Author's Note: Yeah, yeah, late. Well, I put two up at one time for the lateness… ^^' Anyways, I'm going on vacation for a week, and I'm bringing my laptop. I'll type some things up… I just don't know when you'll get them. Heh
Well, anyway-enjoy!
Chapter 33
…Normal?
After Vegeta left, Trunks didn't know what to do. It didn't make sense… and yet it did.
He wandered out of he training room in a daze, brow furrowed in thought. When he finally looked up to see where he was, he found that he was outside in the gardens. He didn't even remember going out the doors. Oh well.
Sighing, he looked up at the night sky-night already? Guess he didn't notice. His eyes studied the stars, looking for constellations he knew. After finding The Lady, The Rouge, and Bardock*, god of spirit and will, he sighed and flopped down on the ground, hands behind his head as he laid on his back. It wasn't his fault that Pan had been tortured, was it? He had tried to wake as soon as he possibly could, and when he did, he had found a way to prove her innocent to the People. But then why did he feel guilty about it? Why?
Was it because of what that one saiyan had said? Maybe. But why did he, the Prince of Planet Vegeta, care about some commoner off the streets? That, he couldn't quite comprehend. All he did understand was that he cared.
His mind drifted off the thought, and then landed on a very sore one. Himself. He thought back to what his father had said, the words being repeated over and over in his head. 'We are who we are. We can be no more, but no less.' Trunks shut his blue eyes briefly. What did his father mean by that? That he wasn't good enough, but couldn't change it? Or that he was good enough and shouldn't worry…? Hmph. Why couldn't his father just say what the hell he meant? His eyes reopened. Or why couldn't he just figure him out?
After finishing some work of his own, Vegeta headed for his office; he had some explaining to do to his mate, and he guessed that she most likely didn't leave his office. Besides, he didn't think the boy would apologize any time soon. Vegeta opened the door quietly, seeing his mate facing the window, her back towards him. A slight smile curled the corners of his lips as he saw her, unable to hide that emotion at the moment. He walked up behind her silently, slipping his arms around her waist and pulling her against him protectively. "…You all right?" he asked in his usual gruff tone. He didn't like to see her like this.
Bulma didn't want him to think her so weak. "…I'm fine."
Vegeta knew it was a lie. With a small sigh, he laid his head on her shoulder, mouth close to her ear. "When we went down to see Doshen, he suggested that you and the boy were … unnatural," he explained, watching the sky outside the window.
Bulma blinked. "Is that why he…?"
Vegeta nodded faintly. "He blamed you."
There was a long silence between them as the two thought, neither moving. Bulma, touched by Vegeta's show of affection, didn't want to break the moment by speaking.
Finally, though, she did. "Vegeta," she asked, voice soft, trembling slightly. "Am … I unnatural?"
Vegeta turned her towards him, eyes fierce. His raven eyes met azure pools, searching, as he shook her by the shoulders slightly. "Don't let a fool like Doshen get to you. Ever. Your just as natural as anyone," he whispered in a rough voice. Vegeta kissed her lightly, then whispered into her ear. "Gotta' go." With a smirk the devil would be proud of, he slipped out of her arms, striding away.
"Tease!"
Vegeta chuckled, then was gone.
Trunks pushed himself off the ground, wincing when a sore injury was stretched. Walking back inside, his eyes were blank, lost. Everything he had been confident about had crumbled down around him. Doshen might not have killed me, but he's doing a good job of shattering my resolve, Trunks thought ruefully. Figures. He walked to his room, distraught. When he hit the bed, he was out before he could take off his shoes.
The next few days were like a blur to him; nothing was clear, nothing was straight. He doctors continued to comment him on his progress, but her didn't seem to care. Pain was the one emotion he could feel, it was the only thing that keep him awake and walking.
He steered clear of his mother and father; staying away from places he knew they'd be and heading to the places he knew they wouldn't. He knew they could sense his ki, but they figured that he wanted to stay alone. Thankfully, they complied with his wishes. He didn't know what to think anymore, and that was exactly what they'd ask.
Trunks, having grown up in the sheltered atmosphere of the palace, never once questioned his normalcy. No one had ever made a comment about it either; he was the prince, had they done so, they would have soon found that their head no longer connected with their body. They had learned to stay quiet, and in doing so, had learned to accept. They grew accustomed to what others would have considered unnatural, and never once thought twice about it. It was as if reality had just slammed into him; he had just begun to realize that the world did not end at the palace doors.
Reality was so cruel sometimes.
It was a shock to figure out what the rest of the planet thought of him; a shock to figure out that the feelings towards him were not all good. They may have feared him, but some, however, were disgusted with his looks…
Why did he figure this out –now-?
Why now? Who knew how many more assassins there were, if any, and Pan… Thinking about her, his thoughts faltered.
What did she think about him?
He blinked as he absent-mindedly headed toward the infirmary wing. He'd figure out, sooner or later.
Walking into the room, he glanced to her sleeping-or unconscious- form, thinking. Color had begun to return to her features, cuts had begun to heal, bruises were beginning to fade. He would openly admit that she looked much better then before, when she had first been brought here. Ebony locks fell past her shoulders, creating a striking contrast between her hair and the hospital sheets. Her eyes were shut lightly-at least she wasn't in any pain. He looked about, and spotting a chair he sat in it, watching her with ice eyes.
Why was he here again?
He soon forgot his question as he drifted off to sleep-healing saiyans need much of it.
Author's Note: I got to make up a bit of saiyan history ^^ Cool, ne? Well, here's my bit:
The god Bardock (Who is the god of spirit and will, along with determination) is a god that many saiyans named their children after, hence the Bardock we all know and love today. ^^
Oh- and:
Bebop05-Yes, of course you can! I'm deeply honored! *flushes*
To everyone else who reviewed… You know the deal!
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!!
^^'
"When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?'"
~Sydney Harris