The light shifted in the small, rosy-pink room, washing all in a lilac hue as the seafoam green curtains fluttered inward, cooling Raditz's sweat-beaded skin. He opened his eyes, sliding one arm under Launch to lift her up as she seemed to be sliding off of his lap. Launch's head fell back and he caught it with his other hand, watching her slack expression with widened eyes.
"Launch?! Launch?!"
Becoming frantic with the lack of her response, he stood up quickly, cradling her in his arms. His heart began to race as he turned around, feeling lost on what to do. Raditz eyed his scouter gathering dust on the bedside table and picked it up. He examined it with a frown then wiped the dust off quickly on his black t-shirt and put it on.
Raditz gazed down at Launch, clicking the button on the side, and seeing with relief that it still worked. She had a power level of 1299, and it was quickly descending. Raditz grit his teeth and glanced around then found her discarded towel on the floor and used it to carefully wipe the blood from her thighs, his expression becoming more pained when a small stream of fresh blood flowed down her thigh.
I must get her medical attention, before... I lose her! He headed for the dresser, pulling the drawer out onto the floor in his panic, her brightly colored clothes spilling onto the floor. He grabbed a light green dress and pulled it over her head quickly to cover her, then flew out the window with his injured mate in his arms. Raditz grimaced as he increased his speed, heading towards the large gathering of energy on his scouter.
Civilization, the populace must have a medical center! Raditz looked down at Launch's sleeping face and stroked her hair. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you get taken care of, I promise..." He whispered, then his eyes widened as he felt a startling tingling sensation in the base of his own skull. Shaking his head, he growled at the odd intrusion. Someone was testing his mental barriers. He watched Launch's indigo brows furrow, then her power level suddenly skyrocketed. His mouth fell open with the revelations he was seeing.
1299...1300...1345...1359...1400! Launch never showed this type of rise in power before, besides during her awakening, but I didn't have my scouter then-
RADITZ?
His thoughts were interrupted as he heard her telepathic shout in his mind.
Launch!? Yes, I hear you!
Take me to Bulma… She can take care of me! Please, hurry!
Yes, right away! He thought back to her, his resolve hardening furthermore as he felt more warm blood trickling down his arm. Raditz inhaled, recalling the fruity scent of Bulma that didn't appeal to him as much as it did Vegeta. He found it, then exhaled sharply and rocketed himself forward, clutching Launch tightly to his chest. The rumbling of his intense power surge crackled through the atmosphere, and soon he became a streak across the sky, full bore towards Capsule Corps.
…
Vegeta was getting changed when suddenly he felt an enormous energy rocketing towards his location. Upon noticing this feeling, he blinked and attempted to discern what it was. Without the use of his scouter, he was becoming more accustomed to sensing out the natural energies in the world, and this one felt oddly familiar. It feels like Raditz and his hair-changing harlot… Strange, their combined energy seems awfully high... He pulled a white t-shirt fully over his torso and turned towards the window, furrowing his brows.
What's that fool doing? Hurtling towards her house at such a ridiculous speed, he's going to-! It was too late. As Vegeta slapped his hand over his forehead, the neighboring wall crumbled in with a great shudder of the building.
"Fucking idiot!" He hissed, then sensed another interesting thing - Raditz's ki seemed erratic, which was unlike him. Vegeta stormed out of the bedroom towards the empty guest wing where he came upon Raditz, halting the determined man's charge with one hand. Raditz brushed his hand off like it was nothing, not caring to exchange niceties in his hurry.
"Move, Vegeta! I must get Launch medical attention! Where is Bulma?"
"Oh, the woman? She was in the shower last I heard, I think she was-" He said, then stiffened.
"Raditz? What are you doing here?! Launch! Oh my gosh, she's bleeding! Come on, hurry!" Bulma ran over to Raditz and took his hand, cupping one hand over her mouth and looking away from the bloody scene as she pulled him with a surprising amount of strength towards a shiny metal door. Vegeta stood statue-stiff as she turned back and glared at him.
"Come on, Vegeta! We'll talk about you listening in on my shower habits later!" She growled, and he came forward quickly, gulping as Bulma grasped his hand and pulled him at the same time as she pushed Raditz into the small room. Once all were inside, she clicked the button to go directly to the medical wing, then another button that signaled an emergency with a red glow. The elevator suddenly became lit red with blinking lights, the loud warning alarms blaring.
Launch awoke from all the commotion, blinking her deep violet eyes wearily.
"Launch, you're awake! We're getting you some help." Raditz said softly while brushing one hand over her hair.
"We're almost there, hold on!" Bulma said as she led Raditz quickly to the medical wing, nearly knocking over the panicked doctor that had been called over by the emergency signal.
"Ms. Briefs, bring her into the room immediately, what's the issue?"
Raditz looked around warily, then nodded, trusting them to care for Launch.
"She's bleeding... from her womb."
The surgeon nodded. There was no time to argue over details as they carted him into the room, and he set Launch onto the bed.
"Everyone clear out, please." A nurse announced as the surgeon and his assistants flocked into the room and began inspecting Launch. Bulma pulled on his arm to remove Raditz from the room, but he was an impenetrable wall of hard muscle.
"You must allow the medics to assist her." Vegeta said sternly, and to Bulma's surprise, placed one hand on the other Saiyan's back and gave him a small push. Raditz complied, giving Launch one last look before the door closed behind them, the talking of the nurses muffled as they worked to stop the bleeding and find the cause.
Raditz followed Vegeta to the sitting area nearby, where they sat down. Bulma looked back nervously, twiddling her fingers as she panicked about how to broach the subject. "Raditz, can you tell me what happened to Launch before she began bleeding?"
Raditz's face paled, then he rested his head in his hands and sighed deeply.
"It was…perhaps the movement of the Planets that brought forth her Gemini blood, their alignment is what I'd assume to be unnatural for this planet?" He asked, looking at Vegeta who seemed to subtly shrug, unfazed by the solar event.
"Haven't you watched the news?! Yes, it's incredibly unnatural!"
