Chapter 4
For the rest of the day Cell had insisted upon saying nothing and meditating outside, eyes closed and ignoring everything around him. This meant of course, that Joy worried terribly what he thought of her all that afternoon, and even that night.
She woke up the same day, still worrying what he thought of her.
Joy was sat up in her bed of happy yellow sheets, her golden hair tied loosely behind her and in her knee length, shoulder strap nightie. What does he think of me now?
It seemed that every time she thought back to Tanya's 21st birthday bash at the nightclub, it got even worse. So she thought every time, he thought even worse about her. I hope he doesn't think I'm cheap or something. Oh gosh I bet he thinks I'm a whore.
Whore.
She hated that word.
She had to fight off tears every time she heard it, or even thought it.
"Oh yeah, that's a good little whore." She heard that voice like he was still here. Low, rumbling and sadistic in every way.
I'm not a whore.
"Please! Please stop it! Mommy!"
Mommy.
"Your Mommy isn't here Joy. And she isn't coming either. Why would she come and help a whore like you."
"Stop it!"
Her hands trembled on her lap, her breathing getting sharper through parted lips and her emerald eyes wide and misty looking.
"Stop it." She whimpered.
"Don't-please!"
"Don't? please? I don't understand." She heard that sick snigger. "Do you want it, or not?"
"No." she said a little louder, fisting at her sheets. "Leave me alone." She sobbed, tears building in her eyes.
"Hold still!"
"NO!"
"Say it Joy."
"AAA!"
"Say you're a whore!"
A whore…
I'm a whore…
"I'm a whore." She pulled her knees up and shakily held them in front of her nose.
"Say it again Joyce."
"I'm a whore." Her forehead rested on her trembling hands, her body shaking now too. "I'm a whore."
"That's it. My good little whore."
"Whore?" she gasped sharply, bolting up and snapping her head over to the door. Her golden hair in its frizzy mess flew round with the movement of her head, and her teary eyes fixed on the person at the door. "Did you say, you were a whore?"
Cell wore a stern face, his arms folded over his chest as usual, and staring deeply into her emerald eyes. This must be the first time he could actually read her eyes to see what she was truly feeling.
And he was disturbed by what he saw.
Anguish.
Torture.
Pain.
And…fear?
But within a heart beat Joy was shaking her head and fumbling an excuse.
"Oh my no. And I'm sorry if I disturbed you." She beamed up at him, her tears gone with a swipe of her hand and her eyes closed merrily.
But Cell was not so convinced.
"This is your room. If anything, I am disturbing you."
"No, not at all. I was just getting up anyway." She chuckled, and jumped out of bed. Cell immediately looked away.
She was in her nightwear after all. "I will be right with you, ok?" she said cheerfully, like he hadn't walked in on her having a private moment, or that anything had ever been wrong with him walking into her room. She just walked into her bathroom, and started her morning ritual.
A whore…I heard her say it at least twice. Cell closed his eyes and reflected back on what exactly he had heard when he sensed her Ki signature alternate. Stop it, no, leave me alone, and I'm a whore twice…what could that mean? He looked to the closed bathroom door, concentrating on his analysis even as he heard her humming 'you are my sunshine'. She was talking to someone, and she wasn't asleep. But she was alone, I couldn't sense anyone else. So she must have been reliving something… his frown increased. Who was she talking to? And why was she calling herself a whore? Cell suddenly realised there was a lot more about his Joyce and her past he did not yet know, nor understand.
Not yet anyway.
But I will soon change that.
He also didn't want to address that fact that he thought of her as 'his Joyce' just now either.
"Joy to the world." She burst back into the room wrapped in nothing but her white bath towel tucked under her arms and riding half up her creamy thighs. Cell watched blankly, although actually transfixed on her every bouncing, skipping movement as she hopped from one delicate foot to the next over to her bed side chest of drawers. Cell raised a brow, watching as she just pulled out her clothes and stuffed her underwear under them on the bed, and then sat, still in only her bath towel fresh from the shower, and brushing her wet hair in the mirror by her other side of the bed.
By this time, Cell was leaning from his left hip up to his left shoulder against the door frame, his head to one side and still looking to her quizzically.
"Joyce, are you aware that I am still here?" she looked over her shoulder at him innocently, and nodded.
"Yes." She then gasped. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to ignore you." She sat across the chair to face him a little more, and continued to brush her hair. "So, day 4 already. I can't believe I've been here 4 days."
"I can." Though I can't believe this situation.
"It seems like I've only just got here." She beamed, and shook her head, giggling as her damp long locks waved with her head.
"You take great pleasure in very simple things."
"Some people would call that being simple minded." She pushed her hair back, and stood up.
"As would I."
