Goten ducked just in time to avoid Trunks' fist. He grabbed the attacking fist and pulled it forward, dragging the owner along. Still holding Trunks' fist, Goten placed his free hand on his chest as he lifted the son of Vegeta over his head and tossed him up. Trunks hurtled through the air, stopping only after crashing into a tree, falling to the ground. He flipped in the air, however, and landed gracefully on his feet.

Goten charged towards his companion, his fists raised to attack. He aimed at Trunks' face, but the lavender-haired Saiyan caught it with his own hand. The son of Goku tried again with his free fist, but Trunks grabbed it with his other hand. Both men transformed into Super Saiyans, as their hair turned upward in a golden flash, and their eyes turned the familiar green. Their ki pushed each other back, and they stood in a classic face-off, feeling each other out, planning their attacks.

Trunks charged at the other, and Goten prepared to defend himself. To his surprise, the lavender-haired Saiyan disappeared from sight. Goten knew what Trunks was capable of doing, and he knew he had to keep his guard up.

Something in his mind clicked, and he looked up to see a white ki attack race towards him. Goten jumped up to avoid the blast, only to come face to face with his missing fighting partner. Trunks brought his fists up and rammed them into Goten's head, and he plummeted to the ground. Copying Trunks' tactic, he did a series of flips to prevent such a heavy collision with the Earth. He landed on his hand and knee, leaving a small dent in the ground under him.

He placed his hands at his right side, right over left, and prepared to do the Sons' most famous and common ki attack. As a boy, he wasn't allowed to use ki blasts when he and Trunks were training, in fear of destroying the house. Now that they were older, however, they could control where the blasts were heading, and could move them if needed to.

"KA...ME...," he said, as white energy began forming in his hands. "...HA...ME..." the attack had become the size of a large bowling ball, and more energy was being gathered within his body. When it was big enough, he brought his hands in front of him, aiming the blast at Trunks. "HA!" he cried out, and the energy left his hands in a beam formation, flying at rapid speed towards the lavender-haired Saiyan.

Trunks powered up, his energy swirling around him like a golden aura. Then he placed his hands in front of him and white energy appeared, as he fired it to counter with Goten's attack. The blasts collided with each other in a flash of light, igniting each other off.

Dust was scattered everywhere, causing a cloud that prevented Goten from seeing Trunks had moved from where he was. It wasn't until the dust settled that Goten discovered Trunks missing again.

"Looking for me?" he heard a voice say behind him. Goten turned around swiftly, but Trunks' fist connected with his head, and he flew back. His feet dragged in the dirt, slowing him down and stopping him from going to far back.

Goten straightened up, slightly winded, though he could tell that Trunks was also. They had been training for a few hours already, but since they didn't train very often, they weren't as good as when they were kids. When they were little, they could go for much longer without pausing.

He felt blood trickle down the side of his mouth. He wiped it away with the back of his hand, looking how bad Trunks was roughed up. There were no serious injuries, just a few small and bloody cuts and scratches, just as he had.

"You're doing a lot better than I thought you would, Goten," Trunks said suddenly. It was the first few words that had been said for the past hour.

"I'm sure I could say the same for you," Goten replied.

"Oh, I can do better. I'm not close to my maximum yet."

"You're not?" Goten looked confused. He and Trunks were almost the same in strength and power. He himself was almost at his maximum, but Trunks had just said that he wasn't close to his yet. "Whaddya mean, Trunks?"

"Oh, that's right. I haven't told you yet. In fact," Trunks said thoughtfully, "I don't think anyone knows yet, except my dad. Since I don't train very often, I guess I kinda forgot about it until today."

"Forgot about what?" Goten whined childishly. "I wanna know."

"Alright, alright. Geez, don't throw a tantrum, Goten. 'Kay, here goes." Trunks' ki increased as he powered up to his maximum. Goten noted the differences between his and Trunks' ki, and he knew that Trunks had indeed increased his power somehow. He was shocked, though, when Trunks' golden hair became a little longer as his power reached the top. Sparks of lightning shot around him, and his aura of ki extended around him.

"Super Saiyan 2?" Goten asked astounded. "Since when, Trunks?"

"A few months back," Trunks responded, as he walked to a cooler behind a tree and pulled out two bottles of water. He tossed one to Goten, and twisted the cap off the other one. He gulped down some water, then said, "It was sometime after Marron died, and I guess I was feeling angry at myself then or something."

"Trunks, it wasn't your fault that Marron died."

