Chapter 9
The money Kray had taken had been barely enough to buy Jaune's medicine. The medicine seemed to be working. Color was already returning to her face and her breathing was no longer as shallow and raspy as it had been.
Trunks sat close to Jaune. He couldn't stop thinking about that woman. She had been so familiar…everything was so familiar. "Why can't I remember?" He thought. He looked around the alley trying to find something that would help or at least shed some light on how his life had been like before the memory loss…before becoming a Medjai. He almost laughed at this last thought. Before becoming a Medjai…highly unlikely. What made him any different than the thousands of babies that had been sold into slavery by their parents or kidnapped from their cribs. He'd probably been one of those babies and he'd probably been injured in some fight and sold as a sacrificial…probably…probably. There were so many probablys.
He looked at the circle branded on his left palm. It had his slave number K-249 and once there had been a large KC for Lady Kacil. Lord Kraden's elite had removed it with acid and pressed KRADEN just above the K-249. That name jumped out at Trunks and even though he couldn't read he knew that it spelled Kraden.
"That must have been painful." PL said softly.
He didn't answer but she didn't seem to have been expecting one, she never did. She had never questioned them about their past, had never attacked them with questions. She had just accepted them, as they were.
"Kray's already asleep and Jaune seems to be doing much better." She smiled. "And it doesn't look like it's going to rain tomorrow. We might just get some ducks."
"We might." Trunks repeated.
"What happened?"
"What do you mean?" Trunks asked.
"I mean Kray. He didn't say a single word. Didn't you notice?"
"Yes." Trunks said. "I don't know. I waited for him outside."
"Oh." PL said. She seemed to be turning this over in her head. She finally gave up. "Well Cutie. Go to sleep. It's late."
"Why do you keep calling me that?" Trunks asked. "What does it mean?"
Pam Louise looked at Trunks, obviously amused. She smiled and grabbed his face in her hands. He looked at her a little surprised by her reaction.
"At first I thought you were just pretending." she whispered. Her hands kept his face steady. He remained utterly motionless. "I guess you really are as innocent as you look." She smiled almost sadly and let go of his face. "Go to sleep cutie. It's been a long day and tomorrow might be another."
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Goten looked out the window. The sun was finally out after having been overshadowed by a heavy blanket of clouds for so many days. He had never been fond of rain. He didn't like the cold chill that came with it and the almost stifling seclusion that followed every drop. The fact that it had made playing outside almost impossible was probably one of the primary reasons.
"Nice morning heh?" Goku said. He yawned and scratched his head lazily.
"Yeah…" Goten answered. He looked out into the forest. It was not far from here…the spot where Trunks had banished. "Do you think he's still alive?" Goten asked after a brief silence. Goku looked at him and then out at the woods.
"I don't know."
"If he's dead we would have been able to wish him back, but we couldn't." Goten said.
"Yeah."
"Then he's alive." Goten answered, not really believing his own answer.
"He might…I guess…" Goku answered. He knew he made no sense but then again what could he say. Trunks' energy signal had completely disappeared. They had tried wishing him back but it had been useless. Not even Keng Kay knew anything about this. It was all just too confusing…too heart-breaking.
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Bulma looked at the photograph of Trunks. He had always been a happy little kid. Her baby…with his smile. He had had such a beautiful smile. She laughed softly, a few tears rolling down her cheeks. And his grin…that had always been a promise of trouble and chaos. He and Goten had always been such troublemakers. She laughed again, remembering the bubblegum incident that had left Gohan covered in pink bubblegum from head to toes. She laughed again, this time her laugh turned into a painful suffocating sob. Her little boy was seventeen today… "If he's still alive." She thought gravely. She forced herself to push the thought away. "Of course he is. Of course he is." She wiped at her eyes furiously. "Of course he is." She said out loud. She turned slowly, feeling the all too familiar presence of Vegeta behind her. She wondered how long he'd been standing there.
"Today is his birthday." She said quietly.
"I know." Vegeta said. He sat next to her.
She couldn't hold back any more tears. She pushed the photograph away. "I miss him so much…" She cried and wrapped her arms around Vegeta, wanting peace of mind that she knew she would never get.
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Trunks and PL had set out towards West City Plaza early in the morning in search of ducks. Kray had stayed behind to take care of Jaune. She was doing much better now but PL had advised her to rest at least for one more day.
"There's a flock today." PL smiled. She pulled up her hood and tucked her hands in her pockets. "You take the south side. I'll go north."
Trunks nodded. He pulled up his own hood and headed towards the kiosk.
He scanned the area. There were dozens of people walking through. He watched for the three signs PL had told them about. First, the person had to be alone and away from other people. Second, they had to look for people who looked like they were in a hurry or distracted and third, the person had to look rich. It was actually pretty easy to spot "ducks" and there were so many of them everywhere, it was simply amazing.
