LEAPING MOUNTAINS
written by State Hopper

CHAPTER SIX
(Flash backs written in Italics)


TWO WEEKS FOLLOWING THE DEMISE OF CELL.


"I was bringing you your damn lunch!" I knelt down to collect the broken bits of plate. "If you want to spar with someone bloody well find Goku."

"He's collecting those blasted dragon ball's…"

"Yeah, and you should be helping." I stood up.

"Why? I couldn't care less if he's wished back or not." Re-adjusting the china in my hands I sighed before speaking.

"Look I came out here because... well I wanted to tell you that I'm considering moving into the city - more into the city I mean. Get a job, my own place all that..." he stared at me "... look how else would Trunks exist?"

"What you suggesting? That I would bed with that loud mouth?"

"Oh give it a rest Vegeta, I don't really think it matters to you unless you're getting what you want." His shoulders tightened "I want to start over… and ironically, try to live a semi-normal life."

"It's not a curse you stupid woman, it's what makes us better than the rest of them."

"I don't care if it does, it doesn't mean anything to me. I'm not gonna ostracize myself just because you say it's my duty. You're the one who'll still be in this room come twenty years."

He sneered "Pity the rest of you isn't as strong as your mouth."

"Just open the door."

"No."

Clenching my jaw, I dumped the china back to the floor. "Fine... I'll do it myself." Approaching the panel, he stepped out in front of me. "Get outta my way alright."

"Fight me and I'll let you go."

"I'm not playing Vegeta."

"Neither am I."

"Christ sake, just open the bloody do-" he didn't allow me to finish my sentence, I think that was what caught me off guard. Skidding across the tiling I came to an abrupt halt against the arched chamber wall. Touching the side of my face, I hissed at the heat. "You spiteful prick! I said no!"

"Hmph." he walked to but a few inches from my reach "Are you scared of me?" Bringing a clubbed fist down on his foot, I grunted through a grit of teeth. It didn't phase him, in fact I think he was appreciative. Pulling me up by the scruff of my neck, I winced as Vegeta pressed his forearm to my collar bone.

"Now," he handled my jaw "you say to me that you're normal." Staring him in the eye I felt the anger in me well up, the heat of his breath beating against my lips, thighs against mine. Digging my nails in, I replied. His retort came in the form of a very panicky sort of kiss. Pushing into me harder, my right arm was grappled behind my back. I went hurriedly into the crook of his neck, in turn having the string tugged from my pants. He kissed me over and over, even as my body was thrust up against the wall, he kissed me. We didn't speak once during those ten odd minutes, so much time had passed and yet this had always been the inevitable meeting point; pressed to a wall and biting at our lips. It was a strange sensation and it all felt a little less than real, how I tried to imagine a body with imperfections. He coughed out a cry near the end, and I kissed him on the upper of his face, and I wondered if it meant anything to him, if it had been a statement or just instinct.

"You hurt Vegeta," I hit the release lock "in a way that makes being around you not worth the memories."

"Hmph... it is what makes us stronger" he turned away "more powerful."

"Well I'm not like you..." I glanced at my watch "look forget it... I'll be back later this evening."

"Woman!" he shouted after me.

"What!"

"... I hope they reject you, I detest the city."


(15:55 Monday)

Turning on the kettle, I opened the local press to 'Vacancies' though I wasn't entirely sure what I was looking for. I merely got one page skimmed before a set of murmurs swept down the hall. Folding up the crinkled newspaper I shoved it into the rubbish bin, hoping I might be able to grab my coffee and get upstairs before they entered, I was wrong.

"Hi Ardin!" Goku smiled over Vegeta's shoulder. Waving a little, he pulled back one of the table chairs before heavily sitting down. Vegeta looked at me for a moment before studying the telephone hitched on the wall. I had worked for 'Missy's Cafe for almost five years and now like an old pair of shoes they'd dismissed me for a newer brand!

"What did you do now?" Vegeta ran the torn cord through his fingers.

"I got laid off."

"Bah, lucky for you the tournament's next Sunday" closing the cupboards, I chose not to answer. "Sure, I guess when I beat Kakarott you won't want any of the prize money."

"How come they fired you?" Goku questioned.

"Bought out. They'll hire their own staff "

Vegeta grunted "Hmph. You're more of a push-over than Kakarott sometimes."

"I provide!" I shot at him "I'm the provider here, not you." Nothing was said for a few moments. Vegeta just looked me dead in the eye, his expression set like stone. Spreading both hands out across the table top he rose from his chair to exit in complete silence. For Vegeta to leave without so much as a retorted insult was worse than if he'd screamed the house down. Acknowledging a brief vibration throughout the floor boards, I turned toward the sink in an effort not to cry

"Goku, maybe you should go" I pulled the plug from the basin "Let Chichi know I'll pick up Track at four, and if you see Vegeta tell him there's some quiche in the fridge."

"Ardin..."

"What?"

