Disclaimer: I do not own Dragonball Z.

Author's Notes: Well, I'm back in school. And, yes, I've had little to no time to devote to fanfiction. I'm just glad I had this chapter almost done before summer was over. I am trying to manage my time a little better so I can do things like write fanfiction, but it's hard. Anyway, at least I'm in the home stretch of The Soul.

More Author's Notes: Argh! OK, this is a repost, because apparently doesn't think that anything to denote scene changes is important. sigh I know is a great site, and the admins try to make it the best with what resources they can get. I'm just blowing off some steam. I rely on scene changes, and I hate it when my work is more confusing than usual.

Chapter 47: Taint

"He… he didn't tell him," Goten said quietly.

The immensity of the heavens seemed to shrink to the view of the little boy from the big-screen television floating in front of the North Galaxy building complex. Kaio-sama, tired of Goten knocking him down when he got too enthusiastic as a spectator, had requisitioned a screen for the fight with the leech. It had turned into a pretty large turn-out. There hadn't been a leech-fight since most of them had been newly dead. This was something worth watching.

Except now, the fight with the leech seemed to be over, and the grieving little acolyte was the only thing the screen could focus on.

"The leech isn't dead," Pikkon's deep voice intoned. "Not by a long-shot. He's gone to another dimension to heal right now. He'll be back."

Jiten continued to cry on the screen.

Goten was getting angry at everyone staring at his son. "Turn it away, already! It's not like this is a movie… this is my son!"

The view went away from Jiten to the outside of the apartment building. A plane was headed for Mt. Paotzu, carrying Videl and Pan. Krillen was headed for Capsule Corp.

There wasn't really anything going on in the battle. Everyone was regrouping. Goten knew that he would soon be wished back to life, hopefully in time to head off the leech. Maybe even in time to talk to Jiten and try to reassure him.

But the damage had been done.

Goten had a rough idea of what Jiten had been through for the past year. The leech had obviously won his confidence. In fact, it had probably brainwashed the boy. Probably acted all buddy-buddy and let him do things that he and Jita would never let him do.

Goten was surprised at the sudden thought of Jita. He hadn't even thought of her ever since the battle started. He was so focused on the battle… and Jiten.

When was the last time I'd truly focused on Jiten this much? Even during training, all I could think of was what Jita was… is… going through right now. Have I always been like this? Have I just not noticed Jiten all this time? Is that how the leech was able to win Jiten over so completely?

Kaio-sama slightly misinterpreted Goten's silence. "Don't worry, Goten. See? They're almost to Capsule Corp with the dragonball. Then you'll be able to take care of Jiten yourself."

That's when the apartment building exploded.

Trunks was almost to Pan's apartment when he realized he hadn't checked on ki signatures. He was surprised to note that the battle seemed over. Pan's ki was still weak, but steady now. She, Videl, and… Krillen?... were leaving the scene of battle. The leech was nowhere to be seen.

Trunks huffed in frustration. I'm too late… again.

Trunks almost turned back to rendezvous with the others when there was an earth-shattering boom. Before he could turn around, he was knocked in the back of the head by a flying piece of debris.

His vision sparkled as he felt the back of his head for blood. Fortunately, the piece of metal or whatever hadn't hit him with a sharp edge. No head wound, he thought peevishly, just a slight concussion. Covered in medical plan.

He tensed himself as he turned around, readying himself for battle. Somehow, he thought that the injuries he was likely to be about to receive would not be covered.

What Trunks was expecting was a return of the leech. Perhaps he'd misread an end of the battle for a hasty retreat. However, his expectation was replaced by the second most likely candidate.

"Jiten?!" Trunks yelled over the sound of the remaining debris hitting the ground. "Wh-what are you doing?!"

Jiten was floating above what used to be Pan's apartment building. He was shrouded in crackling energy – energy that looked like too much for him to handle. Even from that distance Trunks could see the red eyes and crazed look Jiten was wearing.

"Why didn't he tell me?!" Jiten yelled, seeming oblivious to Trunks's presence.

While Jiten was looking away, Trunks powered up as much he could without turning Super Saiyan. He wanted to reason with Jiten without appearing too threatening.

"Jiten!" Trunks yelled again. It was really hard to sound reassuring when you're yelling at the top of your lungs.

