The awaited sequel to Lavender and Pink...

Sapphire and Gold

By Toku Tenshi

Disclaimer: Dragonball Z is not mine... word, yo.

Chapter 2: Comfort

Trunks opened his eyes quickly, finally remembering where he was and knowing that it wasn't safe. He reluctantly let go of Dashi and pushed her back lightly, but quickly grabbed her hand. Inside, Trunks wasn't sure if Dashi was truly there and he feared that if he let go of her, even for an instant, she might vanish. Dashi lifted her head and looked at Trunks with her golden eyes - the very ones that had haunted Trunks for so many nights - in silent confusion. "We need to get out of here; let's go back to Capsule Corp." The teen turned east and lifted from the ground only to stop at the dead weight hanging from his left hand. He looked down at Dashi as she clinged for dear life ten feet from the ground. Trunks landed softly and gave Dashi a puzzled look.

"I... I don't know why," Dashi stuttered while tugging at the hem of her shirt with her free hand, "but I can't fly. It's as if... I don't have any power at all. I mean, when those things attacked me, I should have been able to fend them off but I couldn't. I was helpless... until you came that is." The girl looked up sheepishly at Trunks, unsure of what to do.

Trunks smiled at Dashi and grabbed her other hand. He guided her hands around his neck and when they where in place the teen bent slightly and picked up Dashi in his arms, 'over the threshold' style. He smiled at Dashi as she blushed and he was sure he was doing the same. "Come on, let's get home. We can figure out what happened once we get to C.C." Once again, Trunks kicked off from the ground and headed east. The pair was silent and neither minded. Both just seemed to bask in the other's presence.

When they landed at Capsule Corp, everything was still. Trunks opened the door with Dashi still in his arms and walked down the dark hallway with as much ease then if the lights were on. Dashi felt like a bride being taken to her honeymoon suite and the mere idea of that sent her face on fire. She dared a glance at Trunks but couldn't make out his features in the darkness. If she could have, then she would have noticed the simular inferno on his face.

"Everyone is asleep," Trunks whispered. "We have some guests here; I'll introduce you in the morning." The teen opened another door and stepped inside. He walked over to a bed and finally set Dashi down but still held her hand. 'On the count of three...' Trunks took a deep breath. '1... 2... 3.' Trunks closed his eyes and released Dashi's hand. He didn't want to open his eyes... what if she wasn't there when he opened them?

"Trunks?" Dashi whispered softly, wondering why he was standing there so still.

The half-saiyajin's eyes shot open and fell on Dashi. Starlight drifted in through the small window and shone softly on Dashi's worried features. Trunks smiled and exhaled the air he didn't know he was holding. "You're still here." He turned and headed for the door.

Dashi stood up quickly. "Where are you going?"

"I'm gonna go sleep on the couch. All of the extra rooms are filled up with guests, so I-"

"Don't you have a room?"

Trunks gave a half shrug. "This is my room, but you can go ahead and use it-"

"What? No!" Dashi covered her mouth and hoped she didn't wake anyone. She stepped closer to Trunks and tugged him away from the doorway. "If anyone is sleeping out there it's me," she said calmly in a much quieter voice. "It's not fair for me to steal your room."

Trunks shook his head. "No one will know you, who knows what they might do if they find some stranger inside the house."

Dashi sighed in defeat and leaned against the open door. "Fine, I guess I'll sleep in here." Trunks started for the exit again, but Dashi held up an open palm, signaling him to stop. "You aren't sleeping out there either." Trunks gave her a confused look. "There's room for both of us in here. You take the bed and I'll sleep on the floor. Nope, don't want to hear it." Trunks had opened his mouth to protest, but snapped it shut.

The teens set up a place on the floor for Dashi with extra blankets that acted as a cushion against the cold floor. Trunks insisted Dashi took the pillow and she could hardly decline as she had gotten her way on the previous two matters. Dashi liked being like this. It felt like before, when there was nothing wrong and feelings were still growing, falling asleep while studying. With the happy memory in her mind's eye, the pink-haired girl drifted off.

--

Dashi woke with a start. There was no room, no Trunks, no anything. It was cold and black, yet familur. Tears sprang to the girl's eyes as she remembered the place. This was where she had been for so long. The dark, cold, miserable place was empty, as it always was. Trunks wasn't there. Dashi broke down and hugged herself. "It... it must have been a dream," she sobbed to the emptiness. "I should have known better than to think I could go back. This is my punishment for everything I've done, I need to get used to that..."

--

Trunks didn't go to sleep, he couldn't. He just lay there – head resting on his crossed arms – staring at Dashi. Every night he had dreamt of her coming back and, now that she had, he wasn't sure if he had any dreams left. He smiled at her sweet expression, but frowned when it left and contorted into something completely different. Dashi started to cry and twist around, kicking the blanket off of herself without realising it. "Dashi," he whispered softly as she began to shed tears.

The teen climbed off the bed and lifted Dashi into his arms, grabbing the pillow on his way up. He gently set her on the bed with the pillow and turned around to collect the blanket she had thrown but Dashi grabbed his shirt. "...don't..." She mumbled out half-awake. Trunks took her hand and brushed pink strands from her face.

"Alright," he whispered, not sure if she could hear, "I'll stay right here." Trunks layed down on top of the blanket next to Dashi who was snuggly set under the sheet. Dashi lazily wrapped her arms around Trunks and snuggled close, making Trunks blush ever so slightly. Trunks didn't know if Dashi was asleep or not, and he didn't care either. The demi-saiyajin smiled and slid a single arm around the girl. His eyes closed and he found that night that he did have some dreams left, but that didn't mean Dashi wasn't still in them.

End chapter 2:

SA: woo, I was on a roll! I started, and just couldn't stop until it was finished at looks at clock holy crud! 12:28 AM?! Well... at least it's longer then the last one, right? Please r&r, and I don't mean 'rest& relaxation'.