Today was a lousy day.  

	I could not understand how it became as bad as it did.  I mean, it 
started pretty bad, but it got really good for a while, then...  Then it 
was all down-hill.  And of course, the bottom of that hill just had to be 
at the top of a cliff.

	I wonder if it was something I did...  Something I forgot.  Maybe I 
was starting to get the same sort of insensitiveness that father 
typically displayed to everything outside of the Art.

	I will not be beaten so easily, I swear to myself.  I can't have my 
ancestors' spirits be so disappointed in me.  

	I did everything wrong, I think.  

	But it wasn't my fault!  At least, not all of it was.  

	Things just.  Things just happened.  To me.  It was like watching a 
bad movie that was made about me, and the cast was all wrong.  It was 
like, it was like...  like my role was designed for an action/drama type 
of star.  But instead, I got played by some talk show host with bad 
teeth, frizzy hair and an annoying lisp.  

	Now they're both mad at me.  Well...  what do I care anyway?

	Hey.  Why're all those people lookin' at me?  

	Haaah, Nik, Nik, Nik...  You've just gotta stop talking to 
yourself.  Out loud, at least.

----
The Nikholas F. Toledo Zu
presents


The Three-Fold God's Path

a DragonBall fanfic
by

Nikholas 'Don Juan' F. Toledo
(Overseas Correspondent)


Note:  Greetings to whoever's being kind and interested enough to read 
this little excursion into the wonderful world of DragonBall (through my 
own admittedly biased and mis-focused eyes).  Sorry 'bout the slowing-
down of my production rate, but I have lotsa stuff to worry about (class 
+ the other five stories I'm working on).  Again, again, C&C is most 
appreciated and sought for!  If it were possible to do in a text file, 
I'd beg and grovel at your feet for it...  Oh, wait, maybe that's just 
what I did...  Hmm...  =P

	Anyhow, what do you people think of how events are turning?  Poor?  
Good?  Blah?  An inquiring mind needs to know!!!  
----

episode 12:  I know all about the Honor of God, Mary Jane...


	"So," Goten started.

	"So," Trunks responded.

	They had met by accident a few minutes earlier at Sylvia's, a 
little, exquisite jewel of a cafe several blocks from the North end of 
the campus.  It was located in a small brick building that was very old, 
and the interior was cozy rather than small, with its polished hardwood 
floor and the smoky quality of the low ceiling, and the quietly 
understated elegance of the sparse decor.  The furniture was antique and 
well cared for, and the coffee was pretty good too.  It was a comfortable 
place for friends to gather and talk, and there was a warm tinge to the 
lighting that made it just about perfect for reading a favorite book in, 
or for a serious, or even a not-so-serious, discussion about nearly 
anything.    

	Trunks had found it on his own a while back.  Goten had been 
introduced to the complex flavors and intricate aroma of its fine coffees 
by Mari, just yesterday.  

	Outside, the morning air was quite damp, and the sky was dark.

	They'd both stood up to leave, only then noticing the other.  

	Trunks had paid, and as they'd begun the walk towards the campus, a 
reluctant quiet had insinuated itself about them.  
 
	"So...  how did the date with Ami go?"  He was looking straight 
ahead, face expressionless.
	
	A few steps behind, Trunks hesitated.  "It didn't."

	"Why?"

	"I was late."

	"Why?"

	"There was that incident with Anju."

	"And?"  Goten prompted some more.

	"And I was late."

	They strode a few blocks further uphill before continuing the 
conversation.  
	
	"You called her?"

	The other shook his head, slowly.  "I should have."

	"So why didn't you?"

	"I," he paused almost imperceptibly, "had a lot on my mind."

	"Ah."  Goten shifted about awkwardly as they halted at a busy 
intersection.  He chuckled a little, smiling.

	"What?"

	"I just remembered what I was doing just a few months ago, in this 
exact spot."  

	Trunks raised an eyebrow.  "Well?"

	"I was upset with you.  Very upset.  And I had so much on my mind 
that I crossed the street without noticing the red light..."

	"Oh."  Trunks' stony expression softened a little.  "Totalled?"

	"Yup."

	"Let me guess.  Truck?"

	"Just a car."

	"Hmm."  The shorter student straightened the collar of his shirt, a 
slight curve to his lips.  "No one hurt?"

	"Just minor bruises, thankfully."

	"Ah."

	"Trunks?"  

	"What?"

	"Funny how, when we don't pay attention to things, it's never us 
who get hurt, huh?"

