Disclaimer: I don't own it and don't claim to. =)

CB: Hi everyone. Thanx for the reviews. It is greatly appreciated, and speaking of which, special thankies to Kinkosami for helping with the typos. I went over it and fixed 'em, thanks. *huggle* Oh and btw, I know I haven't had Bra in my fic much since the beginning so I'll started adding her in, which I was planning to do anyway. And for future reference... I hate her... but it won't stop me from being at least a little fair at times. Hey, I'm not that evil. Now, on to the fic. ^_~

~*~*~

With a few short clicks of her well polished fingernails, Bra unlocked the side door of the Capsule Mansion through the outside security pad. It was late in the afternoon and nearly dark out by this time, even thought it was only around five o'clock.

The house was relatively quite and most of the lights were out downstairs as well. She slipped off her heels and put on her house shoes before going upstairs; she was beginning to think that no one was home until she saw her father, leaning against in the balcony's door frame of the master bedroom, while walking past. It was silly for her to just stand there, watching, but she could tell that he was busy, most likely with his own thoughts, and had to rethink rather to say something.

"Bra...?" Vegeta had said in a half question, just loud enough to be heard in the still house.

"Hey daddy, it's me. I just came in a few minutes ago." The preteen answered and turned toward the main doorway she was in front of. "Are you taking a break from training or something?"

"For a while yes." He answered, his back still to her. "Where is your brother?"

"Oh Trunks, I dunno. I haven't seen him since yesterday. Hasn't he come back home yet?"

"No. He left out earlier this morning and has been gone since."

"Hm, well I'm sure he'll be home soon." She gave a small smile, and hesitated for a moment before she went off to her room.

The saiyan only sighed to himself.

~*~*~

With a light gasp of a mew, my mouth parted to suck in the cool air. I blinked at the darkness around me, pulling up on hands, feeling the cold marble beneath them. Why am I on the floor? Wait. Am I still at work? I looked around quickly and found I was; the sky view from the window was dark as the night made residence. I heard the slow murmur of voices on the other side of the thick cherry doors near my feet. I managed to stand sluggishly and placed ear to door.

"You haven't seen him at all?"

"Nope. I'm the only one here that I know of."

"Do you mind if I check his office? I'll only be a minute..."

Hey, I know that voice. It was Goten. Man, how long was I here? I turned the long door handle just as the footsteps stopped before the door. Goten blinked and looked at me with a confused, but relieved smile when it opened.

"Trunks? Kami, you had me worried."

"Really...?" I asked, vaguely confused myself. I turned on the light on the wall as Goten came in, closing the door behind himself.

"Yeah. When you didn't come to school today, I called you on your cell, but you didn't answer. And then I called your house, but I only got your dad."

I swallowed despite myself, suddenly realizing how dry my throat was. "...Was he mad?"

Goten shrugged with his hands inside of his cardigan's pockets. "I don't think that much, but he did mention that he wanted to know where you were."

I looked toward the window and loosened my tie uncomfortably; I could feel that Goten was watching me.

"What?" I finally asked, trying to keep an innocent tone.

"Is there something I should know about? You have been acting really strange, you know, and you don't even hang out with me that much anymore, let alone talk to me..." He sat on my desk and let out a tiny sigh of disappointment.

"I know. I've been just working too hard, that's all. Really."

"Really?" He gave me that concerned look that I've become familiar to detect. "You haven't been the same since your mom-"

"I'm fine Goten." I spat roughly, immediately feeling guilty. I didn't mean to have an attitude but I couldn't help it. I hate it when people pity me like I'm such a tragic case, but still, he was only trying to help after all. "Look, I'm sorry. Things are just... complicated right now. I don't have time to do the things we used to..."

I sat on the desk next to him and smiled modestly. "...But I think my schedule is clear for tonight."

"Seriously?" His face lit up with eagerness to confirm what I just spilled. I nodded coolly, masking my grin of triumph.

"Alright!" He jumped off the desk with pure excitement pouring off of him like water. I couldn't help but laugh. It was like we traveled back in time to the days we were young, where we could do anything we wanted without a care of the troubles of the outside world. God, the nostalgia...

Goten managed to calm himself enough, still baring a toothy grin though, to talk. "So, what do you want to do? Go to your place-"

"No!" I blurted out quicker than I expected, catching him off guard. "I... I would rather go to your house, if you don't mind." Before he could answer I added, "One of those complicated things..."

"I understand." Goten nodded hesitantly at first, but soon let it drop and ran toward the door. "Well? Come on. We've only got a few hours until dinner."

"Is that all you ever think about?" I joked and jumped off my desk.

"Why not?" He shot back a laugh simply. "So hurry up already."

