~*Days Of Our Lives*~
by Shasta
~*~*~*~*~*~
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z..*sniff*
Shasta: *comes running into the studio, looking somewhat flustered* OH! Hi there! Sorry I'm so late in updating but without Microsoft Word, I just can't write a thing! ^_^ ' But, seeing as how I REALLY wanna finish this fic, I've decided to swallow my pride and use *shudder* Wordpad... so, forgive me if the next few chapters look somewhat iffy. That said, please read on for the continuation and please don't forget to review!
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Nine: Pains And Memories
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Getting up from her seat at the table, the young red head bid a goodnight to the Saiyan prince and crossed the tiled kitchen floor towards the door leading onto the backyard. Pulling it open, a gust of cool, night air tickled her face and ruffled her hair, sending hopelessly crimson strands into two emerald green orbs.
Stepping out onto the wood-decked terrance, she shivered against the cold and wrapped her arms around herself, looking up into the blackened, star-studded sky. The only sounds that pierced the air were that of the cicadas chirping and the distent howling of the wolves in the surrounding mountains.
"You're up early.." came a soft, husky voice from a short distence away. Shasta smiled and brushed a strand of crimson from her eyes as she gazed upon the lone figure of Trunks, dressed in low-ridding jeans and a chunky blue hooded sweatshirt, as he sat on the low wall at the end of the yard.
The young red head chuckled softly as she crossed the long, dew-damp grass to him. Seating herself beside him on the wall, she rested her head on his shoulder and glanced up at the stars with a sad smile upon her features.
"I could'nt sleep.." she whispered, seeing her breath before her as she spoke. The lavender haired demi-Saiyan wound an arm around her shoulders, rubbing them soothingly.
"Bad dream?"
"Yeah.."
Trunks turned to look at her, his sapphire eyes showing concern as he tipped her chin up to gaze at her more closely. "D'ya wanna talk about it?"
The red-head turned away, glancing behind her to the ocean in the distence, where the the edge of the sun was just starting to peek up over the darkened waves. Sighing, she turned back to him and rubbed her hands together in an attempt to warm them. She complintated on telling him about the phrophecy...about how their daughter had come to her in her sleep....or about Cell....
But looking into those beautiful orbs of sapphire blue, so full of love for her alone, she just could'nt bring herself to burden him with the knowledge that he'd die long before his time..
"No...it's alright, Trunks... it was just a silly dream." she said, forcing a reassuring smile.
Trunks peered at her with concern but did not press the subject further, much to the cat-girl's relief. He shook his head and kissed her cheek gently, giving her shoulder a comforting squeese. "You know you can always tell me if something's troubling you, Shas. I'll always hear you."
"I know you will, Trunks..and I'm so grateful for that but really, it's no big deal." she said, pressing her forehead against his. He sighed and closed his eyes, pulling her into a tight hug and kissing her softly on the lips.
"I'm just worried about you. You've been havin' freaky dreams a lot lately and in your current condition, you need your sleep."
Shasta chuckled and nuzzled him lovingly. "Kami, what have I done to deserve a man so loving and caring as you?"
The lavender haired demi-Saiyan chuckled, a faint trace of a blush rising up on his cheeks. He kissed her again and got up from his place on the wall, taking one of her hands and leading her inside. "What can I say? You're an angel and deserve to be treated like one!"
Now it was Shasta's turn to blush.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As the two demi-Saiyans ajusted to life in the past timeline, they were vaguely aware of the days slipping by in a blissfully hazy blur. All too soon, December was coming to an end and it would'nt be long before the annual New Year's Eve Fancy Dress ball at the Capsule Corp took place. Trunks smiled to himself as he heard the news, reminsising back to the ten bittersweet years he had spent at the majestic manor, enjoying the lively atomosphere as his family welcomed the dawn of a new year.
Walking around the cavernous lobby of the Capsule Corp manor, he took in the sight of the festive decorations strewn as far as the eye could see. Multi-coloured paper streamers were strung from the crystal chandlier, making a vibrant spider's web of crepe paper along the ceiling.
From every light fixture, a sprig of mistletoe was hung and the lavender haired teen took great pleasure in deliberatly luring his beloved underneath for moments of passionate kisses.
There was an enormous Christmas tree in the very centre of the lobby, decorated with gold and silver bobbles and tinsel and reeking strongly of pine. Heading through the high stone archway leading into the spacious living room, he was greeted with the sight of his own mother, dressed in a pair of denium bibs and a "Queen Of All Saiyans' t-shirt, sitting crosslegged on the cushioned floor in a circle with Gohan's mother Chichi and his own mate Shasta.
They looked deep in conversation, but as Trunks entered, they greeted him warmly.
"Hey, ladies! What'cha talkin' about?" he queried, leaning on the back of one of the enormous teal leather sofas. Shasta turned to him and stood up, brushing the creases out of her baggy pink pajamas. Through a gap in her shirt, her rapidly enlarging bump peeked out, clearly revealing her to be expecting.
It would'nt be long now, Trunks thought to himself. Only one more month before the glorious event..
"Oh, we were just discussing what to do when I go into labour. I gotta be prepared for this, ya know?" the red-head said, grinning from ear to ear. Trunks chuckled and kissed her forehead lovingly, one hand resting on her portuding bump.
"Is there anything I could do to help?" he asked.
"Well, for starts, you can try and hold her hand without screaming in agony!" said Chichi with a chuckle, flicking a stray lock of ebony black out of her toffee brown eyes.
Trunks gulped, some of the colour draining from his face. "It can't be...THAT..painful..?"
Bulma shook her head. "Sorry, sweetie...but labour, most especially during the birth of a first child, is pure agony;."
