Disclaimer: Okay, you know and I know that I don't own DBZ
right? Okey… so let's move on…
Warnings: Character death… well… you kinda gotta have this
for this fic to work, you know?
Author's Notes: Okay, so I took a few liberties, but I think
it turned out pretty good… well… please read and review. I know that some
people may be upset cuz I um… 'killed' Trunks, but like I said above… in order
for this story to work……. J
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~*A Reunion Long
Due ~ Trunks*~
He sighed
heavily and closed his eyes in the fast darkening room. Rolling his stiff
shoulders once more he breathed in the fresh air coming from the open window.
So this
is it, huh?
He found a
reserve of strength to nestle his large body down further into his favorite
chair. Capsule Corp was so silent this night.
Fitting.
He opened
his eyes again to glance around his bedroom. The same bedroom he'd had his
entire life. A life that wasn't really that long compared to other members of
his family, but a life that was ending none the less.
Lavender
hair laced with white fell into his eyes, but instead of moving it away from
his face, as had been his habit for so many years, he let it be. His entire
body screamed for rest. Real rest.
The kind
you never wake up from.
And he
welcomed it this night. Sure, his mother would be angry. She was still spry as
ever and pushing eighty. Having her only child die before her would surely irk
every nerve in her being. Trunks smiled.
But she
has the boys now to keep her company. I don't have to be her everything any
more.
His eyes
drifted closed once again. A half-century. That's how long he'd been alive. A
mere fifty years, but his body couldn't take it any more. There had been too
much. He'd strained it so many times. Pushed it so far beyond its will. Perhaps
if he'd been a full blooded Saiyan … perhaps if he'd been more like Gohan …
No… no
more 'perhaps'…
It didn't
matter anymore now, anyway. Essentially it was the time traveling that had done
it. Of course, he would never tell his mother this, she would blame herself. He
knew it to be true, though. Ever since he'd made the first 'flight' he felt a
difference. His body was strained. No human … no Saiyan was ever 'designed' to
travel through time. It shouldn't have been possible. It wouldn't have
been if his mother hadn't been such a genius.
The flesh
and bone body of a human, or demi-saiyan, as it were… no matter how strong, was
not created to go through what he'd done. And more than once. His mother had
talked about using the machine again, but he'd convinced her to destroy it.
Actually, she agreed rather quickly when he'd explained how Cell had used it to
nearly destroy all the work they'd done.
And now his
world was at peace again. If another problem ever arose, he knew his boys would
handle it easily. They were so much stronger than he now. His face broke into
the smile of a proud father.
Especially
Vegeta. He's far too much like his namesake… but I guess I like it that way. I
think mom does, too.
A sharp
pain shot through his chest, causing him to tense his body. His ki would
probably be rapidly dropping by now. He wondered if the boys would sense it and
make it to him in time. It didn't really matter though. The last couple weeks
he'd made sure to tell them he loved them as often as possible. He hadn't
talked to his mother. If he looked suspicious to her at all she would have gone
nuts with tests and miracle cures. She would never accept it like he was.
He wanted
this. No more worries. No more pain. No more … anything. The pain subsided and
he relaxed his body again. He was beginning to feel numbness in his legs. A
small grin lit his face as he felt two familiar ki's rushing towards his.
Vegeta
and Gohan.
His boys.
How he loved them. They were the best thing that had ever happened to him
really. Not even traveling to the past and meeting all his old heroes could
compare to the first moment he saw his twins. Their mother… well… honestly… he
didn't remember much about her. It had been almost twenty-five years now. He
knew some part of him loved her… but he was never in love with her.
They had
been friends and he'd told her one day about how he longed for children. He
told her of his father, and their race, and how he was so sad that it might die
with him. He never in a million years thought she would offer to bear him
children. But she had. And she did. Unfortunately, birthing their sons had cost
her her life. They were just too powerful.
Vegeta
especially. The only of the two to be born with a tail, he was nearly identical
in appearance to his namesake, but the power he held left his grandfather in
the dust. Trunks had always known that his little Geta would take over as this
planets protector. He had the fight in his blood.
Gohan was
more like his grandmother Bulma, both in appearance and attitude. A scientist
at heart. A fighter when necessary. So much like his namesake it was
almost scary.
Trunks
chuckled.
I wonder
if they'd have turned out different if I'd named them differently.
He shook
his head.
I guess
I'll never know.
They were
very close now, and so was he. The cold, numbness had worked its way up to his
chest. He could barely keep his eyes open, but he would fight just a little.
For his sons.
A couple
moments later there was the sound of footfalls on the balcony. He turned and
saw Gohan's long aqua hair first. The smaller of the twins rushed to his side
and knelt down immediately. Vegeta hung back.
"Papa?"
