" You call that an attack?! " Rucuruu's voice rang out. He stood tapping his foot impatiently. " Pathetic! Are you Saiyajin or not? "
Katera spun on her heel and ran for him, holding the sword awkwardly at her shoulder. " SHINE!!!! "
[as in die... I don't think I'll ever just let that pass...]
Rucuruu sidestepped her, and the blade ended up stuck in the wall.
" Any other Saiyajin and the room would be gone by now, myself with it. "
" Your point? " Katera growled, pulling the sword out.
" My point Kateraope, " Rucuruu said, kneeling down and correcting her grip, " is that while we have a lot of work ahead of us: I think you'll make it. "
He stood and tapped her back with his sheath. " You'll be the one to make both our dreams of revenge come true. Iku! "
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Vejiita paused between the two rooms. On the left, there was Trunks. His son. On the right, there was Katera. His enemy. Yet, even he couldn't deny the fact that the two loved each other. Trunks idolized Katera and sometimes Vejiita was jealous of this. It made him feel as though Katera had stolen from him his son, which was worse than taking his life. This thought of course brought up the fact that it was probably Trunks that stayed Katera from fulfilling her revenge.
Originally it had been Kakarrot. She had feared his wrath. She still did. But after the jizuningen... and that Trunks... Katera had ignored him. He hadn't seen her again until one day when his Trunks had run in with a sword and Katera following behind him. She had grown by then, back to her full height... and so much stronger.
They'd taken the reunion with a mutual truce. An unspoken promise to not fight in front of the boy they both loved.
Vejiita smirked. That lavender haired little brat had done what centuries of time and Kakarrot himself had not.
Vejiita turned right and entered Katera's room. She was asleep, or unconscious, he couldn't tell which. The Saiyajin no Oji stopped at the edge of the bed and cast eyes upon his would-be assassin. Inevitably those eyes trailed from the body to the sword that was practically a part of it.
He'd heard once that it was created from her ki, and this had been confirmed to be true. But also that it had been created by her hatred for him. Hatred that still remained.
Vejiita had learned a lot about himself since coming to Chikyuu. He'd learned honor and humility... and sacrifice. His hand reached out to touch the sword that hated what he had been... and wondered if it still hated what he had become.
" Touch that and die... " Katera murmured.
Vejiita froze...
... and then he laughed. He laughed out loud and forgot, for not the first time, that he hated Katera as much as she hated him.
Katera laughed as well, more quietly, and it ended in a wince. " I mean it, " she then said, perfectly serious.
Vejiita's laughter quieted. " In your condition, I'd like to see you try. "
" I'll be stronger than you after this, " she pointed out, closing her eyes again and resting her head back.
" Doubtful. "
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Sarro leaned back and sighed. She'd never understand how she could be hungry when she was dead, but that didn't matter. She had a full stomach and she was happy.
How typically Saiyajin of me, she thought to herself mockingly.
Bubbles began taking the dishes away.
" Ahh, " Sarro sat up straight again. " Not the best meal I've had, but it certainly was just what I needed. "
Kaiousama fell over. " You and Gokuu are more alike than you'd care to admit. "
Sarro looked bemused. " If you say so. "
Kaiousama got up from his chair and approached her. Sarro looked down at him patiently.
" Shall we begin? " he asked.
Sarro stood as well. " Let's get this over with. "
" Sit back down, Sarro, " Kaiousama stated, all light tones gone from his voice. " We're going to be here awhile. "
Sarro stared at him in unabashed surprise, while slowly returning to her seat.
Kaiousama reached up and adjusted his glasses, sending light cascading over the lenses and reflections into Sarro's eyes.
" Now, " he said, his tone still severe, " make me laugh. "
Sarro blinked.
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" Who cares?! So long as I defeat you! "
**
Katera sat cross-legged on the floor, silently watching Rucuruu with that perpetual glare he'd grown fond of despite himself. She thought him a fool and he knew it. But there had to be something that was keeping her there.
Curiousity, he figured.
Rucuruu paused his practices and rested the tip of his blade on Katera's nose. She narrowed her eyes, but didn't move.
" Is it true what they say about Saiyajin? " Rucuruu inquired.
" What is it exactly that you're referring to? " came the response.
