Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Ten no Ai ❯ Part 9 ( Chapter 9 )

Kakarotto finally blinked sometime later after he screamed himself unconscious. I thought I really had killed him. I was out for a short while too. Kakarotto finally rolls his head around to look at me wearily. He uses what little energy he has to smile and lean towards me for a kiss. Before he can make it exhaustion overtakes him and his head fall back to the pillow. A minute later he tries to lift a hand to my face, but it doesn't make it. He lies limply and breathes heavily from his exertions.

"Bejii..iita..I feel ..so..strange..c.can't move.." he says slowly.

I smile and cup his warm cheek. "Then rest," I say softly and kiss him one last time.

He smiles again and closes his eyes. I curl up next to him, exhausted as well. We both fall into a deep sleep.

===

Day Ten

Breathing, rustling bed clothes, and light snoring are the only things to be heard in our room. After so many days of 'fun' and junk food, Kakarotto finally crashed, taking me with him.

How can one need a vacation from a vacation?

We don't even bother to leave the room. We continuously call for room service. On the fifth or sixth call, I noticed the growing exasperation in the attendant's voice on the phone. Why the hell is she annoyed?! This is just more money for her! Considering how expensive everything is here. Her tried patience is suitable compensation for my near empty wallet.

I guess we'll give them a big tip before we leave. Greedy bastards. Though neither I nor Kakarotto are one's to talk. He doesn't even notice the odd looks we get from the people bringing up the food. He's too busy trying to inhale the three layer strawberry cake, right before attempting to swallow the entire turkey and..

"HEY!! Leave me some!!!" I screech, prying the meat out of his hands.

The hotel attendant slinks slowly to the door, mortified.

===

Day Twelve

Today, we opt for more quiet activities and healthier foods. Kakarotto actually makes a decent suggestion of a picnic in the park. We order sandwiches, fruit and soup, pack it up and haul it all to the Black Forest Park.

Kakarotto leads the way and I trail close behind him, the food tucked under my arm. I keep it away from my voracious mate. He looks around every so often, trying to pick out a nice place to sit and set up. It's hard to choose. Everything seems 'nice.' The reddish light cuts through the blue sky, and the now purple rays stream through the black needles of the trees; giving the place an almost dream-like quality. People walking, chatting, children playing, dogs barking and yipping. Normally I would find these things annoying. Especially the girl skating behind us for the past five minutes. But somehow, they all add to the easy-going mood of the day.

I don't think I've been this content in a long while. Life has been so different since that day when Kakarotto walked back into my life. The day when I'd nearly lost my last shred of hope. The day I thought my life could not possibly get any bleaker. Since then, things have turned around so much. Everything is going so well.

Maybe too well.

Despite my paranoid musings, my tail sways gently behind me, showing my surprisingly light mood. Kakarotto's eyes finally lock on a clearing of dark green grass under a tall, black weeping willow with a thick trunk. At least I think that's what it is. We begin to walk towards the tree when all at once, a sweet, agonizing pressure races from the tip of my tail and up my spine.

"Unn!...." It takes me by such surprise I stumble and fall to my knees whimpering lightly, breathing a little heavier. The grip on my tail doesn't lessen, and I feel my strength leaving me. Amazingly, I didn't drop the food. I can usually prevent this sort of reaction when my tail is grabbed. I guess I've been too relaxed lately. How could I have let my guard down so much?

"Ka..karotto!....let go..!" I say with a shaky voice. But it's not him. He is a few steps ahead of me when he finally hears me calling and stops. I turn my head slowly, wondering who would dare touch me in such a way other than Kakarotto. It's that young girl on skates holding the end of my tail. She couldn't have been more than ten. Kakarotto sneers at her menacingly and she lets go abruptly.

"Ah!...I'm..I'm sorry!! I was just you know ...skating and I saw you have a tail. ..and *sniff* it looks really soft, like a kitty's tail and...uh..you know I just *sniff* wanted to pet it..I'm sorry..am I in trouble?"

Kakarotto does not answer as he helps me up, but his scowl does not waver. The frightened girl skates away with tears in her eyes quickly, no longer wanting to be a part of the scene we're making. Smart girl, but obviously not too smart. A few more seconds and Kakarotto may not have been so "kind."

Kakarotto leads me to the tree of his choosing and unpackes the food. Surprisingly far from people.

I think I'm starting to rub off on him after all.