Vegeta swallowed, looking towards the large floor-length windows, narrowing his eyes.
"Those Geminis, they have a hidden power... But, even nearly ascended, I couldn't break through their barrier..." He muttered lowly, catching Raditz's attention.
" 'Ascended?' You couldn't mean–?"
"Yes, I nearly achieved Super Saiyan status before. But I cannot predict its likeability. Perhaps it is this strange celestial energy, the draw of the tides that causes their power to surge."
"Yes… Remember Mars?"
Vegeta nodded with a solemn expression, his eyes closed and arms crossed over his chest in a relaxed position. Bulma gasped and silently sat down next to Vegeta. This was the first she'd ever heard of their space exploration, and she was highly intrigued.
"They used the water. They stored some type of energy in the underground ice crystals, and on Neptune, well, we were entirely surrounded by water."
"That's why they chose the beach as their base... Damn!" Vegeta growled angrily.
"Are any of you the girl's immediate family? We need a blood donor." A nurse said, approaching Raditz. He looked up, startled.
"I am her mate..." He said, and stood. Bulma followed, pulling Vegeta with her.
"Are any of you B positive?" The nurse asked, and Bulma shook her head; she looked to Vegeta, and he looked puzzled by the meaning by the crinkling of his brow. She wasn't even sure if Saiyan blood was the same, but she knew at the very least it was red, and hopefully not too abnormal.
"I'll give my blood, I'm the only one who can." He said and extended his arm as the nurse pulled him into the room. Raditz knelt by the bedside as they inserted the needle in his arm, taking a quick sample. Launch turned her head and smiled weakly through the oxygen mask on her face.
"Raditz..." She whispered, attempting to reach up weakly to stroke his hair. He clasped her hand and looked down at her intently, his gaze flickering over her worriedly. There was a blue tarp over her midsection, with a small square opening exposing the flesh where they'd made the incision.
"We've got the bleeding under control. There was a tear in her uterus, but besides that, she is… Incredibly healthy… and she heals quickly." The doctor said uneasily, slightly unnerved by what he had seen. Once they had found the source of the bleeding and stitched it, a golden light surrounded the stitches and healed it, then pushed the stitches right out, same with the incision in her abdomen. They were all astounded by the sight, but as highly paid employees of Capsule Corp, they had seen a few strange things in the past and were instructed to keep hush-hush about it.
"Oh, wonderful! You're type O negative sir, and may I say, your blood is quite... rare..." The nurse said, looking at the dark burgundy blood in the test tube that had a slightly silver shimmer to it as it moved around.
Another nurse hooked him up for the blood transfusion, and he held Launch's hand tightly. Bulma leaned against Vegeta's stiff shoulder, holding his bicep. He looked at her and softly leaned into the embrace after a second's hesitation. Isn't she bothered by the sight of blood? I thought she was…. Or was that all a ruse to earn my sympathy?
"Isn't that good to know, Vegeta? If you ever have blood loss, Raditz can donate his blood to you!" She said perkily, her sky blue eyes sparkling. He shook his head, scoffing.
"Share blood?! As if I would ever mingle bloodlines with him!" He shouted, then paused when Bulma put her hand to her mouth and made a gagging sound, watching as Raditz's blood began flowing down the transfer tube and into Launch.
"Urg! Must not. Barf!" Bulma gagged, and Vegeta rolled his eyes, scooping her up quickly. She was quickly removed from the room as he flew her back to the small waiting room that was designed like a modern lounge.
"Ugh, thank you... I can't stand seeing his blood j-just gushing out like that!" She said with an exaggerated shudder.
Curious, so she wasn't fazed until his blood was actually flowing...? Vegeta thought, feeling a small bit of relief.
"Didn't you notice all the blood before? Why didn't you faint, or become sick?" Vegeta said, holding her closely by the arms and looking into her eyes speculatively, as if he were interrogating her.
"I-I don't know! I just wanted to help L-Launch! I'm scared, Vegeta! What if-" Bulma gulped, swallowing the high pitched sob in her throat.
"Shh, Bulma." He whispered. Vegeta saw the fear in her tearful eyes and sighed; taking one of her small hands, he sat down and she followed. He placed his other hand over hers, his warm hand encasing hers that had become cold, as he gently began rubbing it.
"Wha... What are you doing?" She said softly, a heated blush rising in her chest. She thought of the way Raditz had held Launch's hand and looked at her with such a loving gaze then looked up to Vegeta with parted lips, questioning. His dark eyes were lit like black smoke by the bright sunlight as he continued to caress then looked back down.
"I'm increasing your blood flow before you faint, that's all. That's what causes you to fall unconscious. When you panic, your blood pressure falls to your extremities, drawing oxygen away from your brain and making speech and comprehension more difficult, along with your increasing adrenaline."
"Oh...? I- It dooze?" She questioned, slurring her words a bit. He smirked as her hands became clammy and began to sweat nervously against his dry hands that were now clasping the both of them.
"Here." He said, and patted his lap. Bulma's eyes widened and she gulped, does he want me to, s-s-sit on his lap?!
"Rest your silly blue head here, Woman. Before you get even more lightheaded. This will help you relax."
"On... you?" She said and felt slightly dizzy. Vegeta smiled again, this time with his straight white teeth showing as he seemed very amused by her confused condition.
Gosh, his smile is so...perfect... She thought faintly, blinking slowly.
"Yes. On me." He reiterated, and moved her to lie on her back across the chairs, her head resting comfortably on his thigh. Bulma blushed, feeling silly as the change in blood flow caused her to giggle.
"Buht, I don't habe to be on your lap, Buh geeta..." She said woozily, attempting to tease him even as her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
"Stop attempting to speak. You're safe here, close to me." He simply responded and stroked one trembling hand over her hair soothingly as she closed her eyes.
Such a foolish little woman...
He thought, chuckling softly at the adorable way she had mispronounced his name. He felt an odd spreading warmth grow in his chest as his hand was petting her hair, then held her securely beneath her neck. Must keep her safe. That primal part of him whispered, and Vegeta agreed with the sentiment.
