Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Apprentice ❯ Deceiving Appearances ( Chapter 7 )

A/N: In case you haven't noticed, I upped the rating to R because of this chapter. The beginning part of this I did not have as part of my original plot. A review gave me the idea, in some odd sort of way.

Apprentice by Alexa

Chapter Seven-Deceiving Appearances

His strong hands caressed every line and curve of her back. Lifting her closer to him. She could feel his soft lips, hot breath on her neck. Placing chaste kisses all over her skin. Leaving behind a trail of burning desire. Her body was motionless; eyes unable to open. Unable to look upon the face of the man stirring such intense yearning within her very soul. He was in control. She knew that. Every inch of her skin seemed to touch every inch of his. Yet, they were not one. Her heat was reflected to her by his closeness and magnified by his own. Merely a simple movement of muscles kept them as two lovers. Her numbness faded. She flipped her mystery lover onto his back, taking control.

Ash opened her eyes to stare at the floor. She realized she was half hanging, half falling over the side of the bed. Wakefulness can be annoying. She pulled herself back onto her bed. Glancing at the clock, she had over three hours before her day officially began. The Fates hate me. Don't you? Spiteful bitches. Her thoughts unwillingly returned to the man in her dream. She had never had a 'wet' dream. Well, none she could recall. Why now? Why was now the time her subconscious chose to conjure one? Ok, now I know the Fates really hate me. She tried to get comfortable, let herself relax so she could go back to sleep. That wasn't going to happen. Giving up, Ash rose from her bed and headed for the kitchen.

The quiet of the night is always soothing. I love this time. No one is awake. No one nor nothing to disturb this floating sensation. Ash quietly padded down the hall, down the stairs. She reached the living room seeing everything with perfect clarity. Light from the street lamps shone through the sheer drapes dimly illuminating the lower level of Capsule Corp. Ash slowly walked towards the main window, as though in a haze. Her petite hand brushed a drape aside. Looking out the window, Ash saw the cause of her restlessness. Well, no wonder my subconscious chose now to surprise me. It's a full moon. That explains a lot. Ash had always felt an affinity with the moon. There was neither rhyme nor reason to it.

Sighing Ash quickly went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Sleep invaded her senses as she returned to her room. The rest of the night, Ash was in a deep dreamless slumber.

Trunks awoke very late. Shit! Man, am I ever going to be late for school. The lavender-haired youth quickly dressed, gathered his bag, and ran out the door. Right after saying an extremely rushed 'good morning' and 'good bye mom I'm late' to Bulma. She just shrugged. It wasn't the first time, and she doubted it would be the last. Drinking her orange juice, she retreated to her lab looking over a report for her meeting that day.

Ash and Vegeta were outside doing their normal morning routines. Neither gave much thought to Trunks' rushed departure. They had already been training for two hours. Ash was becoming frustrated. Her dream lingered in the recesses of her conscious mind. Vegeta was becoming angered at her lack of concentration. He also wasn't trying very hard to suppress that anger. Before he could continue verbally berating Ash, Bulma called for him from the doorway. He audibly huffed at his student before heading for the house.

"What is it, woman?"

"Vegeta, Trunks just called from school. He forgot his science report. I need you to take it to him."

"What? Why can't you?"

"I have a meeting at the main complex, and I'm running late. I'm not asking much."

Vegeta scowled and said nothing.

"Vegeta! Trunks needs that report. He told me its half his grade for this semester."

"Then he will learn to remember his things."

"I will not have my son flunking science!!" Bulma closed her eyes for a moment to calm herself. "I'm late. I expect you to get that report to him. Now, good-bye. I'll see you later." She briefly smiled at Vegeta, walked outside, popped open her capsule car, and left for her meeting.

Vegeta returned to his student. What is with these women today? That woman has interfered with my training enough already. Now she wants me to waste more time by… He paused in mid thought looking at Ash. That ever so familiar smirk crossed his face. I just found the solution to both problems.

