A/N:! Sorry for the massive way, this update is WELL over due. Before I get into it I wanna say, thanks for the reviews. You have no idea how encouraging they are to me:
Sim: Thank-you, It will get happier towards the end, but I am a big fan of dark yet beautifully tragic stories. I send my love to your friend's family. tabithascott923: thanks, hope you like what I will do with Bulma's side of the story. LILFOC: Thankyou! I will continue this one, you won't have to worry. artemis road: Thankyou :) and I've got a lot planned for TruMar ;) glad you liked their little moment. I feel the story needs them to keep it from being too dark and remind us that so much good can come out of the bad. Writer'sFantasy: OMG I get so excited whenever I get reviews from you! aha :) thankyou… I enjoy hearing all of your insight on the characters and events. I really hope you like where it is all heading! maay: Don't worry, I think your English is just fine! I always admire people who read and review a story that isn't their first language. So thankyou! Hope to hear from you all again!
Love: HerosReprise
Lights go down
In the moment we're lost and found
I just wanna be by your side
If these wings could fly
Oh damn these walls
In the moment we're ten feet tall
And how you told me after it all
We'd remember tonight
For the rest of our lives
Wings-Birdy
The Impossible
Chapter Five – Jealousy
Flashback:
It had been a total of 2 weeks Hale Son had existed in the living realm. And Videl couldn't be happier. Quite literally, she was overwhelmingly euphoric, the happiest a person could possibly be.
It was starting to concern Gohan. Either, there was something incorrect about his own reaction to having a son, or something was actually wrong with Videl.
Gohan and Pan were walking in the door carrying groceries after their long day of training and working.
"I'll become a Super Saiyan earlier than you did Papa," Pan vowed, "I still have a year, I reckon I can do it, Grandpa Goku thinks I'm close."
"I'll bet you will kiddo, but hey, Uncle Goten beat us both didn't he," Gohan chuckled. He still remembered his shock when the 7 year old transformed in front of him for the first time.
"Yeah, well he just got lucky," Pan grumbled. She seemed to have this unrelenting desire to prove her Super Saiyan skills to everyone. She demanded she be put through the same training as Uub who was 5 years her senior and far more advanced. She hated being treated with kid gloves. 'Such a hurry to grow up, that girl,' Gohan thought with a smile as they walked up the footpath to their home.
They opened the front door to the delicious aroma of a spectacular feast. A CD of kid songs was playing in the background. Walking into the kitchen they found Videl dancing around and singing along to the songs as she attended the several pots and saucepans on the stove.
Hale was sitting in his highchair visibly loving it. He was clapping his hands and cheering in his own way as Videl twirled her way over to him and rubbed her nose against his all the while still singing.
In all his life Gohan had never heard Videl sing. And she rarely acted so happily when she had to cook.
"What's wrong with Mom?" Pan whispered to her father the first to voice their collective concern.
"I don't know, she has been like this nonstop since Hale was born, I'd have thought she would have calmed down by now," Gohan whispered back unsure how to react.
"I don't like her like this, I miss the old mom," Pan complained. Videl finally turned and noticed the rest of her family standing in the doorway.
"Oh, you're both home, thank you so much for bringing my groceries," she beamed and pranced over to crash a hug around her daughter.
"Mo-om, seriously, quit it, you're so embarrassing," Pan pushed her mother away, but Videl's smile never ceased, "Is dinner nearly ready?"
"Yes," Videl said, happily, "Just go wash up quickly first."
"Okay," Pan sighed.
Videl beamed as she turned her attention to her husband who was attempting to put away the groceries. He got very anxious as he completed such a task as he would usually put things in the wrong spots and Videl would scold him for it. She was usually quite particular over where everything went.
It seemed she couldn't care less about the groceries though as she just smiled at Gohan for no reason, which had him feeling nervous.
"How was your day?" she questioned in a sing-song tone.
"Uhhh, can't complain I guess?" Gohan stuttered, "And yours?"
"Fantastic," she grinned.
