Chapter 5
The Guardian
Trunks was flying in the front of the group with his father, slightly behind his mother's jet. Despite Vegeta's gloomy silence he couldn't help but feel a little excited; He hadn't been in a real battle for years, since Buu's time.
Goku hurried to catch up with them. Trunks didn't look at him. He wasn't inclined to apologize to him, besides that he felt that Goku deserved the attitude he gave him two days earlier. No matter what a good guy he was, or how many times he saved the planet, it wasn't an excuse for not being there for Goten.
"We're going to fight them, Vegeta?" Goku asked with a hint of hope.
"No," Vegeta said emphatically. "Cassius said that they won't provoke trouble. We'll be there just to make sure that happens. Don't do anything stupid, Kakrrot."
They flew north over the sea, where large storm clouds floated in the afternoon sky. A salty breeze was blowing hard. Trunks looked over his shoulder and felt a certain pride to see Marron, his sister and Pan flying against the wind relentlessly.
Suddenly he felt a number of energy signs, pulsing in the distance. He wasn't the only one who noticed them.
"Cassius," Vegeta mumbled. "They're already there."
With these words he accelerated with an aura of energy. Trunks rushed after him, as did all those who could catch up with him: Goku, Gohan, Piccolo and Uub.
After a few minutes they landed on a beach of a forested island, sandy, gray and damp. Cassius and the other Saiyans were already there in their armors, glancing toward the overcast sky. An ominous atmosphere surrounded them.
"Your Majesty," Cassius welcomed Vegeta and bowed, his green robe fluttering in the strong wind blowing over the gray waves. "As I said before, there is no reason for concern. Nevertheless, I am honored you've come. Tonight is the beginning of The Sacred Hunt."
Gohan cleared his throat politely. "If I may ask... What are you going to do if and when you find Aainha?"
"You educated your people on this plant well," Cassius regarded Vegeta smoothly. Gohan looked uncomfortable, squinting at Vegeta. "Well, we will destroy her."
"So why didn't the Saiyans kill her years ago, when they had the opportunity? She is obviously immortal, if she's still alive."
"Nothing is eternal. Not Aainha, not the universe, not the Gods, and not even Creation itself. Each entity will be defeated one day. All it takes is a worthy hero."
"Let me guess," Piccolo said intervened gravely. "Thar hero is you?"
"Your contempt doesn't slight me, Namekain," Cassius replied proudly. "I saw it in my vision. On the verge of death I have been given the power to put an end to the cruel Aainha and the suffering of our race, and so I shall. At any price."
His tone made Trunks uneasy.
"He's crazy," he murmured in his father's ear. "He will destroy the planet if it came to that."
"That's why we are here," Vegeta replied without moving his head. "To prevent that from happening."
Marron, Pan and Bra landed on the island, their hairs blowing in the wind.
"It's snowing," Bra reported.
"Snowing? Here?" Goku was surprised, looking at the sky.
After a few seconds white flakes began to fall on the sand. But it wasn't snow; One of them landed on Uub's bare shoulder and he hissed in pain.
"It burned me," he said, looking at the white flakes at his feet with a grudge.
"It's not snow," Gohan said, raising his eyes to the sky. "These are remnants of spacecrafts that burned upon entering the atmosphere."
Without a warning, an elongated elliptical object fell from the sky with a whistle and landed in the sand near Cassius and his men. The metallic object opened like a bud and out walked a tiny, wrinkled creature with sickly pink skin, dressed in uniforms that were a bad copy of the Saiyans' outfits.
"Lord Cassius," The creature groveled, bowing to Cassius. "As you commanded, five thousand diligent workers from planet Arkdos."
"Thank you, General," Cassius replied. If he thought that the creature was ridiculous he hid it well. "You will be generously rewarded for your help - "
But he didn't manage to tell the greedy creature what will be his reward. A thin ray of light, fast like a bee, cut the air, buzzing with energy as it passed straight through the creature's chest, leaving a smoky hole in his body. The creature collapsed dead at the feet of the stunned Cassius.
Marron let out a scared sound, moving to stand before Pan and Bra. Uub took a step back, confused.
"Where did that come from?" Goku exclaimed, looking around.
"I don't feel any other energy signs on the island," Gohan said, searching the treeline.
"Look!" Piccolo cried out, pointing to the stormy sky.
