For Love or Destiny

Disclaimer: I don't own either Dragon Ball Z or Sailor Moon. Anyone willing to give it to me? Any takers…any? ::hears crickets chirping:: Okay then…yes? No? Maybe so? ::finishes in a small voice:: I guess not…::sigh:: Oh well.

Key:

"___": dialogue
'___': thoughts
~*~*~*~*~ : scene change


AN: Hey all! Sorry that this has taken me so long to get out. School is winding down so that should free up some time, however I just got a job so I don't know how that is going to effect my fic time. It's also softball season which means not so many free nights for me. Oh and two days ago (05/27/03) was Kaiya (The penname's) Two-year birthday! Happy birthday to me! I'd sure like some reviews as a present. ~_^ Oh, just a little warning…this chapter is not to be taken too seriously. I have a lot of humor and such in it, to lighten it up a bit. I mean the actual plot and such should definitely be taken seriously…it's just…some of the scenes. Well, you'll see what I mean.


Questions/Comments/Answers:


matt zero:Thanks for your review and suggestions! Hope this was soon enough for you!

Mistress of Ice:lol, thanks for your long review! (I'm just playing Ice baby!)

ThePinkSpider:LOL! I'm not a fan of the way he is portrayed in the SaiyaMan Saga either…that's why mine is definitely better! But I understand what you mean. Thanks for your review and vote!

tina:Thanks for the review and vote!

GracefulAngel1854:This is a really close race here. As compared to the gundam wing one…lol thanks for the review and vote!

minimerc:I know…but this is called questions and answers. I could have at least addressed it…ah well. I did last chapter! ^_^ Thanks for the review and vote! LOL, I know what you mean; it's good to have Ami fics to read that aren't your own.

AbSaturnAngel:LOL! That would be hilarious…a vegetable Vegeta every time he's glomped? LOL. I should seriously write a fic like that…::daydreams:: But what vegetable? Hmmm…Thanks for the review and vote!

sailor g:I'm glad that you like this story! Yea, I thought Ami hugged Veggie-kun was pretty funny. Thanks for your review and vote!

HiddenAngel:lol, I don't like cherries, but the next chapter is finally here! ~_^

ssj-chibigoten:Hey Chibi! Thank you sooo much for all of your wonderful reviews! You really made me smile when I opened my e-mail and saw I had so many reviews from you! LOL, of course I know which paring you would like to see my darling Chibi. Hehe...lol, yea that was a helleva lot of snow. It was no fun shoveling it either…but it was fun to play in. I could say the same for you! Write darn YOU! I want chapter three NOW! =P

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Last Time (summary):

Bulma forces Goku and Vegeta to help Ami search for the mysterious plant. Goten and Trunks are in lockdown, and Gohan is having a bad day. Not to mention the senshi's predicament! Where is their Ami-chan? And did she really find the plant?

~*~*~*~*~



Chapter Four: Trials and Tribulations Galore!


"Well?" A grumpy Saiyan prince asked from his perch on the rock. "You said it was in this area, were the hell is it? I have more important things to be doing with my time, than sitting here all day." Ami rolled her eyes.

"This takes time Vegeta, I can't just snap my fingers like this and expect the answer to appear on the screen." No sooner than did Ami snap her fingers in demonstration then did her computer start to beep. Vegeta turned to her and smirked.

"You can't do what now Chibi-onna?" he said chuckling. Ami was just starring at the screen, able to do anything more than blink. Her mouth was open, and her jaw was bobbing up and down like a fish.

"What just happened?" Goku asked scratching his head.

"I have no idea, but I just found the plant!" Ami said, her gaping mouth shifting into a full-blown smile.

"It's about damn time too." Vegeta grumbled, starring up at the quickly retreating sun. They had two hours of daylight left, max. Tonight would have been a full moon, had the Namek not blown it up all those years ago. And although the moon's light was not present, Vegeta and all the other saiyans could still feel the effects of it. It was much like having an itch that is just out of ones reach or reaching the peak of euphoria only to be unable to finish in a satisfying release. And people wondered why he hated the Namek so much.

"Okay…now if these calculations are correct, the plant should be just over that hill." Ami said her eyes constantly darting from the screen to the area in question. Vegeta stood up and began to walk in the direction she had indicated.

"What does this thing look like?" He asked.

"I have no idea. I'll only be able to find it with my scanner." She answered not even looking up from her screen. Years of reading books and walking at the same time allowed her to read her scanner with an unmatched scrutiny, yet still manage not to trip or fall on the many roots and weeds that the forest held. Goku and Vegeta followed her, both anxious to be home soon, Goku for a reason that he did not understand. "Okay…it should be here somewhere…" Ami said trailing off mid-sentence.