Gohan forced a smile back and turned his back to her as he put away the vegetables into the fridge. Upon opening the door he noticed three shelves full of home baked desserts.
"Whoa did you make these hon?" Gohan asked, rather surprised.
"Of course I did, Hale helped me of course, didn't you baby," Videl cooed the infant who was also smiling just as goofily. Videl had a little Capsule brand baby harness she was putting the baby in so that he would be attached to her front. He seemed to love being carried places. Never one for having to sit still.
Gohan nervously laughed sheepishly, wondering what the catch was.
"Anyway, Chi-Chi can't take him to get his vaccinations tomorrow and you know I have that thing with my Dad. I tried asking your dad but apparently even mentioning the word needle sends him into the skits," Videl chuckled, "Do you think you could take a day off work to take him love?"
"Yeah that should be fine, I'll just call the office," Gohan agreed, he had planned on cutting back his hours to spend more time with Hale anyway.
"I already did that for you," she smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist so that Hale was caught between them.
He was already getting good at reaching for things, not that he could get a good grip but he pushed his arms up so that his tiny hands were on each of his parents chins.
"Thanks," Gohan said and leaned in to kiss her before Hale started making fuss. The poor thing seemed to get jealous when his parents showed each other affection, almost as if he was thinking they were forgetting about him.
"Awwwww, poor baby Hale," Videl cooed and gave Gohan a 'we'll save it for later' look, "But you're going to have fun with daddy tomorrow, yes you are."
At the doctor's office, Hale had been very brave getting his vaccinations. Gohan was glad his father's trypanophobia had not skipped a generation into his son. He watched Hale lying on his back shaking his arms and legs about as he waited for the doctor to return with the information he had requested. In all honesty Gohan was glad he would finally have a boy in the house. Not that Videl and Pan were particularly girly, they weren't really girly at all. But often he found himself dis-included from conversations between the two. Plus, after careful observation of Bulla growing up he was feeling rather apprehensive of what was to become of Pan when she became a teen. One daughter was bound to be more than enough.
"So I ran all the checks on the symptoms you have described Mr Son and I got back very slim results," the doctor noted as he returned to the room.
"What does that mean?"
"Have you heard of Post-Partum Depression?"
"Yes," Gohan said immediately worried.
"Well in my educated opinion, it seems your wife is 'suffering' a similar syndrome. It is much less reported and research but other doctors have termed it Post Natal Euphoria"
Gohan looked at the doctor confused. He had heard nothing of such a thing before "Is there something we can do about it?" he asked.
The doctor gave him a cocky smile, "First, let me read you a list of the known symptoms: increased productivity, increased creativity, consistent elevated mood, positive perception of the word, intense happiness, reduced need for sleep, higher energy levels, elevated sex-drive," the doctor caught Gohan's eye with that one and noticed a blush forming on his face, "Shall I continue."
"No, I get your point, I'm just worried that I won't get my Videl back," he half stumbled on his words realising how idiotic he must sound to the man, "The one I know, you know?"
"Mr Son, the reason this syndrome is far less reported and researched is that most people don't classify it as being bothersome or disadvantageous. It is most likely better for your child especially at developing a bond with his mother. It will wear away, just like Post-Partum Depression does with time but for now, perhaps instead of worrying you should just, enjoy it."
After leaving the doctor's office with his son, Gohan felt like a fool.
"I guess mommy's not the one who is crazy is she Hale. Daddy's the crazy one, at least that's what the doctor thinks huh?" he said. Hale responded to him in his baby drabble.
Gohan didn't know what it was but sometimes he felt when he spoke to Hale, the kid could understand. He hadn't learnt how to articulate a response or a request. But he had that look about him that he knew what was being said.
"You really are a smart kid huh?" Gohan said.
Dark eyes snapped open and attempted to adjust to the poor lighting. Gohan wasn't entirely sure where he was until he comprehended Goten's sleeping form next to him and Marron and Trunks curled together on the far edge.
