| Author: Swiss Army Knife Email: dragonswissarmyknife@hotmail.com |
| Lost Souls |
| “Juu-chan!” Kuririn called mischievously to his wife as she wandered around on the beach below, enjoying the quiet evening. Looking up, she put her hands on her hips and shook her head at him. She had to conceal her tiny smile. Lately, Juuhachigou had noticed an extreme change in behavior in her small husband; he seemed strangely exhilarated and even more annoyingly tender than usual toward her. “What is it?” She asked bluntly. He spun upside-down in the air, floating playfully high above the sand and waves. “I’m tired of sitting around at the Kame House. Let’s go flying.” “Aren’t we restless…” Juuhachigou said, crossing her arms and smirking. The salty wind stirred her pale blond hair and she breathed deep, closing her eyes pleasurably. A nice fly over the sea in such nice weather wouldn’t be so bad, she decided. Meeting Kuririn in the sky, the two looked off into the endless sunset. “Where would you like to go?” Juuhachigou asked him. “Anyplace specific.” “Nah,” He replied, grinning and ascending higher. “No where in particular. Let’s just go!” And he took off quickly, aura flashing to life around him. Shaking her head at his giddy childishness, Juuhachigou flew after him. ***** It was almost dark by the time that Kuririn finally stopped his heated propulsion, and tossed a look over his shoulder as his wife flew to meet him. She was slower than usual today, but of course he had been expected that. Still, it was he who was panting happily as she came up beside him, looking rather annoyed. “That was fun.” He said. “If you count randomly flying in any given direction for hours “fun” then I suppose so.” Juuhachigou commented back. She snorted. “Lets rest a moment, and then attempt to get back home. I don’t want to stay out here all night.” And I’m tired. She internally admitted to herself, though she wasn’t sure why she would be. Kuririn agreed, and took to the ground. They were no longer over the ocean any longer, but over a pleasant kind of cultivated forest that seemed frequently used by other humans. There was fresh green grass covering the floor and tall trees spread apart at non-suppressing distances. Kuririn sighed tiredly and plopped down on the shore of a pretty sparkling lake that stood in the middle of the area, taking the opportunity to rest. He knew that Juuhachigou wanted to return home, but was kindly stalling a bit for his benefit. It was sweet of her, he thought. And a moment of rest would probably be the best for her too, even if she didn’t know why yet. He would tell her soon… Still, even as he caught his breath, Kuririn couldn’t help but notice the beauty of this place that they had just happened upon. The water glistened and reflected brilliantly the rising moon as it inched its way up into the sky. He sighed as Juuhachigou joined him at his side. “Isn’t it pretty, Juu-chan?” He asked her dreamily. The cyborg peered out over the scenery – the small lake and the swaying branches of an impressive tree at its side. It was very beautiful, she recognized. In the past, she might not have ever admitted it, but she had been so long with Kuririn now that it didn’t seem to matter any more. “It’s nice.” She said softly, settling back comfortably on her palms. He smiled at her fondly. “It’s good to hear you say that.” He commented. “Hmmm.” Sitting there together in the darkness, no one to bother them, Kuririn began to ponder if his inadvertent choice of scenery wasn’t perfect for his very special good news. Oh how he had wanted to tell her over the past week or so! But he had put it off time and time again, half of him wanting her to figure it out for herself. Nervously shifting in the darkness to study the side of her beautiful face, he thought back over the last week and its amazing events. The words he had planned to say didn’t seem appropriate when it came right down to it. And the last thing that he wanted was to break down into the stuttering moron that he seemed to transform into whenever he had something important to share with her… “Are you going to stare at me all night, or do you have something to say?” Juuhachigou’s voice startled the small human, and sent his tentative hold on his thoughts went flying apart. “W-well…” He laughed nervously. Great, I’m breaking up and I haven’t even said anything yet… She carelessly allowed her head to fall back, meeting his…forehead. Why wasn’t he looking at her directly? Sitting up rather concernedly, Juuhachigou addressed her sweating, fidgeting husband. Her brow was furrowed. “Kuririn?” She said his name softly, “This is something important isn’t it…?” A light blush colored his face in the