"Whispers of the Willow"

I've had a major writer's block for this particular story for the longest time. I still have it, but I decided to try and work around it. Sorry to keep you all waiting so long. I really do hate having a writer's block, anyway, I hope this chapter is to your liking.

Disclaimer: Wish I owned 'em.

Chapter 6: Goten's Suspicions Confirmed.

Two days after Trunks came home from the trial that never took place, Goten awoke in a cold sweat. He hadn't had a dream, but he did sense something very strange in the air. He wasn't sure what it was, but he could tell from the cold chill that was running up his spine that the presence was very evil.

He wanted to tell Trunks, but after all that had happened, Trunks wasn't in the best mood and was easily spooked. Bra, being the bratty little sister that she was, took this with great delight. She was having the time of her life making fun of her big brother.

As for Goten, Bra had gotten even angrier with him after she saw that he hadn't made Marron stop flirting with him when they were going home on his motorcycle. She didn't tell anyone, but Bra had been extremely jealous of this. Despite Goten's desperate attempts to make up with Bra (he had gotten her flowers and a box of chocolates) she still gave him the cold shoulder and would only speak to him when necessary.

Goten swung his legs over the side of his bed and put his face into his face. The evil that was near was so overwhelming, it was hard to think straight. Goten stood up and stretched. He stifled a yawn, as to not wake Trunks, and walked into the kitchen. This was usually the time he made breakfast, but he had other plans this morning. He went to his dresser and pulled out some pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt. He pulled his garments over his bare skin which had recently been covered with goose bumps and opened the door carefully. Before he walked out, he decided to leave a note for Trunks, telling him he went to the store for groceries.

Once he was done pinning the note to the refrigerator, Goten exited his dorm and walked outside. The cold chill of winter stung his eyes as he quickly and silently made his way to the forest that bordered the college. This, Goten noticed, was the place that the evil presence had been strongest so far, and he found as he entered deeper into the forest that it only got stronger.

The trees were getting thick and Goten was having trouble battling his way through the brush. Suddenly, Goten stumbled into a clearing. He looked around and saw that there was a little cabin in the middle of the clearing. A curly string of smoke was hovering over the chimney and Goten could smell the delicious scent of bacon and sausage. The sight would've been comforting to him if the evil presence hadn't been stabbing at him from all sides.

Goten was suddenly rooted to the spot with a look of pure terror in his eyes at the sight that was approaching him. He tried to move, but found that he was literally frozen to the spot in fear. The woman that was approaching him was about a head taller then Goten, and had a very trim muscular body. She looked physically fit and if it hadn't been for her eyes, she wouldn't been a very attractive person. But those eyes, the empty, pitiless, cold, stinging eyes that were piercing Goten as though daggers were protruding from them and striking every part of his body was the thing that frightened Goten the most.

All the sudden she was upon him. Goten's senses had all been jumbled in the confusion and his brain was all astray. The only thing he could think was that he was in trouble and he had to save himself.

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Trunks shot up in his bed. He had heard an ear-shattering scream. He was sure it was Goten. He looked over hoping to see Goten in his bed, but silently cursed when he found that Goten was indeed not in his bed.

Trunks skidded into the kitchen yelling out Goten's name. There came no answer. No happy whistling in the kitchen, no opera style singing in the shower. Goten was definitely not home.

Bra and Pan came bursting through the door, which had been left a crack open.

"What is it, Trunks?" Bra asked breathlessly.

"I'm not sure, but I think Goten's in trouble." Trunks said softly.

"Where is he, Trunks?" Bra asked. She had been doing a good job not letting anybody about her being jealous about Goten and Marron, but Trunks could hear the obvious hint of worry in her tone.

"Don't worry, Bra. I'll get him back." Trunks said comfortingly to his sister.

"Look, he left a note." Pan yelled from the kitchen. "It says he went out for groceries."

"And you believe that?" Trunks asked.

"Why shouldn't we?" Pan asked irritably.

"Because it's just like him to leave notes like this." Trunks said knowingly.

"Leave notes like what?" Bra asked in a small voice. Trunks felt really bad about having to worry her over this, and he wanted to believe the note as much as the rest of them, but the fact was he knew that Goten had written that so that none of them would put themselves in danger going out looking for him.

"Bra, I'm sorry. The note's a decoy. Goten just wrote it so that we wouldn't go looking for him." Trunks said looking away.

"You're lying. What makes you so sure that's not the real thing?" Bra asked. Her eyes were brimmed with tears that were threatening to fall.

"Bra, I feel something evil in the air. If you concentrate, you can feel it too." Trunks said looking at his sister again.

"So, what does that have to do with Goten being in danger?" Bra yelled. She was starting to look as though she was in a panic.

"I know Goten better than any of us. He's been my friend for a long time, and I know that if he felt that evil presence, then he is undoubtedly out there looking for the creator of the evil." Trunks said making his way over to his sister and hugging her in a loving fashion.

"So what if you've known him the longest, we aren't sure that he's in danger. Why are you scaring me, Trunks? I'm sorry for making fun of you the past couple of days, but that doesn't give you the right to scare me like this." Bra said quietly into her brother's arms that had enveloped her.

As Bra broke down into her brother's tight grasp, Pan was looking around. Trunks noticed this and asked what was the matter.

"I just noticed. Marron isn't here." Pan said seriously looking at Trunks.

*fin

I'm really sorry for my not updating in a long time. I still have a major writer's block, but I'm doing my best, so please bare with me.

~S saiyan Vegeta4013