Safe...? Bulma thought faintly, the image of Vegeta's rare smile still fresh as a daisy in her mind. Vegeta still took care of me, even though... he doesn't have to anymore.
He suddenly startled, as if Bulma had said something, and glanced down at her pale pink lips. They didn't seem to have moved, although he swore he had heard her speak right in his ear. 'Even though he doesn't have to anymore.' Repeated in his thoughts, and he swallowed with the revelation–he was still treating her as his ward– no, as his mate even though she had misled him to have this treatment. For some reason, this made him even more determined to protect her?
Vegeta pulled his hand away and rested it on the armrest, staring out the window as he mulled over this conundrum. His dark eyes shifted towards the city line, where the deepening purple horizon met with the water, the intensity of the sun bathing it in glimmering gold.
The female species; such an enigma.
The warm glow of the sunlight cast over the dry desert plain as there was a flurry of sand flying and the joyful laughter of a child. Gohan ran, being both chased, and chasing after the sabertooth cubs. The little cubs were becoming stronger as their new guardian fed them fresh meat each and every day. He had gained the cat's trust and now the kittens rough-housed with him as if he were one of their own.
"Owww!" He yelled, then was quick to laugh when the one chasing after him latched onto his back and dug in with its claws as if capturing moving prey. Gohan rolled across the ground, giggling happily as he wrestled with the cats, the three cubs pouncing and yowling playfully at him as he became covered in sand and sat up, coughing. Gohan shook his hair, it had become slightly more shaggy since his mother hadn't been there to cut it now for some time.
Gohan rubbed the sand from his eyes, shaking his head. He squeezed his eyes shut and flew up, seeing through a blur as tears clouded his vision. He propelled himself towards Piccolo's hot spring, where he'd visited more than once now to bathe, or get a drink of water. He'd memorized the location now. Gohan landed on the mountain top and felt around for the cool stream of water. Gohan then cupped it in his hands and splashed it on his face, cleansing his eyes. He blinked away the obstruction, wiping the dirt from his cheeks in brown smears.
He turned and sat in awe of the sight before him, of the vast forest lit up golden by the incredibly bright sun, where as he looked up, his eyes watered from the sheer brightness of the quarter eclipsed sun, with two dark colored obstructions on each side. Gohan had to look away, blinking the remaining impression of the bright light from his vision as he stood up quickly and slipped in a patch of mud. Gohan yelled as he slipped and hurtled off the side of the mountain, somersaulting and rolling down the rocky mountain, until he felt a sharp burst of pain and cried out, then a heavy sheet of unconsciousness cocooned over him as he hurtled into the darkness of the forest.
Chi-Chi wrapped her arms around her body for warmth and shivered as she lifted one foot forward, then another through the heavy snow, the cold numbing her extremities, with a damp sweat soaking her beneath her clothes. She trudged on, determined to face the sheer mountainside head on. Chi-Chi had woken up, curled in a ball when she at last heard a gurgling chuckle and was startled from her rest. She didn't know what the sound was that sent true shivers of fear through her veins, but she knew that whatever she encountered was placed there for her to challenge. She had the bag of senzu beans safely tucked away, which gave her some comfort as she worried for her own survival.
Goku was able to face the trials of darkness, and he was only a child... I may not be 'exactly' human, as Korin says, but I'm still for the most part, human, and I need to find shelter quickly, before I freeze to death. She resolved, blinking the snowflakes from her eyelashes. Chi-Chi encroached on the mountain with one goal: to reach the dark cavern at the very top, where through the heavy snowfall, she could see a dim light flickering within.
If there was fire, she could get warm, she could cook. That was all Chi-Chi desired now, to relieve herself of her stiffened cold joints and to fill her belly with something nourishing before continuing her quest. Just a few steps closer... Yes...
Chi-Chi panted, falling onto her hands and dug in the icy cold snow, gripping the jagged rock beneath, and crawled hand and knee up, until she felt the slick floor of the cavern beneath her fingers and sighed in relief.
It was when she felt someone else grasp her fingers that she gasped. Chi-Chi was pulled up into the cave and met eyes with a figure darkened by the warm light of a fire and came to rest in that person's arms. Chi-Chi's jaw rattled from the cold, she could barely blink with her iced over lashes as the person walked her towards the fire and laid her down onto the warmth of the dry cave floor. Chi-Chi's dark eyelashes lowered as the person stripped away her soaked cheongsam dress and set aside all her belongings, instead covering her in a thick blanket of light blue fur that was soft as duckling down, and she fell quickly asleep.
A splashing sound woke her and Chi-Chi opened her eyes and sat up, her cheeks reddened and plump by the heat recirculating through her body. She looked around the dark cavern and found a cloaked figure, crouching by a stream of water as if washing clothing.
"Hello...? Who are you?" She asked, her voice echoing as she pulled the blanket up over her chest. The figure turned, and a partial amount of their face was concealed as they held up her rinsed clothing and wrung it dry, then came closer and strung it on a makeshift drying rack near the fire. She recognized the slight, feminine chin, and rosy lips of a woman as the person straightened the clothes so they wouldn't wrinkle. The woman sat before Chi-Chi on her knees, bowing her head, and smiled once risen.
"My name is Hana. Are you feeling well?" She said in a soft voice.
"Y-Yes, Thank you... wait-" Chi-Chi started, sitting up on her haunches with the blanket concealing her front, as her long, raven black hair splayed across her back.
"Shh. I'm sure after your journey, you'd enjoy a nice, warm bath?" Hana said kindly and pulled from inside her cloak a long white nagajuban for Chi-Chi to wear.
"Come, there is a lovely heated spring to bathe in, my dear. Then, perhaps we shall speak more." She urged, and Chi-Chi took the robe, cradling it to her as she stood hesitantly and followed the woman, her eyes widening as Hana dropped her cloak and was nude as well, with a small, yet sinewy figure and long, black hair like her own that was so long it came past her backside and concealed her.
She walked into the spring, and Chi-Chi followed, stepping carefully into the hot water then sighing with relief as it warmed her aching legs.
