Disclaimer: Like you don't know already.
CB: First off, I wanna say thanks for the reviews and... super sorry to you wonderful people! The least I could do is try to explain since you took the time out of your busy lives just to review for lil ol me. Now since I looked back on it, I did switch p.o.v's too much and if it seemed plot less, that's because it was, and that won't ever happen again. ^^; I was sorta in a block, and nervous as hell; you know why, and... I half-assed it. -_-; But at least it wasn't 100% crap, so I was relieved at you still enjoyed it 'cause it did have some pretty good parts. So I will just write first person point of view for Trunks only, since this is mainly his deal, and anyone else in third person, so keep that in mind. Now with that little ugly mess is behind us, here is a good quality chapter. Most of you have noticed the "deeper" issue going on and yes, aspirin does thin the blood so what do you think will happen next? ^^
I awoke in the young hours of the morning; it was still dark since it was late in the year. Everything seemed strange, like I was in a light headed daze more than sleeping. I motioned to stretch and noticed that all of my clothes were stuck to me by a layer of sweat. That's when I realized I was under the blanket and in my bed too. Hm, I wonder how I got over here. I don't even remember going to bed... I shook off the thought then strayed to other things, like why was I so damn hot again. I glanced over to the clock, it read 5:37 A.M.; I figured I might as well get up now anyway. I moved the covers over slowly; blankly watching them hit the floor as my feet dropped beside it. I closed my eyes and held on to the wall for balance while I stood. I couldn't remember being this tired; not so much of being sleepy but exhausted, and aching too.
I clicked on the light to my bathroom and pulled the semi damp shirt over my head, tossing it down the laundry chute before I stripped of everything else. While stepping into the shower, I reached to turn the knob; I had finally noticed how my skin looked, its hue seemed off. I turned over both my hands and examined how yellow it looks. Strange. Were my eyes just playing tricks on me? Yeah, that's it; I did just wake up after all.
I looked up slightly to the steam rising up from the bottom of the shower now, the warm water dripping off my still outstretched hands. I blinked with surprise when I saw a crimson drop splash into my palm, the strange metallic taste coming slowly down the back of my throat. I rushed my hands to my face where the sticky red substance ran its way in between my fingers, making its way to the palm. I pulled my hand away and rubbed the liquid absent-mindedly between my thumb and pointer finger. Blood? What? A nosebleed? That's when I began to feel a little bit off balance as the vision before me began to blur. Damn, what is this? Just like when I was driving, yesterday...
Before I knew it, I was down to my knees, sitting in the collecting water with my eyes closed tightly and my arms drawn up to my chest. I was somewhat afraid to open them; I didn't understand how quickly I felt so sick so soon after I woke up. I bit my lip and opened my eyes to the pink water that was swirling down the drain by force of the still running shower. I never really had a nosebleed before but how long was it suppose to last? I was pretty positive that quite some time had passed.
I could now feel the water little by little become cooler as it beaded down my back. I reached out and turn the shower off, my hand shaking from the cold. I managed my way from the shower and put on some dry clothes, making sure they weren't too thick just incase my fever flared up again; true, I still had it but, it wasn't as fierce as last night.
Now I was sitting on the side of my bed watching the seconds' hand tick, the low light of the lamp helping to illuminate my spacious bedroom. I sighed out and rummaged around inside my drawer until I reached the small bottle of aspirin. I was scared to take them since the little nosebleed incident only a few moments ago; I was still amazed at how stupid I was to forget aspirin thins blood, but I needed something for the pain now. I wonder if what else I can take though.
I force through my discomfort and head downstairs. It took longer than I thought when I noticed I was moving one step at a time, trying to refrain from taking a spill down the stairs due to my sudden case of vertigo. I held on tightly to the railing and stopped to take a quick rest before going around to the den. I browse through some of the drawers until I discovered a dark orange bottle that read "Extra Strength Pain Killers". I thought about it and looked over the dosage instructions. It seemed pretty safe, so I popped the lid and took one to be on the safe side.
"What are you doing down here, boy?"
I jumped and whirled around at my father's voice, putting the hand behind my back. Kami, how could I forget dad usually gets up at this hour to train?
"Nothing!" I answered quickly, hiding the container into my robe sleeve.
