After Effects
She was starring out the window. Her back to the door, to him as he entered. 'Marron.' Whispered Trunks softly.
Silence, 'I wanted this.' Said Marron softly. Trunks' eyes widened, 'Not consciously you understand. I love... loved my child. Just like I love Goten.' She told him, 'But some where deep inside, so deep that I didn't even realise that such a place existed, I wanted my child to be gone so that... so that I may return to you.' She looked at him in than, her eyes full of tears, her face sad and guilty, 'You were right. I can never be with anyone but you.'
Trunks didn't say anything just stepped up to the bed and gently kissed her, 'I love you.' He said as he parted, 'Two months ago when you told me I wasn't ready to settle down you were right. But I am now. Marron...' he brushed aside a stray strand of hair from her lovely face, '...I can't lose you again. Please tell me you'll be mine forever.' He pleaded.
Marron laughed, 'Trunks Briefs Vegeta pleading with a girl, I never thought I would see the day.' She said as she weakly wrapped her hands around his neck, 'I don't think I have much of a choice.' She said with a smile, 'My soul has chosen already and as we have already established going against ones soul leads to nothing but trouble.'
Trunks smiled than, a genuine smile that lit up his face and he said again, 'I love you.'
'I love you too.' Whispered Marron. A nurse came in at that moment and shooed Trunks away, telling him Marron needed her rest. Trunks complied going to keep vigil in the waiting area. Marron's slumber was disturbed at first, dreams of her child haunted her and woke her every so often with start but soon the dreams abided and she slipped into a dreamless slumber that gave her rest but not comfort.
When Pan arrived home she was still sobbing uncontrollably. To make matters worse her mother had closed the window, forcing Pan to walk in through the front door. Suddenly she found herself in front of her entire family, Gohan, Vidal, Goku, Chichi they were all there. As soon as they saw what state Pan was in they started to ask her what was the matter while trying to soothe her at the same time. At first Pan tried brush them off but they persisted and finally Pan's resolve gave way and she broke down, telling them everything that had happened from her dating Trunks to their break up to the incident with Marron.
'I didn't mean to hurt her.' Pan insisted, 'I just powered up to fly away, but when I started she didn't and I was angry and so I powered up uncontrollably and she got knocked backwards out of the balcony and against the wall of the opposite building. She started to fall, I think she was knocked unconscious that's when Uncle Goten flew down and caught her. Than he flew away with her in his arms towards the hospital.' She told them between her sobs. 'I hurt her so bad that she had to be taken to a hospital...'
'O you have no idea how badly you hurt her or me for that matter.' Came Goten's cold angry voice. They all turned to see him standing at the doorway. A murderous rage boiling in his eyes.
The look so frightened them that both Goku and Gohan simultaneously took a step towards him and in front of Pan, 'Goten it was an accident.' Gohan tried to say, 'Pan didn't mean to hurt Marron.'
'Marron...' Goten spit out, 'was pregnant with my child.' The shock of his words ran visibly through them all, 'I saw was because thanks to Pan my child will now never be born.' He said in a voice trembling with emotions, 'She was engaged to me. We were going to get married next week in a surprise wedding ceremony.' He informed them his eyes distant as he tried to remember the sweet dream he had for their future. 'We were going to invite you all to a get together party and surprise you all by getting married at it.' he laughed, 'But now...' tears welled up in his eyes, 'Trunks made a pact with her. If for some reason she lost the child before she married me. She was to return to him no questions asked.' Goten fixed Pan with look of such hate filled contempt that her misery increased a hundred folds, 'Now thanks to you I have lost my child and the woman I have loved ever since I can remember and as for Trunks. Forget about him, you will be lucky if he ever looks at you again.' With that he turned to leave.
'Uncle Goten I am sorry.' Pan cried out, 'I didn't know, I...'
'Don't ever call me Uncle again.' Goten bit back coldly without turning to look at her. 'From this day I have no niece.' And he was gone. The effect of his words on Pan was severe to say the least. She sank down on the floor, beyond crying. She had lost her uncle, lost a dear friend, lost the love of her life beyond hope and she had killed a person. Her parents and grandparents stood around her, at a loss about what to do. They didn't blame her. She didn't know. None of them did. She didn't mean for what happened to happen and they couldn't hold her responsible for anything more than careless power-up. It was their conclusion that no one was really at fault here, not even Trunks. But Pan only saw accusations written on their faces. Which made her feel even worse if that was possible and for the first and possibly the last time Pan wished she had never existed.
He landed outside a cave on an island far from the mainland and free of all inhabitants save some birds, small cute cuddly mammals that kept mostly to themselves except when he shared his food with them. It was his little hide-away none save Trunks knew about. Well none up until now. Bra had of course followed him. She followed him to Gohan's house and from there she followed him here. Even though Goten tried to lose her by flying low through forests and pushing his Ki as low as it would go. But Bra choose not to take the hint. Landing outside the cave Goten swiftly went inside. Hoping that Bra would not venture to hollow him inside the dark cave. Bra of course had other plans. She the Ki sphere and using that for a light source followed him inside.
