Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ A Ripple in Time ❯ Chapter Sixteen ( Chapter 17 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

<><>CHAPTER 16<><>

It was weird… there were shadows playing over everything as we entered the small store, almost as if we had been drawn into it. Dana looked around in trepidation, her gaze fastening on the old woman behind the register. Occult material was littered along bookshelves, and some incense, I think it was, graced the shelves fastened to the walls. The effect was dramatic; probably what the owner had intended it to be in the first place. I gathered my wits and approached the saleswoman.

“Um… hi. I was wondering…” I trailed off. This was going to sound crazy, any way I looked at it. “Do you have anything about a guardian earth spirit?”

She blinked owlishly at me for several moments, the makeup adorning her eyes stark against her snow-white skin, before nodding slowly. “Yes… we do carry something of the sort. It's not very… popular, however with most Wiccans or any active practitioner of magic.”

My eyebrows climbed. Magic… On MY world? Ok… very freaky… when confirmed at least. Oh well, I could deal. After having been a man for some time, I think I could deal with anything. Hold a sec…

“Why isn't it popular?”

It was the woman's turn to look surprised. “You don't know?”

I shook my head. She sighed, mumbling under her breath about the stupidity of witches these days. Dana really looked scared, but I assured her with a glance, even though I wasn't sure about what was happening myself. Turning back to the woman, I waited for an answer.

“You should have been told this already when you began to deal with the lesser spirits, but since you haven't I'll take the responsibility to warn you. When you summon a spirit and it's power is greater than your own, you could lose control and the spirit would take control of your body. There are many spirits in the world, but not many are more powerful than your average witch. The Earth Guardian is the most powerful of all the spirits, and those that have summoned it… they all have died.”

Dana turned the color of a bleached sheet. I wasn't too upset… I mean it was only logical, right? That the Earth's guardian is more powerful than the ones it protects? Still… better to err on the side of caution, than to do something really stupid and get Dana killed. “How many have tried? Too summon the Guardian I mean.”

“Only two. You aren't seriously considering performing a summoning, are you?”

I nodded, hesitantly.

“You are either very powerful, or extremely foolish.” She commented, shaking her head. “Just remember that I did warn you. I'll get the items you'll need.”

This was really good luck! The very first store that we tried had everything that I would need to get back my Vegita! Caution tempered my enthusiasm as I waited for the woman to wrap my purchase. She set out a large, old book, several jars of herbs, and a few small silver and green candles on the counter, explaining the uses of each item before packing it, making sure that I understood everything before accepting my payment. Thank God I had my wallet on me.

“Just remember, you will have to wait for the next new moon before you can perform the spell. Everything you need to do in inside that book. I wish you luck.” She smiled. “I can sense that whatever you are doing this for means more to you than your own life… truly, do you love this man so much?”

My eyes widened. Holy shit! She was really a witch! So I'm an idiot. “I love him with all my heart and soul. I would do anything to be beside him again.” I answered truthfully.

She nodded at my answer. “And if you didn't, I wouldn't have given you what you needed. Be warned, the choice you must make will not be an easy one.”

I nodded again, taking up the bag and slowly exiting the store with Dana. Wow… that had been weird. Dana was shaking, looking as if she had seen a ghost. I placed my hand on her shoulder, offering her some amount of comfort as we walked through the darkened streets of the city. It seemed too convenient, almost, to have everything all into place just as I needed it. Was there a deity guiding me through the paths I had taken? Or was it just sheer dumb luck? The events of the past week flew through my mind as I walked numbly back to my home. Could it have been only a week since I had met Vegita in that alternate Earth? Dana and I had been silent the entire time we had been walking, but as we were about to part, I spoke.

“Dana… are you okay with this?” I inquired softly.

“I'm… I'm just a little confused.” She sniffled softly.

“About what?”

“Well… You… you want to die? Because that's what the lady said, if we summoned that spirit thing, that I almost can't believe is real, that it would kill us. I don't want to die, Jun!”

“Dana…” I spoke quietly. “I don't want to die. But… I would do anything to go back to Vegita. I love him.”

