Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Never Melt Ice ❯ Refuse ( Chapter 2 )

A/N: Excuse me for the lateness, I took the liberty of making this a bit longer. Also, I'll stick the plugs up here so you know what I'm spending some of my other time doing: It's Time I Cared: Save Regret for Another Day (a short one-shot based on a dream I had), and Triumph of Devotion, the PFF between myself and Vegeta's Gyal. Also, check out her fics Something More, Paint it Black, and An Unexpected Love! ^_^

Never Melt Ice.

chapter two, refuse.

Nebumi slowly worked her way back into consciousness, a yawn escaping her lips.

Suddenly, like an onrushing flood, memory came back to her. The guards, the two monsters, the... that thing. With its white face and onyx helmet, piercing red eyes, strong, yet delicate fingers... Nebumi shuddered, opening her eyes warily, unsure of what to expect.

The room was a dank, stark-white, nothing adorning the plain walls beside a steel door and a small, round window. She sat up quickly, peering around into each corner for any kind of danger. Her bed creaked, the meager cot obviously done and over with its life of service. A small, mechanical sound caught her attention, drawing her wide, golden eyes to the ceiling.

Following her every movement was a miniscule, black camera, red lights flashing above the eye whenever she flinched. Nebumi cleared her throat, staring right into the device as she lay back in bed. Never having seen such an object in her life, she had absolutely no idea she could possibly be monitored. It looked like a small, upside down rat, and that was the only concept that clicked. It was just an animal. With shiny, black skin. And no head. And a blinking red light.

Just a rat.

Nebumi closed her eyes, shaking in disbelief. What was happening? What did she do? All these bizarre creatures... Someone was probably playing some cruel joke on her. But those didn't really seem like costumes.

Finally deciding to accept her surroundings, the pale-skinned woman opened her eyes and stood up, walking towards the door. It was completely bare, besides a small peep hole that was too high for Nebumi to even consider glancing through anyway. She sighed, making her way across the room towards the small, portal-like window.

Peering through the metal framework, the sight before her sent her into shock.

Water was everywhere. Bright, clear, blue water. It reflected the bright, white sun, which hovered in the distance. It was apparently dawn, the clear skies burning with a pearly glow, misty clouds riding crystal clear waves.

Blinking, Nebumi furrowed her brow. The waves weren't moving! Straining her vision, her assumptions were correct. The waves remained still, their foaming caps shimmering only from the visibly vibrant air. Looking lower, the water had seeped onto the stone shore. It, too, was completely stationary, small ripples unmoving as they circled jutting rocks.

It was completely frozen.

Her state of shock was interrupted by a loud hiss. Spinning around, Nebumi saw the door open mechanically, most likely holding her impending doom.

She shrunk back against the wall, knowing whatever came knocking at her room would most likely not be there for any good reasons. As the door clicked into place open, her pounding ears were overcome by a small, sweet voice.

"Miss?"

Blinking, Nebumi peered into the hall. A young boy stood in the doorway, head tilted. His skin was a bubblegum blue, his eyes shadowed by rampant green hair. It stuck out in every direction, hanging unevenly down his back and shoulders. The boy did not appear to be more than eleven or twelve, if his height and play-torn clothing was any suggestion.

"Excuse me... miss?" He tilted his head, his voice innocently girlish. Nebumi snapped out of her trance, walking towards the boy.

"Yes?" she asked, her quivering voice betraying her. He smiled slightly before delivering his news.

"Your presence is requested. Follow me." Nebumi raised an eyebrow, but nodded. What else could she do? The boy turned, taking off at a trot down the hall. Still dressed in her peasant clothes, she hurried after him.

*

Nebumi couldn't help but be amazed at the castle's vastness. The walls were ornamented with nothing besides rows of doors, all complete with a closed off access panel, and the occasional portal-like window. The halls were lit by numerous built in lights, the idea of light created by something other than a candle or gas lamp making Nebumi stare in wonder. The technology seemed practically limitless.

As if reading her mind, the small, green-haired boy spoke up. "The walk will be a while. The elevator ride is a few minutes, and then we have to get to the east wing," he informed her, turning swiftly down another corridor. Nebumi trotted to catch up with him.

"Well, alright. But, I have a question... Where am I?" He came to a stop in front of what appeared to be an average door, until he flipped open the control panel and pressed a button. The door opened, the boy leading his charge into the small, square room.

"You're on planet Kold, in the main headquarters of King Kold," he said unenthusiastically, the door closing automatically in front of them before the entire room began to move. Nebumi stared around in shock, grabbing the blank steel wall for some kind of support as the elevator began to descend, if the swiftly rising surroundings were any indication.

"...King Kold?" The boy sighed, pushing a matt of his green hair out of his eyes.

"The ruler of the planet Kold and this galaxy. I'm surprised you haven't heard of him," he said, snorting at the last. Nebumi shook her head.

"Oh. Well, no one from where I come from has ever left my home planet. But, beside the point, what's your name? It seems strange for a young boy like you to be working with all these monsters," she pointed out, finally gaining her balance. The elevator picked up speed, reducing the sporadic rocking to a minimum. The boy glanced up at her and laughed.

"I'm thirty years old. That isn't that young, is it?" he asked, chuckling. Nebumi's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

"How...?" she stuttered, blinking rapidly. The boy cleared some hair from his eyes, leaning against the metal wall.

"I just don't grow up as quickly," he replied calmly, smiling up at her. Nebumi nodded, grinning as she patted him on the head.

They stood in silence for a few moments, light flashing in long strands through the small portal window. This place was so new, so strange... Nebumi shuddered, leaning heavily against the wall. Mother's going to be worried about me, she sighed to herself, looking again at the small boy standing so carelessly in front of her.