"Very nice, eh? Here, relax." Hana cooed, her voice calming Chi-Chi, along with the gentle burble of the water as she picked up a bucket and poured water over Chi-Chi's hair. Chi-Chi closed her eyes and knelt in the water as Hana worked a lather through her hair that had needed a good washing for some time.
"Ah, yes. It's very nice. Your hair is so soft and lovely, Chi-Chi darling." Hana whispered, and Chi-Chi tilted her head back as she felt her skull being massaged with skill. Then she rinsed her once again, and she felt relieved as the heat washed over her body. She scrubbed herself with a small cloth as Hana washed her back, pressing down and making her bones crack pleasingly.
"There, now would you do the same?" She asked, and Chi-Chi nodded, turning and stroking the thick blue-black hair through her fingers. She wet it, and began to wash it, feeling slightly dreamy as she helped the woman, then they both rested in the water awhile, not speaking as Chi-Chi stared at the flame and attempted to think clearly.
"Dear, you are so strong, my goodness," Hana said, with a laugh. "Why, you've certainly grown up well." She mused, and Chi-Chi smiled.
"My father trained me from a very young age, and now, I have been trained by Master Korin." Chi-Chi said, speaking fluently as if she were completely alert, even as her body was slack from the relaxing hot spring.
"How impressive! I should think your mother would be so proud of you, a woman that can fight!" She said, standing. Chi-Chi blinked up at Hana curiously. A thick bang covered her eyes, and her hand covered her small mouth as she chuckled. She reached her hand out to Chi-Chi and assisted her to stand, then dressed her in the nagajuban, and herself as well.
They squeezed one another's hair out and combed it, Hana instructing her to coil her braids into twin ox horn buns, with the tails of her long braids trailing to her shoulders, and two long hime bangs like Chi-Chi's. While they groomed one another, Hana asked Chi-Chi many questions, and she answered, talking of her journeys, her childhood, her life with Goku, his death, and the kidnapping of Gohan. Chi-Chi cried as she recalled the tale, her head lowered as the other woman braided her hair into plaits then wrapped them around each other into a bun and secured it with a hair wrap. Chi-Chi sobbed, and Hana wrapped her arms around her and comforted her for a long time, until she at last dried her eyes, and her stomach audibly growled.
Hana laughed with a musical tone after the unladylike growl, then Chi-Chi stood and followed her as she observed her preparing a spit, where she hung up a kettle. They prepared a stew, exchanging their personal recipes and talking excitedly about their love for cooking, before Hana took over the stirring and Chi-Chi sat down beside her on the floor, holding onto her leg and resting her eyes as she listened to her soft singing.
"Where darkness lies, there be peering eyes. Some be a sweet caress, others be dark, leering spyes. Darkness nearing, pathways meeting..." She sang in a soft whisper, as Chi-Chi gripped her long leg and smiled.
"Sunshine bright, full and light. Wide eyes, flowers blooming, in the Iris field so sublime. My sweet mother calls me, come home to me, precious. Sunshine call me, home to your greeting." Chi-Chi answered, then began to sob as Hana continued to sing in a chanting voice.
"Tiny ifrit, play me a riddle! Caught up with two prancing ghosts in the middle! I'm dancing on a hot, red fiddle. Fire in my hand, burning up my quick, deft feet, sweep me up with cool blue sand. Meet me in the long, long river of never-never land. Drink it up and sit, forget, whose tongue you whet, with the beast curled at your breast! Ifrit, give me a pet, feast of worlds, you may take all the rest!" She crooned in a quickening voice, as Chi-Chi sobbed harder, covering her face with her hands and hiding between Hana's legs.
"Now, now. Come out. It's time to eat." She said, nudging Chi-Chi back to alertness. She had felt heavy with her sadness, but as she lifted her head it lifted as well, and she took the round bowl from her, then sat and ate with her eagerly, eating nearly all of the stew in a sudden surge of hunger. The other woman simply laughed, dishing her out more, and Chi-Chi ate until she was full, blushing as she felt like a glutton.
Hana poured heated milk into small sake cups for them both, and Chi-Chi smiled as she sipped, feeling like a child having a warm treat before bed. Chi-Chi and Hana drank many cups of milk until the pitcher was empty and Hana set the cups aside. Hana took her hand in hers, her long red nails grazing her palms as she turned her hands over and felt the lines there. Then, she stroked the backs of her hands and gently slapped them. Chi-Chi laughed, and they played the game until Chi-Chi slapped her hands, and she gripped her cold hands in hers and frowned at the brittleness of Hana's hands. She blew hot breath onto her hands and Hana smiled with upturned eyes, her pale face streaked with tears as Chi-Chi did so.
"How come you are so cold, when we've taken a hot bath, sat by the warm fire, eaten hot stew, and drank warm milk?" She asked. Hana pulled her hands away quickly and rested them on her lap, hiding her face from Chi-Chi.
"My soul is sick, Chi-Chi-chan. I cannot feel the warmth or take nourishment from the hearty stew. I am not like you." She said softly, then looked up through her bangs with deep brown eyes. Chi-Chi stared and gasped as she felt drawn by the expanding pupils of the woman, which latched their claws into her subconscious.
Chi-Chi opened her own eyes, and stood, looking around herself in confusion. She was in a dimly lit room, where she walked over to crack open the blinds, which creaked as they opened, lighting the thick layer of dust on them, which rose into the sunlight and fell to the cool floor. The sunlight cast across the floor, as Chi-Chi turned and looked around curiously, then came up on a vision in the room and gasped, as the air thickened and became heavy with the scent of putrefaction. Chi-Chi stared, her eyes open wide as her father walked to the side of a large king sized bed, fluffy with many pillows and blankets.
