Day Five: Evening

[Bra]

The duo trekked across the humid, jungle terrain, wandering further into the unknown. Bra blinked several times, and then looked over at Reijin. A look of shock struck her, but thankfully, her comrade hadn?t noticed.

She was sweating and finding it difficult to breathe, and the pure-blood was carrying on as if nothing could possibly affect him. The cyan haired girl squeezed her eyes shut, and finally she gasped.

?I... can?t... breathe!!? she exclaimed, falling to one knee. Taking desperate, wheezing breaths, she fell to all fours as Reijin hurriedly rushed over to her. He was in an uncharacteristic panic. Without his healing ability, he had no way to diagnose or treat the illness.

?Bra-!!? he shouted, eyes wide. ?What?s going on?!? While he knew the basics of CPR, he searched for an alternative, knowing once the girl recovered, she?d likely slap him before she figured out what was going on.

Finally, tears ran down the halfling?s face as ragged coughs tore through her throat and out her mouth. She collapsed, and took in a deep breath, suddenly able to breathe once again. Bra stared with sapphire eyes full of fear, but managed to pull herself off the dirt, and sat on her knees.

?Reijin, I...? she paused, her eyes nervously darting back and forth, up and down. ?I think all this stress is getting to me, and I...? another pause. ?If I told you... something really strange... you... you wouldn?t think any different of me, would you??

?Huh? I-? the raven haired one began.

?I?m serious, Rei. I need to talk to someone, and you?re the only one here. ...Can I trust you??

Reijin simply stared into space for a while, as if lost in thought. ?...Of course.? he finally offered. He took a seat on the dirt across from Bra, and awaited her announcement.

Bra thrust her arm out to the side, and in an instant, an enormous column of jet black energy thundered down from the sky above. It crashed into the earth and shattered the hardy land, before exploding and consuming the trees all around it.

?You know already that I?m a... I guess a sorcerer.? she explained.

?Sorceress.? Reijin corrected.

?Whatever,? the princess continued. ?The point is, I can control dark magic. And... I think it?s made me more powerful, but... I think it?s trying to control me.?

?What? What are you talking about? It?s merely energy, just like ki. It can?t control you; you?re manipulating it.? the Gaean trainee retorted.

?No! It?s not like ki!? the girl insisted. ?Nothing at all like it! It?s... far more powerful,? she darkly continued. ?It manifested a... a...?

?A consciousness?? Reijin offered.

?Yeah. It... looks like me,? Bra continued, while her partner merely gave her an incredulous look. ?She calls herself ?Exosus?, and she wears these black and purple robes. She?s... very powerful... and she?s fucking psycho. I think she?s trying to take over my mind, Reijin. And I?m scared ?cause I think she?s smarter than me!!? Bra started to cry, but she kept talking. ?And I don?t want to be a prisoner in my own mind, Reijin!! It?s happened before, and- I- just- can?t-!!? she grew incoherent as the sobbing became too forceful.

The older fighter didn?t have the slightest clue what she was talking about, but it was obviously taking it?s toll on her. He moved closer, and Bra grasped him in a firm embrace. Reijin seemed struck off-guard, but tried his best to avoid making the girl feel more uncomfortable.

?Wait... this... ?Exosus?. Is, uh... ?she? why... you were so cold about your father?s...? he didn?t have to finish the sentence. The empress would pick up on it in a heartbeat.

?Yeah,? she finally managed. ?She was in control when I killed the changeling, too. She keeps confronting me when I fall asleep, demanding more control. I try to fight, but... she?s terrifying. And the only person who understands these powers is dead. I... don?t know what to do anymore. I?m... I?m sorry for doing this to you. For making you deal with this... but I... I felt like it was going to kill me if I kept quiet any longer. I don?t know how to beat her, Reijin. I don?t know what to do.?

The raven haired one placed a hand on her head. This revelation had proven to be a very bizarre one, so he just sat there for a moment while Bra kept softly sobbing. ?What can be done to beat her?? he finally inquired.

?I don?t know!! I don?t know, I-!!?

?Sssshh,? Reijin ordered. ?When the time comes... you will know what to do.?

?But what if I don?t?!? the demi saiyan retorted.

?Then... I?ll help you beat her. You have your father?s blood, Bra. You?ve got his strength and his determination. You can beat her.? the calculating warrior stated.

?Y-You think so??

?Yes.?

?Then... then let?s go win this fucking game!!? the girl shouted, leaping to her feet with newfound earnest. ?We still have a shot, right?!?

?Of course,? Reijin confirmed, rising to his feet. ?Let's go win this fucking game.? he repeated with a soft smirk.