"Ashentara, you have not been concentrating all morning." He held up his hand to stop her from interrupting. "I know when your attention is split. Instead of sparring in the gravity room, I have something different for you to do." Vegeta explained Trunks' problem, and how it was relevant to her punishment.

Ash stood in her closet searching for a different outfit. Great! Because that purple headed genius forgot his damn homework, I have to run to the fucking city and take it to the bastard. Ugh! I really need to work on my concentration. Well, good point: having the dream gives me something to block in future meditations. She mentally grumbled to herself as more time was wasted looking for something to wear. After all, she was going to be in a public high school. Their dress codes didn't exactly approve of leather sports bras and matching mini skirts. I'm half tempted to just wear what I have on now. Ash finally settled on a black and dark purple body suit that clung to every curve of her lithe form. Of course, she wore her favorite pair of black knee high boots. The only visible skin was her face and hands. Looking in the mirror, she smiled and left her own bedroom for Trunks'.

The report was exactly where he said it would be, his desk. Now that's someone who's gifted. Forgets his schoolwork on his desk. Go figure. Ash left the Capsule Corp. grounds with the report in her backpack along with a few water bottles. Although Ash had traversed these same grounds many times before, this day was different; she was alone.

A thought suddenly struck Ash, who by now was over halfway to West City. SHIT!!! I just realized I didn't ask where the hell his school is. And this is a big city, they might have more than one high school. Well fuck me running.

Trunks sat in his third period nervously twitching his leg. He was worried that his father wouldn't bring his report on time. Even though science was last period, that did little to comfort the demi-Saiyan. His leg started twitching so much that a few students on the same tier began to feel the floor tremble. Some thought it was cool; others freaked out. Trunks noticed the ones freaking out, and immediately stopped twitching. He uneasily looked around the room. No one really noticed and/or cared. Unable to twitch his leg now, Trunks began biting his fingernails.

Goten looked at his friend. He was aware of Trunk's 'dire' situation. Even he was anxious to see someone with the report. Mainly so Trunks would stop spazzing. Man, I've never seen him this nervous about anything. I know how Bulma is always pushing him to do good in science, but this is getting scary. He almost looks like he'll have a heart attack if someone doesn't bring that damn report soon. Goten momentarily turned his attention back to the algebra teacher. I hate math. Good thing Gohan helps me with my homework. He glanced at Trunks. Especially this report. I'd have skipped today otherwise. Maybe we still can.

Goten made sure no one, particularly the teacher, was directly looking at or listening to them. He whispered quieter than any human could hear, "Trunks. Maybe after lunch we can skip the second half of the day."

"Goten, what if my dad showed up after we left? How would we explain to our moms why we weren't at school? On top of our mothers, my dad would be pissed if he had to quit training to bring me that report, and I wasn't here." Trunks' voice rose a few decibels near the end. The two cautiously looked around in case someone had heard. All was clear.

"Yeah. You're right. Well what about just skipping last period if no one shows up with it?"

"We'll see."

Trunks and Goten exited algebra class when their time was over. The two starving Saiyans promptly headed for the cafeteria.

"Hey, today Burger Palace will be set up in the quad."

"Goten, you really should cut back on your grease intake."

"Hey, nothing Mom makes is greasy."

"Oh, yeah, I forget. Your mom can actually cook."

"Come on. Bulma's cooking isn't that bad." Goten turned away towards the wafting scent of frying beef before the other could say anything more.

Trunks eyed his friend suspiciously. Since when does Goten refer to my mom by her first name?

Ash had luckily found a police officer shortly after reaching the limits to West City. He reluctantly informed her that one Trunks Brief attended Orange Star High School. What an ass! The school wasn't far from her present location. She looked around and saw a clock on one of the office building. I hate analogues. Why can't it just be digital? Its simpler. After a few moments of staring at the clock face, Ash determined it was almost noon. Lunch time. Good, I'm hungry anyway.

