Disclaimers: I don't own these characters, I just wrote this story for the hell of it, please don't sue me, I'm not stealing it I swear!
Chapter Eleven: Somewhere I Belong
Bright, sparkling and flashing lights passed their heads and crossed their faces, making it appear as if they were surrounded by the northern lights themselves as they flew through time, heading straight for the Time Gates and watching as the lights grew dimer and dimer with the closer they got to their destination.
Just a little further and they would finally be home. Only with one person short this time. The others would be a little sad when they heard about the loss, but still happy that Trunks was alive and well.
Finally, after so long of flying through time and space itself, they both came to a slow stop through the Time Gates before coming to a graceful land in the misty area surrounding the doors.
Pluto sighed, closing the doors with a flick of her wrist and feeling the power that was in Ami's Time Key go out for good. There was no going back to that world now. It was forever lost to them. She just hoped that Trunks had made the right decision.
Looking to her side, she saw her companion looking at the closed gates with a saddened look in his eyes, and she couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. It was a lousy choice to make, and she knew that, but she also knew that Ami and Trunks would go far in their lives together, so hopefully he wouldn't remain unhappy about this new arrangement for long.
"You're going to miss them, aren't you?" She asked, in that soothing tone of voice that many people seemed to enjoy.
He slowly nodded his head at her, his eyes a little big with the shock of it all. It wasn't the easiest thing to take in after all. That you would never be able to see your family again, but he was strong, he'd heal all in due time.
"We should go home now, the others deserve an explanation for my actions, and Ami will be happy to see you." She said, earning a weak smile from the time traveller.
"Ya, I really miss her too." He said, watching as the guardian of the gates opened up another dark portal that led to the Temple.
Just before he could take two steps in its direction though, Pluto placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
"What is it?" He asked, giving her a small confused look.
Setsuna didn't say anything as she gently took his hand before turning it up and placing the old time key necklace in his palm. He just looked at it curiously. Didn't she say that it was now worthless?
The older woman smiled. "I told Ami that she could keep that when done with it. She's rather fond of it, and I thought that you could give it to her since I'll have my hands full with the girls." she explained.
Trunks smiled at the thought before putting the small item in his jacket pocket. "I'll give it to her, don't worry." He said, before the both of them walked towards the portal again and disappeared into the darkness.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Usagi, Darien, Rei, Makoto and all the other members of the group were still at the Temple surrounding Rei's square table, each one still silent. In deep prayer or in thought. Still a little in shock at the days events. Usagi decided that after Ami had taken the sword and ran off, that it would most likely be best if she just had some time alone to think and calm herself. It was quite a thing to take in, having the one you love die in your arms like that.
Hotaru, Haruka and Michiru had dropped by after Hotoru was properly healed to check on Ami's condition, but everyone could tell that Haruka just wanted to apologise to the blue haired girl again. She hid her emotions well, but it was still easy to see the guilt and shame she felt for the distrust she showed to the person who saved her life and the world with it.
After Ami ran away from the Temple in her heart broken state, Minako had been thoroughly scolded by everyone in the room for her cruelty towards her feeling when she chased her out. The blonde really did need to set a limit on herself. Trunks had made it perfectly clear to all that he wasn't interested in anyone but Ami, and she still acted as if he was fair game. They still sympathised for her feelings, but no one went easy on her, and by the end the blonde was in tears of her own.
Then came the awful question. If they couldn't use Trunks' sword, how were they going to properly honour his memory? How do you bury someone with no body to bury, or who wasn't even supposed to exist in this world? It was a horrible thing to have to think about. This was their friend that they couldn't even have a proper goodbye too.
Usagi was about to speak to break the silence of the room and ask what thoughts anyone else had on the subject, but before she could open her mouth a bright flash of white lighting surrounded the room and everyone in it for only a split second, still causing them all to squint and shield their eyes from it as a portal appeared and Setsuna and Trunks stepped through.