He spotted the perfect "duck" a few feet away from the plaza fountain. It was a man about forty, wearing a black suit and talking into the tiny boxes that at first had amazed Trunks, Kray and Jaune. They didn't understand why people talked to those boxes, and even more amazing was the fact that people actually seemed to enjoy talking to such tiny boxes.
Trunks approached the man from behind. He was about to reach for the man's back pocket when two loud bangs stopped him in his tracks. He pulled his hand away quickly as the man turned. He looked at Trunks suspiciously and then turned towards the source of the noise.
"You killed her." Someone shouted.
A large crowd of people had gathered on the North side of the plaza. Trunks felt his blood grow cold. "PL" He thought, as a strange chill ran down his spine. He rushed towards the large crowd.
"You killed her." The same voice shouted again.
"She was going to steal from. The little rat."
Trunks shoved a few obstinate people out of the way. He stopped.
PL was sprawled on the ground. A woman was sitting next to her with one of the tiny boxes next to her ear. There was blood on the ground. He pushed two people out of his way and went towards PL. Slowly he kneeled next to her, unsure of what to do. The woman with the box got up. She was saying something to the box. He couldn't hear exactly what…it all felt so unreal. He grabbed PL's limp body and pressed his hand against the bleeding. It didn't stop.
"PL." He whispered as he shook PL slightly to wake her up. She didn't respond.
"That's another little rat." A plump woman slurred menacingly.
Trunks looked at her. Every wrinkle on her face, the bulging blood shot eyes- they all shouted guilty.
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Trunks stumbled down the street. He clutched his stomach and felt a warm liquid on his hands. He looked at it. It was blood- his blood.
It had all been so sudden. He had gone for the woman and then two loud bangs had rung loud in his ears followed by a burning, searing pain in his stomach. There had been some screaming and shouting and rustling. Everything had been so fast. He had run as three men in dark blue uniforms had approached him. They were guards…guards like at Tournament Planet. Panic gripped him and made him sway dizzily. The pain got stronger. He made his way into an alley and ducked under a few boxes. He could hear footsteps running towards him. It was the guards. He was sure of it.
"He went this way." One of the guards shouted. The footsteps continued down the street.
Trunks leaned against the wall and pressed his hand against his wound. He was bleeding badly. He somehow managed to smile at the irony of it all. The best Medjai, the best free Medjai and he was going to die because a lady had aimed a piece of metal at him.
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"Vegeta!" Goku shouted, "Are you okay?"
Vegeta didn't answer. They had been sparring. Vegeta had had the advantage until he had let his guard down. Something bad had happened. He felt it. A feeling much greater than any times Earth's gravity; it was horrible. He closed his eyes, he didn't even bother to stand up, he just wanted to push the first thought that had come to his mind away. "Trunks." He thought…something was wrong with his son. He got up and looked at the door. There was Bulma looking at him with the same haunted expression she had had on that day, so many years ago.
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Kray paced up and down the alley. He kicked a box out of his way. "Where are they?" He asked, "They should have been back by now."
Jaune shrugged. She was getting a little worried too. It was getting dark and she was well aware of just how dangerous duck hunting could be. "Do you think they got caught?" She asked.
"I hope not." Kray said. "I'm going to look for…Kalele!"
Trunks stumbled in. Both Jaune and Kray rushed towards him as he collapsed on the ground.
"She's dead." Trunks said softly. He groaned in pain as Jaune tried to help him up.
"What?" Kray asked. He examined Trunks closely. He was covered in blood and was still bleeding... "There's too much blood." He thought.
"PL…dead." Trunks slurred.
Kray and Jaune both froze. They registered the fact. Unlike Kalele, they didn't dwell on it. Death was part of life. They knew it, Kalele knew it, but Kalele always took it more to heart. It was such a big liability. Kray and Jaune had warned him so many times before…he didn't seem to care…or maybe he cared too much.
"What are we going to do?" Jaune asked. She tore a large piece off her blanket and pressed it hard against Trunks' wound.
"I don't know." Kray said. "I've never seen a wound like this." He cursed under his breath. "I knew we shouldn't have left our swords behind. That was the source of our power. If he had his sword he would have healed faster." Kray got up and grabbed the small Ziploc bag PL had left behind. They had only a few zenies.
"What are you doing?" Jaune asked. She was surprised to hear the fear in her voice. "Death is part of life." She told herself. But Kalele…he couldn't die. He couldn't.
"I'm going to the pharmacy. There must be something there." Kray said.
Jaune nodded. She gripped Trunks hand. He was shivering. He had drifted off into a restless sleep. "Hurry Kray." Jaune said. "He can't die."
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The corner pharmacy was small with many bottles of all sizes all along the walls and on the shelves. Kray walked up to the counter and rang the ball, just like PL had done the day they had bought the medicine for Jaune.
"Pharmacy is closed." A man in a light blue suit said.
"It's an emergency." Kray said.
"Everything is." The man said. "Look I was just about to lock the door. Pharmacist already left. I just clean the place."
