Thanks for the review Unromanticpoetess! I hope to have many more from you. I've never written a Dragonball Z fic before, but my Gundam Wing fic is pretty good so check it when you can! As far as the SSJ2 level killing Bulma...I don't think I would, but who knows eh? Well enjoy this next chapter!.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Goten laid on his back looking into the clear spring sky, breathing in it's crisp, clean, air. The gentle breeze was refreshing, cooling his sweaty brow from the activities of the day. He and Trunks had been playing football with some of the other kids in the park. But now those others had left, and all the adults were at the picnic tables indulging themselves in the feast that was prepared by Trunks' mom, leaving the pair bored with nothing to do for at least another hour. Trunks sat Indian style, grabbing at grass and tossing it to the wind, watching it swirl off past his best friend to parts unknown. Surprisingly enough neither one of them was that hungry and in all honesty what they wanted to do was spar. But their mother strictly forbade them from doing anything "abnormal", which was boring the hell out of them. "What fun is being normal when your not?" Trunks argued, but Bulma was a seasoned pro at winning over verbal disputes, and so he found himself playing football with a bunch of kids his age and a tad older. It wasn't that bad except for the fact the others weren't nearly as good as he and Goten. Goten rotated his foot humming a simple tune he'd heard his mother sing some time ago. Trunks scratched his fingers against the now bald spot on the ground while speaking without looking up.
"Hey Goten are you bored?"
"Yeah."
"Well hurry up and think of something, all this sitting around is going to make me...get older or something."
Goten sat up, moving his eyes around in thought. Trunks did the same as he crossed his arms staring at the ground. Goten popped up looking at Trunks.
"Hey let's spar!"
Trunks sighed.
"Goten, we can't remember....dumb ass."
"Oh yeah, sorry."
The two sat again continuing the plotting process. Goten leaned back tilting his head towards his shoulder blades with a heavy sigh. Goten stopped in mid exasperation, blinking rapidly at the vision he was seeing upside down. There stood a strawberry blonde with the prettiest purple eyes.
"Hey Trunks look at her."
Trunks looked at Goten before turning around. There she was, the most beautiful vision Trunks had ever seen in his 13 years of existence. His secret crush from school, there stood Amber in a white belly shirt and blue jean skirt. The matching blue clip in her shoulder length hair complemented her outfit and beauty well, forcing a slight blush to creep up in his cheeks. Trunks had never felt like this about anybody... so naturally a simple smile of male stupidity spread across his dazed face when she looking in his direction..
"Maybe she wants to play, you think Trunks?"
The simple smile was eradicated, changing into full blown stammering clumsiness as his entire face went blood vessel red.
"W...with who? Me? Us?"
"Who else dork?"
"Umm..."
Goten looked at him somewhat surprised , he'd never seen Trunks, the remarkably smooth ladies man, react like such a bumbling idiot. And because of this rare opportunity Goten found himself thinning out the evilest of grins at Trunks' expense.
"I bet you like her huh Trunks?"
"Me...no way."
Trunks crossed his arms again looking away in what seemed to be a final attempt to disguise what was a badly hidden crush.
"Then you won't mind if I go play with her!"
"Wait!"
Goten hopped up running towards her forcing Trunks to hurry behind.
******
Vegeta sat there, quietly gazing upon the group of warriors and so called friends. The men talked of times long since past while the women listened in playing cards. Vegeta on the other hand didn't have much to say, and he didn't play cards really at all. Krillin would make jokes of his own personal set backs, but Vegeta could never bring himself to laugh about his demises and defeats. He was too ashamed of them, but he listened and remembered most of those battles the others reminisced on. Videl often asked Gohan what it was like beating Cell, and Gohan humbly gave descriptions of the battle. But he would always credit Vegeta for the energy wave that helped him turn the table on Cell. Vegeta however just turned his head in disgust. He didn't have the power to do it alone then while, Gohan however...
"What would you say was your toughest fight Dad?"
"Oh Vegeta by far!"
Vegeta looked over at the only other living full blooded Sayain alive with a curious expression on his face.
"Tougher than Majin Buu?"
Videl asked leaning across her boyfriend to get closer to the conversation. She was no Sayain, but Videl loved a good fight as much as the boys. With that, she continued.
"I mean Vegeta is really, really strong but he's still no Majin Buu."
Vegeta slanted his eyes at Videl comment of sheer disrespect. While she may not have meant it that way, it sure did come out as if she was calling him weak. And Vegeta wasn't fond of being called weak.
"What would you know of strength girl?" Vegeta snapped back, fiercely uncrossing his arms in the same motion.
"I know plenty!"
"Is that so? I find that hard to believe, after all you thought that clown of a fath..."
"WELL Videl, Vegeta is a really smart fighter on top of being strong!" Goku intervened.
"Yes it's not always the strongest who win the fight."
Piccolo reached out grabbing his glass of water, sipping on it while looking at Goku, he then continued.