darkness, as he thought over an answer. “Kinda.” “Well then, what is it?” She asked. No longer was she lounging lazily at the lakes side, but was instead sitting up straight in attention. “Is it something bad?” “No!” Kuririn shouted abruptly, taking Juuhachigou aback. He shook his head wildly, meeting her eyes. “No, no, no… Nothing bad. It’s just…well, I never ever thought I would ever be saying this to anyone.” His eyes had returned to his feet. “Okay,” He chuckled guiltily. “Maybe once or twice in my dreams…” “Well?” Juuhachigou was getting irritated; her arms were crossed. “Are you going to tell me tonight, or do I have to wait around until morning?” Looking up at the sky, Kuririn noticed for the first time that it had truly become night. The still air was disturbed only by the slightest breath of wind, and he inhaled slowly. It’s now or never. Taking Juuhachigou’s pale hands slowly into his own, Kuririn laced his fingers in hers. He tried to ignore the way her eyes bore through him curiously as he prepared to tell her. Just as he had suspected, his words were clumsy. “J-juu-chan,” He began determinedly, fighting not to drop his eyes. His voice was so low that Juuhachigou had to lean in closer to hear him. “I…I wanted to tell you…” A sudden twinge at the edge of his senses knocked poor Kuririn out of his speech, and his eyes faltered. He didn’t see the disappointed look on Juuhachigou’s face as he shook his head, unable to continue. “What is it?” She asked, referring to whatever had disturbed him. He shook his head again. “I don’t know.” He said, troubled. He closed his eyes tightly and tried to concentrate, unable to completely push out of his mind that he had just lost his chance to share his news. “I sensed something…it was cold and dark.” Juuhachigou frowned. She had felt nothing. ”There’s something wrong.” Kuririn said quietly, and pushed himself to his feet. “I can just feel something…” Then, without warning, there was a deafening roar, and Juuhachigou’s sensors exploded as energy from nowhere suddenly dissipated out of thin air. She barely had time to spring to her feet. The next thing that Juuhachigou knew, a steely blow connected to the back of her head and she heard her bones crack. Lights already dimming, she was only faintly aware as she slammed into the same magnificent tree that she had noticed only moments before, and began falling. Familiar arms caught her before she hit the ground, and she was gently deposited at the splintered trees base. Then the darkness overwhelmed her… ***** Juuhachigou came back into dim awareness to find herself unable to move and lying on a stiff bed. Around her, she could see a fading, shifting shadow of something as it moved around her. There was a low mumbling sound and then there were more shapes. The sound persisted until the cyborg began to be able to make out what was being said by the shadow people. “Juuhachigou…” One of the figures, for she was now sure that was what they were, seemed smaller than the others and Juuhachigou was sure that it was Kuririn. She tried weakly to reach for him. “K-Kuririn…” Her voice called out hoarsely to him. The figure almost immediately withdrew, and the murmuring…no, the voices…got louder with agitation. As she tried to sit up, Juuhachigou found that her limbs would no longer obey her, and every millimeter that she gained on sent her spiraling back down into pain. Quietly, she groaned. A cool hand pressed gently on her forehead, as if trying to hold her still. Somehow, she managed to lift her heavy eyelids to revel wet, glazed looking eyes set in a pale, sweating face. Her chest was so heavy…she could barely speak. “Kur…” She choked, but the rest of the word died away in her throat. “Try to stay quiet, Juuhachigou…” Came that familiar, feminine voice. “You can’t move or you’ll only be hurting yourself more.” Stubbornly, Juuhachigou fought to regain her senses. Her fingers twitched. Slowly, she found she was just able to distinguish her surroundings. Attached to her body, there were a great deal of small machines and tubes, many of which seemed to be supplying her vital support that she should have been able to handle on her own. Also, she sensed that she was underground, as if at the lower level of a building. So, this was not the hospital. But who were the people? Focusing hard on the peach blur above her, the cyborg soon found that she could make out a rude, assaulting blue color. Bulma then, she decided. It seemed logical - If she had been injured badly enough to need assistance then Kuririn would have almost certainly taken her to the intelligent human female for internal repair rather than any human facility. The woman above her smiled