"Ji-Ji-chan, my dear. Little Chi-Chi is here." He said carefully, showing her the small child cradled in his large arms. The child lifted her head and peeked out at the diminutive figure in the bed. Ji-Ji's pale face was surrounded by her blue-black hair, which still shone healthily in the dim light. Gyū-Maō held Chi-Chi up so that Ji-Ji could see her, and smiled with beads of tears in the corners of his eyes as his wife lifted her hand weakly and reached for her daughter's. Chi-Chi cooed and reached out, then they touched hands, and Chi-Chi gripped the long fingers of her mother, cooing louder and laughing as Ji-Ji clasped hers back.
"Mother...?" Chi-Chi said in a hollow voice, walking closer to the specters, inspecting the way the woman looked as she was sunken into the thick goose-down pillow, her skin was pallid, her face sunken in as a result of her terrible wasting disease.
"Chi-Chi...Where darkness lies, there be peering eyes. Some be a sweet caress, others be dark, leering spyes. Darkness nearing, pathways meeting..." She whispered, as her hand shook from exertion, and Gyū-Maō took her hand carefully and pulled her into his arms, holding the small, frail woman across one arm as he held Chi-Chi cradled in the other so that she could embrace her daughter.
"Sunshine bright, full and light! Wide eyes, flowers blooming, in the Iris field so sublime... My sweet mother calls me, come home to me, precious! Sunshine darling, call me, home to your greeting!" Little Chi-Chi sang happily, not capturing the meanings.
The present Chi-Chi covered her mouth as a sob wracked through her body, and her father began to sing in a jovial chanting voice.
"Tiny ifrit, play me a riddle! Caught up with two prancing ghosts in the middle! I'm dancing on a hot, red fiddle. Fire in my hand, burning up my quick, deft feet, sweep me up with cool blue sand. Meet me in the long, long river of never-never land. Drink it up and sit, forget, whose tongue you whet with the beast curled at your breast! Ifrit, give me a pet, feast of worlds, you may take all the rest!" He then laughed, with a deep booming voice, and sank to his knees and suddenly sobbed, clutching the two women to him as the room faded to black.
Chi-Chi's eyes danced with a tiny flame as a pot of milk boiled over a fire, as little Chi-Chi sat playing with her dolls. She never even noticed the bubbling milk overflowing; it dried and the kettle began to steam and heat up until it was red hot. She wanted to have warm milk before bed like her mother used to make before she got sick, but Chi-Chi fell to sleep. The pot exploded and embers lit on the dusty curtain, and fire crept up it and crawled up onto the ceiling, bathing the entire room in fire.
"No!" She cried out, shaking her head. Chi-Chi covered her eyes as she heard Hana's voice once again, whispering softly under the hissing and crackling of fire.
"It wasn't your fault, darling... Shhh..."
"Momma!" Chi-Chi cried out aloud and screamed, falling backwards onto the black floor as the flames surrounded everything around her. Hana stood before her primly, her hands clasped before her turquoise cheongsam dress as she appeared healthy again, and smiled.
"It wasn't your fault, Chi-Chi...I was suffering for a long time, but I'm free now! I love you so much, sweetie. I have had so much fun meeting you! I'm sorry I couldn't have watched you grow into a beautiful woman. But you don't need me, Chi-Chi. You have been strong all along."
Ji-Ji-Hana then turned, and the flames darkened, until Chi-Chi was back in the cavern, sitting upright on the floor, gasping. She looked to her mother, and Ji-Ji slowly stiffened and turned blue, then cracked and fell into a sheet of sand, which as Chi-Chi cried and scooped up with her hands, became stringy and silky until it became the blue fur blanket, and Chi-Chi fell onto it sobbing, cradling it to her face as it dried her tears.
Rachanā lifted her head and blinked wearily as they continued the uphill ascent, which seemed to never end in the underground cavern. She gripped Bdakka's arm for support, squeezing his bicep as the stocky Saiyan moved upwards with little struggle, he simply continued his steady pace with the Gemini slung over his shoulder.
Bdakka noticed his mate had slowed down, as he glanced down at her quickly. He paused and swept her up into his arms, then continued their ascension.
"You smell that?" General Nappa at the front paused, turning back to the other Saiyans. Bdakka's fingers curled around Rachanā's body as he scented what the general was speaking of. It was an offal scent like curdled milk, or rotten eggs, a miasma of petrified death.
"That disgustin' smell? Even I can smell that. We're getting closer to the rotted old geezer." Kannon sneered, from where Nappa was carrying her on his back. She tightened her arms around his neck and rested her cheek on his back as they continued their onward march, now falling silent as each one looked back on their experiences with Vulcane.
Candor walked astride Nappa, his destined mate Zenaya sat on his arm and wrapped her arms around the tall man's shoulder. Candor's expression tightened bitterly as he mused on his predicament. He was once a Royal Elite guard for King Vegeta and Queen Vasenya. Now, after a long 23 years imprisoned, he was full of spite for the Gemini that had tortured him and marred his tail. Candor didn't have to look to hear Onioan behind him, with each heavy foot fall and labored grunt.
They narrowly escaped the explosion of Planet Vegeta, when the ship they were in took off before it could load the rest of the passengers. Candor was to lead the expedition, carrying Onioan and the mid-level guards to safety. But they never arrived.
He growled lowly and lifted one boot, then slammed down the other as they at last came to the summit. The cave floor evened out and the group spread out as they explored the new opening.
"Let's forage for food. Onioan. Find food." Nappa ordered, and the large man nodded eagerly, swiping his fat tongue over his lips before crawling on his hands and knees, searching for anything edible. Nappa sat down on a rock with a heavy sigh. Kannon got up and looked around herself curiously, staring up at the sparkling sandstone ceiling banded with translucent quartz. Nappa removed his breast plate and scratched at his stomach, removing multiple scabs as the pinkened new skin underneath was at last fully healed.
"Found! Found food!" Onioan cheered out happily, before stomping over to Nappa to show him his findings. He held out the dessicated remains of something vaguely humanoid. Nappa sniffed sharply and scoffed.
"No, can't eat that. That's saiyan." He said, tearing his eyes away. Onioan looked down and pouted.
"This...like me?" He said, cradling the blackened flesh to himself.
"Dead." Nappa said softly, and Onioan dropped the corpse quickly with a shudder.
