Chapter 9: People Lost
Age: 755

The two figures deep in the forest were sparring with one another. They launched their arms at one another faster than the eye could see, their fists making vibrations in the air around them upon contact of one another. There was no stopping just more and more, each punch seemingly making stronger impacts. 'Ow, I felt that go down my arm how many more punches like that can he make I can't keep doing this,' Chi-Chi told herself.

'Wow, she's gotten so much better than when we started its incredible,' Trunks marveled.

As the two continued Chi-Chi tried to kick below Trunks causing him to jump above into the sky. When he looked down at the ground below he could see no human figure just the environment below with its bushes, trees, and the occasional passing animal. 'She's probably trying to hide in the trees, I just have to look for her ki,' Trunks thought to himself.

The young man closed his eyes and began to focus on the spiritual energy around him. He could feel the small bits of energy emanating from the nature surrounding him. He searched for Chi-Chi's distinct energy, 'I've got you!' The young saiyan thought upon finding it. He quickly turned around and as he did so from the forest Chi-Chi yelled out, "BURNING, ATTACK!".

A yellow ball of energy skyrocketed into the sky. Upon seeing the orb Trunks quickly descended to the ground and dashed toward the Ox Princess. 'CRAP I MISSED!' Chi-Chi thought. She jumped up a nearby tree onto a branch; beginning to leap from tree to tree in order to escape her alien pursuer. Following her, Trunks did the same chasing after her through the tops of the trees. 'You just have to keep jumping, you just have to keep jumping,' Chi-Chi reassured herself.

Trunks slowly began to get closer and closer to the Ox Princess, as he jumped to the next branch he reached out and grabbed the bottom of her gi. He pulled the gi to use it as leverage to be able to reach the young woman. Trunks threw a punch towards Chi-Chi as he pulled. 'CRAP!' Chi-Chi lamented as she tried to dodge the incoming punch. Chi-Chi pushed her body rightwards avoiding the punch before moving her body towards Trunks slamming her head against Trunks's. Trunks let go in response to the blow and fell to the ground below with Chi-Chi falling several feet in front of him.

Clenching his hand on his head in pain Trunks turned to the young woman. 'She.. she dodged my punch. That's amazing I was sure that would hit her,' Trunks thought in awe of his student. The hybrid stood up and walked over to his student. He outstretched his hand towards her, "That was amazing Chi-Chi, you've gotten so much better its insane," he complimented with a smile.

She looked up at the saiyan with a smile. "You always say that," she admitted.

"That doesn't make me wrong Chi-Chi, its very impressive you've improved so much from the beginning," he said.

'You're so sweet Trunks,' Chi-Chi commented to herself. She grabbed his hand and let him pull her up. The Ox Princess began to wipe the dirt off of her uniform, as Trunks gazed at her. 'She's so... beautiful, like I know she's Gohan's mom, but what am I thinking that's weird,' Trunks thought to himself.

"Are you okay Trunks?" Chi-Chi inquired seeing him stare.

'Oh kami, I was just staring that's weird oh no,' "Oh yea, I'm fine don't mind me hehe," Trunks said in a joking tone trying to distract from his embarrassment.

"Um, alright Trunks," She replied with a bit of a chuckle. 'He was staring, huh. Does he... hmm maybe but he's from the future he might think that's weird I'm not sure,' Chi-Chi thought.

'Oh that was really weird of me,' Trunks told himself with shame.

"Hey, um Trunks?" Chi-Chi said.

'Oh please don't think I'm weird,' He hoped to himself, "Yeah what's up Chi-Chi?" he said.

"Can we, not train tomorrow?" the young woman asked.

'That's... odd she's had training on her mind since I met her, is.. is something up?' he pondered. "I mean we don't have to train if you don't want to Chi-Chi is something the matter?" he asked.

"Oh its nothing, don't worry about it just some personal stuff you know," She said with a laugh.

'Now what is she hiding?' Trunks wondered. "O-Okay, are you going anywhere specifically?" he said.

"Oh well, I'll be out you don't have to worry about it I'm sure training me can be such a hassle just try to give yourself some time to relax you know hehe," Chi-Chi answered, her eyes wandering as she started to talk.

'Is she just as bad of a liar as me,' "Uh huh, um alright Chi-Chi if you need any help with anything just let me know I'd be happy to," Trunks suggested.

"Oh, I'll be fine with everything I've learned since meeting you I'm sure I can take one just about anything," She said with a smile.

"Yeah... are you sure there's nothing the matter Chi-Chi?" He questioned the young woman.

"Yep, absolutely peachy," she said her grin still present.

'So something is definitely up she's never been this overly positive. Although, might not want to let her know I think something's up it'll probably just make her hind it more,' Trunks deduced. Trunks's face changed from a look of concern to one of glee with a big smile filling his face, "Alright then just making sure Chi-Chi," He replied to the princess.

