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The Tale of Tomaki (Chapter 33)

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Griff’s head shot up in surprise as his scouter screamed into his ear. An energy level had spiked on his view screen far to the north of his location. He spun around, trying to home in on the signal, his heart beat rising a little as he looked at the numbers.
“800,000….900,000…!!! IT’S STILL RISING!” Griff cried, his hands clenching into fists. “What on earth is causing that surge!? It can’t be Vokan. His power level can’t be higher than 500,000…and that’s being generous. The Galactic Patrolers? Hmph, not likely…” Griff suddenly grinned in excitement at the prospect of the other option. “Could it be Tomaki? That other Saiyan? Impossible! Even if he was hiding his power level before, it couldn’t be more than 20,000! He was a weakling…pathetic and worthless…how could his strength have grown 50 times over!? Color me interested.” He climbed to his feet and turned in the direction of the spike as it dropped once more, in the same instant it had appeared.
“Gone?” He growled. “There’s no question it was real. The scouter wasn’t faulting, was it? I have to see this…what power is waiting in Shan City? Finally…time for a real challenge!” Griff adjusted his scouter to lock onto the signature it had found so he could follow it. No matter how small it had dropped, the scouter should remember the energy. He then levitated off the ground and began flying towards the source, a smile growing on his face. “If the scouter was right…and I just felt a power level of one million or more…this foe might actually be the strongest opponent I’ve fought yet! I can hardly wait to meet them!” He burst into laughter as he picked up speed, rocketing like a missile towards the city.

Little to Griff’s knowledge, another figure watched silently from the shadows. She had observed him for a while. His scouter had not found her…because her energy was not one any technology could understand. She too had felt that incredible power, and like Griff, she was intrigued…but even more intrigued to see what would happen when Griff encountered it. The gears were turning on this conflict. The hands of fate were at work, and she knew that her time was drawing close. This Griff...or maybe even the power she’d sensed…could they be the key she’d searched for this whole time? The weapon she’d sought after?
“Show me, Griff…show me the power a Saiyan possesses.” She whispered. “I must know. I must know what fate has in store for us.”


I sat in the waiting room, with several others around me, all silent and all with dark expressions, but none near as hopeless as mine. Corvus, clad in all of his armor, sat on two chairs, as his armor took up so much room. Spirit was sitting in a soft arm chair across from me, staring around her, as if she were making sure the area was secure. Melody sat beside me, a hand on my arm in comfort. Hayato was there too, glaring at me with a look of complete contempt and disappointment.
“What were you thinking, Tomaki?” Hayato asked. “Using the kabutowari!? What if there had been innocent people nearby!?”
“I know.” I answered sharply. “I screwed up…I really REALLY screwed up.”
“Not entirely.” Corvus explained in his electronic sounding voice, created by the microphone in his helmet. “Under galactic law, your actions fall under the qualifications of self defense measures. Vokan posed a threat to the lives of others, and you were acting to prevent further harm. There will be no charges brought against you in this matter.”
“That’s not the point.” Hayato snarled. “And you know that, don’t you Tomaki?” I didn’t answer but only nodded.
“Lay off a little.” Melody spoke up. “Tomaki did what he had to do! His intentions were good and he was trying to-”
“He was TRYING to act out of VENGENCE!” Hayato barked, forcing Melody silent. “There were no good intentions here. He wanted revenge…and he took it. Tomaki, I trained you better than this. A true martial artist and warrior thinks before he acts and he doesn’t attack to get even! He fights to PROTECT…not to MURDER!”
“I know master.” I whimpered, my hand shaking while my other rested in a sling. I was fortunate the kabutowari had only given me a slight fracture in my arm. The super saiyan form must have heightened my threshold for damage, and lessened the damage to my body.
“And worse yet, you used a technique that you KNEW was forbidden!”
“Then why teach him at all?” Spirit hissed, finally speaking up. “In my opinion, Tomaki did what he had to. Like it or not, that Vokan guy was a threat, and had to eliminated. Sure he might’ve gone a bit overboard with some super dangerous move, but the monster is gone now right?”
“That’s not what the issue is,” I argued, “it’s the fact that I let my emotion rule me…that I gave in to…the rage inside me. I’m…I’m no different than Griff.”
“That’s not true!” Corvus snapped. “Griff is a murdering psychopath who kills and destroys for pleasure! Tomaki you’re not him in the slightest!”
“He’s right, Tomaki!” Melody encouraged.
“Look, I hunt demons, so I’m not sure I’m the best to comment or anything…but you came to help me out in dealing with that rouge demon, and Griff didn’t. He waited until the fight was over and then he stepped in to flirt with me. That’s a cowards actions. I don’t think you’re a coward, Tomaki.” Spirit then stood up and crossed her arms in an accusing manner. “But…if you think that wallowing in your own self pity and not confronting this is the right path to take, you’re not a coward…just a fool.” I looked up at Spirit, her words resounding in my mind and I looked away in shame. She was right…she’d hit the nail on the head.
“There’s just one thing I don’t get…” Corvus interrupted. “That huge spike in power I picked up…how did that happen? Was it the technique?” I turned to glance at Hayato who shook his head slowly. We’d decided not to share the truth about my super saiyan abilities to the others. There was no way of knowing how Corvus would react if he knew the truth, and no way of knowing how Spirit would feel about it. Best for now to keep it a secret.
“Just the kabutowari technique.” I replied.
“Excuse me.” Their conversation was interrupted as a nurse walked into the room, followed by Mr. Rhodes. “Victoria would like to see a…Tomaki?” I shrinked back a little, but a small shove from Melody got me to my feet. I glanced around me at the others and took in their expressions.
“Be gentle…and be compassionate.” Corvus advised.
“But be honest.” Spirit added. “If you care about this girl, don’t insult her by lying to her about what you did and why.”
“Gee, tactful much?” Melody snapped. Spirit just huffed and turned away.
“She’s right, Melody.” I replied. “Victoria deserves the truth…no matter what.” With that hanging in the air, I made my way to the nurse who lead me to Victoria.

