Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters
The holidays sped by for Kuriza and Trunks. Frieza was out of town past New Year's, so Kuriza got to experience the fun without fear of his father's watchful gaze. Trunks was able to check in with his mother again and with Mai, which the officer could tell pleased both women. It was a great reprieve, one that would be sorely missed when Frieza returned. Trunks still remembered how relieved his girlfriend was to hear his voice.
"Where the hell have you been?" Mai shouted at him.
Trunks chuckled and fondly smiled. "Hello to you, too, Mai. Sorry I haven't been in touch. Things have been…a little rough. Frieza and all his men are away for the holiday, so it's just me and Kuriza now."
He heard Mai sigh. "Trunks…what's going on? It was like you fell off the face of the Earth. Is Frieza getting suspicious? Have you and Kuriza been hurt?"
"No," Trunks lied, about himself anyway. "Just, I let this kid get away when Frieza sent me, Zarbon, and Dodoria to face the Oujis."
"The Oujis!" Mai exclaimed, horrified. "Oh my God, Trunks! Why is he sending you up against high profile people?"
"I don't understand it either," Trunks admitted, "but I guess the stunt with Pilaf did a lot to earn trust. Frieza was pissed at me for letting the kid go, but it was clear the kid wasn't a killer. Honestly, I don't think the head of the Ouji family really is either."
"What makes you say that?"
Trunks couldn't fault Mai for sounding skeptical. Before he met Vegeta, his father—he still needed to get used to that—he would have never thought that way. The members of the Ouji family were skilled. Looking back at the past cases suggested that the dealings weren't always so 'pure'.
"Mai, you're gonna want to sit down for this one," Trunks replied.
"Okay," Mai breathed out, and Trunks got the sense she listened.
Trunks wore a bittersweet grin as he said, "Vegeta Ouji is my father."
Silence rested between the couple for several moments. Eventually, Mai got over her shock. "That actually doesn't surprise me," she returned. "You always told me that, whoever your father was, he didn't want to be in the mob. Anything I've seen regarding the Ouji family in the recent years, they seem to avoid using families of their rivals or killing outside of self-defense. The only crimes they seem to allegedly commit is illegal transport and possession of weapons, which in comparison to the Cold Organization's alleged crimes…"
Trunks cringed. "I know," the officer agreed. "Other than Frieza giving orders to attack other groups and to ax Pilaf, he seems clean. Of course, he hasn't involved me on shipments, so I have no idea what he's bringing into the city. I wish we could just catch him in the act, something he can't get out of."
"You will find something soon," Mai assured him. "You've been there a relatively short time. It's not like he'd leave proof lying around the house you could easily find. He just seems to want to cause trouble for the Oujis right now, and so far none of the altercations have ended with casualties."
Trunks looked up at the ceiling. Mai was right. It made the officer wonder what Frieza's obsession was with his father, but he couldn't think of that now. He'd figure it out later. For now, he just wanted to talk to his girlfriend and tell her all about his first interaction with his father.
The reprieve ended after the New Year celebrations. Frieza returned home on the second of the year and immediately called a meeting to order. Dodoria, Zarbon, Trunks, and Kuriza joined Frieza in his office. Trunks managed to keep his gaze neutral and suppressed a shiver at the sight of Frieza's sickening grin.
"I have a plan against the Ouji family," Frieza announced. Zarbon's and Dodoria's expressions soon matched the kingpin's. Kuriza's eyes widened in shock. Trunks…he, again, managed to steel himself, though he felt an internal, physical reaction that froze him to his core. Now that he knew his father was none other than Vegeta Ouji, the thought that he'd have to go up against any of his father's people bothered him.
Zarbon noticed the lack of reaction, which he took as hesitation, from Trunks. "You think you can handle it this time?" he challenged.
Trunks met Zarbon's cocky gaze and narrowed his eyes. "I'll be fine."
"With all the training you've endured," Frieza pointed out, "I think you'll be perfect for the mission." Trunks was about to reply, but Frieza cut him off. "But if you screw up this time, it will be the last mistake. Ever."
Chills shot up and down Trunks's spine and, for the first time since he met Frieza, Trunks felt fear. The uncertainty affected him for only a moment before Trunks pushed his emotions aside and out of his system. He couldn't let Frieza sense any weakness. Trunks knew he had to remain in control no matter what went down that night.