"But he couldn't have!" Jiten screamed again. "It was a lie! It had to have been! And why should I care anyway! They're not my parents anymore!"

Cold ran through Trunks's spine. They're not my parents anymore!

Jiten stopped powering up, yet maintained his dangerous level of ki. He was breathing hard, and looked like he was doing a heck of a job convincing himself of his own personal worldview.

Trunks dared to move closer to Jiten, thinking that this would be the best time to approach him and talk to him. "Jiten…" he began.

Jiten looked up, seemingly shocked at having a spectator. His eyes narrowed. "You were watching me, Trunks?" he said roughly.

Trunks shuddered. Jiten was sounding like Vegeta at his most dangerous. "Jiten, we need to talk. Why don't you power down a little more before…" He stopped. Trunks couldn't think of any way to finish that sentence without sounding patronizing or demanding.

"Before what?" Jiten said slowly. "Before you'll make me?"

Trunks eyes sprang wide. He held his hands before him placatingly. "Jiten, you misunderstand me. I just…"

"Stop telling me what to do!!" Jiten thundered, his voice breaking from the emotion. "You're not my Mom and Dad! They're dead!"

Trunks tried to inch forward again. "Jiten, I know you're hurting right now, but your dad won't be dead for long. They're going to wish him back with the dragonballs, so…"

Trunks flew back, the impact from the ki-blast knocking out his wind and doubling him over. Therefore, he wasn't prepared for the elbow right to the back of his neck.

Falling end over end in an uncontrolled plummet, Trunks tried to gather his wits enough to push his ki over the edge to Super Saiyan. He didn't know if Jiten was a Super Saiyan yet or not – he could have been hiding the transformation until the appropriate time – but Trunks knew that he had more experience as a fighter and as a Super Saiyan. He should be able to outdo Jiten by experience alone.

Unless, of course, Jiten sucks his energy up.

Trunks flashed gold as he ended his fall with a powerful foot to the ground, propelling him right back at Jiten. He pulled energy balls into both palms and projected them in front of them. There's for power and diversion.

The ki balls not only blinded Jiten, but they also blinded Trunks. It was a risky maneuver, one that Vegeta would have suavely sidestepped and pummeled him as punishment for such an idiotic tactic. However, it worked against Jiten. Once the flashing cleared, Trunks could see Jiten embedded in the rubble below.

Trunks watched him pull himself out of the rubble and brush himself off. Trunks was taking the time to discreetly power up a little more. He had to halt it when Jiten started throwing a few energy blasts. Sidestepping was easy, but not sidestepping into another attack was the hard part.

"Listen, Jiten," Trunks said a little breathlessly, "we don't have to do things like this. Fighting never solved any problems."

Jiten laughed out loud at that one, partially forgetting his anger. "Do you even listen to yourself? 'Fighting never solved problems'… Exactly what family are you from, anyway?!"

Trunks knew Jiten was correct in his irony, but it also left an opening. "And what family are you from, Jiten? Last I heard we were cousins. Is this what family does? Kill each other?"

Trunks looked up as he realized the attacks had stopped coming. Jiten had stopped and was staring at him. "Ours does," the boy said matter-of-factly.

Trunks remained tense, knowing the attack could begin again any moment. "Not for a long time, Jiten. No for before even I was born."

Jiten snorted. "Yeah right. Try last year."

Trunks was taken aback. "Uh… Jiten? What happened last year?"

Jiten rolled his eyes. "Don't you remember?"

Trunks glared back. "I remember last year perfectly. It's your memory I'm calling into question. Last year…" Trunks paused, realizing that he was going to have to say this as delicately as possible. He was talking to a little boy about his parents' death, after all.

"Last year…" he began again, "the leech… showed up at the Budoukai. He had knocked you unconscious and was threatening you. Your parents fought to get you back, but the leech had linked you to himself, so that ever blow that he felt, you would feel. G… your mother and father wouldn't hit him them. They tried to fight… but the leech was drawing energy from them. He… he killed them, Jiten," Trunks ended with a broken voice. Remembering that day was still hard for him. He hated what the leech had done. He hated that the leech had killed that beautiful family. He… hated that the leech had killed his best friend.