The motley crew of three all stood starring at what it seemed Ami's computer was indicating as the cure to her problem.

"That is your cure?" Vegeta grunted, his nose wrinkling up in disgust. Ami sighed, her hopes a bit deflated.

"I…yes?"

"It's stinky." The ever-blunt Goku said pinching his nose with his thumb and finger. Vegeta could only nod at Goku's observation; the plant in question was revolting. It was more of a cross between a weed and a vine, than anything else; the whole base of the plant was covered in sharp thorns. The flowers - if one could call them that - were pale blue and sickly looking. They seemed to droop with just the effort of hanging on the vine. The smell they emitted was neither refreshing or sweet, it was more like the smell of a rotting corpse…correction, and old, wet rotting corpse.

"Do you…feel it?" Vegeta asked praying that she didn't.

"Feel it?" Ami asked turning to look at the Prince in confusion. He grunted and rolled his eyes at her.

"Yes, feel it! You said earlier that you would know if you saw it. Do you know?" Ami's mouth formed a perfect "o".

"I'm not sure…"

"You need to be sure before I touch that infernal thing!" Vegeta thundered right back. Ami sighed and nodded before closing her eyes. Chanting a few words under her breath, she forced her body to remain calm and to sense the world around her rather than see it. With her eyes closed, she could make out the distinct auras of the two men who had brought her thus far. Turning to face the patch of vines, she searched for its aura as well. She was surprised to find that in her mind, it was glowing a bright metallic blue. Her eyes burst open in shock.

"It's…this is it." She whispered breathless.

"Are you…"

"Yes. Positive." Ami answered before Vegeta could ask the question.

"Good." He said feeling the need to be the one with the last word. Goku just blinked at the two in confusion, not quite comprehending what had just transpired.

"How are we getting this home?" Ami asked turning to look at Vegeta who immediately turned to look at Goku. Goku was still looking at the plant, scratching his head trying to come up with some way to transport the repulsive thing. Then, he noticed the stares.

"Me?" He asked pointing to himself, his eyes widening. Ami scrunched up her face and nodded solemnly, while Vegeta smirked and chuckled. "But…I am carrying Ami…"

"I'll take the Chibi-onna…you Kakkarot may take our friend slimy here." Vegeta said moving closer to Ami, almost as if he were preparing for Goku to try and scoop Ami into his arms first. Goku's shoulders sunk, and Ami swore she saw tears in his eyes.

"But it's so stinky." Goku said with a pout.

"Quite your bellyaching Kakkarot! Are you a warrior or not?" Vegeta berated the older Saiyan. Goku pouted again.

"Fine…" He finally grumbled after looking at Ami's pleading eyes.

"Yosh!" Ami said, jumping up and pumping her fist. "Well, let's go then."

"How much?" Goku asked walking toward the plant with trepidation, waiting for the thing to strike back at him at any second.

"Hmmm." Ami said, tapping her chin in thought. "A good deal. I'm not sure how much of each we will be able to use for the antidote. I'd say at least twelve full vines."

"Twelve!" a pouting Goku shouted. Ami nodded.

"Yes, twelve. Uh…meet us back at Capsule Corp…see ya!" She said racing over to Vegeta and indicating that he take off. He had no problems following that order. Once they were in the air, and safely away from the foul smelling plant, they both burst out laughing…well Ami did, Vegeta more or less chuckled evilly.

"Where did you learn to be so evil Chibi-onna?" Vegeta asked with a smirk, looking down at his package's laughing face.

"My friend Rei. She is always playing tricks and such on Usagi. And Rei loves to make her cry…which isn't too hard to do. I swear for a second there I thought that I was actually looking at Usagi…she has the same pout and teary eyed reaction to anything that she doesn't like." Ami said, her gaze morphing from a happy one to a wistful expression.

"Well…you'll see this Usagi's pout soon enough." Vegeta said looking down at Ami. His statement was as close to a promise of her safety as him actually coming out and saying that he would see that she got home in one piece. Ami smiled and lunged up, wrapping her arms around Vegeta's trunk of a neck.

"Oh thank you!" She whispered into his ear. His words meant more to her than she was willing to admit. They soon found themselves back at Capsule Corp. with a none to pleased Goku and Bulma awaiting them. "What's wrong?" Ami asked once her feet touched the ground safely.

