Mea tossed and turned in her troubled sleep. It was the same nightmare she had had for as long as she could remember. She was always looking up at a young spiky blonde haired man. His white cotton gi was stained crimson at spots with blood from the savage wounds covering him. His glowing sea blue eyes echoed of utter pain and grief. He was yelling, always yelling right at her but she could never hear the words he said. He would always push her behind him, as a large foreboding shadow would cover his face. He unsheathed a large board sword from his back and a snarl would set on his serene features. Then with finality he would turn to her, and gently hold her chin in his hand. He would slowly brush away the swelling tears from her eyes and...then ..then the scene would suddenly begin to drift away. “No! no! Who are you? What are you protecting me from?” Mea screamed as she was jolted from the dream. Slowly, as Mea’s eyes opened, the images of the bloody young man were sweep away by the present. Her dark blue eyes stared at the fluorescent lights on the ceiling for a few numbing minutes. “Just another nightmare. Should be use to them by now.” She said with a sigh as she brushed a stray raven colored lock back into place. /How long have I been sleeping? Man, I really clunked out. Better get up before I’m late for my briefing with Lion. / With those finally words to herself, Mea leapt from the sleeping cot. A look at the clock told her she had slept an hour. /An hour?! I was supposed to report to Lion a thirty minutes ago! Damn! / With those thoughts, Mea ran out of the rest area towards the briefing room down the hall. Just as she was almost there a familiar person stepped in the way. She growled to herself as she slammed to a halt. “Late again I see?” mocked Mink. “Not as late as you normally are with your little shopping breaks.” Retorted Mea, a beastly glare shining in her fiery midnight eyes. Mink sneered. “Unlike you I have some fashion sense! How many times have I seen you in that ragged number?” Mea looked at Mink’s designer boots and jacket, and then looked down at her faded Tank top and worn cargo pants. With a sigh, Mea responded, “ I always looked more for durability and versatility over ridiculous fashion trends.” With that Mink’s face got visibly redder, “If Lion wasn’t here I’d pound your little uncultured butt into the floor!” As she said it, Mink shook her fist menacingly at Mea. /Now that’s a joke! Mink can barely hold her gun up, let alone aim. / “ Oh yeah, shall we feel your little threat out?” Mea said as she easily swayed into battle stance. Just as Mink reached for her holster a voice behind her spoke, echoing down the hallway. “Now Mink, we wouldn’t want to do anything foolish would we?” Lion’s voice made Mink visibly stiffen. She slowly turned around to face him. A look of cool discontentment crossed his stone cut features. His smoldering black catlike eyes held her in a hostile gaze. With a flushed face Mink stammered, “She started it that ungrateful brute. She was the one who was late to meet you. That little dog.” As she finished Mink gulped and looked up. Lion’s gaze had passed from her to Mea. With a forceful tone Lion spoke. “Her code name is Wolf, Mink. You’d do well to call her by it.” Lion’s gaze once again fell on Mink. “Yes Lion.” Mink said with a sigh, and began to walk toward the dining hall. As she moved past Mea, she scowled and whispered, “I’ll get you for this you little mutt.” Mea sourly grinned, “Maybe, that is if you ever learn how to take the safety off.” Mink clenched her teeth, looked once again in Lion’s direction and stomped off. “She was right.” Lion said with rapidly narrowing eyes. “You are late by thirty minutes. All my associates must possess punctuality.” He sighed heavily. “You will pay for this inconvenience.” With that, Lion turned into the briefing room making a motion for her to follow. “But I can not deal with punishments right now. I have a job for you to do.” A wicked smile crossed his feral features. “ The Centaur operation has been running short on cash ever since the reign of the androids. We need funds fast if we are going to get plan ‘Reclaim’ under way as planned. That’s where you come in.” Mea crossed her arms, “ How am I suppose to generate money? Hope you have some ‘get rich quick scheme’ cooked up already.” Her wary mind’s guard raising instinctively. “Ah my blunt young girl, of course I have a plan. You are just the one who will carry it out.” A savage gleam crossed his cold eyes. “You know of Capsule Corporation?” Mea watched his every move, waiting for a strike, “Hai, aren’t they in that huge complex outside of Hope City?” Lion smiled, “Right, the corporations owner Bulma Briefs is, by Jackal’s estimate, one of the remaining money holders closest to the Fry-Pan mountain range.” Mea’s eyes narrowed, “And how exactly does that help us? She has the money.” Lion sighed heavily again and shook his head disappointedly, “Have you learned nothing in your time here? What have I taught you about people with money?” he hissed. “Find a way to exploit, and the cash is yours.” Mea responded automatically. “Good little wolfie, glad to see your feeble mind retains something.” Lion said with a smile, which like all his smiles was not comforting. Mea clenched her fist threateningly, “So what’s the niche, Lion-o? What do we have to twist the old lady into forking up the cash?” Lion winced at his newly appointed nickname, and laughed loudly. His cruel chuckle echoed through the room. “Dear Mrs. Briefs has recently acquired a new resident to her house hold. A girl by the name of Elsa. Apparently the poor girl’s mother was crushed in one of the android attacks on Pepper Town, and out of pity the little orphan (Mea cringed at the word “orphan”) has been admitted into Capsule corporation’s loving doors.” Mea smirked, “I see nab the girl and Capsule Corp. will pass the dough over for ransom.” Lion grinned fiercely, “Exactly. And you will be the one to ‘nab’ the girl as you say.” Mea was puzzled, “Why send me? Jackal has done this kind of thing before.” Lion scowled, shaking his head gently, “That is where you are wrong. Yes, Jackal has been in kidnapping situations before but he always ends up taking out a dozen people in the process. I need this kidnapping to occur with stealth not power. Mrs. Briefs has some powerful allies if a fight was to occur there would be no doubt the outcome. A blatant battle is not what I’m after, I need the child taken in silence, not amidst gunfire.” He smiled again, that savage, evil smile. “You can easily snatch the child up in some town situation. Where as Jackal has a suspicious edge to him, people naturally do not trust him.” Mea hesitated at his strange compliment, “Okay, I’m in. What are the details?” she replied. “Simple, every Saturday Mrs. Briefs, her son and Elsa go into town for supplies.” Just then Lion pulled a Hope City Market map, a briefing folder, and a small grainy picture up onto the briefing room table’s marble surface. “You will follow at a safe distance as they go through their normal shopping route.” Lion in turn pointed to several shops on the map marked with red numbers one through five. “Here” as Lion pointed at the number five. “Here is where you will make your move. Do your best to lure the child away and grab her. Mother or Son can not see you. Understand?” Mea nodded her head gently. “From there take the child to the Hope City Arboretum and that is where we will rendezvous.” Mea lowered her head and crossed her arms in thought, “The son, is he going to cause complications?” She looked at Lion, watching his reaction carefully. He in return crossed his arms and replied, “The son should not cause you a problem. Do not follow to closely or you will arouse his suspicion. Other wise there should not be any complications.” She uncrossed her arms and pointed to the map. “Has this route been verified? How do I know they will follow it?” Lion grinned at her disobedience, and pointed once again to the map. “The three of them have been traced this way for four weeks. All the shops on this list are owned by old aqaintences of Mrs. Briefs. She goes to their stores every week to ‘promote business’. The android attacks brought down the revenue of every small business in this area, so naturally a friend would try to help a poverty-stricken vendor.” Lion chuckled softy as he said this, helping others was a mystery to him. He regained his stone facade and pointed once again at the building marked ‘five’. “Mrs. Briefs always ends her excursion at this shop called ‘Videl’s Market.’ The owner is a family friend. Unlike the other shops, there are no working security cameras. This makes it the best spot to discreetly take the child.” Mea thought for a moment, “These allies of Briefs. Who are they? Why do you feel Jackal couldn’t handle them?” Lion looked her squarely in the eye. “There are some unreliable reports on that subject. At first it was believed Son Goku, his son, and most of the other fighters died years ago in the android attacks. On the contrary, several surveillance reports have distinctly shown Son Goku and others presumed dead entering the Capsule Corporation compound. Though these reports have not been verified, their contents should not be ignored.” Lion heard Mea gasp. Without looking up from the map he calmly replied, “If you do not think you can handle this mission, I’m sure Mink would be happy to take your place.” Still not looking up from the map, he heard Mea reply through clenched teeth, “I’m sure I can handle some would be heroes, as for Mink she couldn’t pull this job off if you held her hand the whole way through.” He smiled savagely, his wicked black eyes gleaming; “It’s settled then. You leave tomorrow at six hundred hours to start on this mission.” With that Lion turned to leave the room, right before he stepped into the hallway he yelled over his shoulder, “If you botch this one up Wolf, it will be your hide.” Satisfied, Lion left Mea to her own thoughts.