Everyone's eyes widened as they both appeared, looking unharmed and well as Setsuna closed the portal behind her before turning to give everyone in the room a serious look.
No one said anything at first. They all just looked at them with mouths hung wide open in disbelief. Ok, this was new. Didn't Trunks die a mere few hours earlier? And what was Setsuna doing here? She was the one who killed him for Kami's sake!
Minako was the first to react, jumping to her feet with a small cry of happiness before running over to where he stood and throwing her arms around him in a tight hug. "I can't believe you're back! I missed you so much!" She cried out.
This threw Trunks off a bit, but she was still a friend, so he hugged her back. "Good to see you too, Minako." He said, looking around the room as the blonde held him tightly, wondering where Ami was.
The others were all giving him strange looks, and he supposed that they were justified for that since he should be dead. And he couldn't help but notice how tightly Minako held onto him, and was forced to lightly pry her off when he started to feel uncomfortable with the attention. She backed off a few steps, looking down and a little guiltily, but said nothing to him.
"Trunks, I don't understand. What happened? Where were you?" Usagi asked, her mouth wide open in shock and disbelief when she finally found her voice. Artemis and Luna went and sat by his side grateful that their friend was back. This would cheer up Ami a great deal!
"Well, Setsuna told me that she'd explain everything to you all because I really wanted to see Ami." He explained, being quick to notice how everyone seemed to turn their heads down at the mention of her name. "Where is she?" He asked, his voice full of concern.
It was Rei who answered him this time. "We were all talking about a shrine of remembrance that we could give to you since we thought that you were dead, but Ami overheard us and got upset. So she ran off and now we don't know where she is." The priestess explained watching Trunks' eyes widen in shock.
His Tenshi ran off? How could he have been so stupid?! Of course she'd be upset! But where did she go? Was she okay? Quickly sensing for her Ki he managed to locate it back at the park. The same one he'd confessed his love to her only the previous day. He breathed a sigh of relief. "I know where she is." He stated, noting the sigh of relief that passed through the group before continuing. "I'll fly out to get her, but we might be gone for a few hours before coming back." He said walking passed Minako and heading for the door.
"Wait!" Minako cried out not wanting him to leave just yet. She wanted her chance with him too! She didn't want him to run back to Ami!
Trunks stopped before he hit the door and turned to look at her oddly. "What's wrong?" He asked, a little annoyed with the delay. He wanted to find and hold his tenshi already, and a delay, no matter how short, was something that he just didn't need right now.
Just as the blonde was about to speak to try and persuade the gorgeous male in front of her (one more time) that she would be a better pick than Ami, Usagi sent her a death glare from behind him where he couldn't see it but where she had an excellent view of the hate filled look, as well as the warning that came with it. A mental shut the hell up right now sort of look. So she kept her mouth shut. Not because it was Usagi that was giving her that look, but because one look around the room showed her that everyone else was giving her that very same glare at well.
She slowly lowered the hand that she was using to reach out to him. "Um... nothing just forget it." She said, feeling a little defeated as he simply shrugged his shoulders and turned to leave again.
"Oh, wait a second!" He suddenly said, turning back in for the last time and going over to where Haruka stood. He quickly reached into his pocket before pulling out a capsule case and opening it up. "I should give this to you now before I forget. "He said getting her attention as he pulled out a red coloured capsule from the ones that were inside and handing it to her.
She looked at it curiously. "What's this?" She asked.
He grinned at her. "Just a peace offering. Ami told me how much you like motor bikes. Just make sure that you don't open it indoors." He warned before turning around one last time and heading out the door, taking flight as soon as he found a clear space to take off in.
Setsuna would explain to her how it worked so he wasn't too worried about that. The case contained a few things that his mother gave him before he left. Like cars, computers, training outfits, a gravity room, and even a beach house. All of which were little goodbye gifts from his family until he could find a way back to visit them.
