Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ My Beloved Monster ❯ Chapter 6 ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6

Here's some more reviews from you, the readers:

Aymei: Hey, hey! Take it easy! I know it's been a while, but here it is at long last! Sorry the chapters have been short lately, but it's so hard to move on in this story. Even I don't know for sure what happens next, I'm just making it up as I go along! ^^ Glad to hear that you're enjoying it so far. I hope you like this chapter!

Suiceene: Ease off on 17, he'll get what's coming to him. No prob, I kinda like answering reviews. Even the bad ones... there's one coming up. You'll see what I mean...

Bonnie-Shay: Oh, hello new face! Glad you're taking interest in this!

Stephanie Byrd: I most certainly will.

ULTRAnormalMAN: I hope you got my e-mail, you were very nice to leave your addy for me to tell you off. For the love of God, watch your language. And if you hate having perfect but short chapters, read on and eat THAT!

dbz_fan: Hi, Soni! You e-mailed me about updating this, and here it is! I hope you like it! I'll try to update more often! But first...I need a new word processor...my bold and underline aren't showing up anymore...

Well, that's all for now! Enjoy Chapter 6!

*******

"You're going to be fine, 21." She assured her friend. "I won't let you die."

"Why?"

18 looked at 21's flushed face in shock. His eyes were still closed and he wouldn't look at her. She shook her head at him.

"Did you just ask 'why?' " She wondered. "That's a dumb question. I like you a lot, 21. I'd miss you if you died. You're…my friend."

Then she felt something on the side of her face. She turned slightly and saw the tips of his fingers gingerly stroking her face and hair. She gasped slightly, and put a hand over his softly.

"Don't…" she muttered slightly.

Gero noted their behavior carefully.

"Hmm…" he growled to himself.

*******

tatoeba aite no tsumi wo kaburu koto ga

kore kara takusan takusan aru ka to omou

sore wo nee akirame mitomeru koto wa nai

sore ga otona ni naru koto nara naranakute ii

kimi no koto wa itsudemo mite'ru

kimi no koto wa watashi ga dakishimeru

hitoribocchi da nante omowanaide ite

kanashii namida ni wa kuchibiru wo yosete

nemurenai toki wa denwa wo shite kite

kimi no iyagaru koto wa kesshite shinai

furimuite -- AISHITE'RU

From now on, I think I'll probably have to

shoulder the sins of others countless times,

but I'll never admit defeat.

If that's what it means to grow up, then I'd rather not.

I'll always be watching you.

I'll be the one to hold you.

Never think that you're alone,

and bite back those sad tears.

When you can't sleep, give me a call and come over.

I'd never do anything to hurt you.

Look my way -- I love you.

*******

21 was taken into the bunker, and 21 laid him on the operating table. He went to the medical table and searched for the tranquilizer. 18 stood by 21's side, stroking his shoulder softly. The bio-android didn't have the strength left to bat her hand away.

"Please…don't…" he moaned at her. 18 stopped, but kept her hand on his shoulder.

"You okay?" she asked. He closed his eyes and sighed.

"You…you lie…don't you?"

"What?" 18 blinked. "What are you talking about?"

21 turned his head away, refusing to speak to her. She leaned further on his chest to look in his face.

"21, please…"

"You wouldn't…You…would be happier without me…wouldn't you?"

18 couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"What are you talking about 21! Tell me right now!"

21 started sobbing, and tears streamed from his eyes.

"Don't play dumb with me!" he screeched at her, startling her so bad she jumped to the other side of the room.

"Hey, settle down!" Gero ordered 21. 21 glared at 18, then covered his face with one hand and continued crying. That just pissed Gero off, and he quickly stuck the needle in 21's neck.

"I don't know what got you worked up, but quiet down! Right this minute!"

21 whimpered a little as he felt the hot liquid squirt into his blood stream, and he rolled to his side as Gero took the needle out. Then, the old man looked at his watch, mentally counting down the seconds until 21 fell silent. As Gero rolled 21 on his back again, 18 carefully approached.

"What was that all about?" she asked, putting her hand back on his shoulder. 21 put his hand over hers before he went out and started sleeping.

