Harvest of the Soulless

By Poe

Chapter Ten:

An Anticipated End

"Here the river runs

A shallow bed of stones

With no flow but the innocence that once was

And no trials but the anticipated end."

            I waited with Trunks for Vegeta to arrive. I thought that I would find not answers, but more questions. I was sure that it would evolve into argument, with an anticipated end that would prove to be disadvantageous for the both of us. I was used to questions and arguments, but what was to come was far different than I could've imagined. It was a revelation, a portrayal of the side of Vegeta I had ignored.

            Trunks and I waited, only I waited calmly. He was angry and resentful, almost as if the apocalypse was steadily approaching instead of just Vegeta. Frankly, with Trunks' persistent warnings, I was starting to be a little worried myself. He said Vegeta's power was beyond anything he had seen, and Trunks had been near death when he came to my doorstop. It almost looked as if he had run away or surrendered in order to survive, Vegeta's compassion was growing harder to notice, if it even existed at all. I wondered what his power was really like, if he was everything Trunks said he was.

            When Vegeta came, I braced myself. I saw him at first, craning my neck to look up, and he was a floating figure in the watery grey sky. He descended casually, an aura of smug anger about him. I could see Trunks' jaw clench, and his fists tighten. Trunks seemed still upset about what had happened, and it wasn't surprising. He had obviously been deeply shocked and perturbed by the fight, not to mention disappointed to have been defeated.

            I was lost in thought when Vegeta's feet touched the ground, and it startled me to realize he was so close. I spun around to face him, ignoring Trunks completely. He stood before me, with a small trail of blood sullying his features, trailing from his temple down to his jaw line. I remembered the fight and stifled a gasp. That was it? I expected a bruised and broken Vegeta, but all I saw was a bit of blood. He probably didn't even have anything broken, unlike misfortunate Trunks.

            "Vegeta?" I questioned, and then decided to venture for the obvious before asking about his appearances, "What are you doing here?"

            He scoffed as though answering that was unseemly of him, and instead turned to Trunks. "You've been talking, I see, to our favorite semi-human whore." I cringed at his sarcasm and cruelty.

            "You know damn well she's not a whore. You're the one who tricked her into sleeping with you!" Trunks shouted, and a look of confusion spread on Vegeta's face.

            "Yeah, that's right Vegeta, I heard all about how you lied to me about the legacy gene. How could you? To think, I actually assumed there was some decency in you."

            "What in the hell are you talking about now?" Vegeta snapped, "You think I lied to get in bed with you?"

            "Of course! You told me that the legacy gene runs in all Saiyans, Trunks tells me that it only runs in royal blood!"

            "Royal blood? Well, yes it runs in only royal blood, but what does that have to do with anything?"

            Confusion poured over me. "Are you dense? Because I don't have any royal blood and you said that I had the legacy gene!"

            His brow furrowed in anger. "I said no such thing."

            "Well, you called it 'Saiyan instinct', and Trunks told me that this instinct was caused by the legacy gene." I glanced quickly at Trunks for approval, and he seemed as shocked and confused as I was.

            "Of course he told you that, he's obviously a half-wit who doesn't know his proper Saiyan genetics," Vegeta said, casting a glare at Trunks, "A similar gene, one less powerful, was also engineered into Saiyan warrior's DNA for experimentation purposes. Kakkarott, the son of Bardock, was one of the many who carried this gene."

            My jaw dropped. "So I really do have this gene? And my father's going to end up with Bra? This is too much, I don't know who to believe!"

            "You never told me about this, father," Trunks clarified, "is this scientific fact or just another one of your lies?" 

            "If I wanted the brat to sleep with me," Vegeta said, growing very angered, "I would not have to lie to do it. You can be sure of that."

            "Are you calling me a whore?"

            Both heads jerked towards me. "Of course I am," Vegeta responded with resentment, "And I can only hope our offspring don't exhibit the same lack of decency you have."

            "Offspring? Lack of decency?" I exclaimed, outraged, "How could you say that, you heartless monster? You have to be kidding me, after all I've done for you!"

            "Both of you are changing the subject! How do we even know, Pan, if he's telling the truth about this genetics thing?"