"Then we agree." She nodded with a big grin, and walked over to her clothes.
"Joyce, you do realise you not only called yourself simple minded, but you have for the last 5 or so minutes been parading yourself in front of me clad only in that towel, don't you?" immediately her cheeks flushed, but she still smiled.
"Yes, I do." At that, he sweat dropped.
"And on both accounts you have done so intentionally?"
"Yes, I suppose."
"Explain, if you will." Joyce sat on the bed, and looked to him, apparently quite comfortable with her sate of undress.
"Certainly. I called myself simple minded, because I am simple minded really. There is nothing too complex about me as a person, about my actions or the way I feel or think. There is a reason for all of those things, and those reasons are always simple ones. Including the reason I don't mind being dressed, or not so dressed like this in front of you." She slipped her slippers on, and stretched up with her arms, yawing her speech slightly as she continued. "I told you Cell (big yawn), I give you my friendship and my trust. I trust you, so why wouldn't I be comfortable in my towel?" her blush increased, arms still in the air as if she had paused for thought, and what she said next sounded like she was talking to herself more than Cell. "I mean, I wouldn't get completely undressed or anything silly like that. I hardly think you need to see that." When she looked up at her arms, she gasped to herself and quickly yanked them down and behind her back.
However, even as she chuckled nervously, she knew why he suddenly looked furious.
"Joyce." Cell stalked forward. "Show me your hands."
"W what ever for?" she gulped and subconsciously shuffled further away from him on the bed. "I'm not holding anything."
"But you are hiding something." She immediately placed a palm over each wrist, and wrapped her fingers tightly around her lower arms slightly above them. "Show them to me."
"But I-" she yelped as Cell grasped her shoulder without a hint of gentleness, and yanked her forward onto her feet. His grip was locked on her arm just under her shoulders now, and he glared down at her.
"Hands, now." he ordered. When she didn't, he lost his temper and threw her against the wall. The thud her delicate body made seemed to echo through him, but he pushed it aside. Still trying to balance herself, Joy had pushed her hands against the wall behind her back, which was arched back to shield them and in pain from her unplanned flying session. He grabbed her shoulders again, and dragged her painfully up the yellow wall…
…leaving a trail of blood smeared behind her.
But he couldn't see that yet.
Cell just pushed her into the wall, furious that she wasn't even crying or looking the tiniest bit upset or unnerved by his violence.
Why would this woman not break!
And why the hell didn't she tell him?
Cell had seen the disgustingly monumental scars on both her perfect wrists, and he saw red.
How DARE she hide them from him, after part of the entire deal of her being here was for him to heal her completely! This meant that she had intentionally allowed him to not hold up his end of the bargain, like it didn't even matter! Surely she would have known they were still there, and she hadn't even asked him to heal them or even mentioned they were still there!
She hadn't even asked!
Not once!
Why is she so damn selfless!
"Cell, put me down." Joy asked calmly, not giving away that when she had struck the wall, the glass framed photograph of her and the Samaritan group had smashed and cut into her back. And was still there.
"Give me, your hands." he seethed, his tail sliding out of his back, with every intention of pulling her hands out from behind her with it.
"No." she shook her head slowly, no emotion but pity showing.
Damn her! Even now she looks down on me! Cell no longer gave her the option of complying now, and he tried force. But Joy thrashed and squirmed, not bending to his will, nor his attempts to get her hands where he could heal them.
"Hold still!"
"NO!" she screamed at him. Cell pressed his chest up against hers, and pinned her elbows out on the wall. Pinned against the wall, spread out like a fallen eagle beneath a beast…
Her body began to tremble, her breathing getting faster with adrenaline flowing madly through her veins, and her eyes were wide with terror. Terror…that Cell had never seen before. Not from her. "S Stop it." Her voice was no longer smooth and melodic, or calm and understanding with the hint of intellectual logic. She was no longer a woman with no fear…but a frightened little girl.
But he didn't feel any sense of accomplishment. This is what he wanted, to make her fear him, right? Then why did he feel so…empty? She was afraid of him, so why didn't he feel happy? Why did he feel…frozen? "No…leave me alone." Joy whimpered, closing her eyes and trying to squirm away from him.
Then it clicked. Those words. She isn't even talking to me. She is speaking to whoever she was talking to this morning. That means I just triggered a memory…his next conclusion was shocking. But then…she has been held up against the wall like this before? He didn't like that question one bit.
Why, he didn't care to think. "Please." His grip on her loosened, and he eased her down to her feet. He took a small step back, but still held her elbows at her sides lightly.
She had once again disarmed him. With another side of her. Another piece of the puzzle.
As he returned her to her feet, he seemed to return her to her sanity as well, as the fear slowly ebbed away, and her breathing calmed.