At first she could not see Goten. She stepped a little inside and waited for her eyes to adjust to the lighting. Suddenly a hand came from behind her and batted away the Ki sphere from her hand. Even before she realised what was happening Goten spun her around and slammed her against the cave all. Not hard enough to hurt her, just hard enough to emphasis the point he was about to make. 'Go away.' Goten told her, 'I want to be alone right now.'
'I will go away.' Bra replied, 'As soon as you assure me you are okay.' Her voice trembled a little. After all there was something in Goten's eyes, dimly lit thanks to the light from the stars that filtered into the cave.
'Okay!' screamed Goten, 'How can I be okay?' he demanded, 'I just lost my child, the love of my life... I just lost everything.' his voice trembled as he spoke, 'I have never felt so cold and empty in my life.' He cried. 'I have never...' he kissed her.
Bra froze. For someone who was suppose to be feeling cold and empty the kiss was strangely passionate. She would have pulled back if her body was not slammed against the wall in such away that she could not move. 'What are you doing?' wondered Bra, half afraid, half confused. Why did that feel so right?
'I have no idea.' Said Goten breathlessly, his tone confused, 'I just... I just don't want to feel the way... the way I am feeling now.' With that he kissed her again, only this time instead of pulling away he pulled her down on the floor and rolled on top of her.
For the brief moment between his kisses and touch the thought of Uubu went through her mind but than all thought vanished and she gave herself up to the moment. There would be plenty of time to worry about consequences later. Right now she just wanted to enjoy the feeling of rightness about this whole thing as wrong as it should be to her concise.
It was early in the morning when news had filtered through to Uubu about the nights happenings. He wasted no time in going to the hospital. There he found Trunks with Krillian, 18, Bulma, Goku and Chichi. Marron had gotten a little worse during the night. In her sleep she had developed a fever but all was well now. Trunks had had to bear the first blunt of anger from Krillian and 18 on behalf of their daughter and Goten. Goku in his even temper only admitted to being surprised at his son's wish about keeping this all a secret. Chichi was too shocked to be angry. All of them however seem to take the news of Trunks' pact and the result of it, Marron now being engaged to Trunks as opposed to Goten, rather well. Except Goku and Chichi. There look on their son's face from last night would haunt them for years to come and they could not take solace at anything that was the cause of the look.
As soon as Trunks saw Uubu his posture changed from that of patient waiting to that of a smug cruel mockery. A turn of events that did not go well for Uubu's already heightened emotions. As soon as Uubu had been released from the clutches of out pouring of emotions by all present save Trunks and had been brought up to speed Trunks took him aside and bluntly posed the question, 'Wondering where Bra is?'
'I am surprised not to see her here.' Uubu admitted, 'As I am surprised at not seeing Goten here.' he gave Trunks an accusing look, 'Should you not be looking for your best friend?' wondered Uubu.
'Whatever for.' Retorted Trunks.
'Have you forgotten the pain you were in when you learned you had lost Marron already?' demanded Uubu, 'Goten has also lost his child.'
Trunks laughed, 'No I have not forgotten.' He assured him, 'The loss of Goten's child is something that will bother him for the rest of his life. I subconscious wonder about what might have been but the pain I felt when I thought I had lost Marron can not be equal to the pain Goten is feeling now. After all I thought I had lost my soulmate. As we speak Goten is in the arms of his.' A horrified look came over Uubu's face the implications of Trunks' statement become clear to him. 'You are not the only one who can read aura's.' Trunks reminded him. But Uubu did not wait to hear this. He ran towards the door at speeds he did not know he was capable off. Determine to find her even as his heart screamed all was lost.
Trunks followed him with his eyes, knowing full well how futile his attempts at holding on to his sister will be. He sighed, no one said love wasn't cruel. But things were starting to work out. At least he believed them to be working out. He was back with Marron. Goten will finally get it through his thick skull that the blue eyes his soul is in love with belong to Bra not Marron. So far the only broken hearts he could see in this mess belonged to Uubu and Pan. He could not tell how permanent those were but he suspected time might heal all their wounds all well. At least he hoped. The nurse came out. Telling them they can go see Marron if they wished. Trunks set aside all thoughts regarding his friends and sibling. There will be plenty of time for that later.
He woke up feeling the loss of his child more acutely than ever. But he also woke to the realisation that perhaps Marron was back with whom she belonged and perhaps... he looked down at the woman who he was currently holding in his arms, the thought fled even before it came. His mind and heart not yet willing to look beyond Marron. A slight touch of guilt began to edge its way into his mind as he remembered that Bra was/is supposed to be Uubu girlfriend. Bra began to still wake. Goten was not sure he was ready to see the look in her eyes. Especially if they were of anger and hate. But than... the memories of last night came back to him... she had been more than willing hadn't see. He was however spared her waking look for footsteps drew his attention to the cave entrance.