"I promise, I won't let you down, Mr. Cold."
That was all Frieza needed to hear. He smirked and slid a gun over to Trunks. It was different than the model Trunks was carrying, a more powerful and precise weapon. The lavender-haired officer looked to the mod boss in question. Why would he be giving him such a weapon instead of his more trusted men?
"If you run into any of Ouji's peons this time, you're to shoot to kill, understand?"
Trunks nodded as he took the weapon from the desk. Although he agreed to the command, he began to formulate a plan that would aid him in avoiding the confrontation with anyone that night while maintaining the appearance that he was still performing his duties to Frieza. Trunks wasn't sure what would happen. All he knew was that he couldn't kill any of his father's men despite their illegal dealings.
He took a seat and listened as Frieza discussed his plans for the evening.
Later, after the meeting, Kuriza found Trunks in his room. The officer double-checked his weapon to make sure it was locked and loaded. Kuriza had no idea how his friend could be so calm right now. He, himself, felt frantic.
Over the holidays, Trunks admitted to Kuriza about meeting his father in the park. Kuriza always knew that Trunks had a father who was forced into the mafia lifestyle by a cruel father, just like him, but Kuriza never expected Trunks's father to be Frieza's sworn enemy. Now that Kuriza knew the Ouji family secrets, he felt even more disturbed taking these missions from his father. How Trunks kept his cool in a time like this… Kuriza envied him but also worried for him.
"Trunks, you can't go along with this," Kuriza hurriedly exclaimed after he checked the hallway and closed the door behind him. "What if you run into your father? If you're against him, he might kill you!"
Trunks paused in his actions and glanced over at Kuriza. "He won't," he stated confidently. "I…I feel like I can trust him. I told you, he's not like your father. From what he said…he's a lot like you." Kuriza knew this, but it still surprised him to hear Trunks say it so openly. "He only got involved because someone in your father's organization killed his mother, and he ended the guy…"
Kuriza frowned. Trunks hadn't told him that over their break. This made Kuriza feel even more guilt. Not only did he get his friend into the worst of situations in this mission, but Kuriza's own family was the reason Trunks's family was broken.
"I'm sorry, Trunks…about your grandmother. About all of it."
Trunks smiled at Kuriza and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, none of that. We weren't even born then. Hopefully, you and I will end this conflict together. That alone might bring both organizations down."
"What do you mean?" Kuriza asked, flabbergasted.
"I have a feeling the only reason my father is still involved with the mob is because of Frieza," Trunks explained. "When we take the Cold Organization down, it may domino into freedom for Vegeta as well."
Freedom. That had been a dream of Kuriza's since he was a boy. It was the reason he put himself on the line along with Trunks. To maybe one day be able to wake up and go to a normal, legal job without having to look over his shoulder in fear, of either his father's people or enemies that would target him. He prayed every day that he and Trunks would be successful, would get Frieza to slip up and do something that would incriminate him instead of using others to do it for him. If they could end his reign of terror, not only would Kuriza be free, but Trunks's father could be returned to Trunks and his mother.
Kuriza felt a new determination. If he did his part, he could finally pay Trunks back for all his sacrifices. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's do this."
With a newfound resolve, Trunks equipped his weapon to his person, and they headed out to meet up with Dodoria and Zarbon.
The assignment was simple. Ouji's men were waiting for a shipment of new goods for the legitimate business. Trunks wondered what illegal activities the Ouji organization were involved in. From what he knew, the Oujis only ever killed in self-defense, and they'd never gone down for a murder in the past couple of decades…when his father took over. His father was unlike Frieza, so he couldn't imagine him bringing in and distributing drugs or other substances. Maybe he imported illegal weapons, but then why would Frieza not bombard them during an arrival of a legal shipment. Why was Frieza so focused on the Ouji organization at all?
Territory, Trunks concluded. That was the only asset Frieza would gain if he took over. It meant the mob boss was looking to expand his organization, and that was something Trunks could not allow. He assumed Vegeta would never allow it either. So far, the man seemed to have effective defenses or else Frieza's men would have taken over by now.
"Split up and surround them," Zarbon ordered, his voice hushed.