	"Nh."  He looked everywhere except at his big friend.

	"It's never us who get hurt...  Always someone else."

	Trunks nodded.

	"So, we always have to be aware, right?  Some more than others?  
Especially since..."  His voice was low.

	"Since we are as strong as we are?"  His lips thinned.  "You are 
not very subtle," he accused.  "She told you, the snitch."  

	"Stop scowling.  All I'm saying is that I know how easy it is to 
forget...  to forget how strong we really are.  I'm not accusing you of 
anything."  Goten persisted.  "Anju's a nice girl.  And I don't know how 
she got it into her head to care about you."

	Trunks ran his fingers through his immaculate hair.  "Must be my 
winning personality."

	"Must be."  He sighed as he looked wistfully at his shabby jeans 
and sneakers, and then at Trunks' designer slacks and shoes that cost 
more than Goten's tuition for the semester.  He shook his head.  It did 
not bother him.  Most of the time.  It was one of those things he 
accepted.  Not just the money, but his companion's almost powerful 
charisma.  Even when he acted like a jerk, there was this...  presence to 
Trunks.  That had always seemed to attract everyone around.  

	"Hey, look - it's Gohan, Anju and Ami..."

	Trunks and Goten waved, but the three, not noticing, were already 
walking into a building in the distance, their backs turned.  

	"Well, maybe later," murmured Trunks.  

	Goten looked away.  "I wonder why Mari didn't show at the cafe?"  
he said to himself, softly.

	"So."

	"So?"

	"So how are you and Mari?"

	"Fine.  Just...  great."  He closed his eyes, remembering the day 
before.  "She's really something else."

	"You got over Ami pretty quickly."

	"I realize now that there wasn't much to get over."  He shrugged.  
"I mean, I never really talked to her much, don't know her as well as you 
do.  Maybe I'm just rationalizing it away, but... I can accept the 
reality."

	Trunks' eyes were hooded, unreadable.  "Yeah, sure.  The reality."  
He could not decide if Goten's cheer was sincere, or if perhaps he was 
detecting the resignation in his old friend's face.  He missed the easy 
banter between them, sometimes.  Sometimes.  He regretted the walls that 
he'd had to build since that summer, when his power grew beyond 
everyone's expectations.

	The other looked intently at him.  "Are you trying to tell me 
something?"

	"Why, nothing at all."  He wondered what Goten could see in his own 
face - if the worries and anxieties he felt were somehow visible behind 
his normally impassive mask.

	The two crossed the street.

	"Well, my class is further up this way."  Trunks gestured at the 
distant engineering building.  

	"And mine is the other way."

	His companion looked up to the sky.  "Looks like more rain."

	"Yes, it does."

---

	"You wanted to see me before our normal meeting time?  Why?"

	"Well.  I just had a few things revealed to me yesterday."

	"Like?"
	
	"Like you've been holding back on me in every single match we've 
had."

	The huge figure shrugged.  "It would not have been sporting of 
me...  there would have been no challenge," he said matter-of-factly.

	A cold breeze blew about them.  The view from the top of the 
architecture building was always good, even if today there was not much 
to see because of the heavy clouds, and the mist.  It was very quiet.

	Nik laid aside his backpack, and drew his wooden practice sword.

	Yuu raised an eyebrow.  "No audience today?"

	"I want to see you fight with your full skill..."

	"You want to get hospitalized today?"

	"I may surprise you."

	He turned his back.  "I have nothing to prove to you.  If you want 
to fight, let us do it the normal way, later, during lunch."

	A whistling sound rushed close, and a clap of thunder followed.  

	Yuu wiped the blood off of his cheek, absently noting how close the 
cut had been to his eye.  "Air pressure cut?  You are better than I 
thought...  but not good enough to face me at my level."

	"Why don't we find out?"  Nik altered his stance, shifting his grip 
on the wooden practice sword from the standard two-handed grip.  

	"Reverse left-hand technique?  Surprise after surprise today...  
All right.  Let's find out."  The huge man drew off his leather jacket, 
and threw it to the side where his own shoulder-bag lay.  His eyes 
narrowed as he breathed deeply and a faint white light began to surround 
his form.  His hands were low before him.

	Nik's feet barely touched the ground as he glided towards his 
opponent, and swept his sword diagonally upwards to the right with 
blinding speed, aiming for Yuu's neck.

	His target was no longer there, and his breath left him as he was 
struck hard in the side with a knee that he could not even see.  He fell 
to his knees, struggling for his feet.  

