[12] Reijin and Bardock

[Bra]

The violent, sharp snap of bone released an incredible rush of suffering which rent it?s way through Bra?s entire nervous system. Though she cried out, this new pain was almost... alleviating. The girl?s continuously tortured and taunted mind was forced to turn it?s focus from her father to this new, very real threat. She felt her arm fall limply across her back, already numb and tingling from the intense pressure placed upon it. The princess felt her ki slipping away from her, leaving her weak and defenseless against her new foe, who failed to capitalize upon her impairment. ?Dad,? Bra barely managed to choke out, her tears forming trails along her cheeks before making the short leap from her flesh to the stone she laid upon.

?What happened to you?? Reijin demanded, his voice cold and even, save for the merest hint of concern. Bra did her best to make a reply, but each time her mind relayed the words to her mouth, a fit of sobbing would rob her of the opportunity to speak. The ebony haired saiyan placed his index and middle fingers upon the heiress? arm, pressing into the fracture and eliciting a shrill gasp from the defeated girl.

Something happened; he wrapped a hand around her broken appendage, and soon the dull, constant pain vanished without a trace, and feeling was restored to her fingertips, as though her arm had never actually been damaged. Had Reijin tricked her? It didn?t matter, he was still gone. Dead.

?I?m sorry dad...? the cyan haired youth hoarsely apologized, biting down on her knuckle in order to muffle her weeping. A soft, careful pressure formed on her back. This saiyan, who had just dispatched her as though she were nothing, was looking after her, despite nearly having had his windpipe crushed under the girl?s heel.

?What happened to Vegeta?? Reijin spoke softly. ?Your father?? he pressed. The words nearly sparked another cataclysm of emotion, causing Bra?s body to sharply stiffen, despite the immense fatigue she was still feeling from her opponent?s rapid flogging. A chilling growl escaped the child?s lips, but this time it was the pure-blood who gave the threat. ?Try it and I?ll break your arm again. Maybe even your neck.? the princess? eyes narrowed into venomous, piercing slits, but she couldn?t find the words to argue. Reijin could have killed her long ago; he wasn?t her enemy. But, then, who wasn?t anymore? Bra broke down once more, this time collapsing completely, and fading out of consciousness.

The sensation of falling awoke the hybrid, and she found herself atop a bed, which was far more inviting than the chilled slate she had been thrown against by the warrior who now gazed into her eyes, expecting an explanation.

?He killed dad.? she finally offered, her resolve thoroughly and repeatedly crushed. Her eyes fell closed, heavy under the burden she was inexplicably revealing to this stranger. ?Gabriel killed him.? her eyes snapped open, filled with sorrow, and with fear.

?What are you talking about? Gabriel has been below with his angels the entire time. I would know, because that piece of shit had me training his army for him since he wouldn?t go out there himself.? Reijin?s own voice grew steely as he formed his commentary on the archangel.

Bra lethargically nodded. ?Gabriel killed him ?cause he didn?t do anything. My dad is dead.? the words were flat and rough, overtaken by sadness as her sparkling blue eyes snapped shut once again.

?Your father is not truly dead,? the whisper came. The demi saiyan opened her eyes, tracing over the raven haired man?s features, stricken with confusion and longing for an answer to her questions. ?Kao forgot to deactivate his collar to actually kill him. You remember what Brim said before? Anyone who died while here would find themselves awakening where they were taken from, completely alive. I don?t know how that technology works, but something tells me he wasn?t lying. He had no reason to.? he spat the last sentence out, disgusted with the executive.

The cyan haired princess? thoughts reached into her memory, back into the last tournament. What this ?Reijin? was saying did make sense, even to the grieving young child. She had experienced the abilities of those collars first-hand, after succumbing to a painful demise at the hands of Brim. She suffered a humiliating defeat and had been obliterated without a second thought, but she hadn?t died. But still, Brim was one of the most vile, horrid people the girl had ever met. He could have truly murdered her father in some twisted scheme to push her to whatever sick outcome he wished. ?Vegeta is a strong warrior,? the fighter began. ?And I?m sure he?s on Earth right now at our alliance headquarters. Your father?s alliance is very strong, and I have the pleasure of fighting daily at his side.?

Dad did spend a lot of time with this guy... Are they... are they really friends?

?He would love to fight with you if you would let him, but I?m sure you already have friends elsewhere. All kids do.? he finished, wrapping his arms across his chest uncomfortably. Bra offered him the weakest of smiles, trying to put him at ease, and also trying to somehow convey to him that his efforts did help.

An awful sinking feeling pressed forcefully upon her mind, and upon her heart, but even so, Reijin had managed to ease her paroxysm of suffering, ever so slightly. The half-blood heaved a sigh, her eyes falling into her unlikely companion?s own.

?I...? she began. A lump formed in her throat, and her body had chosen to shut down, pinning her upon the warm comforter she laid upon. ?I, ...Reijin??

?Yes?? he replied, his voice neither curt nor compassionate. Bra studied him for a moment, overwhelmed simply by how awkward this conversation had become. She took in a deep breath, and tried once again.

