Hi hi!
This part is dedicated to Susan and Laike-chan who have supported this fic since the teaser! Also thanks to everyone else who reviewed the first two parts - I wanted to hurry and get this out for all of you! *eyes Playa warily* Can I unlock my door now?
^_^ Enjoy!
Title: Curses!
Author: Stormy
Part: 3/?
Archive: FFNet - anyone else, just ask. ^_^
Comments: Yes please!
Chapter 3
After a brief recess, the group settled back into the living room. As soon as he had been given leave, Trunks had immediately gone to the kitchen and changed himself back into a guy. He had eyed his father with some apprehension when he had re-entered the living room but his father had his own eyes closed. Trunks sank back into his chair, spirits flagging.
Was his father upset that he had a son that was half girl? Did that make him weaker in his eyes? Trunks winced as he thought about some of the interesting developments he and Goten had noticed soon after the shock had sunk in and wondered what his father would have to say about...well, he'd get to that eventually.
Bulma cleared her throat as she finished pouring Chi Chi her coffee and settled back onto her chair. Goten, having changed back, sat next to his mother, twisting his hands in his lap nervously. Every now and then he'd look up at Trunks with a guilty expression and flinch at the cool look he got in return.
" Trunks?" Bulma prodded her son. Trunks scowled.
" Let Goten."
Goten blinked as all eyes fastened on him. " Uh..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Trunks and Goten silently made their way back to the resort where they were staying. The sun had completely set about an hour beforehand, and when Goten glanced back with a sigh, he could see the moonlight glinting off the cursed pools. He shuddered and resolutely turned his gaze forwards.
Beside him, he could tell Trunks was extremely tense. His muscles were all tightened and bunched, and his fists were clenched as he strode purposefully. The muscle in his jaw was tensing too and Goten gulped inaudibly.
" Trunks?" he ventured. " You okay?"
" ..........Fine."
Uh oh. Goten didn't like the sound of that hesitation. He decided to try and lighten the depressing atmosphere that surrounded them.
" It could be kind neat," he said lightly. " I mean, transforming? How cool is that?"
Trunks paused and levelled a flat expression at him. Goten 'meeped and ducked away, but Trunks didn't even raise his hand.
Really not good.
" At least both of us are cursed," he said quietly. " We both know what the other is going through, to some extent."
Trunks' shoulders dropped and he sighed. " I guess so."
" What's the matter Trunks?" Goten asked, wishing he could cheer his friend up. A depressed person by nature, Goten knew how quickly Trunks could sink into a mood where he cut himself off completely. He had talked his friend out of many funks over the years, and that experience was telling him Trunks was on the verge of falling again. " Talk to me."
" I turn into a girl!" Trunks snapped, eyes flashing. " And you ask what's wrong?"
" It could be worse-" Goten attempted but Trunks rounded on him.
" Worse? WORSE? How can it be worse? I can't go home! How can I tell my father his son turns into a girl? You KNOW how he is - he won't even train Bra seriously because he thinks girls are too weak for fighting!"
" You're not weak Trunks!" Goten protested.
" As a guy, no. As a girl?" Trunks hands shook visibly as he raked one through his hair. " Tell me something Goten - did you notice anything different when you were a tiger?"
" You mean besides the striped coat and tail?" Goten asked sarcastically. " No. Why?"
" I have almost no power level."
Goten stopped completely at Trunks' point-blank statement. " What did you say?" He concentrated for a second and shook his head. " No way - your power levels higher then mine."
Trunks growled in frustration. " Didn't you hear what I said? As a GUY! When I'm a girl my power's non-existent!" He started walking again, faster this time, as though trying to outrun his thoughts. " When he was explaining curses and stuff, I tried to raise my ki a bit to dry off faster. I couldn't muster a spark."
Goten blinked. " Maybe it was the shock of the transformation..."
Trunks shook his head. " It took me a while to figure it out. Lime said I fell into the Spring of Drowned Young GIRL." He whipped his head to look at Goten with a dead serious expression. " NOT Drowned Young SAIYAJIN Girl."
It took a minute but A finally connected to B and Goten's mouth dropped open. " You mean..."
" As a girl, I'm completely human," Trunks bit off each word.