Gohan's
voice was choked with emotion. He showed it so easily. Trunks grinned feebly.
So much
like mother.
Vegeta
finally stepped out of the shadows. His bright blue eyes sparkled in the
minimal light in the room.
"Do you
want us to take you to a doctor?"
Trunks
shook his head slightly.
"No. Let me
go. I'm tired."
His voice
was so weak and soft, Gohan choked back a sob.
"But, Papa
… what will we do without you?"
Trunks met
his pleading eyes.
"You'll be
fine, Gohan. You have your brother, and your grandma."
Gohan
nodded and gripped his father's hand tightly within both of his.
"Yes, sir.
I love you, Papa."
Trunks
found tears fighting to escape.
"I love
you, Gohan. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of both of you."
His other
hand was suddenly clasped tightly and he was startled to find Vegeta kneeling
at his other side. This son never showed emotion, but there he stood fighting
back the tears in his own eyes.
"Do you… do
you have to go?"
Trunks
grinned and nodded slightly. Darkness was beginning to fade into the corners of
his vision.
"I'm so
tired, Geta. My body… it's worn out… I just want to rest."
The
dark-haired man nodded in acceptance but didn't speak again. Trunks closed his
eyes once more. He reveled in the sensation of his sons' hands clasping his
tightly. The last vestige of strength seeped out of his body. He didn't regret
a thing he'd done in his life. No matter that the time travel shortened it. No
matter that he really was dying too young. He would do it all over
again. Exactly as he has done.
Exactly
as I have done.
Slowly the
blackness claimed him and he finally knew rest.
The bright
light burned his eyes and he squeezed them closed tightly. He had died once
before… he knew this light. That time though, there had been no one to greet
him, and he was nervous now about seeing everyone.
I've met
them in a different time. They won't know me here.
He slowly
stood and peeked open his eyes. He felt much younger. He looked down at his
hands. They were smooth. When he leaned forward to examine them, long lavender
hair fell before his eyes, well past his shoulders.
Wow…
I'm… in my twenties again.
He grinned
and rolled his neck. No more stiffness. No dull, aching pain. He felt great!
After nearly thirty years of constant aches of a dying body… he was ecstatic. A
ki ball flared in his hand and he laughed happily.
"Should I
leave you alone for a little bit more?"
He whipped
around quickly and a giant grin split his face.
"GOHAN!!"
His master
chuckled and stepped forward.
"Hey,
Trunks."
The older
demi-saiyan still missed an arm and had a jagged scar across his eye, but he
was still the best thing Trunks had seen in ages. The younger demi-saiyan took
a step towards him, but he's knees suddenly gave out beneath him. He felt his
bottom lip quivering and tried desperately to hide it from his master.
Gohan
smiled warmly and kneeled before him.
"You okay,
little brother?"
Trunks
nodded and fought to keep his voice normal.
"It's just…
it's finally over… I don't have to worry any more… I don't have to fight
anymore…"
Gohan
placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Aw, you
mean… you won't be sparring with your old master?"
Trunks gaze
shot up to his.
"Spar?
Here?"
Gohan
nodded happily.
"Hai! We
have tournaments and training sessions and everything. If you're allowed to
keep your body that is. And I don't see why you wouldn't be… I mean… you only
saved the entire planet, right?"
Trunks
blushed and diverted his gaze. Gohan laughed happily.
"Hey!
Where's that cocky kid that I used to know?"
Trunks
shrugged.
"I… I
changed a lot… after you… left me."
Gohan
sobered a bit and patted him once on the shoulder before standing up once more.
"I know,
Trunks. For what it's worth, I'm sorry that I left you alone."
Trunks
stood slowly and simply nodded.
"Hey! You
wanna meet my dad?"
Trunks
finally allowed a small grin.
"Goku's
here?"
Gohan
nodded.
"Yeah, everybody's
waiting for you. Dad planned a big meal… well… he's already eaten most of it…
but… it's the thought that counts, right?"
Trunks
laughed heartily.
"That
sounds like Goku!"
Gohan
blinked once.
"Um…
Trunks… you never met my father."
Trunks
blushed again.
"Oh… wow…
there's a LOT I need to tell you, Gohan."
The older
man simply blinked once more and then shrugged.
"Okay…
well… come on."
Trunks
nodded and followed his master through the whiteness towards a massive building
with large gardens in the distance. Gohan walked the exact path he had so many
years ago when he'd first come here and his father had met him. Now he felt, in
a sense, that he was leading his own son into the light.
Not that
I would ever tell Vegeta that, of course.
He chuckled
under his breath, which earned him a stare from the lavender haired man to his
right.
Wow… I
can't believe how different Trunks looks. He's all grown up. Is this how the
others felt when they first saw me again?