After what seemed an eternity of him just staring in hidden shock into her green orbs, her cheeks stained with tears, he spoke.
"Why would you want to keep those disgusting things?" He spat coldly.
"Because I need them."
"Why?" his expression never changed from blank.
"Because they ensure I never stray from the path I walk in this life." Her voice was quiet, but held more impact than any shout or scream. Especially on him. "As I told you before, I died." She gulped the lump in her throat down. "But I was lucky. I got a second chance. I came back." her words were smooth and sure. "But there are people out there, who have to suffer all what I did, and more, who don't ever get that second chance. So every time I look down at my scars, and see what I did to myself, why I did that to myself." She sniffled, and Cell raised his head a little more. "I remember the only reason I get up in a morning. I make sure that those people who have to suffer alone, don't have to suffer alone. That those people who don't get a second chance, wont need a second chance, because I helped them get through it all." He stepped back, and she slouched against the wall slightly. One eye closing in pain. She was amazed her towel had stayed in place. "I had no one all my life. I was always alone inside. So I know what it's like, to be alone and suffer in silence. You know, I never once asked or prayed for forgiveness of what I did, for my sins. Because I don't deserve it. I don't deserve forgiveness for what I did to myself." She held herself. "The scars on my wrists, are a constant reminder of my purpose."
"Purpose?" he spoke almost as softly as her. Almost.
"To make sure that the same scars never appear on anyone else, for as long as I live. I lived for myself once, and look what I did with my life. So this time, I live for others. I live every day for someone else, and I have never been as happy." She smiled through the tears, and he saw true joy in her eyes. "My purpose is to help, to save."
"Where as my purpose is to destroy, and kill." Her smile slipped off her face, and she looked to him with pity again. She even stepped towards him.
"It doesn't have to be that way." She reached out, and he looked at her with alarm, as it looked like she was going to touch his face.
"Keep your damn scars." He spat, and turned to leave.
And that is when he saw red…of a different sort. "You're bleeding."
"I'll be f-"
"Shut up." Cell spat, but pulled her into an embrace, and placed his hands on her back. He pulled the towel away, leaving her completely naked, and placed his hands over her wounds.
"Cell-"
"Just be quite." He said, and she could have sworn he was begging, slightly if not hinted. She bared her arms together like an X over her chest just in time to keep some of her dignity, and rested her forehead against his chest. Joy closed her eyes as he gently traced her long cuts, the shards of glass vanishing and her wounds healing.
It seemed, that her skin was electrified. As where ever he touched, sparks of electrical pulses shot up his nerves pleasantly. This sensation was difference, it was like he was truly touching someone for the first time.
Perhaps that is because all other human contact I have experienced, has been their annihilation and death by my hands. where this…is quite the alternative. His eyes closed, and the minimal space between Joy's arm caged chest and his, closed with his gentle insistence. His Ki warm touched grew more intimate, and wide spread over her smooth skin. Below her neck, her hair over her right shoulder and her front, between her shoulder blades, lower…it's like he's exploring my body. Joy thought, bashfully silent and trying to hide her shy blush from him, her fringe helping.
When his fingertips smoothed down her spine, far from the points of injury, she thought perhaps she was right.
But she wasn't wearing anything, and he was touching her so…tenderly. She gasped softly, and whispered his name.
"Cell." The sudden pleasant sound of his name from her lips, sent even more tingles through him to echo in his chest cavity…and a place that seemed to be awakening at last.
His groin.
Could it be that I'm… he refused to continue with that ridiculous notion, and scolded himself for even considering being attracted to this disgusting human female, and for touching it in such a way.
"Get dressed. This is hardly decent, now is it?" his voice was so cold again, it made her shiver.
As he took his hands back, and stepped back, he couldn't stop his curious, rebellious magenta eyes from seeking out her naked flesh. But she had immediately turned around, giving him only a view of her healed back, and shapely backside and legs…
His eyes drank in her glorious sight, retracing his steps up the divine contours of her body, when their eyes locked, green on pink.
She was looking over her shoulder at him!
She saw him looking!
He was actually looking!
These things screamed ERROR, ERROR, in his head like a loud alarm, and for the first time ever, Cell was utterly and totally at a loss for what to do or say next.
Her face was flustered with embarrassment, and she quickly snapped her head round, to fumble with her blood stained bath towel, trying to salvage what ever dignity she had left.
When she was concealed again, she turned to face him, with her eyes closed and bowing her head with her hands help in prayer frantically.
"I am so so sorry. Please forgive me." She begged over and over again. "I, I'll be more careful I promise." She then raised her head, beaming and showing the utmost respect. "I'll make sure to be dressed and ready earlier in the morning so this will never happen again. I'm sorry."