When I saw her, I felt a lump form in my throat. Bandages wrapped around her eyes, making her completely unable to see. Her left arm was tied in a sling and she hand a few stitches on her neck and shoulder. Though she didn’t look as bad as before…the sight of her pained me deep within my soul. As the door closed behind me, she perked up and turned slightly towards the noise.
“Tomaki?” She asked.
“…Hey Vicky…” I muttered. She beamed at the sound of my voice…I cringed not being able to see her eyes shine like they always do when she smiles.
“Hey yourself! Tomaki thank you so much. Dad told me you flew me straight to the hospital after what happened at the dance. Guess I’m glad I brought you as my date, huh?” She laughed. I didn’t smile back but sat in the chair beside her bed and leaned forward, my hands clasped together, squeezing my own knuckles nervously.
“Don’t thank me, Victoria. It’s my fault.”
“That’s not true at all.” Victoria argued.
“Vokan wouldn’t have attacked if I hadn’t been there. If I’d held back…if I’d reserved or restrained my power then you wouldn’t…”
“Tomaki, it’s not your fault!” Victoria snapped encouragingly, leaning towards me and reaching out across her bed, searching for my hand. I held it out and placed it on hers softly. She squeezed my hand and smiled warmly. “Tomaki, you saved so many lives last night. You risked your life for us all at that dance. I was stupid to come back into the room. I was worried and wanted to make sure you were okay. That was my mistake. Not yours. You beat Vokan and saved my life. You’re my hero!”
“I’m not a hero…” I grimaced. She started to argue but then stopped when she felt my hand trembling. I couldn’t stop it…tears were filling my eyes and blurring my vision. “I’m…I’m a killer.”
“Tomaki?” She asked. “What’s wrong?”
“Vokan won’t be hurting anyone ever again…” I explained darkly. “I…I hunted him down, and…and I found where he was hiding.” Victoria tensed up and, though I couldn’t see her eyes, I could feel the intensity in her blank gaze.
“…Tomaki what happened?” She asked it, but her tone of voice showed she knew the answer already.
“…He mocked you…called you foolish and stupid. And I lost control. I gave in to anger and…and I killed him. I used a forbidden technique and killed him. He’s buried under the rubble of a ruined warehouse…” Victoria leaned back into her bed and her breath was shakey as she took in my words. “I went super saiyan…I gave in to my hate…I let go and…and I…” The tears flowed freely now as I pulled my hand away from her. I was worried she’d slap it away first. I couldn’t even look at her now. Her silence hurt me worse than any blow Vokan gave me. “And I killed him…”
“….I see….” Victoria whispered darkly.
“He was going to kill you…he tried to murder everyone at the dance.”
“You’re not him, Tomaki.” Victoria growled. “You’re not a killer like him! Why would you do this?”
“I did it…because…”
“Because of me?” Victoria asked, choking on her words now. “Was I the reason you killed him?”
“….” I didn’t answer her right away. I just bit my lip and stood up, walking away from the bed. “He hurt you…”
“Tomaki you KNOW better. You’re a hero! You’re a defender! Not an avenger.”
“I’M A SAIYAN!” I roared back, silencing her. “It’s in our blood! Murder…destruction…vengeance? It’s our nature…it’s like this instinct we can never rid ourselves of. Maybe Griff was right…I was just fooling myself all this time that I could be some kind of hero or something. But last night when I confronted Vokan I felt that rage…I’d felt it the night mom was killed. I felt it when Warren died for me. This anger…an urge to fight with everything I had and destroy. How can I fight what I am!? What if being a killer really is who I am!? Maybe I really am just a…monster.” I turned away from Victoria as the tears now rolled off my cheeks and hit the floor. I leaned into the wall and bit back the sobs I wanted to give. I finally glanced back at her, as she was leaning forward on her bed, her face hidden behind her beautiful silvery red hair.
“You deserve better than me, Victoria…I’m a monster, and you? You’re…perfect.” I walked towards the door and placed my hand firmly on the knob, turning it. “I guess…this is g-goodbye, Vicky…I love you…” I opened the door.