He would certainly miss them, but right now he still had to find Ami to let her know that he was indeed alive and well. Because if he'd left her, he'd most definitely miss her too. Because he loved her.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Ami sat at her bench, shoulders shaking with the sheathed sword in her hands as she sobbed her eyes out. Tears streaming down her face in a constant flow as her heart continued to pound beneath her chest. It was true. He was dead and gone and no amount of her crying or shouting was going to bring him back. Ever.
But why? Why him and why then? It just wasn't fair! He didn't deserve to die! Not like that! And certainly not by Pluto's hands either!
She sobbed harder at the thought. Setsuna was supposed to be their friend yet she killed one of their own without reason. And then she ran, leaving them all with no explanation for the horrible act she committed.
She felt so helpless right now, so weak and completely unable to do anything about it. Her breathing was deep, her heart was pounding, her face was a mess of tears, and it shouldn't even be that way! She shouldn't be sitting here crying like this! Trunks was supposed to be alive right now! And they were supposed to be enjoying their relationship!
Ami cursed at Chaos for coming back to pick a fight with them. She cursed at Majin Buu for following them when he should've died, she cursed out Pluto's name the most and just cursed at life in general. It wasn't fair at all! He was too good to die like that. He didn't deserve it.
"I-I want him back." She choked out to no one in particular, clutching the sword she held to her chest tighter. Wishing that it was him.
Then, a soft hand on her shoulder, that she would have ignored if not for the soft voice that came with it, stopped her sobbing.
"Don't cry, Tenshi."
Her eyes widened in pure stunned shock as she whipped her head at the owner of the voice, ready to faint when she saw Trunks kneeling behind her and looking as if he was getting ready to shed tears as well.
He had to be a hallucination. There was no way he could be real! He was just something that her mind made up in order to protect her. Yes. She'd just gone insane. But she didn't care about that insignificant little fact as she threw her arms around his neck and let the apparition pick her up before holding her close and letting her sob in his neck. He felt rather warm for a figment of her imagination.
Trunks sniffed in deeply, feeling tears build behind his closed eyes. He didn't expect to find her like this and was feeling pretty low since it was all over him. "I'm so sorry, Tenshi." Was he managed to choke out before she pulled his face down for a rather strong kiss that he happily melted into. His disobedient tail unwinding itself from under his shirt as it wrapped itself around her thin waist.
Ami had never felt so bold in her entire life. But she really didn't care right now since her brain finally managed to tell her that a hallucination couldn't hold her like this or start to cry with her. He was really real and he came back to her! She didn't care how or why it happened, she'd get the answers to that later, but right now she was more concerned with getting him to make that cute little purring sound in his throat that she loved so much.
When they both finally pulled away for the much needed air that they both still unfortunately craved, Ami couldn't help but hide her tear stained face in his chest, not really wanting him to see her looking so terrible. Funny, she never cared about her looks so much in the past. Trunks didn't seem to notice though as he was just content with holding her close and taking in her scent.
"Take it all back." She whispered to him, getting his attention.
He blinked down at her, wondering what she meant. "What?" He asked bluntly, but now knowing what else to say. He was a little afraid that she would be angry with him for disappearing like that, but then again its not like she didn't have a right to be angered with him.
Ami looked back up at him. "Take your sword and your picture, they're yours they should stay with you and not with me because you should be with me." She choked, breaking down into fresh tears again before hugging him close.
Trunks just held her tighter, kissing the top of her head as he picked her up and let her arms wrap around his neck. "I'm sorry Ami." He said again as she cried into his shoulder. "I won't be leaving you ever again, I'm here to stay." He promised, pulling out the key necklace from his pocket and gently placing it around her beautiful neck. She was too caught up in her crying though to even notice the trinket as he felt her give him a shaky nod of her head on his shoulder for a response. She never wanted him to leave again, not ever.
Trunks then bit his lip, not knowing if he should be asking this so soon into their relationship or after something so drastic, but he had to ask anyway.
"Marry me?" He whispered a little uncertainly, his heart pounding with anticipation.
