Chapter 26

"You've not listened to a word I've said this whole time!"

"It's you who won't listen!"

Kieci and Trunks stood at a standoff , each roaring at the other, toe to toe and rage to rage. Kurama and Rose sat on the porch, the sidelines, and watched quietly.

"They've been screaming at one another for well over an hour," the Spirit Fox remarked softly. "I cannot foresee a winner in this."

"I don't know: Wonderboy's cheeks are pretty red. I imagine he'll explode soon, and that means the Dragon wins," Rose responded. There was no mirth in her words. Across the yard, Kieci's voice rose above Trunks's.

"By the gods, kid!! Are you that stupid?"

"Stupid?! We stood by and let him kill her!"

"As if we had a choice! Look, I'm not saying wanting to avenge her isn't noble, but for reason's sake, get that pretty head of yours out of your righteous ass!" That shut the Saiyan up and he backed away, a snarl chiseled into his features. The Dragon pressed her lead. "You know, you're just like him. Trace. You even look just like him. Five inches and silver hair, and you'd be Trace's damn twin."

"You say the name like I should know it."

"You shou----Tari didn't tell you anything about anything, did she? Fine. He was my comrade, the one they brought with me here. He's been missing for nearly two years now, but when we were together it was always like this. Always the fighting, disagreeing...only then, with him, I was the righteously dumb one. The two of us could never agree on the "right thing" and the "sensible thing." Listen to me, kid...I don't care how tough you are and it doesn't matter what kind of powers you possess...righteous vengeance never works." Trunks's already dark eyes shadowed.

"I do not need your lectures, Dragon."

"Obviously you do, kid, because there's a fine line between honorable and stupid and you're toeing it."

"You have some nerve," Trunks's voice was little more than a furious whisper now. "Calling me inferior because I want to take from that...that monster what he took from Tari. He's a cold-blooded killer, a Dark pawn. He must be stopped! Righteous motivation or not, you have to see that he must pay!" Kieci stood for one long breath, sizing up Trunks and the words he'd just said. Then she lunged forward and seized a handful of his shirt. When she spoke, her voice seeped venom.

"Do not speak about what you don't understand. You have no--" a buzzing sound emanated from her pocket just then and the Dragon let out a snarl. In a movement of anger-fed strength she shoved--actually threw-- Trunks away from her, casting the Saiyan to the ground. Had he been at full strength, or even paying full attention, she never would've managed it. Still growling, Kieci tore the buzzing Channel Magic orb from her pocket and lit it. "What?!"
"Dragon, you're needed in Pennyston!" a male voice boomed; it was familiar but just then, in her anger and lingering weariness from the bust out at the Wake, she couldn't place it.

"And why is that?"

"The Dark...I don't know, some guy in a white trench coat..." That clicked.

"Fine, I'm on my way." The orb went black and she took off at a run for the stables. Kurama rose from his seat on the porch and walked gingerly over to where Trunks sat sprawled on the grass. The Saiyan looked up to see the demon's hand outstretched.

"I think that perhaps she was overly harsh," he said simply as he pulled the much younger male to his feet. There was no note of pity in his tone, though he did seem compassionate enough. "She was right to a point, but beyond that even she is unsure. It is obvious from the way she lashed out at you: she fears what the kind of righteous drive you possess can do. I believe that's the mistake she made in the first place: succumbing to that same drive." Trunks didn't reply.

Kieci came thundering out of the stables on Darkmyth, heading on a beeline for the edge of her barrier. "Don't forget:" she called out as she rode by, "-don't cross the line and you'll all be safe. The only ones that'll show up here will be the rest of the thirteen, and maybe the SFU. Stay here!" and with that, she was gone.

"Easy for her to say," Rose muttered, standing and allowing herself an exaggerated stretch. "Forget it--I'm going to take a rest. By the way...Wonderboy?" Trunks looked up at her and the woman didn't miss the angry fire that flickered yet in his dark eyes. "I wouldn't take her personally. I think she's just trying to look out for us." Tossing her long black hair away from her face, she turned on her heel and strode into the house. Trunks stepped away from Kurama, his head bowed. As he walked away in the direction of the trees, Kurama called after him.

"Are you all right?" The Saiyan, per what was quickly becoming his usual, did not respond.

Temper temper...

-K-