" Kateraoneechan? "
Rucuruu paused and stared at the boy that had vocalized the name of his long-ago student. Two things bothered him about it, and induced a sweatdrop over his head.
First of all. Kateraoneechan denoted kinship.
And Second of all. Oneechan meant sister.
" Ano... " Rucuruu approached this as tactfully as he could. Afterall, the boy had turned out to be one of the Densetsu no Super Saiyajin on the planet.
" Don't you mean... Oniichan? "
Kyande and Goten giggled. Nevermind that Rucuruu had been trying to kill them all of thirty seconds ago.
" Iie, iie, iie, " Goten shook his head, " Kateraoneechan. "
Rucuruu had to admit it.
He was confused.
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Bulma opened the door and beamed at Sarro.
" Ohaiyo gozaimasu Sarrosan, " she greeted brightly. " Please come in. " Bulma led the other woman inside. " How's Kyande? Is Yamcha still playing baseball? I haven't heard from him in awhile... "
" They're fine, " came Sarro's answers in subdued tones, " He's moved on to assistant coaching, but he doesn't like it as much. "
They passed Vejiita in the hall, who was scowling moreso than usual and glaring at Bulma as though she were the worst poison. Sarro presumed it was for Bulma's good mood and inquired, " How are things with you? "
Just as she predicted, a shadow crossed Bulma's face as she said, " Trunks was attacked this morning. "
Sarro's mind ran through a list of possibilities. " By who? "
" We don't know. Vejiita suspects another teki. When he's not roundly condemning Katera. "
[teki=>enemy]
Despite her own reason for being here, Sarro was intrigued, " Katera? "
" Mm, " Bulma paused and looked back at Sarro, " Katera was the one who saved Trunks from this mystery attacker. But neither of them will speak further on the matter. Katera especially, I think she knows more than she's letting on. "
" More of her enemies, perhaps? " Sarro theorized.
" Maybe, but wouldn't she have just said so? " Bulma sighed and resumed walking, " Anyway, it's divided her and Vejiita again, I thought their days of fighting were over. "
Sarro grinned faintly, " I think that may be wishing for the impossible. "
" I suppose you're right. But, aside from that, what brings you here, Sarro? "
Sarro's expression darkened immediately as she got down to business. " I need a ship. "
" Hm? " Bulma inquired, " You're going sailing? Why did you come to me, you can buy capsules for ships, Sarro. "
" A space ship, Bulmasan. "
Pause.
Bulma turned and inquired, " Doshite? "
[Doshite => Why]
Sarro looked pained, and delayed answering.
" Does Yamcha know? Does Sonkun? " Bulma watched as the other woman shook her head in the negative for both questions. " Sarro, " Bulma breathed, " You can't do that. You can't just leave and not tell them. Yamcha's your husband! Sonkun might be able to help-- "
" Gokuu cannot help. " Sarro snapped, cutting Bulma off, " He could not help, and he will not try. If there is a new threat to Chikyuu he can handle that. I'm going to Uchuu Bulmasan, even if I have to steal the ship from you. "
[Uchuu => Outer Space]
" Sarro... "
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Katera flew away from Pauzu Mountain, her mind full of unpleasant thoughts. Although, these weren't her usual brand of unpleasant thoughts. These were thoughts unpleasant for her, not for other people. Her mind was racing, recalling, and regugitating (and reusing, reducing, recycling, no wait! lol, gomen!) Katera closed her eyes and brought her hand up to the hilt of the sword at her back, as if to assure herself that it was still there.
It pained her, but Rucuruu had given her an ultimatum. He had forced her to choose.
And she was choosing the present over the past.
Opening her eyes, Katera forced herself to calm, and scanned the horizon for any sign of Rucuruu. When she found him, she scowled.
There were two other powers with him; both Super Saiyajin. Bulma had set the limits of her scouter too high, she hadn't even noticed. But then again, if she hadn't had the threshold raised in the first place, it would have overloaded by now.
Katera turned in the direction of where they were located and put on an extra burst of speed. Clenching her fists in anger, she glared at the horizon. Almost before it was bidden, Super Saiyajin came, and she streaked the sky with gold.
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Gokuu stood at the top of Pauzu Mountain and watched Katera go. Putting his hand behind his head and smiling wanly, he commented,
" Maa... Katera's only happy when she's angry. "
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Before the fighting could resume, Goten noticed something in the sky
behind Rucuruu and smiled. " Hah! " he pointed,
" Kateraoneechan! "
Sure enough, when Rucuruu turned, there was Katera, heading straight for him. His face creased in disappointment. It seemed she had chosen sides.
No matter, he forced himself to think, he'd kill Vejiita himself after he was through with Katera.
Drawing the sword at his hip, Rucuruu brought it up just in time to catch Katera's blow blade-to-blade. Pivoting on one foot, he threw Katera off him and she landed on her feet just before the two children. The concrete cracked beneath her feet as she hit, but she showed no effect from the impact. Katera straightened out to her full height (which, of course, isn't very much) and Rucuruu was able to see her in her full Super Saiyajin form.