"What's wrong…what's wrong!" Bulma said her arms tightening in her crossed stance, and her eyes narrowing. "What's wrong is that this thing smells worse then seventy sweaty Saiyans who spent the whole day training in a sewage treatment facility!" Bulma raged glaring at the two new arrivals.

"I didn't make it smell like that…" Ami said in a whisper. She had just met these wonderful people and already she was forced into the shell that had ruled her all of her life. She was once again the meek Ami that did as she was told and was afraid of rocking the boat. Vegeta's eyes lowered into a glare. He much preferred the almost sadistic Ami that had been laughing at Kakkarot's misery.

"Onna, it's not her fault that the damned thing smells like shit." Vegeta snarled crossing his arms and moving into his usual stance, almost mirroring the one that Bulma was currently in. He had moved in front of Ami, shielding her from Bulma's harsh stare. Bulma sighed, her stance relaxing,

"I know that…gomen Ami-chan. I didn't mean to imply that it was your oversight. I was just…surprised that the thing smelled this badly." Bulma said with a smile, trying to ease the young girls nerves. Ami smirked and moved away from behind Vegeta,

"You think it smells putrid. You should have seen Kakkarot's face when we made him carry the damned things here!" she said with a chuckle. All three adults turned to stare at the young girl; their mouths hanging open in various degrees of disbelief.

"Are you…all right?" Bulma asked, reaching her hand out as if to touch the girl before lowering it back to her side, her eyebrows furrowed in concern. Ami nodded, looking at Bulma in mystification.

"Of course? Why wouldn't I be? Well, I'm exhausted. Do you mind if I take a nap for a bit before I crack into this huge shell of a cure?" Bulma shook her head,

"No, of course not. Go ahead dear. You remember where your room is right?" Ami nodded and headed off towards the compound leaving three blinking people in her wake. "That's it…" Bulma said throwing her hands up in the air. "It's the couch for you tonight Vegeta!"

"What the hell?" Vegeta shouted, sputtering and shaking from both shock and anger. "I didn't do a damn thing!"

"I don't care." Bulma said massaging her temples from the oncoming migraine. "Deal with it. Night Son-kun, night Veggie-breath." She said also moving to the front door.

"Damn confusing onnas." Vegeta grumbled stalking into the house, preparing himself for a cold, lonely night on the couch. Goku stood in the yard still blinking after everyone had gone inside.

"I guess I'll just go home now…" Crickets and bullfrogs answered his statement, "Ja…" He said waving to no one before shrugging his shoulders and placing two fingers on his forehead, concentrating on his wife's ki.


~*~*~*~*~



"Son Gohan…I swear, If you spend one more late night in this damned lab…you don't want to know the consequences!" A raging Son Satan Videl screeched at her husband. Gohan smiled sheepishly up at his wife, his right arm moving to scratch behind his head, a trait that he had undoubtedly picked up from his father.

"Gomen, Videl-chan. It's just that Ami-chan doesn't have much time left, and I really need to work this out…"

"Ami-chan?" Videl whispered in a deadly voice, her eyes narrowing.

"Ha…hai?" Gohan asked more than answered. Videl's eyes narrowed still.

"I swear! I don't know what to do with you sometimes…hell all of the time!" she shouted in exasperation. "Will you please come to bed tonight? If it isn't saving the world, it's saving some girl from a strange dimension, or grading papers…" Videl trailed off with a sigh. "I'm sorry Gohan," she began seeing his crestfallen expression. "I know how much these people and things mean to you…it's just I'm your wife. You'd think that I'd mean something too. And if not me, you'd think that your daughter Pan would mean something to you as well."

"You both mean the world to me!" Gohan said in protest.

"Please…" Videl said holding her hands up, "I've heard it all. This matter will not be solved tonight, or anytime soon. Just, don't forget what we had Go-chan. Remember how we got to where we are now, and why we had Panny. If you can do nothing else, please remember." Before Gohan could say another word, Videl was up the stairs from their basement/lab and heading towards their bedroom.

"But you matter…" Gohan whispered to an empty room. He didn't understand why Videl was so upset. He had always been brought up to help and care for anyone who needed it, good bad or ugly. His father was doing the same thing, out for who knows how long searching for her cure, it was the least he could do to tell them how to use it once it was found. Why couldn't Videl understand that? Were they so different? He knew that she had grown up in the city a spoiled daughter of the "Hero" of the world, but should that really make that much of a differentiation? Could or should that difference end their happy marriage?


