A/N: I'm not going to do any more disclaimers on individual chapters. I disclaim it at the beginning. That's enough for me. It gets old real fast.
A/N2: I wasn't going to post the second chapter until tomorrow, but I got such wonderful reviews (and so quickly!) that I wanted to reward my readers by posting tonight! The third and final chapter will probably be out on Friday. Only two more chances to review!
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Man to Man
Chapter 2
Five years later:
Strangely enough, Yamcha's predictions about Vegeta and Bulma came true. About a year after his and Bulma's final break-up, the two unlikely lovers found their way to each other. In a few months of unbridled passion, Trunks had been conceived and Vegeta had taken off to space. But after the Cell games he had come back.
Vegeta was now currently sparring in the gravity room with his future son, who had decided to stay and train with his father for a while to make sure that he could defeat the monstrous android duo who haunted his own time. The fact that it was all time that Mirai Trunks could spend getting to know his long-lost father was another big incentive.
Unfortunately it was also a big misconception. In the two years since the Cell games, the mighty Prince of Saiyans had remained as cold and distant as he had been before. Mirai Trunks' hopes that his father's enraged outburst and blinding display of pyrotechnics against Cell when he had been killed had been a portent of things to come and a bond that could be created, had been shattered.
In fact, the aloof Prince almost acted like he had to prove the opposite.
The fact that Goku was dead and was not coming back was a source of bitterness that had begun to creep into all aspects of Vegeta's life. All relationships were becoming strained. But Vegeta still trained.
Trunks narrowly dodged another ki blast, the acrid smell of singed hair drifting to his nose and making his nostrils flare. Though all sparring matches with Vegeta were dangerous, this one had taken on a vicious life of its own. Both of the combatants were brimming with nearly unchecked anger.
This fight was serious.
They had both gone Super-Saiyan a long time ago and both competitors were now covered in bruises, blood, and scorch marks.
Hovering in mid-air, Mirai Trunks released his own barrage of ki blasts which he followed up with an uppercut that connected solidly with Vegeta's jaw. Vegeta didn't acknowledge any pain an, in turn, kicked Trunks in the stomach and sent him flying back ten feet. Trunks threw himself into a back flip and bounced right back, ready for more.
"You think all your anger is justified!" He shouted. "Me, I think, it's just your wounded pride." He was almost taunting his father now, laughing in his face at his foolishness.
Vegeta rushed him and the two opponents engaged in a burst of ruthless close-quarters combat. Punches and kicks were exchanged at an astonishing speed with each connecting blow ringing out in the hollow chamber. The only sound uttered beside the occasional grunt was Trunks' even more occasional harsh comments.
"What did you really think she was gonna do? She's a real woman! Not a doormat for you!"
Trunks was referring to the fact that his mother had not returned home in several days. Bulma's and Vegeta's always heated arguments had become more frequent over the past few weeks. And more bitter.
Despite his coldness towards his future son, Mirai Trunks had still retained hope since Vegeta had survived the androids and the following Cell Games. Perhaps with time, he would settle down more and this Trunks would have the chance to get to know his father.
Apparently Bulma had fostered the same hope.
Vegeta seemed determined to prove them both wrong, even going so far as to talk about leaving and going back to space to train. The way he talked about leaving made it seem permanent. Nothing Bulma or Mirai Trunks could say could make the determined prince change his mind.
The tension in Capsule Corp. had mounted until it had ignited like a spark to gasoline into a final confrontation. At the end of which, Bulma had thrown together a bag of clothes, picked up Chibi Trunks, grabbed her purse, and stormed out the door.
She had not called or been back since.
The longer she stayed away, the more agitated Vegeta got. And the more angry Mirai Trunks became.
A few days later, Vegeta had seized Mirai Trunks and headed for the Gravity room.
Vegeta had some frustrations to work out.
As did Trunks.
"You want her back, but it's too late." Mirai Trunks smiled viciously. He was completely on his mother's side, though he had not witnessed their last fight. "Why don't we just cut to the chase?"
Trunks threw a punch with his right fist, which his father caught. With his left, he caught a punch that his father had thrown. The two were now locked together in a stalemate, face to face, neither one will to give any ground.
Trunks took advantage of the moment and locked stares with Vegeta. "Let's talk, Dad," he said sarcastically. "Man to man. Tell me the truth! Tell me, were you ever there when she needed you?" Mirai Trunks was now thinking of the incident when the androids had first come and one of them had tried to attack the ship that was carrying Bulma and baby Trunks. Vegeta had stood by and done nothing.
"Man to man! Look me in the eye and tell me,if you really loved her, why'd you make her cry?" There weren't many instances when feisty Bulma would allow herself to cry, but most of the recent times had been caused by Vegeta. Not that either one would admit it.
"Man to man-- who cheated who?" A picture flashed in Mirai Trunks' mind as to what could have been. What kind of a family they could have made. What had been lost by stupid pride! That loss only fueled his anger.
"You're the one to blame!" he accused. Trunks had tried to stay out of their fights, figuring that it was just a part of their relationship. He tried not to think about them too much and had tried not to place any blame or take sides. But the fights had steadily gotten worse. And the last one had been the final straw for him. Trunks' glare was fierce and unwavering.
"Tell me it isn't true!" he cried, daring his father to disagree, to lie to him. But Vegeta remained a study in impassivity, his eyes cool and unemotional. "Man to man…." Trunks spat. "This is bullshit."
And with that he broke away and stormed out of the gravity room, presumably to go to his own secluded quarters or away from the mansion altogether.
Vegeta stood up straight, blinked, and returned to his training.