A/N: You can expect many things from this fic (I hope).  Angst is one of them and hopefully crap won't be.  The pairings, whether implied or focused on, are: T/P, MT/M, Goten/Bra, Krillin/18, Goku/CC, Bulma/Vegeta, Gohan/Videl.  Beware of silly chapter titles. ;)

IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY ANGST (DEATH, TORTURE, MIND GAMES) THEN YOU CLICKED ON THE WRONG LINK.  YOUR FLUFF AWAITS YOU.  GO TO IT.  :)

Ages of the "kids":

Mirai Trunks: 35

Trunks: 35

Pan: (just turned) 21

Goten: 34

Bra: 21

Marron: 31

"The Elegance of Deception"

Chapter One: "Bulma's Brief Final Wish!"

            His eyes slipped closed and his fists clinched at his sides as an elegant mahogany coffin was lowered into the awaiting earth.  He had promised himself that he wouldn't cry, that he would be strong enough to get through this.  But all he could see were a pair of bright azure eyes that shined in his presence, that held the very definition of strength, that held an insatiable pain, and that held a wisdom beyond his comprehension.  And when that would fade, aqua locks of hair would replace the vision, flowing like crystalline waters.  Trunks pried his sapphire eyes open and looked away from the scene before him. 

            The surrounding landscape did nothing to quell the pain that raged inside him.  Birds flew happily between the scattered trees.  Flowers wavered in the slight breeze that had picked up.  Tombstones of various shapes and sizes stood in memorial to all of those lost to the physical realm.  Verdant grasses sprouted around them as if they would try to defend the sacred stones with the very best of their ability.  Above, the sky was ablaze with distinct clouds floating harmlessly against the endless blue.  In theory, it was a perfect day.

            And Trunks hated it.  The world would go on without her there.  Birds, flowers, and the other nice things in life wouldn't stop for a moment to mourn the loss of her being.  It should be gray, he thought.  The aerial creatures shouldn't chirp a content tune and flowers should be a dim crimson--better yet, rotting and dying.  Rain should pour and everything should be miserable that she wasn't there.  Just like him.

            He wished he could just go home, throw off his uncomfortable tie and expensive shoes, and have her smile at him.  Her smiles...her laughter...they could make anything better.  But not anymore.  She was gone.  She was his light, his world, his hope...she was his mother. 

            Yes, the ever-famous Bulma Briefs has passed away.  The same heart virus that took the life of her dearest friend Goku, took her own life as well.  She had passed her symptoms off with simple excuses of working too hard or having the flu, and so they caught it too late.  Trunks hated the irony of her death...killed by her own stubbornness...her own will to live--

            "Trunks," a hand on his arm brought him from his thoughts, "are you going to be alright?"

            The demi-saiya-jin turned and attempted to smile at the aging Chi-Chi.  She had never been the same since Gohan died, always traveling with her father.  "I--"

            "Of course he will be, dear," the Ox-King butted in, not hearing Trunks' attempt at a reply, "he's the one who saved us all from the androids.  He's a strong one."  The giant of a man grinned, seemingly forgetting they were at a funeral.

            Trunks half-smile crumbled.  Quietly, he looked toward the ground. 

"Dad!" Chi-Chi scorned quickly.  Turning her attentions back to the forlorn man before her she said, "Are you, Trunks?  Okay, I mean?"

A sigh escaped him.  "I...I don't know."  Worry filled the widow's eyes.  Since Bulma died three weeks ago, Chi-Chi had taken up a motherly role with him ever since he phoned her about his mother's passing. "M-mom always seemed to be the, uh, strong one."

A thoughtful expression graced the raven-haired woman's features. "Yes...she's always been like that.  Especially with all that's ha-happened over the years." Suddenly a flash of anger sparked on her face. "I wish those androids would have never been created!"

"We all do, Hun."  Ox-King placed his large hands on his daughter's shoulders.  He was growing old, but he vowed he wouldn't leave his daughter's side after she'd already lost so much.

She nodded numbly, but her expression again changed, and she smiled...a genuine smile.  "But she was so proud of you, Trunks.  When we'd talk, gosh...you're all she talked about."  Trunks blushed.  "The people of Earth owe you a lot.  We're finally able to live without fear again!"

He nodded, used to all of praise he received for destroying the androids.  "I, umm, I've got a problem now..."

Chi-Chi's gaze fell to the grass next to her feet.  "Bulma's last request."

"You know?" Sapphire eyes widened in surprise.

The mother smirked.  "Of course.  You think your mom would ask you to do something that like and expect you to actually do it without someone forcing you to?"  Trunks gave a small nervous laugh. "She called me the night before she...died.  You were asleep in the chair next to her, she said.  Your mom told me what she wanted for you.  And I know that you, Trunks Briefs, wouldn't dare leave this world for another.  Earth would be unprotected from any bad thing that came."  Her hands found her hips with ease.