His skin was cold and wet from the rain and mud. He was shivering and it was hard to breathe. The worst of it was this ball of dread, fear and guilt churning in his gut. Where were they now?
It was almost as if reality was the nightmare and his dreams were bliss. He hated that he had to wake from the dream. The most envy inspiring dream of all.
Gohan Son two months ago. He had it all. In fact his worst problems were that his kids were too perfect and his wife was too happy. His life was something everyone desired. And if they didn't desire such a life the only possible explanation would be that they couldn't comprehend such perfection existed.
Gohan of the present slammed his fist down onto the rock floor of the cave. Blood began to trickle through his palm as he repeated the motion. That Gohan had everything, and he didn't even know it. He hated that Gohan. Or at least he wished more than anything to be that Gohan right now.
From within a deserted car, Videl and Krillin had escaped the storm for the night. They soon realised the Capsule server was down when the car would not start. It was a shame, having a car as transportation means could be the difference between life or death.
At least it was strong enough to protect them from the rain, but Krillin and Videl both knew they couldn't stay there. They needed to find food, shelter and above all else, help. They'd agreed to start trekking inland further when the sun came up.
Videl didn't feel like talking most of the night, and when she woke up she felt worse. She hadn't felt the pains of worry, sadness or hurt in sometime, possibly since the Hale's birth. It was hard to come to grips with even a regular about of anxiety. But this, this was too much for someone to bear.
She awoke to a sound perhaps even more disturbing. Krillin, was lightly sobbing. He was holding a photo in his wallet up where the half-moon light could allow him to view it. It was of him, 18 and Marron.
He remembered when they took the photo, they had both complained he was too short and forced him to stand on a crate to make the photo look better.
He thought they were joking.
And now he had this photo in his wallet that made him look as if he has extra-long legs. With his two girls either side of him, embarrassed looks on their faces. The three of them had laughed about it later and all of them kept the same photo in their wallet/purses as ridiculous as it was.
This family seemed to be on different wavelengths. They never could figure each other out most of the time. Krillin was light-hearted and rarely took things seriously accept when it came to fighting. 18 was far more reserved and possibly even self-centred. She was of the opinion, most of the time that she was better than everyone else. Krillin agreed she probably was. Marron didn't instill the confidence both of her parents portrayed. Instead she was often timid and worrying. But she was the type to make goals and strive for them. She was the most career driven of the lot of them. Somehow they fit perfectly as a family. Forgiving each other's faults and embracing each other's passions, regardless of how often they didn't understand each other.
As Krillin gazed at the photo with tears forming in his eyes he could only hope that there still was three people. And that they would be together soon.
He put the photo down and focused on watching the sky. He hadn't slept long, sitting uncomfortably in the damp front seat. But he was determined to continue his search when the daylight came in. Well what was left of the sunlight with that strange green cloud cover.
"Thank you for rescuing me," Videl whispered.
Krillin turned to her in shock, it was the first thing she had said since he found her. He smiled at her in response. He had always liked Videl. She was like a less scary version of Chi-Chi.
A rumble in his stomach spoke for him and made him chuckle. "You wouldn't happen to have any food on you?"
Videl patted herself down feeling a capsule in her left pocket. She wondered how she had not noticed it before. Insight crashed into her.
"Oh my gosh, actually I might have some milk in this capsule!" she half screamed.
"What? Why didn't you say something before. Aren't you starving?"
After uncapsulising the contents in the back seat of the car. There appeared a weird gadget looking thing, and a couple containers of milk. The containers had no label and looked kind of odd but Krillin wasn't going to say no to any kind of food at this point.
Videl poured some into his hands and watched him drink it.
"It's kinda sour, not what I'm used to, but I guess it does the trick"
"It's breast milk," she informed.
He chocked and sputtered out a few drops, luckily he had already swallowed most of it.
"WHA- WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME BEFORE!?"
"Well why should it change anything, it's not like we have anything else to eat, and hey, I'm not going to run out anytime soon," she argued.