"Alright, alright, just let me get my stuff." I fanned my hand to show that he could go ahead as I walked around the desk. I put my silver briefcase into a capsule before sticking it in my pants pocket, and grabbed my tailcoat from the chair. I couldn't help gaze blankly at the orange pill bottle that fell to the floor as it stopped with a roll. I totally forgot I had that. Apart of me didn't want to touch it, fearful of what other questions it may bring if seen, but I couldn't just leave it there.

"Trunks! Come on already!" Goten yelled from the hall, becoming aggravated by his bass in his tone.

"Coming!" I snatched the container from the floor, and switched of the light as I exited.

Goten gave me a cheerfully annoyed looked when I ran over to him. "Well, that took long enough."

"Oh shut up." I blew though my nose lightheartedly. "Let's just go."

"Okay, okay... Hey wait, what's that noise?" He stepped closer to me and smirked. "I know. You've got some candy, don't you? I hear that shaking in your pocket."

Dammit, that wasn't candy! I sighed on the inside but put on a perplexed expression. "What? I don't have any candy, you're just hearing things."

"But I'm sure I-"

"No you didn't, now move." I pushed him pass the double glass doors and went through lobby without anymore on the subject.

When we got outside, Goten suggested we should just fly since it would be relatively faster than to drive in the car I drove to work. I only agreed because I knew that my car would be delivered home with a simple phone call, and besides, I haven't done it in a long damn time. Once we'd taken off, I immediately felt my spirits lifting; the weightless feeling was almost too much and the view is phenomenal. Too long, way too long...

"Hey, I bet I can beat you." A smug look spread over Goten's face as he flew beside me, a challenging glint flickered in his eyes.

I smirked. "You're on!"

With that, we both blasted off with white trails of ki streaking behind us. Twirling and weaving over and under both various land forms and each other; we spotted the quaint little Son residence nestled in the midst of the surrounding woods up ahead. I then raised my ki and forced myself to go even faster then my previously high speed, Goten following soon after.

"Ah! Once again the great Trunks Briefs reigns victorious!" I let out a joyous howl as I touched the lawn first, sitting on the grass with mirthful exhaustion.

Goten landed beside me, falling to the ground as he gasped to catch his breath happily; I'm glad he was a good sport about it, thought he lost.

"Yeah yeah. For now." He managed to say and sat up on his elbows. "Man that was a blast."

"Tell me about it."

"But I will totally kick your ass next time."

I smirked and put one of my knees up. "Talk is cheap my friend. Very cheap..."

"Whatever."

I shook my head and wiped the sweat from my brow, still sucking in the night air heavily, making rigid puffs in the bitter breeze. Kami, why can't I my breath? My body felt totally drained like an over used battery or something. I continued to wheeze to myself as I clinched my chest tiredly. Some nagging feeling pressed in the back of my mind that something wasn't all right.

"Goten? Trunks? I thought I heard you boys out there." It was Mrs. Chichi, standing in the door with a sweater draped over her shoulders. "Now come on in you two. You'll catch your death out here."

"Aw mom..." Goten pouted and stood up, brushed off his pants.

"No buts mister. You may be saiyans but you're still human too." She looked over to me with a smile. "Well? I'm pretty sure you don't want to say out here all night."

"Right." I nodded and forced myself to stand without a fault.

I must admit the warm house was much better than being outside. I followed Goten to hang up my coat and walked into the kitchen with him, where all sorts of things were cooking on the stove. I couldn't help but thinking about the last time I ate something, yesterday, now since I remember.

"Mmm mom, smells great." Goten attempted to sneak a taste but only got his hand swatted in the process.

"No touching until it's all done." Chichi scolded and went back to mixing something in one of the largest pots. "Here an ideal. Why don't you two go clean up before dinner? Goku must be done out of the shower by now."

I was just about to ask 'what shower?' when I remembered Goten telling me about the extension to there house. They must have gotten tired of going outside for all of that. Who would blame them, its freezing out there.

"Okay. Come on Trunks."

I nodded and followed him down the short hall where we walked past Goku. "Hey Trunks. Wow, if I know you were going to wear a suit, I would have dressed up more myself."

"I just came from work is all." I laughed a bit. I looked over as Goten grabbed my arm, pulling me along. "Oh, I guess I'll see at dinner then."

"Count on it." He walked off with a smile and we continued on.

"Here. You go ahead and I'll get some of my clothes for you to wear."

I agreed then went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind myself. I snatched off my tie and removed my suit rather swiftly. I hate wearing suits, too damn constricting. I managed a short shower, relieved that I actually got through one today, and put on the clothes that Goten left for me that consisted of a regular t-shirt and some sweats.

