Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Gama's Blood Crystal ❯ Fading Darkness ( Chapter 9 )

Gama's Blood Crystal

Chapter 9: Fading Darkness

Saria looked around the large room. The mountains of bones were still there, tho it didn't surprise her. This was, after all, the lair of the creature. Or, at least, it certainly looked like it. She had run as fast as she could, yet she wasn't out of breath at all. And that surprised her to no end. But she didn't have time to dwell on this right now. So she immediately walked over to the nearest pile, looking through the mountainous heap for something. She spotted what she needed rather quickly and reached into the pile to pull out a sharp, jagged-edged bone. Then she walked into the center of the room. She'd better hurry. She could see in the walls that they were coming. They were probably wondering why the hell she would just take off like this, but they'd know soon enough. Right now, she needed to call it to her. Now.

The second she got far enough in, she took the sharpened end of the bone and, holding her arm out before her, stabbed her arm with it, and dragged the bone down its length. She winced, trying as hard as she could not to cry out and alert the others. The blood demon had to get to her first. Not them. Saria pulled the bone out and let her blood drip onto the sand. Then she dropped the bone and started to walk deeper into the room. She didn't know how, but she could suddenly sense the creature's presence nearby. She stopped and turned to her side, staring at a specific pile of bones. She knew it was hidden behind there, waiting for her next move. Her response. She watched for a moment, then took the hand of her good arm and used it to push more of her blood onto the sand. This caused the creature to appear suddenly and it slowly walked towards her. She watched it for a few moments and saw on the wall how close the z-gang were to almost reaching the room. She had to do this now.

So she turned her back to the blood demon and started to run. Before she could take more than 2 steps, the creature was on her. She involuntarily cried out in surprise and pain as it pushed her to the ground and tore the side of her neck open, drinking deeply from her. The pain was surprising to her. It felt like her very soul was being roughly ripped out of her body, piece by piece. And a searing, white-hot pain triggered by her blood rapidly being forced past frying nerve endings; it was enough to force a ragged scream out of her mouth, despite her attempts to remain silent. Chillingly, everything around her started getting a reddish haze to it all. Then the world seemed to sway, as everything started to get dimmer as well. She could barely feel her scream dying away as her energy immediately left her, numbing her to the pain she had been feeling so intensely just moments before.

Then, she saw them. All of them. They were standing just inside the entrance to the room. Trunks looked like he was screaming something, but she couldn't hear him. She couldn't hear anything actually. And the pain in her neck seemed to be completely gone too. The room started to swim before her eyes, getting redder and darker… It all felt so peaceful… so calm… she closed her eyes. When she opened them again a moment later, she saw that she was being held in Trunks arms, tho she was still lying on the sand. She briefly wondered how long she had closed her eyes and how he had gotten there so quickly… But she didn't have the energy to really care. Then she noticed that Trunks was alternately looking at her and then up at something else that was behind her. She vaguely wondered what it was, but she just couldn't seem to find the energy to look. Trunks' eyes seemed to finally land on whatever was behind her for the moment. She slowly blinked at the swimming world of shapes and colors before her. It was completely dream-like. A slow dream, really… She closed her eyes again as she felt the comforting embrace of death pull her towards its frigid void… inaudibly sighing, the warmth and safety she felt at that moment was beyond soothing…

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They had run in too late. The creature already had its fangs deep in her neck. Trunks had screamed out her name, and then suddenly the creature froze what it was doing, looking like it was choking on something. It suddenly backed off, roaring in pain. They had looked at it in surprise, and then Trunks had run over to Saria and gently pulled her into his arms. He saw her looking at him with glassy eyes and could tell that her ki was swiftly diminishing, tho he couldn't actually feel it. He could also hear the Blood Demon roaring. Something was happening to it. Trunks looked at it in shock as what he saw next surprised the hell out of everyone there. It looked like the Blood Demon was transforming. The creature's mouth was rapidly being encased in some kind of crystal, entombing its throat and then it's entire body. The Blood Demon was roaring as it writhed its body in pain, trying to unsuccessfully scratch the crystal away from it. Before their eyes, the creature surrendered to its crystal tomb, soon lying still as it died.

A faint sigh was heard from Trunks arms. Only his Saiya-jin hearing could pick up the sound, it was so dim. He looked down, and fear gripped his heart when he saw Saria's motionless form. She couldn't be… "Saria?"

