Trunks was now nineteen and living in his parents' basement because his mother didn't want him leaving and living on his own—just yet.
Right now, he was lying in his bed, thinking.
He closed his eyes, and he could see a girl with wavy, waist-length dark orange hair, lightly tanned skin, and he was pretty sure she had brown eyes.
He had seen this girl multiple times while on a trip to Kyoto; Gohan and Goten had invited him to go along. Well, Goten pretty much begged him to go because if he didn't, Chi-Chi would've gone with them.
Trunks really hadn't wanted to go, but he owed Goten money; Goten used that against him.
Trunks was brought out of his thoughts when he heard his father yelling and slamming things around upstairs.
"Vegeta calm down!" Bulma snapped, watching her husband go on a tangent.
"What's going on up here?" Trunks asked, slightly annoyed.
"Merry Christmas." Bulla cheerfully exclaimed, walking down the hall, but quickly turned around and went back to her room.
"Merry Christmas, Bulla!" Trunks called.
"What's going on is your father is have a temper tantrum." Bulma calmly stated, looking at Trunks.
"Ok… Why this time?" Trunks asked, confused.
"That girl…" Vegeta growled.
"What girl? What are you talking about?" Trunks asked, still confused.
"Your future wife—the princess of the Sun. We've had this conversation already." Vegeta explained.
"Yes, we have. And I've repeatedly told you, I don't want an arranged marriage." Trunks snapped.
"Well, that's too bad for you, now isn't it? The only problem is the girl disappeared ten months ago and hasn't returned to the Sun. And now, by law, she can no longer return to the Sun." Vegeta explained.
"They haven't been able to find her?" Bulma asked, concerned.
"No. But they know she's on Earth." Vegeta explained.
"Are you going to try to find her?" Bulma asked, narrowing her eyes.
"They say there's no point in trying. If she doesn't want to be found; she won't be found. She ran away. And because she was only sixteen when she ran away—and is now only seventeen—and can't go back; she has the choice of whether she wants to be a princess or not. However, she can't escape the promise of our marriage agreement. When I find her, she'll come to understand she's to be married to you." Vegeta stated, determined.
"I'm so glad I was a part of this decision…" Bulma growled, glaring at her husband.
"This was years before we met. Saiyans had just made an alliance with the Sun. The first son I were to ever have would be promised to the first daughter of the king and queen of the Sun." Vegeta explained, proud of himself.
"Where are you going?" Bulma asked Trunks as he got his coat and boots on.
"Out. I'm not going to stand here and listen to Dad talk about how I've been promised to some girl I don't know. And clearly, this girl doesn't want anything to do with this either." Trunks replied before leaving, trying and failing not to slam the door.
"Good going. You need to get in contact with the Sun and tell them you want to rescind this stupid arranged marriage." Bulma demanded, looking at her husband.
"Heh! Be my guest if you really want." Vegeta challenged, looking at his wife.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Bulma asked, looking at Vegeta.
"It means, you don't go back on promises made wit the Sun. If I break this arrangement, Earth will face the Sun's wrath. They will make it so hot that everything dries out. So by all means—go ahead." Vegeta explained, looking at Bulma, who just glared at Vegeta.
"You are so lucky I'm making Christmas Dinner right now." Bulma growled.
Two Hours Later:
Trunks had been wandering around West City when he decided he'd better get home before his mom sent out a search party.
However, as he was getting ready to head home, Trunks saw a girl stumbling along in the snow. She was wearing short jean shorts and an off-the-shoulder purple shirt with what looked like a red tank top under that.
He didn't know what she had on her feet because the snow was nearly up to her knees.
"Hey! What are you doing out in this weather without proper attire?" Trunks asked, flying over to her.
"Back off!" The girl yelled as a crimson-red scythe appeared in her hands; she pointed it at Trunks.
"Ok. I'm not going to hurt you." Trunks spoke, backing up a little with his hands in the air.
However, he got a good look at the girl; she was the girl from Kyoto.
"I know you. You were in Kyoto a few months ago, yes?" The girl asked, looking at Trunks.
"Yes, that's correct. Do you want to put your scythe away? I promise I'm not going to hurt you." Trunks responded, looking at her.
"Hey; what's going on over here?! Do you need help?" Goku, Gohan, and Goten asked, flying over as Chi-Chi, Videl, and Pan waited in a storefront.
Immediately, the girl went on the defense, holding her scythe in front of her.
"No, we're fine. We're just having a bit of a misunderstanding—I hope." Trunks answered and then said under his breath.
"Isn't that that girl from Kyoto?" Gohan asked, noticing the girl right away.
"Yes." Trunks answered, holding his hands up to the girl and Gohan.
"Aren't you cold?" Goten asked, stepping towards the girl.
"Cold?" The girl asked, confused.
"She's definitely cold; her skin's turning blue. But I don't think she knows what she's feeling; she must come from a hotter climate." Gohan stated as the girl started backing away, slipping on what everyone assumed to be ice beneath the snow.
They were going to help her when she swung her scythe and the snow around her melted.
They then noticed she wore a purple bandana around her neck, dark blue and purple tennis shoes, and purple socks.
"Well, that's different." The guys said at the same time, watching steam come off the scythe.
"Ok. Relax. Like I said before, I'm not going to hurt you. You are freezing; we can see you shivering. Let me take you back to my place and you can warm up. Then we can contact your parents and you can go home." Trunks suggested, only to be shocked when she started backing away.
"No! I will not go home! Ahhh!" The girl screamed, backing away, only to screech when she landed in a puddle of cold water.
"Ok. Ok. We won't take you home. At least come with me to my place to warm up. You can eat something if you'd like. My name is Trunks, and these are some of my friends, Goku, Gohan, and Goten. Goku's and Gohan's wives are over there with Gohan's daughter: Chi-Chi, Videl, and Pan. What is your name?" Trunks explained and then asked.
"Trunks? Trunks Briefs? You're the son of Vegeta?" The girl asked, looking at Trunks in shock.
"How do you know all that? Who are you?" Trunks asked, looking at the girl; he didn't know what it was—or why—but he liked her.
And if he wasn't mistaken, by a look that ran across her eyes—not only now, but several times back in Kyoto. Trunks was thinking that maybe she liked him as well.
"Aurora Phoenix—that's my name." The girl, Aurora, answered, trying to stand, only to pass out.
"Aurora Phoenix?" Goten asked, scratching his head.
"Never mind that right now. If you're heading to my house—and you get there first, tell Mom and Dad what's going on? I'll be there as soon as I can. Ah!" Trunks instructed, trying to pick the scythe up.
"Did you cut yourself?" Gohan asked, looking at Trunks.
"No. This is hot—very hot." Trunks replied, sticking his hand in snow for a second before throwing snow on the scythe's handle.
After a few seconds, he was able to pick the scythe and Aurora up.
"You didn't have to stay back, you know." Trunks said, looking at Gohan.
Goku and Goten went back to Chi-Chi, Videl, and Pan, and headed to Bulma and Vegeta's home.
"Yes, I did. Let me take the scythe before someone gets hurt." Gohan replied, holding his hand out.
"Thanks." Trunks thanked, handing Gohan the scythe.
"No problem. Now let's get her somewhere warm." Gohan stated as they flew off…