Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Bad ❯ Chapter 7

Disclaimer: Insert standard disclaimer here. ^_^ Nope, not mine….

Bad

Chapter 7…Fear of Flying

By: EmberMaxximus

I drank your poison 'cause you told me it was wine.

Shame on you if you fooled me once, shame on me if you fool me twice.

It didn't take as long as I thought it would, the packing I mean. I have always been a very organized person, so within the span of two hours I had managed to encapsulate the majority of my belongings that I intended to carry with me to Paris. Clothes, shoes, books, my laptop, music, photos, for the most part I packed my room's total contents with the exception of my furniture. I did a quick once over of my bare room. The room, which that had been my personal space for the past nineteen years of my life. Full of childhood memories of security, warmth, and love. I think I'm sort of going to miss this place. Now it was just a plain old room. Down were the movie posters and pictures, packed were all the small pieces of me that once made this space unique.

I packed my capsules into the carrying case. Oh, I nearly forgot this. I plucked the 5x7 picture frame from the bedside nightstand, reminiscing last year's trip to the beach. Kami, we had had a blast! Pan, Trunks, Marron, Goten, Ubuu, and myself. Considering he was the reincarnation of some 20,000-year-old magical ball of pink destruction, well he's all right by my book.

That was quite a day. I had learned how to surf and Goten learned the hard way not to play with jellyfish. I chuckled recalling his naiveté concerning the dead invertebrate. Hey everyone I'm the creature from the black lagoon. Ooo, ooo…I will incapacitate you with my slimy hair and superior super strength. Mwuaaaahhh!!! Goten…I can't believe it has to end this way. You stupid, stupid man! I suppose it's better like this, nip it in the bud, sever all ties, no second chances, no meaningless apologies and promises of faithfulness. Just a chapter closed in the story of me.

~*~*~*~*~*~

I could always count on Trunks to supply the breakfast of champions and today wasn't any different. I was completely caught off guard as we arrived at The Four Seasons Hotel. "Good morning Briefs-sama, it is always a pleasure to have you dine with us." The young waitress led us to a table with a view overlooking the garden and sat two mugs of steaming gourmet java before us. "Will you have the usual this morning Briefs-sama?"

"Yes, thank you." Trunks curtly answered.

"And you sir?" The maître d' inquired, a grin plastered ear to ear.

I didn't even bother to open the menu, a place like this should have everything available, "I'll have chicken & waffles, a dozen scrambled eggs, and a box of fruit loops."

Trunks bit his bottom lip to refrain from laughing, as the waiter looked quizzically at me then to Trunks, "Just bring him the same as myself," Trunks smoothly interjected.

"So now Goten, what's this dilemma you've found yourself in?" He folded his hands on the table, genuine concern shining brightly in his warm blue eyes.

I stared down at my coffee, stirring it for the umpteenth time, searching my mind for the right words. The spoon clinked softly on the saucer as I set it down thinking on my words. I looked up from my coffee to meet Trunks' gaze. I slowly exhaled, "There's no easy way to say this so I'm just going to say it. But before I begin, I want you to promise to hear me out before you say anything."

Trunks narrowed his eye then nodded once as I began my story. "I'm in love with your sister and we've secretly been seeing each other."

~*~*~*

I don't think I'll ever feel comfortable flying. 1st class, 2nd class, or coach, whatever - I don't care. I hate it. The lurching uneasiness at take off, the stale recycled air. I loathe every aspect of it. To be honest, I much rather fly under the power of my own Ki. I adored the sensation of the cool air whipping my teal locks against my face, but alas as I travel incognito I dare not raise my energy, that would be inviting Goten's company and right now he was the last person in the world I wanted to lay eyes on.

The airplane shifted terribly as my flight hit a not so gentle patch of turbulence. I gripped the armrests unintentionally puncturing the leather with my fingertips, all the while cursing Boeing for not manufacturing a smoother flying aircraft. Mental note: suggest to Mom to invent some sort of aircraft stabilizer. Kami, she'd probably just laugh and offer me a few elephant tranquilizers to put me out for the flights duration.

