Ch 8

It was the day of wedding rehearsals, and Trunks couldn't be more miserable. It hurt when Valese walked down the aisle, it hurt when the couple exchanged their vows, and it really hurt when they kissed. He had to turn his head away as he looked towards the exit. This was too hard and all he wanted to do was runaway.

"All right everyone," said Ginger Rex. "That's all for today but you're all more than welcome to continue this party back at the mansion."

'Great, I can finally get out of here, go home, lock the door to my room, and curl up in a ball and die,' thought Trunks as he made his way to the exit without looking back at anyone.

"Oh Trunks," said Ginger.

'Great! The world must be against me today.' He turned to face her. "Mrs. Rex, it was a great rehearsal. Anyway I have to get home."

"Nonsense, you must come home with me. There's a celebration at my mansion, and I would be delighted if you came. I'm sure Goten would really appreciate it."

"Where's your husband?"

"Oh, he's a very busy man but you seem like the type of man who knows how to balance business and pleasure."

"I'm sure your husband wouldn't like it very much that you're flirting with me Mrs. Rex."

"My relationship with my husband is an open one Mr. Briefs. It keeps our marriage interesting."

"While that is your lifestyle, it is not one that I want to be involved with."

"I know your reputation with women quite well, and I'm not looking for a serious relationship. I just thought we could have a little fun," she smirked.

"I'm not interested Mrs. Rex," said Trunks as he walked past her and out of the temple.

As Trunks got into his car and shut the door, he sighed. 'Is that what people really think of me? They think I'll sleep with any woman that moves. No! Why the f**ck do I care what people think. Kami, I have to get out of here now,' he thought as he started the ignition when a knocking came to his car door. Looking up from the ignition, Trunks saw Goten.

"Hey, where are you going in such a hurry?" Goten asked as Trunks shut off the car and came out, closing the door behind him.

"I'm not feeling so well Goten. I think I'm just going to head home.

"I know talking to Mrs. Rex can do that to people," he smiled, "but what's really going on with you Trunks?

"What do you mean?"

"You looked in pain the whole rehearsal, like you didn't want to be there."

"We've been best friends since you were born Goten. I guess it's hard for me to let you go. I mean things will never really be the same once you get married. The closeness we use to have will be gone."

"Trunks, you're wrong. You'll always be my best friend, my brother. There's nothing and no one that can take that away."

It was all too much to bear as Trunks felt darkness take him.

Trunks' eyes opened to see older, identical ones staring back at him. "Mother," he said as he sat up in the infirmary of his home. "What happened?"

"You fainted outside after Goten's wedding rehearsal. How are you feeling?"

"I'm not sure, but something's going on inside me. I can't explain it."

"It appears you've chosen Goten as your mate, but he has not chosen you. Every time you are in close contact with him, it hurts," said Vegeta.

"So I have to keep my distance," he sighed. "That's not going to be easy since he's staying with us."

"You know what you have to do son. If you don't, then you will long for him with such intensity that it will destroy you," said Vegeta.

"I can't tell him father. I won't be responsible for breaking up his relationship with Valese. I'll just be doing more damage."

"I'm sure Goten wouldn't want you to suffer this way if he knew what you were going through," said Bulma.

"I'm sure I will survive until their wedding is over. I'll just take one of the space ships and get away for a while."

"You're a coward!" seethed Vegeta.

"Fine, I'm a coward. I don't care anymore. I want him to be happy and if that's with Valese, then that's the way it is. It's not like my feelings for him will change anything. If he didn't love me back, I don't think it's something I could get over."

"What if he did love you back Trunks?" asked Bulma.

"He doesn't. He loves Valese. He said so himself," said Trunks. "Now, lets just drop it. Besides, I'm tired. I just want to go lie down," he said as he got off the bed and immediately fell to the floor. "What the hell!" he yelled as his mother felt his forehead. "You are kind of warm," she said as Vegeta helped him up, wrapping his arms around his son's waist. He looked into his son's eyes. "You will die Trunks. It's only a matter of when."

