Sleeping Panny - The Hint

[Author's Note: Eek. FINALLY! I had this planned out for awhile, but I'm so very lazy. ^^;; I should be finished in another chapter or two, though. If all goes well. I can't wait to get started on what's next . . . *evil laugh*. Anyway, sorry this is late, and as for my little attempt at Vegeta-ness . . . please don't hurt me if he's out of character. I didn't want Bulma to have to talk to herself. Yay for everyone who reviewed! You're the best! Yes, you! ^^ THANKIES! And to those who didn't, you still have a chance to be cool :p! On to chapter nine!]

Trunks and Meryn fell into the ocean of dancing couples, turning heads as they danced. No one noticed the peculiar purple glow in Meryn's normally green eyes, or the enchanted stare in the prince's apathetic blue ones, and no one saw the triumphant smirk that danced across Meryn's pale features. His eyes locked on hers, Trunks marveled at how beautiful she looked tonight, how the lights played upon her sparkling dress, how she moved so gracefully across the floor. Warm spread through his soul, a strange warmth that had never touched him before-as if he was falling in love with her all over again.

But somewhere deep inside, he knew he wasn't. He knew this was a trick, a curse, some kind of enchantment. And that was what made it so much worse-knowing he couldn't stop it. So as he lost his senses to the overpowering spell, there was a strange tranquility that burrowed itself into him, a feeling that told him everything would be alright. And as he murmured a silent prayer to anyone who was listening, he felt the new thoughts bombard his now one track mind.

"What?" she questioned, her violet-tinted eyes gazing at him intently. "Did you say something?" Her voice was a soft whisper against the blaring music of the eighty piece orchestra, but he had ears solely for her.

"Huh?" Meryn's silky voice whisked him from his thoughts, and as he gazed at her with confusion, her question melted away. Mesmerized by her stolen beauty, his eyes were locked on hers. And had he wanted to look away, he might have realized that he couldn't. Yet he didn't . . . never noticed the odd violet glow in her eyes, or the purple smoke that rose from her feet toward his . . . never saw the sad-eyed girl who could see what he had overlooked.

"You're so beautiful." Words that weren't his rolled off of his tongue smoothly as a plastic smile found its way to his face. And as his body moved so mechanically across the floor, his arms grew heavy and his legs strained against their bonds. And as the air was stolen from his lungs, the breath ripped from his throat, he found it harder and harder to move on. Meryn smiled, pleased, and leaned in to close the gap between them. As their lips met, a stinging pain shot through his spine, and the noose around his neck tightened, as if trying to warn him . . . trying to make him see. But he didn't.

"Are you okay?" Meryn asked, her voice soft, her eyes filled with concern. His breathing was ragged now, and his heart pounded rapidly, loudly. She bit her lip, confusion painted onto her pale face, making it clear that this, she wasn't expecting. "Trunks?"

~ a hint

The odd smoke coiled itself around his neck, and with each instant, it grew tighter still. And as the darkness pulled him closer and closer, illusions filled his sightless eyes. A familiar figure hurled herself at him, tears brimming in her clear eyes. He could feel nothing, numbed from the pain, but he wasn't too blind to sense the sadness that hung over her like a storm cloud. And as this curse, this enchantment, stole from him his senses, she became clearer and clearer while his memories of Meryn faded. To him, this was a sign . . . a hint, a clue . . . and now, to him -- things were clear as day.

The darkness beckoned him closer, and in the shadows, he could just barely make out a silhouette -- a cloaked figure, hidden by mist. "Trunks . . . " its voice was low and eerie, but it had a sort of intense power to it. And though he knew that things could only get easier in the afterlife, though he knew he'd never have to worry about balls, or Meryn, or enchantments, there was too much he'd have to lose. Too much he'd never see. And so he pulled away, with all of his strength-- after all, he was King Vegeta's son. And weakness, to him, was a sin.

Roused from his trance, the prince rose to his feet groggily and covered Meryn's eyes quickly. In the instant that her gaze was broken, the smoke dissolved, and without hesitation, he bolted out of the room.

~ a hint

"What the . . ." Bulma's eyes narrowed at her son's rapidly disappearing figure and sighed. Confusion fell in waves over the raucous crowd, and brightly dressed guards stepped in from behind the silken curtains. Her eyes wandered toward the King's, curious, and her anger flared when her eyes met his. Trying to stifle a smirk, he glanced back toward her, otherwise expressionless.

"Bring him back here!" Bulma ordered, her commands directed toward the barrage of royal guards, "This is in his honor, after all." Her voice was harsh and her eyes were cold, determination seeping into his voice. She was certain that he'd find someone, if only he'd look harder. Her eyes scanned the rowdy reception hall, falling on Meryn's crumpled figure, where they softened.

"He doesn't love her." Vegeta stated simply, catching Bulma's gaze. A flicker of anger sparked in her clear blue eyes and as she opened her mouth to speak, he called out to the guards, "Stop."

She parted her lips to protest once more, but the knowing look in his eyes caught her off guard. He who had always judged so harshly, who had constantly criticized his son, who had never seemed to care knew more than he let on. And for a moment, he was more than the arrogant, crude prince she had fallen in love with-he was a loving father, though he'd never admit it.

"Quit staring, woman."

For only a moment . . .