	A dozen feet away, leaning against the door to the stair-case, Yuu 
relaxed, arms crossed before him.  

	Nik charged again, intense concentration visible in his brow.

	Again, it was like striking air, and again, Nik grimaced as he 
struggled to his feet.  

	"You are not ready yet."  Yuu stepped close to him, looking down on 
his fallen form.  

	"Kiiiiaaaa!"

	Thunder filled the rooftop as the slender fighter launched stroke 
after stroke at Yuu's mocking countenance.

	Nik was dismayed as the other was merely forced back a few steps, 
shielded forearms absorbing the force easily.  With tremendous effort, he 
ran at Yuu, wildly swinging attack after attack.  Almost contemptuously, 
they were all avoided, Yuu was so fast.  

	A burning hammer punch had Nik sprawling on the floor.  

	Yuu shook his head.  "All too easy."  He picked up his jacket and 
bag, and walked away.

	"Waaaait!"  Nik threw himself at Yuu, arms aching with the effort 
as he concentrated the last of his energy into an all-or-nothing strike.

	"What is your *problem*?"  Yuu wondered out loud as he caught the 
wooden blade between his hands, and knocked out his opponent with a well-
aimed kick surrounded by the haze of blue fire.  He shook his head as he 
began to walk down the stairs.  

---

	"Ushiko-san, why are you....  Ushiko-san?"

	"Kasuga-kun!"

	"Ginny!"

	"Umao-san, why are you....  Umao-san?"

	"Darling!"

	"H... Hikaru-chan!"

	"Bill?  But... but I thought you were gay!"

	"All right, I think I've got this mike fixed.  Everyone quiet down, 
let's start class now," the balding, snowy-bearded professor made the 
last few adjustments to his throat mike, picked up his laser pointer, and 
plugged the projector into his laptop.  

	"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the incredible world of Political 
Science 20, an introduction to comparative politics..."

	"Hey, pay attention!"  The red-haired girl tugged at Goten's 
sleeve.

	"Hnh?"

	"Your mind is a million miles away!  What's wrong?"

	He reluctantly looked about the classroom one more time before he 
settled down into his seat.  "A... friend of mine.  We were supposed to 
meet this morning, but she didn't come.  She's supposed to be in this 
class..."  He scratched the back of his head.  "I don't see her 
anywhere."

	Anju blinked.  "Friend?  As in a female friend?"

	"Uh-huh."

	"Oh.  What's her name?"

	"Mari."

	"What's her family name?"

	He thought about it, and shrugged.  "Kobayashi."

	"Okay."

	She focussed on the professor for a few seconds, before realization 
dawned.  "Say, doesn't that sound a lot like..."
	
	"Don't even say it.  Her name is Mari, okay?  She gets very 
irritable every time she hears that antiquated piece of science fiction 
trivia..."  It was the first time he'd looked directly at her this 
morning.  Now that she thought about it, it was the first time he'd shown 
any animation at all this morning.

	Progress, she decided.  "Jeez, yah're so sensitIVE.  Lighten up.  
It's just a name."

	"Hmph."  He swiveled his eyes to the front.

	Several minutes passed as Anju concentrated on the boring lecture, 
doing her best not to yawn.  She turned to her right, and cuffed Goten's 
shoulder.  

	"Hmm?"

	"You're drifting again, Son-kun."

	"Am I?"

	She rolled her eyes.  "I am going to stamp my foot very, very hard 
onto yours each time you do that," she stated.

	He mumbled an indistinct "That's nice."

	Anju sighed, deciding that it was hopeless.  At least for the time 
being.  So much for progress.

	From the back of the room, the double doors at the entrance swung 
open, squeaking noisily and attracting the attention of three-quarters of 
the class to reveal a wet and bedraggled figure with a bokken slung 
beside his backpack.  Noticing the eyes on him, he straightened, rather 
desperately arranged his hair, and chuckled weakly.  Eyes returned to the 
front, and the class proceeded as normal.  

	Anju almost groaned.  "What's Trunks gotten me into?"  She tugged 
Goten's sleeve again.  "What do you know about him?" she indicated Nik 
with a glance.

	"Hmm?  Nik?  He's all right.  A little high-strung.  A touch manic.  
A touch arrogant.  Really smart.  'snice to small, furry animals.  
Doesn't like dogs for some reason."  He absently chewed at the eraser on 
his pencil.  

---

	The sounds of irritation got louder as he blundered his way through 
the crowded row to the empty seat closest to the front, accompanied by 
his faint murmuring, "Gomen... so sorry... uhm... Excuse me."