"Don't be sad, I don't like it."

"Well it's a little hard not to be." I adjusted my handbag, as he tapped my elbow. "Don't," I pushed his hand away, "stop talking like this." I could feel the heat of his body radiating throughout me, breath rolling down over my forehead. Looking up at him I felt his shadow envelope, gathering at me like a child in need of comfort. Needless to say Goku was a middle aged healthy man, but he seemed the most unlikely character to posses that universal mortal trait we all endorsed, lust. I'll admit that I had always found him attractive, I longed at times for his carefree voice. It was at that moment that Vegeta's own voice shot like an arrow through my head, where I recalled the last kiss he'd given me. It was a Friday, around the end of last month. I was reading a book called 'Triple Fields', (a so-so Author I always forget the name of) the lamp was on and the time was late. Vegeta woke up, rolled over and kissed my forearm, he never said why. Feeling my chest tighten Goku adjusted his grip, I wanted to hurt Vegeta in the only way that I knew how.

Pushed against the refrigerator our fingers shot into gaps of clothing, hands roaming with want for further intrusion. It wasn't my friend that was doing this to me, it was someone who cared enough to stay behind and ask. To take me back and tell me 'things were never as bad as they seemed'. Intensifying, Goku writhed for friction against the rise of my hip, that familiar throb inching its way across my body. Watching the ceiling fan I felt him stoop in an effort to kiss the under of my jaw, hands tugging at material as fingers found the skin beneath. It became awkward, his right hand attempting at his belt while the other clutched at the small of my back. His height made me uncomfortable, I felt smothered as I couldn't see his face.

Slipping an arm free from his clothing I felt both knees bend into me. "Do you love me?" he breathed aside my ear. Staring across at the microwave I tried to process this ridiculous question, where everything suddenly became a little cluttered. The hum in his voice, the crumpling grocery list and struggle in our chests. Closing my eyes, I reveled in the heat of him for three more seconds.

"No."

Straightening his back, he looked down at me "I didn't kiss you just because it was nice... Ardin?"

I pushed away "please go Goku... please." I didn't watch him leave, I'd be stuck with the memory if I had. I felt sick, hot in the face and tight all over. Lying on our bed I stressed myself into a strange and broken sleep, only to be woken by the creaking of the door. Sitting up I focused passed the bulb in the hall, to where Vegeta's silhouette slowly became clearer. "It's seven O'clock" He stated "It's passed dinner." He looked tired, not so much as in a lack of sleep, but tired of life. Slamming across the door I listened as he retreated back down the hall, and wondered if he even thought to imagine.

(10:00 Tuesday)

I could barley contemplate looking him in the eye. I kept running last afternoon through my head, what had been said but more importantly, done. Vegeta was a good man at heart, he was when I first kissed him and he was now. In my quieter moments I had thought that Vegeta's personal confliction made him a better collected person than you or I, he worked like a dog each day to overcome his urges, we didn't have the memories to burden us. For that reason I respected his space and liberties.

Rinsing away the soap I felt a chill sweep into the shower cubical, where through misty glass I watched a dark shape bend over the basin. "You never went grocery shopping." Vegeta mumbled. "He took money for the canteen." Turning off the water, I tied my towel and stepped out into the cool air. Steam had fogged the mirror though we would have cast no reflection. My stomach felt but as big as a one-cent piece, crushing down and down till nothing was left at all. Shifting my hand into the space between us, white cotton fell for nothing to be said. He stared at me, those little lines forming in between his eyes. I wanted him to yell without exception, to call me an idiot and fool - but he didn't, and so I closed my eyes. I felt wicked compensating my own guilt by using him. It took only a few seconds before I was shoved up against the cold bathroom wall. We were actors; this wasn't making love but merely a way of saying 'things were okay'.

Feeling swift penetration I coughed out a cry. We didn't speak to one and other, no words of comfort or affection, only a rise and fall of breath. Leaning my head back against the tiles, his face lay hidden in the swoop of my neck. Buried away like a dragon ball. I ached for his release, but I didn't stop the thrusts. I was the horse on the merry go round - up and down and firm against his groin. Crying out, his fingers dug into my flesh and lungs rapidly expanded. Not once did he look me in the eye, even as he with drew - and that was that. The mirror had now cleared itself, and yet there was only a stranger. Someone I use to know... someone synthetic... you bitch. I waited a few moments feeling sick inside all the while. Hearing the cutlery draw jam shut from down the hall, I headed toward the kitchen.

Stopping at the breakfast counter, I watched his elbows move in and out. "Don't be like that."

"Like what?" He rinsed his cup.

"Don't treat me that way"

"You let me. So why should I care."


"It's almost seven" he yawned, "... you look healthy this morning."

I quirked a brow at him "And so do you," he adjusted my pillow, "I guess it helps me tolerate you."


"What's wrong with you Vegeta?" He glanced back at me "where's you're bloody war!"