She turned to Shasta, who had also gone a paler shade of tan.
"....But don't worry. You'll be fine. The pain is only a small part of the process. The end product makes it all worth while."
The young red-head smiled despite the fact that she was practically shaking with fear, not only from what Bulma had told her about the pain factor, but also from the knowledge that stood out clearly in her mind...the knowledge that her own mother had died giving birth to her. Sure, everything had been corrected in the past timeline, but still, Shasta could'nt shake the feeling of intense dread that hung over her like a darkened rain cloud..
"....Shasta? Yoo-hoo? Heeelllooo?"
Jumping in alarm, the young cat-girl blinked in confusion, seeing Chichi standing before her with a bemussed look upon her face. She shook her head in amusement at the sight of her niece with the blankest of facial expressions upon her face, looking so much like her Uncle Goku that it was frightening.
"Gomen nasi, Chichi-san..I was miles away.." Shasta peeped, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. The raven haired woman shook her head once more and tapped her lightly on the arm.
"Really! Just like my Goku! An attention span of three seconds!"
This was met by a clueless blink of the eyes from the young red-head.
Chichi sweatdropped, rolling her eyes. "Ahem! As I was TRYING to tell you, if you need help with your costume for tonight's ball, I'll be more than willing to help."
"Arigato, Chichi-san!" Shasta thanked the older woman, bowing polietly to her aunt, who simply shook her head in amusement.
Glancing over at Trunks, the red-head told him with speachless messages to wait outside for her.
She bid farewell to the two older women and headed towards one of the downstairs bedrooms, beckoning the lavender haired demi-Saiyan to follow.
Once behind the privacy of the soft blue walls, the expectant redhead stood up on her toes and captured Trunks' lips in a sweet kiss. He responded with a purr, pulling her into a loving embrace.
"Mmmm....you're being affectionate today!" he whispered seductivly, nuzzling the nape of her neck, where a tiny pink cresent-shaped scar still glimed against the silky smooth tan of her skin, a memento of the Saiyan mating ritual they had performed soon after learning of Shasta's pregnancy. She sighed happily and leaned into his embrace, looking up into those sapphire eyes she loved so much.
"I could use some affection...some..comfort.." she said, trying to hide the worry in her voice. Trunks sat down on the bed, motioning her to mimic him. Sitting crosslegged on the soft white blankets, she stared deep into his eyes, trying hard to hide the concerned look upon her face.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" he asked, taking one of her hands. She sighed and shook her head.
"I...I don't think I'm ready for this....becoming a mother....I..I'm just so scared, Trunks...Momma was my age when she had me and....and I don't want to be met with the same fate as her...I don't want to leave our baby without a mother..." she whispered, placing her hands on her bulging bump.
Trunks smiled soothingly and placed an arm around her shoulders, kissing her forehead reassuringly. "That's not gonna happen, Shasta. It's natural for you to be a little nervous, but I promise you.. you'll be fine-"
Just as he was about to finish that sentence, however, there was a frantic knock at the door. Without warning, the door swung open to reveal a paniced looking Chichi, ashen faced and wide eyed.
"Come quick! Something's happening.. something bad!"
Without haste, the two demi-Saiyans rushed out of the room, following Chichi into one of the spacious living rooms of the Capsule Corp. Displayed on a huge cinema screen that hung down from the ceiling, a news reporter was standing in front of a dusty road, looking grim.
"We interupt "True Romance" to bring you an urgent news bulletin, live from Nicky Town. What appears to be a mutated grasshopper has turned this humble little town into a scene of carnage. Everywhere I turn, there are bodies strewn across the street..the monster appears to milk them with a scorpion like tai-AAAHH!!!"
The reporter was suddenly pulled from the scene by a long, green, pointed tail-like object, his blood-curdling screams filling the room as they sounded out on the speaker system. A moment of chilling silence followed, in which a tiny trickle of blood rolled down the camera lens before the scene was replaced with eerie static.
The entire room was as silent as the grave, too stunned to speak. But no-one was as stunned as Shasta. When she saw that tail coil around the poor man's neck, she knew. There was no denying it.. the dreams she'd been having..they were'nt a sign of going crazy...but true phrophecys from the future..true signs that it was the beginning of the end....
~*~*~*~*~*~
Shasta sat motionless upon the cold stone steps of the pagoda, watching silently as the Z-senshi met up on the tiled grounds of Kami's Lookout. Everyone was up in arms over the arrival of Cell, which, when coupled with the already increasing threat of an android attack, caused an outrage among the fighters. The young red head sat still, bowing her head low in silent guilt.
She could've told them all.. about the dreams..the visions....but thinking no-one would believe her, she kept her thoughts to herself. It was a heavy burden for her to carry, but she'd rather be the one to bare it than to add further panic to the others...
Glancing up, she caught sight of Trunk's bare, musclar back as he pulled on a skin-tight blue cat-suit, made to look just like the old Saiyan armour worn by Vegeta... A smile graced her lips, some comfort coming to her at the thought that no matter what was to happen, Trunks would always stand by her...but still, she worried for him, the visions telling of his death so fresh in her mind.... shaking her head to rid her mind of such horrors, she stood up and
brushed down her light blue sun dress, crossing the grounds to where her lover stood, listening to his father speak.
"......We will spend time inside the Time chamber. It will give us enough time to train ourselves if we are to fight this monster."
Vegeta spoke with such a fiery tone of voice it sent a chill of fear coursing through the young red-head.
She glanced at Trunks, curiousity spreading across her face. The lavender haired teen smiled gently, pulling her close to him.