Countless dark spots fell from the sky - the small and simple people of Arkdos - and towards them a human figure flew at tremendous speed, so fast and so far that he couldn't be seen clearly. Then bursts of energy shone like lightning, burning the creatures that descended to the earth without mercy.
"Stop him!" Cassius ordered his men, angry and shocked. Four of them jumped up quickly to stop the attacker mid flight. They surrounded him in the air, but he kept them away with a huge burst of energy, immediately creating two energy blasts to stop the arrival of the thousands of creatures.
The Saiyans assailed him repeatedly, but he brushed them away as if they were insignificant flies. They didn't interest him at all - it seemed that all he wanted was to stop the Arkdains.
"Piccolo..." Gohan muttered, watching wide-eyed. "Can it be...?"
"Yes," Piccolo replied in a strained voice. "It's certainly possible."
"What are you talking about?" Goku asked.
Gohan didn't answer. Without warning he trotted off and took into the air, Piccolo with him.
"Uub, stay here," Goku commanded his apprentice before flying after them.
Not willing to be left behind, Trunks also jumped into the air. His father thought the same thought exactly. Who was this warrior, and why didn't they know of his existence until now?
It began to rain. The energy explosions flashed behind the gray screen. Trunks moved in time to avoid a body of a defeated Saiyan that was flung to the earth and continued to fly upward.
The mysterious warrior continued to ascend, destroying more and more creatures, leaving behind the defeated Saiyans. Now Trunks was close enough to see his features; He was wearing a gi made of a majestic green fabric, with a thick cloth belt embroidered with shapes of leaves woven in yellow. A carved wood arch hung on his sturdy back, half covered by long black hair that dripped in the rain. The appearance moved his heart, but he wasn't sure why.
Cassius appeared out of nowhere, tackling the warrior hard. The fighter was pushed of his track but didn't lose his composure. He turned, soaked black hair covering his face, and Cassius received a blow that extorted all the air from his lungs.
Then Gohan was there, catching the warrior behind in a neck lock. He fought hard, but Gohan was stronger. The fighter shook the hair from his face violently, and the notion that had been stabbing Trunks' heart for the last few minutes came true with a blinding explosion. He felt like he was the one who had a black smoking hole in the stomach.
"Goten..." he muttered, but his voice was swallowed in the roar of the storm.
Goten's dark eyes surveyed the people around him wildly. There wasn't the slightest sign of recognition in them. Trunks' heart froze as his gaze glided over him without seeing him. Goten didn't remember him.
Goku hovered closer, looking at the boy – at the gloomy man he has become during these seven years – with gentle and sad eyes.
"Goten... It's me. Don't you remember us?..."
In response Goten expertly swung his legs and caught his father's neck. Then, swinging his legs, his father's head hit Gohan's hard and he had to release Goten.
Vegeta lunged at him, but a fiery burst of energy shot around Goten's body and dazzled everyone. Blinded, Trunks flew after the foreign energy sign, that was now Goten's. Smoking bodies fell around him in the rain, and he flew up blindly, following Goten's silhouette.
"Goten!" He shouted into the fierce wind. The cold began to penetrate his bones. They were flying high - the clouds hid the ground from sight - and the air became thinner. But Goten didn't stop his destructive journey.
Then it was over. The creatures were eliminated, and the remaining silhouettes of their spacecrafts fled, undoubtedly receiving the news that their general was killed. Only then Goten stopped, allowing the rain to wash him.
"Goten," Trunks called over the sound of the wind and rain, hovering slightly behind him. "Goten, please... Say something..."
Goten turned quickly with his bow at hand, aiming a pulsating arrow of pure energy stability to Turnks' forehead.
"Leave," he said. Under layers of hoarseness and roughness accumulated with a very long time of silence Trunks could still recognize Goten's pleasant voice.
"No," He said resolutely. He studied his best friend's face - the black hairs that stuck to the pale cheekbones, his eyebrows that were set in a serious line that he had never seen him wear, the drops of water trickling down his lips to his chin.
"I disappointed you once, I won't do it again. I won't leave you."
The arrow tickled Trunks' forehead, burning with energy. He suffered the pain, not moving.
"I know you remember me," he found himself saying. He didn't know that, but he wanted to believe it. He wanted to believe that like Goten had been in his head and heart every day since he had disappeared, so he had been in Goten's heart, deep beneath the layers of forgetfulness.
"No," he replied in sharp relentless, so unlike Goten he had known. "Anything that I do not remember, I do not need."
