Chapter 90: End of the World? (Patreon)

Android 18 pushed Oryon down onto the lounge chair on the terrace, straddled him, and braced both hands against his chest.

The sea breeze swept in and lifted the hem of her pale apricot skirt.

Her beautiful eyes were fixed on him, a hint of a smile in them and something soft and teasing besides.

Her golden hair had come loose, a few strands clinging to her neck, her skin glowing white in the setting sun.

The neckline of her dress hid half the line of her collarbone, a tantalizing glimpse of what lay beneath.

Oryon lay on his back, his gaze sliding from her face to her throat, then down to the fingers pressed against his chest.

Those hands looked slender, yet they carried a strength that Bulma and Lunch couldn't match. Oryon thought it felt just right.

"You call me greedy, but you're no different," she said.

Android 18 leaned down until the tip of her nose almost touched his. "You already had Bulma, and Lunch, and now you've got me too. You're the greediest one here."

Oryon smiled faintly. His hand slid up from her waist and settled against her back.

Her body was cool, like the wind coming off the sea, but after a while he could feel a trace of warmth rising from within her.

He gave a gentle tug, and Android 18 ended up pressed flat against him.

"If I weren't greedy, you might've already turned into one of Cell's cells by now…" he said softly.

Android 18 shuddered in disgust and bit his lower lip lightly.

"Then I guess I should thank you."

Her breath brushed the corner of his mouth, carrying a trace of floral scent.

Oryon turned his head to kiss her, but she leaned back on purpose, denying him.

His hand moved up to the back of her head and pulled her down again.

Android 18's soft lips met his, and she kissed him back eagerly.

Her breathing had grown uneven, and a faint flush colored her cheeks.

She was always cold and aloof. Only at moments like this did she let a little flustered embarrassment show.

Oryon loved seeing her like this.

"Where do you think you're putting that hand?"

Android 18 said it in a small voice, yet she didn't move his hand from her thigh.

Oryon sat up and let her lean against him, one arm around her waist, the other smoothing her wind-tossed hair.

Android 18 rested her head in the crook of his neck and closed her eyes.

"I never thought I'd get to live a life like this," she said.

"What kind of life?"

"Having someone beside me, having a house, flowers, and kids who call me big sister."

Android 18 said quietly, "Before, 17 and I just took things one step at a time. We never even knew where we'd be sleeping the next day."

Oryon bent down and kissed her forehead.

"You'll always have these from now on."

Android 18 tightened her arms around his waist. After a good while she said, "Then you have to keep holding me like this forever."

Oryon laughed.

"That's not much to ask."

"For me, it's a lot."

Android 18 opened her eyes and tilted her face up to look at him.

"So you can't die. The Cell Games, whatever else comes, you're not allowed to die."

Oryon's smile faded, and he nodded seriously.

"I promise."

The two of them cuddled on the terrace until the sky darkened.

The maids set out dinner, then quietly withdrew.

Android 18 climbed off Oryon and padded barefoot across the wooden floor, her skirt swaying.

She glanced back at him without a word and went inside first.

Oryon followed and wrapped his arms around her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.

She was standing at the dining table pouring water. His embrace made her hand tremble, and she nearly spilled it.

"Stop it." Android 18's tone was stern, but there wasn't a trace of reproach in it. She even seemed to enjoy Oryon's groping hands.

Oryon didn't let go. If anything, he held her tighter.

He could feel the lines of her body against his, her waist so slender, her hips round, her long legs lean and strong.

She was unlike any woman Oryon had ever met. When cold, she was like a block of ice. When soft, she was like a pool of water.

"I'll deal with you after dinner," Oryon murmured by her ear.

Android 18 shot him a sidelong look, the corners of her mouth slowly curving up.

"Who deals with who is still up in the air."

Dinner was a slow affair. Enjoying good food was one of life's great pleasures.

Android 18 drank a little red wine, and the corners of her eyes flushed red. She grew chattier.

She talked about 17, about her life before Dr. Gero modified her, about the first time she saw the sea.

Oryon sat across from her, his hand on the table, now and then reaching over to lightly touch her fingertips.

"I've fallen for you already, so don't go showing up and then vanishing on me again, okay?"

"From now on I'll tell you wherever I go," Oryon said.

Android 18 gave a satisfied hum.

The night passed quickly.

Oryon and Android 18 carried on in the new villa until past midnight, from the living room to the stairs to the bedroom.

The maids knew their place and never even went up to the second floor.

In the end Android 18 lay across Oryon's chest, her breathing so light she seemed to be asleep.

Oryon stroked her back, over and over, until the sea and sky outside the window slowly turned a pale white.

Early the next morning, the seaside was quiet.

Oryon was woken by the phone.

Bulma's voice came through the receiver, trembling slightly.

"Oryon, have you seen the TV?"

"Cell's on TV. He's issued an ultimatum to the whole world. If no one accepts his challenge in ten days, he'll destroy every city."

"The global stock markets have crashed, and the cities are full of people running for their lives."

Oryon sat up and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"I saw." He hadn't actually watched last night, but he knew the plot.