"Father and I are planning to go inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.." he said, inclining his head towards the old, titanium steel door on the opposite side of the progada. He turned back to the red head and held her by the shoulders, rubbing them gently.
"I'll be in there for a day or two...but I'll be getting a year's training...it's hard to explain, but trust me on this.. if I have to fight, I have to be strong."
Shasta nodded, a sad smile crossing her lips. "I..understand... but be careful..I would be lost without you.." she whispered, wiping away a tear she did'nt know she'd been crying.
Trunks hugged her close, kissing her deeply on the lips and wiping away her tears with his thumb as he held her chin between his fingers. "I love you.." he whispered, gazing deep into her eyes.
She sighed and leaned into his touch. "I love you too, my angel..." Her voice was husky from pent up tears. She did'nt know why she felt so full of sadness....
He was only going to be gone a day or two and he'd be safe inside the Time Chamber with Vegeta...yet, the pain..the sadness within her heart could only be matched to the night she was orphaned...when Trunks was wrenched from her arms and taken from her, forcing her into seven years of lonliness...seven years of living with people who could've killed her a thousand times by now..
She never really told him about those seven years of absence.. she might had sugar coated it a little when she told him she had a fairly 'happy' upbringing,
but she was only kidding herself.
Though not as horrific as her time with her biological parents, the time spent in her foster home was nothing short of miserable. The night she was taken from the orphanage, she tried to run away, to find Trunks again... but the security around the manor was so fierce and so strict.. Not once, had she made past the three Rottweilers that patrolled the grounds..
Every night, she cried herself to sleep, wishing she was back with him, safe and warm. They were like one soul split down the centre, unable to survive without the other. She was so miserable without him...so sad and despairing...that she changed. Once so out going and friendly, a happy child, her inner darkness consummed her.. she became a social outcast....became angery...depressed.
But when he came back into her life, she felt as though her head was bursting through the waves, breathing in that vital breath of air she needed to survive. He saved her life that day, whether he knew it or not. She just could'nt go on without him....she loved him so much and that night in the orphanage, all those years ago.... she was imprisoned in a world full of nothing but pain...
He set her free....
She watched in silent despair as he ascended the stone steps leading up to the door of the Time chamber. The baby inside her womb kicked in a tiny protest, but what was she to do? The world was under threat from both the androids and this new evil...he had to train if Earth was to have a chance.. But she was dying on the inside. She knew if he were to fight Cell, he'd die....and that knowledge brought tears to her eyes....
...she was'nt going to let that happen...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Come on, sweetie! Cheer up. He'll be back in a few days...." Arailani said through one side of the pine wood door leading into the upstairs guestroom, where Shasta had confinded herself since returning from Kami's Lookout.
The soft sound of a woman sobbing was the only noise within the room, a sound that was sickening to the elder red-head's ears. Sighing, Arailani shook her head. "Oh..If you're hungry, dinner's ready in an hour.." she said, somewhat exasperated, before trudging back downstairs with a heavy heart.
Stepping onto the smooth marble floor of of the lobby, the elder cat-girl sighed and walked into the kitchen, greeted by the sight of Yamcha sitting at the table, reading a newspaper and looking grim. The picture on the front page showed a blurred image of a man, at least seven feet tall, skin as green as raw sewage. He looked like nothing from this Earth, a face coloured bone white with two purple stripes on either cheek, indigo eyes staring absently into the lens.
The headline read: "MASSACRE IN MALIK CITY: DEATHTOLL 1000."
"Sickening....just sickening.." Yamcha growled, folding the newspaper and slamming it down on the table, rising up from his seat. He glanced warily at Arailani as she entered the kitchen, her otherwise cheerful smile replaced by a look of sadness.
"Mmm...hey, baby." the raven haired warrior purred, crossing the room to wrap his wife into a loving embrace. The elder red-head sighed and leaned against him, brows furrowing in worry.
"Oh, me uke*, I'm so worried about our daughter...she's been in her room crying for the last two days...."
Yamcha shook his head, holding his wife at arms lenght as his face fell into an unreadable expression. His dark brown eyes showed her a world of sadness and despair that he kept well hidden. Shaking his head, he walked past her towards the hall, but was stopped short by Arailani gripping the back of his gi.
"What are you doing?" she queried, cocking her head to one side.
"I'm gonna go try an' talk to her..."
The cat-girl shook her head woefully, her long, braided locks of deep blood red hair falling into her emerald eyes, the tribal beads on the ends of each tiny braid rattling softly with her movement. "Yamcha, you're wasting your time. She has'nt spoken a word to you other than to insult you ever since she came here..I just don't understand it.." She let go of her husband's gi, moving her hand to cup her chin in deep thought.
"I've tried many times to tap into her mind, try to figure out the problem...but it's impossible to break through her mental barrier.. ...I don't know why she hates you so much...and I just don't know why she's so upset over Trunks leaving to train.." Arailani sighed heavily, shaking her head again and folding her arms over her chest.
"Well, I'm gonna go find out.. she's my daughter an' I'll be damned if I'm gonna sit around an' watch her cry her eyes out!" Yamcha said sharply, frowning slightly before turning back towards the hall and heading up the enormous flight of stairs leading to the upstairs guestrooms.
When he reached the top of the stairs, the raven haired Saiyan paused beside one of several abstract Picassos hanging on the wall. He felt his ears prick up as the sound of a woman crying filled his ears. Frowning, he continued down the hall untill he reached the largest guestroom at the end, the door slightly ajar and the crying sounding to die down to a whimper.