“But he isn't even real! He's just a cartoon character!” She wailed, tears starting to stream down her face.

“Dana, you don't have to help me if you don't want to.” I whispered, drawing her into my arms. Patting her soothingly on her back I waited until she calmed down.

“But… but what if you die? You're my best friend!”

“I'm not going to die.” I smiled softly. “You know I'm different now, Dana. At full power, I'm more powerful than most of the `gods' of the universe. Even now, you saw how I took on those creeps that were bothering you. This won't be a problem.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I'll be fine. You can just be here for backup. Call my mom if something goes wrong.” I grinned rakishly. “We have time to plan, however. Remember the witch said it had to be done on the next full moon? That is in about a week. No sweat!”

Dana finally stopped crying, and wiped the wetness from her cheeks. “You're a good friend, Jun. I hope that your Vegita appreciates what you are doing for him.”

I nodded against her shoulder as she drew me into another hug. “I hope so too. It's late; you'd better go in. I don't want to get you into any more trouble than you might be already.” I said as I waved at her retreating form. She slipped safely inside her darkened home. I let loose a long sigh. I knew that Dana had taken the information a little too well… poor girl. I really don't like worrying people I care about. Period.

Hands in my pockets, I trudged down the dark streets to my own home, silently praying to whoever would listen that my mother would have gone to bed. Well… fortune always did favor the foolish… and I was no fool. There was a light on in the living room, the golden glow reflected onto the lawn from the single glass window. There was no time like the present to face my fears, ne Vegita? I walked quietly up the walkway, my tail starting to twitch against my will as I braced myself for the coming event.

Taking out my keys reminded me that I didn't have my book-bag. Shit… I must have left it outside the library. Oh please let it be there in the morning… As the lock turned, I heard heavy footsteps from the inside rush to the door, yanking it from my grasp as the anxious face of my mother replaced the soothing grate of the screen.

“Jun!” I could swear I heard relief in her voice for a moment before it hardened into the harridan that I was used to. “Where have you been? And on a school night!”

“I'm sorry.” I mumbled. And I truly was. I didn't mean to upset people, and I should care about her; she was my mother after all.

“You should be! But sorry isn't going to cut it this time, young lady. Your principal called me again today, and he told me that you were fighting in school! Is this true?”

I nodded, reluctantly. Might as well `fess up; this was as good a time as any. My mother clasped a hand to her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes. This was a new development… she had never cried before.

“Just what are you turning into? On my god… why did you do it?”

“My friend was going to be hurt… I had to do something.” I tried to look properly contrite. As per say, my mother ignored my response. This at least I could handle, it was the most normal thing she had done tonight.

“Oh god… I tried to stop it… Just like your father… I can't let it happen again!” I started. My… father? I started to pay attention to what she was saying, and for the first time in my life started to take it seriously.

“What about my father?”

“Jun… I'm sorry.” She scrubbed at her cheeks. “Just go to your room. The principal didn't suspend you, so you can attend school tomorrow. You'll need your rest.”

I nodded at her mutely, before doing what she had asked of me. My father? What did he have to do with anything? I brushed my teeth and turned down my covers sliding under the soft sheets. My life was starting to get more complicated than any soap opera on the planet.

The next day dawned bright, the cheerful chirping of the birds waking me from my fitful slumber before my alarm clock had time to react. I scrubbed the sleep from my eyes, padding softly into the bathroom. Our bathroom here was small, tiny even, compared to the one Vegita and I had shared before. The walls were covered in a modest tan tile that only ascended halfway up the wall, many cracked and fading. The upper half was painted a soft eggshell that accented the white of the shower curtain. The sink was a sturdy thing, with a medicine cabinet fixed onto the wall above it, and the rest of our necessities were laid out in an array of untidiness. Our bathroom was not what you would expect from one so order-loving as my mother.

Shirking my clothes I was still wearing from the day before, I grabbed a towel from the rack and threw it over the metal bar supporting the shower curtain. I stepped into the shower then, and turned on the taps, adjusting the temperature to a comfortable level. I sighed, closing my eyes as I let the heat wash over me, and remembered my mother's words from the night before. Just like your father… What had she meant by that comment? I quickly lathered the soap and washed my body, handling my tail as gently as I could.