"Lunch and I are both really scared…"

Before Bulma could finish, Oryon cut in. "Don't worry. Come on over to me, you and Lunch."

"It's nice here, too. We might as well use these few days to relax."

Bulma doubted him. "Who's in the mood for that right now?"

Oryon chuckled. "Relax. The tournament in ten days will beat Cell. I might not even need to lift a finger. If Goku breaks through, he can take him down."

"Really?"

Bulma had known Goku a long time. He was a bit simple-minded, but he was reliable when it came to fighting.

"Okay. Then you don't need to come get us. I'll pack a few things right away and fly over in the plane…"

Bulma really was the dependable one. She could do anything.

Oryon nodded. "Mm, we'll be waiting."

After he hung up, Android 18 pressed up against his back and slid her arms around his waist.

"They're coming too?" Her voice was still thick with sleep and slurred.

"Cell was on TV. They're scared," Oryon said.

Android 18 was silent for two seconds, then laid her face against his back.

"Then let them come. The house is big enough anyway. I had the maids get a lot of rooms ready yesterday."

Oryon turned over, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her on the lips.

"You're the lady of the house, so it's your call. Be sure to take good care of them."

"Mm!"

Android 18 laughed and stretched, showing off the lovely line of her waist.

Morning light slanted in through the gap in the curtains and fell across her, turning her skin porcelain white.

Around ten in the morning, Oryon arrived with Bulma and Lunch.

Bulma had flown the plane, and Lunch had sat in the back looking after the two kids.

The moment they climbed out of the car, Su Nian and Su Yi bolted for the beach. Oryon scooped one up in each arm and hauled them back.

"Swimsuits first, then sunscreen," Oryon said.

The two little ones squirmed in his arms, laughing and shouting "Daddy!"

Su Yi asked in a small voice, "Daddy, is what they said on TV true? Is a green uncle going to hurt us?"

Oryon stroked her hair.

"Don't be scared. Daddy will protect you."

Bulma walked up to Oryon, her eyes a little red.

However stubborn she usually was, seeing Cell level half a city with one casual ki blast on TV had left her unable to shake the panic.

Oryon reached out, pulled her into his arms, and hugged her tight.

"It'll be fine," Oryon said.

Bulma buried her face in his chest and said in a muffled voice, "I'm not afraid of dying. I'm afraid of the kids being frightened."

"Su Nian even asked me this morning whether Earth was going to explode."

"I really didn't know how to answer her."

Oryon bent and kissed the top of her head.

"Earth won't explode. I won't let that happen."

Lunch came over too and looped her arms around Oryon's arm from the side.

She didn't say much like Bulma had. She just stood close.

"Oryon, as long as we're together as a family, I'm not afraid," Lunch said.

Android 18 stood in the doorway watching, and didn't come over to interrupt.

She looked down at her bare ankles, then lifted her head toward Oryon.

Oryon beckoned to her. She hesitated for a moment, then walked over anyway.

The two children were building a sandcastle on the beach.

Su Nian and Su Yi squatted at the water's edge with little buckets and shovels, busy as could be.

Half of Su Yi's castle was washed away by a wave just after she finished it. She pouted, and Su Nian immediately gave up her own castle to her.

Bulma and Lunch sat under the beach umbrella, chatting about the strange things going on lately.

Android 18 went and sat with them too. She didn't say much at first, but when Bulma mentioned a new line at some department store, she couldn't resist chiming in a few times.

Seeing the three of them getting along reasonably well, Oryon went over to the kids and splashed through the waves with them.

"Daddy, will the green uncle get beaten?" Nian asked, looking up.

"Yes," Oryon said.

"Who's going to beat him?" Su Yi asked too.

Oryon thought for a moment and said with a smile, "Maybe Uncle Goku. Maybe Uncle Goku's son. Maybe Daddy will beat him himself…"

"Then why doesn't Daddy go beat him now?" Su Nian asked.

Oryon grinned. "Why aren't you going to kindergarten right now?"

Nian shivered, and she and Su Yi hurried off to play.

In the evening, Oryon took the whole family for a stroll along the beach.

Su Nian rode on Oryon's shoulders while Su Yi held Lunch's hand.

Bulma and Android 18 walked behind, the sea wind tousling their hair.

The setting sun stretched everyone's shadows long, like a painting in warm colors.

Looking at his wives and children, Oryon felt an inexplicable contentment.

As time went on, his love with Bulma and Lunch had faded and turned into familial affection.

Day to day, work had mostly come first.

So much so that Bulma barely had time to play with the kids.

Now, with the entire world under Cell's threat, work had ground to a halt, and more and more people had started enjoying life.

Of course, some were obsessed with building shelters and hoarding supplies, or doing things they'd never dared to do before…

In short, the ones panicking most right now were the rich.

They were spending money like water in order to survive.

They had even hired the fighting champion Mr. Satan to go and take out Cell…

That night, after the kids fell asleep, Oryon drew Bulma, Lunch and Android 18 into his arms and kissed them one by one.