	As he finally sat, Nik almost collapsed in relief.  He listened 
closely to the professor for all of five minutes before deciding that the 
little guy wasn't teaching anything that Nik hadn't already studied 
before in three other classes.  He leaned back as far as the creaking 
auditorium seat would allow, getting as comfortable as possible for a 
nap.  

	That was when someone's bookbag slammed into his face.  

	"Oh, sorry!  Hey, I know you, don't I?"  Her face brightened 
considerably.

	He counted to three.  It couldn't be.  Perky.  Just between quiet 
and too-happy.  Like a deceptively light wine that carried a hint of 
complex, peppery, almost smoky excitement just behind the simple, bubbly 
sweetness.  He knew that voice... from long, long ago.  This was not how 
he would have preferred to meet her today, after a poorly lost battle 
with Yuu and looking thoroughly mangled.  

	Expression half-way between elation and chagrin, he just managed a 
rueful smile, as he admired her upside-down face from his perspective.  
"George Michael's 'Kissing a Fool' is playing, it's the last song they're 
going to play for the night, then the party's over."

	She responded, "You've been sitting it out and feeling left out all 
night because you know you can't dance..."  An expression of disbelief 
lit her face.

	"You see the light of life your life across the crowded room..." he 
continued.  

	"You're scared, you don't think your heart's ever beat this fast 
before..." Her voice was almost laughing now.  

	"You stand, desperation driving you to ask the other to dance 
and..." 

	"And you spill a bowl of salsa all over that person!"  they 
exclaimed together, grinning.    

	Several students around them were disturbed from their slumber long 
enough to "Shhh!!!" them, harshly.  

	Things were definitely looking up.  "Ami!  Hi!  I didn't know you 
were studying here!  How long has it been?  What, five years?"  

	"Surely not that long!  Nik!  How have you been?"  

	Every bit as warm as he remembered...  He extended his right pinky 
finger, curled just so.  "99 steps, a tea kettle, a bicycle in the 
rain..."

	"A phone booth in the night, a red hat, the music of cicadas on the 
breeze,"  Her eyes sparkled as she linked her finger to his.  "Friends 
who won't forget,"

	"A promise," he whispered.

	"A promise."

	"Let's get some coffee.  This professor's just repeating everything 
from the textbook, anyway.  Verbatim, no less."  He stood.

	"If you're sure..."

	"He wrote that textbook, of course I'm sure."

	"Kewl.  Then, let's, indeed!"

---

	"Don't chew your nails like that!"

	"I'm not chewing my nails," she hastily put her hands behind her 
back.  

	"Who's not paying attention now?"	

	Cheeks flushed, she replied, "I AM paying attention."  She fixed 
her eyes firmly in the direction of their soporific teacher.  "He looked 
so happy all of a sudden when he saw her...  How does that blue-haired 
hussy know him?"  she muttered.

	Goten's eyes widened, "Anju!  You've met her!  Don't call her that!  
She's not like that..."

	Dagger-glare.  "Mind your own business, oh-he-who-was-just-stood-
up!"

	"I was not stood up!"  

	"Shhhhh!!!"

	"Gomen..."  He got his voice under control.  "What's the big deal, 
anyway?  I thought that Trunks 'forced him onto you' - jealous?"

	Face blazing, she bit back the instinctive response, and sat back, 
stewing.  This just did not happen to her.  She did not get jealous....  
She initiated a meditative trance, muscles becoming slack as she tried to 
calm herself.  Step back from the emotions, assume the mask of the 
machine.  She sighed.  It was getting harder and harder to calm 
herself....  Life outside the Facility was just so... different.  

---

	"So she visits Arien every day, hu-UUUH!"  

	He'd lurched to the side, severely denting a lamppost before he 
spun down to his knees, fists clutched to his temples, teeth grit in 
concentration.  	

	"Gohan!  What's wrong?"  

	Yamcha's voice faded away....  As one that he remembered well 
filled his thoughts with agony.

	"Go... han."

	He could see him in his head, lying broken amongst the shattered 
ruins of Lord Enma's palace.  His green blood soaked the ground, and 
pooled around his crushed form.  With a shock, Gohan noticed that where 
his legs should have been, there were only short, mashed-in stumps.

	"Dende is dead... his palace is gone....  I-I am... dying.  There 
was a-a... battle.  And now, there is... a War... like the Heavens have 
nev-er... known."

