For Love or Destiny

Disclaimer: Dun own, too tired to think of something creative to put here...

Key:

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

AN: Hello all. Sorry that I've been late in updating my fics. Well, school started back up, so I guarantee you that it will take me longer to get my fics then we'd all like. I also am juggling work, preparing for college (I'm a senior this year. Wahoo!), and I'm playing powderpuff in the fall. Not to mention my HUGE ass writer's block that is really deflating my optimism. I just wanted to let ya'll know that I am trying and I continue to ask for your patience. Thanks!

Well, what a surprise to get online and see that one of your fics has been deleted. ::sigh:: Oh well, I do have it saved on my computer and I have all of my responses to you, so I know who you, the reader is. I just am upset about losing all of my reviews. I think that ff.net should have a system of informing you of you infraction and then giving you a short grace period to fix said infraction instead of removing then informing. But ::sigh:: what can I do eh? Live and learn and then follow the rules I guess? Thanks so much for your patience. Well, if it did do one positive thing, it forced me to finish the chapter of this and the other one today so that I could post it. Enough jibber jabber, READ! ^_^


Questions/Comments/Answers:


ssj-chibigoten:LOL! Hey Chibi! Thanks for your review! I think you love it? Lol, you expected anything less…ha! You need to go back to goddess worshipping school! ~_^ And the next chapter awaits you…::bows:: (I'm still waiting for my god thank you very much! =P )

sailor g:Yes…I thought it was funny myself. I was literally laughing to myself as I was writing it…hehe.

Sharem:Hey! Long time no hear! When are you planning to update your own fics ::hint hint wink wink:: Lol thanks for the review and vote!

minimerc:LOL! You are the second reviewer to comment on how right I was about Gohan have a fine ass. I'm glad that you enjoyed the last chapter! I was afraid that many people wouldn't want to break up Videl/Gohan (not that I do or don't…or feel one way or another) It's just that many people run from breaking up "the norm" I guess you aren't one of those people eh?

Mistress of Ice:Hey! Thanks for your review and vote! Lol, I take it that was a good ::stare:: and wow?

GracefulAngel1854:Thanks for your review and vote! I was beginning to think that everyone who reads this has Ami/Gohan on the brain ~_^ lol, again thanks for your review!

KissOfDeath:Thanks for the review and vote!

NT:Hey! Thanks for the review and vote. Sorry…Veggie-kun was eliminated last chapter, but I'll count the no triangle and Trunks vote!

Sphinxqueen127:Yes, I was sad to see Veggie-kun go. I would have had fun making that work. Ah, well. Thanks for the review and vote!

bouncybean:Thanks for your review and vote. I don't know if you want to check everyday…I'm not a very fast updater. If you would like, I can add your e-mail address to my "mailing list" of sorts where I would e-mail you every time a new chapter is up. If you would like to be added, either include your e-mail address in your next review or send me an e-mail at Anime22DBZ@aol.com subject "mailing list" Thanks! Ummm thanks for reviewing twice…I think? Or are there two bouncybeans? ::raises eyebrow::

Mistress Saturn:Thanks for your review! I really appreciate it! And also thanks for the vote.

Meems:LOL! Thanks! I know what you mean. Ami is my favorite senshi and she is often forgotten about. I too am sick to death of all of those Usagi (Serena) fics…but ::shrugs:: what can you do besides put your own stuff out there right? Thanks for your review and vote!

jen:Thanks for the review and vote.

Shai:Thanks for your review and vote! Glad to hear that you like it!

Sailor Star10:Thanks for the review! Yes…I hope to finish this soon as well…don't see that happening…oh well…I hope that you stick with me through the long bumpy road ahead of us! ^_^

anime_goddess:Thank you so much! I really appreciate the praise. I'm glad that you are enjoying this story. Thanks for the vote as well.

Bouncybean:Lol thanks for your review. Sorry that it has taken me so long to update this. I was sort of stuck for awhile! Thanks for the vote as well!

Sailor Eclipse- 2004:Lol sorry to be driving you crazy. I have a knack for doing that. Driving people crazy. Thanks for the review and vote!

Ami briefs chan:Thanks. I'm always glad to hear people enjoy my writing style. Thanks for your review and vote!