[Author's Note: …Requesting flowers…]

Bulma rested her face on his shoulder, Lunch lay across his lap, and Android 18 leaned against his right side.

That night, the lights in the villa burned late.

Meanwhile, at distant Kami's Lookout, the great door of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber slowly opened.

Goku and Gohan stepped out.

Both had grown leaner, but their spirits were high, and both stayed in Super Saiyan form as their normal state.

Gohan's hair had grown a bit longer, and his eyes were much steadier.

Goku wore the same carefree grin as ever and stretched the moment he cleared the door.

"The wind out here feels great," Goku said.

Mr. Popo handed over water and towels.

"Mr. Vegeta will be going back in soon."

"He told me to tell you that when he comes out, he'll surely surpass you both."

Goku took the towel and burst out laughing.

"He says that every time."

Gohan laughed too, then asked seriously, "Dad, what do we do for training now?"

Goku patted his shoulder.

"Training doesn't mean keeping yourself wound tight all the time. You've got to know when to ease off and rest when it's time to rest."

Gohan nodded thoughtfully.

"Want to go fishing with Dad?"

Gohan's face lit up.

"Yeah!"

Mount Paozu.

"Chi-Chi, we're hungry."

"Wah! Gohan, how did you turn into a delinquent…"

Chi-Chi cooked a huge spread, and Goku and Gohan wolfed it down like a whirlwind.

After they'd eaten their fill, Chi-Chi insisted they bathe and change clothes.

Goku lay on the living room floor, rubbing his belly, and dozed off like he hadn't a care in the world.

Gohan sat beside him and asked quietly, "Dad, can we break through?"

"Definitely. And if we can't, there's still Oryon. He can definitely beat Cell."

Gohan blinked in surprise.

"Really?"

"Really. I don't know how he trains, but I can already feel it. There's a tremendous power hidden inside him."

"Anyway, he's a lot stronger than he was a few days ago when we fought the Androids."

"Oh!" Gohan nodded thoughtfully.

"But there are already so many people in the cities running for their lives," Gohan said.

Goku sat up and looked at Gohan, his expression rarely so serious.

"Gohan, the worst thing you can do before a fight is let your emotions drag you around."

"Right now we need rest and time to adjust. That's how we'll get a chance to break through."

"For the next couple of days, we'll stay with your mom and just have fun and relax. Think of it as part of the training."

Gohan listened and nodded.

Early the next morning, Goku suggested going fishing in the mountains.

Chi-Chi didn't agree at first. She thought going off to play at a time like this was ridiculous.

But she was looking forward to a day of cooking outdoors with Goku and Gohan.

After all, as a housewife, she'd been cooped up at home for far too long.

In the end, she packed everything up anyway.

The family set out with fishing rods, cookware and a few boxes of rice balls.

The little mountain stream was clear, and it was so quiet all around that only birdsong broke the silence.

Goku found a big rock to sit on, cast his line, and squinted his eyes. Before long he'd gone completely still.

Gohan and Chi-Chi spread out a mat by the stream and started preparing the meal.

"Mom, I'll help you." Gohan crouched beside Chi-Chi and offered to chop the vegetables.

Chi-Chi looked at him, a touch of tenderness rising in her eyes.

"Did you take good care of yourself in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber?"

Gohan smiled.

"I did. Our cooking wasn't good, but we always ate plenty…"

Chi-Chi glanced at Goku dozing in the distance.

"That must have been hard on you."

Before long, Goku suddenly reeled in his line and landed a big, fat river fish.

He ran over to his wife and son, delighted, and waved the fish back and forth in front of them.

Gohan wasn't about to lose out and sat back down at the water's edge.

Half an hour later, he pulled one in too.

Chi-Chi washed the fish and set them over the fire to roast.

The skin curled under the licking flames, and fat dripped onto the coals with a faint sizzle.

The aroma spread, and even Goku came over to join them.

"Smells so good," Gohan said, swallowing.

The family ate grilled fish by the stream, along with the rice balls Chi-Chi had brought.

Goku told them about training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, about the first time Gohan's power erupted and tore up an entire stretch of ground.

Chi-Chi listened with great interest. She remembered the day she first met Goku as a girl.

He hadn't held back at all when he fought her in that tournament.

Maybe it was that very punch that made her fall in love with Goku.

As the sun was about to set, Chi-Chi leaned against a tree trunk and fell asleep.

Goku glanced at her, then gently took off his jacket and laid it over her. Gohan came over and sat down by the fire.

"Dad, on the day of the Cell Games, will you let me fight?"

Goku tossed another log into the fire, the flames lighting up his face.

"Gohan, your talent is greater than Dad's. You should have confidence in your own strength!"

Gohan lowered his head and clenched his fists.

"Mm. I understand, Dad…"

The cool river breeze drifted over, and the campfire occasionally spat a spark or two.

Out here, far from the cities, it was as though they'd temporarily forgotten all danger.

Meanwhile, back at Kami's Lookout, the door of the Hyperbolic Time Chamber remained tightly shut.

Vegeta was inside, using his final day to train like a madman.