Jiten's face remained stony. "You're lying," he said in a rough voice.

Trunks gave him a look of disbelief. "What?! Jiten, do you think I would lie about something like that? I'm your father's best friend! Your mother was my aunt! I wouldn't lie about the death of my friends!" That's not really the most delicate way to put it, but I've got to get through to this kid.

Jiten rolled his eyes again. "Listen, you can stop pretending now, Trunks. I've figured it all out. I already know that I accidentally got caught up in the portal when my master was going back to his own dimension. When they couldn't find me, mom and dad killed each other. It's as simple as that." He smiled, seemingly self-satisfied.

Trunks stared at Jiten, dumbfounded. A slow trickle of sweat went down the side of his face. "That's…" he said in a whisper, "… the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Jiten, how could you believe that?! Why on Earth would your parents kill each other over something like that?!"

"I don't know!!" Jiten exploded. "They're always arguing over something I've done, anyway! Why wouldn't they kill each other?! It's more plausible than Hoja doing it! If Hoja killed them, then why didn't he kill me? Why did he take care of me and train me for a year? It doesn't make sense if he's the bad guy! And, really, I'm better off without mom and dad. They're probably happier in Heaven, anyway. Grandpa sure was happy there, I've heard. Why not them?"

This kid… has more issues than I ever would have guessed. Knowing that, what do I do?

"Jiten," Trunks began, "your parents loved each other. And they have more sense than to kill each other. They would stop at nothing to get you back."

"Then why haven't they?!!"

Jiten collapsed on the broken rocks below him, his knees thudding hard. Despite obvious attempts to keep them in check, hot tears were rolling down both cheeks.

"I… I was right there," Jiten said in a whisper. "They… they could have used the dragonballs or something. They can bring the dead back to life. They can do anything. And I was right there, and I was alone. Even with… I missed them so much… they didn't come… I asked them to… every night for a while… and they didn't come…"

Jiten was slowly powering down, tribute to the grief he was feeling at the moment. Without the leech there, Jiten was obviously not as assured of his master as he thought he'd been. Trunks powered down as well, dropping the Super Saiyan in relief. The boy was sobbing uncontrollably, unaware of his presence. Trunks smiled a bit. There's some heart left in him after all.

Trunks knelt to Jiten's level, putting a hand on the boy's shuddering shoulder. "Jiten… it's gonna be all right. They'll be wishing your father back any moment. It'll be alright."

Jiten sniffled, yet didn't flinch away from Trunks' grasp. Trunks's confidence was growing, and he was starting to consider giving Jiten a hug.

"Why only Dad?" came a quiet reply.

Trunks frowned. "What?"

Jiten looked up. "Why only Dad? Why not Mom? You keep talking about wishing Daddy back to life, but why not Mom?"

Trunks was drawing a blank. He couldn't very well tell Jiten that his mother was in Hell and there was no way to get her back. That was a revelation for later, if ever. In that case, it was even understandable to feed Jiten a comfortable lie… say that she didn't want to be wished back or that it was beyond the dragon's power or something. There was a grain of truth in that, at least.

But none of it would fly right now.

"Well… you see, Jiten… it was a little difficult…" Trunks began weakly.

"Let me go," Jiten said, his trembling having ended abruptly. His voice was dangerously soft… something that seemed unnatural in a boy so young.

"Jiten…" Trunks said slowly.

"Let me go!" Jiten shrieked and lashed out… with far too much power.

Trunks watched as Jiten's face went bloody. What's going on?

Then the pain hit him.

Jiten's face turned into almost horror as Trunks doubled over, coughing up more blood. In comforting Jiten, Trunks had let his power sink down to normal level. He hadn't been able to guard against that much ki at close range. Consequently, there was now a hole the size of two fists right through his middle.

The last thing Trunks saw was Jiten flying away as fast as he could.

Gohan and Krillen met in the air.

"Did you feel that?" Krillen said.

Gohan's heart was pounding in his chest. He'd just gotten over the fear of losing his wife and daughter, but now…

"Yeah. Trunks is in trouble."

Krillen held up a bag of senzu. "I've got these. Let's go."

It took them just a moment to get to the scene of so many recent battles. The residential area was showing its recent use, too. Where Pan used to live… was now a crater.

