Disclaimer: You know the drill.I don't own DBZ!

Author's Note: Okay, here's the second chapter. As said before, this was originally the sequel to the first part, but I've decided to add more. Please, don't expect chapters to be this frequent. I had this started three months back and just got off my butt to finish it. I will try to have more fun, with more of my favorite characters(yes, this also means Veggie-sama) and it will probably end up being yaoi later on. The certain goddess in this story I completely made up.she's mine, but does it really matter? R&R!

~Ten Years Later~

I may be temporarily weakened but I will return, striking at the hearts of those that you love most when you least expect it. Be forewarned, Son Goten, you have not seen the last of me.The chilling voice faded into a soft hum as a sweaty and raggedly breathing Goten sat up in his bed, trying to regain his senses after having a nightmare that hadn't entered his mind in a long time. It had been nearly ten years since the incident with Bebi where he had tried to control him and then he had killed his best friend, causing the pain of it to trigger a reaction, and that was when he'd tasted the power of being a Super Saiy-jin for the first time. Trunks had forgotten about it over time, and Goten wished he could say the same, but it had scored a mark through his memory, leaving him susceptible to dreams of a reoccurring ache if the slightest thing troubled him.

Drawing another deep breath, he gracefully slid from his bed and stumbled over to a small desk, where he flicked on the light, revealing piles of notebook paper and schoolbooks. Perhaps if he labored over the work that had been assigned to him in his sophomore lit class that previous day, then he might be able to forget the entire thing and move on with his life, which was going ever slowly since nothing evil had plagued the earth in a while. He reached for the paper with given themes that he could chose to write on and skimmed through them, one finally catching his eye.

Topic 7: Give an example of the most painful experience that can be remembered to date. Follow this short personal narrative with an explanation on your own thesis of why some people are able to retain these incidents while others tend to forget. Possible credit may be given for the best-explained article on this matter.

It was perfect, although it had a little too much concerning the anatomy of the human brain, since he detested science with a passion, but it would work. He would write the greatest paper he'd ever concocted if it would make the entire thing disappear and he wouldn't have to relive the emotional hurt of it all again and again. Grabbing a pen and a notebook, he flipped it open to a blank page and began to scribble in his small neat handwriting.

The smell of death was everywhere around me, and I could feel it floating closer, causing my heart to beat faster. It was as nothing I had felt before, the fear welling up inside of me, and all I wanted to do was fall upon my knees and scream. I desired nothing less than to be with my best friend again, playing, doing everything that children do when they have the need to, but I knew it wasn't possible. Nothing would ever be as it had been before.my best friend was dead, and I had killed him-

Trunks noticed that something seemed off key about his friend, the following day, as they walked through the hallway, heading towards their lockers as he lectured him on his theory about teenage love, and why some were destined to have it and others destined to fail. Goten mechanically agreed with him, when he had to, and methodically pulled books from his backpack to throw them into the metal box he liked to call a cabinet; it was small enough to be considered one. Trunks leaned up against the wall, and flashed a smile to a couple of girls that were walking by, snickering as they both began to giggle and blush as they hurriedly left the corridor towards a classroom.

"See what I mean, Chibi? People just think it's about a perfect face and body, and that's where all of the mistakes go wrong in a relationship." Goten grabbed the notebook that held his next period assignment, and glanced nervously through it. The teacher might not even believe that he had written it himself and might think that Trunks had done it, like he'd done before, because it didn't sound like him and it was too long. There was nearly eleven pages of material, and they'd been required to write only three to four; plus, the words resonated a dark tone that gave the impression that it had, in fact, happened. He grimaced as he slammed the locker door shut, and Trunks glanced at him strangely.

"Chibi, what's bothering you? Did you forget to do your homework for lit class again?" He shook his head as they trudged down the hall, the warning bell ringing in their ears.

"No, it's not that. I actually did a paper this time, but.it doesn't sound like I wrote it. It.well, it has more of a tone that you would have used. You are the genius, right?" Trunks beamed a smile, and waved his typed paper in his face, the plastic covering glinting under the artificial lights.

"You bet. I even had Okaasan read it over before I printed it, and she said that it was.let me see.beyond the comprehension that I should have at my age," he replied, glancing at Goten as his friend looked grimly at his notebook, feeling the words in the pages burn into his fingers through the entire thing. He decided to change the subject, and not brag about his intelligence when he knew that Goten had difficulty with most subjects, except for gym, and quickly snatched the notebook from him. Goten protested only slightly, when he saw him flip to the end and skip the beginning as he began to read.

" '.and so, many people wish not to retain things that have caused them pain in the past because it is just that; too painful to even think about, but others are not quite as lucky. They simply remember the events in their life to help them learn from mistakes that might not, other wise, have happened, and they are expected to grow and mature with recollecting the information that was stored in there brain from these painful experiences. In the end, it is the stronger willed that will surpass those weaker of heart, and they have survived with the help of things that would have killed most other people.'" Trunks looked up at Goten, who was busy staring at his feet as they walked, his eyes wide. "Wow, Chibi.that was.I mean.you actually wrote this?! It's.I think it's even better than the stuff I threw down in mine. What time did you attempt this?" They entered their literature class and slid into their seats in enough time to ignore the tardy bell before Goten responded.

"I don't know.I guess it was.um.somewhere around three in the morning, or something like that. I just couldn't sleep last night, is all, and I had to get my mind off."

"Alright, class, pass up yesterday's homework assignments, and we will continue our silent reading on the selections that were given," their teacher commanded, her hands on her hips. She was a thin and pretty woman, but her students knew not to harass or disobey her because of the no- tolerance temper she had whenever a student misbehaved. Quickly, Goten tore out the pages he'd composed and scribbled his name on the top line before passing it forward. Trunks followed suit and then pulled a thick book from his back pack along with a piece of paper, which he dutifully wrote on and stealthily slipped to Goten, who was staring blankly at the pages of his reading material. He flipped it open.

