Disclaimer: I do NOT own DBZ, This is all purely fictional, and fan based straight out of my imagination.
Chibisensei110787- Thank you for the continued reviews and encouragement. :D
sweetgilda- Thank you so much. As for Kalona, my lips are sealed...for now. ;)
Layab The Dark Saiyan- Thank you, yes Grumpgeta was pissed. ;) And, I think Kalona would agree with you about Boxer Boy. ;D
A/N: This chapter wasn't easy for me to write. I'm still tossing a few ideas around as far as where I want the story to go from here. So I apologize for the choppiness of the chapter in advance.
This is Where You Belong – Chapter 10
'Preparations and Explanations '
"I knew it!" Gohan said, his eyes wide. "I told Vegeta I sensed something that night. It was only for a moment, when Vegeta pulled the one guy away from Kalona. There was a small spark of power, hardly anything at all, as Vegeta strangled him nearly to death." He shook his head now.
"Strangled who nearly to death?" Krillin asked, as he landed a few feet away. "Yamcha?"
"Not this time." Gohan chuckled. "We were talking about the Kuroi Sasori. They came after Kalona last night at Capsule Corp."
"Dad and I chased them off before they could get inside. But one of them panicked when he saw us and threw a blast at me. Dad countered and they all raised their power levels before fleeing." Trunks told him.
"No shit? Well, how powerful are they?" Krillin looked worried.
"Don't worry, you can take them easily. They're just a bunch of low powered punks, only capable of hurting weak females." Trunks, spat out, sounding far too much like his Father for his liking.
"Damn, you almost sounded like Vegeta there." Krillin said with a raised eyebrow.
Trunks had no clue where that had came from. He was on edge and had been since Gohan mentioned that night. He wanted to tear those guys apart, limb from limb. Who was he kidding? It wasn't just that. He'd been on edge since he left Kalona's room this morning. He thought she was awake when she'd said his name. That's why he'd kissed her... again. She was half asleep however, and he wasn't about to be a complete ass and take advantage.
"So, Gohan never did tell us why you came back this time, Trunks?" Krillin interrupted his thoughts.
Trunks sighed heavily, his head beginning to ache, and caught him up on everything that had happened since he'd gone back to his time. He wasn't looking forward to having to do this again come Saturday. He had asked Gohan not to say anything, but now he kind of hoped Krillin would stay true to his nature, and blurt it out to everyone before hand and save him the trouble.
'...It's 3 A.M. in the mornin'
Put my key in the door and
Bodies layin' all over the floor and
I dont remember how they got there
but I guess I musta killed em (killed em)
I said...
It's 3 A.M. in the mornin'
Put my key in the door and
Bodies layin' all over the floor and
I dont remember how they got there
but I guess I musta killed em (killed em)...'
Eminem's 3A.M. played on the jukebox in the corner of the large, upscale penthouse. Two men, each with a scorpion tattoo down their arm, stood next to a large pool table. A third man, wearing a cast and sling, sat at the small bar, nervously smoking a cigarette.
"He's not gonna be happy" The man at the bar said to the others.
"And who's fault is that?" One of the men at the pool table asked.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean? You tryin to pin the blame on me? You were the first to run away you son of a bitch!" The man at the bar said, as he stood up and approached the table. A small fight ensued.
"What do you mean, you couldn't get to her!?" A man's voice could be heard shouting from the other room.
"There were two of them, Sir. The Saiyan from the alley and Vegeta." The tall man known as Slim answered.
"I told you the last time, I will not tolerate failure! I've waited far too long to have her slip from my grasp again! " Their boss shouted. "No more games..."
The rest of the conversation was muffled as their voices grew lower.
Finally the door opened. "Break it up and lets go. We have a lot of work to do boys!" Slim ordered as he left the apartment.
It had grown quite warm by the time Trunks and Gohan made it back to Capsule Corp to remove the larger debris and repair the light posts that had fallen. Bulma and Mrs. Briefs had taken the baby and gone to Reilly's Greenhouse to pick out some replacement trees and shrubs for them to plant.
Having cleaned the kitchen and wanting to stay out of Vegeta's way until Bulma returned, Kalona decided to go lounge near the pool. She ran up to her room and pulled out a two piece bathing suit from the top drawer. She wrinkled her nose at it before shoving it back in and grabbing the black one piece she favored. She looked self-consciously in the full length mirror to make sure she was covered, then pulled a pair of denim shorts on as well, before grabbing a towel and heading back downstairs.
"What the hell is up with this weather? How can it be this warm already?" Trunks asked as he pushed a post into the ground. He was still in a fairly bad mood and his head was still throbbing.
"Well, the longer day light hours give the earth more time to warm up..." Gohan began to answer.
"Yea..." Trunks was distracted now. He watched as Kalona stepped outside, and scurried over to the pool as if she was avoiding someone.
"Hey, your Mom's back." Gohan ran over to the truck and began unloading. Taking note of where Bulma and Mrs. Briefs pointed for each plant. He used a small ki blast to dig a hole in the ground and planted one of the shrubs.
"Hey sweetie." Bulma said as she ruffled Trunks hair. "Everything alright?"
"Yea Mom, everything's fine." Trunks smiled reassuringly, and gave one final glance towards the pool area before going to help Gohan.