Kannon looked back to the large man with sorrowful emerald eyes. "Oh, Onioan." She walked over to him as he covered his face and shivered, placing one hand on his broad back.
"It's okay, big guy. You find. Good at finding." She said soothingly, and he looked down at her and sniffled.
"Kannon cook?"
She smiled, "Yeah, whatcha want?"
Onioan lowered his head so she could scratch behind his ear. "Hungry." He simply pouted, and she smirked.
"I have an idea, wanna see something cool?" She smiled. Kannon pulled back and looked down at the corpse. Onioan clasped his large hands together and nodded, looking on in curious wonder.
"This may seem unsavory, but I can change it for the better." She said, and squatted down and placed her hands on it, closing her eyes. A golden glow surrounded her hands, then the mummified Saiyan. The glow burned brightly then disappeared. What remained was roasted chickens for all the Saiyans and herself.
"Yuh-mmy!" Onioan clapped his hands together giddily, his dark eyes sparkling with innocent amusement.
"Chicken! Kannon magic!" He said, then grinned as she handed him one, and he quickly tore into the meat happily.
Kannon passed them around and they ate, not speaking on how her alteration magic worked, or on the fact that the tasty chicken they all consumed, was in essence only made because the life energies that once supported the corpse, had been enough for her to transform. It was not truly cannibalism, but instead eating a tasty illusion that held only the nutrients that would have been in the corpse, now the flesh was revived; the bones altered, but wholly new and fleshed out into something edible.
They ate it quickly, as if afraid the meat would suddenly rot and wither. The Saiyans ate it, meat and bone, while Kannon took the drumstick that Nappa offered her and nibbled on that while she rested after using her magic. Candor saw Nappa's action and did the same, tearing off the leg of his own and handing it to Zenaya. The female stared at the meat curiously, then up at him and blushed before taking it with a small smile. Candor nuzzled his nose in her coppery black mane, lit dimly by the bioluminescent glow of the large crystals above.
Bdakka growled as he tore into the carcass, then grated the bone easily between his teeth. He shook his head as he tore off another large section, he and Rachanā ate eagerly, he and the dark olive skinned female were both noticeably different from the other Saiyans. All saiyans had black hair, black eyes, but they were from the southernmost part of Planet Vegeta, where it was overpopulated by low classes, and he and Rachanā had lived a less desirable life.
Both had long, thick plaited hair and black armor with green accents. As Bdakka was wholly concentrated on his food, Rachanā lowered her portion and sighed, licking her lips as she stared up at the curious ceiling and narrowed her almond eyes. "I sense something there, above. He is waiting for us." She said softly, then looked down with a solemn expression before biting into the meat eagerly, chewing quickly like a wild animal securing its kill.
She remembered how she and Bdakka escaped, along with Tyurni, her sister. Rachanā and Tyurni were two of the most beautiful Saiyan females in Vradashmi, but because of Bdakka's low class, they struggled to get by on the mere coin he made as a foot soldier patrolling the streets. The slumlord had given them a loan to fix the leaky roof on their small ramshackle shack, then another loan to pay the Tivby that allowed them to stay inside the slum land gates, along the narrow streets where many slaves worked to keep Vradashmi running, farming the rocky soil, and pumping what little red water they could from the earth.
When Bdakka was sent to outland patrol on the trade planet, a promotion the slumlord boasted was a great gift, Rachanā and Tyurni were captured and outfitted as Saiyan concubines. It wasn't long before Bdakka caught wind, hearing Rachanā's cry for help through their shared mental connection. It was then that he returned and slaughtered the slumlord and all his men, and used the stolen trade ship to fly them out into space.
Rachanā licked her fingers clean and leaned against Bdakka; although he had a roughened exterior, he was very kind. Bdakka grunted and cleaned his teeth with a splinter of bone, then listened in as Nappa stood, having finished his meal. Kannon assisted him back into his armor then he addressed them all.
"Ok, men. We know that the Gemini has a female, and in that case, he can use her to heal himself. We must separate Vulcane from the female, then.." Nappa continued speaking, but Rachanā was frozen stiff in place as something clasped onto her head and dug into her skull. Grenada grinned a toothless smile, his bloody lips revealing the gaping void within as his ebony slick hand shot from over Bdakka's shoulder and he seized her by the skull, then Bdakka by the back of his neck, his arm sheathed in phosphorus flame as he withdrew enough life force from Rachanā to heal his broken teeth, regrow his severed tongue, and give him a surge of power rushing through his veins, reinvigorating him. Bdakka snarled and pulled Grenada's hand from his mate as she fell to the ground, gasping for breath.
Rachanā passed out as Bdakka swung Grenada off himself and slammed him down to the hard cave floor. Nappa surged forward, towering over the curled figure on the ground. He and Bdakka exchanged growls, baring their teeth. There was an unhinged cackle as Grenada sat up on the ground beneath the two large Saiyans and rolled up in a backwards somersault, before straightening skillfully. He made his well-trained landing and chuckled lowly, as the Saiyans looked at him with rage in their black eyes.
"Hhm... Ahh..." Grenada sighed, licking his teeth with his tongue.
"Much better...Mhm.. and what a tasty little thing she is... hmhm.." He purred, glancing back at Rachanā as she got to her feet and backed away from him quickly in fear.
"You bastard!" Bdakka growled, balling up his fists. "I'll kill you!" He snarled, shaking his head, with a wild look flashing through his eyes. Grenada crossed his arms, which now as they all observed him, were noticeably puckered by burns; the blackened flesh was cracked in places, and had a dull sheen in others like powdered coal.
"Grenada..." Kannon suddenly stepped forward, shoving through Nappa and Bdakka carelessly in her rage. Nappa grit his teeth and looked on; holding back Bdakka with one hand on his thick shoulder. Bdakka tore himself away and attended to Rachanā, pulling her safely away from Grenada.
"Hnhm. Kannon. Traitor bitch." He grumbled, lowering his face. His eyes danced with phosphorescent rage as he eyed her up and down, then swiped his tongue over his cracked lips.
