Scars – Chapter 18
Mirai Trunks went straight to his room without finishing his dinner after his conversation with his father. He was certainly getting mixed messages from the man. Vegeta had both called him an idiot, and told him that he'd done excellent work, practically in the same sentence. He shook his head, laying on the bed and hugging a pillow as he let his eyes wander over the room rather distantly.
It was at this time that Trunks began to feel Gohan's energy rising. He wasn't paying attention or looking for the ki. Usually, unless one is in search of a particular energy, they don't get any sense of what's going on with that energy. Trunks, however, felt that he just 'knew' when something awful was happening to Gohan. This had been specifically for the other Gohan, not the one in the present timeline, but the future one.
Being so incredibly close to his teacher, Trunks had developed a strange connection with the man, wherein he could sense and feel little bits of things from Gohan. His teacher had never said anything about it to him, but Trunks suspected that it went both ways, because Master Gohan had always been there for him when he was needed.
This is what alerted Trunks to Gohan's skyrocketing and rapidly fluctuating energy signal. He extended his senses and discovered Goku's signal alongside Gohan's, only the hero's ki was calm and not at all out of control. As the two points of power grew further apart from each other, Gohan's power jumped to the super saiyajin level and Trunks sat up, instinctively feeling that he should go and see what was happening.
'Wait a second... Gohan might have just had a fight with his dad... maybe he's just training, maybe he's letting off some steam... I don't have any reason to stalk him and follow him around and stick my nose where it doesn't belong. Especially not after what happened today...darn it. I should never have said what I said to him...'
Trunks fell to considering their brief 'argument' earlier that day. It wasn't really an argument at all, it was more that Trunks threw a tantrum before even he realized it was happening.
'But maybe Goku told him that I'm sorry... yeah... Goku's so nice like that... well unless he forgot. Guess I don't have any way of knowing.'
Trunks felt Gohan's energy flying fast away from the mountains, towards Satan city. It had been called Orange Star City in his time, but he'd learned of Hercule Satan's claim that he'd defeated Cell. Trunks got off the bed, and walked to the large wall to wall windows that provided a good view of West City. Air cars were zooming along the roads, so different from his time.
Trunks felt Gohan's energy suddenly fluctuate again, and this time, as he sensed carefully for anything else that would offer information, he could sense a human ki very close to Gohan's. This human's energy was incredibly powerful... comparable to Krillin's, even. But Gohan's was still much higher, and Trunks wondered if Gohan had had a fight or something with his father, and run to a friend.... Perhaps this was Videl? He'd only heard about her once, and Gohan had not really said much. Trunks began to feel worried, the two powers were close together, and now the human one was fluctuating in response to Gohan's energy.
'Gohan would never hurt somebody....Kami what is going on there!?'
Trunks' growing curiosity placed him with his eyes shut so he could watch the mysterious scene with his other senses.
'Maybe they're having sex...'
Suddenly, Gohan's ki dropped very low, clearly he was unconscious. That was it for Trunks, and he already felt regret that something horrible must have happened that he should have been there to prevent from occurring. He ran out of the room and down the stairs, past the younger Trunks, who was in the kitchen, and out the nearest door. He didn't even bother to shut it behind him. Trunks jumped into the sky and rocketed towards Satan City and Gohan's unconscious ki.
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Videl sat by Gohan's side and stroked his hair attentively while she watched him breathe. She was considering calling Gohan's house and telling his family what was going on... maybe Goku knew something that she didn't? Something that would tell her just what was wrong with her best friend?
Fortunately, the large young man laying on her bedroom floor didn't stay out for long. She heard a sharp breath, and then silence, as Gohan seemed to be holding his breath. She turned her eyes on him, not sure now if she was worried or angry. "Gohan?" Videl offered, her big blue eyes holding a careful view of his face, looking for signs of what he was feeling or thinking.
"V-Videl...?" Gohan murmured, his eye opening slightly. He seemed out of it.