Goten fell silent as he realized just what a big deal this was. Completely human - not a halfling. His powers non-existent. His thoughts raced. Trunks still had his martial arts training to fall back on, and his sword skills - but his power, his raw energy was gone, leaving him with a human's strength and ability.
His eyes widened as he realized just why Trunks was so depressed. His father, though he cared for his children, had never made light of the fact that despite Trunks' incredible power that nearly rivalled that of Vegeta's, his son was still a half-breed. Half-breeds had been scorned upon by the Saiyajin race, believing them to weaker and inferior. Vegeta had grown past that mentality years ago, but Trunks had grown up for years believing that his father considered his human blood a taint, an insult to the royal line. Vegeta loved Bulma and his children but very rarely showed it, and even if Vegeta never believed that way of thinking, Trunks would never know it because the man was too damn stubborn to admit that he cared. It was a shame, because Trunks lived for the day when he could hear his father admit that he was proud of him.
But now, Trunks turned into a full human, with absolutely no link to his Saiyajin blood in his cursed form. He let out a low whistle as he realized exactly what must be going through his friends head.
" Trunks..."
" My father will hate me," Trunks said softly, crossing his arms in a protective gesture as they continued walking, albeit slower this time. " Even more then usual."
Goten didn't know what to say - only Vegeta could reassure his son, and he wasn't there. He cleared his throat.
" I think you might be exaggerating a bit Trunks," he said slowly. " And even if you turn into a human, you can still increase your power - look at Krillin and Yamchua..."
His voice trailed off as he remembered a sneering Vegeta condemning the abilities of the human Z senshi. Trunks gave him a dry look, the exact thought running through his head.
" Now you get it."
The two were silent all the way back to the resort.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Peach opened the door before they could and ushered them inside, fussing over them in her distress. Goten could tell she had genuinely liked them, and was truly upset that they had fallen to the curse of Jusenkyo.
" Peach, it wasn't your fault," he tried to reassure her. " You did warn us after all." His head dropped slightly and his tone was bitter. " I just don't do a very good job of listening."
" You poor things," she clucked maternally at them and thrust hot cups of hot chocolate at them. While the weather was beautiful during the day, at night the temperature dropped dramatically, and even now they could hear the howl of the wind outside getting louder. Goten looked at Trunks whose head remained lowered, hair covering his eyes. He sipped the warm drink slowly.
" Maybe we should head home and see if there's anything your mom can do," Goten said finally. " I mean, she's a genius. Maybe she can find something or create something that could prevent the change."
Trunks lifted his head with a faint look of hope. " Maybe."
" We could fly back tonight and be there in no time-"
" You can't fly back tonight," Peach interrupted. " It's going to start raining any minute now, and it's supposed to last for a few days."
Trunks' head thunked back to the tabletop. Goten sweat dropped and then had an idea. He reached over and snatched Trunks' cell phone out of the boy's jacket pocket.
" Goten?"
" I'll see if we can get a flight home tomorrow morning," Goten said punching in the phone number that Peach handed him, obviously thinking that same thing he was. As a hotel proprietor, she had to have all such numbers and contacts handy for her customers. A few minutes later, Goten hung up the phone and gave Trunks the thumbs up.
" Early morning flight," he grinned. Trunks nodded. Peach patted his back soothingly.
" I have many umbrella's you can choose from! Consider it a gift!"
Trunks just groaned.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
" Sorry for being so depressing," Trunks said to his friend the next morning. The flight had been relatively smooth, and while the demi-saiyajin was still a bit peeved at his friend for the whole mess they were in, getting a few hours sleep had let the shock sink in and disperse a bit, letting him wake up in a slightly better mood.
Of course, seeing the rain outside his room had made him growl at the raven-haired boy over breakfast, but all in all, Trunks knew that he had been a bit over the top. At least he wasn't alone in this - Goten had suffered too.
Still, a part of him was wishing he could have fallen into a different spring.
Goten was chewing over something that had been bothering him all morning. He'd had a brief accident in the shower when he'd jumped in before the water had completely warmed up and had huddled in the shower for a few minutes as a bedraggled tiger, but he had clued into something he hadn't noticed the night before, and wouldn't even have considered if Trunks hadn't mentioned it the night before.
" Trunks?"
" What?"
" How come I didn't feel a different level of power when I changed this morning?" He looked at his friend curiously. " Did you notice that about me last night?"
