps not, as Sam believed. There must be a substitute for the Gods. She needed someone. Someone kind and strong. Someone who was always there. Sam fit all those attributes. She could even love him. Suddenly, a path had come to her desperate situation.
Without warning, Sam felt Amara embrace him. Sam grabbed Amara's arms in confusion. What was she thinking? But she saw Amara's face, staring at him with eyes of devotion.
The meaning of this took on great miraculous thoughts to the boy. Was this true? Sam had entertained many a thought on Amara finally reciprocating his feelings. None had come to light before. None had come true before. But now it had. Sam's hands lost their grip, heading toward tender parts. It felt so…so…wrong.
Sam's hands returned to grip Amara's hands. Hesitance marked his refusal like a gun through a body, but the resolve was invulnerable.
"Ah can't." Sam's distraught face looked away as he separated himself from Amara's caring arms. "Ah wanna…but ah can't."
By embracing Sam, Amara felt she had now escaped her pool of anguish. But now Sam was pushing her back into it.
"Ya don't need me right now," Sam couldn't believe what he was doing. He was losing voice. "Not…like that. Mebbe…not. Y're not y'rself."
He moved farther away, which only increased Amara's fears. She didn't want to face this on her own. How can Sam betray her like this! Fear-kindled rage was now within her. The area suffered for it. Great quakes triggered around the area, touching all of the nerve spots of the earth. Everyone in their places felt the vibrations. Everyone not of this Earth guessed who it might be.
And Cannonball knew who was responsible. What an idiot he was! Boy, did he have to stop it, bring in the midst of the source. But all he could do to avoid the unbearable heat and destructive lava was to blast and circle the enraged creator. Glowing to a near-blinding intensity, Magma was at her angriest. It was good that she was finally expressing other emotions besides depression, but somehow rage did not fit in the 'good' category.
"You fool!" Magma roared, her words expressing the violence that was destroying the area. "How dare you spurn a Roma Novaian!" With a darting finger, the area of her target erupted with an eruption of plasma. In rocket form, Cannonball survived the assault, though his heart had considerable doubts of his own ability. Nevertheless, the consequences of her actions had to be stopped from happening. He rocketed to the volcanic girl, about to make contact. He felt very sorry about this.
Paradoxically, he hit solid space instead. The impact cancelled out his blasting abilities, but no harm came to him. Sam knew there could be one reason for this. "Teach!"
Meanwhile, Magma found strong arms grab her own, strong enough to withstand her heated form. She recognized those muscular hands, which made her angrier. "Unhand me, you fool! Do you realize what you have done to me!"
"Don't matter what I did t' ya," Goku kept on his contact. "Y're causin' a lot of trouble!" Boy, this girl was hot! He might have to turn Super Saiya-jin if he didn't want her to cook his hands.
By now, many had arrived. Those with Ki-sensory abilities guided the others to Magma. Gohan's ascent brought Tenchi while Kuririn propelled Roberto and Shan. Dani came with Brightwind, but she was the last, as was her choice. Their paths were full of rock sculptures made by rage.
Their view of Magma, and who was holding her, gave them an idea of what happened. Not the most accurate one.
"I knew you were up to no good!" hissed Sunspot. This amplified his desire to get closer, risking the dangers of the heat.
"Ya got it all wrong." Goku protested, despite the awkward position he was in. So far none of the kids were entering the dangerous area. That excluded Gohan, who charged at him like he was an enemy. That was what Goku least wanted. He had to end things quickly. Then he remembered Rahne's words about Magma's power source being the Earth. He quickly leapt into the air with his 'hostage.'
Gohan and Tenchi were ready to attack.
"Hold it!" Kuririn relied on his trust.
"Waitaminute!" Dani also cried in protest, understanding what was truly happening. Fortunately, her previous resignation failed to keep her teammates from ignoring her commanding voice. They held their ground.
"Release me!" Magma shrieked, as her own body tried to attain a maximum level of heat. It was a brief level; cut off from the earth, her amplification of power caused her strength to dwindle rapidly.
Magneto joined with the two in their position of air. He kept a better perspective of the situation. "Amara, behave yourself!"
Where strength of body was proving unsuccessful, the strength of Magneto's voice made greater range. Magma bowed her head, becoming cool and human again. "Forgive me." A tear was made. Her next movements were safe, though not done with good understanding. Countless emotions now flooded her as Goku safely descended the two of them to the ground.