Trunks shuddered. He looked at the face he knew so well, refusing to let the words penetrate his heart. Goten was lying. He just wanted to punish him for not being there for him, to hurt him. He must remember him.
They looked at each other for a few moments. Trunks was forcing himself not to look away, not to let him go. Then Goten suddenly cocked his head and let his eyelids fall slightly, as if listening to a sound Trunks couldn't hear. It went on for a few short seconds, until suddenly Goten lowered the bow and hung it on his back.
The next moment he was very close to Trunks, so close that their noses were almost touching. Trunks fought a strong impulse to retreat, and a stronger urge to lean forward.
When Goten spoke his voice was much softer, much more familiar, making Trunks' heart flutter.
"I don't remember you, but you do remember me."
"Yes," Trunks said, swallowing.
"You have been thinking about me a lot."
"I think about you every day..."
"You want to be with me. You want to be free, not lonely in the prison you have created for yourself."
"Yes ..." Goten always understood him so well. He was the only one who could understand him. Trunks looked deep into his eyes, at the silvery droplets clinging to his black eyelashes, feeling all the pain and the loneliness of the last years being washed away in the rain. "With you..."
Goten kissed him. Trunks' whole body tensed and then sank into serenity. It felt so right. Goten's scent washed over him through the rain, a scent of grass and young trees and something that was distinctively Goten, something sweet that he would never forget. But the kiss was over too quickly, before he could understand how it made him feel, before he could savor it, and Goten moved away from him.
He felt suddenly very cold, then his world went black and he felt himself falling. Even then all he could think about was Goten kissing him in the rain.
He woke with cold salty water dripping on his face. He sat up with a start, suddenly remembering what had happened. Did he crash to the ground? Why hadn't he caught himself?
He realized he was lying on the wet sand of the island with Marron, his sister and his mother hovering over him anxiously. The rain stopped, the clouds drifting away to make space for a clear night.
Had he dreamed the encounter with Goten among clouds? It felt like he did. The memory was surreal, like a dream. He ran his hand over his face, touching his lips. He didn't want to believe it was a dream... But what happened to him? Why did he lose consciousness?
"Trunks..." his mother tried to talk to him in a concerned voice.
He stood up. He didn't feel hurt, just a little tired. The rest of the gang was standing farther away, in front of the Saiyans. Three bodies were laying on the sand, covered with emerald green robes. Three Saiyans lost their lives in the attempt to stop Goten. Trunks quickly approached them to listen to the conversation.
"I'm telling you, it can't be!" Goku told Cassius with rare anger. "He's my son! He doesn't know anything about this Aainha! -"
"Dad," Gohan cut him in a low voice, putting his hand on his shoulder. "I have to agree that he has a point. Why else would Goten disappear? What else could make him forget all of us?"
"Saiyan mothers were warned to put an end to the lives of children who forgot their names," Cassius said cruelly, surrounded by his wounded warriors. "It is a clear sign that Aainha chose the boy to be a Guardian."
"On Earth we don't kill our family members," Gohan replied coldly.
"He won't hesitate to kill you," Cassius replied in the same tone. "To please his mistress he would sacrifice his own life without a second thought."
"And as for him -" He looked at Trunks. "He was alone with the Guardian. His loyalty is questionable."
"What?" Trunks couldn't believe it.
"Don't forget to whom you are speaking, Cassius," Vegeta growled.
"You know I'm right, Your Majesty. The seed of Aainha's power is not immediately revealed, but grows over time, nurtured by fears and desires. You can't know whether the Guardian planted the seed in him when they were alone."
Everyone looked at Trunks. He urged his mind off the thought of the kiss and said, "He didn't do anything, okay?"
"So why did you lose consciousness?" Piccolo asked out of nowhere.
Anger bubbled inside Trunks. "Because I didn't have enough oxygen. The air is thin up there, as you probably know. We almost reached the atmosphere."
"I don't doubt Trunks' word," Vegeta stated. Trunks felt a pang in his heart; Pride that his father placed such a trust in him, while feeling guilty that he didn't tell him the whole truth. "If you have second guesses, Cassius, I don't object to our paths being separated."
Cassius grimaced in an ugly expression that clarified that all the dignity he showed Vegeta previously was an act.
"We didn't ask for your help, Prince Vegeta. Just don't stand in our way."
"If you dare to hurt anyone on this planet, including Goten, you will find us there," Goku said with exceptional severity. "Standing in your way."