"Well good to see you're coherent... are you ok?"
Gohan sat up, looking around himself in confusion. "Huh? Videl? What's going on?" Gohan rubbed his head, focusing on his best friend's room. He inhaled and could smell her shampoo, it made him feel warm inside, and he was reminded of his crush on Videl. He frowned, trying to push that out of his mind as he realized his memory seemed kind of messed up.
"You mean you don't remember what happened Gohan?" Videl asked, looking like she didn't really like the sound of that very much.
Gohan gave her wide, innocent black eyes. "I'm not sure.... Something must have happened.... It's there but it's gray.... Weird. How did I get here?"
"I don't know, you tell me. You busted in my bathroom when I was in the middle of a shower and started saying my name all creepy-like... and your were a super saiyajin too... then I asked you to calm down and you tried... and you handed me a towel cause I was naked, but when I asked you to walk to my room you just passed right out on the floor.
"Oh.... Right.... Uhm... Videl.... could I be by myself for a minute.... I just need to figure this out... I'm really sorry... I didn't hurt you or anything though.... D-did I?" Gohan gave Videl and incredibly guilty and worried look. She could see that the stress he was obviously under was getting to him at the moment and she frowned.
"No dummy, you didn't hurt me, you didn't lay a finger on me, you just scared the crap outta me. I'll go get you a snack while you take your minute by yourself... After whatever happened you're probably hungry... you're always hungry."
"Ok...thank you Videl." Gohan replied softly, looking at the curtains which were billowing in the balcony doorway. Videl patted him on the shoulder and got to her feet, heading out of the room and towards the kitchen to have something suitable sent up to her room for Gohan.
As he watched her go out of the room, Gohan felt a shiver run through him. The memory of what had happened before he'd ended up in Videl's house flooded his mind and the large half-saiyajin felt suddenly ill.
'Oh Dende what did I say to dad... all that awful stuff... I lost it. But even worse, everything he said to ME! How could he be so careless and thoughtless and heartless!? I've always known Dad to be anything but those things...what is wrong here? Did something happen to him? Is he really like that and I just never knew? Shit....I can't handle this stuff! Dende you shouldda made something... anything happen to keep that conversation from taking place'
Gohan felt thoroughly frustrated. He crawled over to Videl's bed and leaned his back against it, pulling one of the stuffed animals she never used from the coverlet and hugging it desperately. He sighed again and closed his eyes, tears sliding down his cheeks.
He hated the thought of crying in front of Videl, however after everything that had happened that evening already, he was starting to think she wouldn't really mind the tears so much.
'I hope she doesn't think this is stupid... what am I saying, of course she doesn't. Vidi's the one who told me it was important to give Dad a chance to talk... she had no way of knowing that everything he was going to say was stuff I really would rather not have heard.'
Gohan snuggled his face into the bear further, hiding from the rest of the room. He was feeling extremely tired now, worn out from yelling and carrying on like a madman.
There was a thud on the balcony, the sound of lithe feet hitting the concrete and quickly darting inside. Gohan groaned internally at the thought that his little...er...not so little outburst had snagged the attention of one or more of the Z-Senshi.
Before Gohan had a chance to even look up or reach out and sense who was at Videl's balcony, a very worried, however soft voice touched his ears.
"Gohan? Gohan! You're ok? I felt you ki going nuts and I figured I should leave you alone and then you lost consciousness! What happened!? Where are we... G-...... Gohan... are you crying?"
Gohan felt his cheeks burning with complete embarrassment. Mirai Trunks was such a strong kind of guy... he was Bulma and Vegeta's son after all... and despite his freak out earlier that day, Gohan had a good feeling that the man standing over him would think plenty less of him for his tears.
Guess Gohan didn't know Trunks very well.
"Gohan say something... what's going on?"