Eating in solitude is a welcome change anyway. Our volume and speed while eating always makes people gawk. We finish off the last sandwich soon after. Pleasantly full, I lean up against the tree and closed my eyes. I hear grass rustling, and then feel weight on my lap. I don't have to open my eyes to know Kakrotto rests his head in my lap. I open my eyes just to make sure it's not some other strange person trying to invade my personal space yet again. Kakarotto's dark eyes stare up at me, a strange unreadable expression in them. Strange for someone who's always so open. I can usually read him like a book.

I smooth the dark bangs from his forehead hoping to see something akin to a smile return to his face. His visage does not improve. It only becomes more unreadable. I rest my hand of his cheek.

"What is it? What are you thinking about?"

| This isn't like you |

Again, he does not answer. He turns in my lap, facing away from me. A few minutes later his breath evens out and he drifts off to sleep.

Maybe the rest will do him good. Maybe it will bring him back to his old self.

===

Day Thirteen

By the next day Kakarotto did indeed seem better. But so much for "quieter activities." That night we find ourselves in a club, the "Fuzzy Navel." It's not the overly loud, thumping, blaring, jarring clubs my son once frequented. This one seems much nicer and dare I say, more to my tastes. I'm surprised when I hear music that sounds very similar to something I've heard on Earth flowing past the doorway. Well, this is a tourist spot, why wouldn't they have things that pander as many species, and cultures as possible?

It's actually a cafe and bar of sorts, with live music every so often. The lighting, the candles, and the deep orange glow all give it a smoky, mysterious atmosphere. The music sets it off just right. We pick a small booth to the right of the stage, not too far from the bar. There is no singer now, only the radio plays.

We order some warm sake. The sweet kind of course, to appease my constant craving for sugar. After the second bottle, I feel a little warmer than usual. I sit back, enjoying the sake's fleeting taste on my tongue, and listen to the words of the song. The volume is so low that the words seem to drift through the smoke filled, orange air. I try to make out the lyrics even though I was never fluent in English...

When I wake up in the morning love

And the sun light hurts my eyes

And something without warning love

Is heavy on my mind

Those few lyrics describe my life before Kakarotto's return so well. When I wondered everyday if life was even worth living, and maybe this time he would not be back. But unlike the singer, at the time I had no one to turn to and relieve my woes. Not until that day.

Then I look at you

And the world's alright with me

Just one look at you

And I know it's gonna be..

A lovely day!

That day he came back. That day the sun shone brightly again for the first time in a long time.

Lovely day. Lovely day. Lovely day. Love--ly day!

I haven't questioned my faith in him or life since.

When day that lies ahead of me

Seemed impossible to face

When someone else instead of me

always seems to know the way

How ironic. It's Kakarotto that has brought me both great pain and great joy. Something I thought I wouldn't have the luxury of. I used to blame him for my disenchantment and with the outcome of my life. He had always possessed the admiration and respect of those around him, and the power to over come even the most ridiculous odds. Things I strove to attain for myself, things that seemed to come sp easily and naturally to him. The shadow he cast was so great. I actually hated for it him once. Now, I couldn't imagine having such negative feelings towards him.

He's changed me so much, and I really must be drunk to suddenly becoming philosophical over sake..

I look down at my mate. He leans forward on his crossed arms, his head tilting this way and that way in time with the slow, rhythmic music. The chorus plays again and I run my fingers though his dark hair. He purrs lightly and arches towards my hand. As the song draws to a close he sits up and put and arm over my shoulders.

He pours another glass of now only lukewarm sake for himself, assuming I've already had my fill. Across the floor a woman sits at the bar dressed in deep red velvet. She looks over for a moment before tipping her liquor filled glass at him. She winks, pursing her lips. He just blinks, as do I. Still a bit tipsy, not knowing what else to do and I have no drink to tip back at her. Kakarotto eyes her skeptically before pulling me a little closer. She lowers her eyes in defeat and goes back to drinking whatever concoction the bartender made for her.

Kakarotto's been a little off lately. Maybe he's had a bit too much vacation. Despite his slightly out of character behavior, I sink down more into his embrace earning annoying 'aaaawws' from some younger girls behind us, and a grumble from the woman in red at the bar.

===

Day Fourteen

Checkout day.

We return the keys and towels to the desk in the main hall. We also pay the fines for all the damage we've done to our room. Mainly the bed. Maintenance will have their work cut out for them. Our 'fun' can be quite noisy and destructive. The attendant did look at me strangely as I knew she would, and even more so when she recognized Kakarotto's voice as he called me from the lobby. She's probably never heard him say anything other than my name.

Or anything intelligible for that matter before now.

