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Chapter VII"From the Heart"

"Let your heart guide you. It whispers,
so listen closely...."

~Land Before Time

"The heart has reasons that reason does
not understand...."

~Jacques Benigne Bossuel

There was only one way to get through the day as quickly as possible; by fighting. Trunks asked Gohan if he wanted to join him, but he had to study with Videl for some exam. However, sweet old Goku was available and only happy to train with him.

"Trying… to … get… some… stuff… off… your mind?" Goku asked through the blocking and punching. But Trunks remained silent, an alternative answer for yes.

"Don't worry Trunks," Goku assured him, "she will realize what you're worth soon enough."

'But that's not what I am afraid of…' Trunks thought, 'I know she really cares about me! The only thing I am worried about is, will she realize that we are meant to be together?'

'My love is like a satin dress… Beautiful, soft, pure and perfect for you…' His words echoed through her head, she couldn't stop thinking about him, no matter how hard she tried to distract herself. She cleaned the house with Mrs. Briefs, there was a lot of mess left from the party. She helped Mr. Briefs with research and other stuff in the lab… She did groceries and prepared breakfast, lunch and dinner. But these things were simple enough to let her mind wonder, 'what does your heart feel?' She thought about it once again, what did her heart feel?

"What's on your mind, sweetpea?" Mrs. Briefs asked the girl that was sunken deeply in her thoughts, "having some love trouble?"

"Oh, ma, let the girl alone." Bulma pushed her mother out of the living room. "Can't you see something important is troubling her?" She turned around and sat down next to Renai, "tell Bulma what is wrong, dear."

"Bulma…" Renai started slowly, "how do I listen to my heart?"

"Oh, dear," Bulma thought about it for a moment before she answered, "that's hard to explain, it's something you have to figure out for yourself. And once you figured it out, it's a piece of cake!"

"But I don't know how to figure it out! And I don't have time, he expects an answer tonight!"

"He? You mean Trunks?"

Renai nodded; "uhu. He wants to know what I feel in my heart…"

"But that's easy!" Bulma exclaimed.

"Easy? How can it be easy?"

"Well, do you love him or not?"

"I do, but I don't see…"

"Well there you have it!" Bulma interrupted, "if you love some one, it's natural that you want to be with that person!"

"I love him, but I don't know if I can trust him. I don't know how it will work out; maybe he will leave me in the end or the other way around…"

"Oh, come on, Renai! We never know these things! Love is a beautiful thing, it's a risk worth taking, believe me. If you don't then you will live the rest of your life regretting it!"

She stood up, "I have to visit Master Roshi and the others with little Trunksie tonight, so I have to go… I believe that you will make the choice that is best for you dear, believe in yourself!" She kissed Renai on her cheek and left her behind with her thoughts.

Renai sighed deeply, 'everyone is so nice, trying to cheer me up and give me advice… I know they are right, but still I am not completely satisfied…'

She walked over to her room and started to clean it up, when she picked up a pillow that was lying somewhere on the floor she found the note from Trunks underneath it. She picked it up and read it again…

Dear Renai,

Love is only complicated when you think too much,

Follow your heart and you will be happy.

May this satin dress be the key!

Enjoy the ball,

Love,

Trunks

Suddenly it hit her… that was the key! She finally understood what everyone was talking about; she finally understood what he was talking about it. Somehow she only just really understood it… She was thinking too much, it was simple; she had to follow her heart. All the worries, all the fear and all the pain came from her mind… Her thoughts played tricks on her feelings and fed her doubts. She just had to simply turn her mind off for a moment; it was the only way to sincerely feel!

"Oh Trunks" She exclaimed, "I love you and I want to spend my life with you!" Now that she realized that, it was time to find him and tell him. She grabbed her red jacket of her chair, just like the time when she saw the strange light from the forest, and ran… She ran as fast as her feet could carry her, towards the mystical forest… one more time…

"What do you mean, she's not here?" Trunks yelled; he couldn't believe what he was hearing!

"I mean that she is not in the house," Vegeta replied impatiently, "she yelled something about you and ran outside, that's all I know."

In a second, Trunks was in the yard, 'where could she have gone? We were supposed to meet!' He clenched his teeth together, then suddenly he thought of something; 'meet.' That was the answer! 'Perhaps…' He flew straight towards the forest, towards the open spot. But she wasn't there, no trace of her! He could feel his heart sank into his shoes… To him this fact was a clear answer, "I guess she does not want to spend the rest of her life, with me…" He opened the door to his time-machine and went inside…

And there she was, dressed in the silk lavender gown he had bought for her. Her long, ginger curls decorated her face while her emerald eyes where glistering in the moonlight.

"Renai!" He exclaimed, but she raised her hand to stop him from coming closer. She had something important to share with him.

"Trunks…" Her voice was like honey, so sweet and soft… "This dress, Trunks, is like your love… Beautiful, soft, pure and perfect for me!"

"Renai?" He wasn't sure if he was hearing her well, but she wasn't finished yet.

"I finally realized what you meant," she whispered, stepping closer to him.

"You did?" He answered, barely able to speak.

She nodded; "and guess what?"

"What?" He could manage to bring the word out; his throat was dry and his palms sweaty. Why was he being so nervous?

"I listened to my heart…" She was now so close to him that their noses almost touched.

"What did it say?" He asked her with a soft voice, trembling from tension.

"That I belong to you, and always will…" She placed her hand on his cheek and kissed him.