In his father's eyes, Trunks saw concern and sorrow. "Father," Trunks said in surprise as Bulla burst into the room.

"Trunks," she said as she hugged her big brother, "I was so worried. Are you—?"

"I'm ok Bulla. It's just a saiyan thing. I'll be over it in no time."

Trunks was lying in his bed and was about to close his eyes when he heard a knock on the door. "Come in," said Trunks as he sat up in bed to see Goten enter his room.

Goten sat beside his friend. "Ok, now you need to tell me what's going on Trunks. This has to be more than overworking yourself at Capsule. I mean your dad had to carry you to your bed, and your mom said you have a fever."

"Every dominant saiyan has a chosen mate. My body is telling me it's time to mate, and it's the smell of submissive mate that's calling out to me. If I don't mate, I'll die."

"Who is it?"

"It's complicated Goten. This person loves someone else, and I won't come between them for my selfish needs. It's just something I'll have to accept as well as my family. I'm sure I have a lot of time left, so I don't want to dwell on it," said Trunks as he heard a sniffle and he looked up to see tears in his best friend's eyes so he held Goten tight as he cried harder than he ever had in his life. It broke Trunks' heart.

Goten had finally fallen asleep in Trunks' arms from exhaustion. He held Goten tight, never wanting to let go, and he took the time to observe his sleeping friend. The rise and fall of his chest kept him hypnotized like the waves of the ocean. When he left that marvel behind, he looked to the innocent, young face, which took his breath away. Even after all these years, he still looked like the seven-year boy who changed his world merely by being in it.

'How can one person change the life of another just by being born? How can a baby know what loves is when they gaze into the eyes of a newborn? I guess I'm lucky to know you chibi, and I will continue to know you until my life ends.'

An emotional wave came over him as he leaned into Goten's face, pressing his lips softly against the flesh of his check. He could feel the tears threatening to spill, but he held them in as a warm sensation came over him when his lips touched Goten's face. He didn't want the feeling to go away as he tenderly kissed Goten's forehead, waking up his exhausted friend.

"Trunks."

"Uh sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's ok. I'm sorry for getting so upset like that. It's just—he felt Trunks' hand on his shoulder.

"Please don't cry anymore Goten, I can't take it."

"We have to find this person Trunks. You can't die!"

"No Goten, they deserve to be happy and what can I possibly give to someone else?"

"You're heart for one, which can be pretty big if you let anyone in but me and your friends and family. When no one's around but me, you have this tenderness that anyone would be lucky to have with you."

"They have a fiancé Goten. I can't just break up an engagement because I want to live. That would be selfish of me, and there's no guarantee that this person would learn to love me. I don't want to cause unhappiness."

Goten came out of his friend's embrace and stood up. "There's got to be something we can do Trunks. Can't you just mate with someone else?"

"I can't. I've chosen since birth whom I'm meant to be with. I mean sure I could pick up any girl on the street and mate, but it wouldn't be the same. I wouldn't love her, and we would just end up unhappy and miserable. I don't want to live my life like that Goten. I won't. I refuse!" Trunks said as he stood up. "I want to be able to come home to someone I care about and love them unconditionally in good and in bad times. I want to hold someone tightly in a passionate embrace while I make love to them. I want everything that comes with loving someone with my whole heart."

"I'm sorry for suggesting a random person to mate with. It was selfish of me and what you've described sounds nice Trunks. I want you to have that more than anything in the world."

"Thank you Goten."

"Hey Trunks, why did you kiss me on the check and then on the forehead?"

Nervousness came over Trunks. "It was just a comforting thing for me. I'm just trying to deal with the fact that I'm leaving behind the one person who knows me the best in the world. You've always been this light in my life that has taken away the darkness inside me. I will always be thankful for your friendship and love."