Gohan tried to make himself look up to Trunks. He took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in his throat rather unsuccessfully, turning his eyes on the fey creature that was now kneeling at his side, a hesitant hand on his shoulder. He tried to swallow his tears before speaking. "Its alright... this is a safe place.... Just... uhm.... I don't think right now is a great time to talk Trunks. I'm sorry I scared you..."
Trunks blinked, clearly not getting it. "Well what's wrong with you? What happened?"
"Nothing... Trunks its not anything that has anything to do with y-
"Who the hell are you!? What are you doing in my house, my ROOM!? Leave Gohan alone!"
Videl had been pushing a dining cart piled with food up to the door, when she heard low voices coming from inside. She left the cart in the hall and cautiously looked around her bedroom, her eyes lighting upon an unfamiliar figure. She saw harsh looking lines crisscrossing his shoulders, and what she could see of his other parts, which wasn't too much from his position over her best friend. She stormed into the room and made to yank the man way from Gohan by his arm. He was steely strong, and didn't budge.
"What... not more superheroes... Who are you supposed to be...? Captain Hook after the crocodile had its way with him? And what do you want with Gohan!?"
"Videl! Trunks is a friend of mine, don't be like that to him!" Gohan piped up, looking out from the safe haven of being hidden against the teddy with his knees drawn up against his chest like a small child. "He only came cause he felt my energy doing jumping jacks then passing out. You can relax, Trunks is a friend." Gohan quieted, keeping his eyes on Videl. He flickered his gaze back to Trunks. "Trunks, this is my best friend, Videl. I think she's still a little shook up. Like I was saying, everything's fine now..."
Trunks stood up, crossing his arms and glancing around the room thoughtfully. He could definitely tell that he was not wanted here, and he knew he should make his exit as hastily as possible.
Videl stared at the attractive young man who's voice was a mystery to her, but from his expression and his eyes, she thought it might be soft and masculine at the same time. Videl blushed at how rude she'd been and looked warily at Gohan, then back to Trunks. "Er... Trunks? I'm Videl... like Gohan said. I'm sorry for being so rude... are you a saiyajin too?"
Trunks blinked, slightly surprised. He nodded slowly and made to leave the room through the balcony, feeling decidedly unwelcome in the situation. It was obvious that Videl and Gohan were close... he wondered if they were lovers, or really just best friends. Trunks had never had a girlfriend before, he'd never had time for something like that. After the death of Seventeen and Eighteen, Trunks had shyly steered clear of mostly everyone except his mother. He kept himself busy by trying to help the people on the planet without really getting to know any of them.
Trunks could feel both Gohan's and Videl's eyes on his turned back. He disappeared quickly from the balcony, feeling shame without any real cause. Perhaps it was more from his subconscious thoughts. Feeling Gohan's energy dip so suddenly had jolted Trunks back to the time when he was unable to do anything to save Gohan's life from Eighteen's merciless blast.
The lavender haired half-saiyajin flew over the clouds, back towards West City, and Capsule Corporation, where he landed, went into his room, and shut himself there for the remainder of the night.
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Videl stared after Trunks silently, before going over to Gohan and offering him a hand. "Do you think I hurt his feelings, Gohan?" She asked when she was sure that the purple-haired young man was gone from her room and vicinity.
"I think...that you shouldn't say something like that again... I don't know him very well, he only came yesterday from the other timeline... guess I haven't told you too much about that... I will, just not right now." Gohan accepted the outstretched hand and pulled himself to his feet, still holding Videl's bear close to him.
"Uh...ok. I brought you some food... are you hungry?"
"Not really..."
"....." Videl stared at Gohan hard, rather stunned by that development. "You're not?"
"No..."
"Oh... uhm...are you sick?"
"Videl I'm fine... I should get going. I'm really sorry about what happened. G'night."
Gohan got up and jumped over the balcony, leaving Videl behind with a big cart of food, a broken bathroom door, and a very confused string of thoughts racing through her mind. She shut the balcony door and laid on her bed, looking up at the ceiling, wondering why Gohan didn't want to tell her about what had happened like he was going to before that weird guy had showed up.