"Well...it would be," he spoke meekly.

"Nothing's came since...well you know, but that's over.  We'll be fine!" she urged. "Besides, I've still got some fight left in me."

The last of the Z-gang shared a laugh.  The giant of a man grew serious and stepped next to his daughter.  "Chi-Chi's right.  You need to go...it's what your mother wanted."

Trunks groaned, looking like a ten-year-old after being told that he has to get up early to go to church on Sunday morning.  "Does everyone know my mom's final request or something?"

Chi-Chi moved forward and brought Trunks into a hug, ignoring his remark.  "You have to go.  She's back there...your father...my son...my Goku.  You deserve it, kid!"

The tall man hugged her back.  "Come with me?"

She pulled back and walked to her father's side.  "We'll stay."

Trunks was about to protest, but was cut off by Chi-Chi's father.  "She's right.  This world needs at least some of its original special fighters left!"     

The other funeral-goers looked toward Trunks, Chi-Chi, and the Ox-King.  Their conversation seemed too important to interrupt and so they all went their separate ways, having already given Trunks their condolences and undying thanks for saving them all.

Trunks sat in his room that same night.  His bed spread was damp with drying tears, and a small capsule marked in bold with 01 lay on his pillow.  It contained money.  It was the only thing he felt he would need.  He knew the currency would be current and therefore quite usable.  But the whole situation bothered him, naturally. 

He took a deep breath and swallowed his pain.  "Strong...yeah, I can do that." He shook his head.  "Right."  Deciding thinking was becoming too bothersome, he opted for sleep.  As he pulled down the covers and crawled under the creamy sheets, he could almost see his mother rolling her eyes at him and could almost hear her saying, "Thirty-five-years-old and he still acts like he's seventeen.  Ack!  He still looks seventeen...I guess my baby will never grow up!"

            "Are you sure this thing will work?"  Chi-Chi inquired skeptically the next morning. 

            Trunks looked down at her from his position of halfway in the time machine.  "I really, really hope so."

            The woman frowned.  "You're too much."

            He nimbly leapt from craft and landed before his other-mother.  "I get that a lot."

            The two shared a hug.  "We'll miss you, Trunks."

            "I'll miss you both," he voiced sincerely. "But...what about Capsu--"
            "Bulma has had that taken care of," Chi-Chi said quickly.  Trunks just nodded, not wanting to question the temperamental lady.

            Argh!  Of all of the insolence...you'd think that they would have sent me to the proper time to do their job.  Oh well, alls well after all.  The future brat that they want is in this time...just about to go back to the one I need to be in.  That's just dandy!  I'd better make sure he doesn't go too far back...that'd be no fun.  Humans and saiyans are so alike...they're all just so ignorant.

            Oh yes, I have a few minutes now.  It seems the one called Trunks has gotten into an argument with the elderly woman about some garment called 'underwear'.  Now, my dear Log, I was citing what I was doing, wasn't I?  Yes, I was.

            These Z-Warriors, as their are commonly known around the universe, have angered some certain people.  Well, these people can't do a single thing to them...but I can, and here I am.  I always do the dirty work...maybe I should start a plan to take over the universe.  Yes, yes, good, good.  Note to self: take over Frieza's empire from whoever the hell is running it nowadays.  If you could hear me mumble, Log, I'd be doing it right now.  Yes, I'd be mumbling, "Their plan required years, but I couldn't just wait that long.  Nope, so they send me on a half-assed time trip to the WRONG TIME...But what are years when you're dead?  They've got all eternity!"  Oh yes, that's what I'd be mumbling if you could hear me mumble.

            Oh, oh, oh!  Lavender-haired man is getting ready to leave.  I had better catch a ride, no?  This shall be continued later, Log.

            The capsule's top closed.  Trunks waved to those on the ground as the awkward machine lifted into the air as they waved back at him. 

            "Bye, Trunks!  We'll miss you!"  Chi-Chi called to the demi-human, tears gathering in her ebony orbs.  A bright flash of light blazed from the capsule.  The two on the ground thought it normal as they covered their eyes, never having seen a time machine in action before.  They had no idea it was caused by a figure appearing and latching itself onto the glass as the machine began to dissipate.

            As the light faded with Trunks and the unknown stowaway, Chi-Chi jolted upright with a gasp.  "What's wrong, Chi-Chi?" the Ox-King asked with concern, his gaze on his daughter.

            She frowned.  "Trunks forgot his lunch."

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Will Trunks make it back to the past in one piece?  Will he even be in the right time?  Who the hell is this creature?  And will I stop asking questions I'm bound to answer later?   Find out next time! :) 

Review if ya love me!  *gets no reviews*  Erm, scratch that love me part...  ^!^;