Lion walked down the hallway with a causal predatorily easy. /All is going just as I planned. The girl will go to complete her mission never knowing the trouble she is walking into. / Just then Lion frowned. /She did seem to have some idea of who Son Goku and the others were, but her foolish pride got in the way just as I expected. / Lion smiled again, showing all his teeth like a snarl then shrugged. /I probably should not underestimate her like I did before. / Lion’s thoughts went back twelve years to when he had first found Wolf. He had just slaughtered the remaining residents of an old building on North Clark Street, just blocks from Fry-Pan Market. Yes, it had been when he had worked for that idiot Emperor Sogun. The 'emperor’ wasn’t the most mentally stable individual. Despite the Dragon balls disappearance years ago he still believed they existed. The old coot was certain the poor individuals in that run down building were withholding a Dragon ball, and he had sent Tiger and him to retrieve it any way necessary. Any way necessary, he had always loved it when Sogun had said that. Just as he had finish of what he thought was the last of the tenants. He had heard a muffled crying coming from under the blood soaked staircase. Interested in what this noise could be, he had inched closer. Just as he was mer feet away, he saw a blinding light coupled with an intense pain in his stomach. He instinctually looked down and saw a small dirty girl slamming her tiny but powerful fist into his exposed stomach. The shock of the encounter soon wore off, and Lion snarled and raising his katana to strike the girl dead. As contact with the girl’s head was almost made, he felt his sword hand being ripped away from his control; he looked up to see Tiger holding his fist in a white-knuckle grip. “Don’t.” Was all Tiger said at first. “Why? We were suppose to clear out this building, that includes that little brat.” He had snapped back at Tiger. “Can’t you feel the power this kid contains? She could valuable in the coup later.” Lion stared at the kid for a second. She was covered in filth from head to toe; her long knotted raven black hair couldn’t hide the vicious snarl on her face. But the most interesting thing was the child’s eyes. Her eyes were a deep midnight blue, but they had a strange power in them, they seemed to glow savagely from somewhere within. Lion smirked, “You think this kid could help us with the upheaval of Sogun?” Tiger wickedly smiled back, “With the right training, this kid could be an interesting pawn in our little game.” At that point they had agreed, this girl could be a powerful disposable figure in the upcoming events. The girl’s lack of past memory made her easy to manipulate; she also picked up skills in half the time of a normal adult warrior. So from then on the two mercenaries drilled the seven-year-old on the toughest skills they had mastered. /You were right for once Tiger. That little girl did come in handy in the battle against Sogun. / At that point, Lion smiled maliciously. /But she has worn out her welcome, and she has got in my way too often. Losing Wolf will not be without significant gain. / As Lion began to list the interesting pluses of Mea’s downfall in his mind, a gruff voice interrupted his train of thought. “Is Wolf gonna nab the kid Boss?” asked Hyena with a furrowing brow. “Yes my mental deficient friend. The little Wolf is padding right into the steel trap as expected. “ Lion turned to the large, sumo wrestler who looked confused like usual. Ever since Hyena had been kicked out of the International Sumo Wresting Foundation for questionable conduct, he had been a bodyguard of sorts for Lion. Though his lack of intellectually stimulating conversation had always bothered Lion, he hated being surrounded by idiots; Hyena was unmistakably good at his job. “Do not worry Hyena, this is when the fun starts.” Lion’s quick smile made Hyena wince. “Da fun starts?” Hyena echoed with his blank face. “The fun starts.” Lion said with a laugh, “deadly fun.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mea sat in the comfy executive chair in the briefing room, with her feet propped up on the table, staring at the wall in deep thought. /Son Goku? But he died twenty some years ago. How could he be alive? I know the Dragon balls can grant life, but they disappeared years ago. / She frowned as she spun the leather chair around in an effort to think. /I remember hearing about him. He was considered the greatest fighter on Chikyu before he died of some strange cardiac problem. / A puzzled look crossed her features. /But why now? Why would he come back now, why not when the androids were trashing the planet? / She sighed and pulled herself closer to the map on the table. She slowly followed the expected route with her eyes till it reached number five. She shook her head slightly and looked at the ceiling, leaning far back in the chair. She scowled as she remembered what Lion had said. /He said Son Goku and others thought dead were sighted entering the Capsule Corporation. Who are these others? Could they cause major interference in this mission? / Mea smiled hopefully, / Why am I taking this information to heart? Knowing Jackal, this is probably just hear say from a drunken pizza boy. Everyone knows how paranoid Jackal can be. / She picked up the map, and also peered into the grainy picture. The picture depicted a young red haired girl laughing from sheer glee as a smiling woman with bright blue eyes tossed her gently in the air. /So this is Elsa. Hmmm this obviously must be Bulma Briefs. I wonder why Jackal didn’t include a picture of the son? / With that thought she placed the photo and map back on the table. She paused for a second, then reached for the ‘official’ Centaur operation-briefing file. It was mostly filled with Jackal’s normal obsessed readouts. From reading these few pages, Mea probably knew more about Bulma Briefs then Bulma Briefs knew about herself. Mea paused from reading the file to slowly stretch her sore back. /Jeez Jackal, why do you have to make this thing so long? I don’t need to know when she had her last tooth pulled. / Then suddenly something was bothering her. /He hardly even mentioned her son? That isn’t like Jackal at all. / It was true, Jackal was usually a very efficient man. Having been put in charge of all the teams reconnaissance work, Jackal had to be a thorough kind of man. For Lion would except nothing but the best from anyone. Mea thought about the change in Jackal’s briefing style, shrugged and began to read the three lines Jackal had written about Mrs. Briefs’ son. : Mrs. Bulma Briefs has one biological child. A nineteen-year-old son named Trunks, which resides with her at the Capsule Corporation Compound. He should be avoided at all costs. / At all costs? Who is this guy? / Mea sat for a minute, contemplating that idea. After spinning in the chair for a few minutes, she gave up on it. “I’m sure if he was going to be a big problem, Jackal would have wrote more about him.” Mea said as she tossed the folder back on the table. “Well, I better get back to the rest area soon,” she smiled wickedly, “I’ve got a long day tomorrow.” With that Mea picked up the map and photo, placing them in her worn pockets, and headed towards the door.