Zello.
How she cursed that name. Time and time again. That name, that person Zello had been was one of the major causes of her troubles.
Everyone was staring at her, all except for Katera, who was struggling
with her sword, and Gohan, who was watching her
curiously. The rest were watching her expectantly. Except for Vejiita,
who was glaring, Piccolo who was scowling expectantly, and Yamcha... who
looked suspicious. Sarro met his gaze and stayed a moment. How much did
he know?
Well, she supposed, it wouldn't hurt to tell them half the truth. Sarro
twisted her fingers together and lowered her gaze, avoiding
looking directly at any of them-- especially Yamcha or Gokuu-- and
admitted,
" Zello... is my real... name. " She sighed, with releif? Maybe. It was the first time in a long time she'd admitted to it. Perhaps it was ease she was feeling. This admonition opened the way for a few others, and gave her the calm she needed for control.
But then, there was a question of her own. Looking up at Tenshinhan, she inquired, " Why do you ask? " Hey, maybe this would train the attention away from her.
Tenshinhan mulled a moment. " He stated that he'd killed Kateraope, and that the rest of Zellosama's players would follow her to hell. "
" Hell sucked, " recalled Katera at this time. " So did death. "
" I didn't think it was all that bad, " Gokuu said, sitting on the table Katera had previously been on.
Katera tugged on her sword hilt fruitlessly and muttered, " Why am I not surprised? "
Damn, Sarro cursed, This is not going the way I expected. So, it wants to get to me through my players, huh?
Sarro, you're treading on dangerous ground here, Dende warned, You can't start thinking of them as players. They're allies, remember. Perhaps--~
Perhaps it's time you butted out, Dende. Thank you for the help with Katera, now leave me to this, alright? Sarro snapped back. But it was too late, she'd realized he was right: and Vejiita brought it to the open.
" Players? " he echoed Tenshinhan, " 'Zellosama's Players?' "
Sarro narrowed her eyes. " I think the more pressing issue right now, is deciding what to do with our young friend here, " she pointed at Katera.
Katera shot her an indignant look.
" Oh, that's okay, " said Gokuu nonchalantly, " She can stay with me. "
Everyone in the room choked.
Thank-you Gokuu! Sarro cheered inwardly. That had to be the most perfect time for his stupidity to cut in. But as she caught his eye, and the look he gave her, Sarro wondered if stupidity had been a factor in it at all.
Son Gokuu trusted her, and now he was telling her to leave. What
a guy, Sarro thought as she backed out the door. Mouthing, 'Arigato'
she left the room, while Gokuu commenced defending himself.
Sarro left Capsule Corporation feeling relatively safe. She shot the sky a cocky grin and shoved her hands in her pockets. Check, you slimy dark bastard. She crowed to the Dark Power, fully knowing he couldn't hear. With a shrug she countered that maybe he could, and this was fine.
She'd taken but one step towards home when, " So what is the truth, Zello? "
Yamcha watched her shoulders stiffen at the sounding of the name. They stood in silence a moment, with the scent from Mrs. Briefs' flowers floating on the breeze around them.
Finally Sarro said, " My name is Sarro. Zello is dead, she has been for a long time now. "
" Really? " Yamcha ambled up to stand next to her, " Cause of death? To me it seems Sarro's died a few times as well. "
" I can think of a few, " Sarro answered. She started for home once more, and again Yamcha stopped her with mere words.
" Do I get the truth or not? "
Sarro turned her head, but did not look at him. " It's none of your concern. One pleasant time out for lunch does not make you a confidant, Yamcha. "
" Why not? "
Sarro had no answer, she just resumed walking.
" Who was it? " he asked, and Sarro realized he was following her.
" Who was what? " she responded.
Yamcha was silent a moment before answering, " Who was it, that you killed out by Karin Tower? While everyone was out in space fighting Jiiyar and the rest of Katera's enemies, as well as a huge, dark ki power Gokuu hadn't the pleasure of meeting, you killed someone on the planet. " He gave a sardonic smile as Sarro turned to face him, " Or is there another Saiyajin on the planet hiding out? "
Sarro stared at him, her expression unreadable. " Why ask when you have all the answers? "
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Kateraope was far from pleased.