Sailor Sagittarius:LOL! Please don't die! I hope that this was fast enough for you…I do try, but I've just been so busy. Thanks for the review!

CG Anna Marie:Yea…I too was a bit shocked that so many people wished to destroy a "happy" family. Although I have no problem doing it with this fic, I just think it adds a new challenge to it and I think it'd have been interesting to try and pair her with either Goku or Vegeta…hmmm oh well. Thanks for your review and vote!

Snowbird2:Hey! Thanks for the review and vote. I too like the way that Ami is portrayed. Too often she is either too much into character (i.e super dork which she's not) or way too much out of character (suddenly with a Veggie like attitude, although those fics are fun to read and good if they are done right). As for your question, I haven't really decided. Actually, I haven't really thought about it too much. I mean, yea it crossed my mind, but if I do it won't be as big of a part or whatever as her suddenly equaling super-saiyan or something. I'm going to try and stick to the senshi powers/elements if I can.

Neo-Mercury:LOL! Please don't hurt yourself…that wouldn't be good. ::hands Neo-Mercury a bottle of aspirin:: For your head…lol. Thanks for the review and vote! Hey…sorry that it has taken so long to get this chapter up. I really am. I'll try and update more frequently in the future. But who knows?

Dust2Dust:Thanks so much for your review! Glad to hear that you like it. Thanks for your vote as well. I hope that this was soon enough for you…I do try.

Kalamity Kat:LOL, an interesting thought Kat. I actually had the same ones when I was running through the possibilities if certain characters won and where I would go if certain ones didn't. I think it would be interesting to have the two Trunks' duke it out…hehe. Thanks for the review and vote!

Anee:Thanks for taking Kat's advice and trying this fic out. I'm glad that you like it. Thanks for the review.

Arain Rowan:Oh goodie! I do love surprising people with my twists. Hey feel free to vote how you like. I love controversy and close calls. ^_^ I too like Mirai Trunks better (in the show anyway). Thanks for your review and vote!

kim:Thanks for you review and vote! I am glad that you are enjoying this fic!

~*~*~*~*~


Last Time:

"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.

~*~*~*~*~



Chapter Five: New Problems


Bulma sighed and plopped down on the couch next to her husband. "Isn't there always…can you never just come back to visit?" Bulma looked hopefully at her other son. Mirai Trunks shook his head sadly.

"I'm sorry okaasan, it's never that simple."

"This is Mirai Trunks?" Ami asked blinking, she was still standing in the doorway, her left hand was still raised, pointing at the two Trunks'.

"And you are?" Mirai Trunks asked turning to face Bulma. Bulma sighed and sat up straighter.

"Mirai, this is Mizuno Ami, Ami this is Mirai Trunks, but we all just call him Mirai." Ami nodded and slowly moved into the room, after shifting her eyes between the two young men she slid down into the lounge chair that was unoccupied.

"I don't mean to be rude, but how do my parents know you?" Mirai asked staring at the girl before him. Ami sighed,

"It's a long story…but basically I'm from another dimension and we are in the middle of a war there, I was poisoned and my cure is here. Your friends and family are helping me out." Ami explained, her fingers folded together, resting in her lap.

"I see. Okaasan always thought there were parallel universes as well; she just never had the heart nor the time to explore those possibilities."

"So what is this trouble that you spoke of brat?" Vegeta grunted, lowering his eyes into a glare. "I do not have the time or patience to sit here and chat all day." Mirai gulped while Trunks just rolled his eyes.

"Tousan, you have too much curiosity to get up and leave." Mirai blinked at his counterpart's boldness. However, he could only stare at his father when Vegeta merely rolled his eyes and clipped his son on the back of the head.

"Um…yes, anyway. There is a terrible evil that has befallen the future." Mirai said, his voice growing serious, no trace of emotion was readable on his stone face. "It started, I'm not sure when or with whom, but it has spread to almost the entire population."

"What is it?" Bulma asked sitting on the edge of her seat literally. Ami sank back into her chair fearing and yet somehow knowing what the big trouble was.

"It's a new strain of virus or disease. It only leaves the host when they are dead. At first there was only one victim at a time, because there was only one virus, it was easy to tell who was infected, and they could be quarantined while we searched for a cure. However, somehow, we still don't know how, the virus multiplied and now there is no telling how many are out there. We don't have adequate labs or supplies and Okaasan was hoping that you would be able to help us."