Once I was done, I went to the dining room and sat next to Goten at the table as the food was brought over. True, it all looked pretty delicious but I still really wasn't that hungry. As everyone began to fill their plates, Goku and Goten going the fastest, I took my time and only picked out a few things. After a few moments, I suddenly realized all of the usual dinner noises had stopped and everyone was looking at me with blankly stunned expressions, maybe because I wasn't shoveling down the grub as usual.

"Are you alright Trunks?" Chichi asked, Goku's and Goten's expressions saying the exact same.

"Oh! Yeah, I'm fine! Just thinking is all." I crammed my mouth full of food and eventually everyone began not to pay attention that much anymore; all expect for Goten, who was watching me through the rest of the meal; I didn't have enough heart to meet his gaze back thought.

About half way through, I was suddenly slammed with a new headache, driving hotly from my temple throughout, but I forced myself to make it until the end. As everyone finally filled up and went there separate ways, I walked back to my coat and grabbed the orange bottle from it and choked a few down before I put it back. After a short stop in the kitchen for a glass of water, I went to the bedroom, unaware that Goten was already there until I had already re-shut the door. He gave me a concerned, frightened look as I tried to ignore him.

"Alright Trunks. Its time to spill it."

"What are you talking about?" I asked innocently, laying in the bed that was set out for me.

"These."

I turned over in time to spot the orange bottle in his hands. I jumped up quickly, my expression shifting into a disbelieving half snarl. "Where did you get that?"

"Your coat. I saw it and got it while you were in the kitchen."

"Goten, what the hell? You were looking through my stuff!"

"Yeah and for a good reason!"

"How could you?! I thought you were my friend!"

"I am! That's why I'm doing this."

"Just give it to me Goten. I said give it to me dammit!" I took a step over and reached out, only to have my forearm grabbed to keep me away; the pungent layer of deceit lining my thoughts as I frowned deeply. I forced all of my strength into pushing him onto the floor; I went down with him since he was still holding fast to my arm. We wrestled for a while, back and forth tumbling for the control of the small orange container. I finally over powered him enough so that I was on top of him, trying to pry the bottle from his grip.

"Let go!"

"No! Not until you tell me the truth!"

"You want to know what's wrong? Fine! I'm sick Goten, very sick. And I'm in so much pain I don't know what to do anymore!"

I had caved, both of us pausing. All the betrayal I've felt suddenly melted away by the alarmed look in his eyes, they were both dispirited and watery. I let go with my own fright, sitting on the floor next to him silently.

"Sick...?" Goten's eyes bucked again with worry, my stomach tightened at the word.

I nodded my head with a sigh, sitting against the far wall now. Goten sat next to me, that damn container forgotten in the corner, and waited for me to continue.

I drew my knees up to my chest and rested my head upon it. "I don't know what's going on Goten... I wish I did but I don't. If mom was here, I would ask her but she's not. I just don't know who to talk to anymore."

"...What about your dad?"

"What about him? He wouldn't understand. He saw those pills and went ballistic this morning, and then, blew it all out of proportion."

"Did he really? It is a dad's job to know what their kids are doing, right? Maybe he was just worried about you..."

I gave one of those 'yeah right' kind of laughs then closed my eyes. I wasn't that far of a guess thought. Maybe. I don't know...

"Hey, maybe, you should go see a doctor or something. This could be serious Trunks. I mean look at you?... Hey, are you alright?"

I felt his hand wrap around my forehead, then a short gasp escaped his lips. "Trunks, you're burning up!"

"See? That's what I mean." I laughed faintly but soon stop as fatigue took over. I was so damn tired.

I felt Goten reach under my arm and help me over to the bed. "Here. I'll take the floor." He said as I smiled gratefully.

"Thanks Goten... I'm sorry too. I should have said something, you're my best friend."

"Don't worry about it." He said between his concerns enough for a smile. "Just promise me you'll see that doctor tomorrow, alright?"

"Um hm." I sighed wearily as the light went off. I turned my head enough to see Goten getting under the covers of his futon. "Hey Goten?"

"Yeah?"

"...Don't say anything okay? I'm not asking you to lie for me but... just keep it between us until I know for sure what's going on."

"Sure thing... Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Despite my exhaustion, I didn't fall immediately to sleep. Instead, I reached over to my cell I left on the desk, but stopped. Should I call home? It is late... I pulled my hand back and let it fall to my side. I guess it'll be okay until the morning... I hope...

~*~*~

CB: *smiles* Yeah, this is what I like to call, "Dryer Lint", my own words for dark, angsty fluff. You'll be seeing more later on. *squeal* If anyone can guess what Trunks has, then I'll give you a cookie, even if you don't get it right. ^-^ Next chapter, more T/V action with extra angst on top. Trunks finally finds out the shocking truth why Vegeta acts the way he does (non-clichéd reason) and it will not end happily. Stay tuned, the next chapter will shock your pants off. ^^ BYE!