'Uubu!' he gasped. Bra jerked awake at that. Indeed Uubu was standing at the cave entrance his eyes shinning with hurt and moist with unshed tears.
'Uubu!' she exclaimed as well as she blindly reached for her cloths. 'How did you find...?' she asked.
'Ki .' Uubu replied. Than he laughed. Which of all the reactions Bra was least expecting, 'At least you didn't say this isn't what it looks like. Probably because it is.' He added. After another look he turned and walked out.
By this time Bra had pulled on sufficient cloths so she ran after him. 'Uubu wait.' He stopped. 'I am so sorry...' she began.
'No your not.' He said quietly. 'I need to think.' He lifted off the ground and took of in the general direction of his house.
For a moment Bra contemplated following. But her perverseness in following when she was told not to is what gave rise to this problem in the first place. So instead she turned back and headed for the cave to put on the remainder of her cloths. Inside she found Goten with his still bare back to her. his entire posture dejected and apologetic. 'My life is ruined.' He commented, 'And it seems that I have managed to ruin yours as well.'
Bra laughed, 'Not your fault.' She said as she tugged on her cloths, 'Our soul's want who they want. To go against them is to run into disaster.' She said cryptically, 'Thinks will work out in the end. They always do.' She added, 'You should return to the hospital. Marron might now be back with my brother but she's still your friend.'
He agreed with her, 'What about you?' he asked.
'I think I'll fly around for awhile.' She said, 'I need to think. Than I think I'll go have a shower. Whatever the state of your emotions might be I don't think you will be spared my father's wrath if he smells you on me.' She joked sadly. Goten said nothing, 'Goodbye, Goten.' His back tensed, 'For now.' She added quickly, he relaxed, she left.
He returned to the hospital amidst out pouring of sympathy from his friends and family. He received them indifferently. They couldn't take away the pain so they meant nothing. He entered the Marron's room to find Trunks sitting next to her bed. Upon him entering Trunks wisely left the room, giving him a brief squeeze on the arm as he left. A silent sign of sympathy, the only one that mattered to Goten.
Marron tried to sit up but the pain that shoot up her spine made her think better of it. 'I am sorry.' She whispered.
'Don't be.' Whispered Goten, 'This was not your fault. This wasn't anyone's fault really.' He laughed, 'I mean Trunks warned me what would happen if I tried to get you against he will of the universe but... I just...' he averted his eyes so she wouldn't see the pain reflected in them, 'I just love you so much, I couldn't help it. I had to try.'
Marron sniffled, 'Trunks has a very annoying habit of being right about these things.' She admitted, 'But its just... it just felt so good to be loved the way you love me that I couldn't help but return it. But...' she paused, 'Trunks is my soulmate. That fact I cannot change, even if I wanted to.'
'Our soul wants who it wants.' Goten repeated Bra's words, 'Love like ours come and go but love like yours and Trunks last forever.' He whispered.
'At least when the free spirit like the one possessed by Trunks finally decides that being free isn't all that's cracked up to be.' Commented Marron. Goten smiled, 'I just wish....' Marron stopped in an attempt to stop herself from crying, 'I just wish I still had my baby. After all my baby did nothing wrong. Why did they have to take him.... her away from me?' she wondered.
'The universe works in mysterious ways.' Goten whispered.
Marron looked at him than. Smiling a radiant smile she said, 'One day you'll find your soulmate as well.' She told him, 'I think,' she reached in his hair and lifted out a long strand of blue hair, 'You might already have.' Goten looked away and said nothing but the word hope floated into his mind.
Bra entered her room throw the window slightly dazed and still very confused. To her infinite surprise Uubu was sitting on her bed. Before she could say anything he said, 'I knew.'
'What?' she asked confused.
'I knew Goten was your soulmate.' Uubu clarified. Bra's eyes widened. The thought had not occurred to her. All she knew was being with Goten just felt very, very right, 'I saw it in you auras.' Uubu informed her, 'I knew that sooner or later you and Goten would realise this and I would lose you. But I just always hoped...' he looked away, 'I just always hoped that Goten would become so caught up in Marron that he would never notice you and that you would be... you would be forever mine.' He looked at her than, his eyes pleading, 'Please be mine.' He pleaded, 'Being some ones soulmates isn't everything in this universe. We rarely meet our soulmates, most of us, most of the time just find someone we really, really love and spend our life with them. It will take time for him to get over her.' Uubu informed her, 'Please be mine till than. Please.' He begged.
Bra stood unmoving for awhile. But than slowly she stepped up to him, tilted his head and kissed him slowly, ardently. A sign Uubu took to mean as yes. He wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss, for now content in her company.
Author's note: I know a lot of you have been waiting for the next chapter of SC. Well I am happy to say that I have written about half of it. But I will not be posting the new chapter either here or at my site till it and the epilogue is complete. So far the SC chunks are only available to the members of my mailing list who have Yahoo ID's.