"Serenity no…" All heads turned to face the voice that had spoken. It was barely above a whisper but in the silent room, it was as loud as thunder.

"Ami-chan?" Trunks asked standing to go to her, when Vegeta pulled him back into his seat and shook his head.

"I didn't make it…we all died."

"What?" Mirai asked blinking in confusion.

"If the virus only leaves when the host dies…that means that I died…that I failed, that I killed not only those in Bulma-san's world, but Mirai-san's and my own. I…killed three universes." Ami began to rock back and forth, her eyes wide and her lungs taking in more oxygen then was required but not allowing the carbon dioxide to leave.

"Ami! Stop right now! This is no time to hyperventilate and pass out. You don't know that's what it means. It could very well be that we extracted the virus and then it later was transmitted into some other being. Or it could be a different strand that has nothing to do with you. So will you calm down already!" Bulma shouted, trying to shake the girl out of her trance.

"Is she going to be all right?" Mirai asked eyeing the girl warily. Vegeta nodded.

"She is prone to panic attacks."

"I am not!" Ami snarled at him. Her voice sounded different…odd. Instead of the normal feminine pitch that sounded like bells on Christmas there was a hint of something else. It was something more…demonic in the tone, a deeper, richer baritone that should not have come out of such a petite girl. Bulma backed up from Ami, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"She was right…the alien's system is winning. We don't have much time left. Trunks call Gohan now! Vegeta I want you to grab her and…I don't know, knock her out or something. She's going to kill herself if she keeps this up. Mirai…help him. I don't know what she's going to do. I'll be in the lab if anyone needs me." Bulma ordered. None of the men in the room protested, Trunks was already at the phone before she could finish her command. Vegeta rolled his eyes and stood up, slowly making his way to Ami's seat. He cautiously reached out and pinched a nerve on her neck rendering her unconscious. Mirai, who was still too shocked to move could only raise his eyebrow as his father lifted Ami gently into his arms and began to walk after his mother.

"Are you coming brat?" Vegeta said pausing in his step only long enough to be sure that Mirai had gotten up and was following him. Mirai who didn't want to miss anything that was going on was quick to follow his father into his mother's sanctuary.


~*~*~*~*~



"Tsukino-san are you all right?" Haruna-sensei asked her young student. She was used to the child sleeping in class or arriving late, but this past week had seemed…different. This was her first day back in school, with no note explaining her abscesses. She looked as if someone had run her through a gauntlet and then a meat grinder for extra measure. Not only that, but Kino-san arrived in the same way that Tsukino-san did and Mizuno-san had yet to return. Usagi lifted her head from the desk very slowly, almost as if it weighed several hundred pounds.

"Hai sensei, I'm just exhausted is all." She replied before once again returning her head to the desk. Although she thought that skipping school would have been a wiser idea, Luna for some reason thought that they should try to keep up with appearances as much as they could.

"Kino-san?"

"…Hai?" Makoto said through heavily lidded eyes. Her left arm still throbbed, a constant reminder of what had occurred only two days ago. Luckily, the arm was no longer broken thanks to her healing abilities as a senshi. However, those abilities could only take them so far before they were forced to heal as a normal mortal, not to mention the fact that they were never given the proper time to heal and were only straining and re-injuring themselves.

"Where is Mizuno-san?" Haruna-sensei asked the two girls, knowing that if anyone in the class knew of Ami's disappearance it would be them.

"Still sick." Makoto lied easily. The senshi had decided that if anyone asked the five best friends had all come down with some illness that had prevented them from attending school, and Ami-chan had gotten it the worse of them all and was still unable to attend.

"Oh dear. You two don't look well either."

"We got over it faster…" Usagi said from her half unconscious position.

"Well, it doesn't look like you've gotten over it at all. I insist that you two return to your homes at once. And that you not return to school until you two can stay conscious in my class is that understood?" she said, her eyes laced with worry for the two teens. Usagi and Makoto just nodded and stood, grabbing their books from under their chairs.

"Arigato Haruna-sensei." They said in unison before heading to their lockers to retrieve their shoes. As they began the slow march out of the school and towards Rei's shrine, they nearly ran into a figure.

