"What do you mean you can't find him?"
"That's just it, I've tried to contact him but I'm getting no response." Gohan sighed.
The pair were once again in the kitchen, trying to locate someone that could perhaps help their situation.
"Where could he possibly be? It shouldn't be that hard to find your dad." Trunks frowned.
Gohan gained a strange expression. "Why don't we ask Vegeta?"
Trunks stared at him stupidly, instantly losing all respect he had once held for the man. "Vegeta? As in my father?" He asked incredulously.
"He's the only Vegeta I know, why not?" Gohan raised a curious brow.
"Gohan, have you gone senile over the years?" Trunks asked with a serious expression. "My father hates anything and everything about your family, you do remember that right?"
The Son snorted. "I could care less about the little feud between our dads." He rose to his feet from the chair he had been resting in. "I'm sure he'll help us find my dad."
Trunks shrugged. "Your funeral." He replied shortly.
"Whatever." Gohan waved his hand. "This is important, he'll understand."
Gohan moved toward the kitchen phone, it seemed that this room had become their "safe zone" throughout the long day. He deftly dialed the number memorized and waited for the voice of the recipient.
"Briefs residence."
Gohan smiled and Trunks rolled his eyes from his pouting position at the table. "Hi Bulma." He greeted.
"Gohan?" The voice frowned slightly. "I haven't heard from you in so long! How are things?"
"Fine, fine." He chuckled. "Listen, I was wondering if Vegeta was around."
"Vegeta?" Bulma repeated, for once the brilliant woman was speechless. "Eh, he's here."
"Great! Can I talk to him for a sec?" Gohan continued.
"…Sure." Bulma said slowly.
There was the sound of rustling and then Bulma calling for Vegeta. Gohan smirked at Trunks and teasingly stuck out his tongue as he waited.
"You're so stupid." Trunks shook his head.
"I'm not the one-"
"What do you want brat?" The growl interrupted his teasing.
"Vegeta!" He said cheerfully. "How are things?"
There was a pause and then the sound of a deep breath being drawn. "I don't have time for your useless games, get to the point, what do you want?" Vegeta demanded through clenched teeth.
Gohan smiled silently, finding humor in the tone of Vegeta's voice.
"Trunks and I were wondering if you had seen my dad around."
"No." Vegeta replied stiffly.
"No?" Gohan frowned. "We've searched for his energy signature but we can't find it." He sighed helplessly.
"Kakarot will be found when and if he wishes to be." Vegeta smirked.
Gohan rolled his eyes though the Saiyan wouldn't be able to see his gesture. "Thanks Vegeta, you were a lot of help." He said dryly.
The sarcasm was thick as Vegeta replied. "I'm glad I could assist you in your search for that clown."
Trunks stood and motioned for the phone after listening to the negative tinted conversation. Gohan willingly handed over the phone and Trunks brought it up to his ear.
"Dad?"
"What now brat?" He growled.
Trunks sighed and clenched the phone a bit tighter. "Are you positive you haven't seen or heard from Goku at all today or recently?"
"It is not my job to keep track of that childish idiot." Vegeta seethed. "Let his harpy wife do the dirty work."
"Can't you be civil for once in your life?" Blue eyes narrowed.
"No." Vegeta smirked and it radiated in his voice.
"Thanks a lot Dad." Trunks growled as he hung up the phone angrily.
"Well we tried." Gohan shrugged.
Trunks' eyes narrowed. "I'm not giving up until I find Goten." He glanced at the phone wistfully. "And if I have to do it myself then so be-"
Ring!
Trunks flinched in surprise as his little speech was cut short.
Ring!
"Well are you going to answer it, or do you want me to?" Gohan nodded toward the phone.
"I got it." Trunks waved him off.
Ri-
"Hello?"
"Trunks!" A relieved sigh was heard.
"Goten?" Trunks' eyes widened. "W-where are you? Why did you leave? Are you coming back?" He panicked.
"Hold on a sec Trunks! I can't take it all in at once." There was a slight chuckle.
"Goten, what happened?" Trunks asked softly.
"Saburo came back." Goten smiled ruefully into the receiver. "I had to go to him."
"Why?" Trunks frowned. "I thought that after last night we would -"
"What Trunks, be a couple?" Goten sighed. "No, it was sex, don't think of it as anything more."
Trunks clenched his eyes shut tightly, he couldn't take this, he handed the phone to the older man and walked out of the room to calm himself.
"Goten?" Gohan asked hesitantly.
Goten laughed dryly. "I take it Trunks went off to cry." He said flatly.
"What did you say to him?"
"In short that I don't want anything from him." Goten replied firmly.
Gohan felt uneasy. "But why Goten, he searched for you, he did everything in his power to find you."
"And it wasn't good enough." Was the cold reply.
"Don't be this way Goten, I know this isn't you." He took a breath. "This isn't the little brother I helped raise."
"You're right, that little boy is long gone. I'm cold now Gohan, I've had to become that way."
"Where are you?" Gohan chose to ask instead of replying.
"Outside." Goten replied shortly. "I'm kind of worse for wear though, which is the reason I couldn't make it all the way inside."
"Are you alright?" His brother questioned worriedly as he rose.
"Not really." Goten sighed he released a tense chuckle. "Saburo was pissed at me."
"Fuck, I'll be right down." Gohan said hurriedly.
"Thanks bro." Goten whispered wistfully.
Gohan smiled slightly and hung the phone in its cradle.
"I'm going out Trunks!"
There was the slamming of a door and then silence, only broken by the soft sniffling of a denied heart.
Author: Wow, I think I might just be making my endings worse every time. :chuckles: I'll really try to update soon, I'm going to end it soon, so a few more chaps perhaps.
Red
