Chapter 12: Crystal Scattered
Helpless to control the damage he knew had occurred, Goten watched Kari flee outside, her cheeks sparkling as the tears reflected the lights. He was beyond concerned; he knew how much she cared about Trunks. She had never said it outright, but Goten could clearly sense her feelings for Trunks every time they were together. The way she acted and spoke to Trunks seemed to plainly reveal her true feelings, but obviously that was only apparent to Goten.
A great anger began to creep up, spreading deep within him. The thought of the pain his best friend had just inflicted upon Kari.she had loved him with her very heart and soul, but he had just thrown it back in her face!
I thought you loved her, Trunks. I guess I thought wrong.
Uncertain about what his next move should be, Goten remained rooted to the spot. He wanted to sprint outside and find Kari, who knew what she might do in the distressed state she was in, but he also knew she wanted time to herself to calm down a little, gain control of her emotions. He would tell Trunks what he had seen, of course, but not for a while. Kari needed some time to recuperate and he also wanted to confront Trunks about the betrayal he had just committed. How could he do this? After the way he talked about her and what an amazing person she was...Goten never thought he would be thinking this acrimoniously about his best friend, but the only word that came to his mind was... Bastard.
Realizing now was simply not the prudent time to act, he continued dancing with Akane, the girl he had met earlier that evening. He would wait until Kari returned, when she was able, to talk to her about what was transpiring. All he could do for now is pray she would recover from the stinging wound she had just received from the one she loved.
* * * *
"How could you do that?!"
Goten and Trunks were standing by the bottom of the stairs. He had waited, finishing the dance before dealing with Trunks, and his anger towards his best friend had grown at an exponential rate with every note played.
"Do what?" Trunks inquired, obviously confused. Goten was furious about something, that much was obvious.
"Don't act like you don't know. Everyone saw what you did!" the young Son yelled, his anger compounding at his friend's apparent nonchalance.
"What are you talking about? And where's Kari?" Trunks queried, trying and failing to understand the big emergency.
"She's probably outside, crying her heart dry right about now, thanks to you," Goten spat rancorously.
"What's the matter? Did Yamora.If he so much as laid a hand on her..." Trunks started, growing angry yet failing to realize the intent of Goten's harsh words.
"No! Yamora's not the problem, you are! It's because of you that Kari's crying right now!" he exploded as he gestured emphatically with his hands towards Trunks.
"M...Me? What did I...Oh Kami!" Trunks exclaimed, realizing the situation: Kari had seen Aya hanging on him and had thought he had actually been encouraging her!
"Yeah, that's right. You remember now, ne? Well, I hope that blonde was worth it, because you just lost the best thing you never had," Goten retorted. "I thought you loved her, Trunks." He glared bitterly at his friend before turning to leave.
"Wait, you don't actually think I kissed that girl, do you?"
"That's what I'd call it when you had your lips locked together," he returned sarcastically.
"This is all a big misunderstanding!" Trunks cried out. He rushed to explain what had actually happened and how he had tried his best to detach her from his face.
Goten stood, stunned, for a silent few moments. "I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions," he apologized after he had digested the older boy's words. After another pause, Goten spoke the tacit words passing through both their minds. "But your story still doesn't help Kari any. You really hurt her, even if you didn't mean to.
"She loves you."
Trunks' eyes quickly lit up as those last words reached his ears. Immediately, he asked Goten how he knew. If this was simply something to make him apologize.
"It's obvious! Don't you see anything when she's around you? You're not just her best friend; she loves you much deeper than that. But right now I have a feeling she doesn't believe you care for her at all, and her tears are probably enough to drown the world." Goten finished, so quietly Trunks almost missed what he had said.
"Then I have to find her, tell her everything!" Trunks resolved, instantly scanning the room. "I can't stand to see her hurt like this," he whispered to himself as he started for the balcony. But Goten placed his hand on Trunks' shoulder, restraining him.
"Easy, Trunks. She just took a serious blow from you, and right now I think she just needs to be by herself," he advised, a hint of warning in his voice.
"But..." the lavender-haired man started, then ceased. He knew Goten was right; Kari probably did need to be left alone more than anything else at that moment. "When she comes back, will you let me talk to her first? I think she deserves to hear the truth. But you better stay close by, in case I need you to support my story."
"No problem. You just better not be so reckless again, or I'll have to do more than just chastise you for hurting her," Goten declared frankly, then glided away with his well-endowed "friend."
Trunks found himself smiling as his best friend faded into the crowd of dancers. He knew Goten wasn't bluffing; he never did when it came to questions of friendship. But his words only convinced him further of his own feelings for Kari. In hopes of avoiding any more dilemmas, Trunks made his way to one of the enormous bay windows at the corners of the room and glanced up at the obsidian night sky, which was sprinkled with millions of shimmering silver lights.
I'll never hurt you again; never cause you to feel pain again. Not as long as I can help it. Even if it means giving my life, I would gladly give it up for you. Kari.forgive me.