"Hey!" The figure said wearily.

"Gomen…" Usagi mumbled and Makoto merely nodded at the figure.

"Usa-chan? Mako-chan?" The figure said stepping out of the shadows.

"Mina-chan? What are you doing out of school?" Makoto asked.

"I could ask you the same question." Mina said her eyebrows raised in confusion.

"Sent home…must sleep…" Usagi groaned continuing her almost zombie like march towards Rei's. Mina nodded at the two to indicate that she too had been sent home early.

"I second that nation." Mina said. Makoto rolled her eyes but was too tired to try to correct their young friend. Upon arriving at the shrine they saw that Rei was already there, sound asleep.

"I guess her teachers noticed too." Makoto whispered not wanting to wake their exhausted friend. Usagi and Mina merely nodded and each grabbed a pallet, unrolling it on the floor. No other words were spoken as the three senshi drifted off in slumber hoping that when they awoke it would all have just been a dream.


~*~*~*~*~



"Moshi Moshi, Son residence." Gohan spoke dejectedly into the speaker of the phone.

"Gohan? I thought you had work today?"

"Trunks? If you're looking for Videl then she…"

"No no, I was looking for you."

"But if you thought I was…never mind what is it that you want?" Gohan asked much too tired to contemplate the complexities of one Trunks Brief.

"Ami-chan is in trouble. The virus is progressing at an alarming rate. Okaasan demands that you come over immediately, not that you'd refuse…anyway…" Trunks trailed off knowing that he wasn't making much sense. Gohan shook his head again and wondered if Vegeta knew that his son was a total pot head, either that or he hit his head one too many times whilst training.

"Sure. I'll be over in a few. Just let me gather my notes."

"Right, see you then." Trunks heard the line go dead and as he put the phone back into it's cradle wondered if he should have told him about his counterpart's arrival. "Oh well…he'll find out when he gets here." He finally decided, following the trail that the rest of his family had taken only a few moments before. When he arrived in the lab, he found that his father had laid Ami on one of the lab tables and was hovering over the girl having not much else to do. While he was one of the best minds in Freeza's army and his tactical skills were un-matched, his knowledge of anything other than rudimentary healing and science was severally lacking.

Mirai having been raised by his genius mother was a bit more helpful. So, Trunks decided to see what his mother and Mirai needed help with since his father had guard duty covered pretty well.

"Did you get a hold of Gohan?" Bulma asked not looking up from her computer screen. Trunks nodded,

"Yea, he said he'll be over shortly. Is there anything I can do to help?" Bulma sighed fisting a knot of her silky blue hair in her hands.

"Grant me a miracle?" she said the weariness in her voice was so palpable that Trunks thought the he might have to sit down before he collapsed.

"Hello." A feminine voice said. It sounded as if it were far away, not really there, almost a ghost of Bulma's imagination.

"Who are you?" she asked turning to the sound of the voice and gasping at what she saw. A beautiful woman was standing before her, her entire body faded such that Bulma could draw no other conclusion but that she was a spectrum. She was wrapped in the purest of silk and a simple but elegant crown sat upon her head, her face consumed in her luscious blue curls.

"Who are you talking to Onna?" Vegeta asked wondering if all the stress had finally gotten to his mate. He glanced over to the direction that she had turned but saw naught but the cement wall and many gizmos and gadgets that graced her lab. The others in the room too turned to see what she was looking at, and turned to each other in confusion.

"Hey kaasan, are you all right? Do you need to lie down for a moment?" Trunks asked his mother almost afraid to touch her shoulder.

"Okaasan?" Mirai asked, he too was confused as all hell.

"Don't worry Bulma-san, the others will think you mad, but they cannot see me."

"Why not?" she asked, turning to look at her husband and sons and finding that they were starring at her in various stages of worry, bewilderment and slight anger. Shrugging mentally, she turned back to the mysterious ghost that had entered the lab. "Who are you?"

"Now, Bulma-san, I thought that you were smarter than that." The woman chided with a smile. Seeing Bulma's curious face furrow in deep thought, she chuckled again. "Do not harm yourself child. I've seen much the same expression on Ami's face when she is deep in thought."

"Oh! You're…"

"Yes, I am."

"But how?" The woman paused before answering, her smile widening at her answer.