What was your "painful experience" anyhow? I hope you didn't write about anything concerning our Saiy-jin blood.you know how Otousan and Gohan can be when we blab about that type of stuff.so, did you make it up? Goten smiled slowly at the mention of Vegeta and his brother, and he replied just as quickly with a short response. Trunks read:

I'd rather not talk about it. They continued to pass the note back and forth, their ministrations oblivious to everyone, including the teacher.

Aww, come on, Chibi.what was it about? I'm dying to know.was it about Buu, or.well, I don't know what it'd be about after that.

It's not really about anything.like I told you, I don't think I really wrote it. I mean.I wasn't there. As he handed it back behind him in a quick fluid motion, he heard his name being called out and felt the entire class's eyes on him. He looked up towards the teacher.

"Y-yes, ma'am?"

"Goten, come out into the hallway with me, I wish to speak to you about something." Slowly, he slid from his chair and followed her outside, and despite the height advantage he had over her, he still felt small. She closed the door softly behind her, and handed him his paper, words written in the margin with red ink. She heaved a sigh at him as he stared at the entire thing, dumbfounded.

"Goten, I know you seem to have more trouble comprehending than most students, but that doesn't mean that you can use your friends as an escape to homework. You are intelligent, I can see it from the way the others respect you, but this.this I will not put up with." He looked at her, slightly confused and a little distressed.

"Um.I.I can explain." She shook her head.

"Wait, I'm not finished.then you can go to your defense. As I said.it's not just the cheating issue, but the dark nature of this writing.it expresses pain and suffering beyond anything that I've ever read, in any book, and.Goten, it's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen written by a student. It tells a story from the view of a child, and yet, that child is facing his fears as if nothing could come between him and the love for his friend, mysterious as the name of that friend is left out, but.who wrote it, Goten? Was it Trunks? Did he help you and together both of you weaved a tail that was believable and unrealistic at the same time?" Goten's hands began to tremble. What if he confessed the truth and she doubted the honesty of his word? What would people think about him, and possibly even his best friend, if they ever found out?

"I.well, you see.it was.it was really late when I decided to actually do my homework, you see, and I guess my mind wasn't thinking straight when I wrote it.and.and I'm sorry that I turned it in. I'll redo it, if you want me to. just.please, just don't tell anyone about what you read.no one else knows." She raised her eyebrows in question.

"So, you're saying that Trunks didn't help you make this up and you did it yourself?" Goten glanced around quickly, thinking with the Saiy-jin half of his brain as he wondered how he might be able to escape this. There was nowhere to run.

"I.I.you see.it's not really.it isn't made up, and yes, ma'am.I did write it all by myself. It was rather shocking to me when I reread it and realized that it came from my brain, and." He trailed off, mumbling slowly as he crushed the written paper in his hand, and the teacher continued to stare at him, a calm but intent expression in her deep sea-green eyes. Slowly, she sighed and forced him to look at her.

"Goten.I'm not exactly sure what to do with you, but.in seeing that you honestly did your work, with a rather well explained thesis on the human brain and its remembering patterns, I must accept it.no matter how unbelievable or darkly toned the paper seems. I trust that it won't happen again, am I correct?" It seemed as though an extremely heavy weight was lifted from him, and he nodded, able to breathe again.

"Yes, ma'am. It won't happen again, I promise you that," he replied as she reopened the classroom door and told him to take a seat.

"Good, now continue your work, and you may keep your paper. Just read over the notes I made and everything will be fine." He signaled a reluctant 'yes' with the shake of his head, and sheepishly slid back into his seat in front of Trunks, who had glanced up at him to give him a quizzical look. He shrugged and grabbed at the neatly folded note stuck in his book to read:

Weren't there? Chibi, what're you talking about? You're starting to creep me out.oh, wait.what was that deal about in the hallway? Did it have something to do with your "masterpiece"?

Sort of. Listen, Trunks, I'd rather not talk anymore about it today, okay? I'm just not up to it. He threw it behind him and tried as hard as he could to ignore the consistent burn of his friend's sapphire blue eyes on his back, knowing that he was watching him with curiosity, and was the first to bolt from the class as soon as the bell rang. He ran down the hallway, not paying any attention to Trunks' shout as he ran after him.

When he reached the outside, he ignited into a Super Saiy-jin, suddenly hating the feel of the energy around him as he remembered how it had first come about, and flew off into the sky, leaving his best friend and the school behind him. Trunks was too late to stop Goten from disappearing into the sky, and his heart felt heavy, as if he'd failed the code for friendship by not demanding that he tell him what was on his mind, and as he turned to go back into the building, thinking it wise to let Goten be alone for the time being, his foot crushed some papers that blew lightly in the wind. Picking it up, he found that it was Goten's paper; he had dropped it. Biting his lip, he prayed that his friend would forgive him, and began to read it.

He skipped over the first three sentences, and something at the end of the first paragraph caught his attention: Nothing would ever be as it had been before.my best friend was dead, and I had killed him-

I remembered him lying there, lifeless on the ground, and I was only fooling myself into thinking that he was sleeping and still alive, when I knew he wasn't. I was only six years old at the time, but it seemed as though I had aged a great deal more than that after I had fallen upon his dead body, touching his face, feeling the sticky but real fluid of his blood weld to my already trembling fingers as I realized the truth, and I screamed with the pain of it. I had killed him, my best and only friend; I had murdered someone that I had loved because I had been too scared to face my fears and immediately destroy the evil creature whose piercing laughter still rings in my ears. I felt the rage bubbling up beneath the surface, and I spun on the ghostly presence, power from my heritage igniting around my body, aware that my best friend was dead and his murder cried revenge. So.not thinking.I decided to take it, forgetting everything.

