Chapter seven – The Return of Trunks

She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Trunks getting out of his time machine.

"That's the last time I'm using your ki to pinpoint my landing coordinates," he muttered while making his way to shore.

"Trunks? You're back? But why?" She looked at him concerned. "Did something go wrong?"

"No, don't worry about that." He took off his jacket and squeezed water out of it. "I just figured I'd go back and help you beat the androids. After all, I can use a little intelligence before facing them in my own timeline."

"Smart move," she smiled. Then her face turned serious. "Trunks, I've got to ask you something. You already told me what happened to the other Z Fighters in your timeline… but what about me? Where do I fit in?"

"You don't," he said after a slight moment of hesitation. "I've never seen you in my timeline and neither has my mom."

"But how can that be? I'm not exactly the type of person to run and hide when things get a little rough."

"I know. I have no clue whatsoever what the story on you is."

"Maybe I died while fighting the androids on my own…"

"Could be. But even then I can't imagine that I never picked up your ki signal. It's so strong, in this timeline I could never miss it."

"It's a mystery," Tara sighed. "Well, I don't care really. What matters is that I'm here right now. Let's get you inside and I'll give you some dry clothes. And since it's almost dinner time, let's see what we can get for a meal as well."

"You see, that's what I like about you. You have great ideas at exactly the right time." He put his arm around her in a friendly manner and she startled back.

"You baka, you're going to get water all over me!"

He grinned and for a moment he resembled his father so much that Tara had to blink to make sure it wasn't Vegeta she was looking at.

"So? We'll both change when we get back. I just wanted to let you know I missed your company."

She picked up his wet jacket and threw it in his face. "I missed you too, Trunks." She started laughing and took off.

"You bitch," he said mockingly and went after her. He caught up with her and they landed right in front of Capsule Corp. Tara was still watching him from the corner of her eyes because she knew he'd try and get revenge. Then she was distracted by Vegeta, who came out of the gravity capsule and started to make way for the building. Trunks's wet jacket hit her right in the face and she was lying flat on her back with Trunks on top of her before she could even react. "You're getting sloppy," he said, teasing her. She pulled away the jacket and pushed herself up, leaning on her elbows.

"And you have been training your ass off, I notice. Who are you trying to impress?"

"Take a wild guess." Before he could go on with his joke, an energy blast hit his side, throwing him off. He landed twenty feet away.

"What the…"

Tara turned around and saw Vegeta standing halfway between the gravity capsule and the main compound, his arms crossed. He looked angry.

"What the hell is his problem?" Trunks asked her, rubbing his ribs. "He wasn't assuming that we…"

"I guess he was," Tara smirked. "He must have had a bad day of training to be in this kind of mood."

"Can't blame him for being jealous," Trunks said.

"Jealous? Who are you kidding? Vegeta would never…"

"This is another timeline, Tara. Maybe my father has learned how to feel something else than pride alone."

"Yeah right."

They went in and she said: "Make yourself at home, I'll go get the food."

She went into the kitchen and spotted Vegeta. She grabbed him by his throat and pushed him up against the wall.

"What the hell did you that for, huh? We were just fooling around, no need for you to go ape on him!"

"He wasn't bothering you?" Vegeta seemed sincerely surprised while shaking off her hand.

"No, he wasn't and even if he was, I can handle my own business, thank you very much."

He grunted and looked away.

"Fine. In that case, don't count on me to help you anytime soon."

"Since when are you my bodyguard, Vegeta?"

He actually looked embarrassed when he couldn't come up with an answer.

"Just don't hurt Trunks again, okay? Believe me, he'd never hurt me."

"You can't blame me for not trusting that guy. You still haven't told me who he is and where the hell he came from. Yes, he's from the future, that's what I know. It's not enough!"

"Face it, you just can't stand the fact that he is a Super Saiyan and you aren't."

She was knocked out cold by his gloved fist. Vegeta's aura flared up with its typical blue and white. His eyes were burning with rage.

Trunks ran into the kitchen because he felt a ki rising.

"Goddamn it Vegeta!" he shouted when he saw Tara lying motionless on the floor. "What have you done?"

"She was asking for it," he growled between clenched teeth. "Don't sweat it, kid, she's just unconscious."

Trunks shook his head. "I can't believe you. Could you at least try not to get offended so easily? Your temper is what got you killed in my timeline, you know."

"I don't care. I'm here, not there." He walked over to Tara, picked her up and put her over his shoulder. Trunks watched him leave the kitchen to take Tara to her quarters. He rested his head against the fridge. He had lost his appetite.