Chapter 28

~Take me away ~

Having to get rid of her guests had proven challenging to say the least. After arriving back at the cabin, Judith had gingerly entered through the patio doors from the porch. Fizz immediately punced on her, scowling her for sneaking out of the window and Whis was desperately plaguing her for re-assurance regarding her life choices (as if it were any of his business) and Lord Beerus couldn't care less about any of it. Judith once again resorted to her excellent acting skills and manged to feign regret for Fizz and sated Whis with empty promises of righteousness to ensure peace. Fortunately, she managed to convince them.

She was exhausted, that at least wasn't a lie, and excused herself from Fizz's company soon after Whis, Lord Beerus and Goku departed. She found the fire was still burning in the hearth and noticed that all of the window panes were fixed, no doubt Whis's handywork, the result being that her room was toasty warm. She barely made it to the bed, collapsing face first onto it and almost immediately fell asleep. Judith could still smell Zamasu on the sheets, his scent a soothing balm to her breaking heart.

… Universe 10, Planet of the Kais …

"Zamasu? Are you even listening to me?" Gowasu asked exasperated.

"Mmmh? What?" Zamasu said, blinking rapidly a few times as if waking from a dream.

"Zamasu!" Gowasu scowled his young apprentice. "This is the third time you have lost focus today. What is it that demands your attention to such an extent to divert you from your training?" Gowasu asked in a more even tone.

It is true, Zamasu had been having difficulty concentrating on any specific task since his return from Master Zuno, his mind constantly returning to the magical Super Dragonballs and the information Zuno provided regarding one insulant saiyan. He had slept very little that night and had devised the perfect plan, fool prove and guaranteed to succeed. It would ensure that divine justice was served throughout the multiverse. There was just one fatal flaw that he could not overlook… Judith.

As much as he wanted to fulfil his resolve to cure the multiverse of its fatal flaws, he could not bring himself to involve Judith in its execution, knowing what be required to realize his ideals. He could not taint her soul with the necessary death of millions, he would take the consequences upon himself, but he could neither bare the think of a life without her. No matter how ever which way he turned it, the outcome stayed the same, he would have to give up Judith and the thought alone was enough to drive him mad. How is it that he could have one but not the other?

"Master Gowasu?" Zamasu looked at the old Kai questioningly, as if he had not heard his master;;s previous question. "Have you ever found yourself at cross roads in your lifetime?"

Gowasu had not expected this. "Off-course." The old Kai responded. "I have had to make many such life altering decisions in the course of my life-time. Why do you ask?" Immediately intrigued.

Zamasu was quiet for a moment, contemplating whether or not it would be wise to pose his questions to him. Zamasu kept his eyes on the cup of tea in front of him. "How did you know which was the right path to take?"

Gowasu chuckled. "Well, I didn't. I simply chose to trust my heart and followed it."

Zamasu almost sneered openly. He had foolishly forgotten that his master e=was beyond naïve. Off-course he would 'follow his heart'.

"Did you not use the time ring to verify of your decision was correct?" Zamasu asked, careful to keep the snarl from his voice. "Would it not have been wise to use its time travelling capabilities to surmise with path to take?"

Gowasu eyes him seriously as he spoke. "The ring cannot reveal the future of the one that wears it. It is subjective. Besides, that is not the purpose of the ring. I believe I already explained that to you." He continued to watch his apprentice closely.

"I see." Was all Zamasu said.

"Your future is not preordained Zamasu, it is shaped by the decisions you make in the present. I said before, tampering with time is highly dangerous, thus the time rings remain securely locked away, for use only by the Supreme Kai." Gowasu saw a frown appear on Zamasu's brow.

"Perhaps I should rephrase my question then." Zamasu said, trying this time to keep in mind Gowasu's naïtivity. " How do you choose between what you know is right and what your heart tells you is right?"

"Why can't it be both?" Gowasu asked, oblivious to Zamasu's predicament. :The heart of a Kai always directs him toward what is right. It should not be cross road at all." Gowasu took a sip of his tea, relieved that it was still crystal clear. Zamasu sighed in frustration at his answer. Picking up on his irate expression Gowasu continued. "Do you find yourself at a cross road Zamasu? Is that what is keeping your mind occupied?"

A flash of Judith's naked body pressed against his chest flashed before his eyes. "Not exactly, no." He answered sheepishly.

"Then what is it my boy?" Gowasu asked patiently, taking another sip of his tea.

