Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Becoming Trunks ❯ Chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2

As Trunks walked home, he went over their conversation again and again in his head. `I'm such a jerk,' he thought. He found a bench and sat down. `Thoughtless, arrogant-- wonder where I got that from.' he said to himself. Miyuki had said it was a mistake for them to be seen together. She was afraid of losing her job, and her job was all she had. Unlike him, she hadn't grown up with an unlimited supply of whatever she wanted. He had felt ashamed when she talked about her life and compared it to his. He couldn't help who his grandfather was and he would have given anything at that moment to be someone else. Sighing, he tried to piece together what he had done wrong in their conversation.

"Why is it a mistake for us to be here?" asked Trunks.

"Because you are my boss's son and it just wouldn't look right." Said Miyuki.

"Then why did you agree to meet me?"

Miyuki just smiled. Truthfully, she wasn't sure how to answer that question. He had intrigued her, and there was no denying that he was a hottie. "I guess I just wanted to be sure you were okay," she finally said.

"That's the only reason?" questioned Trunks. He had hoped it had been more than just out of concern, but he must have been kidding himself. Someone like her was way out of his league.

She smiled again and took a drink. "What exactly are you asking me, Trunks? I don't like to play games, so I'd appreciate it if you'd just get to the point. You called me and asked me to meet you. Why?"

Trunks felt his face get flushed. If she really knew what he was thinking, it wouldn't be good.

She spoke before he could get any words out. "Actually, you don't have to answer that. It's easy enough to know what all eighteen-year-old boys are thinking." She smiled again and ran her fingers through her hair. "You, Mr. Briefs, need to get home and stop worrying your mother!"

"Wait," he started to confess, "I don't want to go home yet. You see, I don't want to face my father. The two of us had a huge argument this afternoon, which is why I was in my mom's office. Mom does her best to calm things down, but she always ends up taking his side. She just doesn't understand that I'm tired of trying to live up to what they think I should be. They continually pull me in two different directions, each wanting me to become something that they want. Sometimes, even I don't know what I want to be, but as long as they keep hounding me, I may never get the chance to find out."

"You're lucky to have parents who care about you," was all she managed to say.

"Sometimes I wish I wasn't so lucky," he replied, staring down at the table and into the glass that he was holding. He swirled the liquid around in the glass a few times before looking back up at her.

Her blue eyes met his with a sharp look. "Let me tell you a little about life, kid. My mom left my dad when I was six years old, leaving me to be raised by my dad and grandmother. Granted, my dad tried the best he could, but he didn't have the skills to be a father. My grandmother was very old and also tried her best. She was the only good thing about my life, but she passed away when I was in my senior year of high school. My grandmother had also taken out a life insurance policy on herself, naming me as sole beneficiary, so that my dad couldn't touch it. Right after I graduated high school, I got a job at Capsule Corp. and moved into my own apartment. Then I used the insurance money to go to college. I haven't talked to or seen my dad for five years because he never forgave me for using that insurance money to pay for school." She stopped to take a quick sup of her drink before continuing. "I don't know who my mother was, and probably never will. Everything I own, I've had to struggle for. So, don't come to me and tell me that your life is `shit', because you don't even have any idea what real shit is!" Her eyes were starting to well up with tears.

"I'm so sorry. I'm such a jerk." He managed to say. Why did he always say the wrong thing around women? `Why do I always stick my foot in my mouth so deep that I can never get it out?' he thought.

She realized that her speech was not what Trunks needed to hear. "No, you're not a jerk. I understand what you're feeling. It's me that should be more sympathetic." Miyuki wanted to be compassionate, but it was hard when what she really wanted to do was shake some sense into him. "I think it would be best if we leave before someone recognizes you." She started to get up from her seat.

"No, please. Don't go," said Trunks, a plea in his eyes. "I want to hear more about you."

She sighed. "I really have to get home and get some sleep. I have a big day tomorrow. Would you like to walk me home?"

"I would really like that," said Trunks with a smile. Maybe somehow he could redeem himself so that she would want to see him again.

They got up from their booth, left the saloon, and walked in silence for a few blocks until Trunks decided he needed to say something. "There was no alcohol in that drink you got for me was there?" he commented with a smirk.

Miyuki smiled. "No there wasn't. Could you really tell?"