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She could barely feel what she thought to be an almost gentle shaking… As though someone were trying to wake her from her peaceful dream… She sighed once more, completely relaxing as the shaking seemed to lull her into sleep… She could barely feel that the shaking was getting rougher and there was this alarming buzz… Curiosity fractionally opened her eyes, and she saw Trunks clear blue eyes staring into hers with fear and worry deeply shown in their depths. The faintest of smiles graced her lips, knowing that she would carry that image to the other side with her as her last image of life. Then she slowly closed her eyes… finally losing consciousness…

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Trunks shook her, but she wouldn't open her eyes. So he shook her even more roughly, calling out her name. Long moments passed and he started to get frantic. Then she finally, barely, opened her eyes, briefly meeting his, only to then close them soon after. Her face looked so peaceful and her body was so limp… He shook her again, screaming her name, but there was no response. He couldn't believe it. He didn't want to believe it. She couldn't really be dead. Bitter tears started to well up in his eyes. Why the hell had she sacrificed herself? He knew she hadn't run off in terror. She had done it on purpose. And what the fucking hell had happened to the Blood Demon? Sure, they had only known each other for a little while, but he had gotten strangely attached to her, despite the circumstances. There was just something about her that had pulled him to her. Behind her cold exterior that seemed like she didn't care about anyone or anything, there had been something inside her. He didn't know what it was. He only knew that he wanted to dig through the layers surrounding her heart and soul to reach it. But now it was too late…It was all too late…

Suddenly, a portal appeared not too far from the corpse of the Blood Demon. Then, several cloaked figures emerged from it before the z-gang. The same ones who had created the portal under Saria in the first place. The cloaked figures looked at the corpse of the Blood Demon, then at the still form of Saria. They approached her/Trunks, stopping several feet away. And spoke:

"It worked." One said in shock.

Another cloaked figure looked at the one who spoke, saying "It did, didn't it?" in an incredulous tone.

"Still. It took the girl's life to be successful." The apparent leader of the small trio spoke, almost sounding guilty.

"But now it's gone…" The second one who had spoken started, but stopped, also feeling a twinge of remorse. "I wonder how she figured it out…?"

The z-gang were looking at them in a mixture of shock and surprise. Especially with the last thing that was said. What had she figured out? Then the leader spoke. "My name is Azrel" She said, pulling back her cloak hood to reveal an older woman with pale-green hair and hazel eyes. She looks at Trunks, who was still holding Saria. "I am the leader of what remains of our race. The Gama." There was a sharp intake of surprise from the z-gang, as the woman was speaking Japanese, but she didn't stop her speech. "I apologize for whatever may have happened down here, but let me assure you that we will fix it as best we can." As she says this, the other two Gama with her move to the Blood Demon and start performing some kind of ritual on it. Azrel seems to ignore them. "We are deeply grateful to finally be rid of the Blood Demon, however, we didn't mean for any of this to happen. We are the ones who had created the portal that brought Saria here, but it was supposed to bring her to us in our dimension, not here. He must have found out that we were trying to save her, so he sent her here." She smiled ruefully. "I suppose he forgot to check her blood type before sending her so quickly to her death. Which ended up well for us in the end." Her smile faded. "But I wonder how she managed to figure out that her blood would be so poisonous to the creature…?" Azrel stopped her musing and looked at them. "But that is beside the point, I suppose. Now, it's time to send her home to her dimension and for you all to go home as well."

They all look at her in surprise. "What the hell are you talking about? How can you send her home? She's already dead." Trunks demanded. Azrel looks at him, and just then, an odd light appears behind her where the Blood Demon's body lay. When it faded, there stood Goku, Krillen and Mr. Satan. They look at themselves, surprised. All of the z-gang are completely flabbergasted. The newcomers look at each other and then at everyone else, who suddenly were hugging all of them (except for Vegeta obviously, but he still walked over and yelled at Goku for dying so easily). Trunks meanwhile hadn't moved, but he was staring at everyone, just as surprised and happy that they were all back. Suddenly, a soft glow surrounded Saria as she started to be lifted gently into the air. Trunks watched in shock and quickly looked at Azrel's face which held a look of pure concentration. The other two witches, however, were now walking over to everyone.

"It is time for you all to go now. We do not know where you live, but at least we can send you to your planet and all of you will be together." Everyone looked over at the two witches, who were already concentrating on creating a portal.