What for? He wanted to ask her, he did. But…
"Good." Was all he could say. If she kept herself to herself, then he wouldn't have to address the strange things that happened to him. Do all males everywhere have to deal with these sensations? Or is it just the Saiyan in me? And he mentally gulped. Or…is it just her? He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and walked straight out of her room. I believe a tactical retreat and regrouping is in order. I still don't know what she did to me in there…I need to think on this.
Try as he might cell couldn't stay away from her. He tried to go outside, but just stopped at the door. Found himself sat on the couch and waited 30 minutes solidly for her to come down. He didn't reply as she cheerfully wished him good morning, and ignored her as she ate her breakfast in the kitchen.
"So." She sat herself on the table in front of him. Wearing a long green gypsy skirt, her hair long and tied back with a green head scarf to one side, and a white frilly gypsy top. "Day 4. What do you want to do today?" And he couldn't stand it. He had defiled her, damaged her pride and self assuredness, and for what? For him to be utterly confused with himself, something he didn't think possible, unsurety about anything was absurd for him, never mind about his own body functions.
Or reactions in this case.
And yet, she just brushes it off, and gets right back into the heat of things again. Fearless, brave. Courageous. Collected in with mercy, pity, innocence, kindness, humanity, intelligence, motherly instincts…provocative instincts…beauty… he snarled and got to his feet.
No, no he wasn't ready to face her yet. He wasn't prepared to face her. Retreating for 30 minuets wasn't enough. He needed more time, more distance, more planning how to handle her.
And not how he handled her this morning.
And yet, he should be disgusted with his actions, with her. But he wasn't. If anything, found himself longing to do it again, to take it further.
She was only here for another 6 days. Then she would die with the rest of the human race…and…he was becoming used to her. Damn it! He had gotten accustomed to her face, excusing the cliché. He needed distance, logic. Not proximity and fumbling.
That's it. He knew what he had to do.
"I am going to train." And think about how to handle you. I am in your terrain now, and I will not let you get the upper hand on me. Joyce handled people every day, and had a deep understanding in body language, from her open palms and cheery, honest appearance, with bright colours and a soft, melodic voice…she was bound to be using what she had against him. After all, in her position, he would use what ever talents he had against someone like himself. If only for his survival. That has to be it. She is trying to manipulate me. Well it isn't going to work. Not even as she frowned at him, did he let it get to him.
"Oh…I was hoping to spend some time with you. I mean, we didn't really have any fun yesterday."
"I certainly enjoyed myself." He smirked coldly. "As did you, from what I saw." He watched as she frowned even more, and then jump up.
"Please, let me explain! I'm not like that anymore! I don't do that sort of thing! I'm not cheap! I'm not a slut! I'm not-"
"A whore?" Perfect. I can probe into what she was talking about earlier and against the wall before I leave.
Joyce sat back down slowly, as if the energy she once had had been sucked from her. She cast her emerald eyes down to her knees, where her hands fumbled.
"No." she barely whispered. "No I'm not." She then slapped her hands down on her knees and beamed up at him. "So, training? Where?" there she went again! Turning her total attention to him! She could have gone on about her problems and whined, telling him her life's story and why the hell went on this morning, but she didn't.
"Outside." He said curtly. "Where else?"
"Can I watch?" he raised his eyebrow sharply. She yawned behind her hand, and apologised.
"And why would you want to do that?"
"Well, don't you want me to?" she brushed her hair down her back with her hands.
"What you do does not concern me."
"Then I would like to watch you." Joy stood up and brushed herself off, as he had risen to his feet.
"Why?"
"Because I would like to see you have fun." She lined up next to him, and looked to be waiting for him to lead the way.
"Training my dear, is not 'fun'. It is a very serious process of preparing and perfecting one's art form, fitness, and endurance levels. And countless many more attributes that you wouldn't be able to comprehend." Cell snapped with a smirk at the end, thinking he had had the last laugh.
"Do you enjoy doing it?"
"Yes, I-"
"Then you have fun." She chuckled happily and walked towards the door. She slipped on a pair of green slip-ons and held the door for him.
She did it again!
She bloody had the last word!
"You will not be able to watch." She spat.
"Oh? Why ever not?"
"Because you will not be able to follow me." He said coldly, bumped into her with his armoured shoulder to bang her against the wall, and snickered. "Oops. I didn't see you down there." Now he looked smug. Smile your way out of that one.
