| A week had passed since that day with Kaioshin. Erica returned home from work. She opened her door and threw her keys on the counter. She took a Snapple from the refrigerator and looked through her mail. After doing that she made her way to the living room. At first she didn’t notice the white hair peeking over the back of the couch. Then movement made by someone else made her jump. The white hair rose higher. Kaioshin stood up and turned to her. “I thought you’d be home before, but you took a detour.” Erica smiled and they exchanged a quick kiss. “I didn’t know you’d be coming now. You usually come later. What’s up?” “I thought I’d ask you the same question. I heard what you said this morning.” “What did I say?” “ ‘I wish I could contact you, Kaioshin. I have to ask you something.’ So what did you want to ask me?” Erica took another sip of her Snapple Iced Tea. “Well, yesterday I was invited to a party, which is tonight at seven. I was wondering if you’d be my escort.” Kaioshin bowed. “Why my dear lady I’d be honored.” Erica laughed. “Cool. So can you be here around 6:45?” “As you wish,” he replied with a smile. “I can’t wait!” Erica said excitedly. “I want you to meet my friend Ali. She’d love your hair.” As they both laughed, Kaioshin sensed something that made him turn his head fast. “What is it?” Erica asked. “I don’t know. I’m sorry to be rude, but I must go. I’ll return at 6:45.” He didn’t waste another second; he disappeared. Erica shrugged and turned on the TV. * * * Kaioshin returned to Kaioshinkai to find Dai Kaioshin and Kibito standing in the entrance of the house. “So you did sense it,” Dai Kaioshin said, his usual happy expression absent from his face. “Yes,” Kaioshin said as his crystal ball appeared before him. An image appeared that made the three jump back in horror. People of the planet Ezra were being killed. “They don’t have a chance,” Kaioshin said. “Who’s doing this?” “A man known as Zeen has decided to take over Ezra. He’s just like Babidi was,” Dai Kaioshin explained. Kaioshin looked at the crystal ball. He thought about what to do. “Then I’ll go there. Something must be done.” “I will accompany you,” Kibito said. The two disappeared and went to the planet Ezra. Kaioshin looked at the sight before him. Screaming could be heard coming from all directions. “This is terrible.” * * * It was 6:55. The party started at 7:00. Erica starred out at the city from her window. “Where on Earth is Kaioshin? He’s never late,” she said out loud to no one. She looked at the clock for the millionth time to see it turn 6:56. “Where is he?” * * * Kibito fell to the ground unconscious. Kaioshin saw this and struggled to free himself from the fight he was in. Finally, he disappeared and reappeared next to Kibito. Kaioshin brought Kibito back to Kaioshinkai. Dai Kaioshin rushed over to heal the two. Kaioshin was badly hurt himself, but told Dai Kaioshin to heal Kibito first. After the two were healed, Kaioshin starred into the crystal ball again. “They’re too strong. I can’t beat them; I’m just not strong enough.” “You tried,” Dai Kaioshin said. “But I didn’t try hard enough! I can’t just sit here and watch those helpless people die!” “Maybe I can offer a suggestion,” a voice said. The three turned to see an elderly Kaioshin making his way to the group. It was Rou Dai Kaioshin, the ruler of the universe 15 generations back. He had been released from his imprisonment he had been in earlier that week. Five thousand years ago he had been in a fight that ended up with him imprisoned in a sword. Then Dai Kaioshin had found the sword and broke it when dropped it, thus freeing Rou Dai Kaioshin. “What would that be?” Kaioshin asked. Rou Dai Kaioshin pointed to the earrings on Kaioshin’s ears. “The Patora earrings. If you fuse, then you’ll have the power to beat Zeen.” Kaioshin thought about what he was told. Rou Dai Kaioshin continued. “But remember, so far we don’t know how to split two people again. So it’s your decision. Its either the planet, or you.” Kaioshin didn’t have to think about it any longer. “The planet is more important. Who’s going to fuse with me?” “I will, sir.” Kibito stepped forward. “Dai Kaioshin needs to stay in order to keep watch on the universe.” “Okay then.” Kaioshin took off his left earring and handed it to Kibito. I’m sorry Erica…he thought as Kibito placed the earring on his right ear. The earrings glowed. Kaioshin and Kibito began moving closer and pretty soon their bodies where engulfed with a bright, white light. Soon the two fused together and the light faded to nothing. Both Rou Dai Kaioshin and Dai Kaioshin looked over at the new person that stood before them. The fused version of East Kaioshin and Kibito was tall with long white hair. His skin was a light purple. He wore what Kibito was wearing, to accommodate the height. “Well, it looks and sounds like Kaioshin’s body was more dominate than Kibito’s. You better get going,” said Rou Dai Kaioshin. The new Kaioshin took a second to look over himself, and then he disappeared, heading back to the fight on Ezra. * * * Erica sat in her apartment waiting at the kitchen table. She looked at her watch. 