Chapter 9
Nearly an hour after arriving home Juu and Trunks were released to go to there rooms and sleep. The two of them both seemed exhausted after Bulma's fury was unleashed.
"That was completely your fault, Juu." Trunks muttered, having some difficulty hiding an all new emotion that he had only recently realized he had had in him since the night he found Juu, helpless and alone, in Gero's lab. This feeling went hand in hand with how many times he had defended her. Be it as simple as when he calmly explained to Kaede that Juu to deserved a chance to threatening to kill Joe just a few hours earlier all because they had made some stupid comment. Justified comment in Kaede's case, barely forgivable in Joe's.
"It wasnt my fault... Okay so it was..." Juu said with an unbelievably innocent grin. "I really should have remembered that robot need to be told to make one bowl of popcorn and then stop..."
"Yeah...." Trunks said with a yawn. "I told you hot wiring one of my moms robots was a bad idea."
"Well... At least we had fun before we got back here and the Boss-Lady gave us an ear full. Well Good night Trunks."
"G'night Juu." Trunks said softly. He slowly wandered into his room still unable to believe his earlier actions toward Joe. He had reacted violently to protect someone before but not towards a friend who couldn't really defend himself. He had certainly never threatened to kill someone like that. He sighed and flopped onto his bed. and glanced at his clock. He groaned when he saw how late, or rather early, it was and thanked God tomorrow was Saturday.
It had been nearly two months since the popcorn incident and Juu was finally in Bulma's good graces. Or at least she would once she finished what she was sure was her final punishment: Bulma's Christmas shopping. Being a very sociel person Bulma had many people to get presents for, and being a very rich person she didn't think twice about buying them large and expensive gifts. Having an incredibly strong android as an employee was a big help in this and the fact that Bulma wanted a bit of revenge for hot wiring a robot just made it all to perfect for Juu's boss. Juu smiled when she saw Trunks through the crowd of holiday shoppers at the mall. When she finall caught up with him he smiled at her and laughed when he saw all the bags she was carrying.
"Your mothers Christmas shopping..." Juu said with a grin.
Trunks winced, "I remember last year she made me do it. I am convinced it is because I let Joe drive one of our cars and he crashed it... Not a pleasent experience."
"I think I am stuck with this because of hot wiring that robot. You know," Juu said, "holiday shopping is the tool of Satan? At least your mother's is."
"Here," Trunks offered, "I'll take a few of your bags."
Juu's face lit up happily. "Oh my gosh you ar so wonderful! I love you!" She exclaimed giving him a bunch of her bags.
Trunks smiled at her but felt sad as he thought of how much he wished she really meant that.
When they were finally done with their shopping they headed out of the mall and took off for home flying, careful not to let people see them take off.
"You know my mom is making me buy a present for you?" Trunks said.
"Really? She made me get yours. She didn't order me to get anyone gifts from me. But you're getting one from me anyways."
"Is it in one of these bags...?" Trunks said as he started rummaging through the bags he had taken from Juu.
"Hey knock it off!" Juu shouted. She then flew over to Trunks, landed on his back and snatched one of the bags out of his hands.
Trunks felt his cheeks turn red. "Why does she have to do this?" His mind screamed. "This isn't fair... Putting her that close to me and not giving me the courage to tell her that I-"
His thoughts were interupted as Juu hopped off his back and laughed at him. "Your face is all red Trunks! Geez... Your nineteen you'de think by now you wouldn't get so easily embarassed!"
"Hey, shut-up!" Was all Trunks could think of to say.
Amano and Joe watched calmly as Juu and Trunks sparred in the Capsule Corp gym. They both were very concerned about Trunks. Joe had told Amano about what had happened without letting Trunks know because he didn't know what to do and felt that seeing as Amano actually had a girlfriend he might be able to help Trunks who seemed depressed by the fact he couldn't admit to Juu that he loved her.
"I don't get it," Joe muttered, "if he loves her why can't he admit it? He is usually pretty honest with his feeling."
"Well everyone is an amateur when it comes to love I guess. Also he doesn't really think of her as an android but some part of him is probobly afraid that she isn't really capable of love."
"I'll buy that 'everyone is an amateur' bit but he thinks of her as a human and no part of him think otherwise... Do you think he is over her...? He hasn't really said anything about it or done anything..."
"Doubt it. Remember how he told us you'd never know his father Vegita really cared? Well I think Trunks can hide his feelings just as well as his father when he wants to. Every now and then though, there is a subtle hint that he is in love with her. Sad he hides it though..."
"Yeah. It's only the holiday season. Great time to keep yourself distant from the one you love."
"Maybe he just think telling her will create more distance... Well I have to go now. I am spending Christmas with Kaede."
Trunks stopped sparring when he noticed his friends get up and head for the door. "Where are you going?" He called.
Joe turned to Trunks and grinned evily, "I am going home for Christmas dinner. Amano is gonna have hot sex with Kaede on a holy night." He made a tsk-tsk sound and shook his head and Amano.
Trunks and Juu joined them and walked with them a bit. As they were walking Joe pulled Trunks aside.
"Carpe diem, seize the day, tell her you love her man." He said with an encouraging grin. "Its the only thing that will help."
"I know." Trunks said with an exhasperated smile.
"Well if you don't the guts for that just sneak a kiss under a mistletoe." Joe said with a gentle, teasing grin.
As his friend left Trunks couldn't help but wish he had the courage for that much.