Trunks shakily sat down at one of the vacant tables in the cafeteria as his eyes poured over the information written in to the tiny creviced lines of the paper, and hid heart began to pound as his own memory returned. When Goten's words finally quit telling the story and began giving his thesis on human recollection, he threw it on the table, burying his shaking hands into his lavender hair. He tried to breathe, but found that there seemed to be no air, and his mind froze on that time long ago, the thing he had forgotten running over and over as if stuck in instant replay.

Oh, Dende.he thought, glancing back up at the crinkled assignment, pain for his friend filling him. Oh, Dende.why didn't he tell me.and.why didn't I.remember?!

Goten flew as far and as fast as he could without looking back, anguish filtering through his entire body as he rushed over flat fields and lush mountain areas with huge forests. What was wrong with him?! Why couldn't he control this feeling and get on with his life? It had happened ten years ago, plenty of time for him to forgive and forget, but it didn't seem to be working. Nothing could make him disregard the fact that he had murdered his friend at one time due to his lack of bravery, and nothing could make his friend remember it. Why would he want to? It wasn't something that Goten was very proud of, and his friend, although he'd told him about it afterwards, hadn't remembered even dying, the first time!

His energy seemed to expand over the large area, making it glow a bright gold that reminded him, faintly, of the setting and rising of the sun, and he stretched farther forward, urging himself to go faster, his ki whipping around him in a dark sweep of power. He wanted answers, and there was only one place to get them, although he doubted nothing would remain, since Bebi had disintegrated after their battle, and that was when his words came back to him, the same exact phrase he had uttered to him in his dream and when he'd been defeated.

I may be temporarily weakened but I will return, striking at the hearts of those that you love most when you least expect it. Be forewarned, Son Goten, you have not seen the last of me.Goten shuddered and felt something unexpected flowing through him as he landed in a clearing not to far from his own house, as he gazed up at the cave entrance where it had began. He flew to the opening and ran inside, his fist hitting the walls, causing them to smash into chunks of falling debris as he entered the small cavern inside where light leaked through from a small hole in its dense surface. He ran his fingers over it nimbly and then absently traced the outline of the back of his skull, remembering that his own head, and then his body, had caused it. Turning, his Saiy-jin eyes narrowed in on the spot he'd been searching for, and he feel to his knees, able to see the thin and barely visible-from years of erosion-stain of blood where his friend had fallen.

"WHY?!" he shouted, gripping the sides of his head as he tried not to crush the earth that was beneath him in remorse. "Why.are you doing this to me?! For.for what purpose am I being tormented?! Please.WHY?!!" He began to scream in frustration and then in pain, curling his teenage body around the mark on the ground, tears splashing the ground and mingling with dried blood, bringing back some of its moisture. His fingers pooled in it, raking it across the ground, trying to answer his own questions that had been shouted aloud, leaving him alone and begging for solutions he knew would never come. His hands traced the outline of the letter 't' before something bright nearly blinded him as it erupted from a place unseen and he felt himself being dragged until nothing but blackness welcomed him, and it was peaceful.

School was out and the first thing Trunks did when he reached home was pick up the phone and call Goten's house. His elder brother answered, and he sounded rather winded. Trunks blushed at the thought, and remembered that Gohan had barely been married five years to his wife, and former classmate, Videl Satan, and they hadn't, as of yet, moved out from his mother's house.

"Uh.gomen nasai for bothering you, Gohan-san, but is.um.is Goten home? Could I speak with him?" Gohan cleared his throat and he tried to muffle out the sounds of his spouse's giggles.

"No, he isn't Trunks. Why? Is there something wrong with him?" Trunks froze.

"I.um.no, not really, Gohan. Goten just seemed distant at school today, and I wanted to talk to him about it, but I guess he's just taking his time getting home. Well, I'll go now. Gomen nasai for bothering you, again," and he hung up, his face ashen due to the fact that he had just lied to his mentor. He shakily changed into a training uniform, and left Capsule Corporation, leaving a note to tell his mother that he'd gone out for a while and would return later. His brain told him where to find his friend, and the only thought that entered his mind as he flew at top speed towards the cave was that he hoped Goten hadn't done anything drastic. He summoned his strength and transformed into a Super Saiy-jin, something, he now realized, he could do ever since Goten had battled Bebi for all of their lives, and his heart sank as he increased his speed, desperate to reach his destination.

When he finally made it into the dark depths of the long since forgotten cave, he felt the color drain from his face when he found half of his name etched out in blood on the floor and found claw marks in the stone. He bent down, measuring his hand to the scraps, and fell back, clutching his fingers with shock. Goten's hand was about the same size as his own, and.and they matched perfectly! He tried to conjure a possible hypothesis as to why there was no sign of Goten, when he knew for a fact that he had been here moments before because he felt his ki slowly diminishing from the place, and the only reasonable explanation he could come up with was that something had dragged him from floor, and in a panic in trying to remain where he was, he had caught hold of the ground for restrain, but that hadn't worked. All it left was a score of his fingernails, and Trunks was shaking. What had happened to him after that?!

"Goten.Ch-Chibi.where are you?!" He heard movement, or rather, he felt it as something cold and remotely dark descended over his body.

Trunks, it hissed before his mind was emptied of thought and he collapsed on the ground, his best friend's name on his lips in a frozen shout of terror.

Goten woke some time later, floating in warmth and feeling comfort tingling over his body into a relaxation he hadn't felt in a long time. Gradually, his raven colored eyes flickered open and blinked themselves into focus, finding a beautiful and smiling face staring at him. His first instinct was to return it, but instead, he jumped back, tumbling from thin air and onto the hard ground as he screamed in alarm. The woman he'd awoken to appeared beside him in a flash, and touched her fingers to his lips, sending another sensation of heat through him, causing his mind to become slightly drowsy, but his Saiy-jin half rejected it, demanding answers.