"In the dark?" He enquired further, his dark eyes filled with suspicion. It didn't look good for me as far as I could tell. There I was, probably looking severely trashed, in a dark room, and sneaking around the house at five something in the morning.
"Yes...?" I lied, my voice sounding unsure. I saw my father's face shift into a frown, I know he hated being lied to but what could I do? I'm sure if I were to just say what it was, he would start asking questions. Too many questions for right now.
"Really? Then what is that behind you?" He advanced. I panicked and tried to step back, only to find I was against the wall. The bottle conveniently tilted in my hand, my heart stressed as I heard them drop to the hard wood floor like a gavel being banged for each one. My mouth parted to let out a small whimper as a pill rolled directly to my father's boot where it stopped. He bent down and picked it up then looked at me.
"It's not what you think!" I choked out; I didn't know if he knew the concept of drug use, probably yes, from the pissed face, but I didn't want him to get the wrong impression.
"And what is it you think I know? That it has something to do with these and then, lying to me as if I wouldn't find out!" His voice elevated steadily, my body frozen from it.
"No, really! I'm not trying to get high if that's what you think! I just need it for awhile!"
"For what?"
"I-I..." I stammered on for a moment, unable to find an answer. I suddenly felt myself becoming angrier that afraid, I didn't need this. "What's the big deal? Its just medicine!" I frowned heavily. "I can't believe that you would think that of me! Kami dad, why can't you just trust me sometimes?!"
I ran off out of the den and up the stairs before the argument could continue any further. I knew he could have easily stopped me but he chose not too. Strange, but then again, I never really talked back before to my dad, usually under my breath... and far out of hearing range. I couldn't help but keep thinking of that embarrassing and stressful moment. The last thing I need is for dad to think I'm hopped up on drugs or something. I could just image it; he would probably say something like "Weakling brat couldn't handle the pressures of human life so he turns to this feeble little pill for comfort? Laughable.", or something like that. I just wish the scene could have ended better.
Bra was in the hallway when I came past, complaining about her needing her beauty sleep and that she heard yelling from all the way in her room, but I ignored her. I guess we were kind of loud though. Oh well, I'm just glad I'm back to my room for now.
I look up to the clock that rested on the wall. I shrugged and sighed when I read 6:59 on it, I am not going to school today that's for sure. I threw the blanket over my head as I collapsed onto my bed.
The next thing I knew I was standing. I looked to my left and I see a hallway; I know its familiar, it's like the one downstairs, so I followed it to the swinging door at the end. I heard laughter coming from the other side; I know this too. My heart jumped with a painful joy when I peaked inside. Mom, grandma and Bra, she was little, like three or four, were baking something.
I wanted to cry suddenly. I remember when grandmother died when I was twelve. I was pretty down back then too; she did give the best gifts after all and was nice to me like mom. Then I realized I wasn't only filled with grief but guilt too. I haven't visited their graves or grandpa's for that matter in a while. Yeah, grandpa didn't last long after grandma's death. That "bad heart" trait again. I couldn't help but wonder if that's how I'll die too.
I let the door slide back silently to leave them alone. It was probably best not to disturb them, I figured and turned back down the hall. That's when I hear a loud cry coming from outside. I panicked slightly when I knew it was my voice but how could that be? I heard it again when I got to the yard, this time followed by a large thud. I ran over to the gravity room where the commotion came from. I peered inside the scarlet window and gaped. I remember this. It was a few months before the world tournament that I had over heard from Goten about it, and I foolishly mentioned it to dad in an feeble attempt to strike a conversation. It had quickly turned sour when I said I wanted to enter and dad took it upon himself for me to be the best in my league. I winced as my younger self was sent flying and crashed back first into the wall. He winced too and managed to pull himself to his knees, coughing.
"Dad... I don't want to train anymore. I want to stop now." He begged and held his injured arm. Father only frowned.
"Stop? Why would you want to stop now? We've only just begun."
"I know but you're hurting me..."
Both me and my younger self watched in dismay as father laughed mockingly at us, crossing his arms over his chest. "Humph, don't be so weak brat. When I was half your age, I was conquering entire planets on my own and you cannot even handle a mere training session? Pathetic. And you call yourself a saiyan."