?I...? another pause. ?Thank you. I... I really apprecia-? the prince?s daughter burst into tears, rolling over and burying her face into the pillow in some vain attempt to hide from Reijin?s gaze. Her arms tightly wrapped around the fluffy pillow as she soaked it with her bitter remorse, pressing further into the fabric.

?Kao?s outside. Brim?s son.? Reijin stated, grasping at whatever he could to get the girl?s mind off the loss of her father. As he had hoped, the painful sobbing became infrequent, and slowly, Bra turned over, her tear-streaked visage met his. ?Bardock?s going to fight him.?

He spoke with such certainty, that the princess couldn?t help but take heed in his words. ?What?s he doing here?? she inquired, still sniffling as she dried her eyes with her hands.

?I?m not sure. But he and Brim were responsible for bringing us all here. If it wasn?t for him...? the young saiyan paused, unwilling to risk upsetting the child once again. ?Well, he and his father have blood on their hands. As long as he?s here, you have the chance to avenge Vegeta.?

?What?s the point!?? Bra snapped upright, her voice suddenly overtaken by a rage so vehement that even Reijin was forced to take a step back in surprise. ?He?s still dead. I... I just don?t fucking care anymore. I can?t-?

?You can?t??? the dark haired warrior suddenly went on the offensive, this time startling the girl who hadn?t moved from the bed. ?Is that what your father would say if it happened the other way around? If you died, and he was still here, do you think he would just be lying around and moping about you!? No! He would hunt down anyone and everyone responsible and take off their heads, and he?d do it for you.?

?Maybe, but-?

?There isn?t a ?maybe?. Your death wouldn?t go unpunished. I know your father, and I know how he operates. It?s obvious that he... cares for you. He would be very, very upset if someone was to kill you.? Reijin?s tone once again grew calm near the end of his words, but his speech had made an impression. Bra sat, mouth partially agape, with quizzical eyes.

?Really??

?I don?t lie.? he snorted. The princess watched him, her eyes still misted over with unshed tears. It wouldn?t be so easy, so cut-and-dried, to simply go off and fight with Kao, not even if half the things Reijin said were true. Bra truly wanted vengeance, but she couldn?t fight. Not now, it hurt too much. Her body was numb and she was seeing through a fog. The youth?s head was light and her companion seemed distant, and she hadn?t even detected the energy on the other side of the bedroom door, which caused her to jump with a start when it swung open unexpectedly.

Cell strode into the room, wearing a contemptuous frown as his eyes pierced into the semi-prone Bra. ?Well?? his voice dripped with annoyance. ?Is your little tantrum over with? You know your father isn?t really dead, right??

?We just went over that.? the cyan haired halfling coldly shot back. Cell wouldn?t be somebody she broke down in front of. Not again. The black speckled android shifted his focus from the girl to Reijin, ignoring Bra?s arrogant tone.

?So what?s the news from the watchtower?? he questioned. ?The girl here, her father, and I just emerged from the outer steppes of Hell and these ?all-powerful? angels are here still sitting on their haunches? Don?t they want to put all of this to an end??

?Outside.? Reijin brushed past Cell, heading for the door. His hand fell upon the knob as he looked back to Bra over his shoulder. ?I?ll come back for you. Remember... your father would fight for you.?

The door opened with a creak, and he led the genetic amalgamation outside of the room before softly clicking it shut, leaving the bereaved and confused hybrid to her thoughts, and perhaps to a bit of rest.

Remember... your father would fight for you.

She turned the words over in her head as a solitary tear slid from her azure eyes, it?s crystalline purity forming a line in her soft skin. Vegeta would fight for her, and he had. It was impossible to even question. Moreover, he had died for her. Not for pride or duty, but for her. It wasn?t deliberate, but he didn?t have to follow her if he hadn?t wished to, and he certainly didn?t need to defend her against Maleficus had he decided not to. No, Vegeta chose to do all those things, and to ultimately sacrifice himself, because of her. Some would call the prince a poor father, but in that instant, that moment of clarity, Bra saw past all of that. No poor father would have given up so much for his child. Not ever.

The cyan haired girl fell back into the pillow, hiding her irises behind her eyelids as she began to cry once more. She had lost a father, but in the same instance, she finally had a father to lose. A shaky hand reached down to pull the covers up and over herself, and, wrapping herself in the blanket, she turned over onto her side, allowing the world to fade away, at least until Reijin came to wake her up.

I don?t know why you did what you did... but... dad, I know I never say it, and I know you probably don?t want to hear it... but... Daddy, I love you. I?m gonna avenge you like Reijin said, I promise. I know I probably only have a few minutes, but I will find Satan, and I?m gonna rip his throat out when I do. Everything I do on this stupid fucking rock... from now on, dad... it?s all dedicated to you. I won?t forget what you did, and I won?t let them get away with it. Starting with Kao, if he?s not already dead when I get him. He better be. For his sake.

Though Bra?s mind had undergone some desperately needed sorting, she still had a painful wound to nurse, and couldn?t find herself able to yet get up. Reijin had promised to get her when he was ready, that was good enough. The princess decided it was best that way; keep herself at as little risk as possible, so she could extract as much revenge as possible.

She murmured a small prayer for her father as she set sail into her dreams, knowing she would be awoken against her will in minutes.