Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Dragonball Z or GT, except my fanfic and any own characters.

Author's note: Hi there! Internet was down, so it took longer than I expected. Sorry about that. However… since it took so long I will be posting the next chapter straight after this one. Hope it was worth the wait!

Chapter Five: Pride… before the fall

I was nearing the end of my archery lesson. It was such a beautiful art. Although, obviously not for the person or object that you aimed at.

"Is it all right if I stay and practice a bit longer, Hiro?"

"Sure, Nasake," he agreed. "You're sensible enough. Here's the spare key, so make sure you lock all the equipment away."

"I will. Thanks, Hiro."

"Don't mention it. I'll see you next week at the same time."

"Yeah, see you Hiro," I said, watching him as he left the hall. When he closed the door behind him, I began to focus. I took a deep breath, standing sideways. I held the bow out at arms length. Then I drew it back again and picked up an arrow. The arrow heads were blunted for the purpose of practice, but we were told if the arrow was launched at someone it would still be dangerous. I aimed at the target with the arrow set and the bow string pulled and ready to release.

"Hi," said Trunks. He stood a few metres from me and between me and my target. He had startled me. I accidentally released the arrow. It hit him! Trunks fell to the floor.

"You idiot!" I shouted and ran to where he was lying. The arrow was protruding from his left shoulder. "Are you hurt?" I asked him. Trunks didn't respond. His eyes were shut. What had I done? Without another thought I pulled the arrow out from him. Then I pulled his jacket open and tore his shirt to check for the wound. "Nothing," I said quietly as I examined his shoulder. The arrow had penetrated his jacket and shirt but there was no mark of impact on his skin. How could that be?

"Easy there, Nasake, not so rough."

"Trunks…?"

"I know you can't wait," he sat up and was smiling.

"That wasn't funny," I turned away angrily.

"I was only joking," he told me.

"I thought I'd hurt you… I could have hurt you, and I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself."

"Nasake," said Trunks, I could feel his hand on my shoulder. "It's okay, really. Can't say the same about the shirt, but I'm not hurt. So it doesn't matter."

I turned to face him "Of course it matters, Trunks," I sighed heavily. "Hiro trusted me. If you had got hurt, I wouldn't be the only one in trouble. Hiro would risk losing his job."

"It was an accident, Nasake," he told me firmly. "Just stop blaming yourself." Trunks had both his hands on my shoulders now. There was an awkward silence. He was looking straight at me. I don't know why I did it, but I hugged him tightly. He hugged me back. I felt comfort in his strong arms. He rubbed my back tenderly.

We parted. Trunks smiled at me. I blushed.

"Trunks, I … I'm sorry about your shirt."

"Don't be. It looks better this way."

"You'd better go. I've got to lock up here."

"I'll wait for you."

"It's okay. I can manage."

"I insist."

"You're not going to take 'no' for an answer, are you?"

"No."

"Tell me something. How did you know I'd be here?"

"Call it lover's intuition."

I stared in disbelief.

"I'm joking. You dropped your timetable."

"Some of what Annie said actually helped," Trunks told Goten.

"It did…?" he said in a surprised tone.

"Well, it got me thinking at least. I took some of her advice and of course I used my own charm and now Nasake and I are getting on great."

"How great…?" Goten looked a bit worried now.

"She hugged me."

An expression of relief appeared on Goten's face. "So she hugged you, Trunks? Friends hug."

"What more do you want?" asked Trunks.

"You said you could make her fall for you."

"You want me to kiss her, is that what you want?"

"Well, it'll prove she sees you as more than a friend."

"Fine," Trunks agreed.

"Although, kissing her doesn't mean you've won," Goten added. "She has to be your girlfriend."

"When did you decide all this?"

"Why? Is it going to be a problem?" he grinned.

"Of course not," Trunks replied confidently.

"Hi Trunks," Kira called as she approached with her fans. "Have you decided who you're taking to the dance?" She batted her eye lashes alluringly.

"Sure I have."

"I knew you'd see sense," her face beamed.

"I'm taking Nasake," he said adamantly.

Taking me…? He hadn't even asked me.

"Nasake…" Kira stared at me in disbelief, "but she's so –"

"– perfect," Trunks smiled at me.

"Trunks I'm flattered, really, but it just isn't me," I told him.

"You're turning him down…?" one of Kira's minions addressed me.

I glanced at Trunks, his face was expressionless. "Could we talk about this alone?"

"Sure," he said as he placed his arm around my shoulders. Then he gestured for us to go outside.

"This world is seriously messed up," Kira screeched after us.

Outside, Trunks led me to a bench. We sat down.

"What do you say, Nasake?" Trunks held my hand. "Will you go with me?"

"I don't know, Trunks," I sighed. "I wasn't even planning to go." I lowered my eyes, my gaze falling on his hand holding mine. I wouldn't call myself unsociable. Of course, I enjoyed going out. I just preferred going out without my fellow students.