I finish up and Kakarotto and I walk out of the hotel, trying out best to ignore the looks, snickers, or blushing of the other hotel patrons from the rooms around ours.

We decide not to take the ship provided by winning the tournament. We give our tickets to someone else and teleport home. It's much faster and quieter this way. The crowd on the ship was intolerable. That and for some reason, I really wanted to go home. 'Vacations' are nice and all, but I miss the familiar feel of our blue, dome shaped house. I haven't even been living there very long and I already miss it.

One hand on my shoulder, and a flash, then we are home again.

Kakarotto was worried that if he weren't there to keep the grounds that the shrubs and grass would engulf the entire house. He was relieved to find that untrue. Silly thing. It looks just the way we left it.

"That was really fun!! But I'm still glad to be home," Kakarotto states. I would agree except for the sudden nagging feeling in the back of my mind.

"Hey..did I leave that door open?.." Kakarotto asks.

That feeling only worsens and an odd sense of dread builds in the pit of my stomach.

| Oh stop it!! You're just being paranoid!! |

Kakarotto noticed my sickened expression as we walk through the front door.

"What's wrong kitten?" he asks playfully as he pulls me in for kiss. A breathless minute later he asks; "What's wrong? Too much vacation for ya?"

"Kitten? That's a new one," a voice says from the kitchen and we look up at the words.

"Who's there!?" Kakarotto asks, brows drawn together.

| A voice I hadn't heard in so long |

We walk to the kitchen quickly, wanting to deal with this intruder and have them out of our house as soon as possible. A woman in a short red dress and greenish, blue hair sits comfortably at our table with her back towards us, sipping hot coffee.

"Long time no see, Bejiita."

"..Bu..ruma?" I say barely audible. Kakarotto looks from me to the figure and back again?

"Buruma?" he parrots. "But..I don't see her.."

===

Bejiita's face pales as we round the corner and finally see the black haired woman sitting in our kitchen. Her hair in a bun, high on her head. She wears a yellow tunic and baggy white pants underneath.

"Chichi?..." How can that be? How is that possible?

"Long time no see," she says.

"What....How did you get in here?" Bejiita asks suddenly.

"You left the door open, or better yet Gokuu left his keys in the door and I let myself in."

Kakarotto looks away slightly embarrassed.

"How did you know where we live?" I ask.

" ' We?'...I saw you at the mall a couple weeks ago. I heard about you from the tournament on the news. You two gave them all quite a show. I'm surprised you didn't just start fucking right there on the arena floor, right in front of everyone," she went on crassly, her voice full of disgust.

"What!?!" I stood there shocked. My mouth slightly agape.

She took another sip of her coffee ignoring me.

"Why are you here?"

"Nice to see you too.."

| Why have you come back to haunt me after all this time? |

===

Buruma ..it's been so long since I've seen her. Not since she di...I don't finish the thought. But instead of seeing this reunion as some sort of joyous occasion, I couldn't be more miserable.

We've lived here together a short time, but she's already tracked me down. I realize it never even occurred to me to go look for her, my family of friends when I first arrived here. I've been too consumed with Kakarotto. But still, how can she be here? Why now?

"How long?" She asked.

"How long have you been...together?" she asks in a low voice, hesitating at the last word, as if she had a hard time saying it. We didn't even mention we were together. But it wouldn't take anyone with even half a brain long to figure it out. The pet name, the fact that there's only one bedroom. The whole house smelled of us. We shared everything, a house, food, our lives, a bed. The bed has its own distinct scent, betraying our activities there.

"I know you couldn't have been here long. But you sure didn't hesitate to get together." Buruma said with her back still to us. I can't see her face, but I can tell she's furious by the shaking of her shoulders.

"You couldn't WAIT to get me out of the way could you?"

"Could you!!?" she screams now.

It's true.

My first reaction is to say no. But in the back of my mind, and in the darker part of my heart where I keep my real feelings hidden, I've had that very same thought many times. If she weren't around, I would not have wasted a moment to go after Kakarotto.

No caresses hidden in battle, or subtle hints in conversation, no restraint, no pretense. No heart ache. I could have had what I wanted long ago. If she or Chichi were gone we would have been free. Nothing would have kept us apart. Nothing at all. But my sense of duty to her, and my affection for her prevented me from doing such a thing.

I hang my head. Is that really all I saw Buruma as? An obstacle? In the beginning she was only a means of getting close to who I really wanted. But I did develop feelings for her. I even grew to love her. But never the way I love him. She was always second in my heart... and I think she knows it.