            I paused. "Yes, how do we know?"

            "You fail to realize that I don't care if you believe me or not. It doesn't change the truth, as much as I wish it did."

            Trunks put a hand to his temple, frustrated. "Do you have any proof? Whether or not you care, we need to know."

            Vegeta showed equal frustration in his answer. "Haven't you been listening? The gene has very active side effects, all you need to do is wait for them to show themselves."

            "You mean… Bra and my father?"

            A smirk. "Of course. But you're forgetting someone."

            Trunks glanced at me quickly. "Me and you," I answered, numbly.

            "I still don't believe your crap."

            "Then don't," Vegeta said harshly, "Although if I were lying I certainly would've chosen a more suitable mate to make an elaborate story about."

            "Now's really not the time, Vegeta."

            "Pan," Trunks said, turning to me, "even if he isn't lying, we can still be together."

            "She's always prefer me to you. It will kill her with desire to chose you."

            "Bullshit," I snapped.

            "You can't prove that, even with Bra and Gohan getting together," Trunks pointed out on my behalf.

            "Your making assumptions. You haven't even asked her whom she prefers."

            Trunks crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "You want me to ask her?"

            "Go ahead, I dare you."

            "Fine. Pan," he said, turning to me, "he has a point. I need to know what you think."

            "After all this, isn't it obvious?" I asked, "And of course he has a point, how else would you decide who I would go to?"

            "Pan, this isn't obvious, can you just tell me who you prefer? I mean, I can give you some time-"

            "No, I don't need time. This is very clear to me."

            "Is it?" Vegeta asked sarcastically, looking Trunk's broken, bloodied body up and down.

            "Yes. If it weren't for this gene, I would choose neither."

            "Neither?" Trunks gasped.

            "Of course, and not only because of the age difference. You two are just way too chauvinistic inside."

            "Me? A chauvinist?" Trunks questioned, as if it was the most stunning thing in the world.

            "It's something most people don't notice about you. But when you fight, when you show who you really are, you're so much like your father. Much more than you or anyone else realizes."

            "Yes, well, can we get on with your actual decision? Because, I can assure you, if it weren't for this gene I certainly wouldn't sleep with some melodramatic teenager-"

            "Yes," Trunks cut in, "What is your decision?"

            "You know, we still haven't resolved this whole matter about whether or not this is true. For all I know it could be all one big confusion or lie, for that matter."

            "Well, assuming it isn't," Trunks said, very curiously.

            I rolled my eyes. "Trunks…"

            "Trunks what?" Vegeta asked.

            "I'd choose Trunks."

            "You mean you choose me?"

            "No, I would choose you, if all of this wasn't a lie…"

            "Which it's blatantly not," Vegeta replied.

            "Ok, so you would choose me?"

            "Yes! I told you already! What's the shock?"

            "You slept with Vegeta, I thought you had feelings for him."

            "I thought I did."

            "Then why didn't you sleep with me?"

            I gasped. "What?"

            "No, I mean, why him and not me? I'm just curious."

            "Well, stop. I'm not answering that."

            "Ok, I'm sorry, really, forget I said anything."

            Vegeta's laugh interrupted. Both of us turned to look at him, with questioning glances.

            "Why are you laughing?"

            "Don't you see?" he asked.

            "See what?"

            "You think you have so much control over this. That the attraction formed by the gene is nothing more than harmless. You know little of this gene, and yet take liberties in assuming that it's easily tamed."

            "What are you getting at?" I asked, growing a bit nervous. Vegeta's eyes met mine.

            "You cannot resist this. It will conquer you."

            "Are you saying that I can only be with you? And my father with Bra? No matter what?"

            "I've told you this dozens of time, and I am no liar. The gene is more powerful than you can force your lowly mind to comprehend. Just look at my strength, I have reached a glorious new apex in Saiyan power."

            Trunks seemed resentful as he said this, but I ignored him. "Like I said, I won't believe anything without your proof. And I still pick Trunks, you can't change that."

            "The gene sure as hell can. You only need to accept your fate."

            "You're just saying that to tear her away from me," Trunks said, slipping an arm around me. I was a bit surprised at this gesture, and offended, but I didn't pull away.