Ami's shaking form suddenly went still at the question, and Trunks mentally whacked himself in the head. He should've known that he shouldn't have asked her that. They only just started dating after all. But he loved her with all his heart, and he wanted to be with her for the rest of his life. He supposed that if she wasn't ready and that if he had to wait a year or two before asking again then he would. She was worth the wait.
But then suddenly, she gave him the shock of a lifetime when she let out a very loud. "YES I'LL MARRY YOU!!"
He didn't even notice the fact that his eardrums were burning as he quickly pulled her away to get a good look at her. "You really mean it!?" He asked in a mixture of shock and happiness, watching in joy as she nodded her head before he laughed out loud and twirled her around. So caught up with their laughter that he didn't notice how he was losing his balance, and he ended up falling to the ground with her on top of him as they both started laughing and kissing in the playground.
He was going to get her the biggest diamond ring he could find to put on her finger the first chance he got. He swore that to himself right then and there.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Chibi-Usa walked down the long hallway of the Crystal Palace, heading for the Capsule Corp offices to see her uncle. The palace was actually the home that Trunks had designed as a wedding present for her parents many years ago, and also helped to build using his special gifts. She'd never bothered to actually look at it and admire the artistic abilities that must've gone into the design of the place alone. The palace was always just here to her, so she never really paid any attention to the history behind it, and couldn't help but wonder what sort of palace she would be living in now if he hadn't stayed. Perhaps one that was of a similar design on the moon? She'd never know the answer, and she was really glad that she didn't have to find out.
After Trunks decided to give up his family, a hard and unfair choice to make that she still thought was unfair, Chibi-Usa decided that she wanted to go home and pay her family a visit. She kind of missed them anyway, and she especially wanted to see her uncle T-chan.
After entering the area of the palace that conducted its business, she headed straight for the Capsule Corp rooms and politely knocked on the door that belonged to the owner of the company. She heard a soft invitation to enter on the other side of the door, and she sighed before turning the handle and walking in.
"Uncle T-chan?" She asked, watching as he uncle's head shot up from the desk stacked with paperwork next to his computer and smile at her warmly. Looking at him now, how he'd aged but not quite, she couldn't help but realise why she didn't recognise him back when Pluto first showed her and the others all those images before sending her aunt Ami to go and get him.
He would always look young, but he still aged a noticeable amount. His hair was long and tied back in a loose ponytail with two strands of hair on both sides of his face, he was wearing the usual business suit that came with the job of being the CEO of Capsule Corp and second most powerful man on the planet. And his eyes didn't carry that old pain and hurt that he had back when he was a teenager, instead they were always filled with a happy looking light. Especially since he found out that his wife, the princess of Mercury was pregnant six months ago.
"Hey there, Chibi!" He said, a happy grin on his face with his visitor. "What brings you here? Thought you were still in the past."
"Well, I was, but I came back to visit for a while." She replied, walking over as he pulled out his leather chair so that she could sit on his lap as usual.
He noticed the dull sound in her voice though, as well as the saddened look in her eyes, and he couldn't help but wonder what was wrong. "What's the matter, Chibi?" He asked worriedly.
She looked up at him from where she sat. "I just came back from your world." She said, and Trunks instantly understood as he made a silent oh with his mouth. So that's what was bothering the little princess. To him, he'd made his decision to stay years and years ago. Well, over a thousand years to be exact, but to the pink hair girl on his lap, that only happened mere hours ago.
"Chibi," He started. "You don't have to feel bad about something like that. That was a long time ago, and I'm not mad at you." He finished, knowing where her train of thought was with this. He remembered her tears when he was wished back and her frantic apologies, but evidently she felt the need to apologise to him twice.
"I know," She sighed. "I just feel really bad that I couldn't find another way." She explained.
"Well, don't feel bad at all. Don't forget about that time Ami and I managed to build that new communicator, and I was able to speak with my father and brother for a few minutes." He said, trying to make the little girl feel better. After Capsule Corp finally got on it's feet, he and his Tenshi set to work on something that they could use to talk through time, space, and dimensions. And even if he couldn't talk to his family once in a while he still wouldn't be angry. He was happy where he was.