===

Chichi went on and on. Bejiita just looked down at the tiled floor. Why? All her insults are directed at me. And what about Buruma? Where is she? Bejiita mutters to himself every so often and Chichi goes on, ignoring him as if he weren't there.

| Why is she here!!?? |

Things were going so well...

She always does this. Spoils all my fun, spoils what little tranquility or happiness in my life with her endless yelling and hurtful words.

Why can't she leave me alone?

Why can't she leave me in peace?

Why does Bejiita look more upset than I do?

===

"I knew...somehow I always knew how you felt about him." Buruma continued.

Every other day you would train with him, every hour you would talk about him or mention him in some way, every minute, every second, you would think of him. He was always on your mind. Even though you always sneered, or said you only sparred with him in hopes that you would finally beat 'that baka Kakarotto'."

"But I knew you were lying. I wondered if you two were really sparring at all."

"You know Gokuu.." she says turning around to face us finally. "I even grew to hate you for a time because of that."

Gokuu seemed unphased by this. It's a bit strange since they were friends for so long. Despite such harsh words, he doesn't respond the way I thought he would. But he does grow angrier and angrier by the minute. Why? Most of Buruma's comments are directed towards me.

===

"Buruma was lucky... they were never really married, so there was an excuse. At least she was with someone who actually came home at night. But he's still no better than you."

| Who is this person? This isn't Chichi. It can't be |

"What?"

She laughs out loud suddenly. "You two are really are made for each other!" she says with another chuckle, though it is full of contempt.

"I should have known you would turn to each other. I...your family...we were never good enough for you were we Gokuu?"

I remained silent. I could not think of what to say to that.

"Only the mighty prince of saiyajin would do! How could I possibly compete with that!?" she went on, throwing up her hands adding to her theatrics.

"Chichi..it's not like th..."

"NO! That's exactly what it is!! I knew! I ALWAYS knew! You're not too good at hiding things Gokuu. You never were. Did you really believe I couldn't tell? That I wouldn't figure it out one day?"

"Chichi listen...!"

"Listen? Like when I listened to you call or moan for him in your sleep at night? It was enough to make me sick!!!"

| How can she say these things?! She always had a bit of a temper, but it was never this bad |

I could always shrug off or ignore her jeering and screaming. Why not now?

I look away momentarily, red staining my cheeks as a secret I thought I'd hidden from her so well blew up in my face. Bejiita just continued to listen with a guilty expression.

| I can't do it because now Bejiita's involved |

Why is she always so cruel?

She stands up suddenly, knocking the chair over.

"What the hell do you see in him?! He's a royal asshole who tried to kill you so many times!! What could he possibly give you that I can't?!"

| How...dare she call him... |

I look up at her, right in the eye.

"Everything!" I scream. I'm so angry I'm starting to shake. Bejiita looks up at me suddenly at my outburst. Knowing his pride, he should have reacted to her comment even faster than I did. But he only looks at me with confusion in his eyes.

Chichi does not stop. "Oh yea that's rich!" she says rolling her eyes. "What do you do all day? Eat, fight, and fuck? Oh you sure know how to live it up!"

| So sad...she seems to know so little about me |

There was nothing more to be said. I was just about past words by now. At every contemptuous stare, every scathing word or insult, every time she mocked me, or my mate. Every time she made me miserable, every time she stood in the way of what I wanted...

Nothing I did was ever good enough for her...

Nothing at all...

===

I listen to Buruma speak, but her voice tinges with another. They both switch back and forth, one getting louder than the other then back again. Buruma fades, revealing another woman with black hair and a thick bun on top of her head. She seems to be yelling, but I can only make out bits and pieces of her rant.

Chichi? How can that be?

Why can I see them both?

The anger I feel bleeding out of Kakarotto reaches a new level. His lips pull back over his teeth in a vicious sneer.

"Heh! Oh now you're angry?" Chichi says. "Like you have a right to be angry. What about me? All the times you just disappeared without a trace for decades! And where were you? With that piece of shit next to you, that never cared for anyone but himself?! You actually think he's changed?! You really are the fool he always calls you!"

Chichi fades out to reveal Buruma again, tears running down her cheeks.

"Bejiita...did you ever love me at all?" she asks sadly.

| What the fuck is going on!? |

Why does Kakarotto not see this?

Chichi fades back in and Kakarotto just snaps.

"Bitch!! You would NEVER understand!!"

In shock I look up at my mate. Chichi was always cruel and devastating in her words, perhaps even more so than me at times. But it had never been this bad. And Kakarotto..I've never seen him so angry. Not even when faced with an unbeatable foe or certain death. I feel my anger swell also, my tried and true pride voicing it's complaints. Yet it's still nothing compared to my mates reaction.