"I know that now, but when it happened I felt that if I had agreed to get that necklace for her, she would still be alive. I felt so angry at myself, and I felt that by losing Marron, I might lose everyone I care about, and I wouldn't be able to protect them because I wasn't strong enough.

"That's why I was training so hard after Marron died. Remember Goten?"

Goten nodded. After Marron died, Trunks started training more than even Vegeta was, which was weird for everyone.

"I trained so much because I felt I was too weak, and that since I wasn't able to protect Marron, I needed to protect everyone else. But I wasn't pleased with my capabilities, and I was angry at myself, and one night, after I left the house to train for a while, it snapped."

"And you never told me?" Goten said with a fake sadness in his voice. "Trunks, I'm hurt."

Trunks laughed. "Sorry Goten," he said, "but after Marron's funeral, and things went back to normal for me, I didn't train so often, and I kinda forgot. In fact, I think this is my first serious training session in two months."

Goten then became a little worried. "You're not gonna fight me like that, are you?"

Trunks was a bit confused, then understood why Goten was worried and chuckled. "What's wrong, Goten? Can't handle it?"

"You know very well that I can't," Goten said harshly. "I could never beat you when we both were almost at the same level! And now since you're a whole level higher than I am, what's the point?"

"Oh, come on," Trunks said. "Your dad never passed up the opportunity to fight someone stronger than he was, and he was fighting for his life."

"Yeah, well, I'm not my dad, and I'm not fighting against a villain, I'm training with you. Trunks, it's not fair. I've never been as strong as you, and now that you're Super Saiyan 2, I wouldn't have a chance."

"It's not like the two levels are really that different," Trunks argued. "This level is only a little bit more powerful than the level you're in."

"But you were only a little bit stronger than I was, and you still always beat me," Goten said. "That little bit is now added with the little bit of strength that you have now that you're Super Saiyan 2!"

"Don't whine, don't whine," Trunks said. "Man, you sound like a little kid."

"But it's still not a fair thing, Trunks. I mean, I don't think I can handle fighting you if you stay at that level."

"Oh, Goten, come on. I promise not to go too hard on you. I just wanna try this form out. I haven't had a chance to fight like this before."

"Then why don't you ask Gohan? Or Vegeta? Dad used to say it's not worth it if you don't fight someone stronger than you."

"I've asked Gohan to train with me, and he said he didn't have time or something like that. And you know my dad. He'd slaughter me."

"Well, you're gonna kill me. What am I supposed to do against you?"

"Listen, I'll make you a deal. Fight me while I'm in Super Saiyan 2, and I'll go easy on you. I won't do any ki attacks at all, but you can. Deal?"

Goten thought about it. It sounded okay, and he was allowed to use ki attacks while Trunks couldn't. "You promise to lay off if I say so?"

Trunks nodded. "I'll power down, and change back when you want to stop the training session."

Goten nodded. If Trunks promised he would, he thought maybe it would be alright. And beside, he was half Saiyan, and Saiyans loved to fight people who were stronger than themselves. He was beginning to feel excited about the fight, even though he knew it was instinctive.

"Okay, I'll fight you. But you remember what you promised."

"Right, right. I promise." Trunks powered up, as did Goten. They both reached their maximum level, which Goten noticed was very different now, since Trunks was a level above him. But maybe if he could use big ki attacks, he would have a slight advantage over the son of Vegeta, or maybe not.

He shrugged it off, trying to think of a way to outsmart the stronger Saiyan. Thinking was never a strong point for Goten, being the son of Son Goku after all. It didn't help that Trunks was also the son of a genius, Bulma Briefs. With his mother's intellect and his father's Saiyan instincts, Trunks was indeed a good warrior in that sense. If he had trained more often, he may have been stronger than Gohan, but that was a big maybe. Luckily, Trunks lacked devotion in that area, and it was just now that he was reaching a new level.

Goten nodded to Trunks, indicating that he wanted Trunks to start. The other Saiyan nodded in return and phased out of sight.

Goten anticipated that, because he knew it was Trunks' favorite move. He waited, trying to sense where Trunks would turn up.

Unforeseen and unexpectedly, Trunks appeared in front of Goten instead of behind him. He threw a punch at Goten's head, which he blocked with his arm.

He felt pain run through his arm after Trunks pulled back his fist. He had blocked Trunks' punches before, but that one stung a bit. He was aware that his friend's strength increased, but he didn't imagine that blocking a punch would hurt as much as it did.

Trunks tossed punches and kicks, which Goten did his best to block. The speed at which Trunks was moving at astounded him, yet he was feeling more excited to fight by the minute. He wasn't sure how to explain it, but he understood why his father loved to fight stronger people and why he found it amusing.