'Oh thank kami I did not want to deal with that series of questions,' She thought to herself. "Hey would you like to head back to the castle I think I'm beat," She said with a chuckle.

"Um, alright Chi-Chi I suppose a few days of rest would be helpful," The hybrid said trying to keep his façade.

The two floated up into the air and began to take off towards the Ox King's castle.

The next morning arose, the sun waking up Trunks the same way it had everyday. The light hit his face through the window. The half-breed sat up in his bed letting out a yawn as he stretched his arms. "Man I don't know if its just this bed or the fact that there's no one here trying to kill me, but its so much easier sleeping here," Trunks said to himself.

As the saiyan warrior began to get out of his bed; he realized something. 'Wait, where's Chi-Chi's energy. I can't sense her in her room. Did she leave already? The sun just came up it can't be past 6:30!' he thought to himself.

Quickly he stood up from bed and gathered his clothes. Faster than the blink of an eye he hurried dressing himself and strapping on his sword. 'I should be able to ask Ox King where she went, he'd probably tell me. Wait..'

Trunks then closed his eyes and began to look for Ox King's energy, 'Okay come on Trunks you can do it I know his energy isn't that big, but you should be able to... there! Oh Chi-Chi's there too okay well at least I know where they are,' He thought.

He then opened his window and flew out towards the two.

It was away, away from any civilization, away from anyone who might disturb it, away from the two of them. Well normally it is at least. The two Ox royals stood on the hill; not a soul in sight. '18 years already huh' The Ox King thought to himself as he looked down at the headstone in front of him.

Chi-Chi walked up with a bouquet of white roses. She kneeled down in front of the grave to place the flowers down on top of it. Chi-Chi closed her eyes and placed her hands together pointing up. "I hope you're doing well in the other world mother," she commented.

Tears could be seen spouting from the Ox King's eyes. 'Come on Ox its been this long you should be able to take coming here by now,' he told himself as he tried to wipe off anything on his face.

For a quick moment Chi-Chi turned back towards her father, 'Come on! Be strong for Chi-Chi!' The Ox King reprimanded to himself as he began to try and wipe even faster.

'Dad.. you big softy,' Chi-Chi thought to herself.

She stood up and gave her father a hug. "I love you, dad," she told him.

The large man looked down at his daughter as he responded, "I love you too Chi-Chi," he said in a hushed tone. 'I did good, Suhi, I did good she's a good kid,' he thought to himself as he embraced his daughter.

Off in the skies above Trunks began to get closer to the two. 'Alright so they should be somewhere around here,' he thought to himself as he began to look around, "Now where are you... ah there!" he said to himself seeing the two figures.

'What's that thing with them,' He thought.

He saw a nearby tree and decided to land on its branch for the time being. 'What are they doing? Wait, is that...' Trunks began to ponder as he looked closer at the area by the royals.

His eyes widened, 'Oh my Kami, that's a headstone, but who could it-,' Trunks thought before saying, "Her mom, I hadn't thought why there was never an Ox Queen. I hope they're okay. I, I shouldn't bother them," he said to himself before floating back up into the sky and heading back towards the castle.

Trunks was sitting in his room just staring off into the distance. 'I really hope she's going to be alright, It's.. it's not easy dealing with that,' the young saiyan thought as his mind wandered to a similar scenario.

It was late at night, the blue-haired woman was busy working on her computer. The rest of the lights were off in the room, only the artificial light of her computer screen illuminating the room. It was hard to see, but a young boy manage to tip-toe down the stairs. The woman turned around upon hearing his footsteps. "Trunks? You okay, what's the matter?" she said in a concerned tone.

The little boy, his head faced down, wiped the tears from his face and took slow deep breaths. The woman stood up from her chair and kneeled down in front of the little boy she placed her arm on his shoulder, "Trunks, hey look at me," she said pushing up his face lightly, "Now tell me, what happened," she asked.

"I..I had *snivel* I had that dream again *snivel*," he admitted before continuing to cry.

"Sweetie," Bulma whispered as she began to hold him in her arms.

"Its going to be alright Trunks don't worry," she tried to reassure.

"But in my dream *snivel* they killed him mom, the robots killed dad and I just had to watch, I couldn't..." Trunks looked down, and clenched his eyes close.

"It's going be alright Trunks," Bulma said as she began to rock her son in her arms.

"But... but what if they get Gohan too mom, what happens if..." Trunks said before his mother placed her finger on his lips.

"Trunks, don't think like that everything's going to be alright Gohan will stop them, one day," she said with a faint smile.

"But..." Trunks began to say before his mother started talking again.

"But nothing Trunks you just have to believe in Gohan okay," she continued trying to assure her son that everything would be okay.

Trunks just cried into his mother's chest as she continued to rock him. "Why *snivel* why can't they just leave everybody alone, we didn't do anything mom, we didn't do anything!" he wailed.

"I know Trunks, I know," she softly said brushing her fingers through his hair.