Trunks nodded. " Your power level was still the same."
" Why is that? You turn into a human girl with no power level, but I turn into a tiger and there's no change." Goten chewed his lip thoughtfully. " I don't get it."
" I was thinking about that," Trunks said. " I figure it has to do with the fact that the Saiyajin race is so animalistic in nature - more feral, with more animal instincts. As a tiger, you probably have more in common with your Saiyajin side then you do as you are right now." He shrugged, looking back out the window. " At least, that's all I can think of."
Goten marvelled at his friend's insight. " You're probably right Trunks! Wow." He blinked as he thought of something and began laughing. Trunks eyed him curiously.
" What's so funny?"
" I was just thinking about what would happen if I turned into a tiger while I was flying - I mean, mom think it's bad if people see US zooming around!"
Trunks smiled faintly at that, letting out a small chuckle. Goten felt a victorious rush surge through him at finally breaking that blank expression. Suddenly Trunks buckled his seatbelt. Goten frowned.
" What are you-"
" Please fasten your safety belts as we will begin our descent in five minutes. Thank you." The loudspeaker shut off with a decisive snap. Goten looked at Trunks who had returned to staring out the window.
" Show off."
Trunks snickered.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It seemed like Trunks was getting over being mad and Goten was starting to relax a bit. So they had curses - it's not like it was permanent right? In a year they could gather the Dragonballs and this would all be some kind of freaky memory. No sweat.
He should have known better.
The plane landed and Goten stood up, stretching his muscles. Used to flying under his own power across the skies, cramped airplane seats were really not that great a substitute. Beside him, the crackling noises issuing forth from Trunks' spine as he snapped the vertebrae back into place told him the Brief's heir was having the same problem.
" At least it's over," he grinned. Trunks snorted as he grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder.
" Let's just get it over with."
It was as they were walking down the aisle that the inevitable occurred. A flighty-headed stewardess noticed the handsome young men walking her way. Seeing as they were the last ones aboard, and from what she could tell, not wearing wedding bands, she decided to catch their attention. She picked up a tray of glasses and turned to them with a smile, intending to offer them some last minute refreshment.
As mentioned - that was her intent.
As she turned, her heel caught on the elevated ridge that ran along the airplane corridor and she stumbled forwards. One glass, perched precariously on the edge of the tray instead of being centred, tipped forwards, dousing the purple-headed one. The black-haired boy managed to leap backwards to avoid the splash. When the stewardess regained her footing, she came face-to-face with the lavender-haired...girl?
" Hey! Weren't you a-"
" Watch what you're doing!" Trunks shrieked at her, making her back away fearfully. Goten muffled a laugh behind him and Trunks whirled around, eyes flashing.
" Don't you dare laugh Goten or I'll cut off your tail!"
Goten looked confused. " But I didn't get wet-"
" I don't mean the tiger one."
Goten turned white and stopped laughing. Frozen, he decided to hang back a second until Trunks had stormed off the plane. He glanced at the stunned stewardess and took pity on her, surrounded by spilled glasses. He knelt down next to her.
" Can I give you a hand?"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Trunks started growling and Goten stopped talking, ducking behind his mother's shoulder. Bulma threw a napkin at her son.
" Trunks!" Her voice softened. " You want to take over?"
Trunks scowled and sank further down in his seat. " I think we've said enough for one day."
Chi Chi frowned. " But I still don't understand why you're so mad!"
Everyone stared at her. She blushed.
" I mean, besides the obvious."
" FINE!" Trunks shouted. " I'll tell you! Then I can actually get around to smashing Goten through the stratosphere!"
Goten gulped as Trunks got to the point of their story.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Trunks stomped out the doorway and thundered down the ramp to the tarmac, still steamed. Just as she was trying to put it out of her mind for a while, it got thrown right back in her face. There was just no escaping it - her life was at an all time low. It just couldn't get any worse.
She should have known better.
Still fuming, Trunks didn't watch where she was going and ploughed right into a human wall.
" Oh!"
Arms flailing, Trunks stumbled over a bag that had been left at her feet and pitched forwards. Closing her eyes, she braced herself for a rough landing.
It never came.
Two arms slipped around her waist and hauled her upright. Bracing herself on her rescuer's shoulder, Trunks looked up over her own with a grin.