Mirai Trunks went straight to his room without finishing his dinner after his conversation with his father. He was certainly getting mixed messages from the man. Vegeta had both called him an idiot, and told him that he'd done excellent work, practically in the same sentence. He shook his head, laying on the bed and hugging a pillow as he let his eyes wander over the room rather distantly.
It was at this time that Trunks began to feel Gohan's energy rising. He wasn't paying attention or looking for the ki. Usually, unless one is in search of a particular energy, they don't get any sense of what's going on with that energy. Trunks, however, felt that he just 'knew' when something awful was happening to Gohan. This had been specifically for the other Gohan, not the one in the present timeline, but the future one.
Being so incredibly close to his teacher, Trunks had developed a strange connection with the man, wherein he could sense and feel little bits of things from Gohan. His teacher had never said anything about it to him, but Trunks suspected that it went both ways, because Master Gohan had always been there for him when he was needed.
This is what alerted Trunks to Gohan's skyrocketing and rapidly fluctuating energy signal. He extended his senses and discovered Goku's signal alongside Gohan's, only the hero's ki was calm and not at all out of control. As the two points of power grew further apart from each other, Gohan's power jumped to the super saiyajin level and Trunks sat up, instinctively feeling that he should go and see what was happening.
'Wait a second... Gohan might have just had a fight with his dad... maybe he's just training, maybe he's letting off some steam... I don't have any reason to stalk him and follow him around and stick my nose where it doesn't belong. Especially not after what happened today...darn it. I should never have said what I said to him...'
Trunks fell to considering their brief 'argument' earlier that day. It wasn't really an argument at all, it was more that Trunks threw a tantrum before even he realized it was happening.
'But maybe Goku told him that I'm sorry... yeah... Goku's so nice like that... well unless he forgot. Guess I don't have any way of knowing.'
Trunks felt Gohan's energy flying fast away from the mountains, towards Satan city. It had been called Orange Star City in his time, but he'd learned of Hercule Satan's claim that he'd defeated Cell. Trunks got off the bed, and walked to the large wall to wall windows that provided a good view of West City. Air cars were zooming along the roads, so different from his time.
Trunks felt Gohan's energy suddenly fluctuate again, and this time, as he sensed carefully for anything else that would offer information, he could sense a human ki very close to Gohan's. This human's energy was incredibly powerful... comparable to Krillin's, even. But Gohan's was still much higher, and Trunks wondered if Gohan had had a fight or something with his father, and run to a friend.... Perhaps this was Videl? He'd only heard about her once, and Gohan had not really said much. Trunks began to feel worried, the two powers were close together, and now the human one was fluctuating in response to Gohan's energy.
'Gohan would never hurt somebody....Kami what is going on there!?'
Trunks' growing curiosity placed him with his eyes shut so he could watch the mysterious scene with his other senses.
'Maybe they're having sex...'
Suddenly, Gohan's ki dropped very low, clearly he was unconscious. That was it for Trunks, and he already felt regret that something horrible must have happened that he should have been there to prevent from occurring. He ran out of the room and down the stairs, past the younger Trunks, who was in the kitchen, and out the nearest door. He didn't even bother to shut it behind him. Trunks jumped into the sky and rocketed towards Satan City and Gohan's unconscious ki.
++++++++++++
Videl sat by Gohan's side and stroked his hair attentively while she watched him breathe. She was considering calling Gohan's house and telling his family what was going on... maybe Goku knew something that she didn't? Something that would tell her just what was wrong with her best friend?
Fortunately, the large young man laying on her bedroom floor didn't stay out for long. She heard a sharp breath, and then silence, as Gohan seemed to be holding his breath. She turned her eyes on him, not sure now if she was worried or angry. "Gohan?" Videl offered, her big blue eyes holding a careful view of his face, looking for signs of what he was feeling or thinking.
"V-Videl...?" Gohan murmured, his eye opening slightly. He seemed out of it.