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mea sat happily on the floor; her long black hair was dotted with a merry purple ribbon. She was wasting time waiting for her mother to arrive by coloring a strange picture of a tabby cat. After making the cat’s body a leaf green, she giggled out loud, “Red would kill me if he saw this.” She laughed again, and put the picture in her back pocket. “I’ll have to remember to give this to him.” The smile then fell off her face. /Where’s mommy? She said she’d be home early from Midgar today. / As Mea thought this she heard a delicate knock on the door. She sprung up, smiling as she ran to the heavy wood door. “Who is it?” She said playfully. “It’s Tifa, let me in.” Mea was puzzled. Since when did her mother call herself by her first name in front of her? “Kaasan, are you okay?” Mea asked, as she peered through the peephole. The peephole showed only pitch black. “I’m fine dear, now let me in.” Said the voice again. As the voice spoke, Mea realized it really didn’t sound exactly like her mother. It echoed in a strange eerie way. “Kaasan, are you sure your alright?” Mea questioned, as she backed away from the door. “I’m fine, now open the door now!” demanded the voice. Mea paused, should she let the person in? It did sound like her mother. “Musume-san dear, I’m sorry that I yelled at you. I’m just very tired from traveling all the way back from Midgar in one day. Please will you let me in.”, the voice said sweetly. Mea stopped her doubting, and reached to unlock the deadbolt holding the door shut. As she swung the door open, she noticed that the sky had turned a greenish-black, and not a sound besides the forceful gale-like winds could be heard. “Kaasan, what’s going on?” Mea asked the figure she could barely make out in the darkness. The voice, taunting sweetly still, responded, “Oh nothing dear. Just the end of your world.” As the figure’s words echoed, it seemed to grow with it’s ever increasing laughter. Mea looked up in fear at the towering figure above her. “Kaasan is not coming home tonight, or ever again.” Said the voice dripping with mock sympathy. Mea took a step back into the house and shouted, “Who are you?” The voice laughed loud enough to make her ears throb. “I am your grandmother, and I expect a hug.” The voice cackled as the winds began to grow stronger. “Your are not my grandma!” screamed Mea over the screeching winds, streams of tears running down her face. “Did your father never mention me?” The voice said with a surprised tone, “ Ever since they injected a part of me in him I’ve thought of him as a son. He probably didn’t mention your uncle Sephiroth either, we are kind of the black sheep of the family.” Just then the presence grew closer to her and whispered in her ear, “Maybe the fact that your father killed Sephiroth might be why there is an absence in your memory. No matter, now that grandma’s here we have a lot of catching up to do.” As the presence said this, Mea felt icy long fingers wrap tightly around her neck. “Now Mea do you want to go meet your mommy? I can send you to her very easily.” The voice said as it tighten the pressure around Mea’s neck. “KAASAN, NOOOOOO!” screamed Mea as she woke from the nightmare. She took a minute to slow her breathing and looked around the room. It was the same rest area as ever with the same cot as always. Mea pulled her knees up to her chest, and laid her head on her knees. “Well that was a new one.” She said with a groan. /Who the hell is ‘Tifa’? Man, these dreams are getting worse and worse. / Mea thought as she absently rubbed her throat. “Yuck, I’m covered in sweat.” She noticed, as she looked herself over. “What a disgusting feeling.” Mea began to raise herself to go take a shower. She paused, glancing at the ancient clock and growled, “It’s only five A.M.? Man, I’ve got a hour to kill.” She sighed, “Well at least I’ll have a busy day today. No time to daydream.” She shuddered slightly at the thought. As she raised herself to go to the shower, she heard foreign words gently glide through her mind, “Kaasan’s waiting for you.” echoed the voice. Mea gasped and spun around to face the unknown culprit. Her fear struck eyes searched over every inch of the rest area, as she stood in a defensive ready stance. Mea then relaxed herself, and shook her head, “What am I? Some little kid scared of the dark?” She laughed loudly, still looking around the room warily. With that, Mea stomped her foot and marched into the bathroom with determination. As the bathroom door shut, a soft unearthly chuckle echoed through the empty rest area. “Don’t worry Mea.” Whispered the evil voice, “You’ll see your parents soon enough.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After her shower, Mea reached for the door that led back into the rest area. She, of course, was wearing her normal faded variation of tank top and cargo pants. She stood in the doorway for a few more minutes, still towel-drying her long, black hair. Then her eyes narrowed as she peered into the dark. Standing in the opposite entryway that led to the hallway, a figure was illuminated by the hall’s lighting. His arms were crossed in front of his chest, and he leaned lightly on the wall with one foot. “I expect you to leave on time, for once.” Lion said with an annoyed sigh. “I will.” She said gently, still watching him as she finished toweling her hair and braiding the tip of it. “Remember, I will be waiting to rendezvous at the arboretum.” He paused, glancing at the floor then back at her. “ If you are late, you are on your own.” She sneered in his direction, “I’m not an idiot, I’ve been doing stuff like this since I was seven.” She looked at the ground for a second; puddles of blood seem to ooze from the grout. She blinked quickly and the blood disappeared. She swore she heard that voice still calling her. She closed her eyes and could still hear the voice, feel the pressure around her neck..... feel that choking pressure all around her, the aura of that horrible voice. She reached up and touched her neck again absently. /Nothing there. / She said to herself with a deep breath. /There is nothing there Mea. Get a grip on yourself. Don’t do this in front of him. / She opened her eyes, and looked in Lion’s direction. He had that wicked smile on his twisted face. A malicious gleam covered his normally expressionless face. She stared at him a minute and narrowed her eyes. /I know what your up to you bastard. You’ve been trying to trip me up ever since Tiger died. Or shall I say since you murdered Tiger. / She smiled savagely, showing all her teeth like a cornered beast. Lion responded with an equally vicious smile. /That’s right, I know you killed him. I remember the blood covering your hands, your shirt; you wore the same smirk you’re wearing now. You killed him and you know I know. / “Did you really come here to mock my short term memory? I can follow orders unlike Mink.” She turned and reached for her watch that was still sitting on the cot. “I would not get too cocky little wolfie.” She hated when he called her ‘wolfie’. She hated her code name all together; it just made her feel even more isolated. Wolves had packs, families, she didn’t. Every time someone called her Wolf she remembered that her family had left her alone, dirty, and scared. /Maybe that’s why he always rubs my code name in my face. He knows how much it bothers me. / She stared at her cot for a second, then spun on her heel to face him. “Just make sure you are where you should be.” With that, Mea left the room and charged down the hallway. She checked her pants’ pocket for her sunglasses and smiled when she felt them there. /I hope one of those bakery vendors is open. Man, I’m starved and I don’t want any of the crap protein food they have here. / Lion watched her hurry down the hallway and couldn’t help but smile. Just then loud footsteps could be heard echoing down the hallway. Lion causally turned, and walked toward the mysterious eavesdropper’s footsteps. Everything was going as planned. Wolf, that constant problem, that thorn in his side, would soon be dealt with. /Oh I’m sure Trunks and his friends will cause a hell of a lot of trouble for you my dear. Actually, I’m betting on it. / He smiled as he walked slowly down the dimly lit hallway. /I probably should start training Mink to have some self- control. /He frowned as he treaded along the film-covered floor. /She almost got in a fight with Wolf. Yes, I dislike Wolf but I know she could have destroyed Mink easily. Mink must learn to control her temper. One way........or another. / He thought with a savage smile. /I do not think Wolf hasn’t the slightest idea of what is really going on. I’ve had to deal with her suspicious nature for too long. Her constant meddling was only accepted because she knew the truth. She has never brought up the murder to anyone else, she probably thought it was her security from me. How nice I’ve been to her since that bloody night. / He smiled wickedly and laughed a wild sheen in his eyes. /But as they say, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.”/ As he walked around the corner he heard the strange shuffling noise again, along with the creak of a door. Knowing exactly who it was, he ducked quickly into the doorway directly to his left. There Mink stood, huddled in the back corner, looking fearfully in his direction. She was visibly shaking under his gaze. “What is the matter Mink dear?” He asked grinning from ear to ear. “I...I listened to your conversation with her are...are you going to meet her...at the arboretum?” Her eyes were almost filled with tears as she asked the question. “You were listening? Eave’s dropping is a bad habit Mink. Bad habits need to be broken.” She winced at his answer. “But there is no need for that now.” He purred. “Why don’t you come with me to breakfast, and we’ll discuss my plan for Wolf.” He smiled at her, in a playful way. Mink looked at him with confusion, /Why is he being nice to me? It’s kind of unnerving, but...I guess it’s better than him yelling at me. / Mink swallowed hard, and put on her most flirtatious grin and batted her eyelashes. With that, Lion took her arm and smiled. /If you only knew what I have in store for you. / He turned and flashed an unreadable grin at her. Mink looked at him and smiled vacantly. Together they walked arm in arm to the dining area down the hallway, hunter and prey.