" Thanks pal-"
" It was my pleasure miss," came a smooth voice. Trunks blinked. Her rescuer looked down at her with a dazzling smile. Golden blonde hair framed an angled face with two chips of blue trained on her with an intensity that would have scared her had she not grown up facing Vegeta's death glares all her life.
" Uh.."
" Please, allow me to introduce myself." The young man tossed his head back, letting the silky waves settle back around his shoulders. " I am Michael Sanzenine, descended from the greatest athlete of all time, the illustrious Mikado. "
With a quick twist, Trunks was turned around in his arms, her face inches from his.
" Hey! What are you-"
" As payment for my dashing rescue of your delicate person, I'll accept a kiss as a token of your appreciation."
Trunks growled. It was not the fact that she was in a man's arms - it was the fact that she was not in the arms of the man she would have preferred. She pulled back one fist - weak human girl or no, she still knew the principles behind driving a punch through the nasal cavity-
" Trunks man, what's the hold up?"
Goten bounded down the stairs not paying attention to where he was going. As he reached the bottom he tripped over the same bag that had knocked Trunks off-balance and he waved his arms to regain his balance. One arm struck Trunks in the back, forcing her forwards.
Right into Michael.
Trunks' eyes widened in shock as her lips pressed against the arrogant jerk. The man knew how to take advantage of her stunned position and quickly darted his tongue between her lips, his hands sliding lower down her back until with Trunks squeaked. Her mind crystallized in a flash and she lashed out instinctively, shoving Michael away from her violently. Without pausing, her fist snapped up catching him flush in the jaw knocking him far enough back to drive her foot in a spot that would practically guarantee the illustrious Sanzenine line had reached a painful end. Michael gasped, turned blue, and passed out.
Goten blinked. " Trunks-"
Trunks abruptly turned away from him and doubled over, vomiting. She coughed harshly, gagging as her stomach completely emptied itself onto the tarmac. It was too disgusting - she could still feel that jerk's slimy tongue forcing its way into her mouth, his hands touching him, grabbing-Trunks threw up again.
Goten watched nervously. It had just caught up to him what had happened and he was scared out of his mind.
He was in big trouble.
" Uh Trunks?" he asked tentatively. He took a cautious step forward. " Are you-"
Trunks straightened slowly, still facing away from him. She spat, trying to rid her mouth of the foul taste - whether that was Michael or vomit, she didn't know and didn't care. Her first official kiss of her life and it had been with a perfect stranger. A very dislikeable stranger. And it was thanks to Goten.
She could handle this.
Very calmly, she reached down and picked up her backpack from where it had fallen during the whole encounter and fastened it securely on her back. Still not looking, she spoke quietly, each word a chip of ice.
" You get a five second head start."
Goten gulped and backed away. Trunks may have been in human girl form, and it may have been very faint, but there was definitely some sort of battle aura flaring up around her. Not good.
" Four."
" Accident!" he choked out. " Accident!"
" Three."
Goten turned around to quickly and slipped on a puddle of water. His clothes ripped beyond repair as his tiger form burst free. Observers making their way across the tarmac began screaming that a tiger was on the loose. Throughout it all, Trunks never moved.
" Two."
Goten snatched up his bag in his teeth and looked up to see Trunks' sword yanked free from its sheath.
" ONE!"
Goten yelped and fled. Trunks, screaming and cursing a blue streak, followed hot on the big cat's paws, swinging her sword like a madwoman. The two practically blurred across the airstrip, leaped over the fence and vanished into the horizon.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
" You know the rest of it," Trunks finished sourly. Dead silence met his final statement as everyone absorbed what he had said. Trunks stood up and Goten gulped again.
" Five seconds?"
" Three."
" Gotcha."
Goten vanished out the living room door, and Trunks took off after him. Bulma blinked, dazed. Then her eyes fell on the floor by where Trunks had been sitting.
" At least he left his sword."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
End Chapter 3
Is anyone else noticing a few similarities between what's happening here and what's in Ranma 1/2? I assure you - they are all intentional. How many references, obscure or obvious, can you spot? ^_^
C&C please!