"You are my war!" he snapped "I fight every day to break away... to return to how I was. With you I may as well be human!"

"During whatever time before were you so incredibly happy, so damn content! What makes you think you'll even be better without us! Better alone... " he began to turn "I think it's just easier you know... to get what you want with force than ever lowering yourself to a moments compassion. Vegeta it isn't a defect... it's bloody normal."

(14:22 Thursday)

She must have heard something along the grapevine - it'd been weeks since she'd called in. Out on the patio we sat, thus meant a clumsy wooden table on a cracked stone courtyard.

"What a lousy jerk" Eighteen muttered, "Leave."

"He isn't like that all the time."

"Half the time is bad enough. I don't know how you stand it." Even after all these years she still hated him as he hated her. Gatherings were a disaster and mostly avoided. I had been fairly close to Eighteen since her relationship with Krillian. She was a smart woman, possessing a rare form of blunt sarcasm and dark humour that I always found refreshing.

"Who's got Marron?"

"She's napping, Krillian's watching her."

"Hm. She'll be sixteen before you know it."

"Have you heard anything from him lately?" Eighteen asked.

"Who?"

"Sixteen."

"No, you?"

"He contacted Bulma's father for repairs" she paused "... about a month ago. He's still living with that ranger family over on Mt. Yosh. I think they feel safer all the way up there, what with him around." I could hear children in the distance, a band of them walking passed the large high-grade fence that surrounded Capsule Corporation. Sometimes I would stand out on the back porch and watch them go by, often they would wave.

"I guess you heard." She nodded at me, and took another sip of tea.

"What are you going to do, is 'he' going to help?"

"Vegeta, work? Unlikely," I sighed "I'll hunt like mad I guess, I am starting to get a little freaked though. There wasn't much in the account to begin with."

For a further hour we talked, moaned and drank two more cups of tea, raiding the cookie jar till near empty. Rubbing my forearm I shuddered in acknowledgment to a drop in temperature. With a furtive glance to the west, Eighteen smiled."Why don't you wait, it's going to rain. Wait inside" I offered

"Marron will be up soon. I'll see you on Sunday okay." With a flash of light, I watched as she faded into the distance. Leaning back in my chair, I stared out over the garden. There was a black cat amongst the blue-bells, meowing to the nuisance of impending rain fall. Smiling across at it, someone cleared their throat from behind my garden fence.

"How long have you been there?" I swiveled in my seat.

"I didn't mean to interrupt." Frowning slightly I rose from beneath the patio umbrella. Proceeding to walk back toward my open door, where white curtains fluttered out into the weather.

"Hurry up, you're getting wet." I ushered him into the living room.

"Ardin I haven't said anything if that's what you're thinking..."

"Obviously, I don't think I'd be able to dismiss Chichi's lynch mob. Look why are you here?"

"I haven't heard from you."

"Was I meant to call?"

"Why'd you even kiss me?"

"What? Christ I dunno. I dunno why... you're my friend, but as much as Vegeta and I fight I love him, and you love her... hell, why'd you kiss me?"

(Later that evening)

It was almost six O'clock and like any seven year old boy Track rambled out story after story from his day. Nodding as often as I could, I repeated such phrases as 'Uh huh' 'Is that so' and 'Really'.

"Mom I almost forgot! You hafta' come to my school tomorrow? Goten's Mom is, can you ask dad?" I didn't know what he was talking about and my expression showed it.

"Is this a parent teachers evening? Again?"

"Yip!" Placing the chicken on the table, I rubbed at my brow. I wasn't entirely in the mood to attend a parents teachers evening. Last year it had been awful. Usually at such occasions Vegeta would merely stand in the corner, quite and indifferent, but more than often he wouldn't come at all. As for last year, everything Mr. Dash said Vegeta had some negative quip. In the end we were simply asked us to leave.

"Is there a news letter about this?"

"It's in my bag"

"I can bet you didn't get that today." Wiping both hands on my apron which read 'love me - I feed you' he waited. "Okay, but I don't think your father can come."

"Aw mom, why?"

"He just can't. Now you go and tell him dinner's ready." Sitting down at the table, I waited, and waited and waited for about five minutes. It wasn't a huge table so even though Vegeta and I sat opposing one and other, my feet were almost touching his. Placing a leg of chicken on my plate, I leaned over to place a couple of wings on Tracks.

"Why don't I get a big piece, I wanna big piece" he whined.

"When you are an adult you can get what you like" he muttered something and glanced at his father, who, purely disinterested, was serving himself some potato.

"Yuck! Mom you always cook the things I hate. I hate peas-"

"Blast it!" Vegeta cussed "if you don't be quite boy, you can go straight to bed hungry!" Nothing was said for about two to three minutes, but on looking above my water glass, Vegeta lowered his utensils.

"What did Kakarott want?" he tapped his plate.

"Nothing, why?"

"What did you talk about?"

"The tournament..." I shrugged "just the tournament."


TO BE CONTINUED...