Krillin turned back to the back seat and recognised the equipment as some form of breast pumping machine. She must have been storing milk for Hale, figures, that kid probably already eats twice the normal amount.
Videl held the canister out at him indicating to take another handful. Krillin wondered if it was really better than starving.
After possibly the most uncomfortable sleep she had ever experienced Valese got up to stretch her legs. She had fallen asleep with both Bulma Briefs and a small monkey tailed baby named Hale Son in her arms. Leaving Hale in Bulma's care, Valese exited the corrugated iron roof they had used as a 'teepee' that night, to find the sun was beginning to come up again.
Granted it was still hidden behind the mouldy green cloud cover, but it was sunlight all the same.
The reddish-brown haired girl known as Valese returned under the roofing and began to examine the others. There were 7 other people who had sought shelter from the weather. They were lying around the place on the cold dirt. Very still.
Valese was unable to tell if they were asleep or dead.
She approached a rather robust man who looked to be in his early 50's. His eyes were closed and he was pale. She placed her hand on his forehead to find his skin was cold.
She checked his pulse at his wrist and found nothing. It was the first time she seen a dead body.
It wasn't something she was expecting to experience. She shook a bit as she took a few steps away from the man.
He could have been her father. How was that a fair way for a person to die. She turned away from him, as if not looking at him would make so that he wasn't really dead.
As much as she didn't want to, Valese turned her attention to the next person. A pretty young girl, about 16 years old. Her skin was dark and even. The kind Valese would have been jealous of when she was an insecure silly teenager once upon a time.
The girl had her eyes open, but it didn't appear she knew Valese was there. She was panting ever so softly.
"What's your name? Where does it hurt?" Valese whispered to her as she searched her body for injuries.
The girl didn't reply, it seemed she couldn't tell anyone was there. Either she was deafened and blinded. Or she was too far gone to be saved.
"Please… please let me help you," Valese pleaded as she found a tender spot on the girl's ribs. She had lost a large volume of blood that was puddled under her middle.
The girl did not reply but her panting slowed. It was nearing the end for her.
"No! No, I can help you. Just hold on," Valese pleaded as she frantically began to treat her injury.
"What are you doing?" Bulma growled.
Valese turned to the blue haired woman and wondered why she had been so angry with her. In a situation like this, where was her empathy.
"I, I can help," Valese panicked.
"I don't think so girl," she half chuckled.
Valese felt mad someone could act so callous at such a time.
"JUST SHUT UP!" she screeched and turned back to the girl who had now ceased breathing. Valese was quick to make up a tourniquet using the girls scarf and tied it tightly around her waist near her broken ribs.
"What are you doing? What makes you think you can even help?" Bulma questioned.
"It's my job to help people. I'm an occupational therapist and a personal trainer, but I mostly help people with injuries learn to function again," she explained although her voice was shrill. She had been nothing but kind to this Bulma Briefs. She cared nothing of the woman's money. Money certainly wasn't going to save anyone now. She didn't deserve to be spoken to like that.
Valese had her hands over the young girl's heart and tried to pulsate the life back into her. She was frantic. As if the young girl's life meant more than her own. Her distress had woken the baby and Hale began to scream.
"STOP IT!" Bulma shouted at Valese, "SHE'S DEAD"
"NO!" Valese screamed back at her and continued much harsher. If it was her family, she wouldn't want anyone to give up.
Bulma hadn't given her a second of encouragement. From the minute they met she had given her only suspicion and rudeness. As if she had been the cause of all this horror.
"I said… STOP" Bulma shouted. She was up and had gripped Valese's wrists. She summoned enough strength to pull her away from the young girl.
"Wha- How are you standing?"
Marron's eyes slid open and for a moment she thought she was in her regular bed, she even reached for her phone which was usually on her nightstand.
Then she felt the cold of the cave floor and saw Goten in front of her.
'That's right the cave, Goten and Gohan must have returned from the search whilst I was asleep, I'm glad they're both back,' she thought.