Goten jumped into the air, trying to avoid Trunks' assorted attacks. He needed time to think of what to do, but he knew that it wouldn't help him very much. He looked at Trunks, who was still on the ground, and could tell that there was some excitement building up in the son of Vegeta, even though it wasn't as much as he was feeling. Even high up in the air, Goten could see the look in Trunks' green eyes, and even though his facial features were serious and tough, there was a sense of fun shining through.

Trunks jumped up, flying past Goten, so he was looking down on him. Then he plummeted down towards him, like a speeding missile. Goten placed his hands in front of him and fired a ki attack at the diving Saiyan. He stopped dead in the air, placing his hands in front of his face. The blast connected, and dust rose into the air, covering everything from Goten's sight.

When it cleared, Trunks was still there, in the same position he was before the ki attack connected. Trunks' ki was spread out around him, like a golden fire wrapped around him. He had used his ki to protect himself from Goten's blast.

Goten cursed inwardly. He had to be able to surprise Trunks in order to ever do any damage. With that thought, he phased out of sight.

Trunks lowered his hands, as his ki disappeared. Looking around, he noticed that Goten wasn't there anymore. He closed his eyes, concentrating on Goten's energy pattern.

He turned around suddenly and held up his arm, blocking Goten's foot from connecting with his head. Goten growled softly that his surprise hadn't worked. What was he supposed to do? He knew he didn't have a chance of beating Trunks, but what could he do to actually do some damage to him?

Trunks aimed a punch at Goten's torso. Goten grabbed his fist before it connected, but didn't see Trunks other hand coming towards his face until it was too late. It connected, and Goten let go of his fist and held his face in pain. Trunks went up and used both his hands to hit Goten in the back of the head. Goten flew down rapidly towards the ground, and landed with a big boom. Dust was raised, but settled quickly when nothing moved after.

As the dust cleared, Trunks saw Goten lying on his back in the ground, the Earth slightly dented from the impact of Goten's rough landing. His hair turned back to its normal black, and tilted to the side a little. With that, Trunks flew downwards, reverting back to his normal state as well.

Goten groaned as he attempted to sit up. Now he would be sore for a long time. How exactly did he let Trunks talk into fighting him as a Super Saiyan 2? He knew that he would never beat Trunks, and Trunks knew that as well. Why had he agreed to fight Trunks that way? Why had Trunks insisted even though they both knew how the outcome of the battle would be.

He struggled to his elbow, when he felt something was in his face. Opening his eyes, he saw Trunks offering his hand to help him up.

"That was really good," Trunks said. "But you need to work on your moves a bit."

"What do you mean?" Goten said.

"Your moves are just too predictable. You never do anything new. I was able to guess what you'd be doing before you had a chance to do them. You need to think of new things to do."

Goten felt something inside him bubble. "Well, I wasn't the one who wanted to fight, Trunks."

"I know, but I'm just saying. You know, just in case some other enemy shows up, and we have to fight them. They might be able to screen your moves, then you're doomed."

"Thanks for the tip," Goten spat. He wasn't sure why, but he was feeling a bit angry at Trunks. He was the one who wanted to fight. Then he was giving off this information that Goten didn't care for. Criticizing him about how he fought, Goten had a flash of when they were little. That's all Trunks ever did. He would urge Goten to do things he didn't want to do, make fun or criticize him, and often get them both in trouble. It took him all this time to realize it, and he realized he had enough.

Trunks still offered his hand to Goten, but was surprised when Goten slapped it away.

He pulled back, rubbing the back of his hand where Goten had slapped it, even if it didn't hurt. "What'd you do that for?" he asked. "I was only trying to help."

"Yeah, whatever," Goten said, struggling to get up.

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing. I just thought of something, that's all."

"You? Thought of something? That's a first," Trunks teased.

Goten glared at him. "That's what I'm taking about, Trunks."

"What?"

"Ever since we were little, we always had to do everything you wanted to do. Somehow, you always tricked and deceived me into doing something I didn't want to do."

"Goten..."

"Let me finish, Trunks." Trunks looked at his best friend, and saw the seriousness in his eyes. There was something there, something Trunks had never seen in Goten before. He wasn't able to place it, but he knew he had to back off while Goten got this off his chest.

"You always force me into doing something I didn't want to do, or something that was wrong. And even though I would say I didn't want to do it, you would always say something to get me to go along with you. And when I persisted, you would call me names and make fun of me.