" So, you've accomplished almost all that you ever sought after and
more, " Rucuruu stated, then smiled knowingly and added,
" Miss Kateraope. "
[Sigh. As said in the companion file, -san is a gender neutral form of respect. Therefore, I could not use it in this instance. Since I am writing this as close to the Japanese as I can, and because I'm such a stickler for detail in this series, I'm pointing out that if this were in Japanese, Rucuruu would actually have said 'Miss' there to show to Katera that he knew the truth. It's actually neat, because in the Japanese language it would have been 'Missu Kateraope.' Anyway...]
Katera blinked, but said nothing. If she had any confusion, it was soon dispelled by Goten running up and tugging on her pantleg.
" Neechan, who is that guy? "
Neechan. Sister. Goten had let loose her secret. Really, it was odd that Rucuruu never noticed on his own.
" I suspected once, " Rucuruu let know, " but I figured you were a bishonen at heart and went with it. " He laughed a bit, " No wonder you were always such a loner. None of those are yours, I hope. "
Katera's face pinched. " Don't Insult Me! "
" Insult you?! " Rucuruu repeated incredulously, " My best student falls to Chikyuu's curse, and I'm expected not to insult him-- pardon-- her. You've handed me the biggest insult of all, " Rucuruu raised his sword and spat out the word, " Yurusenai! "
[I think that's the spelling, I'll have to check my notes on verb conjugation. Yurusenai => I will not forgive you (lit. Not forgive)]
Chak!
Katera raised her sword, and held it at the ready. " Goten, " she said in a low tone, " go away. "
" Demo, Kateraoneechan... "
" Go! Take her with you too. "
Kyande looked insulted.
Even while still in Super Saiyajin, tears began to form at the corners of Goten's eyes. " Demo... "
Katera turned, fury in her face. " Would you Just GO! " she shouted in his face.
" Katera! "
" Neechan! "
Katera turned and threw Rucuruu's attack to the side, parrying the blow that followed. She pushed him back, drawing their fight away from the children. Rucuruu saw through this tactic and started pushing back. They went on like this for some time, drawing the attention of the surrounding people. Goten and Kyande, who naturally had not left, busied themselves protecting people from wayward attacks.
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Videl scrupulously raised her wrist and listened to the communication coming through her wristband.
" Videlsan, there is a fight going on downtown. It looks like one of the people from the Cell game are fighting another creature we cannot identify. "
" Mou, " Videl swore. " We'll be right along. " Switching off the comlink, Videl swore and thought, Probably Katera or Vejiita. Those two have the control of a hurricane.
She looked up at Gohan, who was sweating profusely. She guessed that he was sensing the battle. Videl sighed, she'd never quite gotten the hang of that. Close range, she was fine, but long range took a lot of concentration.
Standing, Videl called, " Sumimasen, sensei! But I need to go! "
" Sumimasen! " Gohan called, " um... me too? I need to use the toilet! "
The sensei blinked up at them, " This is important, you two, you'll need to know this for next week's test. "
Gohan smiled and rubbed the back of his head, " I, ah, I studied it last week already! " Nobody doubted that Gohan was telling the truth.
Many of the students sweatdropped.
Mou, Videl cursed again, she wasn't as studious [gah! how is that spelt?] as Gohan was. So far it was all Greek to her. Turning back to the sensei, who so far did not know this, Videl stated, " It's imperative that I go. "
The sensei sighed. " Alright, you may go, but-- " She was cut off by Gohan casting a concerned glance on Videl.
" Videlsan, you should stay here. "
" Mou! Doshite, Gohan?! "
The young man smiled at her. " I can feel the power... it's too strong for you. It's a Super Saiyajin, I know it. "
Videl looked insulted. " I can handle myself! "
" Iie, let the Great Saiyaman handle it. "
Videl sat down in a huff, glaring at Gohan with crossed arms.
Gohan shot her an apologetic glance before edging out of the room.
The sensei raised an eyebrow, but said nothing more on the matter and
returned to the lesson.
Gohan ran down the hallways of his university towards the exit. Katchan, I know that's you... who are you fighting?
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Bulma resentfully showed Sarro out to the ship labled Capsule 3. Sarro had used it once before, (Not that Bulma remembered this) and therefore already knew the controls.
Before parting, Sarro gave Bulma a brief hug of reassurance and said, " I promise to return. " Then she left, and Bulma watched her go until the ship was gone from her vision.
" Just please let it be in one peice... " Bulma said softly.
**
[So! Katera and Rucuruu have begun the battle to end all battles... kinda. You know, you'd think as a Super Saiyajin Katera would have beaten Rucuruu by now. Hee hee, Gohan has the answer in the next chapter. As for Sarro, don'tcha just want to torture Dende for not telling us why she has to go to Outer Space? Maybe she's going to get a Gundam! lol, no. Anyhoo, I'm off. Please join us next time for Chapter Thirty; Sarro in Space. The Secret of Parallel Space.]
[Written by Inseiko, 2000]