Trunks stands up and watches Azrel and Saria. The others noticed what was going on as well and watch too. Saria is suddenly engulfed in a bright light, but not so bright that you can't see that her wounds are being healed. Then, before the light begins to dim, Saria is seen taking in a deep breath of air. Her eyes, however, remain closed. And she still hovers in the air as the light dims to a faint glow.

Trunks starts to approach her, but is stopped by Azrel's voice. "I can not keep my hold on her for much longer. She has a long journey ahead of her, and I do not have the power to wake her and let you say goodbye." At Trunks crushed look, she continues. "It's for the best that she not remember you. She would never be able to see you again, and she still would have to choose between her family and friends over you. This way, you all will be nothing but a dream to her."

A bright flash interrupts the z-gang's immediate protests. They all look over and see another portal. Azrel speaks again. "Go now. When you reach the other side, you will be on your home planet, Chikyuu, not too far from one of your major cities."

"We don't even get to thank her for what she did?" Gohan asks.

"Why can't you just let us say goodbye to her, rather than use the energy to erase her memory?" Trunks demanded.

Azrel sighed. "We just don't have the time or energy. He'll be coming soon, wondering why he can no longer feel his pet. Just rest assured that neither you, nor she, shall ever after to see us for a second time. Again, we apologize for what has happened, but please. Just go home. You were never meant to be brought into this in the first place. You don't need to be drug in any further."

Trunks looks like he's going to argue, but instead walks over to Saria and, before anyone could stop him, gently kisses her. Surprisingly enough, Saria softly and suddenly opens her eyes halfway. Azrel gasps at this, but they ignore her. Saria's close once again, but she forces them back open, watching him with curiosity.

Trunks, sensing her losing consciousness, quickly speaks. "Do you have to go?" Saria's smile faded. She opens her mouth to speak, but Azrel immediately interrupts them.

"Stop this! You hardly know the girl as it is!" The others give a chorus of agreement, but Azrel sees Trunks stubborn glare, sighs, and walks over to Saria, looking into her face. "If you really wish to stay with him, just say so. Do you want to stay?"

This seemed to upset Saria as she scowls bitterly at her and closes her eyes for the longest moment, then regretfully shakes her head. No. Damn oath… Damn honor…! She looks back up at Trunks, who looks upset but also like he understands. "Goodbye Saria." She sleepily nods her head as Azrel steps back, then begins to chant something. The glow around Saria intensifies, but Trunks and Saria only look into each other's eyes. Saria takes a last look at everyone else, then returns to him to smirk at his upset face before the light engulfs her completely. And damn niceness.

The light changed all around her. Now it was that blue-gray liquid from the first portal that looked so much like thick water with no end. All she could see, as she floated forward, was bright blue-gray water. She could feel it cling to her whole body like it was spider web, with no warmth or cold emanating from the substance. After she passed thru this gateway, she entered a huge void of wind and nothing. As if she were in outer space. She almost couldn't feel anything as she drifted along, and then started flying forward, gaining momentum rather quickly. She felt like she couldn't breathe, but she could also feel her lungs bring in icy air with every single breath. She knew she should feel like she was suffocating, but the feel of her lungs working prevented the sensation. Around her was pressured nothingness that gave off the feeling that she should be shivering from the ice-cold atmosphere. But instead, she was almost warm. And the incredible amount of pressure around her was like she was at the bottom of an ocean, only it wasn't crushing her, either. A world of contradictions it seemed…

As she went further and further from the gateway, a long, thin tornado started to surround her. One similar to all the other miles-long ones she saw scattered throughout this odd wormhole. Or maybe she should call it void. That's what it seemed like. A tornado void. As the tornado engulfed her completely, she closed her eyes, clinging to that last memory of him. Then she bitterly pushed it away. I don't want to remember. It's too hard, the pain too great... God I'm stupid. Why did I fall for him? I know better than that… She sighed and gently hugged herself, a single tear rolling down her cheek. For you, Trunks. I regret having ever met any of you. I always will. All because you had cared about me when there was no reason to. No one does that. And then you, Trunks. You actually seemed to love me back. You give me hope now. Hope that there may yet be kindness in people. Somewhere… And that is the most horrible feeling anyone can ever know. The light started to rapidly get brighter and she opened her eyes, knowing that she was approaching the end of the wormhole. Before she went thru, tho, a single thought echoed in her mind: I may regret you, still, I am glad I met all of you. You will always be in my heart. I promise not to forget you. She half-heartedly smirks. If I have anything to say about it.

A world of contradictions, indeed.

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Translations/Explanations:

HA! Piss off until next chapter. :)