They walked
through a large arched door and Trunks skidded to a stop. Everyone was there.
All the people he knew from his travels to the past. They were all standing
around a giant table watching Goku devour an entire chicken in mere seconds.
They hadn't noticed the newcomers yet. Gohan cleared his throat and everyone
froze.
All eyes
turned towards him and Trunks found himself blushing again. Beside him, Gohan
spoke.
"Everyone…
this is Trunks."
Kryllin
walked up first and grasped his hand firmly.
"Man,
Trunks… the last time I saw you… you were a little baby! I can't believe it!"
Trunks
smiled and nodded. Tien and Yamcha approached and greeted him in a similar way.
Goku simply came up to him and gave him a bear hug. His mouth was still full of
food, but the point was taken. Trunks laughed and looked around the room for
his father…. but…. Vegeta wasn't there.
If he still
had a physical body… his heart would have dropped to his knees. It must have
shown on his face because Gohan placed a hand on his shoulder once again.
"He's
coming, Trunks… he said he was… he'll be here."
Trunks
nodded, but found himself not really believing his oldest friend. What if
thisVegeta was just as bad as the one he'd met in the other timeline? What if
this one was worse? At least that Vegeta had shown that he had cared a little.
In his own way.
Mostly
when I was dead.
He sighed
inwardly.
"It's okay
if he doesn't come, Gohan, I've met him before… I know how he is."
Everyone in
the room froze. Piccolo made his presence known for the first time.
"How could
you have met him, kid? He died when you were a baby."
Trunks
chuckled.
"Well… I
guess I should explain something…"
The group
gathered around him as he began the story. First, of his failed attempt to
destroy the androids, then Bulma building the time machine. His first visit and
how no one trusted him… and his fight with Freeza. (to which everyone's jaw
dropped as he spoke of how easy it had been) He told him how he'd gone back again
to help with the androids. And of Cell. They were all rapt with his story, even
Vegeta, whom nobody had noticed enter the room and move to the far corner.
He told of
his year in the Room of Space and Time with his father, and how Vegeta had
allowed Cell to complete his transformation. Which caused to Trunks to clench
his fist and grit his teeth in frustration, an act that was noticed by everyone
in the room. Then he told them of the Cell Games. Everyone got a chuckle out of
Hercules ignorance.
Then came
the hard part. He spoke softly when he told them about Goku's sacrifice and how
it had failed to destroy Cell. He let that fact sink in a bit before he
continued.
"And…
that's when Cell came back and… killed me."
Gohan's
eyes went wide.
"Nani!?!"
No one had
noticed the man leaning against the wall in the corner have a similar reaction.
They still didn't know he was there.
"Hai. It
was a cheap shot. I didn't get to defend myself at all. He just pointed his
finger and I went down. That's … that's when Yamcha told me later… that my
father lost it. He attacked Cell in a rage. Yamcha said it was a really
impressive display of power, but… it didn't even scratch Cell."
Gohan
gulped.
"This guy
sounds really tough. Who ended up beating him?"
Trunks grinned.
"You did,
Gohan."
Everyone's
gaze shot to the shocked man.
"Me?"
Trunks
nodded.
"Yes. You
reached level two Super Saiyan and defeated him. Tien told me that everyone was
trying to help distract him for you but nothing was working… at least… not until
my father pitched in. He distracted Cell for just a second which gave you the
chance to toast him."
He hadn't
noticed how his chest had puffed out in pride as he spoke of his father, but
everyone else had. Especially the man leaning in the corner of the room. He
smiled and tilted his head to the side just a fraction, but that was enough to
catch Goku's attention. He didn't let on, though, just smiled in Vegeta's
direction and went back to listening to Trunks.
"And that's
how it ended. They wished everyone back, including me, with the Dragonballs…
but Goku decided not to be revived. He… you thought it would be better
for the Earth if he wasn't there anymore because so many of the tragedies were
caused by outside forces seeking him out."
Goku nodded
in thought.
"Makes
sense. He…. I mean… I made a good decision, I think."
Trunks'
brows furrowed in thought.
"Maybe… but
it still left Gohan fatherless. I grew up without a father and… I wouldn't wish
that on anyone. If only there had been another way."
Goku
reached over and patted the young demi-saiyan on the shoulder.
"Don't
worry. I'm sure that timeline is doing just fine. Gohan is still there… and
you… and Vegeta… it will be fine, I'm sure."
Trunks
nodded and sighed, allowing a smile to slip into his features.
"Yeah,
besides I had enough to worry about on my Earth… with my boys and everything."
Gohan
grinned widely.
"Boys? You
have sons?"
Trunks
nodded emphatically.
"Hai! You
didn't know?"
Kryllin
laughed.
