An Amity Revived
Chapter Ten
Two dots against a bleached rectangular background had kept themselves locked straight ahead in the direction that the body was headed. They bounced the teeniest bit from left to right, while the mind of the Saiya-jin was kept in thought of only two pretty simple concepts that could be explained in a mere two minutes combined. Hopefully. At least one of them could be explained quickly. The other may take a little longer, and the question was much more simple than the answer, at least in the way he looked at it.
Or not. Maybe the answer was much more simple than the question. That was another possibility. Loose ends. That was what was most important to him when it came to thinking of possible answers. It was endless, and it was important to keep it that way. When the answers are received, tie them up. Make sure that it is logical.
Were the answers to both of his questions sensible? Or was there much explaining to do to understand it?
Maybe it was time to find out.
Toma followed closely with Totepo, five feet away to his left and only a head behind his head. The balding Saiya-jin was visible from the corner of his eye so it'd be easier to follow. The tip of the sun was now peeking over the horizon, the direction they were headed. Toma's eyes were narrowed to help filter out some of the passing wind of his flight, and his aura did most of the rest.
Toma kept his silence, but unlike the man next to him, he was not in deep, much less shallow, thought at all. His brain was spontaneously kept going from one subject to the next. Sometimes he would murmur his thoughts and catch the Totepo overhearing --accidentally, of course. He made no bother at all to ask him about it.
After a while Toma realized that by speaking to himself, even quietly, he was making himself sound like a fool. So he soon shut up and kept his thoughts to himself. Everything ran dry once sooner or later, however, and once he quit muttering his thoughts ceased, too. For the first time in a long time he struggled for something to have in his mind which eventually led him into thinking a sing-song taunt of his comrades and others that he had known.
Toma realized too late that it sounded pretty childish. He had been speaking it aloud also.
He growled lowly and shot a quick glance towards the other person next to him, making sure Totepo wasn't going to say anything about it, although Toma already knew that he wasn't going to. He was both relieved and angered to see that the expression on Totepo's face did not change the slightest bit. Maybe Toma had hoped that a conversation would have struck up because of his lame outburst. That would only have been possible with the other two who were elsewhere on the planet. Perhaps even the fifth, who was hopefully on Vegetasei and hopefully not having a new crew to wipe planets out with.
It was then when Toma realized that there were more consequences to their return to their home planet than expected. He closed his eyes and murmured a tiny curse. He had no idea how long it has been since he died. Had Bardock turn his back on them already because of the mere fact they were dead? Or had been? Or had it been so long already that he passed away? Either way, Toma would not know, for he did not spend any time in the afterlife.
Bardock had to be alive now.
"I know you don't want me asking, but exactly what was Panboukin talking about back there?"
Toma moved his eyeballs to glance at the other man again, surprised at Totepo's sudden question. "I almost thought you'd never ask," the sub-leader responded in a friendly sarcastic manner, a smirk coming upon his face. "Like I said, if we had thought of this sooner we would've prevented the separation in the first place. But damn it, she made me so angry..." Toma trailed off, but only for a few seconds so he could return to the topic. "Anyway, it was pretty obvious. I can't believe we all missed it."
The silence crept up again as if he expected Totepo to say something to urge him on. But he didn't. Toma exhaled a tiny amount of air before continuing on. "It's all within the logic. Just because pieces of his clothing and armor had been found doesn't mean he died. A minor setback, remember?
"Well, like Celipa said, there was some sort of strong blast that caused that ditch. We were resurrected there. Our bodies did not dissolve, so there's no reason why Bardock's should've. Totepo, damn it, no body. No skeletal structures or flesh or anything of the sort. The only thing he left behind were the items you three found. If he did die, I'm sure we would've found some remnants of his body by now."
"And we didn't."
"Right," Toma confirmed and said nothing more. A self-satisfied look came to his face, happy that he said what he needed to say. The flight continued with the same silence of achievement as a deep hole in the ground came in the distance, growing bigger and bigger as the two Saiya-jin flew closer and closer to it.
Panboukin was still extremely tired, but he couldn't sleep. How could he, especially since his empty stomach demanded food? And now! He hated his pressuring appetite. There was not a bite to eat around here unless he turned to cannibalism, which was unlikely. Remaining entrails of either the inhabitants or the assassins didn't appeal to him. In fact, it sounded sickening to him.