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mea walked briskly down the dirt road leading toward Hope City. The day was bright, and the sky was a pale blue with the stereotypical white fluffy clouds. She continued walking, ignoring the day. /How am I going to get this brat all the way from town to the arboretum? Hmm, I wonder if that side road “Suri Grove Street” is open? Guess you didn’t plan everything out for once did ya Lion. / Mea gently pushed her sliding sunglasses back up on her nose. The road to Hope City was like most roads these days. The rubble of glorious houses and towns that had been smashed to bits littered the landscape. Destroyed farmlands lay bleached in the sun and overgrown. The androids had done their job with deadly efficiency; nearly obliterating three-fourths of mankind. The creatures had rampaged for three long years, destroying anything that symbolized the stability of man. Then one day, the carnage stopped. No one knew what had happened. The androids hadn’t been sighted for a week, when their barely distinguishable remains were found in the scarred relics of Pepper Town. Slowly, after the reports of the android’s destruction filtered out, the remains of mankind began to show themselves. New cities and towns sprung from the rubble, and peace seemed to comfort the world again. /I wonder if this used to be Duster town? / Mea thought as she looked at the remains of a town hall on the side of the road. She paused from her brisk pace to stare at the charred building. The fine oak door had hardly survived the android’s onslaught. Through the precariously swinging door Mea could see the rusted remains of several metal chairs. Among the chairs lay the rotting corpses of those who had fought, and lost for Duster Town. /This must have been their last strong hold. / She stared at the bodies who still held their meager weapons tightly to their ribs. Mea paused, then walked into the desecrated building. The floor angrily creaked under her weight as she solemnly walked toward the bodies through the thick, stale air. As she crossed the moldy floor, she looked up to see the only true survivor of the attack. A large stained glass window, still intact, sat in the only undamaged wall, still filtering the sunlight. Mea stared at the glass while she continued to walk slowly forward. Just as Mea was a few strides away, she heard a sickening snap from underfoot. She stared at the glass for a second and then carefully looked down. While peering at the glass, Mea had not watched where she had been walking. Below her foot was the fragile arm of a small, venerable body. The body was carefully holding a filthy teddy bear, while at the same time reaching for someone else’s grasp. The jaws open in an indefinite silent scream. Mea stumbled of the corpse’s arm and stared again. The corpse seemed to change before her eyes. The skeleton seemed to gain flesh, muscles, and organs, filling in before her. Long, black hair complete with a purple ribbon covered the scalp as dark blue eyes filled the empty sockets. The figure of the girl was still stuck in that scream, reaching for another’s help. Mea rushed backwards. /What is this? What am I seeing? Am I dreaming? / She turned quickly to leave; only to see the other corpses had under gone a similar transformation. Closest to her now, was the body of a young woman. Her long brown hair reached to her calves, as she with desperate hazel eyes reached for the child. Long gashes covered her back’s bloody length. Still her fighter gloved hand reached for the child. /NOOOOO! NOOOO! THIS IS NOT HAPPENING! THEY ARE NOT REAL...NOT REAL! / Mea thought through ragged gasps, as she desperately began to run from the two. Then she stopped dead, her eyes filled with growing terror, falling on the body before her. His hand stretched towards the child and woman. His haunting sky blue eyes focused on the young child, lines of tears still streaming down his ravaged face. His spiky blonde hair was splattered with his own blood. A large broad sword, still stained from battle, lay strapped and useless to his mauled form. Midway down his back, a large hole had been forced through him leaving him mortally wounded. Mea stumbled back; tears forcing their way out of her rapidly shut eyes. /What, what is going on? He’s the man from my nightmares. No, what is this? WHAT IS THIS!! / Against Mea’s better judgement, she slowly opened her eyes. They were gone; the corpses had changed back to their former decomposing state. She let out a deep breath, and glanced around. The broad sword was gone, there was no hole in the corpse now. She took another breath and shakily smiled. / I guess I didn’t get enough sleep. My imagination is running away with me. / She backed carefully away from the corpse, cautiously turning toward the door. She felt the warmth of the sun, and looked down to notice the reflection of the window growing leisurely across the floor. She pivoted and looked at the window. Its bright depiction of a day in Duster Town Market lay across the bodies like a death shroud. Mea squinted as she looked down to the child’s corpse, something visibly lay close to the child’s head. Mea, at first interested, took a step forward, sighed and turned back toward the door, /I don’t have time for this. I have to go get that kid. / With one last look at the child, Mea turned and left the remains of Duster Town. As the glass’ image grew steadily across the floor, the area around the child’s head seemed to gently glow purple. A heavily soiled ribbon lay hidden where the child’s hair once was, placed by a ghastly, unseen hand. The sun caught the ribbon, its light shining across the one word in silver monogrammed on it. Under the crumbling roof the sunlight reflected off of the silver on the ribbon, projecting the letters on the inlying demolished surface. The building’s interior manifested a brief radiance as the letters M-E-A furiously illuminated the crypt’s desolate walls.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trunks yawned and rubbed his sore shoulder. His sparring session with his father this morning had been colorful to say the least. /Man, Pop can sure beat the crap out of me if he really wants to. / Trunks wickedly smiled then, /But I know I gave him a run for his money. He won’t be eating comfortably with that dislocated jaw anytime soon. / He continued to smile as he walked across the cold tile floor to the refrigerator. As he was examining the milk’s expiration date with a questionable glance, he heard little footsteps padding up behind him. He turned to see Elsa, dressed in a happy little yellow sundress, smiling at him winningly. “Are you going to get ready to go to town nii-san?” she smiled at him again. Trunks looked down at his clothes, a faded Capsule Corporation T-shirt and old blue jeans. He had to admit, compared to Elsa he looked pretty shabby. “Is that your subtle way of saying you don’t approve of my attire?” Trunks said with a scowl. The little girl looked at him with innocent eyes, “I...I was just wondering if you were coming nii-san. I’m sorry I made you angry.” With those words the little girl turned away, rubbing tears from her bright green eyes. “Oh imoto-san, you didn’t make me angry!” Trunks pleaded, flinging his arms around the girl, “I just felt scummy around your pretty new dress.” The little girl removed her hands from her eyes and looked at him. Trunks put on his most sincere face, and Elsa giggled. “O.K. nii-san, I believe you!” Elsa said as she flung her arms around Trunks’ strong neck. Trunks effortlessly picked her up and returned to the fridge. He stared for a minute and was about to reach for something when Elsa whispered, “Nii-san?” She looked at him again with that disarming smile. “What imoto-san?” he said, puzzled. In response Elsa wrapped her little arms tighter around his neck. This motion set off an alarm in Trunks’ mind. /Uh oh, she wants something. / He smiled at her, “What do you want Elsa?” She pulled herself closer to him and whispered, “Will you put my hair up? Kaasan is too busy getting Otousan and herself ready to do it for me.” Trunks grinned, he always knew his mother had wanted a daughter. Ever since this strange little orphan had entered their home, he had sensed something different in his parents. Elsa, from day one, had insisted on calling them all family. He had seen a change in his mother, for now she had the daughter she had always wanted. He tickled Elsa’s stomach gently and chuckled, “Of course.” She in return giggled and jumped down to go fetch her comb. /I’ll never forget the first day she called Vegeta, ‘Otousan’. He had the most annoyed look on his face. He wasn’t use to open affection. / It was true Trunks constantly called his father Otousan, but it had been different with the girl. She had openly yelled ‘Otousan’ and had ran and wrapped herself around his pant leg. For Vegeta the girl’s actions had been a minor inconvenience. Having been chiding Son Goku at the time, the little orphan’s open display merely made him growl. In return the girl had giggled, hugged his leg tighter and went to play with baby Pan. /Yes, I think you’ve even affected Papa little one. He was forced to grow even more affectionate to survive your constant hugging...Though he’d never admit it. / Trunks smirked as the girl ran as fast as she could back to him. “Is Pan going to be there?” the little girl asked as she jumped into Trunks’ lap. Trunks began to brush her baby fine red hair, “I think so, Gohan should be there too.” The girl giggled with delight, “And Oji-san Goku and Goten?” He smiled again; she always was so polite. “Hai, Son-san and Goten too.” Trunks slowly brushed her hair up into the high ponytail she favored. She then leapt of his lap and spun to giggle at him. With that she ran into the parents’ bedroom yelling, “Otousan, are you ready yet?”