Author's Note: I'm back with another chapter, and thank you to all who reviewed. It's good to have sources of inspiration. =P Anyway, I know that Son/Briefs romances are cliches, but I have to go with what happens to the sequel of this one. Besides, I haven't seen enough of DBGT to know how to manage other pairings like Pan/Uub and Goten/Marron, although I don't have anything against those at all. Thanks again, and now I'll get back to the story...

Crimson Tide
Chapter Sixteen: Lies, Deception, Treachery

The alarms in the mental institution Goten had been kept in for around a week already went off all at the same time, and all security systems were immediately activated to prevent anyone from leaving the base. Such chaos only meant one thing: someone escaped. And there was only one person who had the ability to be able to escape such a highly-guarded facility.

Goten Son.

He didn't want to cause a stir at his escape so he planned everything out carefully. However, when he felt Juuhachi's power level fluctuate nervously --- and Krillin's soon after --- he immediately knew that they were in trouble, and he decided to escape even if it would mean causing a stir, or getting in trouble with the police.

He knew it was his chance. It was his chance to see who was behind all the murders, and it was his chance to prove to the world that he was innocent, his chance to prove to all those who thought that he was insane that he was truly not.

He ran. He ran as fast as his legs would carry him, he ran with adrenaline surging through him. He had to get there on time. He wanted to see for himself who framed him up, who sold him to the enemy. He wanted to make sure that Trunks was innocent as well, just as he was. True, he saw his best friend attempt to kill his daughter, but he told himself that he probably was just hallucinating --- or it was just a simple misconception, a misinterpretation. After all, nobody's perfect.

"Hang on... I'll be there soon."

Goten continued to run, desperate to aid his friends who were fighting their nemesis whose power level remained masked by darkness. However, he stopped on his tracks, unable to move, unable to as time apparently froze for a second. And when time resumed, the presence that was once Krillin's --- was a void. He continued to run, until he came upon the all-too-familiar Kame House --- and he was sure that this time, he would see another friend bathing in his own blood.

But he was also sure that this time, he would not get knocked out and then framed up, but instead, he would turn things around and find out who had been behind all the murders in the past days.

When he finally made it, what he saw was a mess. He cringed at the sight of the severity of the situation --- the more when he saw the lifeless bodies of Krillin and Juuhachi.

Then, out of the silence, he heard a soft beep, followed by Recording completed.

Upon hearing that, Goten stood up and rushed towards the bedroom, where he knew the media player was located. He examined it, and when saw that it actually had a disc inside, he concluded that Juuhachi or Krillin was recording something before the villain came and they forgot to turn off the player. Excited by his discovery --- and determined to find out what exactly happened --- Goten immediately keyed in the play command.

"He'll live."

Celeste breathed a sigh of relief as she slowly caressed Trunks' pale face, not taking her eyes of his now reposed features. "That's good to hear," she whispered, and then added, "Rest well, my love."

"You should talk some sense into him. His plans are downright stupid. He gets himself into trouble by his recklessness. If he wants to survive, then he should know that a good plan is the foundation for a good victory."

"Tell that to his ego," she replied in a tone that had an edge, much to her companion's surprise.

"You seem touchy."

She stood up to meet the other's gaze with angry eyes. "Touchy?! What do you except?! He almost died, damnit! And it's all your fault! You and your stupid quest to annihilate those saiyajins in revenge for your brothers' deaths!"

"But he did it willingly."

"Because you pushed him and deceived him," Celeste spat.

Thanatos' eyes narrowed. Celeste's purpose was to be the bait, to lure Trunks into his web so he would be able to use the saiyajins for his plans... but she fell for him. She learned to love him, she formed an attachment with him. And now, that bond was getting in the way.

It was time to cut off the link.

You have served me well, Celeste. But I'm afraid I'll have to get rid of you very soon. So you better start spending more time with your beloved and enjoy your last few moments. Because when that span of time I'll be giving you is over, you will feel very sorry for even knowing him.

Vegeta looked at Goten with an expression of disbelief. "Are you telling me that the killer is Trunks, my brat and your best friend?

"If you'll listen to this, you'll know that I'm telling the truth. I'm not, in any way, trying to put Trunks down. I just want you to know the truth," Goten blurted out in a frustrated tone as he slammed the disc into the table and walked off towards the large window in the main office of Capsule Corporation to look at the sights and somehow cool off.

A few moments of silence passed for a while before Vegeta took the disc and put it in the media player to listen to the captured incident. Nobody said anything, until they heard the words:

"I came here to apologize."

"Apologize? For what?"

"For murdering your daughter."

"Seriously, Trunks."

Bulma gasped. "He can't be---"

Her husband held out his hand, warning her to stop and listen to what would come next. But nothing came, only silence. And when they thought that the silence would never end, they heard Trunks say in an icy voice thick with sarcasm, "Now, now, Juuhachi-san. It's futile to fight me. You'll only get yourself hurt."