	Tried to rise, failed.  A wet, wheezing sound.

	"I... n-needed to warn you..."  The whispers were getting fainter, 
and fainter.  "The DragonBalls... gone....  Things war across the sky, 
Gods and Devils dying... everywhere..."

	A sharp fire lanced through Gohan's heart.  

	"With the last o-of... my strength... I am s-sealing off... the 
spirit-world... from the Ningenkai....  Magic....  To keep the War from 
spreading there....  Gohan... protect our earth... promise... me..."

	A powerful spasm racked his failing heart.

	"Promise... me..."

	Gohan was abruptly released from the vision, thrust back into the 
human reality.  He saw the puzzled, concerned look of Yamcha, and 
struggled to stand.  A couple of students were approaching him in 
concern.  He felt dizzy... pained.  He motioned them away.

	"Piccolo-san..."  He pitched over, unconscious.

	"Gohan!"

---

	No... NOOO!!!  I'm being dragged back....  Help me, please.  Answer 
me...  

	I cannot.  

	Why?

	I am sorry.  It is not time for you to join me yet....  You can not 
know how much I want for you to be here with me.  But Arien, you need to 
live yet.  You are needed for a reason... the Scroll came into your hands 
for a reason.  

	I need...  

	What?

	To... to finish this....  I wanted to know about you, about why all 
this....  I wanted... to see you.

	There will be time.  I promise.  But for now, you must... must 
return.  

---

	They were laughing at him.  How dare they...

	Dwarfed by the huge, deadly shadows, a cold tingling crept through 
him.  He could feel the pain in his legs, even knowing they were no 
longer there.  Those... THINGS put a fear into him that nothing else had 
ever done before - not Buu, not Cell or Freeza...

	But he had to finish this.  A last duty.

	"Heh-heh....  Monsters....  Don't... u-... under-estimate... 
Piccolo-sama..."  

	He clasped his hands together, beginning the words of an ancient 
incantation taught to him by Kaio-sama and Lord Enma even as the battle 
had turned hopeless days before.  

	He remembered Kaio's words tinged with fear, even as his blue-
skinned hands had given him the Book.  "Use this only when no alternative 
remains..."

	Piccolo had asked what the Book was.

	"In this are written the Gods' Words of Undoing, Piccolo-san,"  the 
old god whispered, slowly.

	The words were foul, and the spell was destroying him even as he 
spoke them.  He shuddered, as his blood sprayed out from every pore due 
to the exertion.  He forced himself to continue.  He had to.  Blood 
fountained from his mouth as he continued to scream, and laugh, at the 
same time.  His fingers wove his light into delicate traceries and 
patterns of chaotic symmetry as he finished the last movements and 
strokes, delicate and exact as those of a painter on canvass.

	My last... lost, stand.  The true death.

	Death took him, and his form began to fade as the light of the 
billions of dead souls from what was left of Hell began to drift and 
coalesce around him.  But the spell continued its relentless course, 
weaving the pure, distilled stuff that was the chi of the spirit world.  
Silver-blue and violet-gray light whirled together in a glowing vortex of 
power - good and evil collapsed into a chaotic singularity centered where 
Piccolo died.  Immortal souls caught up in this manner were destroyed 
forever as the vital forces that composed them were consumed by the 
magic.  There would be no reincarnation for those souls - no return to 
the great wheel - only a true, complete oblivion.  

	The ground shook as the storm spread, cold malevolence and 
destruction shearing through the threads and flows of heaven and hell, 
shearing the ties and anchors and incantations and gates linking all this 
to the earth.  Rivers of fire tore through reality.

	The shadows laughed.  They applauded the show... it suited them.  
They could wait, before moving on to the Earth.

	This place now reminded them of home.

---

	Her tears stopped.  She didn't know why.  Mari felt an immense 
upheaval in the air... something, a grief even greater than her own.  She 
wrapped her arms around herself, and shivered.

---

	In a vault in the heart of Capsule Corp, a hand, barely 
recognizable as a hand, in heavy, thick gauze, lurches, grasps at 
Andrea's hand.  

	Her eyes opened, and as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, she 
realized that it hadn't been a dream....  He'd reached... and was still 
holding tightly onto her own hand.  

	"What's that?"  Her elation was interrupted, as she heard a faint, 
rumbling sound.

---

	"Diehl.  Dankgyou bor da soub."

	"Fujiisawa-sensei!  Do you feel that?"

	"AAAAH!  Why'dgyou sbill da soub od BE???"

	"Hush!  We've gotta move!"