"Tell us some more Goku...and don't do it with your mouth full."
Goku swallowed another large chunk of meat before beginning again.
"Well it was when we were at the Worlds Marital Art's Tournament about 5 years ago...."
_____________
"You will fight with me Kakarot...unless you want another part of the stadium remodeled."
"Vegeta!"
Vegeta had reached a new high of and Ascended Sayain that was unimaginable! I didn't know if I had the strength to beat him at the time, and as he fired an energy wave into me, I had no choice but to get out of the way of it! Talk about power!...
______________
"Stop this Kakarot! That power was not my own!"
"But Vegeta...it was still you."
Vegeta clinched his fist with frustration at how easily Goku forgave and dismissed the situation.
"No it was not, and you still played me for a fool...you didn't even use your Super Sayain 3 technique."
"I explained to you why already Vegeta...."
Vegeta stood up grabbing Goku by his shirt yanking him across the table.
"That's nothing but a pride-less excuse! Did you not know my humiliation!? I was ashamed of the outcome of our battle! It wasn't even a true victory!"
Goku smiled sheepishly.
"You won didn't you Vegeta?"
"I NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN A POSITION TO WIN THAT FIGHT! I WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED MY DEFEAT IF YOU WOULD HAVE JUST FOUGHT ME TO YOUR FULLEST CAPABILITIES!"
Vegeta shook Goku by his collar annoyed. What was it going to take to get his point across?
"Dammit Kakarot! I want a rematch right now!"
Then entire party stopped then and there. The whole gang watched as Vegeta clutched his fist in rage. Even Maron and Bra stopped playing dolls by the bench to look at the last true Sayains in existence. Goku tossed his hands up as if submitting to the Sayain Prince's will.
"Okay Vegeta I'll be happy to come over and duke it out with you sometime this week."
"You idiot I said now! As in this precise moment!"
"But Vegeta we made a promise to everyone we wouldn't fight. It's not good to break promises!"
"What!? Kakarot you are not 6 years old! You're a man, and this man wants to fight you! Kakarot, the warrior! Not the boy scout!!"
Bulma stood up.
"Come on now you two made a promise..."
"Quiet woman!"
"Quiet!? I'll..."
18 promptly grabbed Bulma dragging her off before she enraged her husband further. Chi-Chi, stood closing her eyes while shaking her finger like a referee counting out a fighter in a boxing match.
"You're right Vegeta, there is no stopping you two if you want to fight, how ever can I suggest a more gentlemanly mean?"
Goku and Vegeta both looked at her in wonder.
*******
"Hello! Wait up!"
The beautiful Amber stopped turning to a pursuing Goten. She gave a kind smile with a polite response.
"Yes, may I help you?"
"Hey how's it goin'!? I'm Goten."
"Hey Goten, I'm Amber."
Trunks came stumbling up second just behind Goten slapping his hands on his knees puffing in deep breathes.
"I said to wait Goten...."
"Trunks Brief?"
Trunks stopped his mumbling tirade to pop his head up at the mention of his name. His gaze instantly locked with hers and in that same instants his face became a blood shot red.
"Hiya...A...Amber. Hehehe...what are you doing here? God I sound like a moron .Hehehe."
"Walking around, I like parks ya know?"
"Do you?"
"Yep, I just said so didn't I?"
She smiled sweetly chuckling a bit, brushing several loose strands of hair behind her ears.
Goten looked over at his best friend. Trunks was locked in a trance of foolishness at the mere sight of her shiny hair getting such attention from her soft hands. Goten elbowed him hard in his rib causing him to snap loose. Whispering to him.
"Go on man, say something smooth."
"Oh...right. Um your...uh....your hair looks pretty, that can't be your natural color."
Goten slapped himself hard on the forehead as Trunks quickly through his hands out in defense realizing what he just said.
"No...what I meant was....t...that your hair is such a rare color that it's freakish ya know...no bad choice of words! I was saying that..."
"It's okay Trunks, I know what your trying to say...it's awfully sweet of you."
Amber began blush slightly herself. They both began to laugh wildly at each other. Goten shook his head before walking off.
"8th graders...."
Amber and Trunks watched Goten flip and roll around in the grass just left of them. She quickly snapped to grabbing Trunks by the hand.
"Ah! Trunks you and Goten have to come with me I've got something to show you! It has to be you!"
******
Vegeta glared at Chi-Chi before looking down at Goku again. He chuckled under his breathe nervously as Vegeta refocus on her.
"All right Chi-Chi, you've managed to peak my curiosity a bit. What is your proposal?"
"Basketball."
"Basketball?" Goku and Vegeta responded simultaneously looking back at each other before returning to Chi-Chi
"Yes play a game of basketball Vegeta. It's allot more fun than some silly old fight."
"I doubt that, but seeing how it'll give me another way to defeat this clown of a husband of yours, I'll do it."
Vegeta looked down at the mighty Sayain still locked in his grip.