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mea paid the vendor, thanked him, and walked to the bench in the middle of the market. She sat with a ‘humph’, and ripped apart her fresh croissant, chewing it thoughtfully. /They should be here soon. I wonder if maybe I should look into ‘Videl’s Market’ before they come? Naaa...Truth is I work best under pressure. / She smiled gently at the thought. /Well I have to pass the time somehow. What is there to do? People watch I guess. / Mea sighed and started to glance slowly around her. The market place was busy, extremely busy. The usual peddlers and merchants filled the streets with their mobile carts. Along the back, past the ancient sidewalk, were the permanent buildings. All were well kept and clean, most with hand made curtains in the windows. The people were the same. Some were the travelers, unknown, just passing through Hope City. Then there were the locals like Bulma Briefs and her friends. Everyone pretty much knew everyone, and were greeted happily when they were caught sight of. Mea was not a member of either group. She had been to Hope City Market an innumerable amount of times, but never had openly talked to the locals. Truth is, usually the last thought on her mind was polite conversation. She always had a job to do, never the time for innocent details. Now, as she peered carefully around the market, Mea began to vaguely understand what she had been missing. Everyone seemed to have a place here, a connection. Mea, always being the hurried outsider, had ignored that obvious idea. People here looked out for each other. /That is not good for me. Lets just hope no one is watching the Briefs family when I snatch that kid. / Resting the issue on that thought, Mea stood up and brushed the crumbs off her pant legs. She looked around for a prime scout position, finding it near a blossoming apple tree. She silently worked her way towards the tree through the mindless traffic. She stopped, when she reached her destination, and leaned her back gently against it, crossing her arms. A firm scowl set upon her face as she waited for her subject to arrive. Twenty minutes had passed before she first saw her. The young girl was skipping merrily down the road from the Capsule Compound. Her dark red hair was up in a high ponytail, bobbing in time with her footsteps. She wore a yellow sundress with a white collar that set off her bright green eyes. The girl appeared utterly happy, content in every way. Mea watched the girl and scowled deeply. She almost regretted her mission, to snatch this girl from her happy home. The feeling soon faded, /No time to grow a conscience, I’ve got a job to do. / Mea predatorily smiled as she causally followed the girl, her long stride quickly eating up the distance between them. Just as Mea could almost touch the girl’s slender shoulders, she heard a voice behind her. “Imoto-san, you know better than to run ahead like that. Come here.” Mea discreetly watched as the youthful girl spun around and jumped into the waiting arms of a young man behind them. /This must be Trunks. He’s not what I expected. / Mea watched as the youth carefully tossed the girl in the air. The girl squealed with glee, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Mea watched the handsome young man with interest. His hair was light lavender that gently fell forward as he spoke to the girl. Beneath his unruly bangs, two eyes of a deep marine blue seemed to shine of kindness and merriment. He smiled a gleeful, open smile and tickled the child without mercy. /Hmmm..seems like a nice enough guy. If he gets in the way there could be complications. How convenient that neither Lion nor Jackal really mentioned him. / Her midnight blue eyes narrowed, clouded with subtle rage, /But that’s not going to stop me Lion. / She quickly regained her composure and continued following the pair. She smiled sinfully as they enter the first building, just as planned. Just as she reached for the door, Mea heard an angry male voice behind her. She turned to see a short, gruff-looking man with strange black hair standing a few feet behind her. A blue haired woman stood angrily discussing some subject with the man. “They’re my friends, Vegeta. Don’t you even have any freakin’ friends?!” The woman stomped her foot as she shouted in the man’s direction. “Friends are useless, Baka. I’m not going in the same shops over and over again every Saturday when I could be training.” At this the man’s voice took on a low, threatening tone, “ And don’t you think I’m going to follow you around all day like some love sick whelp.” With that the hot-tempered man steadily rose off the ground and took off, regardless of looks, speeding back towards the compound on the hill. “Go then, you louse!” screamed the woman at the receding figure. The woman spun around still muttering as she reaching for the doorknob, only to see a young woman watching her intently. “Men.” The older woman said as she flung her hands in the air. A large, kind smile crossed her face as she spoke to the girl. “Sorry about that. Vegeta is not one for politeness.” The girl only acquired a curious look on her face and repeated, “Vegeta?” The woman sighed and said, “Yes, Vegeta. That was who that jerk of a man was.” The woman then smiled sheepishly, “Gomen ne, my name is Bulma, that pig was my husband Vegeta. My son Trunks and daughter Elsa should be around here somewhere.” The girl’s face shifted from curious to confused to finally relaxed. “I’m sorry you had to see that wonderful display of ego, but Vegeta isn’t the most humble person.” Bulma smiled again. “I don’t think I caught your name?” Bulma said as she reached for the doorknob... Mea’s mind raced, /By Kami a name. I need a name!/ Just then memories of the dream that morning flowed through her mind... “Umm Tifa.” Said the girl with force, “My name is Tifa.” Bulma reached out her free hand to the girl and shook steadily. “Nice to meet you Tifa” The young woman smiled disarmingly back at her. “Nice to meet you Bulma.” Echoed the young woman in a strange, hollow tone. Bulma looked at the mysterious, beautiful girl for a minute. Her rounded black sunglasses covered the majority of her porcelain white face. Shining in the light, her long raven black hair, which reached the small of her back, was braided carefully at the very tip. Her small nymph-like nose fluently lead to her delicate rose-colored mouth that was turned up in a beastly grin. The girl’s tone, needless to say, startled Bulma slightly. The surprise soon faded as Bulma remembered Elsa’s first time at market. She had been petrified. The only memories Elsa had had of such a place, was the android attack when her biological mother had been killed. Maybe this odd girl felt the same way, knowing no one. Bulma smiled again pointing towards Capsule Corporation, “If you ever need anything, Tifa. Or just need to talk to someone feel free to visit me at the compound up that hill.” The girl’s expression seemed to shift to mild astonishment. “I’ll take you up on that sometime.” Said the girl with a wavering grin. “Good.” Bulma smiled heartily. She really wished she could talk more to this odd girl. She had always been good at reading people’s emotions, it somehow came with the scientist territory, and she could tell the woman felt alone and out of place. If only there was a way to reach her. “Umm Tifa, would you like to join my family and I as we shop?” Bulma watched the girl carefully. What was it about this girl? Bulma considered herself an open person, but she usually wasn’t this open. Inviting strange girls to the house was not in her normal way of acting, especially after the android threat. “A... I better not.” Said the girl with a downward glance, the tip of her boot tapping the ground