"Well good to see you're coherent... are you ok?"
Gohan sat up, looking around himself in confusion. "Huh? Videl? What's going on?" Gohan rubbed his head, focusing on his best friend's room. He inhaled and could smell her shampoo, it made him feel warm inside, and he was reminded of his crush on Videl. He frowned, trying to push that out of his mind as he realized his memory seemed kind of messed up.
"You mean you don't remember what happened Gohan?" Videl asked, looking like she didn't really like the sound of that very much.
Gohan gave her wide, innocent black eyes. "I'm not sure.... Something must have happened.... It's there but it's gray.... Weird. How did I get here?"
"I don't know, you tell me. You busted in my bathroom when I was in the middle of a shower and started saying my name all creepy-like... and your were a super saiyajin too... then I asked you to calm down and you tried... and you handed me a towel cause I was naked, but when I asked you to walk to my room you just passed right out on the floor.
"Oh.... Right.... Uhm... Videl.... could I be by myself for a minute.... I just need to figure this out... I'm really sorry... I didn't hurt you or anything though.... D-did I?" Gohan gave Videl and incredibly guilty and worried look. She could see that the stress he was obviously under was getting to him at the moment and she frowned.
"No dummy, you didn't hurt me, you didn't lay a finger on me, you just scared the crap outta me. I'll go get you a snack while you take your minute by yourself... After whatever happened you're probably hungry... you're always hungry."
"Ok...thank you Videl." Gohan replied softly, looking at the curtains which were billowing in the balcony doorway. Videl patted him on the shoulder and got to her feet, heading out of the room and towards the kitchen to have something suitable sent up to her room for Gohan.
As he watched her go out of the room, Gohan felt a shiver run through him. The memory of what had happened before he'd ended up in Videl's house flooded his mind and the large half-saiyajin felt suddenly ill.
'Oh Dende what did I say to dad... all that awful stuff... I lost it. But even worse, everything he said to ME! How could he be so careless and thoughtless and heartless!? I've always known Dad to be anything but those things...what is wrong here? Did something happen to him? Is he really like that and I just never knew? Shit....I can't handle this stuff! Dende you shouldda made something... anything happen to keep that conversation from taking place'
Gohan felt thoroughly frustrated. He crawled over to Videl's bed and leaned his back against it, pulling one of the stuffed animals she never used from the coverlet and hugging it desperately. He sighed again and closed his eyes, tears sliding down his cheeks.
He hated the thought of crying in front of Videl, however after everything that had happened that evening already, he was starting to think she wouldn't really mind the tears so much.
'I hope she doesn't think this is stupid... what am I saying, of course she doesn't. Vidi's the one who told me it was important to give Dad a chance to talk... she had no way of knowing that everything he was going to say was stuff I really would rather not have heard.'
Gohan snuggled his face into the bear further, hiding from the rest of the room. He was feeling extremely tired now, worn out from yelling and carrying on like a madman.
There was a thud on the balcony, the sound of lithe feet hitting the concrete and quickly darting inside. Gohan groaned internally at the thought that his little...er...not so little outburst had snagged the attention of one or more of the Z-Senshi.
Before Gohan had a chance to even look up or reach out and sense who was at Videl's balcony, a very worried, however soft voice touched his ears.
"Gohan? Gohan! You're ok? I felt you ki going nuts and I figured I should leave you alone and then you lost consciousness! What happened!? Where are we... G-...... Gohan... are you crying?"
Gohan felt his cheeks burning with complete embarrassment. Mirai Trunks was such a strong kind of guy... he was Bulma and Vegeta's son after all... and despite his freak out earlier that day, Gohan had a good feeling that the man standing over him would think plenty less of him for his tears.
Guess Gohan didn't know Trunks very well.
"Gohan say something... what's going on?"
Gohan tried to make himself look up to Trunks. He took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in his throat rather unsuccessfully, turning his eyes on the fey creature that was now kneeling at his side, a hesitant hand on his shoulder. He tried to swallow his tears before speaking. "Its alright... this is a safe place.... Just... uhm.... I don't think right now is a great time to talk Trunks. I'm sorry I scared you..."