"What's your name?" she asked finally.

"Zarbon." Nebumi kneeled a bit, the boy watching her curiously.

"Well, Zarbon, do you know why the King wants me?" she inquired quietly, brushing a strand of renegade green hair from his face. He sighed, lowering his head.

"No. It most likely will not be good, though," Zarbon replied, lament etched into the soft features of his face. Nebumi smiled, despite her quivering hands. "We're almost there," he added, racing to the door as the machine began to slow, clanking heavily against its barriers as it descended.

*

"OUT!" The half open double doors rumbled, the holler reverberating off the walls. Zarbon came tumbling through the entrance, eyes wide and hair in an abnormally wild tussle.

"H-he wa..wa-wants you n-now," the boy stuttered, attempting to catch his breath. Nebumi watched him worriedly, patting the boy's head more for her reassurance than anything.

"Thank you, dear," she said quietly, making her way towards the half-open double doors.

The room was completely empty. This was obviously not the throne room, if the immense upright bed on the far wall was any indication. The walls-apparently against the general motif of the rest of the castle-consisted of some color, various tapestries hanging from nails on the painted steel. It was a pearly off-white, each tapestry a different shade of icy blue. They pictured tall, purple creatures, bearing black horns or long, extended heads.

Windows adorned the far wall, circling the head of the bed. Glancing to either side of her for the supposed occupant of the room, she was satisfied with the vacancy and slowly walked towards a large, framed window.

The view was much the same as before, shimmering oceans of ice stretching out in every direction. This appeared to be facing a different direction, for the evening sun only cast jagged shadows across the frozen waves. Along the horizon, the sea disappeared into a dark void, stars glimmering along the distant night sky.

Sighing, Nebumi stepped back from the window. The King would be coming in any time... She was still a bit befuddled at his rapid disappearance. The creature didn't seem to be one for waiting or lurking in shadows; Nebumi bit her lip, leaning against the round windowsill.

"Hello dazzling," a husky voice whispered into her ear, tickling her lobe, causing her to jump almost three feet, letting out a scream. The King took an elegant step, his toes spreading powerfully across the steel tile floor. His eyes were half-lidded almost seductively, his large, black helmet tipped to one side. He wore no "royal" articles of clothing, a particular oddity she had been too preoccupied to notice on their first meeting. He had very human fingers, covered by a natural gauntlet that stretched up his forearm. His shoulders and chest were ornamented by small purple plates. Compared to her two abductors he was small, but still rose six inches or more above her.

Nebumi pressed herself closer to the wall, staying as far from him as possible. Despite the King's obviously painful intent, she felt almost drawn to the elegant creature. Crushing the tiny desire instantly, she glanced about for an escape. It might have been easy to slip away if it weren't for the obvious stealth the King had displayed earlier.

"You can't run away," the voice assured her, tickling her ear despite the four foot gap between them.

"..What do you want with me?" Nebumi asked quietly, lowering her eyes from the King's intense gaze. He snickered.

"You are also naive," he noted, sneering. A shudder ran down her spine, her golden eyes reflecting the dim dusk light flooding in through the room's many windows. A lock of curly gray hair hung over her face, absurdly blocking her vision. Too frightened to move it herself, the King quickly closed the gap between them and stopped before her, brushing her hair almost delicately from her face.

His gentle expression was soon replaced by a primal, horrific lust, his eyes narrowing. They roamed her body, still blockaded by loose-fitting peasant's clothes.

Nebumi recognized the look instantly, narrowing her eyes and getting into a defensive stance, raising her fists on either side of her face.

"Don't even think about touching me," she snarled, jogging one foot in front of the other. The King's eyes widened... and he burst into laughter. After guffawing for a few moments, he stopped abruptly and became deadly serious.

"I will do what I wish," the pearly white creature said in a low, flat voice, suddenly slamming his palms into the wall on either side of her face. Eyes widening in horror, Nebumi ducked under his arm as fast as possible.

A hand grabbed her neck roughly, causing the pale-skinned girl to cough. She grabbed frantically at the once harmless-looking fingers, which held her throat securely pinned.

The King lifted his other hand, a pair of black-nailed fingers traveling along her pronounced collar bone. It traveled to the top of her low, jagged leather shirt, but was batted away ineffectively by her other hand.

"Don't touch me," Nebumi choked out, struggling frantically in his grip. Her elbow slammed into his stomach in vain, merely earning herself a low growl and a sore elbow.

Suddenly, his fingers released her neck, albeit roughly. Coughing, Nebumi stepped back and glared at the creature before her. His eyes were clouded with a combination of confusion and anger, amazed at her insolence and irritated at losing his prey.

"ZARBON!" the King cried suddenly, his immense voice echoing off the walls and reverberating into the hallway. He paused, closing his eyes and tapping one three-toed foot impatiently.

The doors burst open, the small, green-haired boy panting as he entered. Raising an eyebrow, he bowed and glanced sideways at his king.

"Yes, your majesty?" King Kold made his way across the room, leaning over to the boy.

"Take this girl and tell her just how I operate," he whispered, Zarbon's skin tingling from his low, husky voice. The boy watched his king's every movement, his blood running cold at the creature's horrifically soft touch.

Making his way back across the room, the King approached Nebumi, the girl flattening herself defensively against a wall. He snickered, leaning into her ear.

"You will obey me," he whispered, his voice edged with a barbaric growl. Nebumi's eyes widened as the slim, white creature pulled away, waving is hand at the two and disappearing into a paneled door.

Zarbon walked warily towards his charge, eyeing the still frightened girl with scrutiny.

"What did you do?" he asked, grabbing her hand and darting unceremoniously into the hall. Nebumi followed aimlessly, looking at the little blue-skinned boy.

"I said no."