Ryu: Okies minna-san! I'm back! doesn't allow the chat-room type openings anymore....I don't want to run the risk of this being taken down, so I'll just start the fic now! Oh, before I forget: If anyone didn't like the whole Goku/Vegeta thing, that's ok, cuz it won't be brought back up in this fic. Plus, I was wondering, does anybody read these openings? Just curious! If any of you read the previous chap. 6, please ignore it, read this chapter as a continuation of chapter 5! On with the story!

This One Thing

Last time:

"No, you're right, I must just be imagining things....." Goten responds, laughing again. I'm not so sure, though Goten. If I've learned anything in the last couple of hours, it's that anything can happen, including falling in love with your best friend, and having them return that love back to you, full force. I think to myself, rolling over and resting on my side, my head on Goten's chest, and I feel his fingers gently running through my hair.

Chapter 6: Preparations

"Trunks....C'mon, sweetie...you have to get up now, if you and your new boyfriend want to make it to that dance that I hear is going on tonight!" I hear a soft, feminine voice whisper, as I feel myself being shaken gently. I slowly open my eyes, my eyes focusing slowly to my surroundings. Where am I? As I sit up I quickly recognize the pale blue walls and deep blue carpeting of my room, Ah, that's right me an' Goten fell asleep in my room... Goten! My eyes widen in realization and I quickly turn my attention to the sleeping form laying on the bed next to me. His spiky black hair was splayed out all over the place, and he was curled up slightly, as if he'd been cuddled up against me in his sleep.

"So, how long has this been going on?" I heard the same, familiar female voice ask. I turned my attention to the source of the voice, who just happens to be my mother, standing at the side of my bed. Oddly enough, though, she was smiling at me, her arms crossed loosely in front of her.

Shocked that she wasn't more upset with me I stuttered out, "U- Um....Well, you see, I kinda just told him earlier that...that I had feelings for him, and well, he returned them....And now, we're a-a couple." I looked up at her, hoping that she wasn't just faking the air understanding until she knew for sure that me and Goten were dating. Wow. That just sounds so... so right. We've known each other forever, how could we not fall for each other? He's too beautiful in my eyes, too perfect for me to not want to be with him and love him for the rest of our lives.

My mother's smile broadened if possible as she looked at me with now watery eyes. She wrapped her arms around me tightly, "I'm so happy for the both of you! You've always seemed to be closer than best friends. I was praying that things would work out good for you! I thought you had someone on your mind, since you have seemed rather distant and preoccupied lately." She pulled away from me, one arm was on each of my shoulders and she was looking into my eyes, and added, "Now as I said earlier, you two should get up soon, that dance of yours is in about two hours, and you still need to find something to wear. Remember? You kept postponing going and buying a suit with me?"

I simply stared at her in shock for a few moments, before pulling her into a tight hug. "Thanks mom, for being so understanding. I was worried about your reaction the most. I'd hate to lose you!" I whispered strongly to her, trying my best to express with words how much it meant to me that she still loved me, and that she would be there for me always.

"Oh, sweetie. You're my son. I'd never abandon or hate you over something as trivial as what gender the person you decide to be with the rest of your life is! You should know that by now! Besides, he's practically family already, with how much time he spends over here and with you," she told me warmly, brushing a few bangs out of my face. I felt Goten begin to stir slightly beside me. "Now I'll let you two be alone now. Have fun at the dance!" With that she pulled away and walked out my door, presumably heading to the lab to get back to work.

I smiled contentedly to myself as I gazed down at Goten. I couldn't possibly be any happier than I am right now. My life just seems to fit together better now that I know for a fact that no one will come in between me an my love. His eyes fluttered open slowly, obsidian eyes taking in their surroundings as he sat up slowly. He brought his hands to his face and rubbed his eyes gently before lowering them back down again and looking towards the window. "I-I wasn't dreaming, was I? We're...we're really, y'know, a couple now?" he asked tentatively, almost as if he were afraid that it truly was a dream.

"No, it's real. Neither of us are dreaming right now, thank kami," I told him as I leaned over and gently placed a kiss on his cheek.

He turned towards me and smiled warmly at me, his eyes shining happily., and a light blush covering his face. "Good. Because I don't know what I'd do without you," he said as he wrapped an arm around my waist and laid his head on my shoulder. He sighed and continued, "I also don't know what to do about the dance." I began to respond to that, but he cut me off quickly, "Don't worry Trunks-kun! I'm going with you, it's just well, I don't quite have anything to wear..." I had a feeling that wasn't all over the problem, so I waited for him to continue. He paused for a moment, before adding quickly, "And well, I'm just a little nervous about the whole thing, y'know?"