Four hours twenty-eight minutes and eighteen seconds later Air France Flight 123 landed in Paris, my new home for the time being. This is the perfect opportunity to brush up on my French, horde a few degrees, update my wardrobe, and lastly to forget about that farce of a relationship with that faithless geezer. This is the perfect opportunity to get my life on the right track and maybe even find a man worthy of my affections.

~*~*~*~

His friendly eyes immediately shifted to a threatening stare but he held his tongue. The slim waiter had returned bringing mountains of crêpes, bagels & lox, and eggs benedict, setting all before us. Trunks ignored his plate pushing it aside and methodically started to crack each knuckle after the next. "Last night," I continued, "Last night I had promised her that I'd tell you about us, but with the twins there I never had the chance to and after that Tamara asked me to drive her home." I paused studying his features trying to read his expression as he absorbed the words I spoke.

"That still doesn't explain why you slept on her balcony," his voice was cold and emotionless, the tone bothered me deeply, never had he used this attitude in my direction.

"I found her waiting for me when I arrived home. She smelled Tamara's scent on me and left angry. Oh, Kami she means more to me than the world. I'd never do anything to betray what we have. I love her." I sincerely confessed, though I could see that earning his approval would be a much more difficult task.

"I see."

Trunks pulled the plate of crepes before him and silently ate everything on each plate of food. I followed suit, picking at the food without saying a word to one other. Afterwards, he wiped his mouth clean with the dark linen napkin, removed three one hundred zenni bills from his wallet, placing them on the table and walked out, leaving without saying one word to me.

I had prepared myself for a number of different reactions - everything from welcome to the family or let me help you two lovebirds and even you suck ratfink, I shall runneth my sword through your treacherous heart! Anything but this, this silence, this cold shoulder, his back.

I jumped from my seat to follow Trunks, finding him in the parking lot staring into the sky as his fists clenched and unclenched at his sides.

"Did you lie with her?" I could hear the struggle in his voice as he attempted to keep some semblance of calm in his voice. "Answer me! Did you sleep with her?" He turned around and what I saw written across his face made him nearly unrecognizable, causing my blood to run cold. Right now he despised me, that was clear and if looks could kill I'd be lying in a pool of my own blood laid out dead on the sidewalk where I had stood.

"Yes," I answered firmly, honestly.

In a movement faster than I could detect he was upon me fist raised and colliding into my chin. Shit, that hurt. But, I deserved every sensation of pain he gave. Instantaneously, I experienced the sharp ache at the base of my neck as my head snapped back, the feel of my incisors biting into my tongue, the coppery taste of my blood; the pain of his Ki infused impact sent me rivulets of burning electricity through the left side of my face. The pain belonged to me and I accepted it wholly.

"I cannot forgive this. You've pushed the boundaries of our friendship to far. Until I can speak with Bra I wash my hands of you," his voice was deadly calm, he frighteningly reminded me of his father.

"Bullshit," I growled. "We've been friends our entire lives, think about what you're saying for a minute."

"Think?" his voice a low snarl. "Did you think things through before you seduced my little sister? I'm sure you would not be so understanding if it were myself and your niece."

"You don't know the entire story, Trunks. Wait."

"You had your chance to tell me the whole story. This discussion is over." His Ki increased slightly as he began to levitate and blast into the morning sky. I followed after him tackling him in-flight while performing the Shunkun Idou technique transporting us over the Atlantic Ocean.

He regained his bearings quickly, spinning around and slamming his palm into my sternum. "So, you're not only dumb, but deaf too," I reeled from his attack, gasping for air.

"I…love…her," I gasped, ducking under his roundhouse kick. "This is for real, forever." He answered my words with a flurry of uppercuts. I crossed my wrists in front of my face blocking his assault and remaining only on the offensive, hoping the sincerity of my words would penetrate through his anger.

He phased behind, dropping a lightening fast elbow into the base of my spine. With my emotions flying high in a whirlwind aggravation, the blow caught me off guard and I plummeted into the blue depths of the Atlantic below. On impact, I slammed through a jagged reef of coral. I wheezed as the collision expelled all the air from my chest, refilling my lungs with arctic ocean as I battled to recover my comportment. I kicked upwards propelling through the underwater seaweed forest and icy salt water to the life giving air. I inhaled deeply, coughing up marine water and blood. I looked above through the sparse clouds, trying to sense out Trunks' location, but he was already long gone.