---

	The rapid clacking of extended metal fingers stopped.  Metal eyes 
whirred, re-focussing and focussing.

---

	The short, powerfully built man in the severe, black suit lurched 
to his feet, spilling his wine across the office table.  

	"Vegita-sama!  What is it?"

	Concerned businessmen rose, wondering why the meeting has been 
disrupted.

	"Something is wrong..."  

	Vegita blinked.  "Kami!  Everybody get down!" he roared.  He tried 
to remember the procedures as he noticed the irritating, sheep-like, 
blank look of incomprehension on his employees' faces.  "Under the table 
you idiots!!!"

---

	Everything stopped.  Everywhere, a powerful chill moved, making 
everyone, every person, every animal, pause in expectation.  For a brief 
instant, there was a terrible rending sensation for everything that 
lived, felt in the soul.  

	Then it was over.  The moment passed quickly, and for most, it 
would be forgotten within moments.

---

	"Vegita-sama....  What are you talking about?"

	"Uh..."  He looked around.  He was certain he'd felt it.  The same 
shift of terrestrial chi that accompanied an earthquake.  The strongest 
he'd ever felt since arriving on earth.  So why wasn't the ground 
shaking?  He suddenly felt remarkably silly.  An unfamiliar sensation he 
did not like.  And like most unfamiliar sensations he sometimes felt, he 
turned his rather prodigious rage on it, and attempted to crush it with 
extreme prejudice.  

	"Eh..."  He shook with the warring emotions.  That is to say, 
Vegita couldn't tell whether his anger would be able to defeat the 
burning embarrassment that was threatening to overwhelm him.  
Impulsively, he closed and opened his fists, teeth clenched hard.  His 
face was red.

	The businessmen nervously began to rise from their chairs, 
recalling stories about how angry the boss could be.

	Takashi had a moment of inspiration.  He knew that Vegita's dignity 
just couldn't take this sort of thing, so he took the initiative.  "You 
IDIOTS!!!  Is this how you expect to impress the boss!  It was a safety 
drill!  It doesn't matter that there was no alarm - you should have 
obeyed his commands instantly!  He is so consumed with contempt for you 
fools that he can barely speak!  You're all useless morons!  Everyone, 
get out of my SIGHT!"  He pointed to the huge, marble double doors of the 
conference room.

	Chagrined and more than a little confused, the executives glumly 
stared at their feet as they trudged out, single file.

	When they were gone, Vegita almost let go a breath of relief.  
Almost.

	Concerned, Takashi approached his superior.  "Are you OK, Vegita-
sama?  What *did* happen just now?"

	The shorter man relaxed back into his seat, murmuring, "Thank you, 
Takashi....  Eh.  Just now.  I felt the life force of the earth moving 
were we stood.  There should have been an earthquake - a massive one..."

	The other nodded.  If it were anyone else, he'd probably suspect 
them of having a few nuts and bolts loose.  But...  "When do you want me 
to schedule inspections for the offices?  They were designed to take the 
shock, but if there is to be one that large..."

	Vegita shook his head.  "The flows have stopped.  There is no 
need... but what was it that I sensed?"

---

	Old music was playing.  

	-... Tell me it would be alright, if I could just crash here 
tonight...-  

	It was sung by the voice of someone who seemed perpetually 
disappointed.  Who wants to hope, but sounds as though he can't quite 
make himself believe in it.  The melody was incongruously upbeat.

	"What's wrong?"  

	Nik shook his head, as the trembling slowly faded away.  "I... 
don't know.  I just had this feeling."  He shook his head.  "It's gone 
now, whatever it was.  Wh-what is it?"

	She'd been examining his face extremely closely.  "You've changed 
some.  You look better, for one thing."  

	-If I hadn't blown the whole thing years ago, I might not be 
alone...-

	Her fingers touched his jaw, and nudged him, making him turn a 
little to the side.  "The scar... you had it removed," she whispered.  

	He pulled her hand away, gently.  "It was time to move on..."

	-Hey Jealousy-

	"I'm glad for you.  Honestly."  Her smile was muted as she looked 
up at his face, leaning, elbows on the table.

	"Hmm."  He looked out at the rain, sipped his cappuccino, feeling 
the warmth go through his fingers. 

	She saw him, then, striding rapidly by the cafe.  She straightened, 
waved.  He seemed to be in a rush.  He returned the wave before 
disappearing around the corner.

	"You know Trunks?"  He asked, a little surprised.