"I need medicine for a wound." Kray said.
"What kinda wound?"
"I'm not sure."
"Well is it a cut?" The man asked a little annoyed. He looked at the clock and then back at Kray.
"I think it is."
The man grunted. "So much fuss about a cut." He walked to a nearby shelf and grabbed a clear plastic bottle. "Here. Pour this on the cut. It'll prevent the cut from getting infected."
"What's this?" Kray asked.
"It's rubbing alcohol." The man said. "Take it. I'll give it to you free of charge."
"Thanks."
"Yeahyeahyeah." The man said. "Tell your friend that no one's died from a small cut."
Kray didn't hear what the man said. He was already running back to Trunks and Jaune.
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Jaune placed a damp cloth on Trunks' forehead. He was burning hot and the bleeding had not stopped. She looked up feeling tiny drops of water on her face.
"Curses." She snapped and got up quickly. She yanked on a tin sheet they had set aside the day before and pulled it over Trunks like a make shift tent. This would do, for now.
"I got it." Kray said. "How is he?"
"Bad. I think he's delirious."
Kray pulled the cap of the bottle and smelled the clear liquid. He pulled away. The smell was strong. "The man said to pour it over the wound."
"Alright." Jaune said. She moved to Trunks side and pulled up his shirt. She wiped some of the blood off, revealing the two large wounds, one large scrape on his side like that of a sword cut and a round small wound just below his lower ribs. She grabbed his hand in her own and waited for Kray.
"Kalele." Kray said.
Trunks opened his eyes a little. They were glazed with pain.
"I'm going to pour some of this on you okay? Kalele?" Kray called.
Trunks nodded. He vaguely understood what Kray was saying. He felt the liquid make contact with his skin. To Trunks it felt like his skin was boiling. He screamed in pain.
Both Jaune and Kray jumped, alarmed by his reaction.
"Kalele?" Jaune asked. Trunks arched off the ground, his whole body tensed, his grip had violently tightened on her hand. Kray and Jaune held him down.
"It burns…" He yelled.
"Kalele." Kray said. Both he and Jaune were still struggling to keep him still.
"It burns." Trunks shouted again.
Jaune grabbed a rag and wiped the clear liquid off quickly. She looked angrily at Kray. "What did you do?"
"Nothing. The man told me to…" He looked at the bottle. It was more than half-way empty.
Trunks slowly calmed down. Jaune touched his cheek. His fever was getting worse and he was deathly pale.
"He's dying." Jaune said.
"No." Kray snapped. "He's not."
It was silent except for Trunks' fast and shallow breathing.
"Take that stuff and some blankets." Kray said. "I'll carry Kalele."
"Where are we going?" Jaune asked.
Kray wrapped a large blanket around Trunks waist and pulled Trunks over his shoulder. Both Kray and Jauned looked at the bloody floor in horror.
"Come on." Kray said.
They made their way out of the alley. The street was quiet and empty and the raining was coming down heavy all around them. They walked for what seemed forever but in reality was only about ten minutes.
"Where are we going Kray?" Jaune asked.
"Here." Kray said absently. "Here."
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Vegeta looked at the rain outside. It was raining hard. Trunks had hated the rain. He pushed Trunks out of his head. Bulma had led herself to believe that he was dead. He couldn't. His son couldn't be dead. He was a sayin.
He looked over at Goku and Goten and felt jealous. Kakarot had Goten and Gohan. Vegeta had lost Trunks. It wasn't fair. He back at the window furious at the cruel card destiny had tossed him. He stared absently through the window until…
"What the…" He ducked out of the way as a large rock crashed against the window, shattering it into thousands of pieces.
Vegeta got up and looked at the boy a few feet in front of him.
"Help." The boy said.
"What happened?" Bulma asked. "What's going on?"
Vegeta didn't answer. He smashed the rest of the window and ran outside.
"Trunks." He gasped as he stopped in front of them.
"He's dying." The young boy said. "You've got to help him."
Vegeta took Trunks into his arms and looked at the blood-drenched clothing. He looked at his son for what seemed like an eternity. It was Trunks. Somehow it didn't feel real. He held onto him protectively, not wanting to let him go. He looked up. The boy and the girl were gone.
"Trunks." Bulma whispered. She was standing next to Vegeta, in shock. "My baby."
"He's hurt." Vegeta said, snapping out of his own trance. Trunks was badly injured. He didn't want to lose him now that he had found him.
Hi everyone. Here is chapter 9. What do you guys think? Please review. I really liked writing this chapter. It's nice and long and kinda of a turning point, don't ya think. Let me know what you think. Thank you to those people who reviewed. I really appreciate all the encouraging words. Well hope you enjoyed this chapter. I will try to update a.s.a.p. Also I'm going to graduate from college in a week. Yay! Finally, wow. And I have finals all next week…not yay. But I'm still excited for next week to come. I'm looking forward to getting my B.A.