gently, “I need to get home before my father.” Bulma scowled, why did she have the feeling the girl was lying? “Too bad! It was a pleasure to meet you, Tifa.” Bulma sat her hand on the girl’s slender shoulder. “I’ll be waiting to see you soon.” Bulma finished and stared at the girl’s expression. Even with her large sunglasses on, it was obvious ‘Tifa’ was feeling extreme guilt. “Hai.” Whispered ‘Tifa’ softly, still not meeting Bulma’s gaze. Just as Bulma opened her mouth to speak again, she heard Elsa’s enthusiastic voice wafting from inside. “I better go.” Said Bulma and opened the door. Bulma smiled one last time at the mysterious girl and walked through the door. /Why’d she have to be so nice? / Thought Mea as she still focused on the cracked pavement. /I just need to get this job done. I can’t think about this anymore. /Mea glanced into the window of the shop, she could see Trunks taunting Elsa. Mea unconsciously smiled, then righted herself and sighed, /I’m not like them. I’ve...I’ve done some horrible things in my life. They’re innocent; I can’t be like them... it’s too late for that. / She watched as Bulma joined Trunks and Elsa, the trio laughing hysterically. Mea clenched her fists and busied her mind looking for the next stake out point. /I’ll do something for Bulma...I’ll make sure Elsa isn’t hurt or scared. That’s the least I can do considering how kind she was to me. If she had only known what I was really here for... / Mea glanced at her watch again, it was two hours till the rendezvous time. She briefly glanced back through the window at the utterly content Elsa, her eyes misting the image suddenly. /Two hours till someone’s life changes forever.... / Mea closed her eyes as hot tears slid down her cheeks.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mink blinked with surprise, /Is what he’s saying true? / Lion delicately smiled at her. “You look as though you do not believe me my dear.” His gaze turning from her suprised expression to the food before him. He pushed the food away, and scowled with thought, /I have to have something done about this food. Tastes like marinated cardboard. But that’s for another day. / Lion swiveled in his chair to face her, a very sincere look on his face. “I never really thought I would have to tell anyone this. It’s in the past. On light of her new behavior towards you, I thought you should know...being his sister and all.” Mink blinked hard again, she eased her death grip on the tabletop and muttered, “Wolf killed Tiger? Why?” She continued to stare at the white plaster wall. “Revenge, and jealousy I suppose.” Said Lion with a sympathetic tone. Mink turned her wide-eyed gaze to his face and sputtered, “I always hated the little brat, but murder? My brother was one of the people who trained her. What revenge would she have on him?” Lion sighed gently, “Your brother and I killed many people in the olden days. When we found Wolf, she was an orphan among corpses. Corpses we created I might add.” Lion looked down then, his voice as trustworthy as he could manage, “She was always jealous of your brother. He was a real warrior with a real family; Wolf was just a worthless brat someone had nonchalantly thrown away. Your brother had everything she wanted.” Lion turned to her again; her heavily made-up eyes were beginning to fill with tears. “The night of your brother’s death, Wolf must have snapped. It’s the only way she could so easily snap his neck, and stab a fighter like him. I caught her running from his room, covered in blood, laughing.” Lion looked at the food again. /I wonder if there is anything besides this to eat? / Lion pushed the plate gently with his thumb. “That traitorous little bitch! She’s going to pay for this!” yelled Mink as mascara filled tears began to roll down her cheeks. She suddenly turned to face him, with a look of hope covering her swelling eyes. “Will.... will you help me? Will you help me kill her Lion?” She gulped as she said it. “Of course.” Purred Lion as Mink laid her sobbing head on his shoulder. Internally Lion groaned, /This is a new shirt! I know all that damn mascara is not going to come out of it. Oh well, one shirt is worth the chance to make sure Wolf is done for good. / He looked down at her and cooed, “Oh now do not cry! Here calm down, we will find a way to pay her back for her atrocity.” He handed her his silk handkerchief and winced as she blew her nose. Mink sniffled and tried to regain her composure. She whimpered softly as she sat, blotting her eyes with Lion’s handkerchief. “Here is the plan. I am supposed to meet Wolf at nine ‘o clock at the Hope City Arboretum. You instead will wait for her to arrive, shoot her dead, and bring the child accompanying her back here.” Mink looked up at him, “You...You think I could kill her?” Lion smiled softly at his unwitting victim. “Yes, If you surprise her. You have to surprise her, Mink. Just shoot her straight through the chest.” He grinned sweetly at her, his arm around her trembling shoulders. Mink’s wide eyes turned up to his face, “I’ll do it. I’ll make her pay for her crimes.” Mink shook her fist in the air in front of her, “I’ll shoot her and watch her suffer. Watch her choke on her own blood.” Mink laughed wickedly. “Remember you need to bring the child back here. It is imperative that you do.” Lion’s jaw tightened as he said it. Mink turned to him again, “Aren’t.... aren’t you going to be there?” Lion chuckled, shaking slightly with contained laughter. “Not in the beginning dear. Mea can sense me, I’ll meet you half way.” His eyes glittered with a foreboding sheen that she simply did not see. “Alright.” She said shakily. “When should I leave?” Lion sighed happily, “At eight.” He paused and rose from his seat, “Remember to bring the girl.” Determination entered Mink’s vacant eyes. “I won’t let you down, I swear.” A look of predatory ease crossed Lion’s face as he turned to leave. He smiled maliciously, “I know you will not.” He yelled to Mink as he stalked down the dirty hallway, clearly pleased with himself. As soon as Lion was far up the hall from Mink’s prying eyes, he laughed openly. He smiled as he listened to his wicked laugh echoing of the stained walls. “What’s there to be happy about, Boss?” came a heavily accented voice. “Everything is going exactly as I planned Jackal.” The voice sounded surprised, “Everything Boss? Mink’s going to kill Wolf?” Lion sighed thoughtfully, “Probably not. But between Mink’s distraction and Trunks and company, Wolf will end up dead some how.” Jackal caught up to his boss’ long stride and shook his head, “Is it good to assume that she will be killed? What if something goes wrong?” Lion turned his gaze in Jackal’s direction, “Mink will injure Wolf, not fatally but still injure her. Trunks and his father will finish her off. I fear they do not have much of a sense of humor.” Lion locked his arms behind his back and continued, “Meanwhile, poor little Mink will bring the brat to me. Then I will dispose of her, and ransom the child off as planned.” Jackal smiled at his boss with envy, “All without you having to show your face. Brilliant, just brilliant.” Lion turned his steady gaze back to Jackal and narrowed his eyes, “Glad you agree.” He said with a growl, and continued strolling down the hallway, past the stunned man. /Yes, everything is shaping up perfectly. I will rid myself of Wolf and Mink, and acquire the funds to put plan ‘Reclaim’ into effect. / Lion smiled, his sharp animal– like canines showing, / This is turning out to be a very...satisfying day. / His footsteps echoed back down the hallway, each step ominously ringing off the dusty blank walls.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Briefs’ family followed their shopping route exactly. Occasionally, Bulma would stop at one of the carts, but always they would return to the next shop planned. By now, half of the shopping was completed. Trunks was loaded down with around twenty bags in each hand which, of course, caused him no strain. Even Elsa carried her share of the mighty load, hauling three bags in each of her little hands. “You need help imoto-san?” Trunks said as he watched the girl almost trip under her load. “Iie, nii-san. I want to be strong like you and Otousan.” The young girl smiled widely, as she tripped again. “Bags won’t make you strong.” Trunks remarked as he took four of the girl’s six bags. “Are you sure?” panted Bulma, barely able to hoist her collection of bags. Trunks laughed heartily, “I’m sure. Need some help Kaasan?” He winked gently at her. She laughed, despite her exhaustion, and managed to say, “Hai! Hai!” as she tripped on a crack in the sidewalk. Trunks, with blurring speed, whipped ahead of her, caught her and took half of her bags. “Why doesn’t nii-san take all of the bags.” Said Elsa with a contagious giggle. “What am I, a pack mule?” Trunks whimpered, with a distressed face. “Hai, a powerful pack mule.” Said Bulma lovingly, as she poked his strong shoulder with one finger. “Hai! Go pack mule go!” said Elsa, her little fist making a whip motion in air. “I’ll