"We don't
know much up here about what goes on down there you know."
Goku
sighed.
"Yeah, or I
would be checking up on ChiChi everyday."
Trunks
chuckled.
"Oh, don't
worry about ChiChi! She moved in with us and helped me take care of Gohan and
Vegeta! She was in heaven!"
Several
jaws hit the floor, but the first person to speak was the figure nobody had
noticed in the corner.
"Nani!?! What
did you name them?"
Everyone
whirled around to face the Prince of all Saiyans. Trunks blinked once in shock.
How long had his father been there? What all had he heard? Gohan interrupted
his thoughts.
"You named
one of your sons… after… me?"
Trunks
turned back to him and nodded.
"They're
twins. Gohan looks so much like my mother, he acts like her too. Geta though…
well… Geta looks and acts exactly like his grandfather."
His eyes
skipped over to Vegeta in the corner as he spoke.
"Although
he's powerful… oh Kami, is he powerful. He was even born with a tail. I
let him keep it, of course, I knew father would curse me forever if I'd cut it
off. It seems to amplify his power greatly. He's reaching levels of Super
Saiyan I've never seen before."
His chest
had puffed out so far in pride that Gohan chuckled.
"Not that
you're proud of them or anything, huh, Trunks?"
The
lavender haired man blushed and relaxed his position.
"Well… they
were my sons…"
Goku nodded
and patted him on the shoulder.
"I
understand how you feel, Trunks… believe me."
He smiled
warmly at this son. There was a gagging sound in the corner.
"*Ugh*…
pleeeeease… no more sappy talk! I'd rather return to HFIL than take one more
moment of all this 'bonding'… and I can't believe you named my grandson
after the spawn of that baka, Kakarott."
Trunks
rolled his eyes.
"Oh Kami,
father… you never will change… will you? After all you've been through with
these people, I would just love to hear you admit… just once… that Goku is your
best friend."
The Prince
started to cough and sputter, but never retorted. Goku broke into hysterics and
clapped Trunks on the back several times. The rest of the group laughed a bit
uneasily, unsure if Vegeta could actually kill them again. Trunks turned
back to Gohan.
"Does
everyone look so young when they die?"
Gohan shook
his head.
"No… it's a
matter of how you perceive yourself. Just like I chose to keep my scar and
amputated arm… because it reminds me of what happened. I don't want to forget
anything."
Trunks
nodded and looked at his young hands once again.
"Well then…
I want to look my age. I earned it. Besides… how will my boys recognize me if I
look like this?"
Even as he spoke his hair
shortened and whitened a bit. Because of the Saiyan blood in his veins, he
still looked fairly young, but now just a bit more… distinguished. He grinned.
"Better. I
can't think of myself as someone's father looking as I did before."
Gohan
nodded and then chuckled.
"You do
realize that now you're like, twice as old as all of us… including your
father?"
Trunks
grinned and spared a glance at his father. Of course he did. That's why he'd
done it. If there was one thing he knew about Vegeta, it was that his
admiration came only from respect, and this was one way to prove that Trunks
deserved his respect. He had outlived his father. He had defeated the foe that
had taken his father's life. He had won. And he wanted his father to see it
every time he looked at him.
Vegeta
seemed to understand his reasoning, for he nodded his head ever so slightly at
his son. Acknowledging that he understood. Trunks had earned the respect of
every warrior in this room… and he deserved it. He'd saved two entire worlds in
his short lifetime and asked for nothing in return for himself. He'd given
himself completely trying to make a better life for those people he loved and
ended up paying the ultimate price. Twice no less.
Vegeta
puffed out his chest just a bit. Yes, he was incredibly proud of his son. For
accomplishing all he had. For continuing the Saiyan bloodline. For avenging
Vegeta's own death several times over.
Of course,
he would never say these things to the boy. He corrected himself. Man. His son
was now a man. He smirked and turned to leave the room. Time to return to that
annoying place, but he didn't have much time left there, and when he got out he
was looking forward to learning more about what his son had accomplished in such
a short time.
The room
remained quiet, as a seemingly silent conversation had taken place between
father and son just by their gazes boring into each other's. Then Vegeta
abruptly turned to leave and Trunks blinked.
"F-Father?"
Vegeta
paused but didn't turn back.
"When I
finally get out of that pit of morons I expect to have someone to spar with.
Understood?"
Trunks felt
tears prickling to break free, but he managed to keep his voice level.
"H-hai…..
you will…. Papa."
Vegeta
simply nodded and left the room.
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Okay, what did you think? Should I do a Bulma? Huh? Oh, and
if you've got a minute and would like to see what Trunks' boys look like, there's
a head shot of father and sons at my website under the fan art section feel
free to visit and check them out… www.sonbunny.homestead.com