"Uh...Shasta?" Yamcha called delicatly, knocking on the door. When he recieved no answer, he pushed the door open and stepped into the room. It was shrouded in darkness, the only light source being that of a small lamp on the left side of the bed, where Shasta lay with her back to him, hugging a pillow close to her body. She had changed into a dull grey sleeping tank top and a pair of Trunks' smiley-face boxer shorts.
As the raven haired Saiyan entered the room, she immidiatly rolled onto her back and sat up, casting him a look of the upmost loathing, a deathglare that would send even Vegeta running fifty miles in the other direction.
"What are YOU doing here?" She spat, her voice calm and cold as she instinctly backed away up against the velvet-clad headboard, her emerald eyes never leaving Yamcha's.
"First off, you can drop that attitude of yours, missy!" Yamcha said offensively before seating himself crosslegged on the bed, his expression softening into that of worry; "....And secondly, I came up here to find out what's troubling you.."
Shasta growled low in her throat, emitting a sound that sounded like a cross between a bark and a snarl, her long canines exposed as she continued to glare at him. "Like you give a shit about me!" she snapped.
"Geez, what's your freakin' problem?! You've been biting my head off ever since you came to stay! And I'm quite frankly sick of it! You will tell me right now why you're being such a damn bitch to me 'cuz as your father, I don't think I deserve this kind of attitude!"
The red-head lurched forward, tears of anger beginning to spill down her face as she struggled to hold back her angered cries. "YOU DESERVE TO DIE FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME!!"
Yamcha lept up from the bed, feeling his anger flare up inside of him. His eyes blazed with fury as he stared down at the future incarnation of his daughter. "Just what have I done?! I've been nothing but kind to you and this is how you repay me?!"
He was suddenly caught off guard when he saw that Shasta had curled into a ball, sheilding herself with her arms and sobbing quietly.
Her entire body was shaking in fear and she whimpered in terror. "I...I'm sorry..." she whispered quietly; ".....I'm so sorry! Please...don't hit me....please......Daddy....don't hurt me..!"
Yamcha froze when he heard her say this. The reality of it all slowly sunk in.
He had beaten her.
He felt as though his blood had turned to liquid nitrogen, freezing his heart and sending goosebumps of raw terror up on his tanned skin. Going wide eyed, he stared down at her, taking in her terified state, dark brown eyes roaming over the faded pink scars covering her delicate, exposed arms.... ..the old bruises and scratches that tainted her otherwise beautiful body......her trembling form, curled up in fear of him.
She was afraid of him....
"Shasta?"
"L...Leave me alone.....please...I don't want to hurt anymore.."
Yamcha timidly out stretched a hand to rest on her shoulder. When she did'nt swat him away, he braved moving a little closer and pulled her into a comforting embrace. He felt her shake in his arms, her body tensing in fear.
"Shhhh, sweetie....shhh...it's alright... I'm not going to hurt you....I'm sorry I yelled at you...I'm sorry....shhh, don't cry." he whispered gently, stroking her hair tenderly as she slowly eased into his embrace, sobbing quietly into his shoulder.
When she had soon recovered, he held her at arm's lenght, looking over her as she sat before him crosslegged on the bed, her face wet and shiny from tears. Shaking his head, Yamcha reached forward to brush away her tears. She recoiled slightly, moving back a little as though scared he might slap her in the face.
"Please....don't..."
"Sweetheart.....do you ...want to talk about it..?"
Shasta looked up at this, face vulnerble and timid. Hestitating, she opened her mouth to speak, stammering a few times before finally regaining her composure. "I'm sorry for being such a bitch to you...but...the pain you inflicted on me all those years ago..the pain runs so deep.... I've tried to forget you, to move on and put it in the past, but seeing you here...it's brought back memories I've struggled to keep forgotten.."
"What kind of memories?" Yamcha asked, looking sadly into her eyes as his heart ached in guilt...
The young red-head looked up at him with wary, wet eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but instead, a gasp of pain escaped her throat. Eyes widdening, she doubled over, clutching her stomach and whincing as pain like she'd never known coursed through her entire body.
Yamcha jumped in supprise. "Shasta..?! What's wrong-" he stopped short of himself, seeing the wet patch in her shorts, indicating that her waters had broken.
Apparently, the baby decided to make an early appearance...
~*~*~*~*~*~
"NANI?!"
Trunks froze mid-punch, eyes widdening in alarm. Not seeing his son's startled state, Vegeta proceeded to land a swift punch to his abdomen, causing the lavender haired demi-Saiyan to snap out of his daze. The raven haired Saiyan prince powered down and descended to the floor of the time chamber, arms folded and looking extremly irritated.
"Boy, what is the meaning for your sudden break in training?" he asked peevishly, brows furrowing in a frown.
Trunks turned to his father, one hand rubbing the spot were he'd been punched. It did'nt hurt much but still... "We have to get out of here." he said in a strangely distent voice.
Vegeta blinked, cocking his head to one side. "Hmm? What's wrong?"
"I..I think Shasta's in labour.."
"NANI??!?"
Trunks glanced towards the titanium steel door in the near distence. Brows furrowing, he ran like a shot towards it and melted the lock off with a beam of golden ki. Pushing the door open, he signalled for Vegeta to follow as he flung the door open and rushed outside, much to the supprise of the other Z-fighters, who were currently training under Piccolo.