"Magic. Now we don't have time for this, as much as I'd love to get to know the woman who has been taking care of my Ami-chan. I must grant you your miracle if she will have her time to figure it out, and I know she will." She paused to sigh deeply, her head bowing in what appeared to be shame. "Oh and Bulma-san…when my daughter awakens, please do not tell her it was I who did so."

"Of course." Bulma said, not having much else to say to a plea like that. Watching in wonderment, as the ghost floated over to Ami and placed one hand on her forehead and one on her heart. Bulma heard her chanting something, but could make out neither the words nor their meaning. Ami soon began to glow a faint blue, moaning in her unconsciousness and beginning to stir. The woman backed up, removing her hands from Ami's body, although they had not technically touched them and turned to face Bulma.

"Thank you for looking after her. And I hope that you would continue to do so."

"Of course I will." Bulma said to the woman, smiling brightly to try to abate her fears for her daughter. The woman, queen smiled in return and Bulma reached out for her as she saw a lone tear travel down her cheek.

"I thank you then, for all of your kindness in the past, present and future. Hopefully we shall not meet again, ja ne." And with that, she was gone. She didn't vanish in a single flash or a bright light of energy, no she gradually faded until there was nothing left but the feelings she brought.

"Onna what in the hell was that all about?" Vegeta asked, his glare alternating between Bulma and Ami, who was beginning to stir.

"I…I am not quite sure how that was even possible…but it was Ami's…"

"Okaasan…" A new voice said, a new voice full of bitterness and sorrow.

"Ami." Bulma said, her eyes widening in shock. She wasn't supposed to know, oh hell, this wasn't going to be good. "No, I…"

"Don't." Ami said closing her eyes and sitting up. "Please just don't. I…I have to go." She whispered painfully, sitting up fully and sliding off the table.

"Onna, what the hell is going on!" Vegeta demanded not quite sure which onna he was talking about but not caring as long as he got the answer.

"Nothing Vegeta-kun…I…I must be leaving now." Ami stammered out, pushing past the others and bolting up the stairs. Vegeta and the two Trunks' turned to look at Bulma who was sinking to her knees, her hands covering her mouth. She began to shake, as tears rolled out of her eyes.

"I failed them…"

Gohan was slowly trudging up the winding driveway that belonged to Capsule Corp. He had flown as fast as he could, still hearing Trunks' panicked cry that something was wrong with Ami. But, now that he had arrived, he wasn't sure that he wanted to enter the lab where he knew the others would be. Sure he wanted to help Ami, he cared for her, as he cared for every one of his friends. She was his friend now, and he wasn't about to let that go because his wife was having problems with him.

"My wife…" he said allowed. That word struck him almost painfully in the chest. He wasn't human…not in the life partner sense. So he should be using mate, not wife. His father when he wasn't calling his mother by her name used the term mate. When Gohan was a child, he had thought that it was just an endearing nickname that he used. However, after all that had happened to him throughout the years, and seeing the way that Vegeta acted around Bulma, his mate, he could only concluded that it was the Saiyan term for soul mate.

Of course, Vegeta would laugh him to hell if he heard any of his pathetic theories and musings, but then again…he might not. Not if it struck too close to the truth, he might even be able to answer some of Gohan's questions about the perfect…mate. Any further musings were cut short by the hiccuped cry of a female.

"Ami-chan? What's wrong?" he asked the girl, catching her in his arms to stop her from continuing to run away. Placing his hands on the sides of her face, he lifted her chin up to stare into her eyes.

"Gohan…I…" Ami couldn't finish. Gohan enveloped her into his arms and placed his hand on the back of her head, holding her to his chest. His other hand was rubbing circles on her back to try to soothe her cries.

"It's okay, let's get out of here eh?" Ami nodded against his chest and Gohan sighed mentally. It was going to be a long day. Lifting her into his arms, he cradled her against his chest and took off in the air, not really having a destination in mind, but he would know once he reached it.


TBC!!!

Hey, sorry that it was a bit short, but at this point of the story, I have several places I could go. I am not to sure which place I will travel too, and I couldn't make it any longer without deciding that. Any suggestions you have would be awesome. Maybe it will spark a kick ass idea or I might use your kick ass idea. Thanks! Please review!!!