Poor Goten, he looked all cold and sore whilst she felt toasty warm. She attempted to reach for him to check his temperature but was caught still by a pair of arms wrapped firmly around her waist.
She turned slightly to solve the mystery, finding Trunks sleeping behind her cuddling her in close, sharing body heat. That explains the warmth.
A flutter flew through her body when she realised neither of them were wearing much clothing. Unsure how she felt about that, she made an attempt to free herself from the lock he had around her.
"What are you doing?" Trunks mumbled as he wished he could continue his sleep and only gripped tighter, pressing himself into further dangerous territory.
For an instant she thought about letting him be, and snuggling back into him but then she reminded herself that that was Trunks.
"What am I doing? What are you doing Big Spoon?" she shrieked when he proved too difficult.
Trunks opened his eyes and realised it was Marron he was pressed against and felt the urge to continuously apologise as if there had been some sort of mistake. After all it wasn't the first time he awoke sleeping behind a random girl he couldn't remember. It was the first time that girl was Marron. She looked at him with utter confusion.
"Uhhm, well? I'umm," It was no use even Trunks had no idea what was going on.
"Can you just let me up?"
Trunks pulled right away from her and sat up. He looked around the cave, sunlight was coming through so he could see reasonably well. Despite a desperate hunger, he actually felt better than the day before. He wasn't as cold or feverish. And he was well rested.
He tried to think back to details of his sleep and why he was so close with Marron, but all he remembered was being the epitome of comfortable.
Marron took the fireman jacket from him and crawled over to where Goten was sleeping. His skin was still wet from the rain and he was shivering pretty badly.
"Goten are you ok?" she whispered and put the jacket over him.
Trunks saw Gohan getting up, he didn't acknowledge anyone and he had that angry look in his eyes again but at least he was ok.
"No luck on the search huh?" Trunks asked.
He shook his head.
"We'll do better today," Trunks stated. He actually felt a bit useful now that he was rested. Yesterday he was a bit of a deadweight.
"He's not responding," Marron worried aloud.
"He's ok Marron, I checked on him before, he's just got a cold and he's exhausted," Gohan responded.
"Are you sure?" Marron asked as she glided her fingers down his cold cheek. She could not bare the thought of losing him, not like this.
Trunks was equally concerned about his friend but something about Marron fussing over him didn't sit right.
"He's fine!" Trunks shot back with a glare, almost begging her to let go of him. He didn't know where that had come from.
She gave him a look he knew all too well. Her eyebrows knitted together and her bottom lip slightly quivered. It was the look she made seconds before she burst into tears.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to speak to you like that," Trunks crawled over to her and pulled her into a hug. She was a fragile mess. But she was crying over Goten. He didn't know why that annoyed him.
Goku sat at the end of the damp covered grave thoughtfully whilst he waited for Vegeta. He hadn't slept. He was not the type of person to worry, but with no contact with the Kais and their ki powers mysteriously disappeared, he had to wonder if the Dragonballs were a possibility. Would all these people who died get to come back? What if they couldn't?
He could see Chi-Chi again in the afterlife. He understood that more than anyone. It hurt that she had to leave in such a way but what was harder, was comprehending what was to come.
He had no doubt he would find Goten, Gohan and the rest, it was only a matter of time. But where everyone else turned to him as the leader of the Z-Team, the protector of more worlds than just his own. He turned to Chi-Chi as the leader of his family.
Some may view it as bossiness, or nagging, whilst it of course had that sort of undertone, the cold fact was that she meant well. She was the only person he knew that did everything 100% for other people. She was selfless to the core. And they had all taken advantage of that in so many ways.
It shouldn't be the case that they come to the end of her life and Goku was left wondering if she even knew that she was appreciated.
He stared at the orange scarf in his hand. It was the same colour as the orange gee that he, Gohan and Goten all wore. The same orange bandana Pan tied in her hair. It was even the same colour as the gemstone in Videl's engagement ring. It was the family's colour and Chi-Chi had worn it with pride, from the very beginning.
Goku smiled at the damp earth as he ravelled the scarf into a thinner strip and tied the material around his head, like a head band.