Yeah, I know exactly what you're talking about...But I can't say that! I need to be more comforting! I thought to myself, trying to decide what would be the best way to respond to Goten's (and my own) fears.

"Ummm....Trunks? How did you just talk, without moving your mouth?" I heard Goten question with a tone of confusion in his voice. My eyes widened and I hastily responded, "B-But I didn't say anything. Not out loud at least! What did you hear me say?"

"Something along the lines of 'I know what you're talking about....But you couldn't say that to me because you needed to be more comforting.' Which, by the way, I appreciate. That's really sweet of you to think of me first, and how I'd react," he looked at me, sending me a smile, before looking a bit more serious, "But you can be more open with me. I'm not a little kid anymore, you don't need to protect me."

I looked at him sadly, "To me you will always be my little chibi, I will always protect you. Even if you may not think you need it, even if you truly don't need it, my protection will always be there. I guess it's in my nature, but I want to always be there for you, because I always have been there for you. I'm afraid of what will happen if I'm not. As I've told you before, I wouldn't be able to stand living without you there by my side." I look up at him, having unconsciously lowered my gaze while I had been speaking, and notice that his face had softened.

"I know Trunks, it's just that I'm tired of people looking down on me as the 'stupid Son brat'. I want to handle stuff on my own. I know I can!" he's now looking straight into my eyes, his own eyes shining with determination.

I sigh loudly, that's my Goten, not one to willingly be bossed around, no matter how simple-minded he may seem to be at first. "That's good Goten, because I have a couple of things that I want to talk to you about before we go out and try to get something to wear to this dance."

"Good. See, isn't it good to know that you can talk t- Wait. 'Get something to wear', as in err.....shopping?" he asked a look of horror on his face.

Another sigh. "Yes, Goten. Shopping. I thought you said that you could handle anything?" I ask him mockingly, one eyebrow arched and a smirk on my lips.

He stutters slightly as he responds, "W-well, yeah....But, shopping? Trunks, I love ya, but there're some things in this world that you should not tell someone. Like if their favorite hockey team has just lost the Stanley Cup. Or if there's a surprise exam coming up in five minutes that they have no hope of passing. It's just better for them to learn of it themselves, y'know what I mean?"

"Goten. Has anyone ever told you that you do not do the whole serious thing very well? Clueless-ness suits you much better, anyways!" I smile, "It's what makes you so utterly adorable!" With that I kissed him on the cheek again. "But there are honestly a few things that I have to talk to you about. D'you want to go for a walk?" I ask, completely spur of the moment.

"Sure, wouldn't mind getting some fresh air!" he responds, slipping off the bed smoothly, as do I. I let him go out the door ahead of me, bowing mockingly for him as he passes by me, earning myself a few laughs and a rather painful bump on my head. We walk down the stairs, skipping every other step, our feet landing rather heavily on the carpeting. I skip the last four stairs, attempting to catch up to Goten who was already at the front door, slipping his sneakers, which he had taken off earlier, on quickly. I follow suit, putting on my own sneakers and slipping past Goten to hold the door open for him. He pouts playfully at me, having been reaching out to open the door for himself. I just give him one of my 'innocent' smiles and follow him as he steps outside onto the front porch of the living area of Capsule Corps.

The sky is still a clear blue, the sun, however, had dropped a bit and was now sitting a little bit above the horizon. "Wow. It is getting pretty late. It must be nearly six o'clock already," I say to Goten as we walk down the path leading to the sidewalk. We're walking so close together that every step either of us takes causes us to brush together in some way. Deciding on the spot that I didn't care if anyone saw us together I wrap an arm around Goten's shoulder lightly, hugging him to me. He tenses up slightly before relaxing into me, one arm wrapped loosely around my waist, his hand burying itself in the folds of my sweatshirt. I rub my hand on his shoulder gently as we turn down the sidewalk.

He sighs softly before asking,"So, Trunks? What did you want to talk to me about?" He turns his head towards me, staring at me, waiting for a reply.

What to start with? I ask myself as I go over in my head what would be best to talk about first. Finally I settle on the unnerving fact that at times we can hear each other's voices in our minds. "Well, for starters, I have a question to ask you." I stop walking and look him I the eye, "Have you been hearing, uh...how do I put this? My voice I your head sometimes? As if you could hear what I was thinking at that moment?"