Trunks nodded. He still really didn't understand Frieza's strategy at all. The criminal just wanted them to charge in, guns blazing, and take out each and every Ouji member on the pier. Honestly, this didn't seem like strategy. To Trunks, it was a foolish gambit. Frieza had so many men, yet when it came to the Ouji family he only sent Zarbon, Dodoria, Kuriza, and now Trunks. Four men against ten seemed like completely horrendous odds. Trunks needed to be careful and cover Kuriza as much as possible. This wouldn't end the way Frieza wanted.
Trunks and Kuriza moved away from Zarbon and Dodoria, and they carefully and silently hid themselves round separate corners of an abandoned building. They stood there, weapons drawn, and waited for a signal. Zarbon didn't tell them what the signal was, only that they would know. Trunks assumed he told them this to keep them out of the action and remain in Frieza's good graces.
He was wrong.
A shot fired, and one of the men on the pier was struck down. Trunks sucked in a breath and looked across the way. He couldn't tell which direction the bullet fired from, if either Dodoria or Zarbon was the one who shot the man. He swallowed and readied his weapon. He roved the area for someone familiar. Eventually, his eyes found that same man from last time, Raditz, and he took a shot but purposefully missed. When the bullet struck a crate near Raditz, the long-haired man was on the defensive. Trunks pulled back so as not to be seen, but then he heard a straggled cry.
Kuriza!
Trunks rounded the other side of the building and found Kuriza held at gunpoint. The gunman noticed the lavender-haired officer and smirked. "Well, well, you're new," the man mused. "You look a little young to be working for Cold. He usually doesn't pick fresh meat."
"Let Kuriza go," Trunks demanded. He aimed his gun at the man. He hoped he could distract him so that Kuriza could escape.
"Zorn!"
Trunks flinched at the sound of Raditz's voice. His attention shifted to the man he assumed was his father's second. What surprised Trunks was that Raditz looked at him with recognition and concern, not fear or contempt. It didn't take a rocket scientist to understand the situation. Raditz knew. He knew Trunks was Vegeta's son. Trunks didn't know yet whether that was a good or bad thing.
Raditz turned his attention to Zorn. "Stand down, now," he ordered.
"Not a chance," Zorn refused. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't end these Cold bastards." The dark-haired man looked down to a terrified Kuriza before he scoffed and set his gun against Trunks. Clearly, Frieza's kid didn't have the stomach for this business or the skill to actually do anything.
Panic flooded Raditz as he watched Zorn aim his gun at Trunks. This would only end badly for the youth, and he could not let that boy be killed. Vegeta would never recover if one of his own men did harm to his son.
"Zorn, put the gun down," Raditz gave the order again, although this time his voice held more desperation that before. "You can't kill that kid. He's too important."
Trunks's eyes widened, and he faltered in the standoff. No! he exclaimed in his head. He couldn't believe it. Raditz was about to tell Zorn who he was! If he let it happen, his cover wouldn't just be blown, but word would get back to Frieza eventually, and Trunks would be as good as dead.
Zorn just laughed. "One of Cold's men? Important? I think you've had one too many at the bar, Raditz. This kid is nothing." He put his finger on the trigger and was about to pull.
"No, Zorn, don't do it! He's Veg—"
Raditz didn't get the words out in time. The sound of a gun rang, and everyone was paralyzed, frozen in that moment in time. A body fell to the ground, dead. Raditz turned his head towards Zorn's body and saw a terrified, trembling Kuriza holding his smoking gun.
Trunks met the troubled gaze of his friend. The gun dropped from Kuriza's hands, and the youth shook from fear and guilt over his own actions. "Why?" Trunks asked, his voice soft.
"H-h-he was g-going t-t-to k-kill you," Kuriza stammered. "I-I-I'm…s-s-sor—"
"The shot came from this way, Dodoria," they heard Zarbon shout. Both Trunks and Kuriza flinched and snapped out of their daze.
Trunks snapped his head towards Raditz. "Go!" he yelled, though not loud enough for the enemy to hear. "Hurry!"
Raditz's gaze softened. He looked back down at Zorn's body for a second before he left the two boys alone. Moments later, Zarbon and Dodoria reached them. Zarbon looked almost disappointed seeing the two thorns in his side no worse for wear. He was about to ask about the fired shot, but his eyes fells on Zorn. The green-haired man looked to Trunks who finally pushed down the anxiety he felt and moved to check the body. It was only a formality.