	She turned back to him, an odd expression on her face.  She looked 
down at her coffee, and stirred it.  

	"You're blushing!  Don't tell me...  You're going out with THE Mr. 
Rich of the university?"  

	Her voice was small.  "I, uh, guess so.  I mean, yes, I am.  There 
is more to him than that."  

	She wouldn't quite meet his eyes.  

	"Oh.  Okay."

	He looked out again.  It was his turn to wave, as he started to 
feel somewhat foolish.  

	Anju skipped a little, stopped, and waved in response.  And resumed 
marching (it could only be called that) towards the cafe.

	"You know that young girl?"

	"Ah... yes.  She asked me out the other day.  It was Trunks' idea, 
I think."  

	It was quiet, except for the song, which was ending.

	-The past is gone but something might be found to take its place...  
Hey Jealousy...  Hey Jealousy...-

	He scratched the back of his head.  

	Ami spoke, "well, I guess Anju will be joining us soon....  Have 
you thought about what you're you going to tell her?"

	He forced down the last dregs that were at the bottom of the cup, 
put it down, and he felt his face ease into a smile.  "Why do we have to 
tell anyone anything?  It was a long time ago, why should any of that 
matter?  It's all in the past.  I'll just say that you're an old friend, 
from long before - it's even the truth."  

	She nodded, returning the smile.  She poked him (unfortunately 
where he was struck rather hard earlier by Yuu), causing him to wince.  
"You're not even going to tell that cute young girl your story about the 
dogs, you cradle-snatcher?"

	He shivered.  "That was not funny at all!  And who are you calling 
a cradle-snatcher?  She's not that much younger than us..."

	She kept herself from chuckling.  "It was funny to everyone else.  
And she is, what, four years younger?  Not that much, true, but it's the 
same difference between a high school kid and a college kid, and between 
a college kid and his graduate student instructors."  She raised a 
finger.  "A significant enough difference."

	"Well, yeah, but..."  He sighed, waving to Anju again, who was 
having trouble negotiating her way through the crowded doorway (a group 
of rather large, rather overweight people were slowly ambling out).  "How 
did the two of you meet anyway?"

	"We ran into each other this morning on the way to class.  She said 
that s-she recog... recog... -nized m-me from a picture of me Trunks h-
had in-n h-h-his wa-wallet."

	"Ah."

	"Stop that!"  Irritation lent her coherence.

	"What?"

	"Stop making those goofy faces!  You know I can't talk straight 
when I see you doing that!"  

	He looked away, hiding his grin.  He knew that she wasn't as angry 
as she looked.  "That was for your 'cradle-snatcher' remark."

	She sighed.  "Anyway, she explained to me why Trunks wasn't able to 
meet me last night like he was supposed to."

	"Why didn't he?"  

	What was that on his face?  An expression of, what was it?  
Concern?  Anger?  She couldn't read him like she used to.  What was he 
feeling?  She tried to shake the feeling of disappointment.  What was 
there to be disappointed about?  Of course she couldn't tell what he was 
feeling and thinking as easily as she once did - it had been years.  Long 
ones.

	"Ah...  You'll have to ask Anju that yourself."

---

	"What's happening?" Andrea shouted, as she saw the banks of 
monitors fluctuating wildly.  Sparks began to fly from machine to 
machine.  The heat and light forced her to step back.

	Arien was convulsing, body racked by jolts and surges of chi.  The 
bandages were starting to burn off.  She could see him curling up, and 
heard him screaming.  Alarms went off, and a fine mist of fire retardant 
began to spray from various areas in the ceiling.  The light was growing 
brighter, and she couldn't see him anymore.  Suddenly, the light 
contracted about Arien, and faded.  

	His partly curled form lay on what was left of the temperfoam bed, 
and the bandages were gone.  He was unconscious.

	He was whole, every trace of injury gone as well.  

	She touched her face, and realized that she'd started to weep.  As 
she heard the rapid footsteps of the doctors and medtechs approaching 
from outside, she touched his cheek, gently.  And marveled at the 
ageless, baby-smooth, new skin.  Not a scar, wart or blemish marred that 
pale, youthful flesh.  She noticed that under his skin, his musculature 
was as it used to be before the incident at the Facility - as hard and 
unyielding as marble.  His dark hair had grown back to its old length, 
and was soft - enviably so.  But his features were different.  More 
angular and narrow.  His nose that she had always remembered as being a 
little crooked was now straight.  His eyebrows swept back and up farther 
than they used to.  Different, but the same in a way she couldn't quite 
explain.

