This chapter is dedicated to all of you (because I don't have time to reply to reviews *sweatdrops*), and especially Bucky, who write some great stuff...and Burned...give me those aisu-jin!
Chapter XXV - Elapsed
"This is never going to work!" Epica exclaimed from her place one the roof of the hospital.
"It will work," Elese stated firmly. "Have a little faith, Sis."
"I've met Fate, and she isn't very nice. If it weren't for her interference, we would have taken our chance at freedom, when Dende offered it."
"I said Faith...and in any event, things weren't right then. Now it's all set in place. We just have to complete this last task."
She folded her hands, and glanced up at the sky. "You would think it would be slightly easier to make two mortals fall in love."
"They are in love, Epica, but like all things, love requires patience."
Time: 1:46 p.m. Thursday.
Marron rushed through the noisy hall once again. "Elevator...open...please..." she huffed, as she passed the huge desk. She slid through the small opening, and whirled around, to press the button.
"Mrs. Briefs, is everything o-?" the rest of the nurse's question was cut off by the closing metal doors.
After a few seconds, the elevator halted, and Marron ran into to much calmer hall, and all the way to Bura's room.
Time: 10:37 a.m. Thursday.
"Haven't the two of you already caused enough mischief for a few millennia?" Bura asked from her bed, as she eyed the two suspiciously.
Epica smirked. "Haven't you done enough blabbering for a few millennia?" she mocked.
A pained expression took over Bura's face. "Hey, I can't exactly help it that the drugs they gave me had me in another world."
"Excuse my sister, Bura." Elese paused. "We need your help, or rather, Trunks and Marron do."
"Look, if they're meant to be, then things will work themselves out."
"That could take years!" Epica exclaimed. "We don't have that kind of time."
Elese gave her a partial glare. "She means...this is our mission. We are the ones who will work things out. If we don't do anything..."
"...it could mean disaster."
Bura sighed. Those spirits had been partly responsible for Marron's Hell on Earth, but had it not been for them, she would have never gotten over Trunks. And, Bura would have never discovered that her brother wasn't a complete womanizing moron. She had actually come to respect him on a new level over the years. He had been taking his suffering so calmly, and Marron wasn't exactly what one would call happy.
She took in a deep breath. "Well, I suppose it will be the only way to keep the two of you from causing more trouble."
Time: 1:06 p.m. Thursday.
Marron launched herself over the baby blue sofa, which she had returned to its rightful place, when Trunks had left, and grabbed the tiny, ringing object. "Hello?" she asked, pulling the cell phone to her ear, and pressing the "accept" button.
"Marron," it was Goten's voice, "you've got to get up here now!"
"Goten? What's going on? I thought everything was fine this-" the line went dead, cutting her off.
Marron jumped off the couch, tossed the phone in her purse, and ran out the door, in her raggedy, old, sweat pants and white t-shirt.
Time: 10:53 a.m. Thursday.
Goten strolled into Bura's room, and over to her bedside, when he dropped a fresh kiss on her forehead. "Miss me?"
"Of course." She glanced away from him momentarily. "We have visitors."
Goten looked up from Bura, to see the two spirits, who were currently fussing over the baby.
"He's soooo cute!" Epica pinched his cheek.
"Who's going to be a little trouble maker?" Elese asked.
"Uhh, ladies, Goten's here."
Abruptly, the two stepped away from the baby, like children caught raiding a cookie jar.
"About time," Epica smirked, after composing herself.
Bura rolled her eyes. "They need our help."
"This can't be good."
Epica slammed her fist into a wall. "Why does everyone keep saying that?!"
Elese sighed. "Goten, wouldn't you like it if Marron got what she had been wishing for all those years?"
Marron awoke to the smell of something sweet. She opened her eyes, and looked around the bedroom, the smell having not ceased.
"Wha...?" she asked to the empty room.
Her reply was the door opening, to reveal a very familiar man, carrying a very huge breakfast tray.
"T...Trunks, what are you doing here?"
"I thought you might like some breakfast." He set the tray on her bed.
She gave him an odd look, as she took in the crumpled business shirt and pants that he was wearing. 'Why does he have to look so sexy like that?' She coughed at her thought, and took one of the doughnuts.
"Marron, I missed you..."
The breath caught in her chest, and she looked away, blushing. 'What's wrong with me?'
Trunks sat on the bed. "Marron..."
She leaned towards him. "Trunks..." She closed her eyes. Closer. Mere inches away. "Trunks, I..."
"Morning, Marron-chan!"
Time: 9:16 a.m. Thursday.
Marron groaned, and opened her eyes. "Goten?"
He smiled, and brought the breakfast tray over to her.
She narrowed her sleepy eyes. "What's that?"
"Cinnamon doughnuts."
She grabbed two. "Now what are you doing here?"
"Bura and I noticed how tired you were yesterday. We thought you could use some food."
"Oh. Well, thanks."
Time: 11:21 a.m. Thursday.
"Ladies, this isn't making sense."
"Who cares? It's a good plan, and MUCH better than the last one she had," Epica said, glancing at Bura.
"Okay, then. It's all set up. Now, we have about an hour and a half before we have to do anything. Goten, go get me some food."
Time: 1:56 p.m. Thursday.
Marron scanned the empty room. No Bura, no Goten, and no baby. 'Oh Kami...' She turned around, and rushed out the door, and into the hall one again, only to run into a wall. She clutched at it. "Trunks! Oh thank Dende it's you. Where are they?"
Trunks wrapped his arms around her. "What is it, Marron?"
"Bura and Goten..."
Time: 12:59 p.m. Thursday.
Operation: Burrett
Bura ripped the small pad off her chest, sending her heart monitor into a monotonous beep. "Okay, Goten. Call him."
Time: 1:58 p.m. Thursday.
"Calm down, Marron," Trunks soothed. "Calm down. They went to the mansion."
"But...they just called me."
"I know."
"Then why are you here?"
"They sent me to get some things."
"How did you know they had called me?"
Time: 1:14 p.m. Thursday.
"Trunks? How'd you get here so fast?"
"Super Saiyan...remember?"
Bura glared at the spirits. "So much for that plan."
Trunks looked around and saw the spirits. "You can see them?"
Sorry again, guys! Hope you enjoyed. Thanks for all the reviews! You guys are great! I PROMISE I'll get the next chapter out soon, and I'll reply to you guys!
In the mean time, *throws out chocolate chunck brownies* Munch on these!