The end of molten fury brought everyone closer. Sunspot, Tenchi, and Gohan were ready to attack, until Wolfsbane cried out her case. Without shame, she informed them that Goku had teleported him and herself here to see Magma acting wild, attacking Sam. They had to save him. Rahne further revealed that Goku's interference was by her own wish.
"Ah'm glad ya did," Sam offered his thanks, to Goku. True, he still thought about getting punched in the face whenever he faced the Saiya-jin, but Sam was not going to deny the guy any gratitude in stopping this mess, especially since this mess was his own fault.
He was the only one to give apologies. Still, Tenchi felt a little willing. Like Sam, he would not refuse any deserved thanks to anyone, regardless of past. And Goku's innocent and kind face was so different from the mad warrior's attributes, like the cruel glares, the voice that barely restrained rage, and the racist mind. But Illyana had a kind face too, and look where that got him. He would bide his time.
Roberto and Gohan refused any willingness, by thought or action. The doubts inside both of them failed to give much sway in their decisions. Gohan especially didn't like what Rahne was doing.
"How dare you behave this way!" Magneto's delivery was more ferocious than his words. "I expected you to be in control of your powers, seeing that you are a guest in this place. Now you have made me think otherwise."
"Hey, lighten up," Goku disapproved to Magneto's tongue-lashing. "No one got hurt."
Now he got Magneto's tongue, without a look. "Son Goku. I know that I am a guest in your world. But I am this student's teacher, not you, and therefore do not need your advice."
"Excuse me," Goku complained, backing off.
Magneto returned to Amara, who still refused to face him. "You will now use your powers to clean up your mess. Then, as soon as we return to our world, I will remove some demerits."
"Do you mean…?" Sam made an incomplete question.
"We have received word from Kami," Magneto announced to all. "The damaged Dragon Ball has been repaired. We will return to our world."
Different feelings were the result of this announcement. After (what couldn't be, but was) two days of hopping dimensions, they were finally going home. The experiences made the eventuality near impossible. They thought about what they would be heading to, and what they would be leaving behind. For those of this Earth, the departure was not altogether welcomed. Gohan exemplified that.
Meanwhile, Roberto looked to Sam for his possible role in this mess. The sorry face on his friend gave a good clue. "What did you do?" Roberto glared at his friend.
Sam bore his face of shame. "Nothin.'"
Roberto sighed. Either Sam was telling the truth, or he had a great poker face. Since Sam was incapable of the last one, the first deduction was right. Whenever Amara was concerned, Roberto's best friend could accomplish feats of stupidity.
Goku gave his own perspective. The kids came very close to blaming him for this one. But Sam came to his defense, not willing to let him take any blame. At least the New Mutants didn't hate him for the sake of existing (most of them at least; Goku felt good to see Illyana or Warlock wasn't present).
Then his eyes fell on Gohan. Indeed, the boy noticed his father's viewpoint of him. A feeling of guilt showered upon him. Pleasing thoughts then resulted. About charging to Goku, embracing him, saying he didn't mean the awful things he said before, wishing that they could be buddies again.
Gohan shrugged away.
TO BE CONTINUED
ANNOTATIONS
-Illyana stopped the Demon Bear in NEW MUTANTS#20. She rescued the team from Farouk in NM#34.
-As pointed out before, the Beyonder killed the New Mutants (except for Sunspot) in NEW MUTANTS#37 and resurrected them in SECRET WARS II#9.
-Doug saved the Earth through his translating abilities in NEW MUTANTS ANNUAL 1.
-Gabrielle Haller was a catatonic victim 'violently cured' by Professor Xavier. Doug met her in NEW MUTANTS#26.
-The rapport Illyana shared with Tenchi occurred in chapter 10 of THE PRINCE & THE SORCERESS.
-Kitty Pryde (Shadowcat of the X-Men) is Illyana's best friend and roommate. Peter Rasputin (Colossus of the same team) is Illyana's brother. The two had a relationship before Peter fell in love with a healer in the SECRET WARS Limited Series, its aftermath leading to Peter ending things, much to Kitty's dismay.
-Amara made her anti-despair words in NEW MUTANTS#45, set a few days ago.
NEXT TIME: With all seven Dragon Balls, the New Mutants are ready to leave the DB universe! But not everyone will be happy...