"Hey, Trunks! You're out early...what's up?" Goku queried, mouth half-full of chiken chop suey. The lavender haired Saiyan quickly explanned his suspions to the others in a hurried, flustered manner. Within minutes, Goku, Gohan, Krillen and Piccolo were struggling to catch up with the two stronger Saiyans as they blasted through the sky, following Trunks' lead as he raced towards the Capsule Corp....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
END CHAPTER 9
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
by Shasta
~*~*~*~*~*~
Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z..*sniff*
Shasta: *comes running into the studio, looking somewhat flustered* OH! Hi there! Sorry I'm so late in updating but without Microsoft Word, I just can't write a thing! ^_^ ' But, seeing as how I REALLY wanna finish this fic, I've decided to swallow my pride and use *shudder* Wordpad... so, forgive me if the next few chapters look somewhat iffy. That said, please read on for the continuation and please don't forget to review!
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter Nine: Pains And Memories
~*~*~*~*~*~
Getting up from her seat at the table, the young red head bid a goodnight to the Saiyan prince and crossed the tiled kitchen floor towards the door leading onto the backyard. Pulling it open, a gust of cool, night air tickled her face and ruffled her hair, sending hopelessly crimson strands into two emerald green orbs.
Stepping out onto the wood-decked terrance, she shivered against the cold and wrapped her arms around herself, looking up into the blackened, star-studded sky. The only sounds that pierced the air were that of the cicadas chirping and the distent howling of the wolves in the surrounding mountains.
"You're up early.." came a soft, husky voice from a short distence away. Shasta smiled and brushed a strand of crimson from her eyes as she gazed upon the lone figure of Trunks, dressed in low-ridding jeans and a chunky blue hooded sweatshirt, as he sat on the low wall at the end of the yard.
The young red head chuckled softly as she crossed the long, dew-damp grass to him. Seating herself beside him on the wall, she rested her head on his shoulder and glanced up at the stars with a sad smile upon her features.
"I could'nt sleep.." she whispered, seeing her breath before her as she spoke. The lavender haired demi-Saiyan wound an arm around her shoulders, rubbing them soothingly.
"Bad dream?"
"Yeah.."
Trunks turned to look at her, his sapphire eyes showing concern as he tipped her chin up to gaze at her more closely. "D'ya wanna talk about it?"
The red-head turned away, glancing behind her to the ocean in the distence, where the the edge of the sun was just starting to peek up over the darkened waves. Sighing, she turned back to him and rubbed her hands together in an attempt to warm them. She complintated on telling him about the phrophecy...about how their daughter had come to her in her sleep....or about Cell....
But looking into those beautiful orbs of sapphire blue, so full of love for her alone, she just could'nt bring herself to burden him with the knowledge that he'd die long before his time..
"No...it's alright, Trunks... it was just a silly dream." she said, forcing a reassuring smile.
Trunks peered at her with concern but did not press the subject further, much to the cat-girl's relief. He shook his head and kissed her cheek gently, giving her shoulder a comforting squeese. "You know you can always tell me if something's troubling you, Shas. I'll always hear you."
"I know you will, Trunks..and I'm so grateful for that but really, it's no big deal." she said, pressing her forehead against his. He sighed and closed his eyes, pulling her into a tight hug and kissing her softly on the lips.
"I'm just worried about you. You've been havin' freaky dreams a lot lately and in your current condition, you need your sleep."
Shasta chuckled and nuzzled him lovingly. "Kami, what have I done to deserve a man so loving and caring as you?"
The lavender haired demi-Saiyan chuckled, a faint trace of a blush rising up on his cheeks. He kissed her again and got up from his place on the wall, taking one of her hands and leading her inside. "What can I say? You're an angel and deserve to be treated like one!"
Now it was Shasta's turn to blush.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As the two demi-Saiyans ajusted to life in the past timeline, they were vaguely aware of the days slipping by in a blissfully hazy blur. All too soon, December was coming to an end and it would'nt be long before the annual New Year's Eve Fancy Dress ball at the Capsule Corp took place. Trunks smiled to himself as he heard the news, reminsising back to the ten bittersweet years he had spent at the majestic manor, enjoying the lively atomosphere as his family welcomed the dawn of a new year.
Walking around the cavernous lobby of the Capsule Corp manor, he took in the sight of the festive decorations strewn as far as the eye could see. Multi-coloured paper streamers were strung from the crystal chandlier, making a vibrant spider's web of crepe paper along the ceiling.
From every light fixture, a sprig of mistletoe was hung and the lavender haired teen took great pleasure in deliberatly luring his beloved underneath for moments of passionate kisses.
There was an enormous Christmas tree in the very centre of the lobby, decorated with gold and silver bobbles and tinsel and reeking strongly of pine. Heading through the high stone archway leading into the spacious living room, he was greeted with the sight of his own mother, dressed in a pair of denium bibs and a "Queen Of All Saiyans' t-shirt, sitting crosslegged on the cushioned floor in a circle with Gohan's mother Chichi and his own mate Shasta.
They looked deep in conversation, but as Trunks entered, they greeted him warmly.
"Hey, ladies! What'cha talkin' about?" he queried, leaning on the back of one of the enormous teal leather sofas. Shasta turned to him and stood up, brushing the creases out of her baggy pink pajamas. Through a gap in her shirt, her rapidly enlarging bump peeked out, clearly revealing her to be expecting.
It would'nt be long now, Trunks thought to himself. Only one more month before the glorious event..
"Oh, we were just discussing what to do when I go into labour. I gotta be prepared for this, ya know?" the red-head said, grinning from ear to ear. Trunks chuckled and kissed her forehead lovingly, one hand resting on her portuding bump.
"Is there anything I could do to help?" he asked.
"Well, for starts, you can try and hold her hand without screaming in agony!" said Chichi with a chuckle, flicking a stray lock of ebony black out of her toffee brown eyes.
Trunks gulped, some of the colour draining from his face. "It can't be...THAT..painful..?"
Bulma shook her head. "Sorry, sweetie...but labour, most especially during the birth of a first child, is pure agony;."
