Chapter 4: Acceptance
Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the reviews, etc.! :D You make my day.
Okay, so, here's a fun chapter. A lot of fluff. I'm a sap for that, so I hope you, dear readers, are too. Enjoy!
Tadaima: I'm home
R&R, please! :)
Capsule Corp's back lawn looked like it was set for a Wedding reception. For a very famous and wealthy couple. As far as food goes, at least. Platters of sushi, whole baked Turkeys, Italian food, Mexican food, (and the list goes on and one, ending with 4 wedding cakes) were spread over five good-sized tables. It was a beautiful day, tree leaves rustling in the cool, fresh-smelling breeze.
"Hey, Trunks-kun, do you know where your brother is going to land?"
Trunks shook his head. He was riding on so much built-up anticipation that he could barely speak. Whenever he did, his voice awkwardly broke, or started and stopped in spurts.
"That's okay, Trunks. We'll be able to sense him as soon as he appears." Goku said, smiling down at him.
They didn't need Goku's help, however. With the exception of Bulma, Chichi and a few others who had a harder time sensing ki, the new presence was incredibly obvious to everyone gathered. Practically all of the most powerful beings in the Universe were standing in a 50 foot radius, and the new power, removed by several hundred feet, stuck out as if an arrow were drawn on the ground pointing to it.
"That's him!" Gohan yelled out, grabbing Videl's hand and leading the excited Z-fighters to the other side of the compound.
Goten noticed his friend lagging behind. "Come on, you slowpoke! Don't you want to meet him?"
"Of course I do, Goten! You know that! Go on ahead, I'll be right after you." Trunks had suddenly gotten extremely nervous, a million paranoid questions racing through his head. What if they didn't get along as well once they met in person? What if Mirai thought he was weak, or…? No, that's dad talking. Oniisan isn't like that.
Trunks felt someone walking up behind him. "What are you worrying about, brat? You think your older self won't be glad to see you?" Trunks scowled up at his father, but quickly stopped as Vegeta muttered the next part quietly. He wasn't sure if he was intended to hear it or not. "I'm the one who should be worried, after the way I treated him…"
"Huh, what do you mean, dad? How did you treat him?" Trunks's curiosity was getting the best of him, and he forgot about his nervousness as he tailed the Saiyan Prince around the compound.
"It's not of your concern, Trunks. Let's just go and greet him."
No sooner had he totally materialized in front of Capsule Corp, that he felt a horde of powerful ki signatures heading straight for him. "What a welcome party. Either that's a new group of unstoppable enemies, and I'm dead, or…mom decided to go all out and invite the gang over…"
The glass top opened, and the Demi-saiyan with shoulder-length lavender hair jumped and easily landed before his machine, just in time to be pummeled to the ground by a lot of grown men wearing fighting gis.
"O-ow…Oh, hey, Krillen. Yamcha, Tien, Goku! Yeah, you too, Puar…" Managing to regain footing after the initial most-hyper group calmed down, a little Goku clone walked up to him and tugged on his pants leg. "Are you Trunks from the future?" The child looked up at him in wonder.
"Yes, I am. And you must be Goten. Am I right?"
The boy looked as if Christmas, Easter and Halloween had all come on the same day… absolutely beaming, Goten started to nod enthusiastically, before starting to rattle on to Mirai:
"I can't believe it! ! That is, except for when Trunks-kun and I became Gotenks, but that's another story. Did he tell you about our Fusion technique? Oh, but this is sooooo cool! I have two of my best friend now! A fun one my age, and a cool older-brother one, too! Hey Trunks, I mean, Big Trunks or Mirai or whatever, you and Gohan should fuse, too, then you guys would make the single most powerful, cool person ever! Don't you think?"
Mirai just stared on dumbly as the little hyperactive boy rattled on with more speed in speech than he'd ever heard. Goten then launched himself into Mirai's arms, giving him a quick hug around the neck before racing off the find his best friend his age to give him his opinion of his older counterpart.
Mirai shook his head back-and-forth for a minute before losing his vision in blue hair. "M-mom!"
"Trunks! Oh, sweetie!" His young mother now looked how he remembered her when he was little, though a little better kept. Not that his mom in his time hadn't worried about her appearance, but she didn't spend as much time each day in that department as this time's Bulma obviously did. "It's so good to see you, oh I can't believe you're here! I'm so sorry, Trunks…I-I didn't think you were really coming, and I hurt little Trunks, and oh, but you're here! You're really here, and he's going to be so happy! You have no idea the difference you've made in his life. I don't think I've ever seen him so happy as he's been this month."
"The feeling's mutual, trust me, mom." Mirai looked at her a little sadly, knowing that she looked like his mom, and she was in a sense, but…she didn't have the memories that his mom did of raising him. This mother was more like an aunt to him, really. His relationship with this Bulma would never replace or replicate the relationship he had with his mother. But that didn't mean they couldn't have an equally, or close to as, strong relationship. He smiled and met her eyes. "It's really great to see you."