"He's dead," Trunks confirmed anyway.
Dodoria turned to Kuriza and saw that he was completely shaken up. "What happened? Who did this?"
Kuriza's fearful eyes met his father's underling. "I-I-I did," Kuriza answered. "H-he was…the guy was going to kill Trunks."
Zarbon and Dodoria appeared amused. They looked at each other and then started laughing. Trunks narrowed his eyes at them. "What's so funny about this?"
"Oh kid, you have no idea, do you?" Zarbon snickered. "This is the best outcome we could have hoped for."
"H-how is that?" Kuriza quietly questioned.
Dodoria grinned at the youth. "That bastard you just axed, he was Vegeta Ouji, Sr.'s cousin."
Stunned could not even begin to describe neither how Kuriza nor Trunks felt. The latter felt a pit form in his stomach. He looked to the dead man, Zorn…his third cousin. Trunks didn't know he had other family in his father's organization. Oh my God… Trunks felt a cold fear now, probably for one of the first true times in his life. There were many times he'd been afraid, especially during his 'sessions' with Frieza. Still, nothing could have prepared him for this. His best friend, the one he was desperately trying to free, just unintentionally started a mob war.
By the look on Kuriza's face, his friend knew it too.
"I didn't mean…this wasn't…" Kuriza tried to form a coherent sentence. Words would not come to him.
Zarbon approached him and clapped his hand on his shoulder. He could practically feel Kuriza's discomfort and guilt. "Don't worry; the first kill is always the hardest. You actually did good, kid. Your father will be pleased."
Those words broke Kuriza's spirit. Trunks could see it, and he wished he could reassure his friend in that moment. Kuriza never wanted to hurt anyone, never planned to murder anyone in the name of his father. Now, even though it was self-defense, Kuriza would never be able to break free of that burden. It would haunt him. Trunks knew all too well, from another assignment where there just wasn't any other way, a secret he had to take to his grave because the feds said he could never reveal what truly happened.
Trunks shook himself free of his own issues. Right now, they needed to get away from the pier. Sirens blared through the street; most likely members of his precinct would be on the case. That meant he really needed to get out of there, to avoid Zarbon or Dodoria detecting that look of recognition.
"The police are coming," Trunks pointed out to bring Dodoria and Zarbon down from their excited high.
"He's right," Dodoria remarked.
Zarbon nodded as he wrapped an arm around Kuriza's shoulders. Trunks noticed his friend stiffen in the criminal's embrace. "Come, let's go give Frieza the good news!"
Relieved that they were getting away from the scene, Trunks's mind went back to Zorn. Images of the dead body lingered in his mind. He could picture him so clearly that he didn't even need to look back as they ran from the scene. The one thought on his mind was, I just hope Dad doesn't retaliate against my friend.
But Trunks knew that was too much to hope for.
"Son of a bitch," Vegeta hissed. The mob boss turned away from Raditz and faced the window of his office. His second just finished briefing him on what happened on the pier. Trunks had been there, and Zorn nearly killed him. Vegeta took a deep breath through his nose, shoulders squared and fists clenched. When he exhaled, he asked, "Trunks is okay?"
"Yes," Raditz replied. "Because of Frieza's son. He killed Zorn to protect Trunks."
"Fuck," Vegeta quietly groaned. This wasn't good.
Vegeta didn't give a damn about his father's cousin; he didn't care that Kuriza axed him. Honestly, the only reason Zorn was around was because he worked for Vegeta Ouji, Sr. Vegeta never got along or trusted his father's cousin. He only allowed him to stay after he took over to avoid having to murder his own blood. Unfortunately, Vegeta's second cousin always tried to keep the old ways. He truly was just like Vegeta Sr., bloodthirsty and violent. What upset Vegeta the most was how everyone in his organization would expect him to retaliate against Frieza's son. Vegeta couldn't find it within himself to harm someone who protected his son, his son's best friend. It would look suspicious to both his men and Frieza's if he did absolutely nothing.
"How do you want me to handle this?" Raditz asked, ready for instruction.