"W-where am.I? W-who.what are you?!" A voice, exquisite and tender, flowed through his mind as he realized that the woman was speaking to him telepathically, filling his head with several serene images.

I am Ladi Megami, Son Goten of the realm of earth.I am protector of this galaxy and have seen it as your fate to come here. The Kais have allowed it and so.I have brought you. He opened his mouth, but then closed it. If she could talk with her mind, perhaps he could to, wherever he was. The blackness of space seemed to float around them, spinning ever endlessly with stars and planets while everything shimmered in a hazy blue the exact color Ladi Megami seemed to be dressed in.

I.my fate? What do you mean by that? Ladi Megami waved her hand and the same images he had dreaded and had wished to forgot began playing before him in amazing rapidity. He lowered his head in shame as he watched his younger self twist the neck of his friend, and then it began over again. She glanced at him as she watched crystalline tears fall from his cheeks, and she reached out a hand, wiping them softly away.

Do not be ashamed of these memories, Son Goten.you once saved the entire universe from an evil known as Bebi, King of the Tuffles, and.I ask you to do it again. Your planet, as well as the lives of all people, are in danger of being destroyed. His eyes widened and he stepped backwards, slipping to his knees as he began to shake his head.

"No.no.I-I can't.never again will I." Ladi Megami moved her hand again in the same elegant fashion and this time, it showed Trunks, as he was now, unconscious on the ground in the dark of the cave he had somehow been pulled from.

"Your friend.he has great love for you, as you do for him, and yet.he is greater peril than any being I have set my eyes upon," she spoke, her verbal words sounding more torturously sweet than her telepathic voice. She gazed sadly at him, her deep cerulean green eyes burning into his memory, and then, suddenly, he remembered.

"Wait.you're.you're." But the words refused to come; he could hardly believe what was real and what wasn't. Ladi Megami laughed, low and magically addicting to his Saiy-jin hearing and his human heart, and she smiled sweetly at him.

Yes.I was the one speaking to you, today.within the presence of your teacher. Do you remember.Goten swallowed harshly and nodded, recalling the strange look in her eyes as she had said those wild and exotic things to him about his past written down on paper.

"I.then.then you knew along that I had really written, didn't you?" Ladi Megami removed the images from around them, leaving them in complete calmness.

"I did, yes, but.your teacher did not, and I must admit, Son Goten, that I broke a few rules into forcing her to believe that you had done it.but it had to have been done. I needed you gone from that dreaded building so that you would come to that cave and so that I could have brought you hear, through a rift in dimensions.I am sorry that I didn't prepare you for the journey, but there was only so much time.before the universe is no more, and you are the only one that can do it." He didn't understand any of what she said, although it strangely made sense, and he was scared, so beyond frightened that he felt like he'd pass out any second.

"You.I.I." Thoughts began to pour into his frozen brain. "Oh, Dende, is it.is it.him? Is it.Bebi? And.and what about.TRUNKS!" He began to sob. "No.no.you took me away from him when I should have stayed and protected him.he can't.not since.and you!" Ladi Megami touched his shoulder, making that same bizarre warmth filter through him. He jerked away from her. "No.no.don't touch me! I just want to go back.Trunks can't be left alone in that.in that p-place! Not if Bebi is back on earth! He'll kill him.l- like before.and I don't want him to." He fell to the ground, feeling, again, like that little boy who had been lonely and frightened, with nothing or no one to turn to for help. Ladi Megami stood silently beside his shaking body as he cried softly on the floor.

Haven't you ever wondered how Trunks had come back to life that day, when Bebi had killed him and then you had killed Bebi? Yes, of course you have. How many times had I heard you pray to the heavens, asking for a simple answer, several in truth, but only one that would place your heart at peace, and how many times had I wished that I could take you away from that wretched warrior's life that had been placed in your lap without your boy's consent, and yet.and yet, you remained as you had started out to be.innocent, sweet, completely unaware of painful situations.and that was why I twisted the rules of destiny so long ago. Goten lifted his head and stared at her, finally noticing that there was a shimmer in her dark turquoise eyes that hadn't been there before.

"W-what? What did you say?" Ladi Megami knelt gracefully beside him and touched his fingers, outlining the strong smooth hands that a musician might have had.

I wanted to warn you, Son Goten.I wanted to tell you so much that an undeniable ache filled my heart, and I bent fate.shaped it to my will so that I could do what I wanted, but.but you were only a child and the dreams that I sent as messages always confused you and gave you more pain than you were used to. When you finally realized what they had been, it was too late; your friend was dead, and I had failed, although I already knew the outcome.that you would defeat Bebi, and that you would be alone for the rest of your life, never truly trusting or loving another as you had loved your best friend, and I.She turned her head away, a single solitary tear sliding down her ghostly white, but lovely face, and Goten sat up, almost knowing what she was trying to tell him, and he wanted to comfort her. He reached an arm out, a flood of warmth overflowing his heart, and he tried to embrace her as a friend to a friend, but she would not allow it.

"No," she confessed aloud. "It is against everything that I not touch you, unless it be in a helpful manner, as before when you were in need of healing and peace. I." Goten ignored her protest and touched her, his arms sliding around her thin form, understanding that, even though she was guardian and goddess of the universe as he name said, she was remotely physical in body and had feelings, like everything else. He could feel the protest, but held her tightly, and she began to relax.