"I really can't come?" She was really disappointed. She wanted to see him train. If not for something to do, but to talk to him while he did it too. She had an objective after all…
"Not unless you can fly into space after me. Which being a measly human, you can't." Joyce followed Cell out into the middle of the ring, and he parted his legs and wings ready to 'take off', when-
"Then good luck, and I'll wait here for you to return." She giggled, oh she giggled. He looked over his shoulder at her, and could have sworn the rays of brilliant sunlight were making her pale skin glow, her hair shine and her emerald eyes sparkle, even if half closed. He was glad he didn't need to breath, or he surely would have fainted. What are you doing to me? Is this a technique that I am unaware of? With the same effects as a solar flare perhaps? He turned slightly, only to get a better look at her and evaluate her stance. She had her hands cupped together behind her back, her head to one side, her smile as bright as ever and her spirits ablaze, not dampened by his behaviour or actions all day. How is that possible?
"'Gook luck'? do you even realise what you are saying? I am going to train, to focus my mind and body to a more optimum efficiency for battle." He folded his arms and looked to her head on with furious confusion. "The same battle that will not only end the life of this planet, but you as well." Her happy expression didn't change, which infuriated him. "Do you not believe I will do it!" he tore his arms apart and clenched his fists, ready for a conflict.
"No…I believe you." She looked down, her smile softened, but she was still smiling. "But hay." Then it actually grew! "Look on the bright side."
Cell blinked at her, but she just smiled happily at him.
"Which would be…what exactly?" And she giggled. Why must she do that! He wished she wouldn't, but not because it was unpleasant.
"That would be, up to you." She nodded, her hair waving in time with her long green gypsy skirt in the breeze, as she slowly turned towards the pink house. "I will be waiting for you to come home. if you like, I'll have a warm blanket waiting for you. It was really cold last night." His lips fell apart slightly, his frame loose and he was frozen. He watched as she simply waved cheerfully at him, and walked slowly away from him. she stopped in her doorway, waved to him one last time, and then went inside.
"…………foolish woman." He snapped his body round and hurtled up into the air and the Earth's outer atmosphere so quickly, the entire capsule house shook slightly.
He was gone.
Joy had watched him out of the window, or the white jet he left behind from where he penetrated the clouds, and turned away after staring for at least 20 minutes. A single tear fell down her cheek.
Am I that repulsive to him, that he has to distance himself from me whenever possible and reject every act of kindness I give him? she sniffled. I suppose so. She wiped her tear away and shook her head.
"Come on Joy, get on with it." She nodded, and turned to look at the house. "I suppose I could tidy a little while he's gone…I hope he comes back soon." It was already day 4, 6 days left, before it was too late to save him. I won't let you down Cell, I refuse to lose you.
First she went upstairs and changed into what she liked to call, her 'active' clothes. These consisted of the flat dark green slip-ons, white socks and bunched up like a ballerina's, nothing covering her shapely legs, the same dark green for her mid thigh shorts with small triangles cut into the outside of the leg, and a long sleeved, skin tight white silky sweatshirt. The sleeves were too long and came over her hands to her fingertips, and clung tightly to her hips over the top of her shorts, but she liked it that way. She then used her dark green head scarf like a huge ribbon to tie her long golden hair in a high ponytail. "Right, time to tidy."
She hovered, scrubbed, and dusted the entire house, stopped for a little dinner, and was now stood outside with a bucket of water, a boom system and a large sponge. "These windows will be clean soon." She then panted and pressed her forehead against the wall. Her eyes closed, and she felt her knees tremble. "No…have to keep…going." She tapped the boom system with the side of her foot, and it started up with loud, urban music. No constant rappers, but urban Queens. "Music to keep the mood. If I just keep going, I wont stop." She slowly forced her shaking hands to ring out the sponge and wipe down the first window. Before she knew it, her bum was swaying from side to side in beat with the music, and she was even dragging the hot sponge up and down the windows in time too.
Cell had lasted 10 minutes in space incinerating passing comets and asteroids, before he lost his cool.
Damn that woman! Why did she infuriate him so much, when she wasn't even trying or smart enough to realise she was doing it!
Stupid, stupid, selfless, idiotic, damn woman!
He found himself stood in the air (AN: does that make sense?) and using his enhanced eyesight to spy on her.
What about this human causes my composure to elude me so? He growled to himself, ashamed that he had resorted to sneaking around because of her. Just because he didn't want her to know he was watching her. Damn her! That's it. I will find out why she isn't afraid of me, and then I will kill her and get it over with! He was about to descend upon her when…
"JOYCE ILAIUS!" boomed a familiar voice from a parked hover plane.
Her entire body went stiff.
No…that's impossible. She can't be here…she can't. "You turn you skinny white ass around and face me right now!" oh yeah, it's the Queen bee alright. No! she can't be here!
"Tanya!" Joy span on her heels, her hair whipping through the air and her emerald eyes growing in shock from seeing the last woman she wanted anywhere near here.