~*~*~*~*~



Ami awoke the next morning chipper and alert. She had never felt more alive in her life, even the time when she first received her powers as a senshi could not compare to the jubilation that she felt at that moment. Making her way to her adjoining bathroom with a spring in her step, she couldn't help but giggle to herself. She knew it was too early to be arrogant, but she couldn't help herself. She was in the right place - or so her calculations and senses said - she would be saved and then she in turn could do some saving of her own. Dressed in a casual pair of blue jeans, and loose fitting Capsule Corp. tee, Ami skipped to her door and nearly burst out in song. Her hair was still a bit damp, that that didn't diminish her mood in the slightest.

Nearly running into Trunks on her way down the hall towards the stairs, she jumped into his arms, a bright smile lighting up her face.

"Whoa! Ami-chan, are you okay?" Trunks asked in concern, thinking that she had fallen or tripped. Ami just giggled.

"Of course I am!" she said holding him tighter. "We found it…" she whispered in his ear. Trunks swore that every breath she took to speak those three words sent millions upon trillions of shivers up and down his spine. He felt her words more than heard them, and boy did he want to feel them again. He smiled, returning her hug,

"That's great Ami-chan." He whispered back to her, his voice more breathy than hers. Ami froze as his voice danced a jig down her spine and into her very soul. Blushing, she pulled back from him.

"Good morning Trunks-chan…" she said after a few minutes of uneasy silence, and poignant stares. Trunks couldn't help but chuckle.

"Good morning to you too Ami-chan. Glad to see that your spirits are up." Ami nodded, and then completely removed herself from his arms, holding on a bit longer than necessary, trying to think of an excuse to stay in those steel arms forever.

"Well, I'm sure that you are about as starved as I. What do you say to a nice big breakfast?"

"Ami-chan, you do know the way to a Saiyan's heart…food! Let's go!" He said, linking arms with her and dragging her the rest of the way down the hallway, and the stairs to the kitchen. Upon arriving, Ami and Trunks were in for the shock of their young lives…

"Otousan?" Trunks said, barely managing to keep his jaw from lowering to his knees. There, in a pink apron stood his proud Saiyan father, cooking. Ami snickered behind her hand, trying to hide her amusement but failing miserably. There was just something both endearing and absolutely hilarious about seeing a man in a pink apron.

"What?" He snarled from the stove, his arm moving faster, whipping the eggs more than needed.

"You…you're wearing pink." Ami sputtered out, a few chortles escaping with her words. Both teens then feasted upon a glare that could have melted ice, and made the devil run in fear. The kind of glare that is absolutely positively amusing to watch someone else suffer, but when you yourself are the victim, more terrifying than your worst nightmare on crack. Both Ami and Trunks swallowed loudly, not bothering to hide their fear.

"Sit." He ordered turning back to the stove. Ami and Trunks rushed to follow his orders and before he could blink the sounds of chairs scrapping the floor could be heard. Vegeta smirked, knowing they could not see his face. So he could thank Freeza for one thing…his mind chuckled evilly. Bulma walked down stairs and into the kitchen with a yawn. Stopping dead in her tracks, she gaped openly at the scene before her. Her husband - the almighty Saiyan prince - was in apron serving her son and guest. Not only was he in apron, but it was pink, but then again…she always suspected that he had liked that shirt.

"Stop gaping like a damned fish, Onna, and sit down." Vegeta grumbled from his position at the counter. Bulma could only follow his orders, and moved to sit besides Ami. Once the table was piled high with Vegeta's cooked breakfast, he too sat down, and motioned them all to eat. Wasting no time, the three shocked people quickly dug in to the food before there was none.

"Where's Goten and Gohan?" Ami asked seemingly just realizing that the two young men from earlier were not present.

"Well," Trunks began, giving her a funny look, "Gohan is most likely at home with is wife and daughter and Goten is home as well. He left shortly after you, otousan and Goku."

"Gohan's married? With child?" Ami asked, her eyes bulging out of her sockets.

"Yes?" Trunks said with a blink. "Didn't you know? He was married nearly two years ago. They were pregnant with Pan within the first four months of marriage."

"Oh." Ami said, her head bowing. Bulma and Vegeta exchanged a look before Bulma stood clearing her throat.

"Well, I don't know about you, but we have some work to do. I do believe someone is in need of a cure?"

"Oh! Of course Bulma-chan. Gomen!" Ami said standing and bowing. Bulma laughed and waved her bow off.

"Come on, let's get started. Trunks…you're going to be late to school. Get going."