7:13. “Kaioshin, where are you!” She yelled out. Suddenly the phone rang, which made her jump. She answered with a dull hello. “Erica! Where are you? You did know the party started at seven, didn’t you?” It was her friend Brad. He worked with her and had been the one to invite her to the party. “I know it started at seven. I’m waiting for my escort. He’s never late…I’m worried.” “Erica, do you want me to come pick you up?” Erica hesitated for a moment. “Yeah, could you?” “I’ll be there in ten minutes.” They hung up and in ten minutes Brad was at the door. As Erica walked out the door, she looked behind her, hoping she’d see Kaioshin standing there. But he wasn’t. She closed the door and left with Brad for the party. * * * Kaioshin returned to Kaioshinkai with many scraps and bruises. He had fought a long, hard battle against Zeen, but fortunately helped arrived and they were able to defeat the evil mastermind and save the planet. “Good work Kaioshin,” said Dai Kaioshin. “Thanks…” Kaioshin replied and fell to the ground. He was exhausted from the fight and needed to rest. Dai Kaioshin heeled him, and brought him to his room so he could sleep for a while. After Kaioshin had a short nap, he jumped up in his bed. “Erica! I forgot about the party!” He jumped out of bed and headed for Earth. When he arrived at Erica’s apartment, she was nowhere to be found. He returned to his room and looked at his crystal ball. He saw Erica dancing with some other guy. She looks as if she’s having fun…I’ll have to go to her tomorrow so I can apologize. When it was the next day on Earth, Kaioshin looked into his crystal ball. He was surprised at what he saw. He saw Erica sitting at a table with the same guy she was with at the party. Kaioshin could feel his heart fall from his chest. Who was this guy? Next he saw the two leave the restaurant. The guy put his arm around Erica’s shoulders and they walked out to a car parked in front of the restaurant. Kaioshin couldn’t believe this. “Is this all because I missed her party? What have I done?” He watched a little longer. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but it looked to him as if the other guy was hitting on Erica. Kaioshin couldn’t watch anymore. He dismissed the image and sat on his bed. Kaioshin looked down at the floor. His hand involuntarily twitched and he looked at it. It wasn’t the normal color he was used to seeing. He noticed the clothing he was wearing. He walked over to a mirror and starred at the reflection. “She wouldn’t recognize me,” he said sadly to himself. “She’s probably better off with that other guy…” * * * Kaioshin was wrong, however, about the other guy trying to hit on Erica. He was merely trying to cheer his friend up. Erica had been depressed all night, thinking about what could have possibly happened to her Kaioshin. “I don’t know where he is,” she told Brad. “He’s never missed anything…if something came up I know he would have told me by now…” “It’s okay,” Brad said and drove her home. * * * Almost a year had passed on Earth. Like every other weekday Erica went to work. She normally took the bus home, but today Brad offered her a ride home. She accepted and sat in silence. Brad pulled into a parking spot at her apartment building. She thanked him and started to get out of the car. However, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back in. “Erica, how ‘bout you come to dinner with me tonight,” he suggested. “No, I really don’t feel like going anywhere tonight,” she said. “You sure? I’ll pay.” “That’s very nice of you, but I just want to spend tonight alone.” Brad laughed and leaned back in his seat. “You say that every time I ask you out. Erica, when are you going to get over that guy? He hasn’t shown his face in a year. I don’t think he’ll come now.” “Don’t say that! I know Kaioshin had a good reason…and I’m sure he’ll come back someday…” “Are you going to wait till the day you die? Erica, wake up. There’s someone right here for you. Just give me a chance.” Tears started to form in Erica’s eyes. Brad took her chin in his hand and turned her head to him. Erica pushed him away. “I’m sorry Brad. I like you as a friend. I will get over Kaioshin, but right now…it still hurts. Thanks for the ride.” And with that she got out of the car and walked away. Erica opened the door to her