	She stroked his hair, softly, even as she continued to weep, 
silently, and the medical staff burst into the room.

---

	"So you know each other from high school."  Anju seemed to be 
digesting that information.  Perhaps a little unconsciously, she moved 
her seat over a little closer to Nik.  

	"A long time ago..." Ami smiled fondly at Nik.  "He may not look it 
now, but Nik was a baaad boy.  You know, smoking cigarettes behind the 
gym, perhaps some alcohol now and then.  The black leathers, steel spikes 
and studs.  Your stereotypical punk - but there was never anything very 
ordinary about him."  

	Anju turned a suspicious glance on Nik.  "I can not quite picture 
that."

	He chuckled.  "Yeah, well, things were a lot more easy-going then.  
I didn't have as many responsibilities to handle, and my parents didn't 
mind so long as I maintained my grades."

	He was smiling at Ami.  Not at HER.  She did not quite know what 
came over her.  Anju scooted closer to Nik, and grafted herself onto his 
arm, startling herself even more than Nik.  She fought the blush creeping 
into her cheeks, but she couldn't seem to manage the level of 
concentration necessary.  She seemed to have this silly grin on her face 
as she gazed up to him, longingly.  "Well...  he sure isn't like that 
now.  Uhm.  You're bringing me to the premiere screening of..."  She 
desperately searched her memories for the name of the movie.  "...'The 
Big Black Nothing' after class this evening, right, Nik-kun?"  If Trunks 
sees me now, I'll never live this down, she thought.  She could just 
imagine him jeering, "Hi, Ms. Super Soldier!"  It was not pleasant.

	Nik's face was twitching.  He didn't quite know how to respond to 
this.  "Uhm."

	"Well, I, ah..."  Ami glanced at her watch.  "I have a class to get 
to.  I guess I'll, ah... be seeing you."  She stood, her smile somewhat 
soured, she didn't know why.  Or didn't want to know.

	Nik was looking from one to the other helplessly.  "I'll, uh...  Do 
you want to come with us?  Later to the movie, I mean?"  Damn!  Fool, you 
just agreed to take Anju out, he berated himself.

	Anju sort of groaned inside.  She clutched at Nik's arm a little 
tighter, smiled that much wider.  

	More than a little confused, Ami shook her head.  "I've got to 
study at the library."  She left.  What just happened?  Why do I care?  
Why am I angry at Nik?  

---

	Many painful training exercises and meditative techniques later, 
she finally recovered enough control over her strength to not destroy 
every little thing by accident.  

	She pushed the 'play' button, careful not to punch her finger all 
the way through.

	Beep.

	"Hi, Mari!  Why weren't you at Sylvia's this morning?  Are you 
still asleep?  If so, WAKE UP!  We've still got afternoon classes!  Bye!"  
Goten's voice.

	Beep.

	"Hey, Mari!"  His voice still sounded so cheerful.  "Um.  Um.  It's 
Goten!  I was just wondering how you were?  Are you okay?  I didn't see 
you in class today.  Nobody's seen you around today...  Could you please 
call me back?"

	Beep.

	"Hi!  Well, it's me again."  He chuckled.  "I guess you must be 
getting irritated of my voice by now.  Ahh....  I guess you're still not 
home now...  Um."  A sigh.  "Look, Mari, it's 11 PM.  I'll be up for a 
while yet.  Will you please call back?  I'm starting to get a little 
worried.  Okay, so I'm being silly, but...  Are you okay?  You have my 
phone number...  Please call me back when you can.  Call any time 
tonight, if you want.  Or, I guess...  Um.  I'll see you in tomorrow's 
class...  Ah.  We're still going to the 'Poorly-Timed Dance Party' right?  
Well...  Bye." 

	Beep.

	She hugged herself, tightly, and rocked back and forth on her 
heels, very, very quietly. 

---end episode 12

Nikholas F. Toledo Zu @ http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/3145/mezza9.html
Vector, Switch, Yebah, Don Juan, goo, Pervert, Scruples, Hollie, NomaD,
Blitz, Gee, Datzo, Jewel, Elf, Radler, Pinball, Mayhem
Fanfiction @ http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/3145/fanfics.html
Warp Zone @ http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/3145/thirteen.html
----------------------------------------------------------------
The logo of the Church of All Worlds is nine concentric circles.
Word from the Laity:  Wipe yer feet!  Bloody 'ell...
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/3145/index.html
Currently under construction... confessional at the links.
----------------------------------------------------------------