Stormy
http://stormyfics.homestead.com
The Chibi Chronicles! http://stormyfics.homestead.com/chibichronicles.html
This part is dedicated to Susan and Laike-chan who have supported this fic since the teaser! Also thanks to everyone else who reviewed the first two parts - I wanted to hurry and get this out for all of you! *eyes Playa warily* Can I unlock my door now?
^_^ Enjoy!
Title: Curses!
Author: Stormy
Part: 3/?
Archive: FFNet - anyone else, just ask. ^_^
Comments: Yes please!
Chapter 3
After a brief recess, the group settled back into the living room. As soon as he had been given leave, Trunks had immediately gone to the kitchen and changed himself back into a guy. He had eyed his father with some apprehension when he had re-entered the living room but his father had his own eyes closed. Trunks sank back into his chair, spirits flagging.
Was his father upset that he had a son that was half girl? Did that make him weaker in his eyes? Trunks winced as he thought about some of the interesting developments he and Goten had noticed soon after the shock had sunk in and wondered what his father would have to say about...well, he'd get to that eventually.
Bulma cleared her throat as she finished pouring Chi Chi her coffee and settled back onto her chair. Goten, having changed back, sat next to his mother, twisting his hands in his lap nervously. Every now and then he'd look up at Trunks with a guilty expression and flinch at the cool look he got in return.
" Trunks?" Bulma prodded her son. Trunks scowled.
" Let Goten."
Goten blinked as all eyes fastened on him. " Uh..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Trunks and Goten silently made their way back to the resort where they were staying. The sun had completely set about an hour beforehand, and when Goten glanced back with a sigh, he could see the moonlight glinting off the cursed pools. He shuddered and resolutely turned his gaze forwards.
Beside him, he could tell Trunks was extremely tense. His muscles were all tightened and bunched, and his fists were clenched as he strode purposefully. The muscle in his jaw was tensing too and Goten gulped inaudibly.
" Trunks?" he ventured. " You okay?"
" ..........Fine."
Uh oh. Goten didn't like the sound of that hesitation. He decided to try and lighten the depressing atmosphere that surrounded them.
" It could be kind neat," he said lightly. " I mean, transforming? How cool is that?"
Trunks paused and levelled a flat expression at him. Goten 'meeped and ducked away, but Trunks didn't even raise his hand.
Really not good.
" At least both of us are cursed," he said quietly. " We both know what the other is going through, to some extent."
Trunks' shoulders dropped and he sighed. " I guess so."
" What's the matter Trunks?" Goten asked, wishing he could cheer his friend up. A depressed person by nature, Goten knew how quickly Trunks could sink into a mood where he cut himself off completely. He had talked his friend out of many funks over the years, and that experience was telling him Trunks was on the verge of falling again. " Talk to me."
" I turn into a girl!" Trunks snapped, eyes flashing. " And you ask what's wrong?"
" It could be worse-" Goten attempted but Trunks rounded on him.
" Worse? WORSE? How can it be worse? I can't go home! How can I tell my father his son turns into a girl? You KNOW how he is - he won't even train Bra seriously because he thinks girls are too weak for fighting!"
" You're not weak Trunks!" Goten protested.
" As a guy, no. As a girl?" Trunks hands shook visibly as he raked one through his hair. " Tell me something Goten - did you notice anything different when you were a tiger?"
" You mean besides the striped coat and tail?" Goten asked sarcastically. " No. Why?"
" I have almost no power level."
Goten stopped completely at Trunks' point-blank statement. " What did you say?" He concentrated for a second and shook his head. " No way - your power levels higher then mine."
Trunks growled in frustration. " Didn't you hear what I said? As a GUY! When I'm a girl my power's non-existent!" He started walking again, faster this time, as though trying to outrun his thoughts. " When he was explaining curses and stuff, I tried to raise my ki a bit to dry off faster. I couldn't muster a spark."
Goten blinked. " Maybe it was the shock of the transformation..."
Trunks shook his head. " It took me a while to figure it out. Lime said I fell into the Spring of Drowned Young GIRL." He whipped his head to look at Goten with a dead serious expression. " NOT Drowned Young SAIYAJIN Girl."
It took a minute but A finally connected to B and Goten's mouth dropped open. " You mean..."
" As a girl, I'm completely human," Trunks bit off each word.