"Do nothing," Vegeta remarked, "for now. I need time to think. I'm not ready to spill the blood of an innocent."
Raditz nodded, though Vegeta couldn't see him. The long-haired man knew everything. After Vegeta met Trunks, he called Raditz into his office and told him about Trunks's profession, Kuriza's son, and the fact that there was some woman at the precinct Trunks was dating, although Trunks never gave him a description. If anything, Kuriza sounded a lot like Vegeta, in Raditz's opinion. It was the only reason Raditz didn't attempt to harm Cold's kid. No one deserved this life. He and Vegeta fell into it because of their fathers.
"I'll tell the others that you're working on a plan," Raditz declared. "That should buy us some time."
Vegeta didn't respond as his friend left the room. He kept his gaze on the city and shook his head. This really was turning into a big mess. It was up to him to find a way out of it for both his son and for Kuriza.
Lay low, kid, Vegeta pleaded. It was all he could hope for in that moment.
Frieza was delighted to hear how the raid turned out. Despite Kuriza's despondency, Frieza actually praised his son and declared it time for a celebration. Very quickly, the caterers arrived, and Frieza's men all drank and were merry. Not everyone wanted to celebrate. Trunks used the drunken crowd as a cover to sneak off to his room.
The officer lied on his bed and stared up at the ceiling. He couldn't believe that his cousin had been killed that day. He felt no emotional attachment to the guy, and he didn't know the extent of his relationship with his father. Obviously, the two weren't close or Zorn would have known what Raditz did about his identity. Trunks's brow furrowed in confliction and confusion. Just what was the dynamic between his father and Raditz? Could Trunks trust the long-haired man, too?
A soft knock on the door snapped Trunks out of his thoughts. He assumed it was Kuriza, considering Frieza's other employees would have just barged in if they wanted. Trunks got up from the bed, crossed the room, and opened the door. On the other side stood, as Trunks expected, his best friend. Trunks looked around the corner and then let him in. He closed and locked the door behind him.
"Trunks," Kuriza breathed out, his eyes filled with sadness and terror, "I am so, so sorry. I didn't know…please, please forgive me."
Trunks's eyes widened, his mouth agape. "Are you serious?" he marveled. "Kuriza, you saved my life."
Kuriza shook his head. "I killed your cousin."
"Neither of us knew," Trunks replied softly. "Kuriza, you were trying to protect me. There's no telling if Raditz outing me would have worked in my favor. If it wasn't for you, I might have been the one with the bullet in me when the night was over."
"Don't say that," Kuriza begged. The auburn-haired man felt sick just hearing Trunks talk like that. "I don't even want to think about that."
Trunks smiled bittersweetly and clapped his hand down on Kuriza's shoulder. "It's going to be okay. We'll figure this out. I don't know how, but I'll find a way to get a message to my father, see what he plans to do. I promise, Kuriza. I'll find a way to protect you."
Kuriza released a pained laugh; his head dropped in his shame. "I don't deserve your friendship," he told Trunks.
Trunks squeezed Kuriza's shoulder in reassurance. "You do," he declared. "And you shouldn't feel guilt over this. You're my hero, tonight."
Kuriza grinned sadly but accepted the praise. Honestly, that's how he always felt about Trunks. His friend put his life on the line time and time again to help him in taking down his father. Kuriza was fearful of Frieza, and Trunks's presence gave the man the strength to push forward. With all the evidence Trunks was collecting, Kuriza was certain his father would be brought down. They just needed Frieza to do something huge, something he couldn't talk his way out of that would have him dead to rights. Without harming another, though, it would be tricky. Plus, Kuriza knew his father didn't like getting his hands dirty.
Kuriza hoped for two things that night: that evidence against his father would stack up quick and that the Ouji family wouldn't kill him before he could bring down Frieza.
A/N: So…things have gotten a bit complicated now. Will Kuriza's brave deed be counted as a declaration of war? And how with Trunks get evidence against Frieza (any predictions anyone)? There's more to come next chapter!
Efri14: I'm glad you enjoyed their meeting :) I have no idea how many chapters the story will be. I have a plan for a second case in the story, but not sure how I want to execute it, so I'm focusing on the current plot for the story. I can't give any other clues other than that as to what's going to happen in the future of the story.
NNP: Glad you like the story :D