Gundam Wing Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Tenchi Muyo Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction / InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Suffer the Children ❯ Training Ground ( Chapter 6 )

Chapter 6: Training Ground

Ami could not decide what to make of the small girl that introduced herself as Washu. Nor did she feel particularly comfortable around the slightly taller man that was forever frowning. Even though Duo was probably still mad at her, his presence would've been more than welcome just then.

"Welcome to my lab, everyone," Washu said, making a little bow. "I will be your hostess for this daring little venture, so please feel free to call me Washu-chan! I'll leave the introductions up to you. For now, I suggest you all familiarize yourself with the ship, since it'll serve as our training ground for the next few days. As long as someone's willing to share, there will be enough training rooms to go around. There's no point in arguing over who gets what bedroom, since they're all the same. Are there any questions?"

The man did not stay to introduce himself; he vanished into the ship without a word.

"Excuse me, Washu-chan," Ami murmured hesitantly, "but I was under the impression there would be more people here."

"Oh, there are. They're just a bit antisocial. Well, Vegeta and Inuyasha are, but they'll make up for it later. But if it's Duo you're looking for, he's busy training with Trunks."

"Trunks?" Hotaru asked.

"Vegeta's son. Sort of. He's much nicer, though. Charming boy, really."

"But…isn't he one of the…Super Saiya-jin?" Ami asked, trying to keep the alarm out of her voice.

"Oh, it's nothing to worry about, dear. Just like with Sailor Senshi, they can turn it on and off. Control is very important to them, you know. Trunks will make a fine teacher for Duo."

"What about…the demon? Inuyasha?"

"He's probably slinking around here, somewhere." Washu beamed. "I know this'll take time, girls, but these people will warm up to you eventually. More or less…"

* * * * *

Duo winced slightly as he stood, ignoring the urge to grab his side. "This is stupid."

Trunks sighed. "What is?"

"Yelling out the attack before I do it. It tends to warn enemies EXACTLY what you're planning."

"Well, until you learn how to summon the power without actually naming it, you have to yell. Otherwise, it won't know it's needed."

"It's still stupid."

Trunks rolled his eyes. "Look, this is the fastest way for you to get stronger. Unless you'd rather try the Saiya-jin way, which would involve me beating you up and seeing if you've gotten any stronger after healing."

"How come you don't yell, then?"

"Two reasons. I never had the chance to learn Kaio-Ken, and I managed to get strong enough to the point where it wouldn't have done me much good, anyway. And I should point out that this isn't an everyday technique. Very few people are ever allowed to learn it. You should be proud Washu thought you were worthy of it. I hear there's usually some very hard tests involved."

"I'd say trying to hit you is harder than any test," Duo grumbled.

Trunks smiled. "I've had lots of practice. You ready to try again?"

"Can we do it without the yelling for once?"

"Duo, you won't-"

"Look, man. Kaio-Ken only increases what you've already got. So it's not much use if I don't have enough to start with, right?"

"…I suppose…"

"Good. Then just come at me and we'll see what happens."

"I might hurt you."

"That's the point, isn't it?"

"No. The point is for you to get to the point where you can dodge and NOT get hit."

"Trunks, shut up and hit me."

Trunks hesitated, then threw a punch that whizzed past Duo's head and opened up a small cut on his cheek.

Duo blinked. "Maybe we should go back to yelling. At least then I could see when you moved."

"I've got an idea. I'll throw punches, and you power-up to whatever level of Kaio-Ken you need to block or dodge them. I'll gradually increase my speed, and you increase your levels."

"Wait. Washu said I shouldn't try anything beyond the sixth level just yet."

"Were you really going to listen to her, though?" Trunks asked.

Duo grinned. "Let's go. Kaio-Ken!!!"

Trunks's first punch came in high, and though it was still a blur, Duo had enough time to see it coming and duck. Which wasn't saying much, because Duo had needed to be at the fifth level to see anything when Trunks was really trying.

As promised, Trunks began to speed up, and Duo soon found himself at the fifth level again-and straining to stay there. The bad thing about Kaio-Ken was that it seemed to draw its enormous power (or at least focus it) on the heart. Duo had an exceptionally strong one, all things considered, but it still hurt like hell if he stayed powered-up too long. The instructional tape (with an odd, blue bug man who constantly made bad jokes) had warned against exerting the body too much until you were comfortable with the technique. And even then, it warned not to overdo it. Kaio-Ken could just as easily destroy the user as it could the opponent.

Despite Washu's warning, Duo was almost certain that if he did go to the sixth level, Something would happen. Maybe good, maybe bad, but definitely Something. Something that might hurt and make Hotaru worry endlessly, but Something Duo wanted to experience for himself, just once, if never again.