"I may have an idea…" Gero thought to himself, taking out a small device and attaching it to 21's wrist. It beeped a few times before maintaining a droning hum. 18 recognized it as a miniature energizer unit, like the big one kept in her recharging pod upstairs. She watched it carefully.

"How long will this take?" she asked Gero. "It looks too small to charge up his body in ten minutes."

"This…" Gero pointed to the device, "…will take two hours. The actual recharging will take two days."

"Two days?" 18 blinked. "How are you going to recharge him in two days?"

"With that." Gero pointed to the side of the main computer. 18 looked to see a culture tank like the one 21 grew in, but it was much larger and was not full of water.

But it would be in two hours…

*******

samishisa ni osare taore-sou ni nattara

kodomo no you ni oogoe de naite mogaite

asahi wo mitara inoru you ni kyou mo yoroshiku to

yowayowashikute mo egao no mama de ite hoshii

kimi no koto wa itsudemo mamoru

kimi no moto ni ii koto kitto aru

arikitari da nante iwanaide ite

kokoro wo tsuyoku mae ni dashite agetai dake

ashita wa kyou yori kibishii to omou kara

kimi wo sasaeru hashira ni naritai

sono namida -- AISHITE'RU

If you're opressed by sadness and about to break down,

struggle against it, crying out loud, like a child

When you see the rising sun, say "Hello again" as if in prayer

I'd like to see you smile, if only weakly

I will always protect you

Surely there will be good things in store for you

Don't say it's something common

I just want to offer you my heart

Since I think tomorrow will be more severe than today

I want to be the pillar that supports you.

Those tears -- I love you

*******

18 refused to leave 21's side, even by Gero's orders. Gero wasn't surprised by the fact that 18 disobeyed him, but by her eagerness to stay by 21 and be sure he would be alright. Gero had no choice but to let her stay and watch 21's energy replenish. He was amazed by her loyalty to him. It had only been a week, and she displayed the same determination and support of a mother and a sick child.

Two hours passed, and 18 helped Gero lift 21 into the culture tank and tape voltage wires on his arms, shoulders, chest, and legs. Gero taped other small cables to 21's head, throat, feet, and over his heart to keep track of 21's condition via the super computer. He closed the top of the canister and sealed it tight by turning the valve until the giant wheel refused to turn any further, leaving 21 in an airtight chamber. Gero pushed a small button on the container's computer consul and the tank filled with water in a matter of seconds.

"Can he breathe in there?" 18 asked, looking at 21's unprotected beak in concern.

"He's fine." The android doctor insisted. "His respiratory system can change from taking oxygen in the air to taking oxygen from water instantly. Think of it like a lungfish, a fish that can live in and out of water because it has two types of lungs."

"Oh." 18 nodded. She looked at 21's relaxed and sleepy face. His earlier outburst worried her. Was he under the impression that she didn't like him? That she hated him and treated him like trash? That wasn't true at all! She did like him! He was her friend, the only real friend she had had in a long time. Her brother didn't necessarily count as a friend, she saw him as more of a tag-along, like a leader who gave her half the leading power. 19 was just an annoyance she hardly called a friend. 21 was someone she could be herself around. His innocent and child-like attitude fascinated her, since she never met anyone like him before. She trusted him the most out of everyone in the compound, and…

She noticed that her thoughts could go on and on…

She rested her forehead on the glass, feeling it cool down what she suspected was a coming headache.

What is happening to me?

Why am I thinking these things about him?

He's just an android like I am…

…

What is the matter with me?

I can't be…

Oh God, this is ridiculous!

I can't fall in love again!

I've done that one too many times, and I've learned my lesson!

Don't fall for the really ugly ones, dummy!

Besides…

What do androids know of love?

As she stood there pondering what was happening to her, Gero glared at her emotional face out of the corner of his eye.

Great…

Is Android 10 and 11 all over again…

He began to walk out of the bunker. 18 noticed him walking for the door and raised her head up.

"Where are you going?"

"He just needs to be here for two days to heal up." He explained. He gave her a hard glare. "You're not really going to stay down here for two days."

18 blew a sigh out her lips, the air from her mouth tossing a few lose strands of hair from her eyes.

"I dunno. I'll think about it."

Gero shook his head in pity.

"You shouldn't get so attached to that one. It's just a failed project."