"You look like one of them. Hmhm. Although, I suppose you were all along, hmm?" He sneered, narrowing his eyes on her as he eyed the glossy black and red Saiyan armor. Kannon smirked, then moved swiftly into a fighting stance.
"I am. Maybe I wasn't born a Saiyan, but I'd rather be one of them than be like you." She snapped, then smirked as a red light surrounded her hands, which swirled and snapped with her unleashed power.
"Kannon. Hmhm...You're so lovely when you're mad. Mhm, although, it was that temper that did always get you punished." He chuckled, seeing the pained look in her eyes that turned to anger.
"Shut up! I've had enough of you!" She screamed, and lashed out at him quickly with furious punches, as Grenada darted away, chucking. Kannon's fists swung wildly with her rage, until she at last caught his smirking face by the jaw and turned his cheek with the enraged blast. Grenada stood stiffly, frowning as a trickle of blood ran down his chin.
"Hmm. That was unwise." Grenada said slowly, and at last uncrossed his arms, only to grip Kannon by the shoulders. With a bellow of his rage, he screamed, and a great sheet of green flames bathed Kannon at once, causing her to scream out in agony. She crumpled to the floor on her side, her clothes steaming from the heat. Nappa rushed forward and blasted the Gemini into the wall with one powerful punch into his sternum, the impact of which caused fractures in the rock wall, and the ceiling rained down red sand.
"You fucking freak, you've gotten much too confident." Nappa sneered, then looked to his side at Kannon as she got to her feet. She saw the concern in his eyes and smiled, nodding to let him know she was okay.
The secret to Grenada's flames was that they only burned you if you allowed them to. Gemini were a race that was not inherently powerful like a Saiyan. Their power lay in their mental strength, and to a person that was convinced that they deserved the pain he was inflicting, the flames would hurt and physically burn them. But, someone wise to the flames' true nature would resist being harmed.
"It's time we put you in your place." Nappa grinned, as Grenada opened his eyes from where he was sunken into the rock wall, and placed one hand on Kannon's back. She smiled, stepping forward and reached for the chord hanging over her shoulder.
"No! No!" He screamed, and immediately began writhing in place, struggling to free himself, as he watched in terror. Kannon pulled the rope, and there was a sharp click as the fuse on the end of the large cannon blaster was lit. Her cannon was a physical object, not powered by telepathy. It was a weapon, cold, hard steel.
There was a slow rolling, then an enormous blast that propelled the cannonball as she stood firmly, her shoulder jerking back skillfully to withstand the whiplash as the cannonball tore from the barrel and buried itself in Grenada's innards. He screamed in terror and struggled to free his arms from the rock wall as the shiny black ball nestled itself in his abdomen comfortably before exploding. He bellowed out in agony as the cannonball burst and blasted his organs out from his belly in a red splash onto the floor then spilled down his groin.
He groaned lowly, and at last freed one arm in order to feel the state of his eviscerated abdomen. He groaned in despair, as Nappa stepped forward, grinning widely with a mad, rabid glaze over his eyes as he watched the blood spill out and cackled sadistically.
"She's a hot little firecracker, isn't she?" He said, amused, as Grenada moaned in pain. His suffering satisfied Nappa, as his hands sweated with the desire to pulverize his flesh. Nappa looked at Kannon once more, and she curled her lip back and pulled once more, hard. The ball tore from the barrel and lodged itself in his sternum this time; knocking the breath from him in a pained wheeze. Bone splintered inside of him as it exploded, his eyes rolled back and he drifted in and out of consciousness. Nappa rumbled in his chest with a gravelling purr of sadistic pleasure, his ki surrounding his skin and alighting it as Kannon lowered her hand and crossed her arms.
"Do it. Kill him, Nappa. I want you to." Kannon said, and Nappa's black-umber eyes glistened under his brow as he advanced on Grenada.
"Anything you ask, Pinchie," He growled, then raised one hand surrounded by golden sparks. The others began backing away quickly as the ground began to rumble, and Nappa chuckled as he lifted two fingers. Grenada could only just barely begin to scream, as blue light suddenly rushed up around him, his form lost in the light as his body became white with the heat of Nappa's volcanic explosion blast. A round eruption of light exploded from the ground, and made a clean, gaping wound in the cavern, the dust from the blast raining down as the Saiyans all rose up. Nappa clutched Kannon to him and they were bathed in the bright light as she hid her face in his armor.
"There. That rotten little shit is finally dead." Nappa said and laughed.
"I didn't mean to blast the entire place to smithereens, but, oh well!" He laughed, and they landed on the beach. The other Saiyans looked around themselves in wonder as the sunlight bathed their skin. Onioan yelled happily and ran towards the ocean, and the others followed to stare out at the water in wonder as it glittered with golden light, the deep ocean tumultuous with the rising of the tides.
"It's beautiful here... So much water." Rachanā whispered to Bdakka as he held her in his arms and smiled.
"We're free, Rachanā. Breathe the fresh air at last, my sweet." He whispered to her, not seconds before they all stiffened in reaction to hearing a rasping laugh at their backs.
They all turned quickly, and saw Vulcane rising from the dust; his brightly colored robes swirling around him and the pale-skinned woman in his arms with dark, auburn hair.
"Tianshae..." Kannon whispered, her eyes wide. "She's alive...?"
"What a lovely sight to behold, is it not? The sky all bathed in fire, the Celestials! They are heavenly beings, are they not?" Vulcane sang out, the eclipse reflected in his maddened, magma filled irises as he rose higher until all were below him. He then sneered, and raised his arms. Tianshae floated off to the side and stared down at them with an evil glare. Vulcane displayed the sheer power in his veins with a great wave of energy radiating out from him that rumbled through the air in a sonic boom then crackled as it hit the sand.
There was a quickening darkness falling over East city as the planets shook from the sheer power held inside this one mortal being. It reverberated all through the soil and shook the earth as Vulcane pulled energy from the very soil, cackling in his insanity.
"You will all make a delicious fire in my belly, each and every one of you shall be sacrificed!"