as she was recognized; a tired, grieved smile. “Juuhachigou…you’ve managed to wake up. I was almost sure that you wouldn’t.” She said. The young half-sayiajin boy, Gohon, also entered the cyborg’s field of vision. He was wiping at his eyes, but he managed to greet her as well. “We thought you were gonna die too--” He began without thinking. Bulma tried to shush him, but it was too late. Juuhachigou had caught his careless mistake. “W…hat? She managed a broken, painfully cry. Her eyes were scared. There were suddenly flashes of their terrible attack – Kuririn’s face, and then a noise like an enraged roar. The fierce blow that knocked her senseless…her crying out as her body was crushed. Then only comforting arms around her protectively, followed by darkness. “Kuririn?” She managed, gasping. Her outbreak was a clear question. Where is he? Gohon bowed his head mournfully, tears falling silently. Even Bulma seemed to grow very sad and dull. Her lip trembled as she attempted to gather the strength that she needed to tell the tale of the past harrowing night. She took Juuhachigou’s hand sympathetically. If she could have, Juuhachigou would have pulled away, but she didn’t have the strength. She had to fight against her entire being just to keep her eyes open. Juuhachigou, do you remember what happened last night?” Bulma asked quietly. Tightly, the cyborg nodded. “After it happened, Vejiita happened to notice that Kuririn’s ki was…fading…very quickly. He commented on it to me, and I was worried. So, I took Trunks out and we went searching for you in the aircar. We found you less than fifteen minutes later.” She said. “You were barely alive. We didn’t have any idea what happened.” “M-monster…” she tried to mummer softly. Bulma nodded. “We know.” She confirmed. “Vejiita and the others are off searching for it.” She seemed to get angry. “That idiot, Vejiita. He was just too happy that there was finally something to fight with.” Gohon stepped forward. “I’m going to fight too,” he said quietly. “But…I wanted to stay until we knew you were going to be okay. I knew that Kuririn…he would have wanted--“ But again he cut off, bowing his head. Feeling rage begin to rise beneath her almost immobile face, she growled weakly. “Tell…me…” She managed. “Where is…Kuririn…?” There was no longer any time to stall, and Bulma sighed. “When we got there, Juuhachigou,” She began. “We were appalled at how destroyed the very landscape around you was. You were up against the side of a tree, curled up. I could tell that much of your bones were all but reduced to pulp.” She plunged on, the poor Juuhachigou becoming more and more horrified. “I can’t sense ki,” Bulma said. “So it was Trunks that picked up Kuririn a good many meters away from you. He was alive at the moment, but I could tell with one look at him that he wasn’t going to be able to survive. That monster had mutilated him…” She cut off and took a deep breath, shutting her eyes tightly. “It was awful.” ***** It had been two days since Juuhachigou had found out about her husband’s death, and since then, her condition had continued to worsen. She simply wasn’t fighting any longer… Lying silently in bed, she stared at the ceiling absently, nothing at all behind her dulled eyes except for the slow, torturous replaying of Kuririn dying over and over again in her mind. True, she hadn’t seen him die, but her imagination was ten, one hundred times worse then anything she could have witnessed. The Sayajin and the other Zed warriors were still off hunting the monster. Bulma had some theories as to where it came from, but Juuhachigou didn’t care about any of it. The damage was done – she was alone. Every day, her vitals spiraled downward on the many monitors designed to observe her condition. Nothing that anyone could do, medic, mechanic, or otherwise, could preserve her fading health. Within a few days, all feared she would become the second victim of this new, unknown villain… Juuhachigou could barely breathe any longer. Her eyes flickered from exhaustion. Slowly, she leaned back into the deep pillow, allowing her consciousness to sink away from her, hopefully for the last time. How she wanted to die… ***** Bulma had been scolding Trunks and Goten for trying once again to sneak out of the house and find their father and brother, when one of her many assistants came running up to her in a blind panic. “The cyborg!” He cried, out of breath. Bulma was alarmed, and allowed herself to be rushed out of the room and down into the lower levels of Capsule Corp where Juuhachigou was being tended. “What’s wrong with her?” She demanded as they descended. “We are trying to revive her.” The man said. His eyes reflected the