Goten fell silent as he realized just what a big deal this was. Completely human - not a halfling. His powers non-existent. His thoughts raced. Trunks still had his martial arts training to fall back on, and his sword skills - but his power, his raw energy was gone, leaving him with a human's strength and ability.
His eyes widened as he realized just why Trunks was so depressed. His father, though he cared for his children, had never made light of the fact that despite Trunks' incredible power that nearly rivalled that of Vegeta's, his son was still a half-breed. Half-breeds had been scorned upon by the Saiyajin race, believing them to weaker and inferior. Vegeta had grown past that mentality years ago, but Trunks had grown up for years believing that his father considered his human blood a taint, an insult to the royal line. Vegeta loved Bulma and his children but very rarely showed it, and even if Vegeta never believed that way of thinking, Trunks would never know it because the man was too damn stubborn to admit that he cared. It was a shame, because Trunks lived for the day when he could hear his father admit that he was proud of him.
But now, Trunks turned into a full human, with absolutely no link to his Saiyajin blood in his cursed form. He let out a low whistle as he realized exactly what must be going through his friends head.
" Trunks..."
" My father will hate me," Trunks said softly, crossing his arms in a protective gesture as they continued walking, albeit slower this time. " Even more then usual."
Goten didn't know what to say - only Vegeta could reassure his son, and he wasn't there. He cleared his throat.
" I think you might be exaggerating a bit Trunks," he said slowly. " And even if you turn into a human, you can still increase your power - look at Krillin and Yamchua..."
His voice trailed off as he remembered a sneering Vegeta condemning the abilities of the human Z senshi. Trunks gave him a dry look, the exact thought running through his head.
" Now you get it."
The two were silent all the way back to the resort.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Peach opened the door before they could and ushered them inside, fussing over them in her distress. Goten could tell she had genuinely liked them, and was truly upset that they had fallen to the curse of Jusenkyo.
" Peach, it wasn't your fault," he tried to reassure her. " You did warn us after all." His head dropped slightly and his tone was bitter. " I just don't do a very good job of listening."
" You poor things," she clucked maternally at them and thrust hot cups of hot chocolate at them. While the weather was beautiful during the day, at night the temperature dropped dramatically, and even now they could hear the howl of the wind outside getting louder. Goten looked at Trunks whose head remained lowered, hair covering his eyes. He sipped the warm drink slowly.
" Maybe we should head home and see if there's anything your mom can do," Goten said finally. " I mean, she's a genius. Maybe she can find something or create something that could prevent the change."
Trunks lifted his head with a faint look of hope. " Maybe."
" We could fly back tonight and be there in no time-"
" You can't fly back tonight," Peach interrupted. " It's going to start raining any minute now, and it's supposed to last for a few days."
Trunks' head thunked back to the tabletop. Goten sweat dropped and then had an idea. He reached over and snatched Trunks' cell phone out of the boy's jacket pocket.
" Goten?"
" I'll see if we can get a flight home tomorrow morning," Goten said punching in the phone number that Peach handed him, obviously thinking that same thing he was. As a hotel proprietor, she had to have all such numbers and contacts handy for her customers. A few minutes later, Goten hung up the phone and gave Trunks the thumbs up.
" Early morning flight," he grinned. Trunks nodded. Peach patted his back soothingly.
" I have many umbrella's you can choose from! Consider it a gift!"
Trunks just groaned.
~*~*~*~*~*~*
" Sorry for being so depressing," Trunks said to his friend the next morning. The flight had been relatively smooth, and while the demi-saiyajin was still a bit peeved at his friend for the whole mess they were in, getting a few hours sleep had let the shock sink in and disperse a bit, letting him wake up in a slightly better mood.
Of course, seeing the rain outside his room had made him growl at the raven-haired boy over breakfast, but all in all, Trunks knew that he had been a bit over the top. At least he wasn't alone in this - Goten had suffered too.
Still, a part of him was wishing he could have fallen into a different spring.
Goten was chewing over something that had been bothering him all morning. He'd had a brief accident in the shower when he'd jumped in before the water had completely warmed up and had huddled in the shower for a few minutes as a bedraggled tiger, but he had clued into something he hadn't noticed the night before, and wouldn't even have considered if Trunks hadn't mentioned it the night before.
" Trunks?"
" What?"
" How come I didn't feel a different level of power when I changed this morning?" He looked at his friend curiously. " Did you notice that about me last night?"