"Trunks!" Gohan yelled, spotting the prone demi-Saiyan easily.

The scene looked like one out of a nightmare. Partially propped up by some sharp-looking debris was Trunks, lying face-down in a pool of blood. Gohan was struck by a sense of déjà vu, but quickly shook it off.

"Don't worry, Trunks." Krillen was already kneeling beside the young man, turning him over as slowly as possible so as not to accidentally kill him. "This'll fix you up."

Trunks had not had his energy stolen, so his return to the living was almost immediate. He blinked, and immediately his hand went for his abdomen. All he felt there was blood, but no hole.

"Thank Kami," Trunks breathed. "Or Korin, more specifically."

Gohan smiled faintly. "What happened?"

Trunks looked down. "I… I tried to reason with him. You see how that turned out," he ended with a bitter laugh.

"Well, at least you tried," Krillen said reassuringly.

Trunks cursed himself, not to be reassured. "I let my guard down, too. I knew that it was still dangerous, but I just wanted everything to be alright with Jiten. Stupid!" he bit off.

Gohan stood, surveying the area again. He then realized exactly where they were. "Darn it!"

Krillen and Trunks looked at him.

Gohan glared inwardly. "I'd hoped to do this without anyone getting killed."

The other two warriors looked around the area, finally realizing the import of what had happened. There used to be an apartment building there. Now there was a crater. Apartment building equals…

…residents…

Jiten had killed.

Gohan was shaken to the core. The one thing that they had tried to prevent, something that Jita was always proud about, had been completely destroyed. Jiten was a murderer. It didn't matter if it was intentional or not. It didn't matter if Jiten meant it, or if he enjoyed it, or if he even knew about it. He was a murderer, and that was something that you just couldn't wish away. It was an eternal taint on his soul.

"Help me."

Gohan turned to the source of the surprising calm cry for help. There, under some debris that had been thrown fairly far, was a boy that Gohan vaguely recognized from his visits to Pan's apartment.

The boy's ki was strong, if unfocused. His eyes were slightly glazed over as well. Gohan jogged over to the semi-buried figure.

"Hey, man," the blonde boy said, "I think I'm coming down from my buzz, so I'm probably going to hurt a lot pretty soon. Would you mind digging me out of here or calling somebody?"

Gohan's mouth lifted slightly. "Those drugs probably saved your life."

The boy laughed. "And they said they were unhealthy."

Gohan knelt to the task of carefully lifting a beam of metal, hoping that he wouldn't start a chain reaction that would certainly kill the boy.

"They're all dead, aren't they?" the boy asked softly.

Gohan looked up, surprised. "Don't worry. They'll all come back."

The boy smiled. "Yeah. Sure. They'll all come back. I like that."

Vegeta sensed his coming, sensed his trajectory. Jiten was probably too wild right now to sense anyone's presence.

"What are you going to do?"

Vegeta looked over, as if noticing Piccolo's presence for the first time. "Hmph… hold him for as long as I can. Try to get some information out of him."

"But what if…"

"Am I prepared to kill my own blood?" Vegeta interrupted Piccolo.

Piccolo merely stared.

Vegeta turned away. "What do you think, Namek?" he answered shortly.

Piccolo knew that Vegeta didn't know what he was going to do.

"The eldest brat seems to have forgotten that he's carrying the dragonball," Vegeta said nonchalantly. "Go and remind him."

Piccolo's eyes narrowed. "You sure you don't need…" Piccolo broke off when he realized that any ending to that sentence would be an insult to Vegeta.

"You've had your turn already," Vegeta answered gruffly. "Now go."

Piccolo left reluctantly, for once not able to tell exactly what was going on through the other Saiyan's head.

Vegeta slowly counted the seconds down to when he would force Jiten to stop. Finally…

A blur of light suddenly pulled to a halt.

"All right, Jiten," Vegeta said to the wide-eyed, panicking boy. "It's down to you and me."

Thanks to all my… um… reviewer….

Pannygirl: I'm glad I never got boring. I'm sorry that I took up a whole day. Sometimes, when I devote a whole day to reading a fanfiction, I kick myself for time lost. I'm just glad your time wasn't lost in a too unpleasant way.