Bulma smiled when she saw Kalona sitting at the edge of the pool, her feet dangling in the water. She took the baby and went inside to find Vegeta. There were a few things she needed to discuss with him.
Kalona had noticed Trunks watching her. She'd also noticed the odd expression on his face. She wondered what he was thinking. She continued to watch as he and Gohan made easy work of the landscaping project they'd been tasked with. Trunks had removed his shirt at some point, she guessed it must have been when she'd moved to the lounger.
Kami, there should be a law against that. Kalona thought to herself as she began to drift off.
"CANNON BALL!" Gohan yelled, as he ran toward the pool and jumped into the air tucking himself into a ball and … SPLASH! Water sprayed in every direction, including the loungers.
"Ahh Gohan!" Kalona yelled, as the cold water hit her.
"Aw, it's just a little water, you afraid you might melt?" Trunks laughed before diving into the pool and swimming the length of it before climbing back out and flopping down onto a nearby lounger.
Kalona narrowed her eyes at him, quietly stood and walked over to where they had left the garden hose laying on the ground. Trunks watched as she bent over to pick it up. She wouldn't... would she? He chuckled when she turned and aimed it at him, soaking the lounger before she realized he wasn't there any longer.
"Shit." Kalona barely had time to react, as she felt herself lifted off the ground one second, and the next she was tossed into the pool. She came up sputtering, just in time to see Gohan shove Trunks into the pool after her. She started to laugh, then seeing the look on his face she let out a yelp and swam away.
Dinner that evening was extremely tense. Vegeta never said a word, but still managed to make Kalona feel very uncomfortable, simply by staring at her the whole time. She was washing the dishes afterward, when he came back into the kitchen for a beer.
"Tell me about your Father?" Vegeta said as he leaned against the wall.
"I... I can't. I never knew him." Kalona said quietly.
She had tensed up at the question and her heart rate had accelerated.
"Your Mother never told you anything about him?" Vegeta asked with suspicion.
"Vegeta!" Bulma stood in the doorway, arms crossed, glaring at the man.
"What? I was simply asking a question. Is that not allowed?" Vegeta responded calmly.
"We've been over this already. You promised me you would let it go." Bulma said, still glaring at him.
Kalona placed the pan she'd been holding in the dish rack and slipped out the back door. She needed some air. She couldn't breathe and her heart was pounding. The mere mention of her Father always seemed to have this affect. She hated him for not being there for her while she was growing up. And she had always blamed him for her Mother. Kalona walked over to the small illuminated koi pond and sat on one of the large rocks beside it. She watched the fish swim underneath the waters surface as a tear slid down her cheek.
Trunks watched her from where he sat on the roof. He felt a strong urge to go to her, but he held himself back. He understood her need to be alone. He watched her for ten minutes or so, before eventually hopping down and approaching.
"You alright?" He asked her as he crouched beside the rock she was sitting on.
"Mm hm." She nodded as she continued to watch the fish swim.
"Sorry about the way my Dad is acting. It's just that, when they said your Father sent them, he sort of lost it." Trunks spoke quietly as he watched her face.
"I don't blame him, Trunks. He's got every right to be angry and suspicious. He's just looking out for you guys. He wants to know that his family is safe." Kalona responded sadly. "It's my fault they came here. They're after me, they have been from the start. They said my Father sent them. Thing is... they lied." She half laughed now. "But on the off chance they didn't... well, then I wanna go with them, and say hi to dear old Dad.. I can see it now. Hi Dad, remember me? No? Aw it's OK you probably just don't recognize me, seeing as you haven't seen me in like... well... never." She spat the last word out.
Trunks reached out and gently rubbed her back in an attempt to calm her down. He knew how she was feeling right now. Kami knew he'd been there himself.
"My Father didn't send them. For all I know, he doesn't even know I exist." She said as she took a deep breath. "When I was three my Mother overdosed from heroin. She had never even told him about the pregnancy." She was looking at him now. "You look surprised." She half laughed again but there was a look of sadness in her eyes. "Yea...my mother was a drug addict and according to my Gram... my father was the one that got her started."
"I'm sorry, Kalona. I know how it feels to lose a parent at such a young age. It's not fair." Trunks said quietly as he continued to rub her back.
"Yea... except your Dad died trying to save you and your Mom..." She quickly caught herself. "I'm sorry... that doesn't make it any less tragic." She looked at him apologetically.
"I know what you meant, it's OK." Trunks reassured her.
How can he be this understanding? Here I am being a complete bitch and he says it's OK? Kami, I'm falling for him. Kalona thought to herself.
"I should probably go back inside." She looked at him for what seemed like an eternity before quickly kissing him on the cheek. "Thank you, Trunks" She whispered as she stood to leave.
He wanted to tell her to wait, to pull her into his arms and hold her until he was sure she was alright, but instead he just watched her walk away.
"Damn you, Trunks" He muttered to himself.
Fact was, he was still so unsure of her. He didn't trust her, yet he continually let his guard down around her, like he had earlier near the pool. He hadn't meant to do it. But when she'd aimed that hose at him he couldn't resist playing her game. Besides... he still owed her for flushing his damn toilet.
A/N: Please don't forget to review and let me know what you think of the story so far. Chapter 11 is almost finished, as I was writing the two at the same time. I should have it posted up soon. I'm hoping for Saturday as it involves the long promised party. ;)