The streets once filled with burning rubble and decaying corpses, were beginning to look like streets once again. The rubble had been cleared to the point where the foundations of new houses and places of business were starting to show. It wouldn't be too long before everyone would be able to resume their lives once more. Many had died at the hands of the maniacal Android siblings. Graveyards were full to beyond capacity; new ones had been constructed to cope with the ever-amounting dead. But they were the lucky ones. Thousands of people had no bodies to bury, no way of saying goodbye to their loved ones that had died because their bodies just could not be found. Day by day the struggle continued, but with vigour and renewed hope. The earth was now free, but not everyone rejoiced…
The people cheered and congratulated Trunks as he walked by. He was their saviour, yet all that Trunks could say in return for their gratitude was that he couldn't have done it without the help of his friends. With a single push of his left arm he cleared some girders that were strewn across the street as he continued his course towards the cemetery where his dead friends lay.
"Hello guys. Sorry that I haven't been up to see you for a while." He cleared some debris from Kuririns grave and proceeded to straighten up their resting place. Dead leaves had fallen all around and a piece of Piccolos gravestone had broken from the side. There, all tidy again. Trunks proceeded to kneel and bow his head. "A lot has changed since I was last here to see you all. The world is now safe from the Artificial Humans…I finally defeated them and avenged you all." He paused and inhaled a long slow breath, biting his trembling lower lip as his emotions began to waver once again. "I'm sorry I couldn't be stronger sooner Gohan-san…If I was then maybe you wouldn't have died…" A tear escaped from his tightened eyes and shone in the sunlight as it traced the contours of his solemn features. Trunks had become stronger than ever and his face showed that strength; it was the face of a man who had suffered and fought to the bitter end; a face that looked somewhat older than it's years. But it also showed a pain that could no longer be contained. "It couldn't be helped Trunks. I knocked you out to stop you from following me remember?" His eyes opened with a start. Did he really hear that or has his sadness dropped him into madness? He raised his head in disbelief at what he was about to see….
Up in the clouds he could see Gohan, and next to his son was Goku. "Are you…what…. how are you there? …Are you really there?" Was all that Trunks could stammer as he began to question his own sanity. "Yes, I'm really here" Gohan smiled. "Hey there Trunks! Boy, you sure have grown up well from the little baby that I saw you as last" Said Goku, waving his arm to say hello. Still the same old Goku. Trunks face spread wide with happiness as his rose to his feet. "It's so good to see you Gohan-San! I see that you've got your arm back in the afterlife." Gohan flexed his arm and replied "yeah, I got my body back as good as new up here. But being able to be with my father again is the best part"
Trunks hesitated then asked, "Is my father up there with you?"
"Yeah he is, but he's training as usual…and still arrogant as ever!"
"That reminds me! I got to go train! Vegeta has challenged me and I wouldn't wanna disappoint the little guy…hehe" chipped in Goku. Then he disappeared. Gohan let out a chuckle, "no need to train but still it's what they do…guess it's the main thing that they really know to do with their 'lives'" He turned back to face the overjoyed Trunks. "So why you been so sad kid? We can feel your pain all the way out here. You've defeated the Artificial Humans, saved humanity, began building a new life…yet still you suffer"
Trunks looked away, clenching his fists. "I'm sorry Gohan…I've been through a lot and I guess it's taking its toll on me. I really miss you…" he turned and faced his friends concerned face as it hovered above him. "I guess you could say that I had myself a bit of an adventure. My mother created a time machine so we decided that I would go back in time to save you all and prepare you to be able to defeat the Artificial Humans when they appear. I gave Goku the antidote for his heart disease, I trained with you when you were just a kid…and I got to meet my father…and evidently myself as a baby" he smiled at his last remark
"Wow, that is an adventure alright… So why are you hurting? If you helped out so much, you gave us all back our lives, you got to meet your father – which must have been one hell of an eye opener – why are you making yourself suffer? You've done well, I know Bulma is, and always has been very proud of you. As for us, we'll still be around Trunks. Kaio-Sama has said that we can communicate to you whenever we want to. You're not alone, your not responsible for my death, you have a great life ahead of you now…"
"I know, but it still doesn't feel right Gohan. The times that I spent training with you before you died were some of he happiest times that I can remember. When I went back in time and saw you all again and I got to know everyone that had died when I was still a child I felt like I was around my true family…I felt…whole and fulfilled. But to leave all that behind and to return was like having you all die once again…except I was the one who left you this time…"
Cherry blossom blew around Trunks as he talked with Gohan. The day began to set and Kaio-Sama was getting bored of being a telephone. They parted company with a smile and a promise to stay together, and then Gohan faded from view.
Trunks stared into the red sky and slowly laid down upon the grass and cherry blossom petals. A peace finally began to settle in his weary mind. Another hour passed and Trunks lifted into the air. The night sky was now an iridescent blue that reflected softly through his long lilac hair as he flew silently home. Bulma stood at the door waiting for him; she could always feel when he was about to arrive home. She rubbed her arms against the cold breeze that shifted around her, wearing a face of concern. "You've been gone a long time today Trunks. Is everything ok?" He took his mothers hand, "you know mother, for once it actually is." Bulma's concern faded into a tender smile. Returning the smile Trunks gestured for them to go for a walk, "come on, I'll tell you all about it," and together they sat under a tree and drank green tea as Trunks related to his mother all that had happened and all that he had been going through since his return.