"Please," his tone was genuine. I looked up at him. His eyes were full of warmth. How could I let him down…? It was only a dance… an excuse to dress up, and people enjoying each other's company. It was the last event before graduation. After that… people usually lost touch. Besides, if he really wanted me there… I wouldn't be alone.

"I'll go with you, Trunks," I told him with a smile.

"Really…?" he smiled back at me.

I nodded in response.

Today Goten and Trunks had planned to get their outfits for the graduate ball. It seemed, however, that Goten was the only one who remembered. When Goten reached Trunks's house he saw his car parked outside.

Goten knocked on the door.

"Hi Goten," Bura greeted him.

"Hi Bura. Is Trunks around?"

"I think so." She led him into the lounge. "I'll get him for you."

"Trunks!" Bura yelled. "Goten's here to see you." Then she turned back to Goten. "All set for the ball?" she asked.

"No. That's why I'm here. Trunks was supposed to be meeting me."

"Is he all right?"

At that moment Trunks entered the room. "Nasake said 'yes'."

"That's great Trunks, but I've been waiting for you. We were supposed to be collecting our suits, remember?"

"Nasake…?" Bura looked at them both.

"His date," explained Goten.

"Well, you two had better get a move on. I know I'd be pretty upset if my date didn't make an effort."

"Sorry about that Goten," Trunks told him. "I guess it just slipped my mind."

"I can see why," Bura intervened. "This Nasake must be someone really special. Wait, could this be the same Nasake you got the call about…?"

"And what if it is?"

"I bet Kira's really jealous. You know, she always pretends to be nice to me just to get a chance with you. I can't wait to rub it in," Bura's face beamed as she left the room.

"Trunks looked at his watch. "We can still make it Goten, if you want?"

"Sure." Goten sighed "You've always put up with me being late. Oh and everything aside… I'm happy for you."

"Ready to confess then…?"

"I'm not 'that' happy."

It was seven o' clock. I was on my way home from another archery lesson, when a car horn sounded. In reaction I looked around. It was Trunks.

"Nasake. Hi," he greeted me as he pulled up the car.

"Hi Trunks."

"I've got something for you."

"For me…?" I answered in a puzzled tone, trying to figure out what he was talking about.

"Who else…?" He had a big grin on his face. "I haven't got it with me, though. What are you doing now?"

"Nothing, I guess."

"Great, we can go and get it now. It's not far. Get in."

Curious about what he had got for me, I got into the car with Trunks.

Within ten minutes we arrived at Capsule Corp. The lights were dim and there was no one around. No doubt, the Capsule Corp staff had gone home for the night. I gave Trunks a questioning look.

"I forgot it in the office," he responded as he got out of the car. "Are you coming?"

"Sure," I replied, a bit uncertain if this was such a good idea.

At the main door, Trunks pulled out a card from his pocket. He swiped the card in a panel on the door, subsequently entering a code on the keypad. The door opened. Trunks glanced at me, a triumphant look on his face.

"Are you sure this is okay?"

"Relax. My family does own this place. It'll be fine." With that Trunks took hold of my hand and led me inside. It looked a whole lot different at night. Shadows lined the corridors. After a few lefts and rights, we came to a T-shaped corridor. Trunks stopped suddenly, gesturing for me to stop as well. Everything was quiet except for a faint sound like footsteps. They were getting louder… they were coming closer. Quickly then, Trunks moved sideways towards a doorway pulling me with him. My body was pressed against his. I could feel his breath on my skin. At that moment a figure appeared in the corridor before us. My pulse began to race. It was a security guard. Trunks tightened his hold around me, perhaps to reassure me it would be fine. Stopping for only a second to check his watch, he continued past us. The shadows had concealed us. When the footsteps were faint once more, Trunks looked at me inquisitively.

"Nasake, are you all right?"

"We're not supposed to be here, are we?"

"I knew you were fine." Trunks smiled "Although, you do seem to have misplaced your sense of adventure."

"Breaking into Capsule Corp. isn't my idea of adventure," I told him adamantly.

"How is it 'breaking in' when you practically own the place?" His eyes were fixed on me as he waited for a response.

He did have point. "Well… you may own the place, but I don't. Besides, why were we hiding then…?"

"You didn't seem to mind," he smirked.

Before I could disagree, Trunks was already ahead of me and opening the door to the main office.

"Quickly," said Trunks as he kept a look out. When we were in the office, Trunks carefully shut the door behind us. Then he went over to the desk and began looking in the drawers. Meanwhile, I examined the room we were in. It was three times the size of the office I saw last time I was here. Fully furnished, and no doubt by the number of doors there were extra connecting rooms, you could practically live in it. Then just as if Trunks had read my mind he said "How do you like my office?"

"Your office…?

"With college and everything, I rarely come down here. I guess, when we graduate it'll be more useful."

"Yeah… I guess."

"Nasake, over here, I've found it."