Trunks nodded. " Your power level was still the same."
" Why is that? You turn into a human girl with no power level, but I turn into a tiger and there's no change." Goten chewed his lip thoughtfully. " I don't get it."
" I was thinking about that," Trunks said. " I figure it has to do with the fact that the Saiyajin race is so animalistic in nature - more feral, with more animal instincts. As a tiger, you probably have more in common with your Saiyajin side then you do as you are right now." He shrugged, looking back out the window. " At least, that's all I can think of."
Goten marvelled at his friend's insight. " You're probably right Trunks! Wow." He blinked as he thought of something and began laughing. Trunks eyed him curiously.
" What's so funny?"
" I was just thinking about what would happen if I turned into a tiger while I was flying - I mean, mom think it's bad if people see US zooming around!"
Trunks smiled faintly at that, letting out a small chuckle. Goten felt a victorious rush surge through him at finally breaking that blank expression. Suddenly Trunks buckled his seatbelt. Goten frowned.
" What are you-"
" Please fasten your safety belts as we will begin our descent in five minutes. Thank you." The loudspeaker shut off with a decisive snap. Goten looked at Trunks who had returned to staring out the window.
" Show off."
Trunks snickered.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It seemed like Trunks was getting over being mad and Goten was starting to relax a bit. So they had curses - it's not like it was permanent right? In a year they could gather the Dragonballs and this would all be some kind of freaky memory. No sweat.
He should have known better.
The plane landed and Goten stood up, stretching his muscles. Used to flying under his own power across the skies, cramped airplane seats were really not that great a substitute. Beside him, the crackling noises issuing forth from Trunks' spine as he snapped the vertebrae back into place told him the Brief's heir was having the same problem.
" At least it's over," he grinned. Trunks snorted as he grabbed his backpack and slung it over his shoulder.
" Let's just get it over with."
It was as they were walking down the aisle that the inevitable occurred. A flighty-headed stewardess noticed the handsome young men walking her way. Seeing as they were the last ones aboard, and from what she could tell, not wearing wedding bands, she decided to catch their attention. She picked up a tray of glasses and turned to them with a smile, intending to offer them some last minute refreshment.
As mentioned - that was her intent.
As she turned, her heel caught on the elevated ridge that ran along the airplane corridor and she stumbled forwards. One glass, perched precariously on the edge of the tray instead of being centred, tipped forwards, dousing the purple-headed one. The black-haired boy managed to leap backwards to avoid the splash. When the stewardess regained her footing, she came face-to-face with the lavender-haired...girl?
" Hey! Weren't you a-"
" Watch what you're doing!" Trunks shrieked at her, making her back away fearfully. Goten muffled a laugh behind him and Trunks whirled around, eyes flashing.
" Don't you dare laugh Goten or I'll cut off your tail!"
Goten looked confused. " But I didn't get wet-"
" I don't mean the tiger one."
Goten turned white and stopped laughing. Frozen, he decided to hang back a second until Trunks had stormed off the plane. He glanced at the stunned stewardess and took pity on her, surrounded by spilled glasses. He knelt down next to her.
" Can I give you a hand?"
*~*~*~*~*~*
Trunks started growling and Goten stopped talking, ducking behind his mother's shoulder. Bulma threw a napkin at her son.
" Trunks!" Her voice softened. " You want to take over?"
Trunks scowled and sank further down in his seat. " I think we've said enough for one day."
Chi Chi frowned. " But I still don't understand why you're so mad!"
Everyone stared at her. She blushed.
" I mean, besides the obvious."
" FINE!" Trunks shouted. " I'll tell you! Then I can actually get around to smashing Goten through the stratosphere!"
Goten gulped as Trunks got to the point of their story.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Trunks stomped out the doorway and thundered down the ramp to the tarmac, still steamed. Just as she was trying to put it out of her mind for a while, it got thrown right back in her face. There was just no escaping it - her life was at an all time low. It just couldn't get any worse.
She should have known better.
Still fuming, Trunks didn't watch where she was going and ploughed right into a human wall.
" Oh!"
Arms flailing, Trunks stumbled over a bag that had been left at her feet and pitched forwards. Closing her eyes, she braced herself for a rough landing.
It never came.