An idea was formulating in his mind. An outrageous idea that Abudo would never approve of. But if it worked... then it might just be the thing to give them an edge.
" Is it true what they say about you? " came the student's little voice again, jarring Rucuruu out of his thoughts. " That you are the best in the universe with that... thing? " She still spat out the word like it was venom. He'd have to change that if anything.
Rucuruu smiled, tilting his head to the side. " I have yet to be beaten in a match, if that is what you are asking. Now what about you? "
" There are a lot of things said. Be more specific. "
Now Katera was clipping her words. She didn't like the fact that he had yet to remove his blade from her nose. So much patience.
Yes, he would follow through with his idea. To hell and back with Abudo. This boy would make all their dreams come true.
" Is it true that a Saiyajin can pick up a skill just by watching it performed once? "
**
What could have changed her so much?! Try as he might, Rucuruu couldn't think. He thought he'd known Katera so well! He'd put everything into her training, all his hopes and dreams, and this was how he was repaid?
It had to be the half-breeds' faults. Them and Vejiita.
Yes... the prince was alive somewhere on this planet... and one of those half-breeds... was his...
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" Nope! Heard that one loooong time ago. Try again. "
Sarro was growing increasingly frustrated. What an absurd method of training. Why was Dende putting her through this?
Sarro had never been good at one-liners anyway.
" Why did the chicken cross the road? " she offered lamely.
" Oh please, " Kaiousama feigned a yawn, " I invented that one. "
Sarro stood up and slammed a fist into the table. " Listen! I don't have time to be wasting here! Now either train me or not, because I have better things to do! Dende be damned! I'll destroy Kuraft if it's the last thing I do! "
Kaiousama listened to her outburst through to the end and when she was
through, turned to her and said, " Sarro. That's all fine and noble sounding.
But what good will it do you to hunt down a
stronger power on a vendetta? Now hurry up and make me laugh, and then
we'll find some way to vent all that pent up anger. "
Sarro slumped back down into her seat and put her chin in her hand. " Kami. I should have committed some of Yamcha's to memory. "
" Now Yamcha knew how to tell a joke! " Kaiousama agreed.
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Gokuu wandered back into the yard and noticed an aircar sitting outside the house. Thinking about it, he knew that aircar!
" Ha! Kuririn! "
Happily, Gokuu carted his fish into the kitchen and greeted Chichi, Kuririn, Juhatchigo, and Marron with a broad grin. Then he noticed the expressions on their faces.
" What's wrong now? " It wasn't a tired comment, as it would have been with any other. It was a simple fact that Chikyuu never stayed peaceful and safe for very long. At least, none of Gokuu's friends did.
Chichi was in tears, with Juhatchigo rubbing her shoulder blades in comfort. Kuririn was holding Marron and examining the table.
[Ah, Gomen. Juhatchigo = #18. I just dislike seeing a number as a name, so I went with the romanization of the number. And yes, she is called NUMBER Eighteen. Not just Eighteen]
Kuririn raised his eyes to meet Gokuu's as Gokuu set the fish down on the counter next to the sink. " Katera had a big fight with an alien today. "
Gokuu nodded. " Rucuruu. "
No one bothered to question Gokuu on how he knew the assailant's name.
Kuririn continued, " She's hurt real bad, but we think he's dead. If, if Bulma and her Otousan don't finish the regen tank repairs by the end of the day... "
" Maa, " Gokuu wavered this away, " Katera's lived through worse... " He leaned against the counter and grew serious, " and I'm sure this Rucuruu guy has too. Attacking Katera I can live with, she can handle herself, but attacking the kids is unforgivable. "
Kuririn blinked. " But... Gohan said he's dead. "
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Rucuruu got to his feet, feeling new strength as the answer came to him. If he could not get Katera to see past this planet's curse, he'd finish the job for her.
His best student... she would not be forgiven... and the prince who
was the cause of all his problems... wouldn't know what hit him...
**
[Eep! I think Rucuruu's gone insane! Or maybe he was to begin with, I don't know. Ugh, It's 1:30 in the morning and I gotta work tomorrow... today... I really should be sleeping. So, in regards to this, no questions. You all must suffer on your own in suspense until the next chapter! Ja ne!]
[Written by Inseiko, 2000]