"You too, honey. I've missed you so much. Oh, and Trunks, we want you here as long as you'll stay. But we can talk about that later. You still have a queue of people waiting to greet you." With a wink and a little peck on his cheek, Bulma stepped back to check on the food (basically making sure certain Saiyans *cough GOKU* hadn't devoured it all already).
When Mirai looked up again, he locked eyes with a man who looked about his age, but he knew he was actually about 9 years younger. Someone very familiar, smiling at him from behind the frontline crowd.
"Gohan!" Mirai said breathlessly as his approached his friend who now looked startlingly close in appearance to his own time's Gohan.
After resting a hand on each other's shoulders, looking each other over, getting used the changes ten years had made on each other, the two friends leaned in and hugged each other. Stepping back after a minute, Gohan said, "Man, is it good to see you, Trunks. You've gotten a lot stronger, I can tell, but how have you been? No new horrible monsters have been plaguing the future, have they?"
"No, we're all clear there…I've basically been spending time doing my own rendition of your 'Saiyaman' routine," Mirai responded evenly, letting out a little chuckle at the end there.
"Haha, oh no, you heard about that?" Gohan, blushing a little, rubbed the back of his neck in a very Goku-like way.
Mirai stared at him for a minute before saying, "You look great, Gohan. Really happy. I'm so glad." Just like my time's Gohan should have been, he added to himself.
"You too, Trunks. We need to talk a lot more, but first, I have someone to introduce! This is Videl."
A pretty girl with short dark hair walked up and looked at Mirai curiously. "Wow, so you're little Trunks's future self? Well, he does pretty well for himself after all!" She laughed at Gohan's expression at that statement.
"W-what do you mean, Videl? You think Trunks is attractive?"
Mirai and Videl both burst out laughing at the worried and serious expression on Gohan's face. Finally, Gohan joined in, and Mirai found himself laughing with people of (somewhere around his) same age for almost the first time he could remember. "Videl, it's great meeting you. I'll be back around in a bit, you two, but I still have some people to say hi to…"
"Got it, Trunks. We'll be waiting." Videl winked at Mirai, causing Gohan to blush again, and Videl to start over teasing him.
That's great. Gohan has someone in this timeline. Good for him. She seems like a nice girl, too. Suddenly, Mirai felt a very familiar presence. A presence he had been alone with for an entire year, though he could hardly have described that year as fun… Looking up, his eyes met his father's dark orbs, piercing right into his.
"F-father." Mirai began, but Vegeta quickly moved up to him, and rested an arm on the demi-Saiyan's shoulder. With a slight smile (more of a smirk), he said, "You've been training."
"Yeah, I have." Mirai met his gaze, smirking back. He'd come to realize that smirking had many meanings in Vegeta-go (Vegeta-language), one of them being "It's good to see you." But he could not have prepared himself for what happened next. His father quickly slipped the hand on his shoulder to rest on his back and pulled him close into what was, undeniably, a hug.
Mirai was frozen for about three seconds, but recovered quickly enough to manage to wrap his own arms around Vegeta, returning the motion. "Welcome home," Vegeta said softly.
Trunks felt his mouth drop slightly, but then the corners of his mouth started to pull into a wide smile. His heart was clenching as he'd almost never felt it. He tightened his hold on his father before whispering back, "Tadaima. I'm glad to be back, Dad." Needless to say, the crowd around was dead silent at the display.
Vegeta pushed back gently before saying, as if nothing out of the ordinary had taken place. "I expect you in the Gravity Room tomorrow at 6:30am."
"I'll be there, dad." Mirai returned, meeting his father's eyes again, and again exchanging a smirk of understanding.
But there was one person he desperately needed to meet, who he hadn't yet. Scanning around with his eyes with no luck, he instead felt for his ki. And there he was, behind the crowd, leaning again a tree, and watching him steadily-Trunks.
Taking a deep breath, Mirai began to walk towards him. When the boy realized what was happening, he started to shift nervously, drawing a pattern in the dirt with his shoe. What is wrong with me? Why can't I face him? Why is it so embarrassing?
The young demi-Saiyan was still staring at the ground when he noticed a pair of boots stopped right in front of him. The man before him crouched down to his level, and placed an arm on his shoulder. Suddenly, Mirai pulled Trunk into a hug, much the same way Vegeta had done with him.
For a while, the two just held each other.
Trunks felt a tear roll down his cheek…Why am I always crying these days?
It's okay to cry. It's necessary if we're to be strong. We have to let it out somehow, little guy.
Wait, oniisan? You can hear me? I'm not talking!
Yeah, I can hear you, Trunks. I don't know how, but we're definitely hearing each other's thoughts right now. Maybe it's a Saiyan thing. We can ask dad. Personally, I don't mind. It's easier to talk this way sometimes.
Yeah, you're right. Trunks let a few more tears fall, feeling safe in Mirai's arms. As if he could finally open up, just be a kid. He could feel it. Mirai would never judge him, would not look down on him for shows of weakness or hesitation.