show you who’s a pack mule.” Yelled Trunks as he leapt at the girl, who had started to scream and run at his approach. Just as Trunks easily reached her running form, he stopped dead. His fighter senses were warning him. He turned and scanned the area; a firm scowl set on his face. Something or someone was following them. It had been following since morning, but never had it made a move. /It hasn’t made a move...yet. / He thought as a pair of hands wrapped in front of his eyes. “Who is it?” said the familiar voice. Trunks could hear Elsa giggling uncontrollably, probably under the torment of one of the new arrivals. “Goten.” Said Trunks with a smirk, as the hands raised from his eyes. “He was peeking!” accused Elsa from up top Son Goku’s broad shoulder. Trunks smiled broadly, “Iie, I could sense his ki, Elsa. You’ll learn to do it one day.” Elsa, confused, peered down at Goku’s cheery face. “Ki?” she said with a scowl. “Hai, ki Elsa. If you ask nicely someone will teach you about it.” Goku’s amused face looked at her, “or maybe if you bake me more of those peanut crisp cookies I’ll consider it.” Elsa giggled and hugged his neck as he turned, concerned, towards Trunks. “How did we manage to seek up on you like that? Is something bothering you?” Trunks’ face turned solemn as he slowly shook his head ‘yes’. “Something has been following us all day Son-san. What ever it is it hasn’t made a move.” Trunks paused as he crossed his arms, “Of course that doesn’t mean it won’t.” Bulma’s face was one of complete shock; “Something has been following us all day, and you didn’t even mention it to me?” her mouth was wide open, still grasping her son’s words. Trunks smiled wistfully, “No need to worry you or imoto-san.” His amused gaze fell on Goten, who stood closest to him. “Nothing to worry about.” Goten stifled a laugh as Bulma blew up at her son. “Nothing to worry about? That’s your father talking! If something is following us all day I want to know!” Bulma huffed. She looked up to see Son Goku smiling happily. “Trunks could handle anything that would threaten you or Elsa.” Bulma stared squarely at him, “I’m not knocking my mus’ko’s battle prowess, I’m just saying that I’d like to know if I’m being followed.” Trunks sighed and picked up the sixty some bags at his feet. “I didn’t want to get you worried.” Trunks turned and stared into the heavy human traffic. “Who knows” he thought out loud, “Maybe what ever it is isn’t something bad after all.”...... Mea held her breath as Trunks’ gaze fell directly on her. To her relief, the young man simply shrugged his shoulders and resumed his task. She really wished she had been able to hear the conversation between the Briefs’ and the newcomers. The two men who had joined the group had some how alerted her fighter instincts. The taller man was incredibly muscled, visible even through his red-orange/ dark blue gi. His bright, cheerful eyes sat open on his handsome face with child-like wonder. He wore a wide, glowing smile without the trace of pretense. His black hair stood in a spiky pattern around his head. Even from this view, Mea could tell he was an open, honest man. The other resembled the first, but seemed physically younger, possibly the other’s brother or son. It was hard to tell their ages from where she was located. Ever since this morning, Trunks had been carefully watching around him and his family. Mea had cursed herself for underestimating him. She had continuously dodged and weaved her path after them, hoping to stay out of his line of sense. Unfortunately she had just botched her fragile cover, he had seen her. She would have to be more careful then expected. / Jackal wasn’t kidding when he said to avoid him at all costs. / Thought Mea as she hid behind yet another sapling, / This guy must be some kind-of martial artist. He’s using a ki searching technique to keep tabs on things around him. / Then a cold suspicion crossed her mind, /What if he already knows about me? How am I going to get close enough to grab the kid? / Mea peeked around the corner and watched Trunks carry Elsa on his shoulders, /I should definitely get a raise for this job. / Mea watched as the five figures entered “Joe’s Hardware.” /Well there’s Joe’s. Next is number five. I’ve got to find a way to get closer. / Mea gritted her teeth as she watched Bulma walk down one of the store’s long aisles... “How about this one Kaasan?” said Elsa holding a strange piece of tangling hardware while still teetering from Trunks’ shoulders. “No dear, that’s a gratified spiral condenser. I need a 1.5 weight sochom engager.” The girl looked at her mother completely stupefied. “Hey Trunks, is this it?” Yelled Goten from in front of a large bin of tools. Trunks squinted the distance and shook his head, “Close Goten, but no cigar. That’s a 2-weight sochom engager. Keep looking though.” Goten chuckled and continued digging through the abysmal pile. “I don’t see it here Kaasan. Maybe you should ask Joe to order it for you?” said Trunks as he peered into a new bin of gadgets. Bulma sighed and shook her head. “I don’t need it that badly, just a whim I guess.” Bulma looked longingly at the rack in front of her and turned to leave. Elsa cupped her hands and called Goten, as she still resided from Trunks’ shoulders, and the three joined Bulma to leave. As they leaned for the exit Bulma turned back and shouted, “Bye Joe! Hope Miranda gets over her cold!” The short, bald man at the counter eagerly waved back at her. Bulma pushed up the door, frustrated. “I know he had it there last week. Who else buys 1.5 weight sochom engagers!” She turned to stare at her son in disbelief. Trunks smiled gently, brushing his bangs from his eyes, “We’ll find it. I’ll fly over to Fry-Pan Market after Lunch today and see if I can dig it up.” Bulma giggled, “Oh sankyuu dear, I can’t wait to put the part in my new project.” Just then Goku rounded the corner with a smile. Goten gave him a warning glance, but it was too late, “Find the part you needed?” asked Goku innocently. Bulma was only too happy to answer, “They only had 2-weight sochom engagers not 1.5! Can you believe it?! Jeez, who else is using 1.5s.” Bulma continued to grumble as a throughly confused Goku joined the group’s stride. “Ah...Videl’s next,” smiled Goku, “I’m sure Gohan is there by now.” Elsa spun on Trunks’ shoulders, “Will Pan be there?” she asked her cherub-like face full of silent hope. “ Should be,” smiled Goku, “on Saturdays where Gohan goes, Pan follows.” Elsa squealed for joy, and turned to face the homey little building before them...Mea soundlessly watched the five bound steadily toward their final destination... Elsa, who was the most excited, began to slap her legs and sing a strange song in an all too familiar foreign language. Her sweet, clear voice brought tenderness to the Saiyajin’s normally rough sounding words. When she sang the last line, she smiled sinfully and peered at her shocked companions. “Where did you learn that?” replied an astonished Goten. “Otousan taught me.” Said Elsa, visibly beaming. Trunks’ jaw nearly hit the pavement as he pulled Elsa off his shoulders to place her on the ground, “Otousan taught you that?” said Trunks with disbelief. Elsa smiled fully; obviously happy her brother envied her so much. “Since when does Vegeta sing Saiyajin songs to little girls?” questioned Goten, completely shocked. Elsa clapped her hands loudly, sticking her tongue out in Goten’s direction, and skipped merrily towards the door to Videl’s Market. “Since now... I guess.” said Trunks, still shaking his head with wonder...Mea sighed with relief, /At least the kid is off his shoulders now. Maybe now I can get this job done and get out of this place. / Mea smiled gently at the thought. To get out of this place, away from the people who had made her doubt her life so. She’d go back to the seedy underbelly of crime and never come back here...ever. It was just too tempting. The idea that she could forget her past and live her as if nothing had ever happened. /No, I’ll leave it as soon as I’m done with this job. I’ll leave all of it, Centaur, everything. / She watched as the group all entered the shop’s door, with that she took a deep breath and started walking toward the doorway. Mea held her breath as she reached for the door’s brass handle. As her fingers wrapped around it, the sound of Elsa’s laughter permeated the door. Mea stood a minute, stunned. Then, with a sharp yank, Mea pulled open the heavy Pine door and entered the cozy shop. She quickly walked down the first aisle on her right, and listened carefully. The whole group seemed to be in the front talking to the shop’s owner. Mea followed the aisle to the wall, and walked along the back till she was two aisles away from the front counter. She held her breath as she peeked around the corner at the assembled group. Elsa was now wrapped around the pant leg of yet another smiling man. Mea noticed he resembled the two men she had seen earlier in the red-orange gis. His hair, though still black, was shorter. He also wore a red-orange gi, which seemed