"No, this can't be..." Keeney mumbled in disbelief. "Oniichan... a killer? A murderer? No... this can't be real... not at all..."

She paused as they heard the sound of breaking glass and china from the speakers, followed by groans that belonged to Juuhachi. After another round of crashes and breaking objects, and a loud thump, they heard Trunks moan --- and they realized that the android must have dished enough damage on her opponent at the moment.

"Impressive! You're pretty strong for a woman. But your strength is not enough to defeat me... so as much kill me."

"Why?! Why did you kill Marron?! What has she done to you?!"

"I'm really sorry, Juuhachi-san... but I was bored."

Keeney's jaw dropped open in disbelief, hatred joining the mixture of emotions on her face shortly after. "Bored?! He killed Marron because he was bored?!" she half-screamed, her aura fluctuating dangerously and her fists clamped on her sides. "I don't believe him!"

The expression on the Saiyajin no Ouji's features was difficult to sort out, but anger was evident in the way his eyes sparkled. "I believe that there's only one demon behind all this... and he's most probably who the brat calls master. He better start praying... because when I get my hands on him I will personally tear him into pieces for corrupting my son!"

"Thanatos?" Goten asked as he spun around to face the rest, finally putting all the puzzle pieces together.

"Definitely."

Ever since that day the Z-Senshi found out what was going on, and who they were up against, Goten never let his wife out of his sight. He was with her all the time, and he never let his guard down. He was determined to protect her at all costs, and that was what was doing.

However, Celeste was greatly annoyed by his sudden protectiveness. She never had the time to meet up with her beloved because Goten was always by her side; if not, he was always close by. It made her upset greatly because she had been unable to visit Trunks, who was still recovering from the injury he acquired during his battle with Juuhachi and Krillin. She knew that she had to be there, to take care of him and to make him feel better, but with Goten on her tail it was next to impossible.

One day, however, she was unable to stop herself that she added sleeping powder to her husband's drink just to make him doze off and give her the opportunity even just to talk to the man she truly loved. The moment Goten's eyelids slid close Celeste snuck out of their room and quickly dialed Trunks' number.

"Celeste?" Trunks asked weakly, although she could tell that he was happy to hear from her. "How are you? Is it true what Master told me? That the Z-Senshi have---"

"It's true," she replied with sadness in her tone. "I don't know how it happened, but he managed to escape from the mental ward. He then rushed to Capsule Corporation with a disc that contained your conversation with Juuhachi and Krillin before they died. And he used the same disc to free himself from all the charges and the accusations... and now the police are after you."

"I don't care. I can take care of myself, don't worry. But I'm worried about you. Aren't you due yet?"

Celeste froze for a while, her features depicting panic, but she regained her composure shortly after and she answered, "Silly! I'm still not due for another week or so!"

Apparently, he was confused. "Huh? I thought that---"

"No, you didn't. It happened around a week or two after. Don't worry about me, I'm fine."

There was a pause before Trunks continued. "I'll drop by hospital when it's time. I don't know how I'll keep Goten away, but I think I can convince Master to lend us a hand. After all, I've done him a lot already --- he should at least learn to appreciate other people's efforts. Most especially that of his apprentice."

"See you soon, then," she whispered as she heard footsteps. "He's up. I love you."

Celeste did not even bother to listen to what the other had to say, for she shut off the communicator immediately as she felt Goten approach closer to her position, afraid to be caught red-handed. The moment he appeared in the scene, she put on the sweetest smile she could muster and quickly opened up a topic to prevent the demi-saiyajin from asking her questions.

Indeed, she was very much capable of keeping her relationship with Trunks a secret.

Look at him closely. Very closely. Look into his eyes, and tell me what you see.

Trunks obeyed his master's words. Slowly so as not to surprise the infant, he moved closer towards the baby, and a feeling of warmth filled him as he admired the demi-saiyajin that was sleeping peacefully. He smiled as he moved his hand to caress the infant's face, when the baby opened his eyes and looked up to him, apparently recognizing who the older man was. Joy overcame him once the infant did so, but then his eyes narrowed significantly as they locked gazes with the little boy. But those eyes, those soft, raven orbs... they could only belong to...

"Goten," Trunks hissed in realization.

He felt his power level rise in rage, but he did his best to lock them up back inside of him. After all, he did not want his presence to be known by the Z-Senshi, for it would only bring him trouble. As fast as he could, he walked away from the nursery, eager to get back to his hideout and release his anger in some way.

I was right all along, Celeste. You cheated on me.

He stopped, and as he did so, a cruel smile spread on his pale features. What was there to lose? Yes, he loved Celeste, but that love had disappeared into thin air at the discovery that she cheated on him. Now, she was nothing more than Goten's wife --- and a Son, for that matter. Killing her would not only provide joy to his master, but it will also cause more pain for the person he despised the most. And the fact that it was the perfect manner of revenge in Trunks' part was very self-satisfying.

It was just perfect.