I walked over to the desk where Trunks was sat. He stood up and offered me his chair and then sat on his desk. I looked up at him from the chair, waiting and wondering what he was about to give me.

"It's not much," he said softly, "but I hope you'll like it." Then from behind his back, he presented me with a small black box. "Open it."

I did as Trunks said, and inside there was the most amazing purple flower encrusted with tiny jewels. I was speechless.

"It's for you hair," he said watching me intently. "It'll match my bow tie. Do you like it?"

"It's… beautiful, Trunks."

"Then you'll wear it?"

"I'm sorry. I can't accept it."

"Why not?"

"It's too much. I don't deserve it." I held it out to Trunks.

"Nasake, it's a gift. I got it for you because I wanted to."

"We're… friends, Trunks," I said standing up. I placed the box on his desk.

"What are you saying? Friends can't give each other a gift?" He was also standing.

"Not like this."

"Then maybe I don't want to be friends," he said moving closer.

Trunks was looking straight at me now. He placed his hand gently on the side of my face. Then he moved his face closer to mine. This was going to be it… our first kiss…

"Hmm," Trunks said, moving his lips from mine.

"What is it?" I asked.

"No braces."

"What are you taking about…?"

"Nothing," he paused briefly. "It doesn't matter." He moved his lips closer to mine, once more. I moved away.

"Do you think I need braces?"

"Of course not, Nasake," he told me.

"Then why did you say what you just did?"

"I don't know. I just wondered what it would be like."

"Well, I'm sorry I disappointed you."

"That's not what I meant. I –"

"Then what did you mean?" I paused, waiting for an explanation.

Trunks sighed. "Someone mentioned something to me."

"I don't understand. About what…?"

"About kissing you," said Trunks.

"You've been discussing things like that with other people… when you didn't even know me? Why would you do that? This was the first time that we …"

"It was just a conversation with a friend, Nasake. It didn't mean anything. He just said that you have braces and how they can get in the way."

"That's pathetic, Trunks. I can't believe you'd be so –"

"You've got to understand. It's not as bad as it sounds."

"And you've got to understand how it sounds from where I am. That's what it was all about, wasn't it? I was just the next target on the list. I just didn't see it even though the signs were all there. You were this rich, good-looking guy and I was this quiet girl who always sat at the back of the class," I sighed. "We're from different worlds. How I ever believed that you'd like to be with me, I'll never know."

"You told me she had braces, Goten."

"I was just trying to make sure that you were serious. Besides, I thought she did have braces. She did in high school."

"In high school…?" Trunks looked confused.

"Don't you remember her?" asked Goten.

Trunks shook his head in response. "Remind me."

"She wasn't much of a talker. She'd be one of the ones who actually finished their work in lessons. When we asked her for the answers, she just helped us. Just like that. She was kind of cool, back then."

"She's cool now, Goten." Trunks paused. "I still don't know why I said it," he slammed his fist on the bench.

"Maybe you wanted her to have braces. You did tell me it was all part of the challenge."

Trunks chose to ignore Goten's last comment. "All that time I spent with her, I didn't notice. Then when Nasake and I kissed… You put that in my head, Goten."

"Hey. That's not fair. I just remembered what she was like at high school," Goten yawned. "Wait! That's it… maybe you didn't notice either because deep down you remember her too."

"Perhaps…" replied Trunks, still a bit unsure.

"It is a proven fact, Trunks. They say that when you have known someone or that you are comfortable or at least used to them; you tend not to focus on such trivial things."

"I wonder if she remembers us," Trunks sighed.

"Maybe, but either way it doesn't matter, right?" he paused. "You did manage to kiss her, with her consent, so that's one for you. The reality though is that, after the kiss, you didn't even last ten minutes. So, how about we call it a draw?"

"I'm not giving up that easily, Goten."

"Aren't you taking this a bit too seriously?"

"Why? You scared, you'll lose?"

Gohan was on his way back from dropping Pan off to school, when he decided to pass by Bulma's house. When he got there, he saw Trunks sitting out on the porch.

"You look kind of miserable for someone who's going to their graduate ball tomorrow," began Gohan.

"It's not important," Trunks replied, sounding distant.

"Of course it is, Trunks. I would've given almost anything to go to my graduate ball." He took a seat beside Trunks.

"You didn't go?"

"Videl wasn't too happy about it, but… you know how it is. When you've got to save the world, you've got to save the world."

"Right…"

"Is Nasake going?" Gohan enquired.

"I don't know."

"Didn't you ask her to go with you?"

"Yeah, I did," he sighed deeply, "but things don't always work out the right way."

"Why don't you try being friends first?"

"Huh…?"

"Before me and Videl got together, we were friends. It was when we became friends that we realised our true feelings for each other." Gohan paused momentarily, "If she's the one, just don't give up."

"Thanks Gohan."

"Anytime Trunks."

Want to know what happens next? Then, continue to the next chapter.

Hope you enjoyed reading!

Lady Leonhart