“YOU IDIOT!” She screamed. I spun around to face her and I could see tears rolling out from under her bandages. “You’re such an idiot, Tomaki!” She cried.
“Victoria?” I turned and watched her rip away her bed sheets and turn her body as if to get out of bed. I gasped and ran to her. “Don’t get up! You need to stay in-” I didn’t finish. As soon as I reached her, she threw her arms around my neck and sobbed into my shoulder. I could only stand there, dazed and amazed as she cried hot tears down my shirt.
“Don’t leave me.” She hiccupped. “Tomaki, don’t ever talk like that again, please!” She begged.
“But…but what I did-”
“You made a mistake, Tomaki! You lost control…and yes I’m disappointed. But don’t ever compare yourself to Griff…don’t ever call yourself a murderer or a monster to me! I know who and what you are! You are a HERO! You saved my life. You protected me when I was stupid enough to run into the line of fire.” I wrapped my arms around her as she wept and I cried too, bitterly and without restraint. “I love you too, Tomaki.”
“Why though?” I asked. “After what I did…”
“Because that’s what you do when you love someone, Tomaki.” She whispered. “You forgive them.”
So got this one out there. Tomaki's having a hard time dealing with the fact that he killed Vokan. The one thing that a lot of people seem to forget when they watch tv shows or anime is that killing is a hard thing for some to do. Tomaki, who has worked his whole life to keep from such acts, gave in to his anger and took a life in anger and vengence. While you and I might see this as an acceptable thing, to Tomaki it creates a terrifying reality: That he has the capability to kill, and it shows what he might become. Ever since Griff arrived, Tomaki has been comparing himself to Griff because both are Saiyans, but there is a clear gap in strength. Will Tomaki become more like Griff? Does that rage and anger give a Saiyan strength? These are things Tomaki is struggling to understand, and as he does, Victoria is there to help him. We also see his allies with Tomaki trying to help him come to terms with his actions.

Corvus belongs to :iconpostcommodore:
Spirit belongs to :icontheburningspirit:
Griff belongs to :iconsubtleroar:
The mysterious figure belongs to :iconheuring:
All others belong to me.

I'm having to do a lot of research and work on the guest characters like Griff and Spirit as they are going to become fundamental characters later. I shant say how. That would be telling. ^^

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GreenHa's avatar
wow........just..............wowtears