"No! It's wrong to use our people's power in such a way! What have you done?!" A shout came from his back, as Piccolo looked up from the ground and snarled at him. Vulcane looked down and smirked, seeing the familiar appearance of a Namekian.
"Go and return to your plants, poor Namek. You have no power here." Vulcane scoffed, completely unphased by his presence.
"Release the Guardian from your grasp. Return the planets to their proper alignment, Gemini." Piccolo and Kami growled at once. Vulcane simply laughed before raising one hand and moving two fingers into a pinching motion, laughing hysterically at everyone's reaction as the planets moved and slowly eclipsed the sun, bathing all in darkness.
"Here, sweetheart, have a drink." Bunny said softly, covering her small snicker as she startled Vegeta, who had dozed off in the chair with Bulma still on his lap. The two perked up, looking to one another with surprise before Bulma laughed nervously and sat up straight, taking the glass of cool black tea that appeared red in the dark light. Bulma cocked her head at her mother, who was wearing dark sunglasses and a shady hat.
"Mom? What are you wearing? How long have I been asleep!?" She suddenly gasped, looking out the large glass windows to see the darkened sky with a ring of fire at the center. She squinted her eyes and groaned, turning away.
"Here, dearie." Bunny said, handing her a large pair of sunglasses. Bulma put them on to shield her eyes from the bright sunlight.
"Oh, and you napped only for an hour or so. Unfortunately, ya missed the Eclipse show!" Bunny tutted as if the event weren't foreboding at all. Bulma took a gulp of the tea and looked to Vegeta, whose brow was furrowed as he stood and looked out the window inquisitively.
"Vegeta! You'll burn out your retinas!" Bunny cried out and ran to him, pulling on his firm shoulder. He turned and stiffened as she put sunglasses on him, then he frowned and turned back around, crossing his arms as he looked back out the window.
"Your friends Radish and Lunch are upstairs, Bulma. The poor dear! Did'ya hear what happened?"
Bulma shook her head, confused. Vegeta turned back around, removing his sunglasses.
"We came to visit her after hearing that she had a little accident, and I brought her a bouquet of flowers. Turns out, she's got real bad allergies! She sneezed so hard the blue dye came right outta her hair!" Bunny said with an exaggerated voice, completely convinced of her own story.
Bulma rose one eyebrow at her mother, sipping her tea before she interrupted Bunny's confusing train of thought.
"Well, that poor girl is so ill! That sweet Radish man is taking care of her upstairs in the spare room! Isn't that just the sweetest thing? Oh, by the way Vegeta, we had to move you down the hall while they fix the wall, hope you don't mind!"
He growled aloud and tossed the sunglasses on the floor, before spitting out insults. "Foolish old woman! Spare me of your inane ramblings and fetch us a lunch worthy of a Prince!" If he had to listen to one more second of her mother's idiotic ramblings he would explode.
"Oh Veggie! Don't worry, there's a whole buffet upstairs! Would'ya let them two know it's ready?" Bunny said sweetly, smiling with upturned eyes as he froze in place at the demeaning nickname she'd decided to give him.
"Oh, uh, t-thanks Momma! Why don't you go tell Daddy I need to have a conversation with him about our new guest, Launch?" She said, only partially bluffing as she rushed to Vegeta's side and attempted to usher him away before he lashed out on her ditzy mother.
First 'Buhgeeta', now Veggie?! What am I, a complete mockery to these women?! He growled to himself, then became distracted by the scent of food as Bulma led him to the kitchen.
Launch huffed, crossing her legs tightly. She glared at Raditz as he struggled to push buttons on the remote; his large fingers squashing all the buttons and causing the channels to flip wildly on the large flat-screen TV, slurping loudly from a tall bottle of Coke with a straw coming out. He wore sunglasses, as did Launch, after the psycho woman that was Bulma's mother insisted they shield their eyes from the Eclipse. Launch pushed her sunglasses up over her hair and sighed, before snatching the remote from Raditz's hand.
"Whaddya wanna watch, caveman!?" She growled, crossing her legs the other way then shoving the dress down between them. The freaking idiot hadn't even thought to put underwear on her!
"Grappling!" He said, his eyes suddenly lighting up.
Launch raised one eyebrow, "What, you mean wrasslin'? You know, fighting?" She said, tilting her head curiously. He nodded enthusiastically, and Launch had to smirk. She shrugged her shoulders and put in the channel number she knew from memory.
"Yes! This is my favorite!" Raditz smiled and leaned back on the bed with one arm behind his head, pushing the sunglasses up over his hair like Launch had. She crossed her arms and avoided looking at the screen, instead sitting stiffly. She licked her lips as she looked at the coke bottle in Raditz's hand and gulped. He moved his hand almost instantly and offered her the bottle. Launch jumped a little, then scowled at him.
"You can have it. You haven't drank anything since last night, coke is your favorite. I don't care for the little bubbles tickling in my nose." He said, and she took the bottle and sipped; soda was one of the only things that calmed down her stomach. She drank it, then sat down next to him and watched TV.
They sat in silence for a while, laughing here and there or shouting at the TV, before there was the sound of the phone ringing.
"What the hell is that incessant noise?!" Raditz growled, straining to hear the TV. Launch picked up the phone, puzzled.
"Yello?"
"Hello, I'm told this is where Mrs. Launch is staying?"
"Yeah, that's me...?" She said, warily.
"I'm one of the nurses that treated you today, we ran your blood samples through our system, and we have wonderful news for you and your husband!"
"My-my-my what?!" She stammered, glancing back at Raditz nervously.
"Congratulations! He's going to be a father!" The nurse shouted out happily, and Launch's entire body froze.
"To... to... my...?"
"Yes, it's a miracle! You're pregnant!"
"But we never had sex!"
That was the one word Raditz heard, and he turned to look at her with widened eyes. Launch looked back at him in shock, dropping the phone.
"Um, surprise...?" She said.
A/N: Tada! Yay! I'm so happy I finally get to share the news with you all! More details in the next chapter, until then, please review and stay tuned for more!