"Yes, I could tell. What about yours?"

Miyuki pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her purse and lit one. "Not mine either. I don't drink. Smoking is my vice."

Trunks watched her take a deep breath of the cigarette and slowly blow out the smoke. He was working himself into a frenzy of male hormones. He tried to shake off the feeling. "So, do you work really closely with my mom?" he asked, wanting to keep her talking.

"Pretty close right now. She and I are working on a project together and I am really hoping she likes my work. I'm sucking up to her because there is a big promotion coming up at the end of the summer. The Director of Operations in North America is retiring and I'm hoping to land that position. So I'm doing my best to kiss ass." Miyuki wasn't sure why she had just told Trunks this information. Perhaps it was because she could sense that he wanted more from her than she wanted to give and knowing that she was leaving may discourage him from pursuing anything. "Don't you dare breathe a word of this to your mother or I will be forced to silence you!"

Trunks felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. North America? That was on the other side of the world. " I see," he managed a smile. "Well, good luck, and I promise I won't tell," he said.

They walked a little longer in silence until they came upon Miyuki's apartment. She put out her cigarette, got her keys out, and unlocked the door. "Thanks for walking me home. Maybe I will see you around the `Compound'?"

"I hope so." Trunks turned and walked away. After a few steps, he looked back. He wanted to be sure he remembered where the apartment was in case he wanted to stop by.

"Who am I kidding?" He mumbled to himself as he was snapped back to reality. "Like she would ever have me over to her apartment. She thinks I'm nothing but a kid." Trunks ran his fingers through his hair as he thought about what he had to do `I need to grow up. If I don't do something now, my parents will continue to dictate what I do and they will forever suffocate me.' He leaned back on the bench and stared up at the sky. "I need to do something. Something drastic!" He said aloud.

Miyuki shut the door behind her and walked into her apartment. She dropped her purse in the spot on her table where it always sat. She was about to sit down when her doorbell rang. She went over and opened it. "Hi. Why are you so late?" It was her next-door neighbor, Sayuri. Miyuki motioned for her to come in, then went over to the refrigerator and got them each a soda. "Are you going to tell me why you're so late?"

"I was out," answered Miyuki.

"OUT? YOU? You've go to be kidding. You never go out-and why did you go out without me? It wasn't with a guy, was it?"

"Time-out!" Sayuri was her best friend, but she didn't know when to shut up. "Yes, I was with a guy, but it was NOT a date." She said.

"Who's the guy? Is he cute? Does he have a brother?"

"He's my boss's son," said Miyuki.

"You went out with Trunks Briefs? He is so hot! What is he like?"

"Would you stop? You don't get it, do you? He's my boss's son and he's eighteen. We were not on a date because if we had been on a date I would probably get fired." Miyuki plopped down in a chair.

Sayuri sat in the chair across from her and they both lit up cigarettes. "Eighteen is of legal age. You act like you have one foot in the grave. You are only twenty-three, you know. That's not that old. Besides, if that is `old', then I must be downright ancient at twenty-five."

Miyuki grabbed a magazine and threw it at her. Laughing, Sayuri managed to duck out of its way and it landed on the floor. "I don't need some kid complicating my life right now. On the other hand, he is a very good-looking kid…and those muscles! You have no idea how hard it was for me to keep my hands off!" She took another drag of her cigarette.

Sayuri did the same and blew three smoke rings. "Honestly, girl! I just don't get you sometimes. You've had some of the most gorgeous and available men banging down your door, and you totally blow them off. It wouldn't hurt you to give in to your animal yearnings sometimes." She picked up the magazine that had landed on the floor and tossed it back on the table in the center of the room. "You don't even have a television for gosh sakes. What do you do besides work, exercise and sleep?"

"I also read, and that is all I need to do. Why would I want to complicate my life with a man? We have this conversation everyday. Can we put it to rest?"

"No, we can't! It isn't everyday that you have a date with the most eligible and hottest thing in the city!" Sayuri put out her cigarette in the ashtray and looked at her friend. "Are you going to blow this one off, too?"

Right at that moment the doorbell rang again. Miyuki looked at her friend with a puzzled expression. "Who could that be?" she wondered. She went to the door and opened it.