Trunks blinked, clearly not getting it. "Well what's wrong with you? What happened?"
"Nothing... Trunks its not anything that has anything to do with y-
"Who the hell are you!? What are you doing in my house, my ROOM!? Leave Gohan alone!"
Videl had been pushing a dining cart piled with food up to the door, when she heard low voices coming from inside. She left the cart in the hall and cautiously looked around her bedroom, her eyes lighting upon an unfamiliar figure. She saw harsh looking lines crisscrossing his shoulders, and what she could see of his other parts, which wasn't too much from his position over her best friend. She stormed into the room and made to yank the man way from Gohan by his arm. He was steely strong, and didn't budge.
"What... not more superheroes... Who are you supposed to be...? Captain Hook after the crocodile had its way with him? And what do you want with Gohan!?"
"Videl! Trunks is a friend of mine, don't be like that to him!" Gohan piped up, looking out from the safe haven of being hidden against the teddy with his knees drawn up against his chest like a small child. "He only came cause he felt my energy doing jumping jacks then passing out. You can relax, Trunks is a friend." Gohan quieted, keeping his eyes on Videl. He flickered his gaze back to Trunks. "Trunks, this is my best friend, Videl. I think she's still a little shook up. Like I was saying, everything's fine now..."
Trunks stood up, crossing his arms and glancing around the room thoughtfully. He could definitely tell that he was not wanted here, and he knew he should make his exit as hastily as possible.
Videl stared at the attractive young man who's voice was a mystery to her, but from his expression and his eyes, she thought it might be soft and masculine at the same time. Videl blushed at how rude she'd been and looked warily at Gohan, then back to Trunks. "Er... Trunks? I'm Videl... like Gohan said. I'm sorry for being so rude... are you a saiyajin too?"
Trunks blinked, slightly surprised. He nodded slowly and made to leave the room through the balcony, feeling decidedly unwelcome in the situation. It was obvious that Videl and Gohan were close... he wondered if they were lovers, or really just best friends. Trunks had never had a girlfriend before, he'd never had time for something like that. After the death of Seventeen and Eighteen, Trunks had shyly steered clear of mostly everyone except his mother. He kept himself busy by trying to help the people on the planet without really getting to know any of them.
Trunks could feel both Gohan's and Videl's eyes on his turned back. He disappeared quickly from the balcony, feeling shame without any real cause. Perhaps it was more from his subconscious thoughts. Feeling Gohan's energy dip so suddenly had jolted Trunks back to the time when he was unable to do anything to save Gohan's life from Eighteen's merciless blast.
The lavender haired half-saiyajin flew over the clouds, back towards West City, and Capsule Corporation, where he landed, went into his room, and shut himself there for the remainder of the night.
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Videl stared after Trunks silently, before going over to Gohan and offering him a hand. "Do you think I hurt his feelings, Gohan?" She asked when she was sure that the purple-haired young man was gone from her room and vicinity.
"I think...that you shouldn't say something like that again... I don't know him very well, he only came yesterday from the other timeline... guess I haven't told you too much about that... I will, just not right now." Gohan accepted the outstretched hand and pulled himself to his feet, still holding Videl's bear close to him.
"Uh...ok. I brought you some food... are you hungry?"
"Not really..."
"....." Videl stared at Gohan hard, rather stunned by that development. "You're not?"
"No..."
"Oh... uhm...are you sick?"
"Videl I'm fine... I should get going. I'm really sorry about what happened. G'night."
Gohan got up and jumped over the balcony, leaving Videl behind with a big cart of food, a broken bathroom door, and a very confused string of thoughts racing through her mind. She shut the balcony door and laid on her bed, looking up at the ceiling, wondering why Gohan didn't want to tell her about what had happened like he was going to before that weird guy had showed up.