to confirm her idea of a connection between the two men. He was older than both Trunks’ and the other boy by a few years. Along side the man was a slightly younger woman with a shining demeanor. She also had black hair, but showed no relation to the other three men, or the Briefs’ family. Mea’s brow wrinkled in thought, /This must be Videl. I wonder what her connection is to the three men and the Briefs’ family? / Just then, Videl leaned in and kissed the new man softly on the cheek. /Well that explains it. I know the three men are related some how, and Videl is the new man’s wife or girlfriend. That doesn’t answer the question to who these three men are though. / Mea watched the pair a little longer, and decided to move to the next aisle to get an unblocked view. The group had formed a lop-sided semi-circle around the new man and shopkeeper. The two men from earlier stood closest to the counter, barely feet from the happy couple. Trunks and Bulma were a few feet away, giving the three men ample room to talk. Elsa was still tightly wrapped around the new man’s pant leg, occasionally looking up to listen to the conversation between the adults. Mea stood opposite Trunks, pretending to be scrutinizing the nutritional differences between whole and creamed corn. Mea looked blankly down at the can and thought, /Now to lead the girl. I only have forty-five minutes to get her all the way back to the arboretum. Have to do this carefully or all is lost. / With that she turned down the aisle closest to Elsa and began her quickly devised plan....../What’s fun to do? / Thought Elsa as she listened to more of the adult’s conversation. /What are they talking about? This isn’t fun. /Elsa scowled as she gripped Gohan’s leg tighter. / Pan isn’t even here. Gohan says she’s resting. / Just as Elsa was starting to give up on having any fun at all, she spied a woman at the end of the cereal aisle motioning for her to come. Elsa looked around confused then giggled as the woman made a funny face and beckoned her again. Elsa smiled and shook her head ‘yes’ and began making her way to the woman. Elsa had almost made the turn when Trunks’ voice rose out of the conversational rubble, “And where do you think you are going?” he questioned with a grin. “Just...Just down the cereal aisle, nii-san.” Said Elsa as she pointed towards the aisle, her most prone face on display. Trunks looked at his little sister thoughtfully, “Okay, just don’t leave the store.” he said, nodding with approval. Elsa smiled widely at him and continued down the aisle. /Where did she go? / The little girl thought as she reached the end of the aisle. Elsa peeked around the corner, and saw the woman there. She was standing behind a can display, waiting for Elsa to come down the back wall. Elsa giggled and ran trustingly toward the young woman. “And what is your name?” Mea said as she tapped Elsa’s nose gently. “Elsa.” The young girl replied as she looked at the woman with wonder. “Well Elsa, do you want to help me with something?” Mea whispered. Elsa nodded her head quickly, and looked apprehensively over at Trunks.......Trunks just could not focus all of his attention on the conversation at hand. Some voice was nagging him in his mind; he tried to hear the tiny voice’s message, to no avail. He pondered it a moment, /I’ve been on edge all day. What’s going on? / Suddenly the voice’s message became very clear, “Something is wrong.” The now loud voice urged. Ignoring a question directed toward him, Trunks turned around and quickly scanned the cereal aisle. “Elsa? Elsa?” He yelled as fear began to grip him. Elsa than peeked her head around the canned aisle’s corner, “Hai, nii-san?” she looked at him curiously. Trunks mentally silenced the persistent voice and sighed, “Remember, stay in the shop.” He turned to see the group all watching him with concern. “You all right?” said Goten, visibly worried. “Hai just fine, had a bad premonition is all.” Trunks muttered as he struggled to bring his attention back to the discussion at hand. “Premonitions are often visions of the future, Trunks. You should do well to heed their warnings.” Remarked Gohan, with a grim face. Trunks looked back in Elsa’s direction, thought he heard that internal foreboding voice again. He heard Elsa’s laughter, and shook his head. /Why am I getting so paranoid? / He grumbled to himself. /I guess I’ve been jumpy since the androids, but there’s no need for that now.../ Elsa’s giggles echoed from the back wall, /Or is there?/ Trunks shrugged his shoulders, and turned back to the group again... Mea was rapidly thinking, /I have the girl. Now to get her outside. /Mea knelt in front of the girl and smiled, “So you’ll help me then?” Elsa shook her head ‘yes’ quickly. “Okay Elsa, I have a present for your Kaasan. Problem is I can’t carry it myself. I need you to help me carry it here.” Mea smiled again as she watched the child’s reaction. “Why don’t you ask nii-san to help you. I’m not very strong, but I’m sure nii-san could lift it easily.” The little girl turned to yell to Trunks. “No, Elsa. Trunks can’t help me with the other part I need help with.” Mea pretended to bite her lip in apprehension. “You need to help me color the paper on the outside. I don’t know what Kaasan’s favorite colors are, and I want her to like it. I was sure you would help me, but I guess if you don’t want to.” Mea made a little mock frown and rose to leave. “No, I’ll help!” said Elsa as she tugged frantically on Mea’s tank top. Mea’s frowning face softened, and she smiled. “Sankyuu Elsa.” Mea reached for Elsa’s hand; “The present is out this way.” Mea calmly started leading Elsa towards the door. “I can’t leave the store. Nii-san said so.” Elsa pouted. “Trunks will understand when we bring the present. We’re going to keep you leaving our little secret.” Mea smiled again at the tiny girl. Elsa looked carefully back in Trunks’ direction, and quickly shuffled toward the front door. Mea reached for the door handle, looked silently in the parties’ direction. With a delicate pull the door opened, and Mea moved herself and Elsa through the door. Mea turned back carefully and shut the door, not making a sound. /Here I was worried they were going to catch me. Better not get cocky now, I’m still not home free. / Mea scanned the area for any bystanders, and gently lead Elsa across the empty street. “Where is the present?” asked Elsa as she squeezed Mea’s hand tighter. “I hid it in the arboretum.” Mea said with a fake smile. Mea steered Elsa gently toward Suri Grove Street, which lead straight to the arboretum. After walking down the wooded street for a minute or so, Elsa gazed up at Mea’s face and asked, “What’s your name?” Mea was startled by the question. “My name?” she said as she stared at the child’s hopefully face. Strangely, a small usually silent voice in Mea’s head whispered, /Tell her the truth./ Mea blinked hard, frowning a little, /Tell her the truth.../ The voice murmured, /Stop your lying now with this child. / Mea swallowed hard, turning to Elsa she said, “Mea... My name is Mea.” Elsa squeezed Mea’s hand tighter, a smile on her innocent face, “Mea, I’ve never heard that name before. It’s pretty.” Elsa giggled a little, as the two past another street block. “Sankyuu Elsa, you have a pretty name too.” Mea replied as she started counting the blocks till the arboretum. Just as the time started to pass, Elsa began to hum her lullaby again. Mea looked at the girl, puzzled. She had heard the girl sing the song before, but hadn’t heard the explanation of its meaning. “What are you humming?” Mea asked, almost entranced by the song’s melody. Elsa giggled again and spoke, “It’s a song my Otousan taught me. He sings it to me when I have nightmares.” Mea stared at Elsa, brows knitting across, / That man sings songs to this kid? She must have an effect on him. / Mea’s eyes closed briefly, / Why does that surprise me, this kid managed to drag my real name out of me. No one knows my real name. / Mea glanced at the happy girl at her side, /Why did I feel I could tell her that? That was so careless of me. / “Mea?” the little girl’s use of her name brought her out of her inner struggle, “Have you ever met my nii-san?” The girl questioned. “Iie, I don’t think I have.” Mea replied, looking down at the girl’s face. Elsa mischievously smiled, “You’d like him. He’s so nice to me. He takes me to Oragani Park all the time.” Mea gave her a questioning glance. “Maybe you could go with us sometime? Would you?” Elsa jumped up and down, pulling slightly on Mea’s arm. “Maybe.” Mea said softly, not looking the child in the eye. Mea watched the deserted street in front of her with sorrow, /If Trunks ever did meet me, he’d probably kill me Elsa. / The pair trudged on, Elsa humming and skipping; holding her new friend’s hand tightly. Mea continued with a doleful expression on her weary face, knowing she about to change this uncorrupted girl’s view of her forever. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Chapter Two: Unholy Day
Mea's assignment doesn't go as she plans
Adios,
Shashunk