"When we trained, you always got the upper hand, and you were always telling me how weak and useless I was. Even now, years and years later, you criticize me even when I'm trying to do me best. You coax me into doing everything you want to do, but you never take into consideration what I want to do. If I don't do something, I'm teased, and called weak or afraid."

Trunks was astonished. He had no idea Goten had felt this way. They had known each other ever since he could remember, but not once did Goten say anything about something like this. He looked away.

"Well, maybe I am weak and afraid," Goten said, "but you don't have to rub it in my face. You're my friend, Trunks. Or at least, I thought you were."

Trunks' attention snapped forward. "Goten, I am your friend. We've been best friends forever, and all those times, I was just joking around..."

"But that's just it, Trunks!" Goten yelled, throwing his hands into the air. "You always joke around with me. You have never really taken me seriously from the first day we met!"

"Goten, you don't have to get all worked up..."

"Maybe I do, Trunks. It's been this way for along time, and I'm tired of it. Friendships are about telling each other how the other one feels, and listening to each other and taking each other seriously. This is how I feel, Trunks, and if you don't want to listen or take me seriously, then..." Goten let it hang there. Even though he had the words clear in his mind, he couldn't get his tongue of voice to do anything.

"Then what, Goten?"

Goten sighed. "...then maybe we shouldn't be friends, anymore."

Trunks pulled back, as though he had been hit in the face. Not be friends anymore? How could Goten say that? Why?

"Goten, look, you're being irrational, and..."

"Am I?" Goten shot back, tears forming in the corner of his eyes. "I'm being truthful, Trunks, something you never are a day in your life."

"That's not true..."

"Oh, don't give me that. When we were little kids, you never admitted when you were afraid or sad about something. I could always tell, though, because I could see it in your eyes when nobody else could."

"Look, maybe I wasn't very honest, but my dad told me..."

"Don't blame it on Vegeta. You always blame things on other people than yourself, Trunks. If you can't be honest with me, then there is nothing that can help our friendship. I try to get you to open yourself up, but you refuse to come out and keep everything under this shell that you've created to keep everything out."

"Maybe I do, Goten. But you could never understand why."

"I might, if you would just talk to me. But you refuse to let anything out, even just a little bit."

Trunks shook his head, then threw his hands up and brought them down again swiftly, his fists clenched tightly. "That's just the way I am, Goten, and a true friend would respect that."

"What would you know?" Goten fired. "You haven't been much of a 'true friend' since the day I knew you."

"You know what?" Trunks said, levitating a few inches in the air, "I don't need to take this. Especially from you. I'm going home."

"Good. And if you know what's good for you, you won't come back. Ever."

"That won't be a problem." Trunks took off into the air, not once looking back at Goten.

Goten felt as though his legs couldn't support him anymore. He fell to the ground, not doing anything but sit there and think about what was said. He sighed, wondering if he had taken the right approach to the situation. He thought that he may have been a little harsh with Trunks. Then again, Goten thought, he never cut me any slack when we were little. Treating me that way, like an inferior rather than a friend. Maybe he deserved what he got. Yet in his heart, he knew that it wasn't really true, and he felt guilty for what happened.

Goten leaned back a bit, supporting his weight on his hands. As he did, though, something flashed in his eye. He looked, and saw an object glittering in the sun. He got on his hands and knees and crawled over to the object, picking it up as he reached it. It was a heart-shaped locket, and Goten noticed that the clasp for the chain was broken. He fingered it, then noticed that there was writing engraved on the locket. He tilted it away from the sun, to get away from the glare. It read, "My Dearest Trunks."

This is the locket Trunks told me about, Goten realized fingering the front of it. This is the locket that Marron had asked to be made for him before she died. He carefully opened the heart-shaped locket, and saw a picture of Trunks and Marron, with Polo when he was just a few months old.

Goten smiled softly, but then got up and dusted himself off. He closed the locket and placed in his pocket. What am I gonna do now? he wondered as he began to walk home. The argument we had was a bad one, and I doubt Trunks'll be talking to me for awhile. Not like I want to talk to him at the moment, either. But he might wonder where it is, and I don't really want him to worry about it. This is the last thing Marron gave to him before she died, and she didn't even give it to him herself. He went to go get it. But he loves this thing, and I just don't know what to do.

Goten stopped suddenly, looking back at the spot where he and Trunks had traded verbal thrashings. He felt a chill slowly crawl down his back, as he began to wonder what would happen now. He and Trunks had argued before, he'd be lying if he said they didn't, but this one was a different argument, and Goten began to think it wouldn't be resolved as quickly as the others have. If that were the case, he wondered how it would be without the only person he ever called his best friend...

TBC