18 glared back at him.

"I don't think so. I think he's perfect. You just need time to sit down and fix what went wrong."

"What do you think I've been doing for the last week?!" Gero yelled. "I'm damn near ready to quit!"

18 smiled slyly, then bent herself foreword so that a little of her cleavage was showing past her shirt collar.

"You quit too easily, doc." She taunted with a sexy chuckle. "You forgot about our little deal, didn't you?"

Blood started to squirt out of Gero's nose.

"AAAAAAAA! Tissue! Tissue!" he yelled, going back to his desk and twisting a couple of tissues up his bleeding nose. He then turned back to her.

"No, no! I haven't forgotten! How could I?!" he announced. "I'll find 21's problem! All I have to do is work on it! I'm sure it's just a tweaking of some strands of DNA that will set the matter straight!"

"That's what I like to hear." 18 nodded, standing back up straight. "Now, go do what you have to do. I'm sure it's really important."

"Yes, it is." Gero nodded. He opened the doors to the bunker, and walked out. As he headed to the rung latter to head up to the lab, he asked himself:

"Now, what would cause such a loud outburst like that earlier? I think I may know…"

*******

"ANDROID 17!"

"Uh oh…" 17 frowned with a sarcastic tone to his voice. "He used my full name. I'm in really big trouble. So, what am I falsely accused of doing this time?"

"21 was very worked up about something today. Did you have anything to do about it?"

17 sat down on the couch and stared at the radio before him.

"He's been depressed all week. I dunno."

Gero stood in front of him.

"Why has he been depressed all week? It takes more than a huge energy loss to cause an emotional change in an android!"

"Yeah, you would know." 17 mocked, then he flicked his hand in a shoo-ing motion. "Now, do you mind? I wanna turn on the radio."

"What did you do to him, 17?" Gero demanded. "Tell me or I'll push the button again."

17 raised his eyebrow at the doctor.

"But doc, if you push the button, I can't tell you anything."

Gero glared at the mechanicle man.

"Fool! I can get you to say what I want while you are shut off! Now, tell me what you did to 21!"

17 stood up to look Gero directly in the face.

"I thought you didn't like him. That he was a mistake. Why are you so concerned about him?"

"It's not what happened to him that matters to me, it's how the reaction got started." Gero insisted. "If you are going to go about and ruin every project I work on, then I should give you the proper punishment."

17 shrugged in annoyance.

"I didn't do anything! He went nuts on his own!"

Then, Gero remembered the picture he let 17 have.

Hmmm…

"17? Where is the concept picture I gave you?"

"It's in my room. You can have it back now."

"What was your 'idea' that you mentioned before?"

17 put his hands behind his head in boredom.

"It was a dumb idea, so I never used it."

Gero narrowed his eyes.

"You had better not be lying?"

"Do I ever lie to you, doc?" 17 asked dryly.

"…" Gero remained quiet, not wanting to get started on that subject. He walked away from the room.

"Must you cause trouble for me whenever I start a new project, 17?"

"Of course, doctor." 17 smirked. "If I didn't, things would be boring around here."

*******

18 sighed as she got up to leave the bunker.

"This is boring…"

She pushed open the door to leave, then she looked behind her. 21 was still in his tank, apparently asleep. She could see his chest moving up and down as he breathed.

She felt frozen. She couldn't just leave.

Without walking out of the room, she closed the door.

I can't leave him…

I have a feeling he won't be alright alone…

She walked back to where she was and stared at the culture tank. She stared at the bio-android in fascination.

He's so strange…yet so…cool…

At times, he can be sweet and sensitive…

We haven't had many androids here who know right from wrong…

Like 16…

After this Son Goku died, Gero scraped him.

I'm amazed he didn't scrap all of us…

She walked up to 21's tank.

He didn't scrap 21 right off the bat…

…and I don't think it was because of me…

She put her hand up to the glass.

Why am I thinking about 21 like this?

What is wrong with me?