Just then, he ducked when he should've twisted aside, and Trunks's fist caught him square in the jaw. Duo's head snapped back, and the pain paled in comparison to the growing anger he suddenly felt. But not at Trunks, himself, or even being called weak. Honestly, he didn't know or care why he was angry. He just was.

And that was all that mattered.

* * * * *

"Pan-chan."

She blinked and raised her head, somewhat surprised to see that he was sitting next to her.

"I probably shouldn't ask you. It's not my right, but…I need to know, now." Gohan bit his lip, then looked directly at her. "Was I-am I-a good father?"

Pan stared at him for a long moment, then grinned. "The best." And then, before she could think to stop herself, she added, "Grandpa was always so proud of you. Now I know why."

There was a hint of red in Gohan's cheeks, but he didn't smile. "I'm sorry you got dragged into this mess, Pan-chan. I can't help but feel this is my fault…because you have my blood in you."

Pan reached over and squeezed his hand. "It's more than just your blood. And I don't blame you. If Majin Buu hadn't taken me, he would've just taken someone else."

"But…why is he making us stronger? He knows we'd never join him. We're on two different sides."

"How wrong you are, Son Gohan," Majin Buu said as he stepped into the chamber. "We are on the same side…or, we will be soon enough." He chuckled and raised his hand, revealing two red, sparkling gems between his fingers.

Gohan was instantly on his feet, moving Pan behind him. "What are you going to do with those?"

"I'm going to make us all one big, happy family." Majin Buu grinned wickedly as he came closer. "Please. Try to struggle. That just makes it more fun for me…"

* * * * *

Hotaru sighed softly as she watched the endless, starry void of space pass by her window. Washu had explained that until she could pinpoint the dimension where Mistress 9 was holding the children, there was really no rush. But Hotaru felt rushed. As if they'd forgotten something very important, and should turn around and regroup in Washu's lab. But she couldn't figure out what it was that they were forgetting.

Of course, that WAS probably why it had been forgotten in the first place, she reasoned. Maybe it would come to her later.

Her thoughts were interrupted by something soft and furry tickling her hand.

Hotaru looked down to see a small creature with a glossy brown coat and large, floppy ears. At first, she thought it was some kind of rabbit. But then she remembered seeing one resting in Washu's hair.

"Ryo-Ohki's a cabbit," Washu had said, carefully placing it in Hotaru's hands. "Very intelligent creatures. My own invention, actually. When this is all over, maybe I can let you have one, as a sort of a keepsake. But only if you promise to take good care of it!"

Hotaru slowly reached out to pet the cabbit, then drew back as it dashed away. "Don't be afraid, little one. I won't hurt you, I promise."

The cabbit stared at her warily, then slowly ventured closer, sniffing at her fingertips.

Hotaru smiled and gently petted the cabbit's head. "You're not supposed to be here, you know. Things could get dangerous, and we wouldn't want you to get hurt."

The cabbit darted up her arm and claimed her shoulder as its new seat.

"I guess you can stay here, if you're quiet," she said at last, stroking its soft fur. "But you'd better stay out of sight. Washu didn't mention food, but I'm sure I could sneak you something."

Purring loudly, the cabbit rubbed against her cheek.

Hotaru giggled and tickled its furry chin. "I can't explain it, but I feel like we're kindred spirits, you and I. Perhaps you're more than you seem, too?"

The cabbit yowled happily and hopped onto her head, nestling down in her dark hair before falling asleep.

Hotaru smiled…and then shuddered as an uneasy feeling touched her heart. "Duo," she whispered softly, her eyes widening with worry.

* * * * *

The landscape looked as if it had just survived World War III. Barely, though.

There were huge craters, long trails of upturned rock, and once great rocky peaks still crumbling to little more than pebbles.

The air was tainted with the stink of pure evil. But it was quickly fading.

In the midst of it all lay a boy, not a day over twelve. His clothes were torn, his body drained, bloody, and bruised. Yet he had just saved the world from an evil unlike anything it had ever seen before. And despite his condition, he was smiling. Painfully, but victoriously. That much, at least, was his right.

It would not last.

A dark shadow fell over him.

"I have plans for you, Son Gohan. Wonderful plans…my firstborn son."

A delicate hand, tipped with violent fingernails, reached down and gently caressed the boy's cheek. The other hand tightened around the Time Staff. "Take us home."

There was a flash of light, and then stillness.

By the time Piccolo and the others arrived, it would be too late. They would find nothing, save the bloody smear where Earth's champion had fallen, and a sinking feeling that their troubles had only just begun.