"For you," he whispered with his hand firmly on the grave, the place where her heart would be beneath.
He stood up and looked at the grave for the last time as Vegeta returned with was little food he could gather from the ruin of homes.
"Let's get moving Kakarot," he said and pushed passed.
"We'll find them today," he cheerfully replied.
Valese looked at Bulma in fear, "How are you standing?"
"You tell me? You're the one who tended me. I guess you are pretty good at your job then huh?" Bulma replied. Bulma's upper thigh still had a large piece of stick protruding out of it but Valese had found a way to stop the bleeding. It was very painful to put pressure on that leg but at least she had the ability to move.
She still had a firm grip on Valese's wrists, when she noticed tears forming in the girl's eyes she let go and wrapped her frail arms around her. She momentarily thought of Bulla as Valese cried into her shoulder.
"It's ok, you couldn't have saved her. You did the best you could. Now please, we have to keep it together, for the baby"
Valese took a look at the infant lying on his own screeching out his cries. He probably feared he was going to be left alone.
She nodded at Bulma and agreed to calm down. Thinking of what she stood to lose was heartbreaking and could be the end of her. So she vowed to stay calm as long as it was necessary. Push the negativity from her mind and focus on what she could do for the people around her now.
Bulma let her go and hobbled with difficulty back to the baby.
"There there baby boy, it's ok, don't cry," she soothed.
Valese took a look at the remaining 5 victims she hadn't checked. But she couldn't bring herself to look upon anymore dead people.
She returned to the robust middle aged man and removed his coat with great difficulty.
"Bulma, we need to leave this place and find somewhere safer," Valese stated as she pulled the coat over Bulma's exposed shoulders to prepare her to face the climate outside.
"We can't. You really think I could manage it out there with my leg like this?"
"I don't think we have another option," Valese stated.
Bulma did like the way the girl said 'we.' Perhaps she was wrong to immediately think the worst of someone like this. Her opinion was fast changing as she proved she had valuable medical knowledge and a heart in the right place. But as much as she wanted to, Bulma couldn't give all her trust to a stranger.
"Do what you want, but I'm waiting here for my husband. He'll come get me," Bulma said
Valese looked at her confused, "How is he supposed to know where you are?"
"It's not something you'd be able to understand so just shut up and sit down if you want a lift too"
"A lift?"
Bulma shrugged her shoulders, there would be no harm in exposing the truth right now. People had worse things to worry about.
"My husband… He can fly. He'll fly over here and save me. You too, if you just chill out and help me with this baby."
Valese decided she was in denial, if pilots were looking for them they would have come by now. They may need to trek to a safe zone location where the helicopters are probably waiting. And they had to leave now.
Valese looked at the baby for a moment. His giant black eyes that caught her attention from the very beginning still were teary.
She remembered the promise she made herself. She would return this baby to his parents if it killed her. She still felt in her heart that was what she had to do.
"Look, if he's coming, then it won't hurt us moving to a more visible location," Valese almost pleaded.
Bulma didn't like her word choice of 'if he's coming.' She knew Vegeta would come for her. He was probably taking a while because he was after Trunks and Bulla first. That's what Bulma told herself anyway. It was the only acceptable explanation.
"Are you wearing a bra?" Valese asked casually.
"Excuse me!?"
"I need your bra"
"Why on earth-"
"I'm not some cheesy pervert, I just need the underwire"
The look on Valese's face was genuine so Bulma hesitantly unclasped her bra and pulled it off from inside her dress.
"Here," she handed it to her with a scowl.
Bulma watched curiously as Valese ripped the fabric enough to pull the curved metal underwire out of both cups. She tore a piece of fabric from the robust man's coat and wrapped it evenly around the wire piece.
"Let me see your leg again, I want to redo the tie"
Valese as previously tied a piece of clothing tightly around Bulma's thigh to restrict the blood flow, but it was tied poorly and would likely come undone if they were to walk anywhere.