She turned to Shasta, who had also gone a paler shade of tan.
"....But don't worry. You'll be fine. The pain is only a small part of the process. The end product makes it all worth while."
The young red-head smiled despite the fact that she was practically shaking with fear, not only from what Bulma had told her about the pain factor, but also from the knowledge that stood out clearly in her mind...the knowledge that her own mother had died giving birth to her. Sure, everything had been corrected in the past timeline, but still, Shasta could'nt shake the feeling of intense dread that hung over her like a darkened rain cloud..
"....Shasta? Yoo-hoo? Heeelllooo?"
Jumping in alarm, the young cat-girl blinked in confusion, seeing Chichi standing before her with a bemussed look upon her face. She shook her head in amusement at the sight of her niece with the blankest of facial expressions upon her face, looking so much like her Uncle Goku that it was frightening.
"Gomen nasi, Chichi-san..I was miles away.." Shasta peeped, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly. The raven haired woman shook her head once more and tapped her lightly on the arm.
"Really! Just like my Goku! An attention span of three seconds!"
This was met by a clueless blink of the eyes from the young red-head.
Chichi sweatdropped, rolling her eyes. "Ahem! As I was TRYING to tell you, if you need help with your costume for tonight's ball, I'll be more than willing to help."
"Arigato, Chichi-san!" Shasta thanked the older woman, bowing polietly to her aunt, who simply shook her head in amusement.
Glancing over at Trunks, the red-head told him with speachless messages to wait outside for her.
She bid farewell to the two older women and headed towards one of the downstairs bedrooms, beckoning the lavender haired demi-Saiyan to follow.
Once behind the privacy of the soft blue walls, the expectant redhead stood up on her toes and captured Trunks' lips in a sweet kiss. He responded with a purr, pulling her into a loving embrace.
"Mmmm....you're being affectionate today!" he whispered seductivly, nuzzling the nape of her neck, where a tiny pink cresent-shaped scar still glimed against the silky smooth tan of her skin, a memento of the Saiyan mating ritual they had performed soon after learning of Shasta's pregnancy. She sighed happily and leaned into his embrace, looking up into those sapphire eyes she loved so much.
"I could use some affection...some..comfort.." she said, trying to hide the worry in her voice. Trunks sat down on the bed, motioning her to mimic him. Sitting crosslegged on the soft white blankets, she stared deep into his eyes, trying hard to hide the concerned look upon her face.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" he asked, taking one of her hands. She sighed and shook her head.
"I...I don't think I'm ready for this....becoming a mother....I..I'm just so scared, Trunks...Momma was my age when she had me and....and I don't want to be met with the same fate as her...I don't want to leave our baby without a mother..." she whispered, placing her hands on her bulging bump.
Trunks smiled soothingly and placed an arm around her shoulders, kissing her forehead reassuringly. "That's not gonna happen, Shasta. It's natural for you to be a little nervous, but I promise you.. you'll be fine-"
Just as he was about to finish that sentence, however, there was a frantic knock at the door. Without warning, the door swung open to reveal a paniced looking Chichi, ashen faced and wide eyed.
"Come quick! Something's happening.. something bad!"
Without haste, the two demi-Saiyans rushed out of the room, following Chichi into one of the spacious living rooms of the Capsule Corp. Displayed on a huge cinema screen that hung down from the ceiling, a news reporter was standing in front of a dusty road, looking grim.
"We interupt "True Romance" to bring you an urgent news bulletin, live from Nicky Town. What appears to be a mutated grasshopper has turned this humble little town into a scene of carnage. Everywhere I turn, there are bodies strewn across the street..the monster appears to milk them with a scorpion like tai-AAAHH!!!"
The reporter was suddenly pulled from the scene by a long, green, pointed tail-like object, his blood-curdling screams filling the room as they sounded out on the speaker system. A moment of chilling silence followed, in which a tiny trickle of blood rolled down the camera lens before the scene was replaced with eerie static.
The entire room was as silent as the grave, too stunned to speak. But no-one was as stunned as Shasta. When she saw that tail coil around the poor man's neck, she knew. There was no denying it.. the dreams she'd been having..they were'nt a sign of going crazy...but true phrophecys from the future..true signs that it was the beginning of the end....
~*~*~*~*~*~
Shasta sat motionless upon the cold stone steps of the pagoda, watching silently as the Z-senshi met up on the tiled grounds of Kami's Lookout. Everyone was up in arms over the arrival of Cell, which, when coupled with the already increasing threat of an android attack, caused an outrage among the fighters. The young red head sat still, bowing her head low in silent guilt.
She could've told them all.. about the dreams..the visions....but thinking no-one would believe her, she kept her thoughts to herself. It was a heavy burden for her to carry, but she'd rather be the one to bare it than to add further panic to the others...
Glancing up, she caught sight of Trunk's bare, musclar back as he pulled on a skin-tight blue cat-suit, made to look just like the old Saiyan armour worn by Vegeta... A smile graced her lips, some comfort coming to her at the thought that no matter what was to happen, Trunks would always stand by her...but still, she worried for him, the visions telling of his death so fresh in her mind.... shaking her head to rid her mind of such horrors, she stood up and
brushed down her light blue sun dress, crossing the grounds to where her lover stood, listening to his father speak.
"......We will spend time inside the Time chamber. It will give us enough time to train ourselves if we are to fight this monster."
Vegeta spoke with such a fiery tone of voice it sent a chill of fear coursing through the young red-head.
She glanced at Trunks, curiousity spreading across her face. The lavender haired teen smiled gently, pulling her close to him.