Trunks tightened his grip around Mirai's neck, and Mirai lifted him up to his chest, his arms tightened securely around his back. Gently, he began to rub the boy's back.
Oniisan, can you stay with us? You're not going to leave, are you?
Do you really want me to stay? Do you mean that? You want me to live here, with you and mom and dad?
Of course! That's what I've wanted all along, you know that!
Well, then kiddo, I might have to take you up on that.
Trunks moved back and stared at him, wide-eyed. "You mean that?"
Mirai nodded. "I do. And this is not a decision I take lightly, but kid, I think I need you. I don't think I can go on much longer without someone else in my life who's really important to me."
Trunks was a little scared to ask the next question…"W-what about mom? In your time, I mean…"
Mirai considered him for a minute, before responding. "Trunks, my mom died four years ago."
At that, Trunks jumped back and stared at him, shocked. "Why didn't you tell me that? You could have-you should have! Something that important…why didn't I know that till now?" Did you not trust me?
Mirai looked at him with a hard, set expression in his eyes that begged the boy to understand. Eyes full of pain and longing. Trunks, you know that's not it. I…I've been struggling for a long time with this, and I've been alone a long time. I thought I'd convinced myself that since I had sacrificed so much for my time, that I needed to learn how to be happy there, even if I had to be all alone. But the truth was, I was miserable. I didn't even know how lonely I was, little brother, until I started speaking with you.
Trunks looked up and met the older man's eyes. He couldn't see a trace of deceit in them. They were painfully honest, almost pleading with him to believe in the truth of his words. For years, my life has been like a prison, Trunks-a prison I'd built of obligations I felt I had to Gohan and mom-obligations that they didn't even want me to have. They didn't desire that for me…but I'd somehow become convinced that I had to rely on myself, and face my loneliness, that there was nothing I could do…
Then you and I started to talk, and every day become bearable. More than bearable. Fun. I started to enjoy living again. The same mundane tasks-the training and the ridiculous superhero charade, saving humans from things they were usually capable of fixing themselves-things I did just to convince myself I had a purpose for living, but they were all meaningless… but when I told you about them, they became like little adventures. That day I saved that cat, I kept thinking, well Trunks will find this funny…Honestly, kid, I started to live again thanks to you.
But I still wasn't sure if I could confide everything to you, but it wasn't because I didn't trust you. More that I didn't trust myself. You see, remember when I told you that everyone we love, we love differently, and that love isn't limited-it isn't something you have to split, as if loving two people will only let you love each half as much…it isn't like that. The more people you love, the more love you give. That's why I told you, I love my master Gohan, and I always will, but that has nothing to do with how I love you. It's different, that's all.
Well you see, Trunks, even though I can see this so clearly in certain circumstances, I was still scared. Scared that coming here, living with you, telling you all of the secrets and the hard times I've had, that I would be betraying my family who died in my time. It's silly, I know, but I was worried that mom and Gohan and even my dad in my time would be hurt and would never forgive me if I left them to come here. I felt that it would be a selfish choice for me to run from my time with nobody I love, to this time with everyone I love, still living.
But I'd already made my decision. I realized how I needed you. Everything I had been holding back-telling you about mom's death, for instance…I realized that I could no longer bear to live on in that time like I had been. I'd already decided, deep down, that when I came here, I wouldn't be going back. But then, I stopped at mom, dad, and Gohan's graves, and you know what Trunks? Their spirits spoke to me, and showed me that all of my assumptions and worries were wrong.
They wanted me to be happy, and told me so, and gave me the extra push to come here. To be perfectly honest, little bro, I'm still a little scared. I've been alone for so long. How can I start to open up to people again? What if I alienate our family and friends? Will I be able to feel useful-like I have a place in this world? Or will I just feel like a freeloader, invading a time I wasn't born in…? These are the things that go through my head, Trunks. I'm sorry to put them on you. I shouldn't, I realize that, but never, ever think that my holding back is because I don't trust you.
Trunks stared up at the older man's sad eyes for a minute before taking a hand and stroking his cheek. You have a place in this world, Oniisan. You are already a part of this world-a part of me. I need you here. Maybe…maybe we both need each other? To be really happy, to find out where we fit, maybe we can help each other to find the answers.
Mirai looked down at Trunks, shocked at the sagacity of the 11-year old. I was nowhere near as smart as you are when I was your age…maybe the androids knocked it out of me! He thought, laughing a little.
Well, dad, and Majin Buu, and Goten have certainly hit me enough to destroy by brain cells for good!
Majin Buu?
This question made Trunks realize how much he, too, hadn't revealed to his older counterpart, and how much they had to talk about. Smiling, he took Mirai's hand and pulled it gently. "That's a long story, and we have all the time in the world, so I'll explain that later, okay? That's one everyone here will enjoy telling, after all."
"Got it." Mirai let Trunks pull him back towards the group of friends and family, everyone waiting for and smiling at the pair.