After letting Trunks cry some more, for a moment the two just sat in a silence. No one said a word, no one made a sound. They just, embraced. Who knew how long they'd be able to. Eventually, Bulma began to speak, "Hey Trunks, let's try to get you to bed again okay,"

Trunks simply nodded his head as Bulma picked the child up and began to walk up the stairs towards his room. She opened the door of the room, walking over and placing her son in his bed. She sat on the bed hunched over to talk to him, "Look Trunks, I'm sure everything is going to be okay. Gohan is stronger than his father ever was okay? You just have to keep hope up for him, alright sweetie?" she whispered to her son.

"...Okay," Trunks mumbled.

"Alright son, I'll see you in the morning," She said with a smile before walking out and closing the door.

Through the door Trunks could hear her mother quietly talk to herself, "*sigh* Poor kid, he deserves better than an apocalypse like this, Kami I hope Gohan'll be okay against those tin cans,"

He then heard her walk back down the stairs to continue her work on the computer. Aloud Trunks whispered to himself, "I'm going to help you one day Gohan, and we're gonna beat those robots for good and save everybody!"

Thinking about that moment in particular the teenage Trunks balled his fist and clenched his eyebrows in anger, 'I'm sorry Gohan I failed you, and I failed everyone' he lamented to himself.

Trunks let out a sigh, "Was all of this a mistake?" he asked himself.

"Was coming here a mistake? Am I just going to make things worse? I'm sure now Gohan won't exist. Who am I kidding he wouldn't have existed anyway, not my Gohan, suppose that was the point, to change everything, still the fact that he might not exist at all is a bit depressing. Would.. would he be okay with what I'm doing?" he said aloud.

"I mean if he's anything like me I think would understand Trunks," Chi-Chi said from the doorway.

Trunks's eyes widened. 'Oh, she heard me, oh...' Trunks thought. "Did... did I leave the door open?" he asked.

"No, but I heard you through the door. thought I'd come in," she nonchalantly told him.

"Oh..." he stuttered. 'This is... a bit awkward,' Trunks commented to himself.

"Thanks for not interrupting us this morning," Chi-Chi began to say, "I could sense you showed up, but I appreciate leaving us be. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, it is... still a bit of an uncomfortable topic for me," she explained.

'She can sense ki,' "No problem, trust me, I understand the feeling," he admitted.

'Poor Trunks,' Chi-Chi thought to herself. "Oh, I had no idea I'm-" she began to say before being cut off but a hand gesture from Trunks.

"Don't worry about it Chi-Chi, you didn't know," Trunks said as he took a deep breath.

Trunks just continued to look down and just kept his fist clenched. 'I've never seen him so bothered, he seemed so... at peace before,' Chi-Chi worried to herself. "Do... do you want to, you know, talk about it?" she slowly said.

Trunks looked up at the princess. "To be honest with you, I don't really know Chi-Chi," he told the princess.

Chi-Chi walked over to the bed and sat down besides him. "Trunks if, if you want to talk about it I'm right here. You've been nothing, but the best to me. I want to help you however I can, beyond just getting your parts," she said with a smile.

"Chi-Chi," Trunks began to say before Chi-Chi continued.

"I mean it, like you've been so nice and you haven't done anything bad or mean or ill-mannered. The worst thing you've done is lie to try and keep your friend existing. Trunks, I think you're the nicest person I've ever met, and its like I said before you're the only friend my only age I've had. Although, to tell you the truth. You're the only friend I've had, ever really," Chi-Chi confessed.

'Oh my kami, I...' Trunks thought, trying to formulate some sort of response for finally beginning to speak, "Chi-Chi that might the nicest thing I've heard, like ever. Thank you," he replied.

"Well I mean it, you're amazing Trunks," she said her smile growing ever bigger.

For a moment Trunks just looked at her in front of him, the young woman had a glow to her presence. Her smile felt so comforting, she looked directly into the saiyan's eyes. 'She is beautiful, There's so much, care in her eyes' Trunks realized. "Chi-Chi..." Trunks stammered out.

"Yes Trunks?" 'Oh I hope this was not too weird or forced onto him kami I hope he's okay,' Chi-Chi worried.

"You've.. you've given me a place to stay and I.. I really appreciate it... and um well," Trunks stuttered. 'What do I want to say, what am I feeling its all so much and I just don't,' Trunks thought to himself before being interrupted.

As Trunks began to lose whatever message he was saying, the Ox Princess began to lean in. 'This seems like the time, do or die moment here we go, Kami help' she thought as she leaned over.

'Is she about to-' Trunks thought into amazement.

Chi-Chi's lips met Trunks's and she kissed him before quickly breaking it off by backing away. "So, um, if you didn't like that and felt uncomfortable I understand and I can go back and-" she explained before being cut off herself.

Trunks leaned over himself this time and kissed her. As he leaned back to end the kiss he began to speak, "Trust me you didn't make me uncomfortable," he said with a smile.