"Father and I are planning to go inside the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.." he said, inclining his head towards the old, titanium steel door on the opposite side of the progada. He turned back to the red head and held her by the shoulders, rubbing them gently.
"I'll be in there for a day or two...but I'll be getting a year's training...it's hard to explain, but trust me on this.. if I have to fight, I have to be strong."
Shasta nodded, a sad smile crossing her lips. "I..understand... but be careful..I would be lost without you.." she whispered, wiping away a tear she did'nt know she'd been crying.
Trunks hugged her close, kissing her deeply on the lips and wiping away her tears with his thumb as he held her chin between his fingers. "I love you.." he whispered, gazing deep into her eyes.
She sighed and leaned into his touch. "I love you too, my angel..." Her voice was husky from pent up tears. She did'nt know why she felt so full of sadness....
He was only going to be gone a day or two and he'd be safe inside the Time Chamber with Vegeta...yet, the pain..the sadness within her heart could only be matched to the night she was orphaned...when Trunks was wrenched from her arms and taken from her, forcing her into seven years of lonliness...seven years of living with people who could've killed her a thousand times by now..
She never really told him about those seven years of absence.. she might had sugar coated it a little when she told him she had a fairly 'happy' upbringing,
but she was only kidding herself.
Though not as horrific as her time with her biological parents, the time spent in her foster home was nothing short of miserable. The night she was taken from the orphanage, she tried to run away, to find Trunks again... but the security around the manor was so fierce and so strict.. Not once, had she made past the three Rottweilers that patrolled the grounds..
Every night, she cried herself to sleep, wishing she was back with him, safe and warm. They were like one soul split down the centre, unable to survive without the other. She was so miserable without him...so sad and despairing...that she changed. Once so out going and friendly, a happy child, her inner darkness consummed her.. she became a social outcast....became angery...depressed.
But when he came back into her life, she felt as though her head was bursting through the waves, breathing in that vital breath of air she needed to survive. He saved her life that day, whether he knew it or not. She just could'nt go on without him....she loved him so much and that night in the orphanage, all those years ago.... she was imprisoned in a world full of nothing but pain...
He set her free....
She watched in silent despair as he ascended the stone steps leading up to the door of the Time chamber. The baby inside her womb kicked in a tiny protest, but what was she to do? The world was under threat from both the androids and this new evil...he had to train if Earth was to have a chance.. But she was dying on the inside. She knew if he were to fight Cell, he'd die....and that knowledge brought tears to her eyes....
...she was'nt going to let that happen...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Come on, sweetie! Cheer up. He'll be back in a few days...." Arailani said through one side of the pine wood door leading into the upstairs guestroom, where Shasta had confinded herself since returning from Kami's Lookout.
The soft sound of a woman sobbing was the only noise within the room, a sound that was sickening to the elder red-head's ears. Sighing, Arailani shook her head. "Oh..If you're hungry, dinner's ready in an hour.." she said, somewhat exasperated, before trudging back downstairs with a heavy heart.
Stepping onto the smooth marble floor of of the lobby, the elder cat-girl sighed and walked into the kitchen, greeted by the sight of Yamcha sitting at the table, reading a newspaper and looking grim. The picture on the front page showed a blurred image of a man, at least seven feet tall, skin as green as raw sewage. He looked like nothing from this Earth, a face coloured bone white with two purple stripes on either cheek, indigo eyes staring absently into the lens.
The headline read: "MASSACRE IN MALIK CITY: DEATHTOLL 1000."
"Sickening....just sickening.." Yamcha growled, folding the newspaper and slamming it down on the table, rising up from his seat. He glanced warily at Arailani as she entered the kitchen, her otherwise cheerful smile replaced by a look of sadness.
"Mmm...hey, baby." the raven haired warrior purred, crossing the room to wrap his wife into a loving embrace. The elder red-head sighed and leaned against him, brows furrowing in worry.
"Oh, me uke*, I'm so worried about our daughter...she's been in her room crying for the last two days...."
Yamcha shook his head, holding his wife at arms lenght as his face fell into an unreadable expression. His dark brown eyes showed her a world of sadness and despair that he kept well hidden. Shaking his head, he walked past her towards the hall, but was stopped short by Arailani gripping the back of his gi.
"What are you doing?" she queried, cocking her head to one side.
"I'm gonna go try an' talk to her..."
The cat-girl shook her head woefully, her long, braided locks of deep blood red hair falling into her emerald eyes, the tribal beads on the ends of each tiny braid rattling softly with her movement. "Yamcha, you're wasting your time. She has'nt spoken a word to you other than to insult you ever since she came here..I just don't understand it.." She let go of her husband's gi, moving her hand to cup her chin in deep thought.
"I've tried many times to tap into her mind, try to figure out the problem...but it's impossible to break through her mental barrier.. ...I don't know why she hates you so much...and I just don't know why she's so upset over Trunks leaving to train.." Arailani sighed heavily, shaking her head again and folding her arms over her chest.
"Well, I'm gonna go find out.. she's my daughter an' I'll be damned if I'm gonna sit around an' watch her cry her eyes out!" Yamcha said sharply, frowning slightly before turning back towards the hall and heading up the enormous flight of stairs leading to the upstairs guestrooms.
When he reached the top of the stairs, the raven haired Saiyan paused beside one of several abstract Picassos hanging on the wall. He felt his ears prick up as the sound of a woman crying filled his ears. Frowning, he continued down the hall untill he reached the largest guestroom at the end, the door slightly ajar and the crying sounding to die down to a whimper.