Even though I tried not to provoke a reaction, my primal instincts were insistent and I let my eyes close as pleasure washed over me starting from the sensitive nerves in my tail to the scalding wash of fire in my abdomen. I could just imagine Vegita's hands roaming my body, and let my own ghost over my flesh in an attempt to recreate the sensations he had evoked in me.

It felt different… instead of a flat, hard chest, my breasts were full once again, and as my fingers trailed across my nipples I felt a sharp tingle shoot down to my groin. Biting back a moan, I ran my hand over my tail again, the sensations the friction caused unbelievable. I could only imagine what it would be like for Vegita to be caressing me; would it be better than this? Yes… it would. Because nothing I could ever do would compare to what my heart felt just by being in his presence.

I couldn't do this anymore. It wasn't right when Vegita could be dying in Frieza's cold clutches. I stopped my exploration and opened my eyes, stepping further under the spray to rinse the lather from my body. Physical pleasures could wait to a time more suited for them. The water turned off, I stepped into the steamy air, grabbing my towel and wrapping it around my waist. I steadied my breathing, standing there for a minute before opening the door and heading towards my bedroom.

My mother's door opened, and she came out; she had obviously been crying, her eyes were red-rimmed and she hadn't removed her make-up. I felt more for her in that moment than in all my life when she had been taking care of me. In the next moment, her eyes widened and she started to make a sound that was then caught in her throat, her skin color lightening several shades before her eyes rolled back in her head. She hit the carpet with a thump. What…?

My face flushed a deep red as I realized… I had wrapped the towel around my lower parts… leaving a BIG area exposed. Ooops? I felt the reaction Goku might have had overtake my body and I started laughing at the situation. Geeze… how stupid could I be? A guy for a little more than three days and I forget about my feminine modesty? I rushed to get dressed, completing my task in record time, and ran back to my mother's side.

I slapped her gently on her cheeks to try and wake her; my ministrations proved to be successful as her eyes blinked open slowly after several more minutes.

“Jun… what happened?” She muttered softly, holding a hand to her head. Didn't she remember? Well… I'm not going to tell her if I don't have to… I'm not sure if I could find the word needed to express the situation.

“You fainted. I have to go to school now… do you need anything before I leave?” I queried.

“No… no I'm fine. Please don't get into any more fights, Jun. Please?”

I hesitated, before nodding slightly. I would do my best not to fight, but if push came to shove I would gladly defend my friends and family. I helped my mother to her feet and down the stairs to the kitchen, making sure she was okay before taking off out the font door. I glanced at my watch I had hurriedly slapped on, and to my alarm noted that the time was nearly seven fifteen. School would start before I could get there… and my bus had left at seven… of all the stupid, idiotic things for me to do! I berated myself mentally as I increased my speed, my hair flying behind me as the wind whipped around my muscular frame.

The air was still crisp as I rocketed through the streets, and I thanked God that there weren't many cars on the road at this hour. Well… at least until you came to the city. I was running really fast now, so fast as to pass cars as if they were not even moving. I came to the end of the suburban district and almost into sight of my school. Only five minutes left… Lunch detention was really not a favorite past time of mine.

I jumped into the air, bouncing from building to building increasing my speed yet again as I overtook and passed the bus I was supposed to be on. The school in sight, I crossed my finish line, slowing and then stopping completely at the top of the steps to the school. I leaned heavily on the concrete side of the entrance, breathing heavily. Time to go to homeroom. What a joyous start to another day. Wait Vegita… Five more days… I will save you.

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Authors Notes

Gomen ne…. Sorry that this took so long to write, complication arose with my army of muses. >.<;; Let me note that muses on strike is NOT a good thing for a writer. Thankfully, with the promise of many lemons, they have co-operated with my demands. Only a few more chapters left, hope you enjoy! Thank you Manawolf, for that lovely picture that you drew for me. ^-^ I hope this chapter was suitable recompense for your hard efforts. See ya'll soon!

Caelestis