"What say you Kakarot? A basketball contest for now?"
"Fine by me Vegeta."
Vegeta laughed as he let him go onto the table. The entire group sighed for the moment as one disaster was avoided and one grand bout was about to take place.
******
"I've always wanted to go on, but I was always too afraid to go by myself."
Amber slid down the sloping hills of woodland property owned by West City with Trunks and Goten not far behind. It was only a little while out of the way of the main park area, but still most normal people wouldn't have found it. In some instances it made Trunks like her even more so due to the fact that she held such an adventurous spirit. Most of the girls his age didn't like to do anything but look in mirrors and play childish flirt games with the other boys. Trunks had his father to thank for keeping him out of the cross hairs of the girls at school. He actually sat him down and told him the dangers of the women.
__________
"Trunks my son, you are becoming a man now. And with man hood comes the female species. NO matter what my son; do not take their silly garbage! They may seem pretty and cute, but they are evil!"
Trunks only blinked looking down at his wrapped present then back at his father as he pumped his fist towards the sky.
"Really, more so than Buu?"
"A thousands times greater! They'll drag you shopping facilities and ask you if they look fat in their feminine garments!"
"What do you do?"
Vegeta sat down on the bed next to Trunks pulling him in closer. Vegeta's eyes wondered around to insure the security of the information he was about to pass on to his child.
"Well women are tricky son. They always tells you to be honest...but they do not want to hear the truth. Take your mother for instance. She inquired upon me about a piece of clothing if she looked large in it, and I told her yes."
"What she do."
"Just answer no Trunks."
Vegeta stood up shaking his head slightly as Trunks shot him an attentive look.
"Okay, anything else?"
"Yes, do not let them get you in the pink shirt, because if they do, it's over with! Cursed article of clothing...just stay away from them, you will be fine."
Trunks shrugged as his father paced out of the room pulling at a pastel pink shirt with the words "bad ass" written across the back..
__________
"Pink shirts..."
"What?"
Trunks looked down at Amber whom had stopped just short of the bottom with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh sorry, I meant to say that my dad has brought me here thousands of times and I never knew this existed."
"Me neither." Goten added as they all hopped down onto and open plane.
"I fell down here once when I was a kid and I found this area, come on we're almost there."
The trio ran towards the dark cave peering in. The sound of water running was roaring in the back ground.
"Trunks?"
Trunks looked at Amber with curious eyes. She smiled.
"Turn into that shinny golden thing so we can see."
"Huh!? How did you know we could do that?!"
"Like nobody saw you do it at the tournament a few years back...champ."
Goten and Trunks looked at each other with a nervous laugh.
"Looks like she's got us pegged Trunks."
"Yeah, okay I'll do it, stand back."
Trunks clutched his fist tightly extending his arms. Amber stepped back behind Goten as Trunks transformed into a Super Sayain.
"Wow, you're cute as a blonde!"
Trunks began to blush wildly as he tried his best to look tough. Goten was all but amused by the shyness of his long time friend and ally. It was with that Trunks walked into the cave and the others followed.
******
Vegeta dribbled the ball on the hard blacktop, he had already taken off his shirt at the expense of embarrassment, as Bulma whistled riotously screaming, "You go stud!".
"Come on Kakarot, it's time."
"Give me a minute Vegeta. You don't expect me to play in these sandals do you? Let me tie up Gohan's sneakers okay?"
Videl sat on the bench next to Gohan. She looked around as the whole gang gathered on the side to watch the ensuing contest.
"This should be interesting."
"Very." 18 responded nodding at Videl.
"Okay you both should already know how the game works...no special powers you two. First to 11 wins. And that's by ones. There are no two pointers from beyond the three point land."
"Okay Chi-Chi." Vegeta and Goku both responded in unison. Vegeta however sounded a bit more dramatic in his response.
"Videl dear?"
Videl looked over to the mother of the man next to her, shocked to hear her name out of the whole thing.
"You keep score alright."
"Okay."
Chi-Chi quickly got up walking over to the side with the others.
"Gosh mom, you sure know allot of street ball rules."
"This isn't street ball Gohan, it's more like a duel. Besides I played allot of basketball when I was a kid you know."
Vegeta checked Goku the ball getting down in a defensive stance.
"So Kakarot...are you ready for the challenge?"
Goku ducked down to meet Vegeta's eyelevel, pressing the ball in his palms holding it away from Vegeta in an offensive position.
"I was born ready Vegeta...let's go."
END OF PART II
Sorry if it seems slow but I believe in plot development! The good stuff is still to come so hang in their folks! Please Review!
*Announcer Guy*
Trunks, Goten, and Amber stubble deeper into the cave, and when the confident Trunks and Goten get in a skirmish they find deeper secrets to the cave! Elsewhere Vegeta and Goku give an all out battle on the black tops of West City, it's an all out Sayain free for all on the next installment of Dragonball Z!
Secrets Within The Darkness