* * * * *

Duo did not know anyone in the vision. But then, at that moment, Duo did not know anything.

There was only Shinigami.

Trunks did not know that. All he knew was that Duo's eyes had suddenly gone blood red, and was pretty sure it had nothing to do with Kaio-Ken. "Duo…?"

There was no response. Not in words.

But Trunks suddenly found himself backpedaling, with a huge gash down his jacket that was slowly filling up with red. "Duo!" Trunks had no idea where the scythe had come from, only that it looked as about as welcome in Duo's hands as he imagined his sword did in his.

Shinigami did not hear. Even if it had, there would've been no change in its actions.

Realizing that the entity before him was not the same young man he'd been training, Trunks blazed into Super Saiya-jin and grabbed the scythe. "I don't know what you are, but bring Duo back right now!"

Shinigami smiled. "He'll be back…once you're dead, that is."

"No."

Trunks had not heard the door open, nor the footsteps. But he was almost glad to see one of the Sailor Senshi suddenly beside him. Although he wished she was a bit more intimidating.

Shinigami did not stop trying to wrestle the scythe away from Trunks, but its smile did fade. "Saturn…"

"If you know who I am, then you know what I can do-will do-if you don't return Duo right now."

Shinigami scowled, but the red faded from Duo's eyes, and he collapsed to the floor, the scythe fading to nothingness.

Trunks sighed as his hair returned to normal, resembling a lavender waterfall as it fell past his shoulders. "That was too close."

Hotaru was already kneeling by Duo, placing her hands on his head. "Did he hurt you, Trunks?"

"I've had much worse," Trunks replied, squatting beside her. "Does this…happen often?"

"Never. But it's something I've feared for a while now." She glanced up at him, and almost as an afterthought, pressed her hand to the wound.

Trunks began to pull away, but already he could feel the flesh mending. It was almost as if he'd eaten a senzu bean…except none of his energy was returned to him.

"The scar will fade by tomorrow afternoon," Hotaru murmured, lowering her hand. She looked back at Duo. "Sorry about your jacket."

Trunks blinked. "…no problem. I have another." He scratched his head. "Thanks."

"You can thank me by not letting this incident affect your training Duo."

"I'm afraid it has to." Trunks grinned. "I'll be a LOT more careful. I really liked that jacket."

Hotaru smiled slightly. "Well, I don't think Duo's going to do anymore training today. Do you think you could help me carry him to his room?"

"Not a chance." Trunks easily hauled Duo up over his shoulder. "My mother would never forgive me for letting a lady lug around something twice her size."

Hotaru blushed. "Thank you, Trunks. Tell me…are there any other Saiya-jin like you?"

Trunks frowned. "Not on this ship. But there's one in particular I'm very interested in meeting."

* * * * *

Chibi had never been overly fond of girls. Frankly, most of them did nothing but stand around, giggle, and point. At least, when he was around. Videl was the only one he knew that enjoyed fighting, but he still had to pull his punches with her, which really defeated the purpose of sparring, in his opinion. Goten seemed to love having her around, and Chibi only tolerated her because she sometimes took them out for ice cream just before dinner.

Recently, though, he'd revised his initial opinion of girls. Some of them were okay. At least, one was.

The fact that Yugi had even been taken in the first place proved she was strong. And so did her mouth, whenever Chibi slipped up and implied that girls were weak.

None of them had the use of their powers (Yugi's putting him to sleep had apparently been a fluke that would not be repeated), but Yugi had caught him off-guard (that was his story and he was sticking to it) with her ferocity. Oddly enough, he liked that about her.

And then there was the first time he'd woken up to find her asleep in his lap, her arms draped around his neck and her face alarmingly close to his.

Neither of them had ever said anything about it, and Setsuna wisely kept her opinions to herself.

But there was little question in Chibi's mind that what he felt for Yugi went beyond friendship. He found himself enjoying the soft touch of her hair, the smoothness of her skin, the very scent of her. Even though he was only able to appreciate those things while she was asleep, more than once he'd trailed off while talking to her, becoming lost in her bright blue eyes.

Yugi never asked him why he'd stopped, or to continue what he'd been saying. She always smiled, her eyes sparkling, and turned away, humming to herself, and maybe to him.

Maybe that was why it hurt so much the day they took her away.

* * * * *

Setsuna had known the day would come, and that when it did, she could not stop it. She knew her own body well enough to know when there was a foreign presence in it. The fact that she'd sensed similar things in both Trunks & Yugi only confirmed her fears.

Mistress 9 had planned for the coming days for quite a while.