"Uh...Shasta?" Yamcha called delicatly, knocking on the door. When he recieved no answer, he pushed the door open and stepped into the room. It was shrouded in darkness, the only light source being that of a small lamp on the left side of the bed, where Shasta lay with her back to him, hugging a pillow close to her body. She had changed into a dull grey sleeping tank top and a pair of Trunks' smiley-face boxer shorts.
As the raven haired Saiyan entered the room, she immidiatly rolled onto her back and sat up, casting him a look of the upmost loathing, a deathglare that would send even Vegeta running fifty miles in the other direction.
"What are YOU doing here?" She spat, her voice calm and cold as she instinctly backed away up against the velvet-clad headboard, her emerald eyes never leaving Yamcha's.
"First off, you can drop that attitude of yours, missy!" Yamcha said offensively before seating himself crosslegged on the bed, his expression softening into that of worry; "....And secondly, I came up here to find out what's troubling you.."
Shasta growled low in her throat, emitting a sound that sounded like a cross between a bark and a snarl, her long canines exposed as she continued to glare at him. "Like you give a shit about me!" she snapped.
"Geez, what's your freakin' problem?! You've been biting my head off ever since you came to stay! And I'm quite frankly sick of it! You will tell me right now why you're being such a damn bitch to me 'cuz as your father, I don't think I deserve this kind of attitude!"
The red-head lurched forward, tears of anger beginning to spill down her face as she struggled to hold back her angered cries. "YOU DESERVE TO DIE FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME!!"
Yamcha lept up from the bed, feeling his anger flare up inside of him. His eyes blazed with fury as he stared down at the future incarnation of his daughter. "Just what have I done?! I've been nothing but kind to you and this is how you repay me?!"
He was suddenly caught off guard when he saw that Shasta had curled into a ball, sheilding herself with her arms and sobbing quietly.
Her entire body was shaking in fear and she whimpered in terror. "I...I'm sorry..." she whispered quietly; ".....I'm so sorry! Please...don't hit me....please......Daddy....don't hurt me..!"
Yamcha froze when he heard her say this. The reality of it all slowly sunk in.
He had beaten her.
He felt as though his blood had turned to liquid nitrogen, freezing his heart and sending goosebumps of raw terror up on his tanned skin. Going wide eyed, he stared down at her, taking in her terified state, dark brown eyes roaming over the faded pink scars covering her delicate, exposed arms.... ..the old bruises and scratches that tainted her otherwise beautiful body......her trembling form, curled up in fear of him.
She was afraid of him....
"Shasta?"
"L...Leave me alone.....please...I don't want to hurt anymore.."
Yamcha timidly out stretched a hand to rest on her shoulder. When she did'nt swat him away, he braved moving a little closer and pulled her into a comforting embrace. He felt her shake in his arms, her body tensing in fear.
"Shhhh, sweetie....shhh...it's alright... I'm not going to hurt you....I'm sorry I yelled at you...I'm sorry....shhh, don't cry." he whispered gently, stroking her hair tenderly as she slowly eased into his embrace, sobbing quietly into his shoulder.
When she had soon recovered, he held her at arm's lenght, looking over her as she sat before him crosslegged on the bed, her face wet and shiny from tears. Shaking his head, Yamcha reached forward to brush away her tears. She recoiled slightly, moving back a little as though scared he might slap her in the face.
"Please....don't..."
"Sweetheart.....do you ...want to talk about it..?"
Shasta looked up at this, face vulnerble and timid. Hestitating, she opened her mouth to speak, stammering a few times before finally regaining her composure. "I'm sorry for being such a bitch to you...but...the pain you inflicted on me all those years ago..the pain runs so deep.... I've tried to forget you, to move on and put it in the past, but seeing you here...it's brought back memories I've struggled to keep forgotten.."
"What kind of memories?" Yamcha asked, looking sadly into her eyes as his heart ached in guilt...
The young red-head looked up at him with wary, wet eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but instead, a gasp of pain escaped her throat. Eyes widdening, she doubled over, clutching her stomach and whincing as pain like she'd never known coursed through her entire body.
Yamcha jumped in supprise. "Shasta..?! What's wrong-" he stopped short of himself, seeing the wet patch in her shorts, indicating that her waters had broken.
Apparently, the baby decided to make an early appearance...
~*~*~*~*~*~
"NANI?!"
Trunks froze mid-punch, eyes widdening in alarm. Not seeing his son's startled state, Vegeta proceeded to land a swift punch to his abdomen, causing the lavender haired demi-Saiyan to snap out of his daze. The raven haired Saiyan prince powered down and descended to the floor of the time chamber, arms folded and looking extremly irritated.
"Boy, what is the meaning for your sudden break in training?" he asked peevishly, brows furrowing in a frown.
Trunks turned to his father, one hand rubbing the spot were he'd been punched. It did'nt hurt much but still... "We have to get out of here." he said in a strangely distent voice.
Vegeta blinked, cocking his head to one side. "Hmm? What's wrong?"
"I..I think Shasta's in labour.."
"NANI??!?"
Trunks glanced towards the titanium steel door in the near distence. Brows furrowing, he ran like a shot towards it and melted the lock off with a beam of golden ki. Pushing the door open, he signalled for Vegeta to follow as he flung the door open and rushed outside, much to the supprise of the other Z-fighters, who were currently training under Piccolo.
"Hey, Trunks! You're out early...what's up?" Goku queried, mouth half-full of chiken chop suey. The lavender haired Saiyan quickly explanned his suspions to the others in a hurried, flustered manner. Within minutes, Goku, Gohan, Krillen and Piccolo were struggling to catch up with the two stronger Saiyans as they blasted through the sky, following Trunks' lead as he raced towards the Capsule Corp....
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
END CHAPTER 9
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