The Author's word of caution: It took me a little while do decide whether or not to go through my original intentions for this chapter, and although its not –bad- I just want to warn everyone ahead of time that there are suggestive themes here. Though I'm sure none of you will mind, I thought I'd throw it out there just for precaution. Heh.

Chapter 8: Taking Things to the Next Level

I'm not sure how long we stood there like that, but I know that eventually my arms had gotten tired and begged me to release him. Cell's not heavy by any means, but he's not a stick either and the length of my arms is only so long. Either way, I let go and stepped away, but for some reason I didn't have the courage to look at him. I turned and bowed my head, a tear pushing through the closed lid of my eye when I realized that I had lost my struggle to stay away from him. I felt like once again I was betraying mankind because I was selfish to fill my own lonely desires.

Cell came up behind me, his hand pushing away my hair and his fingers trailed down my neck and shoulder. Cell might be an android, a non-human android at that, but he knew how to get to a woman. If what he had once told me was true—that he possessed cells from all sorts of people—then obviously human emotions rubbed off on him to a certain extent. Either way, I couldn't create the self-discipline that would pull me away from his gentle touch.

Yet somehow I knew that this couldn't go on. Whether Cell was dead or not, there just couldn't be any possible relations—I knew this eight years ago and even since then I've known that this was just irrational thought. So why couldn't I just stop him and walk away? Why did my heart skip a beat when I heard his voice for the first time since the Cell Games? Why…why, why, why? No one could answer these questions except for me, though obviously I can't seem to be capable of doing that either.

What snapped me back into the world was the fact that Cell's hands had trailed further than they ever had before. His fingers had—whether purposely or by fault—graced passed my breast and I immediately became terrified. I jumped away from him and turned around quickly as if I could pose any defense against an attack.

Cell stood there, eyes semi-wide, and lips slightly parted. He either didn't realized what he had done, whether it was because he wasn't paying attention or didn't understand why I jumped like I had, or he had figured that that's what I had wanted, which I can tell you right now wasn't the case.

"It's a waste of breath to ask why you reacted like that," he said suddenly. So yeah, he knew what he had done and he definitely did it on purpose. "Yet I'm going to ask anyway."

The bastard…he just has to get his thrills in one sick way or another. So how the heck was I supposed to get around this one without making it clear that I feared any further touch he might offer? "I…I didn't expect it, I guess," I said dumbly.

Cell seemed amused. "You didn't expect it," he repeated with a small chuckle. He put his hand on his hip and looked back at me with curiosity. "Tell me Layrial, what do you expect?"

Again, another question I didn't know how to answer. Though for this one I wasn't sure if I really had an answer that was hidden inside of me that I was content on keeping there. Therefore I fell silent and made no attempt to answer his second question.

Then I wondered if I could possibly get away with answering his question with one of my own that directly related to that of which he inquired. "Actually Cell, I was about to ask you the same thing," I lied…in a sense. "What did you expect out of meeting me again?"

"That's beside the point," he countered. "Don't try to wriggle your way out of it—I had asked you first."

Yes, this reminded me on why I still had a certain hate level for him. He was much too sly and witty to be taken down that easily. There had only been a few times in the past that I recall triumphing during an argument battle, but this wasn't going to be one of them. Now I asked myself what was there left to turn to?

"I refuse to answer," I said. Yes, I'm an idiot.

He laughed first, spoke second. "You can't refuse to answer."

"Says who?" I asked quickly.

"Says I," he replied simply. "I won't allow it."

I crossed my arms and stared at him hard. "And what do you think you're going to do about it?" I demanded. I told you—I'm an idiot.

"Oh I'm sure I could pull out a few tricks from my sleeve," he replied. "I don't think you want me to exploit them."

He was bluffing—he had to be. Only, I had this terrible, sickening feeling he wasn't, and I started to envision some rather terrible scenarios I could find myself in. Alright, Layrial…just give up before he holds true to his words.

"You're bluffing," I said on reference to my inner thoughts from about ten seconds ago instead of going to plan B.

Cell wasn't one to always continue the jabber; no, he liked to follow through on some things, and yes, this was one of them. I soon found myself in one of the several scenarios I pictured—I wondered if I was psychic—and was bound between his arms and his body. His hands held my back and by the pressure that was there when I leaned back against them to create some space between my chest and his stomach I could tell that he wasn't willing to let me go without a fight.