"But okaasan!" Trunks whined. "This is more important…"

"You won't be doing anything. Ami and I can handle things, and then Gohan can help us later when he gets off work. You and Goten however, have school to attend young man. Now march!" Bulma said, her arm outstretched, finger pointing in the direction of the stairs and Trunk's room. "And remember! Your school does have a dress code!" She hollered at his retreating form. She turned with a sigh to Ami, "Well, now that that's taken care of, let's really get started."

"Hai!" Ami said with a nod.


~*~*~*~*~



Son Videl found her husband the next morning asleep in the basement. His glasses were hanging off his nose, his right arm stretched out on the desk acting as a pillow. Blueprints, spreadsheets, and other papers filled with computations and calculations were scattered across the desk. A bit of drool was escaping his mouth, and he snored lightly, his chest gently rising and falling in a deep sleep. Seeing the vision that was her husband almost made Videl forget her anger. How could she stay angry with such a cute man?

But that was part of the problem. He was all looks and no brains, sure he was book smart and probably knew more formulas and facts than an entire set of Encyclopedia Britannica's. And sure his battle tactics were inferior to none (except maybe that rude man Vegeta), but when it came to things such as emotions and feelings, he was a total dunce. Sometimes Videl thought that he was even more naïve then his father.

He saw only black and white; there was no gray in his color spectrum, and that was in opposition to Videl's world. She had lived her whole life as a shade of gray, a shade that did not exist in Son Gohan's sphere of reality. So did that mean that she in effect didn't exist in his world? She shuddered at the thought. It was more than horrifying for a woman to think that she didn't even exist to her husband… and what really made Videl tear up, was that she came to a realization. The realization that he was her whole world. After meeting Gohan, she could think of no other. Of course at the time, it had been more curiosity than love or even lust. But then, once she really got to know the man that was Son Gohan, she was hooked.

And now…nearly five years after they had met, and two after their marriage it was all falling apart. Looking back, Videl realized that it was never together to begin with - not really. It was more her hope that they would be together, and Gohan's love. But of course, Gohan loved this new mysterious Ami-chan as much as he loved her, hell he loved Bulma-chan as much as she. For Gohan was like his father who could only love, and a man with only one emotion can not be passionate. How can he have a zealous life with that special someone if everything he did was passionate and full of love. That was part of what had attracted her to him in the first place. He was the perfect guy…smart, sweet, strong, caring, and drop dead gorgeous. Not to mention he had an ass to die for.

"I'm falling in love all over again…" Videl whispered to herself as she brushed a stray lock of hair out of Gohan's eyes. He barely stirred at her touch, only lightly moaning and shifting a bit before once again settling into his dream world. He was perfect, he was the embodiment of every guy Videl had ever met and wished were an individual. He was her dream guy…unfortunately, she didn't think she was his dream girl. At first, he had made her feel as if she were the only woman on the earth. He had made her just plain feel - something that she hadn't done often since her mother's death. It hurt to feel, to care, and now she remembered why.

"Go-chan…" she whispered, feeling the beginnings of tears making their way down her face.

"Videl?" Gohan said almost as if he weren't sure if she was really there or not. "Where am I?" He asked once he had opened his eyes. He began to blink the sleep out of them, bringing his fisted hands up to rub at his eyes furiously, his glasses having fallen to the table. Videl was reminded of a young child…their daughter with the way he woke. He was still a little boy in so many ways.

"Your office." Videl said, no emotion in her voice. Her voice had become flat, stale - much like their marriage - she noted with a sense of irony. Gohan seemed to jerk awake at her words.

"What?" he asked looking around, seemingly for confirmation. Once he become conscious of the fact that he had once again missed a night in their bedroom, he winced and turned to face his wife. "I'm so sorry Videl-chan. I was getting ready to head up to bed, and then this idea struck me and I had to work it out…and well…I'm sorry." He finished, his hands locked together behind his back, his right toe scratching at the floor, and Videl was again reminded of a little boy.

"It's okay Gohan." She answered turning from him and placing the steaming cup of coffee that she had been carrying, on his desk. No chan, or nickname was used, she hadn't called him Gohan since the day they first met.

"Videl…" Gohan started the pain obvious to hear in his cracking voice.

"No, Gohan. I understand. Really I do. I…I just need time. I'm taking Pan to see her grandfather today. I've decided to extend the trip for a few days, to give us both time to clear our heads. You have business to attend to first." She said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. Gohan felt a tear slip from his eyes.

"Videl…I…" Videl moved up to her husband and placed her index and middle finger over his lips, successfully silencing him.