hopelessness of the situation far better than any words he could have spoken. “She’s dying?” Bulma exclaimed. She had known if nothing improved, then this would ultimately happen…but she had hoped beyond all hope that somehow Juuhachigou would make it through her devastation – and not just for her own sake either. She didn’t want to loose an entire family in the course of a few days… The elevator abruptly swung open and Bulma took off with her aid at top speed to Juuhachigou’s side. The monitors were dead flat, warning alarms sounding loudly as the many medics swarmed the bed, trying desperately to bring life back to the pallid corpse that was Juuhachigou. Despair sliced through Bulma’s midsection as she stood by helplessly, knowing that there was nothing she could do. It was over. Too late to save. “Juuhachigou…you’re dead…” ***** When Juuhachigou opened her eyes again, she was no longer in a bed at Capsule Corp. She wasn’t even lying down, and as she flexed her fists, it became apparent that she was fully healed. Dead then, she surmised. After those torturous few days, she had finally died. The feelings that she felt now came as a disappointment. She had hoped that when she died, there would be relief from her aching heart, but she now knew she was wrong. She didn’t feel different at all – a black hole of loss still penetrated her. Wandering along the path to a large building, Juuhachigou took in a world of clouds and yellow light. It was ridiculously pleasant looking. Like a scene from a circus, or a strangely perfect world. As she reached the large, magnificent looking building, Juuhachigou frowned, looking upward. What on earth was this place? “Are you Juuhachigou?” Surprised to hear her name called in such an alien place, Juuhachigou whirled around to be faced with a small blue creature as ridiculous looking as the world he came from. Two horns jutted out of the side of its hugely smiling face. “You’re Juuhachigou, aren’t you?” he asked cheerfully. When she cautiously nodded, the smile grew even bigger. “Good. We’ve been waiting for you – come with me.” And turning around, the strange little demon-like beast marched off into the recesses of the building, humming a tune. With no better alternatives, Juuhachigou quirked an eyebrow and followed after as she had been told. She was led into the building, were the long stream of clouds had been headed. There was a dark tone in the air as she stepped inside, and everything was deathly quiet. A large wooden desk stood to the left of her, towards the center of the room. As her eyes wandered beyond the desk, she found herself looking upon two enormous sets of doors. The one of the right seemed to shine and glow welcome. Colored a sparkling white with deep laughing red trim, it seemed to call after her very soul… The other was dark black, also with red trim. Only this red was not the of the joyful tone that the other door possessed. This red reminded Juuhachigou of a blazing fire that hatefully licked at her in hopes to destroy her, and it made her very skin crawl. It was like crimson blood poured down the sides of those doors... Licking her lips nervously, Juuhachigou turned to ask the demon where he had taken her, only to find that he had gone and she was alone. Instinctively falling into a more defensive position, the cyborg peered suspiciously around the rest of the vacant room. She felt like she was about to be ambushed. A haunting voice from behind her nearly knocked her off her feet. “Juu-chan…” ***** At that moment, frightened and bewildered, Juuhachigou swung around in time to see a familiar diminutive figure walk out of the shadows. Her eyes widened as she recognized him… “Kuririn!” She cried out, joy and relief flooding her heavy body. Forgetting where she was, she ran to him, barely slowing in time to avoid knocking him right off his feet as he received her into his waiting arms. She clutched him to her, choking on sobs that she had never before dared to let out in the living world. His arms encircled her and held her safely in a warm embrace. Her heart leaped to feel his cheek beside hers again… “Juu-chan…it’s good to see you again.” He said her name quietly. On a sensual level, Juuhachigou could feel the love radiating in his voice. There was something to the way he said it. Her tears had yet to slow, and they rolled down her cheeks in long steams. With her arms, she pulled his body into hers as close as she could. The very idea of being apart from him now, after all that had happened, was inconceivable. That beautiful night when they had last been together seemed to her to have been whole decades ago… She buried her face in his shoulder. “When you were killed,” She struggled