"Then what would you call what you need, Ladi Megami? You broke rules to bring something back into my life, and.and I should return the favor." His words warmed the living part of her spirit and she clung to him, secretly yearning for him to never stop holding her, but as it was her fate to keep watch over everything, so it was his to leave and never come back. Her misty blue tears stained his clothing, and then suddenly, she was gone, the warmth of her body missing from his embrace, and the cold of the ground returning it instead. He opened his eyes, feeling the stickiness of the blood that he had been drawing in on his clenched hands, his ears aching with the whisper of her final words.

It is not our fate to be, Son Goten, but it is yours to save those that you love.your family, your friend.they are all in danger, and I brought you to me, only to explain and hope that you would accept the horrid challenge I laid before you, like it had been given to you without choice during your childhood. Instead of disagreeing and denying what destiny was woven for you, you comforted me and gave my lonely heart as keeper of life belief that everything could rest on the youth of today.you have my faith, Son Goten.now, save your friend.Trunks needs you more than I, for he is in danger of dying again, and this time.I cannot help him.He blinked back the flood of tears that threatened to fall for her, the woman who had given almost everything for him and his friend, and stretched his sore limbs while he gathered his nerve and got to his feet.

Despite the stench of stale death, he could smell the scent of Trunks with his Saiy-jin nose, and immediately knew everything was wrong. Not only did Ladi Megami's warning fire off through his brain, but the sight of fresh blood scattered with tiny traces of thin strands of lavender hair gave him the impression that Trunks was endanger, and he had to help him, but he didn't know where he was. Figuring it too late to notify any of the other Saiy-jins, he began a one-manned search, his eyes scanning the outside after he'd examined the cave thoroughly, no trace of his friend any where. He continued, ignoring the snapping of branches in his face and the scratch of thorns against his exposed flesh in a desperate attempt to find him, and at last, he stumbled upon the same clearing that he'd defeated Bebi in, the body of Trunks sprawled on the ground face first, blood pooling around him in a thick crimson puddle.

"Trunks!" he cried, running to him and kneeling beside him. "Trunks, oh Dende, what happened? Are you.you better be alive! I can't loose you again, not like this!" He began shaking him and a moment later, Trunks let out a moan of pain, his throat contracting tightly as if he found it hard to talk.

"G-get away from.run, Chibi, run! He's control-I can't.f-fight.any." A hand heavily drenched in red lashed up and backhanded Goten in the face, sending him sliding through the grass, marking his trail with dirt that the force had dug up underneath him. He sat up quickly enough to block another fist towards his already bleeding face, but was caught off guard by a spin kick to the head, which had everything spinning and him seeing stars. A hand gathered his bloodied shirt together and lifted him off the ground, allowing him to see Trunks' face, his teeth gleaming bright red with the stain of blood from an earlier injury as he smiled and Goten realized it was most likely when he had tried to oppose the controller but had failed. An evil twinkle sparkled beneath the deep color of his half sapphire, half violet eyes.

"I told you, Son Goten, that we would meet again, as soon as I had gathered enough energy and was able to.how convenient it was for me that your friend had not perished with both of his untimely demises. He is now much stronger and weaker minded than before, when he was a child.now, you will die." Bebi-Trunks lifted his hand, the palm lining directly over his heart, and ki gathered outside of it, preparing to impale him on the shining orange energy. Goten squirmed but found that his grip was too tight, and looked up at the sky.

Everyone's counting on me, he thought, desperately thinking of a way to get loose. Ladi Megami, Trunks, my entire planet, the universe.my friendship for Trunks is teetering and he's dying inside while Bebi controls his body and manipulates his every movement.his very soul. Unexpectedly, something hit his brain, and he struggled harder. It's him.Trunks.it's always been about him, hasn't it?! He has to survive and go on, so that he can be the strongest.why didn't I.? If he dies now, I fail my part in our destiny as friends.I'm not the one that's supposed to live.he is!

"NO!" He wrenched the scream from his throat, his Super Saiy-jin aura cascading around him as he found that instead of Bebi-Trunks holding him, he had him by the throat, choking the life from him. Anger dominated his senses and the only thing holding him from killing him completely was the fact that Trunks wouldn't be able to come back instantly and so was content to strangling him, bruising his fingerprints into his flesh. "Not anymore, Bebi! I won't let the fact that you forced me do something awful to my friend hold me back from destroying you! Trunks must go on, and prevail over everything because he is needed for an even greater purpose, and since he is my best friend and I love him.you will not win! I will die before I see you controlling this place!" Blood began to pour from Bebi-Trunks' mouth and he gagged as he laughed.

"F-foolish.foolish.boy.you-you idiot-tic mortal! I.cannot.cannot be defeated!! N-no one c-can for I am.I am Bebi, m-master of stealth and in- inhabiting bodies.you will become my s-slave, j-just like everyone else!" Bebi-Trunks ignited into a Super Saiy-jin, drawing from Trunks' power stores deep with his body, and the blast knocked Goten away, his golden shield evaporating as he collided with a tree, snapping it in half and breaking his right arm cleanly in two. He cried in pain, his eyes closing as it ebbed through his mind and he could hear his possessed best friend walking towards him, knowing that a cruel grin was upon the face that was not his.

Hot white anguish seared his teenage body as a tanned hand gripped the fair hair on the top of his head and pulled his face back, stretching the tendons in his neck to their elasticity point. Fiery breath fanned his skin, bubbling up an undeniable hatred that coursed through him, making him breathe heavily with frustration, and he moaned his protest deep within his throat. Calling on his strength, he grasped the hand that moved towards his exposed flesh at the base of his neck and with held it from the tightening fingers.

"P-please.Trunks, I know.know you're in there.somewhere-Dende, help me.PLEASE!!" A laugh staunched his cry for help and he broke the weak hold, grimacing with pain as a strong grasp clenched his throat. Goten barely saw the face gazing back at him before the dull ache in his broken appendage scorched another path of agony through him and he closed his eyes.