            "I didn't expect you to believe me, but it is still true."

            "No, it can't be," I said, pulling closer to Trunks just to spite him. Vegeta looked at us in disgust.

            "Go ahead. Deny it. Play your little games. But in the end, it's me whom you belong to."

            "You're lying. All of this is a lie. You're just jealous of Trunks and I."

            "And what do you have that I would be so jealous of?"

            "A relationship," Trunks responded, "I am willing to forgive her and make this work. If the situation was reversed, you would never forgiver her. That's what makes you such scum, you just can't love."

            "A scum she slept with," Vegeta pointed out, snidely. Witty, I'll admit, but it managed to anger me.

            "Don't you bring that up," I responded, "I chose Trunks and that's final. The past doesn't matter anymore."

            "And what of the future? Or should I say, our future."

            I struggled not to slap him. "Wishful thinking, Vegeta."

            "Wishful thinking? And I suppose your father and that whore of a human was just a coincidence?"

            "Maybe it was the gene, but that still doesn't mean I will prefer you to Trunks."

            "It means more than you choose to see. I have no reason to lie to you, and I hate this with a passion. But still, I know that I will be your obsession, and you will not live without me."

            "Stop this, both of you," Trunks said, angered, "Can't you tell we've come to a stalemate?"

            I sighed reluctantly. "Stalemate? I suppose." Vegeta did not reply.

            "I have a solution to this argument."

            "You do?" I asked.

            "Yes. It's the most obvious course of action," Trunks started.

            "And what's that?"

            "We wait it out."

            "Wait it out?"

            "Yes. If Vegeta's right, you'll choose him. If not, you'll be with me."

            "Or someone else," I pointed out.

            "Yeah, that too. So, father, do you accept?"

            Vegeta looked me over, and then said something shocking. "Very well, I'll come to your terms. You can have your Saiyan plaything, but in due time, she'll want me much more than she'll ever want you."

            "Wait, you're agreeing to this?" I asked, confused that Vegeta would accept this.

            "I am no liar, you will be with me. Time has little importance to me, I am not anxious to have you once more," Vegeta said, cynically.

            "Then it's settled. We'll wait it out, and in the meantime, be with whomever we want. If you're right, then Pan will chose you. Otherwise, she'll be with me or someone else."

            I guess I was a bit amazed that we had come to a diplomatic compromise, especially after the insanity of the argument we just had.

           "That's it? So we're done?"

            "Of course, what more is there to resolve?"

            "How will I know where to find Vegeta when I come crawling back to him thanks to an imaginary aspect of the gene?" I asked, sarcastically.

            Vegeta glared. "You joke now, but in a few years, you'll be begging for me to take you to my bed."

            Trunks shuddered. "I thought we resolved this."

            "Yes," I said, relieved to finally say it, "We have."

            The argument was settled, in a way, when I said it and finalized it. I wanted things to go back to normal, the way they were before. Slowly, they seemed to be. I was with Trunks again, and although my father and Bulma's future was still unknown, I had a feeling that wouldn't last. She was not meant for my father, and nor was I meant for Vegeta.

            Being with Trunks felt right again, after that little heated discussion. It wasn't an instant thing, but more of a feeling that seeped over me. I wasn't entirely sure that Trunks and I belonged together all along, but it was him I wanted. I had realized this when I had seen him so beaten and felt such an overwhelming panic storm up. I was so stunned and angry that someone had hurt him, and worried for his sake.

            But here he was, willing to forgive me. That was love, true love. It wasn't some gene, it was an emotion that was the most beautiful one in the world. Those months I had spent living in a self-dug hole of depression; I had been lacking that very emotion. I had clawed at it and reached for it, never knowing what it was.

            And now, all along, it was beside me. It could save me from unhappiness, it could give me a brand new life. The only thing I needed Vegeta for was to bind us together, without even trying.

            I had gone through so much, but here it was. I had Trunks, my love was requited, and that was all that mattered. I would wait, to humor Vegeta, but I knew that time would pass and nothing would come between us. Nothing he said would, nothing the gene was claimed to bring about.

            Nothing at all.

            And Trunks and I, despite all else, would be happy because of it.