Slightly shorter than her, a smooth tan she was damn proud of, died ginger hair in angel curls, tied back in a low bobble (that usually meant she meant business, gulp), plain blue jeans and denim jacket over a pink T-shirt. And she was wearing trainers. She never wears trainers unless she is angry! Eeep! Joy backed up against the pink dome shaped house and smiled nervously at her fast approaching friend.
"Now Tanya, let's all take a deep breath and-"
"I'll tell you where you can shove that deep breath bullshit, right now!" Joy yelped, those brown eyes were locked onto their target.
Her.
Oh dear.
"Tanya, you know, you really shouldn't be here." She tried.
"Guess what, NEITHER SHOULD YOU!"
"I take it you've spoke to Mr Grubs then." She chuckled weakly. "He really over reacts sometimes."
"Really, you think so?" Tanya stopped when she was in arm's reach of Joy. "You see, I thought he reacted rather well when he told me MY FRIKKIN' BEST FRIEND HAD CARTED HERSELF OFF TO SLEEP OVER AT MOTHER FUCKER OF ALL MURDERING BASTARDS!" Joy bolted to the left, desperate to get to the door, but Tanya rugby tackled her to the ground, heaped on her back. "What were you thinking!"
"Tanya, you don't understand!" Joy struggled with all her might, but Tanya was so much stronger than she was. It took no time at all for the ginger haired 24 year old to have her up on her knees, holding her hands together behind her back and refusing to let her go.
"Then enlighten me in the plane."
"No! I can't go with you!" Joy shouted, kicking her legs out in vain as she was dragged from under her arms backwards to the edge of the ring. "No! I want to stay!"
"You have obviously flipped your sane lid and need me to take you to a hospital for another one. Damn you! Why the hell would you do something crazy like this?"
"Because I chose to!" Tanya stopped dragging her just before the edge.
And unknown to her, just before Cell would not allow her to go any further, and release the Ki ball glowing on the tips of his two fingers, Frieza style.
"What!"
"I chose to come! And I choose to stay!" she trashed from one side to the other, wishing she wasn't so weak. So very, very weak… "I want to say…"
"Look at you Joy, you aren't even well!"
"I am fine." What did she mean by that? Not well? She doesn't look… Cell focused in on Joy's face…and scolded himself. How could I have missed the signs? Pale skin? Fatigue, half closed eyes, a quiet voice…she is suffering from malnutrition! He found his fists were clenched, and he had to force himself to relax them. But she hasn't said anything. She never said anything…
"No you're not Joy. Damn you, even if you were dying you would swear blind you were fit as a fiddle." Her eyes were watering and she pulled Joy up to hug her. They then both fell to the floor, to their knees heaped over each other in their embace.
"I'm alright, really."
"Cut the crap Joy." She hugged her tighter, and Joy slowly held her back. "You know I worry about you as it is. Always putting your neck on the line in the place of others. I bet that's it, isn't it? That's why you're here." She sniffled. "I bet you came here to plea for the lives of all those people Cell will kill if his Cell games continue on as planed, right? You've been begging and praying to him to spare us all. when our leaders haven't even got the balls to come half way as far as you, you put the worries of the world on your shoulders. Why!" she cried. "Why do you feel you have to do these things? You almost died last month. That fucking train was going to cut that man in half, that drug abusing son of a bitch that deserved to die! And you just jump right in there, right into the fucking fire…" she whimpered, Joy holding her head to her neck and stroking her back as she cried. "…that train almost got you instead. You are a good person, and you always try to save everyone."
"I do what I must. Some people save lives with medicine, others with diplomacy and documents, degrees, science, their fists…" she rested her cheek on her friend's head. "I just do what I can."
"But you've done enough! Letting yourself get killed and abused by cell isn't going to help people!" Tanya snapped her head up and began to beg again.
All the while, Cell was gripped to the conversation. "You don't have to do anymore. Let the police and armies and Special Forces and all those other trained people do the super things." She sobbed. "Don't risk your life again. When you were in hospital I thought I was you were going to die! Do you understand that Joy! You could have died!" she wailed. But Joy simply held her close, like a mother to a child, and cooed at her.
"Love is a wonderful thing. It is like the Nile. It starts as one great big river. Then, it ranches off into many different forms and into many different homes, helping to grow the fruits of the future."
"There are many different forms of love. Like the love a child holds for a favourite doll. She will hold it tight to her under the bed covers at night, talk to it and nurture it like a sister."
"I understood the risk."
"But you still took it!"
"I know. And I would do it again." Joy lifted her chin, and smiled warmly. "And I would take that risk for anyone. No matter if they were a drug user, or not. Hay." She cupped Tanya's face. "I would take that risk for you, happily."
"You would risk dying to save a life for anyone, wouldn't you." She sniffled.