"What's the matter, Son Goten? Or, should I say.Chibi? Isn't that the endearment that your friend calls you? Answer me, you worthless scum!!" Goten bit down on another painful cry as Bebi-Trunks grabbed him abusively by his broken arm and twisted it, sending his shut eyes to three times there normal width as they widen in shock. Suddenly, from out of no where, he began to sob, feeling tears flowing over his cheeks to drop on to his opponent's skin as he cried, suffering from the emotional torture that had been stressed upon him. He felt weak, and to his possessed friend, he probably was. "So, this is what you've diminished to, is it, Chibi? You truly are pathetic. I think I'll just kill you now and keep this body, since it seems to have more control than you do, you blubbering Saiy-jin." Goten braced himself for the inevitable, silent pleading for forgiveness at his failure and waited for it to end.

Bebi.I command you to stop! A voice so painfully familiar to the injured half Saiy-jin cried out at them, partially begging, partially demanding, and Goten had thought he'd already died. There was no possible way for that person to be here, helping him, when his soul was in Other World. Could there? Slowly, he opened his eyes, swallowing the pain that engulfed his senses and made a strange choking sound as tears welled up. Bebi- Trunks immediately released him, dropping his defenseless body to the ground, and spun, his mouth twisting into a smirking sneer.

In front of him, staring with cold black eyes filled with more hatred than anyone on the planet could have possessed at that moment, was his ultimate nemesis; Son Gokou, with his high and mighty power and his perfect little family. Within Trunks's no longer protesting body, Bebi felt his self- control slipping, but he would not give in to the consistent urge to tear him limb from limb. He wanted this to last, even though Son Gokou was already dead-the proof of it floating above his tall waving hair in a golden halo-and he wouldn't stop until everyone on this miserable planet suffered for bringing him to this greatest humiliation.living as a parasite within weaker, less desirable subjects.

"Son Gokou.what a nice.surprise." The elder Saiy-jin's face changed from anger to shock as his sensitive ears picked up the whimpering coming from behind Bebi, and he flickered out, reappearing next to his nearly incapacitated child, concern written all over his expressive visage.

Goten, hey, son.how're you feeling? Goten peeled his eyes open, pulling apart the crusted blood on his face and moaned in response, pain ebbing through him from his broken appendage and battered body.

"O-otousan? Is.is that really." Suddenly, and without warning, he began to sob as he had before, making his injuries worse as the movement jarred his body, and his father felt helpless at not being able to do anything. He held his hands poised over his bleeding son, thoughts ripping his brain inside out, as he tried to decide what he should do, but nothing would come. Goten was on his own, and he could only give him comfort.

Don't worry, Goten.it will be just fine. I'll take care of him, and make sure he pays for hurting you and.Immediately, he whipped his head around, his eyes blinking as if he was seeing Bebi for the first time. The lavender hair and Bulma-inherited blue eyes.Good Kami, why hadn't he seen it before?! Bebi was in possession of his youngest child's best friend; within his power he held.Trunks! You've out done yourself this time, Bebi! What do you think Vegeta would do to you if he knew that you were controlling his son?

"I'll tell you exactly what I'd say, Kakarotto. I'm going to kill you, you bastard!" The Saiy-jin Prince extended his index finger and pointed menacingly at Bebi-Trunks, all the while his Super Saiy-jin aura circulated around him and his other hand clenched tightly into a fist near his torso. Gokou's mouth fell open as he stared, and Goten, still lying banged up and mangled on the ground, grinned like a drunken idiot at the familiar voice.

H-how did you-

"Please.you're even more gullible dead, Kakarotto. I believe that Other World has rotted what remained of your tiny brain over these ten years.I sensed an unfamiliarly large ki in this direction, and as I was flying out here, yours appeared." Gokou placed his hand behind his head and chuckled brightly even as the infamous Son grin developed.

Aww.you got me there, Vegeta. I forgot all about-

"Otousan.WATCH OUT!" Goten's throaty cry was cut short as he struggled to stand but failed, and his father turned quickly enough to counter a decisive blow to the temple, and he stumbled, falling back first into Vegeta, who nimbly moved out of the way to watch his old rival struggle to regain his composure. The Saiy-jin no Ouji's eyes quickly examined the layout, and he frowned, disliking the amount of blood already splattered on the ground, obviously from his spawn's wounded friend. Kakarotto's son was in too bad a condition to continuing fighting, and with Kakarotto, himself, already dead, it looked as though he would have to finish it, and kill Bebi, without injuring his brat. He hated limiting himself to such things.

WOAH! Gokou cried, tripping over Goten's motionless form, who cried out in even more anguish, and he was sent sprawling flat on his face as Bebi-Trunks hovered over them, a cold smirk forming on his lips that Vegeta, who still stood observing, disliked way too much.

"You are a fool to challenge me, Son Gokou. What gives you the thought that you would be able to defeat me? This body I have obtained control over is unstoppable." He allowed gravity to pull him down until he was inches from him, and he placed a foot over his neck, pinning him to the ground as he lifted a hand, alive with energy, to the side of his head. Gokou found his breathing ability cut in half and wondered how he was actually doing this when he knew that Bebi, himself, wasn't very strong physically, and there was- How could he keep forgetting something like that?! He had control over Trunks, and that meant his power stores as well, and as far as he could remember, Trunks had been extremely powerful and probably remained so. Gokou heaved against him, spin kicking Bebi- Trunks's legs out from under him, and the energy blast meant to kill him was sent hurtling into the sky, and his enemy fell, landing on top of his immobile son.