I looked on as father went over to the controls, I already knew what was going to happen. My younger self was confused and afraid just I remember being. The younger me stood, partly crouched over, and tried to limp over but it was too late. The gravity seemed to skyrocket. The sound of his skull cracking against the floor made my stomach turn, the memories all too clear. I was so hurt, both physically and emotionally, I didn't even scream. Was he trying to kill me!? I could almost hear my younger self-thinking through his expression.
Dad loomed over "my" crumpled form, his face set with sneer. "Now get up."
I moved my lips to talk but only a few strangled wheezes came forth. He knew I was hurt but didn't let up.
"You're not allowed to leave until you walk out on your own so I suggest you get started. Or is that too hard for you as well?" He ended with that smirking tone I've come to hate. Don't get me wrong though. I could never hate him, he is my father. I'm sure a lot of people could think that I would, sometimes I don't even know why; maybe some blind hope of mine lingered somewhere to be accepted.
I looked away, being unable to drive further down this forsaken memory lane. I opened my eyes in reality as if I hadn't been to sleep at all; one eye covered with a hand that rested wearily over it to block the sun that had risen. Now since I had a chance to think for a moment, I noticed I wasn't aching that much and my headache had ceased for now, I guess that pill is pretty potent. I turned from my back and buried my face into the pillow, sighing gratefully for it.
I pulled the secured container from my deep robe pocket and set it on the desk beside me. I cut my eyes over to the clock again and saw it was an hour or so until work. I rose for the second time that day and finished without any problems, much to my relief, but I put the medicine in the pocket just in case. I downloaded my presentation to my laptop from my home computer and put everything into my briefcase. I was thankful that dad was training again and Bra must have gotten a ride from one of her friends.
Everything ran smoothly until I got to the office. My secretary Mrs. Hanashi, she'd worked there for a few years and worked for my mother before she passed, was sitting at her desk taking phone calls when I walked in.
"Any new messages?" I asked, when she was finished.
"Just a reminder about the meeting."
"Great. I'll be in my office."
"Sir..."
"Yes?"
"Well... there has been some talk that some of the senior partners are being to doubt your abilities to run Capsule Corp. and they're planning to take over until you're seen fit."
"What?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. You mean to tell me that, I've been working my ass off for them and they do this to me.
"Yes. I was getting my coffee with the other girls and I over heard it."
"Thank you, I'm glad someone told me." I entered my office and waited until the meeting.
The clock hit eleven thirty and I made sure I was the first one the meeting room. I waited calmly until everyone took their seats before I cleared my throat and stood, my face breaking from a friendly smile to a dark frown.
"Listen up. I've taken the liberty to reschedule the original meeting with our business partners to take time out to address an issue right here, in the heart of Capsule Corp. Some of you have worked for my grandfather and my mother and now you're under me." I paused for moment to let the confused looks roam around the room. "Now, I have some good news and bad news. Every employee is getting a promotion but the bad news is, you are not. Instead, I've chosen to let you go."
"You can't be serious." One of them jumped up and cried as the others panicked.
"Oh I'm very serious. I've heard about your plan to take over my family's company, and while I'm around, I'll run it how I see fit, not you."
"You little brat, you'll be sorry!"
"Yeah, yeah. Tell it to my lawyer." I sat back to my swivel chair as most of them walked out on their own, while others had to be taken out by security. I sighed and loosened my tight. I hated suits and my headache was back. I reached in my pocket for the pain relievers but stopped when I remembered I left them back in my office. I rose from the chair and opened the double doors of the office; I was immediately greeted by my staff that was waiting there.
"We heard the news Mr. Briefs. Is it true?"
"Yes. You're all promoted. I'm confident you'll make this company strive." I answered genuinely. I was confident in my employees and I'm sure they'll do better for CC in the long run. Grandpa always based his company on the people than the money anyway and said that was the real success, so I decided to try too. I tried to keep up a pleasant face but everything was starting to blur and my head was pounding. I finally made it to my office and managed to shut my door. The room blurred for the final time then everything went black.
CB: Yeah, I'm quite proud of this chapter! Much improved, I might say, and longer than the usual too. The whole "Drug" thing was kind of weird to me but I needed it to thicken the plot. I'm mean, how would Vegeta react if he found his son pill popping in the living room? Who knows so I guessed, probably not too far off though. At any rate, who will find Trunks now since he's blacked out in his office? Much more drama and angst ahead. See ya and review!