With this new piece of fabric with wire inside she redid the tourniquet as tightly as possibly which made Bulma yelp.
"Here, now you should be able to move a little with me and head inland," Valese explained.
It was a clever idea but Bulma still wasn't sure she could handle the journey.
"Please," Valese said as she held out a hand to help her up.
Hesitantly, Bulma understood she would be safest if she stayed with this girl, "…Okay"
Uub could tell Bulla was irritated. He didn't need to see her face. It was a radiating feeling she gave off. She hadn't for a second seemed frightened or upset. She was simply angry. And most of that anger was directed at Pan and Piccolo.
He might have even thought she was angry with him the way she was pulling at his arm so harshly, directing him where to go but the fact was, she was better at directing him that Pan was.
She was forceful but she was far more aware of hazards that were causing Uub small grief. She prevented him from walking into sharp objects or tripping over ruined construction. She was not very lady-like about it. In fact she had quite the sophisticated vocabulary for curse words. But Uub would take anything he got and so far he hadn't received a scratch since she'd been helping him.
They had found a reasonable place to rest last night to escape the storm, but Piccolo had insisted they get up and keep moving out at the break of dawn.
Pan's knee had proven quite useless and Piccolo had continued to carry her most of the way.
"Left, you fucking tool!" Bra growled and hauled Uub harshly towards her, saving him from falling into a muddy pit.
"Sorry," he mumbled, beginning to feel he really had done something wrong. He was trying his best to follow her properly. His vision was no better after their short rest. Everything was just a blur. It hurt to keep his eyes open for long.
"Useless," she grumbled and gripped his lower arm tighter, her way of expressing her anger with him. She had quite a grip for a girl. She was certainly Vegeta's kid.
"He's trying his best Bulla," Pan chimed in from up ahead. She was sitting on Piccolo's shoulders but had turned around to moderate her friends lashing-out behaviour.
"Oh shut your mouth Pan, What do you know you nosey little brat," she snapped.
Pan, turned back around to the front, a scowl on her face. She was well practiced in ignoring Bulla's insults but right now she had had enough. This whole situation was hard enough as it was and it was hard for everyone not just Bulla. How dare she be so selfish and attention-seeking.
"Bulla would you shut up! You're making everyone feel ten times worse. It's not my fault I'm so much stronger than you. You don't have to hate me for it! You don't have to be so JEALOUS of me, even at a time like this."
Bulla stopped in her tracks and Uub could tell she was about to unleash her fury.
"Stronger than me? Jealous? Seriously! SHUT YOUR IDIOTIC FACE! I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW TH-!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Piccolo yelled, "Both of you, NOT ANOTHER WORD. There are more important things than your petty quarrels."
"She started it," Pan growled.
"Well I'm ending it!"
"Fine," Pan growled and slumped her shoulders, turning her back to Bulla.
Bulla had nothing else to say. Uub could tell how mad she was and he half expected her to take it out on him. But something very different happened.
After a long silence, a couple teardrops fell onto his wrist where she held his arm and he could hear her sobbing. Was this real? Was she really crying?
"See I told you we'd find a clearer ground," Yamcha whispered. He was holding 18 in his arms as they trudged slowly through the murky lake they had been trapped in. The earth's unusual shifting had left a large body of shallow water separating the pair from the high ground. It was a choice of staying put or venturing through.
18 regained her consciousness but none of her strength. Luckily she was light enough for Yamcha to carry her such a long way.
Whilst she still couldn't remember anything, she had accepted that Yamcha was not trying to hurt her. She even allowed herself to put her trust in him.
They escaped from the storm by hiding in a large garage that hadn't completely crumbled on impact. But the wind had the tin shed sounding as if it would fall apart any minute. It wasn't exactly an easy place to sleep.
18 didn't know anything about Yamcha. And his stories of a daughter and a husband she didn't know greatly upset her.
He quickly realised that if he had any hope of jogging her memory he would need to talk about people and events she knew or used to know. But merely telling her stories of his life. Not necessarily hers.