Not only had she had to suffer through the Earthian fools deciding what to do with her. (DO with her! There was the first in a long string of insults) In the end, Kakarrot-- excuse her, Gokuu-- had won out, and now here she was, cradled in his lap, riding some stupid little golden... cloud... towards Kaious knew where.
There was the second insult, Gokuu had invited her onto the cloud, which he called Kinto'un, and she'd attempted it herself. She'd fallen right through, just barely catching herself in surprise. Apparantly, only the 'pure of heart' could ride the darned thing. So naturally Gokuu and his son could ride it without problem.
Gokuu had his hands on her shoulders, making her uncomfortable, and Gohan was making sure her sword didn't fall off.
It was a mystery to her moreso than anyone else how she couldn't ride on the cloud by herself, but her sword remained on it without problem. Everyone else took it at face value, they didn't know that the sword had been created out of her ki. Wouldn't it be as impure as her heart?
Piccolo flew next to them. Inwardly she cursed the Namekuseijin passionately. He annoyed her to no end. What with that damned stony face and his proclamation to train her to use her sword again.
Train her?! He couldn't hope to even begin. She'd never lift the sword again, at least not until she was fully grown... again.
This had to be Sarro's doing. Everyone had been turning to her for answers. As soon as she was bigger, she was going to kill her, and then everyone else on this blasted planet. Super Saiyajin Son Gokuu or no, she would kill them all!
Suddenly the Kinto'un descended down towards a clearing in a vast forest at the base of a large mountain. Within the clearing sat a humble homestead with writing that Katera couldn't read over the door. Within the house her scouter showed her one reading of negligible power.
" Hey! " Gokuu called in greeting, " Chichi! " He placed one arm, (hand actually) around Katera's waist and grabbed her sword with the other as he leaped off the Kinto'un.
Gohan remained on the cloud, floating next to his father.
The door to the house opened and a woman... human woman... emerged. She was a pretty woman, Katera surmised, with black hair bound on top of her head, and two peices framing her face. She had wide black eyes filled with curiousity. So, this must be Chichi. From the looks of things, this had to be Gohan's mother; Kakarrot's-- Gokuu's-- mate.
Chichi turned her eyes on Katera, and the girl's scowling face, and inquired, " Gokuu? Who've you brought home with you? "
" This, " said Gokuu with no small amount of infuriating fondness in his voice, " is Katera. Kateraope, to be exact. I said we'd look after her for a while when Sarro's friend turned her into a kid. "
Chichi crossed her arms. " Oh, did you? " she asked, her displeasure thick within her voice.
" Well, " Gokuu hedged, " yeah. We've got plenty of room, and she'll be no trouble. "
Katera didn't know what was more insulting, the fact that Gokuu had assumed she'd be no trouble, or the fact that he was probably right.
Chichi still didn't look convinced. " Is that that Saiyajin Bulma's been telling me about? The one that wants to assasinate Vejiita? "
" Well, yeah, " Gokuu said again.
" At this point in time, " Katera spoke sullenly, " wanting and accomplishing are two very different things. "
" Is that so? " Chichi demanded.
" Please, Chichi? " Gokuu whined.
Chichi's shoulders slumped, and Katera's fate was sealed. " Alright, " she said reluctantly, then smartened up again and eyed Katera appraisingly, " But first she'll need a bath. "
" Bath? " Katera repeated.
Chichi turned and stalked back into the house. Just before she closed the door, she called, " and Gohan, you can come inside and do some studying before dinner. Let your father deal with the new addition to the family. "
" Bath? " said Katera again.
From the dark recess beneath the trees, Piccolo's deep voice came, "
and after dinner is over, you can meet me for training. "
¤¤
[So Katera's the newest member of the Son family, and, well, some of Sarro's secret has been revealed. Yamcha's well on his way to figuring out this secret. I knew he was good for something! (sorry Konekochan) Back to Katera, though, how do you think she's going to fare in family life? Find out next in Chapter Twelve; The Darkness and the Light. Yamcha's Quest to find Sarro's Secret]
[Written by Inseiko, 1999]
¤