Nearly an hour after arriving home Juu and Trunks were released to go to there rooms and sleep. The two of them both seemed exhausted after Bulma's fury was unleashed.
"That was completely your fault, Juu." Trunks muttered, having some difficulty hiding an all new emotion that he had only recently realized he had had in him since the night he found Juu, helpless and alone, in Gero's lab. This feeling went hand in hand with how many times he had defended her. Be it as simple as when he calmly explained to Kaede that Juu to deserved a chance to threatening to kill Joe just a few hours earlier all because they had made some stupid comment. Justified comment in Kaede's case, barely forgivable in Joe's.
"It wasnt my fault... Okay so it was..." Juu said with an unbelievably innocent grin. "I really should have remembered that robot need to be told to make one bowl of popcorn and then stop..."
"Yeah...." Trunks said with a yawn. "I told you hot wiring one of my moms robots was a bad idea."
"Well... At least we had fun before we got back here and the Boss-Lady gave us an ear full. Well Good night Trunks."
"G'night Juu." Trunks said softly. He slowly wandered into his room still unable to believe his earlier actions toward Joe. He had reacted violently to protect someone before but not towards a friend who couldn't really defend himself. He had certainly never threatened to kill someone like that. He sighed and flopped onto his bed. and glanced at his clock. He groaned when he saw how late, or rather early, it was and thanked God tomorrow was Saturday.
It had been nearly two months since the popcorn incident and Juu was finally in Bulma's good graces. Or at least she would once she finished what she was sure was her final punishment: Bulma's Christmas shopping. Being a very sociel person Bulma had many people to get presents for, and being a very rich person she didn't think twice about buying them large and expensive gifts. Having an incredibly strong android as an employee was a big help in this and the fact that Bulma wanted a bit of revenge for hot wiring a robot just made it all to perfect for Juu's boss. Juu smiled when she saw Trunks through the crowd of holiday shoppers at the mall. When she finall caught up with him he smiled at her and laughed when he saw all the bags she was carrying.
"Your mothers Christmas shopping..." Juu said with a grin.
Trunks winced, "I remember last year she made me do it. I am convinced it is because I let Joe drive one of our cars and he crashed it... Not a pleasent experience."
"I think I am stuck with this because of hot wiring that robot. You know," Juu said, "holiday shopping is the tool of Satan? At least your mother's is."
"Here," Trunks offered, "I'll take a few of your bags."
Juu's face lit up happily. "Oh my gosh you ar so wonderful! I love you!" She exclaimed giving him a bunch of her bags.
Trunks smiled at her but felt sad as he thought of how much he wished she really meant that.
When they were finally done with their shopping they headed out of the mall and took off for home flying, careful not to let people see them take off.
"You know my mom is making me buy a present for you?" Trunks said.
"Really? She made me get yours. She didn't order me to get anyone gifts from me. But you're getting one from me anyways."
"Is it in one of these bags...?" Trunks said as he started rummaging through the bags he had taken from Juu.
"Hey knock it off!" Juu shouted. She then flew over to Trunks, landed on his back and snatched one of the bags out of his hands.
Trunks felt his cheeks turn red. "Why does she have to do this?" His mind screamed. "This isn't fair... Putting her that close to me and not giving me the courage to tell her that I-"
His thoughts were interupted as Juu hopped off his back and laughed at him. "Your face is all red Trunks! Geez... Your nineteen you'de think by now you wouldn't get so easily embarassed!"
"Hey, shut-up!" Was all Trunks could think of to say.
Amano and Joe watched calmly as Juu and Trunks sparred in the Capsule Corp gym. They both were very concerned about Trunks. Joe had told Amano about what had happened without letting Trunks know because he didn't know what to do and felt that seeing as Amano actually had a girlfriend he might be able to help Trunks who seemed depressed by the fact he couldn't admit to Juu that he loved her.
"I don't get it," Joe muttered, "if he loves her why can't he admit it? He is usually pretty honest with his feeling."
"Well everyone is an amateur when it comes to love I guess. Also he doesn't really think of her as an android but some part of him is probobly afraid that she isn't really capable of love."
"I'll buy that 'everyone is an amateur' bit but he thinks of her as a human and no part of him think otherwise... Do you think he is over her...? He hasn't really said anything about it or done anything..."
"Doubt it. Remember how he told us you'd never know his father Vegita really cared? Well I think Trunks can hide his feelings just as well as his father when he wants to. Every now and then though, there is a subtle hint that he is in love with her. Sad he hides it though..."
"Yeah. It's only the holiday season. Great time to keep yourself distant from the one you love."
"Maybe he just think telling her will create more distance... Well I have to go now. I am spending Christmas with Kaede."
Trunks stopped sparring when he noticed his friends get up and head for the door. "Where are you going?" He called.
Joe turned to Trunks and grinned evily, "I am going home for Christmas dinner. Amano is gonna have hot sex with Kaede on a holy night." He made a tsk-tsk sound and shook his head and Amano.
Trunks and Juu joined them and walked with them a bit. As they were walking Joe pulled Trunks aside.
"Carpe diem, seize the day, tell her you love her man." He said with an encouraging grin. "Its the only thing that will help."
"I know." Trunks said with an exhasperated smile.
"Well if you don't the guts for that just sneak a kiss under a mistletoe." Joe said with a gentle, teasing grin.
As his friend left Trunks couldn't help but wish he had the courage for that much.