So he told her stories of his friends. Of dragonball hunting with Bulma, Goku, Puar and Oolong. Of a pervy martial arts master and a species known as the Saiyans.
She listened intently and seemed to enjoy the distraction from the pain in her head. None of it were things she remembered. It was all new to her. But she enjoyed Yamcha's take on it. She could tell how much he cared about his friends. She didn't know if she felt that way about anyone.
"When we get out of this water I'll set you down for a bit so we can both rest and dry off," Yamcha said. She nodded in agreement.
"I think I can see an abandoned highway up ahead, maybe we'll find some people who can look at your head"
18 cringed, she didn't want anyone touching or examining her. The last and only thing she seemed to remember was an old scientist touching and examining her. She couldn't remember the reason, only that she was afraid.
Up ahead of them two figures stepped out of an abandoned car on the side of the road. Yamcha couldn't believe it. He stepped into override and ran through the rest of the shallow lake to get to them.
"HEY, HOLD UP, PLEASE HELP US!" he shouted.
The two figures turned and Yamcha recognised them. It was Krillin and Videl.
"YAMCHA!?" Krillin shouted back at him. The pair could see he was holding someone but couldn't make out whom. They rushed to help him out of the lake.
"Yamcha? Are you ok? Have you seen anyone else?" Videl practically begged for him to say he had Gohan with him.
As he stepped out of the lake he placed 18 on the ground. He couldn't hold her for much longer. He was becoming far too weak.
"It's just us," he panted, "Can you guys fly?"
Videl shook her head no.
Krillin fell in a heap to the ground to his wife's side. He just wanted to hold her so tightly and never let her leave his sight again. But he saw her bleeding head and an obvious skull crack. It did not look promising.
"Listen Krillin there's something you should know-" Yamcha started.
"18! I was so worried about you! How bad are you hurt?" he pulled her cold hand into both of his to warm her up and let her know he was here for her.
Unexpectedly for him, she snatched her hand away. She looked at him in fear. It was a heartbreaking look.
Krillin had experienced her look at him in anger, or in disinterest possibly even disgust. They were all looks associated with a normal long-term marriage. But he never thought she would even be afraid of him like this.
"What- What's wrong? 18, it's me?"
"I don't know you, stay away from me," she cried. She was acting like Marron. Self-pity, fear and uncertainty. Where was all this coming from?
"Krillin, she doesn't remember anything. She hit her head real hard," Yamcha tried to explain.
Another earth tremor shook the ground. It was only a light rumble, nothing was splitting in two but it had Videl over the edge.
"Guys, we need to move out now, as fast as we can. I can't go through all of that again," she fretted. The earth tremor could mean another wave was to come.
Krillin nodded, "18, please let me carry you, I'm not trying to hurt you I promise."
She still had that frightened look in her eyes that made Krillin feel almost guilty.
"I, I can't. P-please. Just. Yamcha," she looked at Yamcha and they could all tell she wanted to be carried by him only.
Yamcha gave Krillin an apologetic look and was waiting for his permission to help her. He could only glare back at him.
He didn't know what hurt more. The fact she was injured and desperately needed help. Or that she didn't want him.
A/N: So I know it's been a while, sorry if you were waiting a long time for this one. Whilst it seems it is taking me forever to update you should probably know I think about this story every day. I have it planned out and it is getting more and more detailed daily in my mind. It's just a matter of, 'when do I have time to write it up.' I'm hella busy! Anyway, I do want to try finish this fic by the end of the year so my goal is fortnightly updates! We will see how I go.
For more info, updates or just a friendly chat. Please follow my fanfiction account on twitter! HerosReprise
So this chapter, our beloved characters are really starting to suffer. Will Bulla and Pan sort out their issues? Will poor Krillin find a way to be remembered by 18? How will Bulma's injury hold her back from seeking refuge? Stay tuned :) Next chapter I will go into Valese and Uub's back story and another two groups will find each other (Care to venture a guess).
Find out next update :) Please Review, thanks guys! See you soon lovelies.