apartment and looked at the table, hoping to see a note of some kind waiting for her. But there was nothing there. She slowly made her way to her room and sat on the bed. She looked over at a picture sitting on her nightstand. It was a picture of Kaioshin, dressed in the white collared, buttoned down shirt he wore on their day out. The tears filled her eyes, but she wiped them away before they trickled down her cheek. * * * Rou Dai Kaioshin watched the young girl crying in her room. He knew that both the girl and Kaioshin still loved each other. He dismissed the image and went out to the garden to find the young god. Kaioshin sat in his normal spot, which was on a two-foot high stonewall. He looked at the flowers and had a very depressed look on his face. After all this time, he was still fused with Kibito. And because of that, he didn’t go back to Erica, scared that she might reject him. He heard Rou Dai Kaioshin approach, but didn’t pay any attention to him. The old man sat down beside him and kept his eyes focused ahead. “So…have you decided to go to her?” “No,” was Kaioshin’s only response. “May I ask why not?” Kaioshin didn’t answer. “Kaioshin, I just saw that girl sitting on her bed. She was crying when she saw some picture of you. Go back to her…the worst thing that could happen is she doesn’t want to see you anymore, which I doubt would be the case.” “Rou Dai Kaioshin, look at me. I’m nothing like I was.” “If she truly loves you she’ll accept what happened.” He stood up and left, leaving Kaioshin to think a little more. He looked up at the sky and felt the pain Erica was feeling. He decided he had better go back, before it was too late. Kaioshin appeared in Erica’s apartment. It was deserted. He decided to leave a note on her table, hoping she would see it. Not even ten minutes later, Erica returned home to find the note waiting for her. She picked up the note with excitement in her eyes and read it as fast as she could. My dearest Erica, I know it has been a while since we last saw each other. I can’t ask you enough for your forgiveness. But things were hectic the night of that party. I have been through many changes, and hope that you’ll be willing to meet me on your balcony at 8pm tonight. If you’re not there, that’ll give me your answer. Yours forever, Kaioshin Erica’s heart leapt out of her chest. After all this time, Kaioshin was finally coming back. She couldn’t wait for the next half hour to go by. It was 7:59pm and Erica waited on her balcony. She rested her arms on the railing and looked at the city before her. She waited, and finally Kaioshin came at exactly eight o’clock. “Before you turn around,” Kaioshin began, “you must promise me you’ll give me a chance to explain before you judge me.” “I promise,” she said. She hesitated before turning around, and when she did she couldn’t believe what she saw in front of her. A totally different person than what she expected to see stood in front of her. The man she saw was no longer the short purple guy with the white Mohawk. “What…happened to you…?” “I told you, I’ve been through some changes. I was scared to come back…I…” “You left me…” Erica interrupted. “I waited and waited…but you never came. I had to go without you. For the past year I waited for you to come, but you never came.” “I know. I’m so sorry. Please just give me a chance to explain…” Kaioshin took a step forward and Erica stepped back. “You can’t be Kaioshin…he’s much shorter than you…” “Erica, please…I am Kaioshin…look at me…don’t you recognize me at all?” Erica didn’t answer. She just turned around and cried softly to herself. Kaioshin looked at her turned back. “I understand,” he said. “Good luck with that guy. And I’m truly sorry for what I’ve done.” Kaioshin disappeared as he turned to leave. Erica quickly turned around to find herself alone again. “What have I done…?” * * * Kaioshin returned to Kaioshinkai, depressed as ever. Rou Dai Kaioshin and Dai Kaioshin watched the young god walk by. He sat on a rock and held his head with his hands. Rou Dai Kaioshin walked over and put a hand on Kaioshin’s shoulder. “She didn’t believe you I take it.” Kaioshin let out a sigh. “She didn’t give me a chance to explain.” “She was heartbroken. Seeing someone different on the outside took over her feelings. She still loves you, Kaioshin. Go back to her.” “I can’t. She gave me her answer.” Kaioshin got up and headed for the house. In his room he saw the crystal ball sitting on his table. He walked over and starred at it before commanding an image to appear. He saw Erica’s head buried in a pillow. The view changed; now he saw her tear stained face. She had been crying her eyes out. She reached over and took a picture from her nightstand. Kaioshin could see her lips say “I’m sorry.” Erica cried. She looked at Kaioshin’s picture and wished she hadn’t been so stupid. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to be so unforgiving. I was never mad at you…please come back…” Erica placed the picture back on the nightstand and tried to calm herself down. Her mind flashed back to see the tall, white haired man standing before her just a few minutes ago. She closed her eyes and choked on her crying. Erica thought she felt the bed sink in a little, but she figured it was her imagination. She was so upset that she didn’t think that someone could be there. Then she felt a hand on her arm. She jumped up and the hand pulled away. Sitting next to her was the same person that came before. She searched his eyes and saw the same soft look she fell in love with. “Kaioshin…” she said and jumped into his arms. As she cried into his chest, Kaioshin wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close, and placed his head on hers. “I’m so sorry, Kaioshin. I didn’t mean to act like that,” she apologized. “It’s alright. I expected it. I’m sorry I waited so long.” He started stroking her hair. Erica sat up and looked at him. She placed a hand on his cheek. “What happened to you?” “The night you asked me to go to the party, I felt a terrible disturbance in the universe. An evil man, who was much like Babidi, attacked another planet. I had to go there and fight to save it. I tried my best, but I just wasn’t strong enough to do it alone. I had no choice but to fuse with Kibito. Doing so gave me just enough power to defeat the evil force, though I did have some help at the end. I thought about you when we fused, and hoped you would understand. I had to do it to save the planet.” Erica raked her hands through his white hair. “So you’re Kibito too?” “Half of me. My body was more dominant in the fusion so that’s why I still sound and act the same. I’m just a little taller.” “A little…you’re a lot taller than me now.” Erica laughed and snuggled up against him. “Let’s put that all behind us. I still love you.” Kaioshin pulled her away from him. She looked up and got the same idea. They both kissed each other passionately. * * * Two days had gone by. Kaioshin was practically living in Erica’s apartment. He wanted to make up for all the lost time. She didn’t mind at all. Later that afternoon, the doorbell rang. Erica opened the door to see Brad standing before her. “Hey,” he said. “Oh hi Brad.” Brad took a few steps forward. “I was wondering if you’d like to come to dinner with me.” “That’s nice of you, but I can’t.” “You’re still not waiting for that loser to come back, are you? Erica, you deserve better than that.” “Brad, I’m not waiting for him. And I don’t need anyone better than him. Please leave if you’re going to bug me like this.” Erica tried to push him out the door. Brad didn’t budge from his spot. “I’m asking only this once; just come with me.” “No Brad. I have company here, so please leave.” “I don’t see or hear anyone,” he said looking around. “Is there a problem, Erica?” Kaioshin asked walking out from behind a wall. “Brad was just leaving, weren’t you?” She gave Brad an evil glare. “Who’s that? Erica, you must be losing it completely. Now you’re going out with an overgrown elf?” “This overgrown elf happens to be Kaioshin. Now leave!” “That’s the guy?” Brad snickered. He walked up to Kaioshin. “Do you know what she’s been going through because you weren’t here? She’s been coming to me for help, telling me that her boyfriend hasn’t called her in a year.” Kaioshin got Erica’s approval when she nodded her head to him. He put his hand on Brad’s shoulder and disappeared, bringing him to the parking lot. Then Kaioshin returned to Erica, leaving a dumbfounded Brad standing alone. “I thought he was so nice at first, but he’s just a jerk,” Erica said as the two walked back into the living room. A few minutes later, Kaioshin asked Erica to come to Kaioshinkai for the rest of the day. “Are you sure?” She asked him. “I’m sure. I thought we’d spend some time at my place for a change. Let me be the host.” He stood up and offered his hand to her. She accepted and they vanished. On Kaioshinkai, Erica followed Kaioshin down the path that led to the gardens. She looked at all the pretty flowers as she walked by. Then a voice calling Kaioshin’s name could be heard. They turned around to find Dai Kaioshin running up to them, totally out of breath. “What is it Dai Kaioshin?” Kaioshin asked, looking a little worried. “Is another planet being attacked? Who’s responsible?” After taking a second to catch his breath Dai Kaioshin put his hand up. “Nothing’s wrong. Calm down there. I just came to tell you that Rou Dai Kaioshin and myself might have