"Yes. Anyone. Everyone deserves help and love and kindness. No matter if they are young or old, black or white, bad or good."
"Bad!" she snapped her head up. "You mean you would intentionally risk your life to save an evil person?" her eyes were wide, and she looked like she desperately wanted to be wrong.
"Yes. Especially if they are evil or bad. Because they're not really bad. There is a reason for everything. For every life choice and action. Sometimes the reasoning brings to light that that person you thought deserved to die, doesn't. Like that man you mentioned from the Yoko train station last month. Should I have let him die because he took drugs?"
"You shouldn't have died for him. He did that to himself, he might have been getting his comeuppance."
"What makes you think he did that to himself?" Tanya opened her mouth…but no sound came out. "Would you be so merciless if I told you that the reason he took heroin in the first place, is because his older brother did? And that he took them to be with his brother? Or maybe you wouldn't be so unforgiving, if I told you that the reason he was on the railway, was because he had starved himself of the drug so that his brother could have a fix in his place, because he loved him that much that he was willing to suffer in his place?"
"…I didn't think…"
"No, you didn't." Joy held her head to her chest and stroked her back. "There is a reason for everything in this world. And there are so many possibilities as to why a certain thing happens. Whether that be the physics behind why light is refracted, why a supernova took place, or why we can see the stars so brightly, when they are so far away. Why did you come after me?"
"Because you are my best friend. Practically my baby sister. Ever since we were little I have looked out for you. Ever since Uncle C-"
"Yes, I know." She seemed to be short of breath, but she collected herself.
Cell had never been so transfixed. "But you see? You had a reason too. You felt you needed to come to my rescue, to protect me as you always have. See, you have a reason for what you did. Why can't people who have done wrong have had a reason too? Is a thief evil?"
"…yeah."
"No. not if he was stealing to feed himself from dying, or for his family. If that was the case, would you still think he is evil?"
"…no. No I wouldn't."
"It is a shame, that more people don't think like that. They take one look and feel they know a person and what they are about. But every single person is more complex, that you could ever imagine. Each person has the potential to do so many wondrous things. Some people can calm, or ignite an explosive situation. Some people can same lives with their minds alone! How amazing is that? To be able to sit in a room, and create something out of nothing, that you know will save and assist people every day. I envy people like that, inventors, creators, doctors. And then there are people who are overlooked, and yet still do so much. Like the mother that raises that super child. The child that will grow up to be a fire-fighter and save lives. She is amazing too. Because if she didn't teach the child how to differentiate between right and wrong, how can they grow up to do marvellous things? And every touches another person's life without even meaning to. And all they need to do, is smile at a passer by, and they could be happy all day. For all they know, that person could have been suffering in pain, or mental anguish, or even just very depressed. And that single smile, could mean so much to them, it could change their life." She smiled down at her ginger haired friend tiredly, but her eyes were so wonderfully bright, Cell couldn't look away from them from behind the wall of the house. "I think there is so much good in every person, that it is worth trying to help them in any way. I feel it is my duty to do what I can for other people."
"Everyone, even evil people?"
"Yes." She sighed, sinking slightly.
"What about Cell?" At this, Cell dug his fingers into the side of the wall.
"What about him?" Tanya wiped her eyes and sniffled.
"Would you risk your life for Cell too? After all he has done? I wouldn't!"
"I would." Cell could have sworn his heart stopped. "Especially for Cell. I actually think, he needs help the most."
"But he is a murdering selfish bastard that doesn't care about anyone else! He kills as a hobby! He thinks this is one big game!" Tanya grabbed her arms and shook her slightly. "He will kill you too!"
"I know." She smiled softly. "He has told me he will kill me himself."
"Then I will get you out of here." She stood up.
"No."
"What?" Tanya dropped back down to her knees again. "But, but, but he said he will kill you! You have to leave! He is a murderer that doesn't care, he is evil, pure evil with no reasoning!"
"He has a reason."
"He does…? What is it?"
"I would be betraying his trust if I told you that." She chuckled weakly, and then swooned slightly. "Oh, sorry about that."
"Let me take you back with me, please."
"I can't…I won't leave him."
"What? Why? Why after all he has done!" her tired emerald eyes were starting to dim beneath her half closed eyelids.
"I will always be by his side. I will always forgive him, no matter what he has done, no matter what he will do, or is doing, I will always forgive him. I will never leave him. Never."
"But, but this isn't even healthy for you! Look at you damn it! You are ready to collapse!"
"There isn't exactly an ample supply of food left in the Cheer centre." She chuckled.
"Come on." Tanya pulled her up to her feet, and held her. Her legs were wobbling, but slowly she let her go.
"There, see? I am fine. Don't worry about me." Tanya watched as her angelic friend smiled dispite her own pain, and then…
"NO!"