Cassius grunted and flew away. His men took the bodies of their fallen comrades and flew after him.
"Let's go home," Gohan said after a few moments of gloomy silence. "I have to call Mom..."
"I'll tell her," Goku said, surprising everyone. "Just watch Uub for me, okay?"
He put his fingers to his forehead and disappeared. Trunks was convinced that guilt was evident on his usually serene face.
"He may have finally matured," Piccolo said, looking at where Goku stood a moment ago.
Everyone returned together to Capsule Corp. to change their wet clothes. The storm clouds arrived in West City, and the heavy rain that beat the windows didn't allow Trunks to stop thinking about Goten. His face in the light of the storm haunted him. He has matured, and at the same time stayed exactly the same as Trunks remembered him. His black eyes were able to see into his soul; His fears, dreams, desires, they were all spread before him more clearly than ever before.
He had to find a way to get Goten his memory back, to repair the injustice that had been done to him. To bring him home...
He snapped out of his thoughts when Marron handed him a cup of hot tea.
"Why are you standing here alone?" She asked him, also looking at the rainy city through the wide window.
"No reason. Just thinking."
"About Goten?" She went on to asking gently. "Was it really him there?"
Trunks nodded, running a hand through his damp hair, wanting to get rid of the feeling of Goten's lips against his skin so he could at least try to act normal.
Marron took his hand and led him to the center of the room, where everyone else were seated on the couches, sipping tea. She stood in front of them, holding Trunks' wrist.
"We need a plan," she stated. "To get Goten back."
Nobody had an idea. Everyone lowered their eyes.
"Come on!" Marron called. "Bulma, you're a genius inventor, you could come up with something! Or Piccolo, you're wiser than all of us! And Gohan - you always find a solution for everything! Don't any of you have some idea?"
Gohan ran a hand over his face somberly and put his arm around Pan sadly. Piccolo closed his eyes in acceptance, remaining silent in the corner. Bulma was speechless.
"Vegeta, the legend of Aainha doesn't say how to reverse her power on someone?"
"No, otherwise the Saiyans wouldn't have had to slaughter the Guardians, wouldn't they?" Vegeta replied.
Trunks was filled with an urge to be sick.
Marron looked at all of them. No one had anything to say.
Suddenly Uub rose from the carpet and stood in a stiff and upright posture.
"I want to help," he said uncertainly. "If you'd just tell me how."
Marron sighed. "Thanks, Uub."
"Maybe there's a way," Trunks said suddenly, a thought striking him. "If Aainha died, would Goten be released from her spell?"
His mother raised an eyebrow. "It might be an idea..."
"Assuming he wouldn't lose his mind from grief and put an end to his life," Vegeta interrupted bleakly.
"He wouldn't do that," Trunks argued, taking control of the tremor in his voice.
"Boy, the person you saw today isn't your friend," his father explained in a harsh voice. "He's a Guardian of Aainha, her most devoted servant. She made him forget his past completely so he wouldn't be loyal to anyone else but her. Cassius was right about one thing - he will die for her without hesitation."
The cup in Trunks' hand was shaking and tea was dripping on his hand. "You can't know that."
Vegeta let out an uncharacteristic sigh.
"Suit yourself, boy," he said and left the room in a gloomy step.
"Well," Marron tried to ease the atmosphere. "So all we need to do is to eliminate this Aainha... It can't be that hard, right?"
"She's supposed to be immortal," Bra said gloomily.
"Hey, we'll found a solution," Gohan said suddenly, standing up. His presence lit up the room immediately; He inherited that ability from his father, to highlight the hope in every situation. "We dealt with worse. We'll drive the Saiyans away, defeat Aainha, and get Goten back home. What do you say?"
Everyone agreed, turning from quiet to enthusiastic. Trunks tried to act like them, smiling at Gohan in gratitude when he put his hand on his shoulder encouragingly. He knew that the whole thing was supposed to be hard for Gohan more than for him – Goten was his brother - but for some reason he couldn't help but feel his friend's fate was placed solely on his shoulders.
Night fell, and the summer rain wasn't about to stop. Trunks lay uneasily in his bed, unable to sleep. The thought that Goten forgetfulness had begun with their first kiss, and that perhaps their second kiss will bring him back, haunted him in it's sweetness and its lack of realism.
Finally he fell into a fitful sleep, dreaming of black eyes and dark storm clouds.