Goten's scream ripped through Gokou's heart, and Vegeta stayed frozen to the ground, unable to move at the prospect of doing something unnecessary. There was no room for flaws in this battle. The young half Saiy-jin weakly cracked his eyes open, feeling the weight of a body on his, and his gaze met that of a peaceful looking Trunks, who, aside from the blood running from his nose, seemed rested. He wanted to help his friend, but he was in so much pain and.instantly, the eyelids snapped open, revealing cruelly intensified pupils of emotionless blue, and a smirk spread onto the face, even as a tiny voice whispered to Goten from within the depths of his soul while gazing into the windowed mirror of Bebi- Trunks's evil heart.

"Trunks-kun.you know.that I care about you, right? And if I could stop anything from happening to you I would, right?"

"Yeah, I know, Chibi.I care for you, too, but."

"Aishiteru.I love you, Trunks-kun, and I'm never going to let you die! Never!!" He choked, as if hearing those words for the first time. He had given that promise to Trunks long ago when he'd had an extremely intense nightmare, and he'd been afraid of losing him, then, and now- it gave him some incentive of trying to help Trunks regain control of his own body.

"What are you smiling at, Bebi?! Get.off.of.ME!" With an increase in his energy and a most excruciating move, he slammed his fist into Bebi-Trunks's face, sending him airborne. The defenseless body skidded across the ground, past Gokou, who was dusting himself off, and right into a tree, indenting it with the impression of his limbs and face before he slid languidly to the earth in a pile of arms and legs. Goten staggered to his feet, clutching his arm, which dangled grotesquely at his side, and spit on the ground, a sign of disgust as well as ending; he was tired of playing around, and besides.he wanted his best friend back!

Goten, are you- He shot a sideways glance at his father and nodded, smirking in a very Saiy-jinish manner, which Vegeta instantly recognized. Finally, the boy was tired of wallowing in self-pity; he really didn't want to be Bebi right now, but as it was, that was also his son, and he hoped Goten knew exactly what he was doing. Both his and Gokou's eyes followed every movement as the demi Saiy-jin limped forward, gritting his teeth to keep from shouting in pain, and Bebi-Trunks rose slowly, wiping a mixture of blood and spit from his chin. His blue eyes flashed with challenge.

"You'll pay dearly for that, Chibi.I won't let you forget that you were once haunted by Bebi, King of the Tuffles." Goten glared at him, more hate welling up within him at each word he said with Trunks's tone, and wordlessly, his fair hair wavered and his clothes rippled before raw Saiy- jin energy ripped loose from his body, completely dulling the pain from existence and igniting the forest in a searing golden aura of ki. Gokou, although unable to retain his physical body, had to shield his eyes and squint into the blinding light that surrounded them, and Vegeta only glared, his thoughts askew with morbid fascination. The earth crumbled in on itself, creating huge craters that were an example of the fire that burned within the depths of the demi Saiy-jin's soul, and trees uprooted themselves, but through it all, Bebi-Trunks just stood facing him, the ever present smirk on his stolen face.

"You will never haunt me, Bebi! NEVER! I've put you behind me, and I will free my friend from you, only to destroy you afterward! Ladi Megami has foretold this to me.you will not survive!" His voice was raw and his throat burned with the intensity of the mixed emotions coursing through him, but his point was made clear; he would kill Bebi, even if it meant sacrificing himself. Bebi-Trunks, however, sneered at him and began laughing hysterically.

"You are such a wonderful toy, Chibi. Always the joke that people laugh at because they feel the need, because you are different. What would your friend say if he knew what you felt for him? What would he do?" A threat. Something Bebi would typically say, but what was he talking about? What feelings did he have for Trunks? Yes, he loved him, after all, he'd been his friend for eternity, but it was nothing more than a brotherly type of love. Wasn't it?

Goten shook his head, feeling dazed and drowsy, and he turned to look at his father, whose face was pale and rather expressionless at the moment. What was he thinking? And Vegeta, who revealed nothing, what about him? He slung his head again, trying to wipe away the doubt and unreal things that Bebi was somehow forcing into his mind, but they would not go way. They just wouldn't leave them alone.

Dende, Ladi Megami, help me.please.please help me.I don't know what to do.I don't-

-I brought you to me, only to explain and hope that you would accept the horrid challenge I laid before you, like it had been given to you without choice during your childhood. Instead of disagreeing and denying what destiny was woven for you, you comforted me and gave my lonely heart as keeper of life belief that everything could rest on the youth of today.you have my faith, Son Goten. Faith? He had her faith? What about his own? Where was it when he needed it? Kami help him, but he didn't think-

"Stay out of my head, Bebi! Quit messing with my emotions! I'm going to kill you, so stop delaying the inevitable! Let's fight!" In a quick rush of movement, it had begun, only to end.with Goten as the victor. Without his control through Goten's fear, anger, and mortification, Bebi no longer had any power over the half Saiy-jin, and it lead to disaster. Both older Saiy-jins watched with fast moving eyes as he raced at him, teleporting from his frontal vision to reappear behind him and attack him with a devastating blow to the back of the neck, sending Bebi-Trunks to his knees. Not wasting any time, he followed with a combination of swift kicks and extremely hard punches that had his enemy sprawled on the ground, just inches from Vegeta's white booted feet, blood staining his face from newly opened abrasions.

Bebi struggled to get up, but oddly found the hosted body resisting, forcing him to struggle with himself whether to stay down or continue fighting. Before he could decide, Goten's pale-lit face from the aura floating around him with sparks of hinted electricity cracking every so often emerged into his vision, and a look of terror washed over him. The youth smirked at this and leaned back, gaining leverage which he used to kick him in the face, first with the tip of his boot and then with the heel, three times over. Bebi-Trunks found he was growing weaker and was soon spitting up more blood as the kicking continued. Was he losing? Was he actually being defeated in battle by some kid, a brat, that didn't have a clue what real power was? No.no, he could not be! He was Bebi, King of the Tuffles!