to voice her feelings as she cried. “I thought I was going to die.” His warm comforting hand stroking her back gave her the strength to continue. “I didn’t want to live!” “Shhhh…” He quieted her. Then he gently pulled her away from him at an arms length. “Don’t say that. You are very strong, Juuhachigou.” She shook her head stubbornly, and gripped his arms tightly with an almost childlike possession as he held her. She didn’t care what he said; she knew now better than ever how much she needed him… “It doesn’t matter anymore,” She said. “We won’t be separated here.” His smile was soft and sad. Behind his dulled eyes, she sensed that he was withholding something from her. All of a sudden there was a rush of wind as if someone had just walked up beside the two… Juuhachigou looked up to find herself standing before a great red being several times larger than she, and many times taller than her small husband, who seemed dwarfed as he withdrew from her and went to stand by its side She was confused. “Kuririn…” Juuhachigou watched as her husband looked up quietly to the enormous giant beside him. When he nodded his permission, the human looked back over to face her. Large sparkling ebony eyes gazed steadily into her own. “I…I had to make a deal, Juu-chan.” He said quietly. “A…compensation?” The Spirit nodded his approval at the word usage, and Kuririn continued. “When I got here, they wanted me to go on through – in to heaven, but I told them I had to wait. I was afraid for you, Juu-chan…” “What are you talking about?” The confused cyborg demanded. The disoriented tone in her voice was masked almost perfectly by false, frightened anger. With one earth-shaking step, the huge being took a step forward, facing her squarely. Dark serious eyes bore down on her somberly, making the paled woman shiver within herself. The whole atmosphere was heavy. “I am the Lord of this Limbo World, and it is I that has for thousands of years passed billions of souls on either to heaven or hell.” The Voice radiated throughout the room. “And In all of those years, I have never once been confronted with an issue of this nature.” Juuhachigou couldn’t find words to respond. “I am afraid,” The voice continued tiredly and sadly. “That your own scarred, fragmented soul is as good as not having one at all.” With a choked cry of disbelief, the poor cyborg reeled backwards at the news. Her mind was almost completely lost in the torrent of pain that swallowed her. Her humanity truly was lost…her foulest deeds unredeemable… The King mercilessly continued. “You will not cease to exist – for it is obvious that you are more than a simple machine. But for your crimes against the earth and against life, you are to be condemned.” “No…” There were tears again running down Juuhachigou’s face; the stress and pain of the past few days had broken her down. With her eyes, she pleaded to Kuririn for the comfort of his arms, but he stayed solidly in his place, eyes cast to the floor. “But this is not the problem, Gero’s eighteenth creation.” At this, Juuhachigou’s head snapped upwards. The enormous deity’s crimson face was lined, and he spoke carefully. “There was no question in your fate, cyborg.” He told her. “It was already decided. However, we did not anticipate that this human would act as he did…” The “king” gestured to silently to Kuririn. “He has been a defender of the earth for most of his time in the living world, and has given his life many times for others. Without argument, he was to be admitted into heaven immediately,” The spirit said. “But…he refuses to go without you…” ***** Juuhachigou was understandably near the end of herself. Face paled and eyes wide with shock, she could barely stammer out the question. “W-what?” A low growl of perhaps annoyance filtered through the giant’s lips. “He refuses to leave without you, cyborg.” He said. “And for that reason we have had to rework your case.” A flicker of hope. “Are you going to let me go with him?” She asked eagerly. “I am afraid that would be impossible.” The creature seemed surprised that she would even ask such a question. “You must pay for what you have done. There must be payment.” “But—“ Juuhachigou cried. Before she could make her terrified plea, Kuririn stepped forward and grasped her hand firmly. He squeezed her trembling fingers. “Don’t be scared, Juu-chan.” His soft voice reassured. Then he turned to the huge red king. “Tell her the rest.” He demanded. With a great sigh, the beast continued. “I cannot tell you how may times that your human and I have argued over your fate,” He began. “But I have made clear to him, just as I have to you, that there has to be a payment made for your evil. And so he has