"Do you think I'm bluffing now, Layrial?" He whispered with a smug grin.

"Let me go," I asked without trying to sound like I was pleading with him. That would just make things worse…

"I want an answer," he said.

For a moment I had forgotten what the original question was. Oh yes…he wanted to know what I expected. At this point I expected him to attempt some sort of sexual misconduct. Should I tell him that?

"Alright," I said, still trying to pull away, though it was useless. "I'm starting to wonder if you want to see how much you know about human composition."

"Are you implying that I'm trying to woo you?"

"Possibly."

"I'm afraid to burst your bubble, Layrial, but you've misinterpreted things," he said and let me go…just like that. "I was under the assumption that that's what you wanted. Forgive me if I was wrong."

Did he…just apologize to me? No…no way—he couldn't. I don't think he knew how to apologize. I mean, I know he was different around me (I thought) because he had a different sort of bond with me compared to every other living creature in the world, but he had never actually asked me to forgive him. I was now completely and utterly stunned.

"You thought I wanted that?" I asked, trying to make sense out of this. "Why?"

"Didn't you make a pass on me?"

"What? Hugging you?" I asked, trying not to giggle. "I didn't mean it in any other way than a friendly gesture."

"That's not what I meant," he said. "Our anatomy might be different in some respects, but you must've noticed that what remains of my former tail has a bit of a sensitive feeling."

I stared blankly at him. What the hell...oh. Now I understood. As I stared at him I thought I caught a hint of blushing along his cheeks, though it was hard to really tell. He seemed very serious, not embarrassed, but I now remember my hand had become curious to see what that odd bee-hive looking thing that was on his back felt like. I hadn't felt a reaction in any way when my hand moved over it, but obviously what he had done to me was nothing more than…returning the favor, I guess?

"Wow," I said finally after figuring all of this out in my mind. "I hadn't thought of it like that."

"Hmm, apparently not," he said. "It just goes to prove my point that humans aren't necessarily the brightest of creatures."

"Excuse me!" Alright, he totally stepped over the fence this time. "Need I remind you that a human created you?"

"Fair enough," he agreed. "So let me rephrase what I said—most humans aren't the brightest of creatures, save for a select few."

"Cell—you're so damn chauvinistic it makes me sick!" I turned on my heels and marched my way to the fire escape on the other side of the roof top—(I had noticed the top of the ladder earlier when I was gazing around absentmindedly).

"And where do you think you're going?" He called to me.

"Anywhere that won't remind me of what a pig you can be," I answered and began my descent down the metal stairs.

I hadn't noticed until I was maybe a quarter of the way down that I wasn't comfortable in what I was doing. I was actually a bit terrified. The ladder hung on the side of the building with no means of support except the screws that held it to the smooth, white wall. I made the mistake of looking down to see absolutely nothing; if I lost my grip there was nothing to break the fall.

"Layrial, when will you learn that it's not nice to make insults?" I clung to the stairs and looked over my shoulder to see him floating behind me. He "stood" upright and had his arms folded within themselves. He was such a showoff…

"Look, just shut up and leave me be," I told him. I tried to take another step, but pausing like I had took away my nerve and I felt like if I moved again I'd experience that fall.

"Very well," he said and went down to the ground. I hadn't actually expected him to do it! I thought that he'd at least offer his assistance! What the Hell?

After several painstaking moments of moving my shaky legs down the rest of the ladder, I let go of it and jumped the last two feet to the ground, since I had no other choice. Cell stood where he had landed and looked oh-so-very smart.

I adjusted my shirt and pretended to dust myself off, thinking that maybe he'd offer some sort of apology for this rude gesture he bestowed upon me, but of course he hadn't. I should've known that two apologies from Cell in a lifetime were too much to ask.

I was about to offer another comment to him, to let him know that he wasn't on my good side, when I noticed someone walking around the street maybe a quarter of a mile ahead. I squinted my eyes and tried to make out the figure, but from the colors the person wore I had a distinct feeling it was someone I had lost.

"Toshi!" I yelled out and the person was alerted to my voice. I saw them turn, wave and jog towards my direction.

Then I remembered my present company. What would happen when they confronted the other? Cell didn't like other humans and Toshi was under the impression that Cell was the monster of all monsters. I glanced up quickly at the android and saw a minor look of disgust as Toshi headed towards us. What had I done…?