Normally Panboukin would eat dead inhabitants. But when he did, it was never the organs in the body unless they were part of the limb. The limbs were the only parts he would eat off of his victims. An arm, a leg, occasional pieces of the neck. It was usually cooked instantly, and when it wasn't, he could easily turn the flesh into a juicy solid form. The thought of that made his mouth water.
It had been a nice, three-hour long nap for him. It was peaceful --too peaceful, even. Panboukin had no dreams at all, but he didn't expect any, and he was almost glad that he didn't have any. Almost. The only reason why he wanted one was so that he could have something to think about while he waited for either of the other three and to block out his hunger. Other than that, he considered dreams, as always, a nuisance.
Panboukin growled audibly while he glanced at his surroundings. After all, since hunger and sleepiness were killing him at the same time, he wanted the others more than ever to return. That way he can go back to Vegetasei happily and gain everything he needed, as could the other three.
But he, too, realized something. Where Toma knew that there was something to prevent the separation, Panboukin knew something to prevent the separation, hunger, and sleepiness all together! They could've just held off the argument until they returned to their home planet and none of this would've happened! He knew he should've stepped in and said something, but of course, the surprise of Toma and Celipa arguing for the first time kept him. Also, then, he wasn't thinking clearly himself.
Still, it was no excuse. He knew it as well as the next person to come along.
"Where are they?!" Panboukin snapped to the air, becoming more and more impatient as the seconds rolled by. He was too lost in his frustration from previously that he didn't hear anything at all. Absolutely nothing. Oops on his part again.
Silence followed his outburst, as he expected. It was only for a suspended two seconds, though. "Where are who?" A voice questioned from behind him, sounding stern and irritated, with only a hint of satisfaction dabbed to it.
The overweight Saiya-jin squirmed in an annoyed surprise, but he didn't turn around to face the person. "You don't have to do that, you know!" Panboukin growled, relaxing his shoulders again.
Toma didn't laugh at him. Taunting, however, was another story, although it wasn't as mocking as it usually sounded. Maybe sleep was pounding on his head as well. "I'm surprised you didn't go back in your pod for sleep. And I thought you were tired. Maybe you weren't as thickheaded as I thought you to be."
"You know, you're starting to be a problem. Not only with Celipa, but for me also! Does Totepo have to deal with this? Is he even with you right now or did you just leave him there?"
"If anyone's the problem, it's you," Toma snapped. He was not in a good mood at the moment. Or earlier, for that matter. It just dawned on Panboukin only at that point. Maybe that was it and nothing inflicted onto his personality during his time in Hell. If he had time in Hell. "Anyway, Celipa didn't return yet, I see." Panboukin said nothing in response, did nothing in response. "She must be really determined, then." Pause. "She is so stupid!"
"No, you're the one who's stupid," Panboukin retorted. Awkwardly, this was the first time he ever dared to talk back to the sub-leader, and he even surprised himself for a swift moment. "After all, we could've just waited until we returned to Vegetasei! There was no reason for us to stay here! Why did you suggest to go look for whatever-it-was when the answer could've just been back home? Everything would've been explained there."
"So you're saying it's my fault?"
"You tell me."
A silence settled in between the two men. Neither wanted to talk to each other anymore --at this point it would be said it was strange, but then again, everything had been strange lately-- and neither could come up with anything intelligent to say. Both wore the run-of-the-mill scowls, both having their own separate meaning. One with anger and aggravation, the other with anger and realization.
But with these certain two, quietness couldn't last too long or else they'd go insane. It happened before, but only on rare occasions. Besides, that was still during the Wakusei War. "It's not like her to keep going like this, no matter how determined she is," Toma finally said. His voice was low, quiet almost, as if in mourning.
Panboukin's face fell a couple millimeters so that it wasn't noticeable. He didn't want it to be, of course, but he knew that he was feeling guilty now. Maybe worried? "So, what do we do? No scouters," he pointed out, letting only a tiny bit of concern out.
"Let's wait for another hour or so," Toma suggested. "If Celipa doesn't come back, I'll go get Totepo and we'll start looking for her. Damn it, what did she get herself into this time?!"
Panboukin only managed a vague chuckle. But he, too, was worried about Celipa. He couldn't explain why, just like Toma couldn't. She never returned. Could she be dead --again?