decided to pay it.” So carelessly was the statement made, that Juuhachigou was almost lost to the significance of it. ‘He had decided to pay it’…? Even more confused, she tossed a look down at Kuririn, who refused to look up at her. Her glare pierced the king as she whipped her head back around. “What do you mean by that?” She yelled. “’He’? You mean Kuririn?” “Yes.” “How is he going to pay it?” She asked. “The only way that it can be paid – I tried to dissuade him, but the human was adamant. He will go instead of you. And you will go to heaven in his place.” The poor cyborg nearly gagged as she found realization in his words. Turning to her loved one, she all but wrenched his head up to meet hers. “He’s lying.” She blurted. Kuririn slowly shook his head. “I got to talk to Gokuu.” He said, trying to avoid her agonizing look. “He’s going to wait on the other side for you. So you won’t be alone. I told him how important it was.” “I won’t be alone, because you are going with me!” Juuhachigou screamed at him. She was terrified, and her reaction was blind fury. But both he and the king just shook their heads. Eyes misting, Juuhachigou shook Kuririn hard. “Why did you do this!?” She demanded. “Are you really so stupid that you would so something like that for me…am I really worth that much to you?” “Juu-chan…” She furiously swiped the tears off her face. “I don’t deserve it!” she cried. Gently, Kuririn pulled her hands into his, lacing fingers just as she remembered him doing that night so long ago in her mind. As he began to talk, his face remained on her hands, but with each word, his face raised to focus solidly on hers. “You do deserve it – and so much more than anything I could ever provide for you.” He said, shushing her quickly as she attempted to deny it. “You have to understand, Juu-chan. To have you taken away from me and forced into that…that terrible place… I can’t let that happen to you, Juu-chan.” He took a halting breath. “Especially,” He said. “Since it is not just you anymore.” ***** Her day already filled with shock beyond what she was capable of handling, Juuhachigou could only gap at Kuririn as he stood before her. She didn’t understand, and her poor numb mind wasn’t even capable of beginning to figure it out. “I-I don’t…” She stuttered. “…What are you talking about, Kuririn?” That sad smile had returned to his face, as he quietly explained. “I had hoped that when I told you this, it would be under happier circumstances. Right now I feel like I want to cry...” He shook his head. “Do you remember that night, Juu-chan?” He asked her. “That last one, at the lake?” She nodded shakily. “Of course…” She whispered. “You were trying to tell me something then…something that was important.” A tear mixed with both sorrow and joy rolled down Kuririn’s face. “I was trying to tell you what I just have, Juu-chan.” He said. “I think that you’re going to have a baby…” Juuhachigou suddenly felt the floor beneath her spin and her legs give out beneath her... But Kuririn was right there, holding her in his arms securely, steadying her as she digested the news that should have made both so happy. He looked up into her contorted face, waiting while she gasped for air. “How…” He just barely heard her almost inaudible voice. “How could you know…?” He brushed the tears one by one from her face, ignoring the ones rolling down his own. So happy…it was supposed to have made them so happy. It didn’t seem fair to him that that wonderful moment he had so fantasized should be stripped away from him like everything else. He squeezed Juuhachigou tenderly. “It was a week ago, Juu-chan,” He told her. “I could feel something strange. I can’t usually feel you like that – you’re energy is so different. I…I wanted to tell you that night, because I knew it would be awhile before you found out on your own. I didn’t want to wait that long…” He had to swallow a tormented cry. Now he knew he would never see his child… Not in all eternity; not even in death… “You have to go into heaven, Juu-chan.” Kuririn went on with great effort. “Gokuu says you might be able to get wished back from there. He promised me he’d get you wished back. That way you and…and our baby…can go back home.” “I can’t let you go for me!” Juuhachigou was crying. The knowledge of the tiny life inside her had broken her heart in two. How could she loose Kuririn now? She couldn’t take care of a child…not alone… His hands slide under her chin and raised her face level with his. For that brief moment, her tearful, pain filled eyes mixed gently with his bright black pools of sorrow. “I love you.” He whispered to her, and leaned forward into the last kiss that he would ever share with her. Their