found a solution to the fusion problem.” “What do you mean?” Kaioshin asked. “Come with me. Oh, hello Erica,” he said as he turned to leave. They followed the god to the back of the house where Rou Dai Kaioshin sat on a bench. “Oh, Kaioshin, you’re finally back. I think we might be able to un-fuse you,” the old man said. “Really?” Kaioshin said with excitement. “Kaioshin this is great!” Erica exclaimed. >“Not so fast there,” Rou Dai Kaioshin said standing up. “I don’t know if this will work or not. If it does, then I find that totally unfair.” “Why?” “Because I can never come out of my fusion. Only people that have been fused for less than fifty years can do this. I’ve been fused for ten thousand years.” “So what do I have to do?” Kaioshin asked. “I’m getting to that!” Rou Dai Kaioshin snapped. Kaioshin jumped back and waited for the answer. “Dai Kaioshin, your Patora earrings if you please.” Dai Kaioshin took both earrings off and handed them to the elder Kaioshin. “Now listen carefully Kaioshin. According to this ancient book I read from the witch’s library, you have to put a different set of Patora earrings on your ears.” “That’s all?” “No! Let me finish!” He cleared his throat. “I hope you can summon Kibito’s spirit, because if he’s not in on this, it won’t work. The two of you must concentrate on what you looked like before. If you do, supposedly the fusion will break and you two will separate. Now, put these on.” He handed Kaioshin the two earrings. Kaioshin put them on and tried to find Kibito’s spirit. Erica watched and prayed that it would work. “Concentrate really hard,” Rou Dai Kaioshin reminded. Kaioshin closed his eyes and tried to picture himself as he once was. Finally he could see himself. He only hoped that Kibito was doing his part as well. Just then, a white glow engulfed Kaioshin’s body. “Keep concentrating!” Rou Dai Kaioshin yelled. Erica crossed her fingers and looked on with excitement. Kaioshin’s features were no longer visible; only a bright light in the shape of a person stood there. Suddenly the light got brighter, causing the spectators to shield their eyes. Kaioshin could feel a tremendous force pulling at his body. In the blink of an eye, the light exploded, shooting out two figures away from the other. Erica opened her eyes and didn’t see anyone standing there. She looked over to her left and saw a figure wearing the red vest-jacket. She thought it was Kaioshin and that the un-fusion didn’t work. Then the person started to sit up, and she saw the pink face of Kibito. He put his hand to his head and looked around. Erica knew that if Kibito was there, then Kaioshin must be back to normal as well. She looked around and finally saw someone wearing a blue vest-jacked laying on the ground to her right. She ran over to him and saw the white Mohawk come into view. “Kaioshin!” She called. She stopped a few feet from him and waited. Kaioshin slowly raised himself off the ground and looked at his hands before getting to his feet. He stood up and noticed Erica standing there. Like Kibito, Kaioshin was back to normal. He was once again the short, purple god with the white Mohawk. “It worked,” he said with a smile. Erica ran to him and fell into his arms. “I can reach your face now,” she said crying tears of joy. Kibito joined the two Dai Kaioshins. “I can’t believe this. I thought I was stuck like that forever.” “Yeah, so did we,” Rou Dai Kaioshin explained. “But I was bored this morning so and stumbled upon the old witch’s library in the attic of the house. The book she used to create the earrings was sitting on a table. I flipped through and starring at me in big letters was ‘how to reverse fusion.’” East Kaioshin and Erica joined the group, their arm around the other’s shoulder. “Thank you Rou Dai Kaioshin,” Kaioshin said. “Yeah…to bad I can’t reverse my fusion. I was a heck of a lot better looking than you. The girls couldn’t stay away from me!” Erica laughed, but Kaioshin felt insulted. * * * That night, Kaioshin and Erica sat on the railing of the balcony that overlooked the view of the eastern universe. Erica had her head resting on his shoulder, and Kaioshin’s arm was around her and his head leaned up against her’s, his white hair covering her brown hair. “I’m so lucky,” she said quietly. “So am I,” Kaioshin responded. “What if my fusion couldn’t have been reversed?” “Nothing. I still would have loved you. Beauty is as beauty does,” she said. “Where did you hear that?” “My grandmother told me when I was young. I made a mistake before. You were still cute when you were fused, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts,” she finished pushing her finger onto Kaioshin’s chest. He took her hand in his and they kissed under the planets. |