Upon finding out that Yugi was a telepath, and a very powerful one, Setsuna knew why Mistress 9 had taken her…and that soon, they would all be doomed.

The cell door sliding open one day jarred her from her thoughts. Setsuna's mind was clouded with both fear and rage as Sesshomaru entered, his amber eyes gliding over them almost lazily before coming to rest on Yugi.

"Mistress 9 has summoned you, girl," was all he said before striding forward to grab her.

Which was not to say that he had an easy time of it. Yugi kicked, clawed, and bit every part of him she could reach, but she was not quite so dangerous without her powers.

Sesshomaru turned to leave.

"Put her down."

He paused, then glanced over his shoulder to see Chibi glaring at him. "That was almost funny. Because it implies that you're somehow going to stop me."

Chibi stood there, quivering with rage as the power he'd had at his fingertips for so long didn't rise to answer his call. Most of the other times, he hadn't even needed it. But this was decidedly different.

"Trunks," Yugi whispered, her voice desperate. "Help me! Please!"

"Your boyfriend can't save you know." Sesshomaru smirked. "He can't even save himself now. Better say goodbye, since you probably won't see each other again."

"NO!!!"

Setsuna stood up as Chibi defied Mistress 9's carefully crafted rules…and began to power up.

Sesshomaru's eyes widened slightly as Chibi's hair slowly lifted, as if caught in a phantom wind. "It's not possible! You can't access your powers! Not while the jewel is inside you!"

"Last time I checked, my powers didn't include this!" Chibi threw back his head and screamed, his fury carrying him straight to Super Saiya-jin 2. Lightning bolts danced across his skin as he raised a hand and began to build an enormous, blue ki ball. "Put Yugi down. Unless you wanna get up-close and personal with the Gallic Gun."

Suddenly, Sesshomaru smiled. "Family Project: Alpha Command. Upgrade to Level 2."

Chibi visibly deflated as his power vanished in an instant. "What?!"

"In short, we did our homework." Sesshomaru walked out of the cell and slammed it in Chibi's face. "Nice try, whelp. But ultimately futile, not unlike everything else you're going to try."

Chibi sank to his knees, his face blank. "Yugi…"

Setsuna touched his shoulder. "They won't harm her. Yugi's too important to their plans."

Though he knew Setsuna was trying to be reassuring, the thought that Mistress 9 needed Yugi for anything was not a pleasant one.

* * * * *

Amid the stenches of the various demons he'd been gutting, Inuyasha suddenly picked up on a smell that did not belong. Ending the simulation by speaking a preset word that only he (and perhaps Shippo) would know, he turned in the direction of the new smell. "Show yourself!"

Vegeta emerged from the shadows, his gaze piercing and unavoidable.

Not that Inuyasha made any attempt to avoid it. "You here for a reason or not?"

"You understand. I thought you might."

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.

"The others are soft. Weak. In the end, their compassion will betray them."

For some reason, the demon lord found himself beginning to relax. Not in the way that he was comfortable, but in way that reassured him he and Vegeta would have few conflicts in the future.

"This mission…will require lethal force. We are the only two willing to accept that, for now."

Inuyasha nodded faintly. "As long as Sesshomaru dies by my hands."

"I will deal with Majin Buu. Should this…Mistress 9…insist on making herself a nuisance, I'll destroy her, as well."

"Fine with me. I'm just in this to settle an old score."

"As am I." Vegeta stared at him a moment longer. "I'll leave you to your training."

Inuyasha watched him fade back into the shadows, then nodded and drew his sword. "Restart simulation. Codeword: …Kikyo."

* * * * *

Ami had told herself several times that she would give Duo his space until he was ready to talk.

That was before Hotaru had told her about the training incident, though.

Being worried and upset with Duo was one thing. But considering his health was partially the reason she was so worried in the first place, Ami felt justified in intruding on his personal space. Duo was far too stubborn to get rest when he was healthy, and being injured certainly wouldn't change anything. Hotaru had been vague about exactly what Duo had injured, and that only gave Ami another reason to go.

Predictably, Duo wasn't in his room, and from the looks of it, hadn't been there for some time.

Ami's next destination was the same training room Duo had been in before. As it had been then, the room was in Gravity Training Mode, and the display screen on the door showed the room was currently in ten times Earth's gravity. Ami did some quick calculations in her head, realized that she'd probably been exposed to twice that amount in her time as a Sailor Senshi at least more than once, and nodded to herself. If Duo wasn't going to stay in bed, then she was going to drag him out and make him stay there.

But the sight that met Ami's eyes upon entering the room was not one she'd been expecting.