Damnit, this is now officially the worst day of my life, I thought, treading the water, contemplating what the hell I was going to do next.

~*~*~*~*~

Paris had been a godsend. The Champs Elysees, The Louvre, The Eiffel Tower, endless boutiques, cafes, and let's not forget the infamous Euro Disney.

Mom had surprised me with a beautiful flat on Av. de la Bourdonnaie with a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower. The flat was a welcome surprise and a far cry from the crowded dormitories of Toulouse University. The bicycle ride to school was short with several bakeries, cafes, and a chocolate shop on the way. Oh Kami, and what a nice ride it was.

On this morning, the first day of school I visited Pierre. He and I had developed a certain, hmm, for lack of a better word…love affair. He owned Le Petite Ami, a small café/bakery and he made these to die for sausage bread pastries thingamajigs, called Saucisson en Croute. I loved them more than anything, not anything but it's way at the top of the list with shopping and sparring.

"Bonjour, Mademoiselle Bra, another dozen Saucisson en Croutes," asked the shop owner, Pierre Devereux. He was a tall lanky man, an attractive French man, with a pencil thin moustache that suited him perfectly.

"Am I here that often?" I grinned, feeling slightly drunk from the wonderful aromas produced by this talented, talented man.

"Hardly Mademoiselle, how could one forget a face as lovely as yours?" his French was beautiful and with my name dancing off his tongue in such a thick French accent tickled at my heart.

"Flattery will get you everywhere, you know." I smiled, tucking a loose strand of aqua hair behind my ear.

After exchanging our hellos, I drifted back towards the avenue, happy to begin my first day at the University. Kami, I love these sausage rolls! C'est magnifique.

"Hey, Bra!" I turned at the sound of my name hollered from nearby. I saw a young man jogging from across the street towards me. Was it, could it be, omikami it is…Ubuu.

"Bra, I can't believe it's you. What are you doing so far from home?" He reached out pulling me into a tight bear hug.

"Um, I'm attending the local university," I answered proudly.

"Toulouse?" he asked, hope shining brightly in his chocolate eyes.

"Hai…" I happily admitted. "Oui, oui," I added as an afterthought.

"That's excellent," he excitedly chirped, "I'm in the Study Abroad Program. Yosh! This is so great. You don't know how glad I am to see someone I know. Hey! I haven't met anyone here yet and this is kind of sudden but I was just thinking and I've been so homesick, would you like to grab a bite and a movie tonight. I know this great little bistro and there's an old movie theater next door that plays independent films, so how bout it?"

I bit my bottom lip, a small smile touching the tips of my mouth, "Alright-"

"We can catch up, it'll be fun it's so nice to see a familiar face-"

"Ubuu," I interrupted his eager chatter, "I said yes. You don't, have to convince me."

He smiled, a light blush touching his brown sugar complexion. "Tomorrow at seven?"

"That's fine, I'd like that." We walked together to the campus, talking about this or that and starting to catch up. It turned out that we had one class together, Francais as a Second Language, which was towards the end of the day. With the exchange of phone numbers and a promise to meet again soon we parted. It was nice to see a familiar face in the midst of strangers. To think, my first Parisian friend turned out to be a boy from back home…Ubuu.

To be continued….

Next chapter - Goten discovers information on Bra's whereabouts while Bra juggles school, change, and new friends.

A/N: The song is Pink's Eventually from her Missundaztood album. The next update will be very late, but very long to compensate for its lateness. I'm moving early January and I expect my household goods to arrive by March. So, I'll be 'puterless for a while. **sniff, sniff**. But I will continue my writing in my handy-dandy journal, so it's all good. On another note, is anyone interested in Beta-Reading for me? I won't have any new chapters until March-ish, but after rereading some of my old chapters, they look pretty pathetic. So, if anyone's interested email me at EmberMaxximus@yahoo.com I may not respond right awhile, depends on whether my 'puter is packed up or not. Oh, I'll post one new oneshot, a Marron/Trunks PWP before I leave, as well. See ya in a few, Ja ne!

~EM