Helpless to control the damage he knew had occurred, Goten watched Kari flee outside, her cheeks sparkling as the tears reflected the lights. He was beyond concerned; he knew how much she cared about Trunks. She had never said it outright, but Goten could clearly sense her feelings for Trunks every time they were together. The way she acted and spoke to Trunks seemed to plainly reveal her true feelings, but obviously that was only apparent to Goten.
A great anger began to creep up, spreading deep within him. The thought of the pain his best friend had just inflicted upon Kari.she had loved him with her very heart and soul, but he had just thrown it back in her face!
I thought you loved her, Trunks. I guess I thought wrong.
Uncertain about what his next move should be, Goten remained rooted to the spot. He wanted to sprint outside and find Kari, who knew what she might do in the distressed state she was in, but he also knew she wanted time to herself to calm down a little, gain control of her emotions. He would tell Trunks what he had seen, of course, but not for a while. Kari needed some time to recuperate and he also wanted to confront Trunks about the betrayal he had just committed. How could he do this? After the way he talked about her and what an amazing person she was...Goten never thought he would be thinking this acrimoniously about his best friend, but the only word that came to his mind was... Bastard.
Realizing now was simply not the prudent time to act, he continued dancing with Akane, the girl he had met earlier that evening. He would wait until Kari returned, when she was able, to talk to her about what was transpiring. All he could do for now is pray she would recover from the stinging wound she had just received from the one she loved.
* * * *
"How could you do that?!"
Goten and Trunks were standing by the bottom of the stairs. He had waited, finishing the dance before dealing with Trunks, and his anger towards his best friend had grown at an exponential rate with every note played.
"Do what?" Trunks inquired, obviously confused. Goten was furious about something, that much was obvious.
"Don't act like you don't know. Everyone saw what you did!" the young Son yelled, his anger compounding at his friend's apparent nonchalance.
"What are you talking about? And where's Kari?" Trunks queried, trying and failing to understand the big emergency.
"She's probably outside, crying her heart dry right about now, thanks to you," Goten spat rancorously.
"What's the matter? Did Yamora.If he so much as laid a hand on her..." Trunks started, growing angry yet failing to realize the intent of Goten's harsh words.
"No! Yamora's not the problem, you are! It's because of you that Kari's crying right now!" he exploded as he gestured emphatically with his hands towards Trunks.
"M...Me? What did I...Oh Kami!" Trunks exclaimed, realizing the situation: Kari had seen Aya hanging on him and had thought he had actually been encouraging her!
"Yeah, that's right. You remember now, ne? Well, I hope that blonde was worth it, because you just lost the best thing you never had," Goten retorted. "I thought you loved her, Trunks." He glared bitterly at his friend before turning to leave.
"Wait, you don't actually think I kissed that girl, do you?"
"That's what I'd call it when you had your lips locked together," he returned sarcastically.
"This is all a big misunderstanding!" Trunks cried out. He rushed to explain what had actually happened and how he had tried his best to detach her from his face.
Goten stood, stunned, for a silent few moments. "I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions," he apologized after he had digested the older boy's words. After another pause, Goten spoke the tacit words passing through both their minds. "But your story still doesn't help Kari any. You really hurt her, even if you didn't mean to.
"She loves you."
Trunks' eyes quickly lit up as those last words reached his ears. Immediately, he asked Goten how he knew. If this was simply something to make him apologize.
"It's obvious! Don't you see anything when she's around you? You're not just her best friend; she loves you much deeper than that. But right now I have a feeling she doesn't believe you care for her at all, and her tears are probably enough to drown the world." Goten finished, so quietly Trunks almost missed what he had said.
"Then I have to find her, tell her everything!" Trunks resolved, instantly scanning the room. "I can't stand to see her hurt like this," he whispered to himself as he started for the balcony. But Goten placed his hand on Trunks' shoulder, restraining him.
"Easy, Trunks. She just took a serious blow from you, and right now I think she just needs to be by herself," he advised, a hint of warning in his voice.
"But..." the lavender-haired man started, then ceased. He knew Goten was right; Kari probably did need to be left alone more than anything else at that moment. "When she comes back, will you let me talk to her first? I think she deserves to hear the truth. But you better stay close by, in case I need you to support my story."
"No problem. You just better not be so reckless again, or I'll have to do more than just chastise you for hurting her," Goten declared frankly, then glided away with his well-endowed "friend."
Trunks found himself smiling as his best friend faded into the crowd of dancers. He knew Goten wasn't bluffing; he never did when it came to questions of friendship. But his words only convinced him further of his own feelings for Kari. In hopes of avoiding any more dilemmas, Trunks made his way to one of the enormous bay windows at the corners of the room and glanced up at the obsidian night sky, which was sprinkled with millions of shimmering silver lights.
I'll never hurt you again; never cause you to feel pain again. Not as long as I can help it. Even if it means giving my life, I would gladly give it up for you. Kari.forgive me.