My small fear that I was going insane was squashed by his response, "Yeah, actually I have. It's kinda creepy. I take it you've been hearing my 'thoughts' as well?"

I let out a breath of relief and decide to try something. Yeah...I have. Can you hear me right now? I'm still looking into his eyes, which have just doubled in size, most likely due to the shock of me responding to him....telepathically? Yeah I guess you could call it that.

Heheh....Yeah, I can hear you. I don't know how, but I sure can... He paused temporarily before continuing on out loud, "Wow! This is so cool! Now we can talk to each other psychically, like during school, and when one of us is grounded!"

I smile at him and joke, You mean when you're grounded. I don't get grounded, my parents let me do basically whatever I want!

Yeah, that's cause your spoiled! He retorts, smiling back at me. He looks thoughtful for a brief second before asking me, That's not all that you wanted to talk about, was it?

Chibi never misses anything, not when it comes to peoples thoughts or emotions, now does he? I sigh out loud and tell him, "Yeah. I was worried about how you feel about going to that dance. I mean, we both have a lot of friends in school, and well, I wouldn't want you to lose all of yours just because we're a couple now. I don't know the people you hang with, so I'm not sure of how they're going to react." I pause briefly, thinking to myself about my own friends. "I'm not even sure about how my own friends are going to react to us," I whisper to him.

"I know how you feel Trunks. But that thought never even crossed my mind, until fairly recently. I'm going to this dance to be with you, not to impress my friends. Actually, I wasn't even going to show my face at the dance until you asked me to go with you." My spirits dropped slightly, "No! Wait! I didn't mean it that way, I meant it as in I didn't want to go with any one but you. And I definitely didn't want to go to the dance to see you dancing and having a good time with someone else!"

My spirits instantly rose back up and I gave him a grateful smile as I wrapped him in a warm embrace. "Thanks Goten, I'm sorry about doubting you for a second there. I've just been worried about this whole thing for so long, it's hard to forget about my fears, now that I know they have no foundations."

I understand, love I heard him say in my mind. And I understand the problems we could run into with the other kids at school, but it doesn't matter to me. I'd hate to lose my friends, but if they can't accept us, then they'll have to find a way to deal with it. I'm not gonna let any one boss us around. No one.

Something about what he said clicked in my mind. Yeah, I'd thought close to the same things before, but I'd always found a fault with the thoughts. Now, I knew that they were true, no matter what anyone else said. Me, being the so-called genius son of the Capsule Corps. President, I should have realized sooner that it wasn't a big deal. But, no, I'd blown it out of proportion again. It was simple really: We're going to the dance. Together. That's it. I'm glad you feel that way Chibi. I know what you said was the truth. We're gonna go to that dance, and we're gonna have fun! I felt myself grinning widely, despite my earlier feelings of uneasiness. Sure they were still there, but they were pushed down and buried in a far away recess of my mind.

I felt him grinning into my shoulder, "Yeah. Nee, Trunks? What do you think all those girls will say about us choosing each other over any of them?" I smirked at the thought, my mind summoning up images of some of the most popular girls of school, looks of horror and disappointment all over their faces. "I dunno, I guess we'll just have to wait a few hours and find out, won't we, love?"

We simply stood there for a moment, wrapped up in each other and enjoying the warmth of the other's bodies pressed against our own. I took in a deep breath and said, "We should get going now."

Goten pulled away and looked at me curiously, "Going where? The dance isn't for nearly two hours still."

Duh, baka-chan. We still have to get something to wear! They won't let us in dressed in t-shirts, jeans, and sweatshirts!

"Oh, yeah. I kinda forgot about that for a second there!" he said, scratching the back of his head unconsciously.

I sigh with exasperation, "How can you be so smart, yet so clueless and forgetful at the exact same time?" He just laughs at me, and we start to walk towards the shopping section of West City, our hands linked between us.

A/N: Ok....Well, This chapter was originally going to be a bit shorter, but inspiration hit, and you guys got another page and a half out of me! I'm not really planning on writing the whole shopping experience down, unless for some reason those of you still reading this want me to....I might be able to be convinced, but I think it isn't that important. Sorry about the long wait for an update, but I had a few personal issues to deal with (My first boyfriend! .....Who just happened to cheat on me, I found out after we'd been dating for over a month....grrr...but I dumped him so my life is better now! Yay! ) and exams...evil exams....But it's summer now, so you guys can expect another update by the end of next week at the latest!!!! Please take some time and review, to let me know you're still reading this fic!