She looked at 21's eyes as he slowly opened them. They stared at each other for a while, one not knowing what to think of the other. 18 licked her lips nervously, then reached one hand up to the tank. 21 cringed, squeezing his eyes shut and backing his head away. 18 only touched the glass with her fingertips, tracing over the outline of his body. She traced around his face, his shoulders and down his arms. 21 opened one eye to see what she was doing. Seeing that she wasn't about to hurt her, he opened both eyes and watched her curiously. Wondering what she was up to, he reached out with his fingertips and followed hers with them.

18 smiled, bringing her fingertips back up in front of 21's face. His fingertips went with hers, seperated by only four inches of glass. 18 used only her pointer finger to make small circles on the glass and 21 mimiced her, smiling. 18 got a cute idea and put her whole flat palm on the glass and waved that around in a circle. 21 did the same. 18 then put her other hand on the glass, then waved one after the other twice. 21 did the same. 18 started bursting out laughing before putting words to her game.

"Wax on…wax off…wax on…wax off…"

21 read her lips and thumped on the glass in reprimand. 18 took her hands off and laughed, sitting on the table to keep herself on her feet. 21 crossed his arms and turned his head away from her. 18 calmed down, and walked back up to the tank.

"21, can you hear me?"

He didn't respond to her, so she walked to where his head was and looked into his eyes.

**21, can you hear me?**

He smiled at her.

**Why are you down here?**

She smiled back at him.

**I was worried about you. Why did you yell at me eariler?**

21 stared down at his hands for a moment, then turned his eyes back up to 18.

**You were worried about me? Why should you be? You don't like me…**

18 arched an eyebrow, putting her hand on the glass just over his cheek.

**What makes you think I don't like you, 21? I like you very much. You're the closest thing to a friend I have here. Actually, you are my friend…my only friend…**

21 shook his head in disbelief.

**What about 17? You two are close…**

**Not that close. If you want to know the truth, 21…we're not fully androids like 19 or Gero. 17 and I were humans, but we were kidnapped by Gero and…**

**I know.** 21 nodded. **I know the whole story.**

18 stopped talking and nodded.

**Well, the point is…our memories were completely erased. I can't remember my name…where I lived…or if 17 is even my real brother. The one thing we still have from being human is our personality. There's no real bond between us. And I don't like anyone else here…just you.**

21 reached with his fingers and stroked the glass closest to 18's bangs.

**Why would you like me? There's nothing to like about me…**

**Are you kidding? You're very nice…and…** She turned her head away and started blushing. She couldn't look at him anymore, she felt ashamed of the thoughts running through her mind. 21 wondered what she was doing, and gently rapped on the glass with his knuckles.

Tap, tap, tap!

18 looked up at him, and he smiled at her.

**Do you need time alone?**

18 looked at his face for a moment, then sighed.

**Sure. But I don't want to leave you.**

**Go collect your thoughts. Being a confused android is a very depressing thing. Trust me.**

18 narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

**You? Confused?**

21 closed his eyes and smirked.

**Not anymore, thanks to you, 18.**

18 smiled with a satisfied nod.

**Stop being so depressed and shunning. It's gotten annoying.**

21 nodded sharply once.

Then, 18 put her fingers to her lips and pressed them to the glass where 21's cheek was. 21 blinked before putting his fingers to his mouth then pressing them at the spot where 18's fingers were. 18 winked at him before taking her fingers away and heading for the bunker door.

**I'll be back in a while.** She pushed open the doors and left. 21 curled his arms back up around him, closing his eyes.

There's that feeling again…

I told myself that I loved her, but was it true?

Androids can't love…We just can't…

What do androids know of love?

*******

kowareyasui no wa kimi ga junsui dakara

jibun wo kaeru koto wo osorenaide ite

ikite'ru n dakara ikite'ru n dakara Ah...

nemurenai toki wa denwa wo shite kite

kimi no iyagaru koto wa kesshite shinai

dakara ne furete ii?

dakishimetai sono senaka

furimuite -- AISHITE'RU

You are pure, and so easily broken

I'm not afraid to change myself

Because I'm alive, because I'm alive Ah...

When you can't sleep, give me a call, and come over

I'd never do anything to hurt you

But, is it OK to just touch you?

I want to embrace that back...

Look my way -- I love you.

((Cool. First the opening song to Key: The Metal Idol, and now the ending theme. The songs seem to work well for this story, so I'll work some more in. Thanks again for reading! I concider this story one of my best!))