Vejiita emerged from the darkness into the circle of light that
encompassed Trunks' bed. With an impassive face, he looked down at his
only son and remained silent.
Trunks gave a grunt of pain and turned his head to face him.
" Papa... " he greeted, the effort drawing beads of sweat across his face. " Katerasan... where is she? "
Quietly the answer came, " I don't know. "
Trunks took a pained breath. " I don't... I don't feel her ki... "
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Sarro was just stepping out of the shower with a sigh when suddenly her world was ripped apart around her.
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Sarro stood blinking amidst bright lights, scurrying oni, and a sheaf of papers that had been knocked off the desk in surprise.
" Chikushoooooo!! " Lord Enma swore and glared over the desk at the tiny form of Sarro. " Somebody re-sort that for me! "
Three oni ran over and immediately complied.
Sarro looked around, and felt like swearing herself. She'd never been here but she knew what here was.
" I... died? " she trailed off sadly, then grew angry, " I Died?! What the f-- "
" Sarro, " Dende interrupted severely.
She spun around and looked at him with tears appearing in her eyes.
" D-Dende! " She fell to her knees and began to cry in earnest. " I'm dead! "
This being the present's Dende, not 'Mirai', he worked his way over to her through the giant paperwork and placed a comforting hand on her back.
" Why? " she sobbed, " How did this happen? "
" It appears that Kuraft sent an assassin after you, " Dende said softly. " He caught all of us off guard. "
Sarro sniffed, swallowed and looked up with confusion on her face, " Demo... "
Dende furrowed his brow, " But what? "
Sarro looked away again. " Nothing... " she murmured.
A whisper in her ear that startled her. The image of her enemy being
blasted away. An abrupt end that was far from being an end.
" Sarro? Sarro? "
Dende's voice jolted Sarro out of her mind's eye of the past and into the present. She looked up at him and inquired, " What? "
Dende looked up at Lord Enma, then back at her. " Mirai.. uh, Mirai 'me' says that he will find a way to restore you to life, and suggested that we send you to Kaiousama for training. "
Sarro looked puzzled. " But... aren't I a little, um, past the level of Kaiouken? "
" Ee, soo desu... " Dende trailed off, " but he thought that it would be best... beyond that I cannot say. "
Sarro poked another hole in the plan, " Wasn't Kaiousei destroyed when Gokuu attempted to defeat Cell? "
" Oh, he found another place, " Lord Enma wavered this concern away.
The oni replaced the newly sorted sheaf of papers on his desk. He picked up one and stamped it, muttering, " Hell... "
Sarro blinked in confusion, but took Dende's offered hand and stood up. Slowly, she stated, " I understand... which way to Kaiousama's? "
Lord Enma pointed, " Go Right. Follow the Serpent Road. You'll know it when you see it. Don't fall off or you go to Hell, don't go past 'go' or collect $200 zenii... Heavan... "
Sarro blinked in confusion at that last part.
Dende ushered her towards the exit. " He's a little distracted... Mirai me got him involved in your plans while you're dead... and so he's fighting with that since someone's dying on Chikyuu. "
Sarro stopped short. " Someone's dying?! Who? "
Dende sweatdropped. " Never mind. No sense in you worrying about it. Just go. Sayonara Sarrosan! "
Sarro stared at him wordlessly a moment, before giving a short bow and heading for the Serpent Road.
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Drip... drip... drip...
She'd heard this sound before. Smelled this smell before.
Drip... drip...
This same feeling, against her skin... this too was familiar.
Drip...
The only difference was...
Drip...
The only difference...
Drip...
... was that last time
... no one had cried.
Drip...
Not even her.
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Goten stumbled and fell into the crater and landed on Katera's middle. He came up with blood stains on his clothing and fresh tears followed the trails of the old ones to land on Katera's face.
" Neechan! " Goten wailed, staring pleadingly into her fading eyes.
Kyande flew down and landed next to them, saying nothing.
Gohan followed her and swallowed at the sight of his sister's condition. His own tears threatened to creep through the corners of his eyes. But he sniffed and held them in.
Reaching down, Gohan gathered Katera into his arms and looked at Goten and Kyande gravely. " She'll be okay. We just have to get her to Capsule Corp and Vejiita's regen tank. "
Goten swallowed. " But... But it's broken! "
" Then we'll fix it! " Gohan snapped and took to the air. Goten and Kyande followed.
Hang on Katera, you can't die now... he pleaded inwardly. You can't.
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Farther away... someone else refused to give up either...
Rucuruu picked himself up and staggered towards the horizon. He walked with a severe limp, and blood ran freely from several wounds. Glaring dully ahead, he whispered hoarsely with utter convicion,
" Never... I'll never let you get away with betraying me... "
**
[Is everyone in this series angry? Or is it just me? Well in any case, Rucuruu's not out yet. But aside from that, what purpose is there to Sarro learning Kaiouken? More important, how in the world will she come back to life? Mirai Dende BETTER have a plan. Find out (maybe) next time in Chapter Thirty-three; Reconciliations. The Story behind Katera's Ice Sword.]
[Written by Inseiko, 2000]