By the time Ash reached the high school grounds, Goten and Trunks were walking back into the cafeteria. Their arms were loaded with bags of food.

"Goten, I swear if they didn't bring all that extra food just for you, Burger Palace would ban you for life."

"Me! You have almost as much as I do."

"How the fuck can you two eat all that shit?" A female voice asked.

Trunks stopped and faced the source of the voice. "Oh, hi, Ash. You remember Goten, right?" He continued walking.

"Yes, I remember Goten." She glanced at the confused youth, flashed a smile, and followed Trunks. With the youngest Son not far behind.

Goten managed to regain his voice and asked, "Can you wear that here?"

"Well, I'm here and I'm wearing it."

"Ash, be nice. Why are you here anyway?"

"Think, dipshit. Why did you call mommy?"

The three youths had entered the cafeteria and sat at a booth. A few male heads turned shocked faces to Ash. They faintly heard 'Who is she?' and 'Do we have a new student?' whispered among the student body.

Trunks was about to bite into his burger when…

"Hey, Brief. Who's the hottie?" A tall, broad-shoulder, round-gut, letter-jacket-wearing, football-toting jock sat at the next booth. With a few of his 'buds', of course.

Another voice piped in with, "Yeah. What's a chick like that doing with you losers?" The jocks laughed.

Trunks rolled his eyes ignoring them.

The jock spoke again. "I asked you a question, purple head."

Ash shot an icy glare at them. "Don't call me a chick or hottie."

"Ooh, this one's spunky. I like spunky." He started making advances on Ash and using all the cheesy pick-up lines known to mankind. The rest of the jocks at the table and those from nearby were encouraging him. Ash ignored him for as long as she could. Trunks and Goten did the same while inhaling their food. Ash silently began to wish the jocks would get tired of seeing those two eat and just leave them alone. No such luck.

A thought crossed Ash's mind for the third time that day. You really hate me, don't you? Damn Fates. She noticed the lines and cat calls had died down. However, some people just don't know when to give up.

The one known as Buzz reached over to Ash and yanked on the neck of her body suit. He quickly retreated his hand when Ash tried to break it. Trunks had lessened the blow, but not averted it. Buzz's hand was bruised and showing signs of swelling.

Buzz's friend, Tiny, audibly gasped when he saw it happen. "What the hell did you do to his hand?"

Trunks gave Ash a 'be careful' look. "Ash. Don't start a fight. Please."

"Why should I care? I'm not a student here. They can't punish you for something I do."

"But he'll try." Trunks and Goten explained how the principal really wasn't fond of the two. They had done nothing to him personally to deserve such distrust and malice. He just didn't like the two 'mischief makers', as he liked to call them.

Ash directed her next statement to Buzz. "Be glad your hand is the only part of your anatomy which you need worry."

"Trunks? What does she plan to do?" Goten worriedly asked.

"I'm not sure, Goten."

A small groups of teachers noticed the mysterious girl standing by the table occupied by the Son and Briefs boys. They quickly discovered the girl was arguing with one of their star football players. Now the last thing Orange Star High needed was their rival, Blue Sun High, to beat them in the district football play-offs. The teachers chose two 'delegates' to approach this young woman. A male teacher for intimidation, and a female teacher for persuasion. Mr. Smith and Mrs. Brown walked across the cafeteria in an attempt to quell the situation.

Goten noticed the pair of teachers heading their way. Uh oh. This can't be good. He hesitantly looked from Trunks, to Ash, to the jocks, back to Trunks. "Trunks, we have a problem."

"No shit, Goten."

"No, I mean a new problem." He gestured towards Mr. Smith and Mrs. Brown. Each second they were getting closer. The demi-Saiyans started perspiring more heavily.

Out of desperation, Trunks tried to force Ash to sit back down. His plan backfired. Ash pulled out of his grasp and back flipped out of his reach falling into a defensive position. Trunks stared in mild disbelief and smacked his forehead. Of course she would reflexively jump out of reach. Stupid, stupid, stupid. He looked past her at the slowly advancing teachers. "Ash, I'm not going to fight you here." He paused realizing he didn't know why Ash had come in the first place. "Why are you here anyway?"