"Chibi, do you remember that other me from that world we were in?" He asked, continuing at her nodding head. "I wouldn't be able to stay there anyway, specifically because there was already a Trunks over there. He belongs over there and I belong here, and I'm happy here. Don't feel guilty over something that isn't your fault especially since I could never picture myself being anywhere else." He finished lightly.
Chibi-Usa nodded her head at him slowly, and while Trunks could still sense a little bit of guilt in her, he knew perfectly well that, that wasn't something hat would go away with one simple pep talk. She just needed a little more time to realise the truth.
"Did you go see your kasaan yet?" He asked.
"No, not yet." She replied, suddenly missing her mother.
Trunks grinned at her as he stood up with her in his arms. "No problem, I think she and the others are in the garden again." He said, walking over to the large window before opening it up enough and flying out and towards the ground. Chibi-Usa made a small squeal as she held onto him tightly, getting butterflies in her stomach as they got closer to the ground and to the garden. The usual get together spot for all the senshi.
At the sight of the two of them landing, Neo Queen Serenity instantly got to her feet and went over to see her daughter, not even giving Trunks a chance to put her down before she scooped her up in her arms. Crying out how she'd missed her and how she wanted her to stay for a longer visit this time.
Trunks shook his head fondly at the queen. Even after all these years she could still be the same old Usagi.
Then, looking out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of his Tenshi, sitting nearby on a hill and trying to get to her feet. A task that was made a little complicated due to her pregnancy. Trunks was instantly at her side, helping her up and holding her close. "Hey angel," He said softly into her ear. "How's my little guy?" He asked, placing a hand on her larger stomach to feel the strong and healthy Ki growing inside.
"You do know that the odds of us having a girl are better, right?" She asked, playfully poking him in the stomach.
He just chuckled at her as he kissed her cheek and helped her to the palace. No matter how big she would ever get, she was still the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid his eyes on. And she still had her crystal key necklace around her neck, and the wedding ring on her finger made her look all the better.
They'd discussed names before, and his Tenshi decided that she wanted him to name their first child together. He'd never been more happy in his entire life when she gave him that honour, and decided that if they ever did have a boy, he would be named Gohan Vegeta Briefs, and if it was a girl, Bulma Tenshi Briefs.
But either way the name wasn't what was important to him. What was important was that he would train his son or daughter to fight and defend his or herself well in case of a threat, and that he would give his child a better life than he ever had. But he knew that as long as he was here, in this world, where he really belonged, that was always more than possible.
The End
Somewhere I Belong
When this began
I had nothing to say
And I'd get lost in the nothingness inside of me
I was confused
And I let it all out to find/That I'm
Not the only person with these things in mind
Inside of me
But all the vacancy the words revealed
Is the only real thing that I've got left to feel
Nothing to lose
Just stuck/Hollow and alone
And the fault is my own
And the fault is my own
I want to heal
I want to feel
What I thought was never real
I want to let go of the pain I've held so long
[Erase all the pain 'til it's gone]
It's gone]
I want to heal
I want to feel
Like I'm close to something real
I want to find something I've wanted all along
Somewhere I Belong
And I've got nothing to say
I can't believe I didn't fall right down on my face
I was confused
Looking everywhere, only to find that it's
Not the way I had imagined it all in my mind
So what am I
What do I have but negativity
'Cause I can't justify the
Way everyone is looking at me
Nothing to lose
Nothing to gain/Hollow and alone
And the fault is my own
The fault is my own
I will never know
Myself until I do this on my own
And I will never feel
Anything else until my wounds are healed
I will never be
Anything 'til I break away from me
And I will break away
I'll find myself today
I want to heal
I want to feel like I'm
Somewhere I belong........
A.N: The song is by Linkin Park, it's very good if you don't have it then you should seriously go out and buy the cd!