"Please. Don't argue with me. I need this time even if you do not." She quickly pecked his lips before turning and fleeing back up the stairs before Gohan had a chance to respond.

"I'm really losing you aren't I?" He whispered to the empty room, his gaze focusing on the steaming cup of coffee made exactly how he liked it that still had her scent lingering around it.


~*~*~*~*~



"I thought that this would be the easy part." Ami said rocking back in her chair and rubbing her eyes furiously. Her and Bulma had been working with the vines trying to find her cure all morning, and it was now stretching into late afternoon. With no word from Gohan, whether or not he was coming by later, the two were wading their way through all of the preliminary trials and tests that needed to be performed. For the first two hours, they had to constantly take breaks for fresh air, to try and rid themselves of the putrid smell of the plant. However, now their noses had seemed to grow used to it, and their hiatuses weren't as frequent.

"So did I, Ami-chan…" Bulma said pausing to turn and twist her back. "But this…this is just God awful!"

"Is Gohan supposed to be coming by later to help?" Ami asked her eyes glued to the microscope, starring at the plants cells wishing that they would just morph into the correct formulation and be done with it. Bulma raised one of her slim eyebrows, giving Ami a look.

"I'm not sure…why?" she asked her voice laced with suspicion. Ami's cheeks took on a rouge color, but fortunately for her, her back was to Bulma.

"No…nothing. No reason." She stammered out. Bulma's smirk grew.

"Oh really? Cause to me it looks like you have a bit of a crush on the darling boy." Ami spun around to face Bulma in shock, forgetting momentarily that her cheeks were still warm with color.

"Of course not Bulma-chan! I was just wondering if we were going to have the extra hand, that's all." She said indignantly. Bulma smiled knowingly,

"Uh huh…and that's why your cheeks are that lovely shade of pink right now." Ami's pink face deepened to a blush red.

"I…I don't know what you're talking about." She stuttered, her back once again to Bulma. Bulma decided to leave Ami alone…for now. Chuckling she cracked her knuckles one last time before once again allowing her fingers to fly across the keyboard of her computer, searching for the correct coding that they would need to extract from the plant. They had discovered that it was something in the genetics of the plant that held her cure. Of course sifting through thousands of genetic markers to find the correct one was no fun. Bulma could only hope that it was something in the RNA and not the DNA. Of course, the minute that genetics, alleles and markers are involved RNA is all but shot to the ground. They would have to break the genetic code of the damned plant before they could even attempt to isolate the correct gene. And that could take weeks if not months or years.

"We could sure use that help though…" Bulma said with a grimace, after sitting in her stiff lab chair all day, she was ready for some exercise. "You ready for a break Ami?" Bulma asked the younger woman.

"I was ready three hours ago…" she answered holding her rumbling stomach. Bulma chuckled and nodded, patting her own growling belly.

"Let's go get some dinner shall we?"

"Yes. Lets." Ami agreed, turning from the microscope her eyes dropping with exhaustion, the hope in her eyes was clearly deflated several notches.

"Don't worry. We'll figure this out!" Bulma consoled the girl in her most reassuring voice. Ami nodded.

"I know…I just hope that we don't figure it out too late." The two women made their way up the lab steps and once again into the light of day. However, now it was more the dusk of the early evening than the bright and promising morning that had left them when the first trudged down the stairs to begin their work.

"I'm surprised that Trunks didn't come racing down there after he got home from school." Bulma mused to herself.

"Yes…he was so eager to help this morning."

"Oh well, maybe he got caught up with his friends or something." Bulma said with a shrug. Once they reached the first floor, they made a beeline for the kitchen, not thinking much past satiating their empty stomachs.

"Bulma-chan?" Ami asked, her voice stopped in front of the living room.

"Hmm?" Bulma said her head turning back a bit to look at Ami's confused face.

"Why are there two Trunks'?"

"What?" she asked moving to stand next to the bewildered girl. "Trunks? Mirai? Vegeta? What's going on?"

"Okaasan…" The new Trunks said, his voice much deeper and huskier than the Trunks that Ami had gotten to know. "There's trouble…" he said, his head bowing to stare at the hands clasped in his lap.


TBC!


Dududun! Aren't I just the evilest? I think this is one of my favorite cliff - hangers yet! So what do you guys think? What is the big trouble that Mirai Trunks is talking about? What's up with Gohan and Videl? Will they work things out, or will he be driven into the arms of another? (It can go either way you pairing voters so do not fret about that!)