"Yes.you are!" Goten whispered in his ear, causing him to jerk back. How had he known what he was thinking? He was no mind reader- "No, but it's written all over your face. Just wait.it isn't over yet." Bebi-Trunks tried to lift his forearm up to block the on-coming blow, but his strength was just too diminished and he was slammed head first into the ground, where blood gushed from his nose and his mouth, pouring down the front of his gi to stain the dusty earth beneath him. Immediately, weight pressed against his chest and he felt the plated bone giving, cracking under the pressure. He did the only thing that entered his mind.he screamed.

"Yes.scream.shout for mercy! Know that someone much stronger than you is destroying your very existence.and it was all because you thought you could take a little boy's best friend away from him.sad really.but I think it ends here!" He lifted his foot, preparing to bring it crashing through his unprotected and fragile breastbone, but then-

"C-Chibi.k-kill me.n-now!" That voice, so weak and without emotion except for pain and hurt.it couldn't be-

"Trunks-kun?" He glanced down at the blood soaked face that looked like nothing more than a pulp of skin and bright red liquid, and his lips trembled when he saw familiar blue eyes gazing back at him from beneath sweat soaked lavender hair. Trunks forced a soft, although laborious smile.

"Hey, b-bud.please.please, C-Chibi.kill me.kill us both.stop him from." His eyes closed and his head fell to the side, no longer supportive. Goten fell to his knees, immediately gathering his limp friend in his good arm, and held him close as his power dropped low and tears began to slide down his cheeks.

Trunks.oh, Kami.what have I done to you, Trunks-kun?! He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up, seeing his father's faded but bright face.

You know what to do, Goten.you've done all that you can, but you have to let him go.there's always the dragon balls, and besides.Bebi will never hurt you again. Goten shook his head, not wanting to listen. He didn't want to use the dragon balls to bring Trunks back; he wanted his friend the way he was now.not just a spirit within the shell of his companion's body. Vegeta stepped next to his supposed archrival.

"Kakarotto, leave the brat alone, and go back to your own dimension. You've-just how did you get here?!" Gokou scratched his head and shrugged his shoulders, smiling.

Don't really know. That's a good question, though.I'll have to ask King Kai or maybe I'll see that woman again and she'll tell me. Anyway.Goten, use your head, son. Use your head. As Gokou's body began to fade, Goten looked up at him and watched as he briefly tapped his fingers to his lips, and then continued to grin as he disappeared from his life, again. What was that gesture about? What could-

"Vegeta.please.don't get disgusted or anything.just.trust me," the youth explained quickly, gathering his energy in a way he hadn't thought capable for a human or a Saiy-jin. The Prince's eyebrow rose in question, but he stepped back, and inspected the scene as Goten's head dipped low and his mouth pressed against his son's.

NANI?! What was the kid doing?! It was revolting and immorally wrong and.and a lot of other things he refused to think at the moment, but.why was he kissing his son? What- Vegeta felt the surge in ki and his thoughts evaporated, leaving only more questions that he refused to ask and decided to figure out on his own.by watching, no matter how disgusting it was.

Both of Goten's arms folded around his friend, banding him into his embrace as he felt the still dormant part of Bebi's spirit trying to protest, and focused his ki to flow through his mouth into Trunks's body. It was pushed into his throat and fed into his limbs and torso, causing a deep cry of outraged anger to dissolve from his best friend's flaccid mass, and abruptly, Trunks's own arms grabbed his shoulders, trying to shove him away and then pull him closer at the same time. He was winning, he could feel it within himself, and he knew that the energy he concentrated through their joined mouths was destroying Bebi and helping Trunks regain control. It had to work.it just had to!

Slowly, almost passionately, he could feel his friend responding to his kiss, and when he felt the angry whip of wind beating at his hair as a voiceless mist shrieked from the pours in Trunks's body, crying out his name in revenge as it vanished, he knew that it was over. Finally, after all of the hardships that he'd had to endure, and the close calls that had almost taken the life from his friend, it was over, and he had only Ladi Megami, goddess of the universe, and his father to thank for it, but mostly.it had been his friendship for Trunks and his for him that had pulled them out of it together. He pulled back, but felt arms stronger than his own clamping him harder to Trunks's mouth and they continued kissing for another minute before he felt the hands drop, and his friend's head fall back against the ground. Goten blushed nervously and glanced at Vegeta, whose face looked rather pale, but thinking it to be the sun's reflection, he ignored it and glanced at Trunks, who was beginning to groan, and tried to think. Just why had he kissed him, anyway?

"G-good Kami, Chibi.ya shoulda killed me.at least then.it wouldn't hurt as much," he complained, trying to force his eyes open despite the blood cementing them shut. As soon as he was able to see, even only a little, he smiled crookedly at his father and at his best friend. "K-Konnichi wa, Otousan.C-Chibi?"

"Y-yeah? What is it?" Goten leaned forward, close enough to hear Trunks, who was now beginning to talk in a soft whisper and whose eyes were closing in fatigue.

"You're my tomodachi, Chibi.always and forever.no matter what." Goten smiled softly and patted Trunks's shoulder as he slowly climbed to his feet.

Absolutely.they would be best friends forever, through thick or thin.no matter what. Painstakingly, and much too slow for Vegeta's liking, he gathered his unconscious comrade up in his arms and they headed for home, no longer responsible for worrying about Bebi. They're friendship had won out, but even that was soon to be tested, again, and this time, neither of them would be able to stop it when it happened, but forever, they were joined together by destiny and friends for life.

A/N: Well, how was that? The chapters from here on in will be shorter, but still as good. Please review, and thank you Leaf Zelidor for giving me my first review^_^

Reader's Note: Megami is the Japanese word for 'goddess'. Go figure.