Without thinking Zamasu answered him truthfully. "I discovered my heart's most desperate desire. Something I know I cannot live without." Gowasu saw raw emotion pass behind Zamasu's eyes. "If I take the path my mind tells me is right, I will lose the latter."

For the briefest of moments Gowasu considered asking his apprentice if this life altering decision had something to do with Judith, instead, he found himself asking something entirely different and unexpected. "And what does your heart tell you Zamasu?"

Zamasu's eyes shot up.

… Planet Venera …

The calm that Judith felt last night was quickly diminished in the cold light of day. She thought that she would be able to brave the storm that was coming and would be able to do what needed to be done without faltering. It appeared everything seemed possible when shrouded in darkness.

The brace face, the calm and collected façade truly came crashing down when she felt a all to familiar tuck at her heart followed by a shift in the air. She felt him before she actually saw him and when their eyes finally met, her world faded. Without knowing what she was doing her feet had started carry her toward him.

Zamasu appeared in the edge of the lake, almost at the same spot he had had to say goodbye to her yesterday, but unlike yesterday, he was less conflicted about the future. He saw her standing on the porch and any doubts that he still harboured, vanished the moment his eyes met her unfathomable cognat eyes. He watched as she started to move toward him, slow at first, but then with more urgency and soon she was all but running to him. He found himself also moving, desperate for his touch. The distance between them could not be closed soon enough, but when it was, she ran straight into his arms. He caught her effortlessly and crushed her body against his, holding her as if his life depended on it. Both breathing heavily, Zamasu buried his face into her neck, breathing in her scent, it was like oxygen to his lungs. Judith could barely breath and it was not because Zamasu had her in a vice grip.

In the distance, Judith heard the patio doors explode and knew Fizz was not far behind. Judith spoke in a breathless whisper. "Take me away from here."

Zamasu did not hesitate for a second as spoke against her neck. "Kai Kai."

And they were gone.

… Planet Venera, The Cabin on the Lake …

Fizz glanced through the window at Judith leaning against the railing of the porch. She was behaving most admirably since she had come back the previous night. Fizz thought she looked almost at peace, but that could also have been because she was probably exhausted.

They had had breakfast in an awkward silence, neither one them sure what to say to the other, despite the fact that Judith's memory had been fully restored. She had considered asking him after the Grand Minister, the man was for all intents and purposes the closest thing she had to a father, but decided against it, as the anger she felt yesterday was still to close the surface. In the end all that could be heard was the scraping of china. Afterward, Judith had politely excused herself to the porch.

Fizz felt ill at ease at Judith's calm demeanour, she was taking this too well. Sure she was initially pissed, who wouldn't be, but her anger had seemed to vanish in a matter of hours. That could only mean that she was either the most forgiving person in the cosmos or she had suppressed it, the latter being true cause for concern. Despite the fact that she was a walking talking ticking time bomb, her tendency to turn 'evil' as it were only added to the possible collateral damage that would be inflicted when she decided to 'blow'.

It was a far off sense that grew stronger at a rapid rate that pulled Fizz out of his reprieve. Out of the corned of his eye, he saw Judith starting to move as if in trance just as the overwhelming sense of Zamasu's Ki hit him.

He was on his feet in seconds, storming through the patio doors, destroying them in the process. He was just in time to see Judith in Zamasu's embrace and a split second later, they were both gone.

"Dammit all to the 7th circle of hell." He said out loud in frustration. It was no use trying to follow his energy signal. Even with his speed, he had no hope of catching up to Zamasu.

'It is done.' He thought. 'No point in panicking. She knows what is right We just have to trust her'.' Fizz groaned at the prospect of informing Whis and Lord Beerus regarding Judith's whereabout, but it had to be done. 'Well let's get it over with.' He thought, and without further pause Fizz grabbed his staff and made the call.

To his surprise it was Lord Beerus that answered in his gruff voice. "Call back later, he's busy."

Fizz rolled his eyes. 'Busy making you lunch no doubt.' He thought before speaking. "I am terribly sorry to have to disturb you Lord Beerus but is it possible to speak to my brother please, it is a matter of urgency."

"He is elbows deep in soy sauce. Call back later." Lord Beerus reiterated boredly.

'I knew it!' Fizz thought triumphantly before continuing. "I would have Lord Beerus, but this concerns Judith."

As if Fizz had spoken a magic word, Whis appeared beside Lord Beerus, stir-fry pot in hand. "What had happened?" he asked.

"Oooooh… that smells divine." Lord Beerus commented, nose twitching in the direction of the pot.

Both angels ignored him as Fizz spoke. "It had happened." Fizz said solemnly. "He came for her. They are gone."