For one thing, the first thing she actually saw was muscles. Muscles upon muscles, and so on. By the time her brain registered that a) this was not, COULD not be Duo, and b) she had absolutely no desire to look away, Ami realized her heart, for some reason which she had yet to comprehend, was pounding.

The muscular back did not seem to sense her, nor did the person it was attached to.

Ami found herself needing to say something, but all that came out was a squeak. One that, incidentally, was about to save her life.

The back (and its owner) turned toward her, and for an endless moment, Ami was staring into a pair of intense blue eyes, which were widened in something like surprise.

Then time froze.

Because when Ami blinked, the muscle-bound young man was almost standing on top of her, and one of his arms was wrapped securely around her waist. She wasn't sure whether she should faint or scream.

Without warning, a sword suddenly plunged from the ceiling, headed towards the spot where Ami had just been. It stopped only when the young man grabbed its handle.

"Sorry about that," he said, slipping the sword into its sheath without looking. "You startled me. I set the gravity simulator to shut down when the door was opened. Ironically, so that no visitors would get hurt."

Ami nodded faintly, not really hearing him because she was still staring into his eyes. She had yet to process the fact that she'd nearly lost her head.

The young man finally guessed her distraction (somewhat incorrectly), and released her. "Sorry. Again. Didn't want you to get hurt."

She blinked, seeming to come out of her trance. "Oh. That's…fine. Is Duo…?"

He shook his head, and Ami swallowed a gasp as a lock of lavender hair fell into his eyes. "Talking to Washu, last I time I checked." He blinked, grinning uncertainly as he held out his hand. "Sorry yet again. I'm Trunks Briefs."

"…Ami Mizuno," she murmured at last, slipping her hand into his and trying not to stare at the size of it.

"Ah. Duo's friend." Trunks brushed the hair out of his eyes, apparently not noticing the sound in Ami's throat that could've been a barely disguised whimper.

"Duo…mentioned me?" She blinked a few times. "To you?"

"He only had flattering things to say, if that's what you're worried about. But it's nice to finally meet you."

"Nice to meat-meet you, too, Trunks. Um…I didn't mean to interrupt your training."

"Oh, this isn't actually my training. More of a winding-down for the night. I was just about done when you came in." Trunks was about to say something else, but he suddenly trailed off, his eyes widening as he stared at her.

"…what is it?" Ami asked.

Trunks blinked and shook his head. "Nothing. I've been training too long today, I think." He offered her a smile. "I don't suppose you'd consent to continuing this conversation somewhere less…risky?"

"That sounds…lovel-heaven…um, nice. Oh, but I really should find Duo…" Ami could hardly believe the words leaving her mouth.

"I understand. Friends first, strange boys who accidentally nearly take your head off later."

Ami smiled weakly. "I always prioritize."

"Maybe some other time, then?"

"Definitely," Ami said, faster and with more emphasis than she'd meant…or had she?

"Great. I look forward to it." Trunks bent down to pick up his shirt and jacket, but when he straightened up to ask how Ami had met Duo, all he saw was a blue blur rushing out of the room.

* * * * *

"Yugi, you can't do this!" Sasami pleaded. "It's not right!"

"We are not interested in what is right," Sesshomaru snapped, tightening his grip on the princess's shoulder.

"The choice is yours, Yugi," Mistress 9 said silkily. "I would think it would be obvious, though."

Yugi glared up at her. "In other words, if I don't do what you want, you'll hurt Sasami, knowing I can't do anything to stop you."

"Don't think of it as doing what we want," Mistress 9 replied with a smile. "Think of it as a chance to be a goddess…again. All you have to do is make this girl's dreams come true."

Yugi glanced at the pink-haired girl chained to the wall. Her head was lowered, and she appeared to be in a deep sleep. "That's it?"

"That's it," Mistress 9 promised with a nod.

"Yugi, NO!" Sasami wailed. "Don't do it!"

"We have got to work on your survival instincts, Sasami," Yugi murmured, biting her lip. "Assuming we get out of this alive…"

"You will, as long as you do what I ask." Mistress 9 smiled again. "I am asking, Yugi."

Yugi sighed and lifted the girl's head up, somewhat relieved to find there was no blood or telltale bruises. "Nothing personal, cutie," she whispered, touching her forehead to the girl's. "But at least you get a good dream out of this." She closed her eyes and carefully reached into the girl's mind, treading as lightly as possible. Strangely enough, there were no mental defenses, which made Yugi wonder if Mistress 9 had already violated the poor girl's mindscape. But other than that, everything appeared to be in order.

"No sense in dawdling," she reminded herself. Yugi accessed the girl's memories, searching for the foundation on which she would construct a dream world.

* * * * *