She groaned and replied, "Like I said earlier, think why you called home?"

At first Trunks was confused, then like a light bulb, "My report!!!" He paused again. "Why did you bring me my report? More importantly, where is it?" Trunks dared to look more closely at Ash's body suit.

Ashentara growled. "I was not concentrating during this morning's lesson. This was my punishment." She picked up her backpack that had been in the seat next to Goten. "Here is your science report."

Buzz, Tiny, and the rest of their table heard this entire conversation. One of the anonymous boys started howling with laughter. Even his friends gave him curious looks. He explained that it was funny how a 'geek' like Trunks had forgotten his homework. Soon the table and its vicinity had erupted with fits of laughter.

Buzz said, "Hey girlie. What was this morning's lesson? How to flip pancakes?"

Tiny added, "Or was it cleaning house?" More laughter.

Ash relaxed and tightened her hands into fists. "Do not trifle with me." Her voice laced with menace.

Goten saw the teachers were less than fifteen feet away. "Trunks, do something."

"What can I do?"

"Why are you two so worried?" Ash asked.

"We told you. The principal hates us. He would use any excuse to suspend or expel us."

"Why?"

"We don't know. We never did anything to him."

Mr. Smith and Mrs. Brown stopped in front of Goten and Trunks' booth.

"Gentlemen, what's the problem here?" asked Mr. Smith. Tiny quickly informed them of what Ash did to Buzz's hand. Mrs. Brown asked why she would do something like that. Ash truthfully answered that Buzz was bordering on sexual harassment.

Mr. Smith did not like her attitude. "Young lady, who are you? What business do you have here?"

"I am Ash. I was sent to give Trunks a report he accidentally left at home."

"You live with him?" Buzz asked, astonished.

"His father is my mentor." As if that explained everything.

Mrs. Brown asked, "What kind of mentor?" She was somewhat dreading what might come out of the young woman's mouth.

"Martial arts."

Trunks quickly asked Ash if she should soon be returning to continue training. Ash divulged that Master Vegeta did not want to see her until the next morning when she would be doing her katas. He didn't care what she did as long as she stayed out of his hair. She also noted that West City was confusing, and Capsule Corp. would be boring. Trunks managed to convince his teachers to let Ash shadow him for the rest of the day. Although, a few argued with her attire. In the end, the school dress code did not have a rule against skin tight clothing. Though you could bet it would be there for the next year.

The rest of the day went relatively smooth. None of the teachers had a problem with Ash quietly sitting in their class. However, she couldn't resist the chance to humiliate Buzz in history by correcting him on more than one occasion. Also noting that she wasn't even from their country. Science went flawlessly. Trunks was quite pleased with his presentation; he even included Ash in a demonstration of learned reflexes. When school was over, Trunks, Goten, and Ash went to the park to get a little sparring in before the sun set.

Bulma was in the kitchen preparing dinner. She had gotten home a few hours earlier to find no one around. Except the ever familiar hum of the gravity room. She assumed Ash was training with Vegeta, and Trunks was somewhere with Goten. When dinner was almost ready, Bulma walked over to the intercom and buzzed the gravity room.

"What?"

"Just wanted to tell you and Ash that dinner will be ready in a minute. Come on in and clean up."

"Fine, woman. Ash is not here."

"What? What do you mean Ash is not here?"

"Hey, mom."

Bulma turned to face her son and Ash. "Where have you two been?"

"Sparring in the park." They headed upstairs to wash before dinner. One thing Ash quickly learned; Bulma hates smelly people at the dinner table.

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Well, anyway I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Not entirely sure what's next so the next update might be a little while in the making. I swear it will be posted as soon as its written. Well, I would much appreciate a review. *hint* *hint*