Two arms slipped around her waist and hauled her upright. Bracing herself on her rescuer's shoulder, Trunks looked up over her own with a grin.
" Thanks pal-"
" It was my pleasure miss," came a smooth voice. Trunks blinked. Her rescuer looked down at her with a dazzling smile. Golden blonde hair framed an angled face with two chips of blue trained on her with an intensity that would have scared her had she not grown up facing Vegeta's death glares all her life.
" Uh.."
" Please, allow me to introduce myself." The young man tossed his head back, letting the silky waves settle back around his shoulders. " I am Michael Sanzenine, descended from the greatest athlete of all time, the illustrious Mikado. "
With a quick twist, Trunks was turned around in his arms, her face inches from his.
" Hey! What are you-"
" As payment for my dashing rescue of your delicate person, I'll accept a kiss as a token of your appreciation."
Trunks growled. It was not the fact that she was in a man's arms - it was the fact that she was not in the arms of the man she would have preferred. She pulled back one fist - weak human girl or no, she still knew the principles behind driving a punch through the nasal cavity-
" Trunks man, what's the hold up?"
Goten bounded down the stairs not paying attention to where he was going. As he reached the bottom he tripped over the same bag that had knocked Trunks off-balance and he waved his arms to regain his balance. One arm struck Trunks in the back, forcing her forwards.
Right into Michael.
Trunks' eyes widened in shock as her lips pressed against the arrogant jerk. The man knew how to take advantage of her stunned position and quickly darted his tongue between her lips, his hands sliding lower down her back until with Trunks squeaked. Her mind crystallized in a flash and she lashed out instinctively, shoving Michael away from her violently. Without pausing, her fist snapped up catching him flush in the jaw knocking him far enough back to drive her foot in a spot that would practically guarantee the illustrious Sanzenine line had reached a painful end. Michael gasped, turned blue, and passed out.
Goten blinked. " Trunks-"
Trunks abruptly turned away from him and doubled over, vomiting. She coughed harshly, gagging as her stomach completely emptied itself onto the tarmac. It was too disgusting - she could still feel that jerk's slimy tongue forcing its way into her mouth, his hands touching him, grabbing-Trunks threw up again.
Goten watched nervously. It had just caught up to him what had happened and he was scared out of his mind.
He was in big trouble.
" Uh Trunks?" he asked tentatively. He took a cautious step forward. " Are you-"
Trunks straightened slowly, still facing away from him. She spat, trying to rid her mouth of the foul taste - whether that was Michael or vomit, she didn't know and didn't care. Her first official kiss of her life and it had been with a perfect stranger. A very dislikeable stranger. And it was thanks to Goten.
She could handle this.
Very calmly, she reached down and picked up her backpack from where it had fallen during the whole encounter and fastened it securely on her back. Still not looking, she spoke quietly, each word a chip of ice.
" You get a five second head start."
Goten gulped and backed away. Trunks may have been in human girl form, and it may have been very faint, but there was definitely some sort of battle aura flaring up around her. Not good.
" Four."
" Accident!" he choked out. " Accident!"
" Three."
Goten turned around to quickly and slipped on a puddle of water. His clothes ripped beyond repair as his tiger form burst free. Observers making their way across the tarmac began screaming that a tiger was on the loose. Throughout it all, Trunks never moved.
" Two."
Goten snatched up his bag in his teeth and looked up to see Trunks' sword yanked free from its sheath.
" ONE!"
Goten yelped and fled. Trunks, screaming and cursing a blue streak, followed hot on the big cat's paws, swinging her sword like a madwoman. The two practically blurred across the airstrip, leaped over the fence and vanished into the horizon.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
" You know the rest of it," Trunks finished sourly. Dead silence met his final statement as everyone absorbed what he had said. Trunks stood up and Goten gulped again.
" Five seconds?"
" Three."
" Gotcha."
Goten vanished out the living room door, and Trunks took off after him. Bulma blinked, dazed. Then her eyes fell on the floor by where Trunks had been sitting.
" At least he left his sword."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
End Chapter 3
Is anyone else noticing a few similarities between what's happening here and what's in Ranma 1/2? I assure you - they are all intentional. How many references, obscure or obvious, can you spot? ^_^
C&C please!
Stormy
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The Chibi Chronicles! http://stormyfics.homestead.com/chibichronicles.html
