Chapter 24

"Who's idea was it again?" the Grand Minister asked Whis.

"My Lord Beerus Grand Minister." Whis answered respectfully. He had decided it was best to leave both Lord Beerus and Goku on Universe 7's Planet of the Kais, the last thing he wanted was the two of them bickering.

"I never expected Beerus to be concerned about anyone other than himself." the Grand Minister remarked thoughtfully.

"Ohohoho, right!" Whis laughed delightfully. "Though I wouldn't say he is doing it to safe Judith, more to keep me from neglecting his never ending appetite."

The Grand Minister seemed to have not heard anything Whis had said. He sighed before speaking. "I have come to a decision Whis. This will be the last time I interfere. I see now that there is no use in fighting fate and I cannot see another universe in ruins because of my selfishness. I have come to terms with the events that will no doubt follow, but I see that you have not yet done the same." He paused to look at Whis. "I will not stop you from doing what you feel is best, but do not put too much faith in your plan, I doubt it will change anything."

Whis considered the Grand Minister for a moment before saying: "Very well. Thank you for your time Grand Minister." Whis bowed respectfully. "Till we meet again."

The Grand Minister nodded in acknowledgement. Whis disappeared a second later.

… Universe 10 Planet of the Kais …

Zamasu stared down at the 2 potara ear rings that lay in the palm of his hand. The red colour appeared to be invading the entirety of each crystal.

Judith's energy signal had returned a few hours ago and he could once again sense her as easily as he could sense Gowasu sitting in the next room. Though this brought some relieve to him, he could not help but be concerned about what had happened to his Judith, one moment she was there and the next, she was replaced by that empty darkness.

He had tried in vain to leave. Gowasu was watching him like a hawk after the incident on Barbarie and felt the need to remind him of his wrong doing as often as possible. Whenever this happened, Zamasu simply blocked him out and thought of Judith, safely nestled his arms, her body warm against his.

"Zamasu?" Gowasu's voice floated in from the other room. "Is the tea ready yet?"

Zamasu's face contorted in annoyance before he answered. "Nearly Master. One cannot rush perfection." His voice betraying nothing of his feelings. He could not wait to be rid of him.

… Planet Venera …

"It must have been some storm Judith." Fizz said from the kitchen. "Even the china is broken in the cupboards."

Judith choked on the sip of water she had just taken. 'Oh crap!' she did not think about the glassware in the cupboards… if the windows were cracked, of course the china would be as well.

Judith cleared her throat before answering weakly. "Oh yes! It was something…" Her mind flashed back to Zamasu taking her viciously… "Yes it was an incredible storm…" Their bodies moving against each other… "Like nothing I've ever experienced before…" Their lips meeting with unbridled passion… "So…very…delish-" she caught herself just in time. "-destructive." She finished swallowing hard. Little Miss Judy was in turbo mode, running around inside her head. How could she be thinking of that after she now knew the truth of her past?

Fizz listened to her feeble excuse wondering if she was talking about the storm or of… something else… He desperately tried not to think of what might have transpired in his absence, she was like his sister after all.

An awkward silence had fallen over the cabin, the only sound was the wood crackling in the fire place. Judith's instinctively grabbed her chest and her mark, the sharp shooting pain comforting her.

Fizz had returned from the kitchen and looked at her quizzically. He saw her hand clutching at her chest. Judith's eyes caught Fizz's as he looked back up at her face. If it were in any other circumstances, he would have found the guilty look on her face comical.

"It would appear that someone should have hit me on the head sooner." Judith said trying to sound light hearted but failing miserably. She wanted to be alone. All her memories had come flooding through, as if someone had open the flood gate to her mind and although her head was barraged with image after forgotten image, there was one thought that was ever present: Zamasu.

Judith knew she was still missing something and Zamasu must be the one thing that would tie everything together. She stared into the flames, contemplating just how she would ditch Fizz, when she suddenly realized that she no longer had to pretend in front of him, no need for her to stand on ceremony. She knew him, she grew up with him and for all intents and purposes, he was her brother.

"I need to be alone right now Fizz." She said a little more forcefully than she intended. "And although there is nothing that I would like to do more to play catch-up with you…" her voice had turned sarcastic and bitter, "my head is splitting." It was true she had a million questions, but she was also livid. She was made to look like a fool by the people who were supposedly her family. If she had any sort of strength left, she would have physically launched herself at the smug looking bastard sitting opposite her and strangle him with her bare hands.

"I don't know wh-" Fizz started to say.

"If you say I don't know what you're talking about, Fizz, I swear to hell and high water, I will seriously mess up your perfect composure!" Her raised voice caused her head to thud mercilessly and black spots invaded her vision, but the last thing she could endure, is Fizz patronizing her.

Fizz looked at her calmly, although he felt an all too familiar chill run up his spine. He had only seen her this angry once before and it did not bode well for anyone who found themselves in her immediate surrounding.

"Very well then." Fizz said. "Would you like to me leave the cabin or the planet?" he asked seriously.

Judith felt her annoyance grow. "Don't be childish!" she said angrily. "I just meant that I will be retiring to my room." As soon as she said it, a new flood of images overpowered her troubled mind… Zamasu. 'Snap out of it!' Little Miss Judy yelled angrily. 'Now is not the time to be thinking about… THAT.'

"I was NOT being childish!" Fizz said defensively. "It's called being polite." He got up from the couch and approached Judith where she was attempting to get up. "And speaking of politeness…" he placed a hand underneath her arm to help her up, "… would you like me to bring you something? Something to eat or drink?" He paused he let go of her arm to see if she can maintain her balance. "An aspirin?" he asked sarcastically.

Judith shot him the best murderous look she could muster with her out of control headache. The result was her losing her balance and Fizz catching her just as she was about to face plant. Grudgingly she felt herself being lifted of the ground and carried toward her room.

"Why don't I just help you to bed and then I'll leave you alone…" Fizz sighed as he carried her, the last time he needed to physically lift her she was 3 years old… "Although I have absolutely no desire to be in your room…" he said more softly and felt Judith tense in his grasp.

'Did he know?!' Judith felt the heat rise to her face as she blushed profusely. 'Don't be silly Judith! How would he know?' Judith decided it was best to just squeeze her eyes closed and not look at Fizz. She felt him place her on the bed gently and before she could open them, he was already out of the room and standing in the doorway.

"Thank you." Judith mumbled her gratitude as she sunk into her pillow.

"Call you if you need anything Judy." Fizz said and walked off, chuckling in the direction of the kitchen. Judith's face contorted in annoyance at her nickname.

Judith could still smell Zamasu on her bedsheets… only hours before he was lying here next to her, doing… unspeakable things to her… She glided her hand over the sheets lovingly. But all of that had to wait… she needed to restore some manner of organization to her shattered mind. She closed her eyes as she lay on her back and started to pick up the fragments of her consciousness.

Meanwhile, Fizz had retaken his seat in the living room when his staff started flashing. 'Who would be bothering now?' Reluctantly he answered the incoming call to discover none other that Whis looking back at him.

"Fizz." Whis acknowledged him. "I'm just calling to give you fair warning that we are en-route to Planet Venera and will arrive there in approximately 10 minutes and 27 seconds…"

"You call that fair warning Whis!" Fizz exclaimed angrily, jumping to his feet. "You know full well I have nothing to serve Lord Beerus!"

"Oh well…" Whis said winking at Fizz. "Why don't you improvise?" Before Fizz could say anything else, Whis had disappeared and the countdown began.