tears mingled for that last moment… And then it was over. To pull away from her almost killed him, but Kuririn knew he had to. To extend his eminent departure was only to hurt the one that he loved even more. It hurt so much to make those few backward steps away from her. Knowing that he would probably never see her again; knowing that he was saying goodbye to his life and his unborn baby; knowing that every hope and dream of that family he had so wanted was about to be shattered… That great, black door that had time and time again terrified him during his many visits to this world suddenly was right in front of him, dark sculpted eyes staring back at him from the carved wood. It drained his strength from him just being so close… The King had come to his desk. Someone who looked closely enough might have seen the sadness on even his face as he raised his large hand to open that hideous gate. But his eyes closed helplessly. The human had made his decision, and he knew that there was nothing that would change his mind now… Juuhachigou had sunk to her knees on the floor, eyes wide and red with tears as she watched him approach the gate to hell itself. That was supposed to be her… She was supposed to be the one to enter into that death. “Kuririn…” Her call was weak and her voice jaggedly torn. A creaking that made everyone present shudder preceded an awful hiss as the doors slowly opened. Terrible black clouds of smoke bellowed from the opening. Then, like great living ropes, tendrils of chilling blackness crept from the bottom and snaked their way toward the tiny condemned human before it… Fear, purer than he had ever felt, flooded Kuririn, and he couldn’t stop himself from taking a step backwards. It took all of his will power not to try and run as those snakes of darkness reached him. As they touched his flesh, winding around his ankles and legs, there was actual pain and a coldness that seemed to rip straight through his pure heart. His mind was assaulted by it. To have it touch him hurt more than any physical pain that he had ever experienced. Kuririn knew he was not a “good” person, and he had done much that was wrong. There were many things in his life that he had later regretted, but not even in his darkest state of mind had he ever sought after such darkness that now invaded him. The tendrils were all around him now, and darkness in the very air seemed to snap at him, laughing at his helplessness…glad at this chance to destroy what was good… The black clouds began to whirl madly around him and he could no longer hear anything but the dark wind lashing out at him. He tossed a look over his shoulder as he was lifted into the air, completely bound from his feet to his neck. It smothered him, and he could barely breath. Distantly, as the swirling blackness began to eat away at him and he was pulled into those terrible doors, he saw the room and in it Juuhachigou. She looked like she was screaming, he thought, and his heart ached to go and comfort her. But that was impossible. His eyes shut as the last black rope closed over his face… Take good care of her for me, Gokuu… ***** Several months later on Earth… Juuhachigou sat quietly on the window seal of her bedroom, clothed only in a plain nightgown. The large windows were open wide, revealing that nighttime sky of deep navy blue, dotted with so many stars that there seemed to be no end to them. The wind blew gently through the tiny island from the musical sea. As it caressed her face, Juuhachigou exhaled slowly, her eyes closing. Sometimes she thought that she could hear Him out there in the wind… Laying her head back against the grain of the wood, her hand fell across her swollen abdomen. It had been a long time since she had been brought back to this world – many lonely weeks and months. It wouldn’t be long now before her tiny baby would be born. His baby, and hers. Gokuu had fulfilled his promise to his best friend, though he was deeply grieved. He had made sure that Juuhachigou was safe and that she and the tiny child that she carried with her made it…home. But it didn’t feel like home…not without Him. As tears threatened again to fall, she swallowed hard, milky hand tightened into a determined fist. Somewhere, deep in her eyes as she looked out into the night…hope radiated through them… “I’ll find a way, Kuririn…” She whispered to the breeze and the waves. “I’ll take care of…of our daughter…and one day, I’ll find a way to get you back…” I promise… Disclaimer: This story was written to fit the Dragonball Z view of life after death. It does not reflect my personal views of heaven and hell, or the state of the human soul. |
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