Hey all.. Chapter five is up to tha plate..

:::First a little continued poem of mine:::

Why won't you look at me?
Are you afraid of what you would see?
I wonder
Do you even remember me?

Am I a Stranger In Your Eyes..?
Am I the one that you fear.?
Am I a Stranger In Your Eyes.?
Well, I see your face everywhere.

* * *

Chapter Five
Stranger in My Eyes

::: ::: :::

Trunks didn't know anyone at the middle school except Goten, who seemed to be avoiding him. Several times he had tried to catch Goten's eye, but Goten had only flinched like he noticed, but had always turned away. Finally, he lost he temper and marched over to his friend.

"Goten!" He shouted, appearing beside the messy-haired boy. "What is your problem, man?!"

"What are you talking about?" Goten asked innocently, but Trunks knew he knew. Goten wasn't a good liar; he was too innocent to the world's lies. "You're avoiding me!! Why?"

Goten flinched, and stubbornly avoided Trunks' gaze. "You're the one who's been avoiding me, Trunks."

Trunks knew this was true, but decided it was beside the point. That was the past, this was the present. "I was training, you know that. I was gonna- "

"You were gonna just train with your daddy instead of me, until I got sick of it?! Is that it? Huh, Trunks?!" Goten's vision blurred with a sudden onslaught of tears. "Forget it!"

Trunks' pride wouldn't let him grovel. "Fine! Let's just forget we were ever friends!" He turned to go, then hissed, "You were always the weak one, Goten."

Goten's lower lip quivered, but he took a breath and held his head high, pushing past Trunks into the school.

* * *

Two months went by, everything a blur to the depressed Goten. He had no friends, because he hadn't bothered to make any, and flinched if someone spoke to him. He had regretted getting angry at Trunks more than once, and had even gone up to Trunks to apologize. But Trunks had just laughed in his face and called him a "poor boy" who didn't deserve a friend like him.

Trunks had become the school bully; he even had his own gang that looked up to him and girls that flocked to catch a glimpse of him. He was rich and hot to them. Trunks was becoming even more arrogant than Vegeta ever was, as hard as that was to believe. Secretly he wanted to become friends again with Goten, but his hunger for power was stronger.

* * *

Goku noticed that Trunks hadn't been around in awhile, and went to ask Vegeta what was up, because Goten wouldn't talk to him. Vegeta had been avoiding Goku's family when they visited, so he wouldn't be asked anything about it. But today Goku found him, training with Trunks. Trunks had become faster and stronger, and it seemed to Goku, less happy.

Goku went up to Vegeta, and asked to speak with him alone in the mountain range. Vegeta folded his arms, but nodded, and they headed the Sky Mountain Range, leaving Trunks to train alone.

"Err.Geta?" Goku ventured as they were flying there, wodnering how to handle it.

"Don't you call me that, Kakkarot!" Vegeta snapped angrily. "And what did you take me from my training for?"

Goku studied him, almost angrily when he realized Vegeta knew perfectly well what he wanted to ask.. "Don't act like I'm too dumb to know what's going on," he suddenly snapped at Vegeta, who stopped flying and stared, surprised. "You have something to do with my depressed son, don't you."

Vegeta glared at him. " Your 'depressed' son is none of my business, Kakkarot."

"It is if you told Trunks not to hang out with him or something." The normally-happy man looked strange when he was angry.

"You should know perfectly well I wouldn't do a thing like that. It was Trunks' idea entirely."

"So you do know something! Tell me, Vegeta."

The two men studied each other, and finally Vegeta responded. "I don't know why I should, but I will. Trunks is becoming..power-hungry."

"It runs in the family," Goku muttered.

Vegeta continued. "He asked that I train with him. I agreed, although I did warn him of the possible consequences. I understand his situation..as I was once like him. He stubbornly didn't believe me, and we proceeded. Apparently they had a disagreement, as I foresaw."

Goku sighed, his anger disappearing at once. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. But I.I suppose I fear Goten's loneliness." He seemed suddenly like an old man.

Vegeta smirked. "Accepted. However... The invincible Kakkarot is scared of something?"

Goku smiled back. "Not really a thing..I just want my family and friends' complete safety.. and happiness."

Vegeta understood, though he chose not to voice his tenderness. "Well. Do you want to spar..?"

"Sure thing!" Goku grinned and charged playfully at his friend.

* * *

Allright, Goku was a little OOC there for a minute. But I think he would get mad in that sort of situation..at least a little. Anyone agree or disagree here? I'd love your opinions.. Allright, I admit it. I really want some reviews as well.^^

Lady-Indis