Chichi yells back? "What? I'm the bitch? What about the little prince over there? Wouldn't that name be more appropriate for him?" She says crossing her arms haughtily.

Kakarotto only growls, his tail whiping behind him. Only now do I get a clear view of his face. It's contorted with rage, and the sum of years of repression and ancient, buried pain. Pain from living with an emotionally abusive person for so long. Like an old wound ripped open and bleeding anew.

"Che... and you call that love. Ass, you're the one who never understood what love rea...Urgk..!"

I could literally hear something in Kakarotto crack just before he all but materialized in front of Chichi and wrapped his large hands around her neck. Lifting her off the ground. Kakarotto was always able to take her abuse with gentle good humor before. Never once did he raise a hand to her.

"You can say...whatever you want about me...but don't you dare bring Bejiita into this!!"

She gasps for air, pulling at his fingers like a vice around her throat. "Un..igh..nn..Go..ku..!"

He went on. A crazed gleam in his dark eyes.

"Don't mock me!"

"Don't mock my feelings for him!"

"Don't get in my way!"

"You have no claim here, no claim over me anymore. You don't get to tell me what to do ever again!!

Chichi fades away, revealing a choking Buruma. One shaking arm reaching out towards me.

"B..Bejii....jiita..m.make him..stop!..." she says with what little air she has left.

"Kakarotto!! What are you doing!? That's not Chichi..can't you see!!?" But he could not. I wonder if he even heard me at all. My words seem to fall on deaf ears, and trying to pry his fingers from around her neck is in vain.

"I'm so <i>sick</i> of your mouth!! How could I have ever loved someone like you!!? Kakarotto screamed his voice cracking and arms shaking.

*crrrk..*

"Kakarotto. Stop." I say quietly putting a hand on his shoulder. Somehow he hears me now. I see the sanity and awareness return to his eyes. But still something's not right.

===

The madness that rolled through my mind finally ebbs as Bejiita's voice brings me back. But a little too late.

*crrrk..*

And then it was over. Just like that. I see her eyes roll back in her head as they take on a very flat, dull look. It was so quick, so easy. I almost don't realize what I've done. I see now it's not just her. First her shape blips, switching back and forth between Buruma and Chichi.

| What? Why didn't I see this? W..what's going on? |

My hands immediately let go. She falls to the floor with a sickening thud. I shake her vigorously, but she does not move. He dull eyes looking back at me, almost accusingly. Then her form simply vanishes slowly until it is gone. I sit back in mute horror. Afraid to look up at my mate, afraid of what he'll think of me now...

| What have I done? |

Could I really have done such a thing? How could I have I killed her when she was already dead? Why did she still have her body? Just what happens when one who keeps their body is 'killed' in the afterlife?

Have I taken a life?

At first, that thought sounds so completely absurd. I've killed many times, but it was always out of self defense, and to protect those dear to me. Had I not done what needed to be done. Had I not stopped the countless evils that came to earth looking for trouble, they would have killed me and destroyed everyone and everything I'd ever known.

But this..this wasn't right. She was no physical threat to me. But she was a danger of a very different kind. She was always the one hindrance, the one thing that always seemed to keep me from any shred of happiness. From Bejiita. My feelings, they were like some stupid game to her. This time she'd just gone too far.

| Was that all I ever saw her as? Not as a mother, wife or friend but a hindrance? |

Am I really so worried about being apart from him? Losing him?

Do I love him so much that I'd really kill for him?

I never though I'd ever hear those words, even in my own head.

What have you turned me into..?

My arms just lie limply at my sides.

"Bejiita look what you made me do..."

TBC

"Control Arc" (C) 2002 Rena "Sama" / 'the light'

===

Author's comment

ALL of this will be explained in the next and final chapter.

I realize "Control" isn't even an appropriate title for this story anymore. It hasn't been for some time now. I guess when I draw out the doujinshi version of this story I'll pick a more fitting title. :D Also as far as this chapter, I know they stumbling onto a Motown Cafe type place on another planet is rather unlikely but hey whatever..it's MY story! XD

[1] For the club scene I happened to be listening to CD 101.9, for their "slow jams" at the time. I dunno, it seemed liked the kind of music and setting the prince might enjoy, aside from a Disturbed or Linkin Park concert :P

[2] Song: "Lovely Day" (c) Bill Withers. (I own nothing, just like the song, no sue, have no money, is poor college student)