Joy fell backwards and looked to be about to collapse on the floor.
But she never met the floor. "…oh my Kami…" it was him. Cell, that vile creature that had caused so much suffering, for all the world, and her semi conscious friend. The same friend…who was being cradled in his arms. Although, his face was black and void of any emotion or the slightest concern for the woman in his arms…he seemed to be holding her rather possessively.
"You will leave immediately." He said smoothly, almost boredly. But Tanya was stunned to the spot. "Did you hear me human? Leave, before I remove you from my sight forcedly."
"…no…let her go." She gulped, and stepped forward. "Please, please let her go. Take me instead." She took a deep breath, clothed her brown eyes and prepared for the worst.
"No." she opened her eyes in shock. "This is my human, my experiment, and to change any of the variables, especially the test subject, would severely effect my findings. Making them unreliable and bias." Tanya just blinked at him, and he raised an annoyed eyebrow. "I said no, human. I will not release her. Now leave. Before I make you."
"No I-"
"Tanya…please go." She stirred in his arms, but couldn't open her eyes. "Please…"
"But I can't leave you here!" she shouted to her. "Last time I left you alone with a guy, completely unsupervised, was when we were younger! And that's when-"
"Tanya." She said quickly. "Please just…just go and take care of yourself." Tanya's ginger head hung forward, and her shoulders shook.
"I will come back for you!" she shouted with tears streaming down her face, and ran from the ring for her life.
"I should have killed her."
"No…" Cell looked down on her with his magenta eyes, which weren't actually that cold anymore. "Thank you for not…not hurting her. Thank you." She tried to move in his arms. Cell noted out of the corner of his sharp eyes that Tanya had lifted off in her plane and had gone. "Oh I'm so sorry." She laughed, weakly. "I fell on you. I didn't even see you back." She forced herself to sit up in his arms.
"Joyce, you shouldn't move. You will deplete whatever energy you have left."
"I'm fine, really." She smiled, and tried to get down. But he shifted her back into place and started walking to the house.
"I said, stay still." He spat. "I gave you an order and I expect you to follow it. You are on my property after all." He walked inside, and refuses to acknowledge she is even there, in his arms!
Though his body refused to keep such knowledge and linked thoughts he was ashamed of from his mind, making him purse his lips together in an attempt to stop the thoughts from forming. Damn woman.
Damn, stupid woman.
Damn, stupid, selfless… his stride slowed down. Wise. He laid her down on her bed, and forced her under the cover.
"I don't need you to care for me again Cell, I'm fine." She smiled up at him, fighting to hold back tears of 'joy'.
"You may be able to lie, but your body can not." Intelligent. Concerned. He kept his voice aloof, as he created a Ki force field to keep her laid down in bed. He then walked off and left her, and flew on autopilot into the nearest town. He surrounded almost the entire supermarket's worth of food and medical products, and flew them back.
"What about Cell?"
"What about him?"
"Would you risk your life for Cell too? After all he has done? I wouldn't!"
"I would. Especially for Cell. I actually think, he needs help the most."
When she said that…something changed.
His opinion of her changed entirely.
When she first came here, she said she wanted to come and see him, talk to him. He made the arrangement for her to stay only for his own curiosity as to why she wasn't afraid of him.
He had never once questioned why she had come to 'see him' in the first place. Could she have come…simply to be my friend like she said? Does she think she can make me change my mind? She talked of love so much, of compassion and mercy, and seemed very upset when I told her I didn't feel…is that why she pities me so much. Does she really feel emotions are that important. He arrived back 'home' and separated the food into storage and the needed medicines to treat her. And with his infinite knowledge, he knew just how to tend to her. She
"There is a reason for everything in this world. And there are so many possibilities as to why a certain thing happens."
She thinks there is a reason for everything, for every choice we make and every action we take. Even 'evil people' as her friend put it. Crude creature…
Is that what she wants from me? My reason?
I thought I told her my reason. I killed to reach perfection and now fight and kill to prove I am the strongest being in the universe. I will not end my campaign for power here, I have told her I intend to travel to the next planet and hold my games all over the universe.
So she came to know my reason. Cell was now sat by her bed, having mixed feelings whether her being unconscious by the time he arrived was a good or bad thing. So if that is why she came… he looked to her as if analysing her serene face for the answer to his question. Then why are you still here Joyce. Why did you stay? Why didn't you run for safety after learning I will not stop. Why are you still here?
"I will always be by his side. I will always forgive him, no matter what he has done, no matter what he will do, or is doing, I will always forgive him. I will never leave him. Never."
Such loyalty…to a villain. To the destruction of your race, of everything. Why Joyce? What makes you so hell bent on staying with me…
Staying with me…
Why?