"Hi." It was Trunks. He had a bouquet of flowers that he had bought from a corner merchant. "I just wanted to give you these and tell you that I enjoyed getting to know you this evening. I really hope we can do it again soon." He said. His voice was wavering because he was very nervous.

Her friend ran over to the door to introduce herself. "Hi, I'm Miyuki's next door neighbor, Sayuri. It's a pleasure to meet you." She stuck out her hand for a handshake.

Trunks did the same and shook her hand. "A pleasure to meet you as well," he said. He thought he would throw up at any minute, but managed to keep his composure. "Miyuki, would you be free tomorrow evening for dinner?" He asked. Please say yes was running over and over in his head.

Miyuki looked down at the flowers and then over to her friend. Sayuri gave her a look that said, "If you don't say yes I will kill you." She looked back at Trunks and without even thinking answered "Yes, I would love to."

Trunks was relieved. He wanted to jump up and down, but kept himself on the ground until he said good-bye. As soon as she shut the door, he was up in the air flying over West City. "Yes!" he shouted.

Miyuki shut the door and hugged the flowers. She looked at her friend, who had a big smile on her face. "Did I just make a date with my boss's eighteen-year-old son?"

Sayuri nodded several times before running over to her friend and hugging her. "You go girl!" she giggled. "He was the cutest thing I have seen in a long time. He looks much older than eighteen." She pulled her friend over to the kitchen and got the biggest glass she could find in the cupboard. She filled it with water and took the flowers from Miyuki and placed them in the glass. "There you go. Now you better water these. I know all about your `brown thumb'."

Miyuki hadn't heard a single word her friend had said. She was still in a complete daze over what had just happened. "He brought me flowers," was all she said

Sayuri was beaming. She was so glad that her pal was going on a date. Miyuki needed a good dose of fun in the worst way.

Trunks flew home in a daze, also. But, the closer he got to Capsule Corporation, the slower his pace became. He knew that he had to face his parents, especially his father when he got home.

Trunks arrived home and flew directly towards the balcony of his room. In that way he figured he wouldn't have to face his father or sister and he didn't want either of them to ruin this extraordinary bliss he was feeling at that moment. Now, he had to plan the perfect date. Maybe he should call Goten. His best friend had a lot more experience with women and always seemed to have at least one or two girls hanging all over him. He would definitely call Goten first thing in the morning.

Suddenly, there was a knock at his door. He looked at it, debating on whether or not to open it. "Who is it?" he asked. Depending on who answered would dictate whether he would answer it.

"It's me honey. I want to talk to you." It was Bulma. He had already decided that she was the only one he would open the door for. As soon as he unlocked the door and let his mom enter his room, she hugged him. He hugged her back but felt uncomfortable. He was so excited on the inside but could not share with her what he was excited about. "Are you okay?" she said as she was hugging him. "I was so worried about you! I didn't know where you were!"

"I'm fine, Mom. I do need to ask you something. If I want a job here at Capsule Corp. for the summer, where do I need to go?" This is what he had decided would be his first "drastic" step.

Bulma pulled back and looked at her son, puzzled by this question. "If you want a job honey, I can put you to work in my office."

He shook his head. "No Mom. I want an entry-level job, just like everyone else that applies here. I don't want any special treatment." He replied to his mother.

"Okay." Said Bulma. She was completely stunned by what her son was asking her. He had never before expressed an interest in working at the family business. "You can go by Human Resources and fill out an employment application. When do you want to start?"

"As soon as I can. I will load boxes if that's all that's available. I really mean it Mom. I don't want any special favors."

"All right, son. If that's what you want." She was silent for a moment and then looked at him. "Trunks, you should really talk to your father. He was very hurt by what you said to him. He probably deserved it, but I've never seen him like this."

Trunks shook his head. "I have nothing to say to him. He constantly compares me to that other Trunks from the future and I am sick of it! I am not that person. I am who I am and he is just going to have to accept that."

Breathing a heavy sigh, Bulma put her hand on her sons back and rubbed in a circle. She loved both of her men so much and hated to see them fight like this. But, she also knew in her heart that she had to let the two of them work it out. There was nothing she could do. She gave her son a kiss on the cheek and left the room.

Trunks watched his mom leave. He would not talk to his father; not now that things were starting to look up for him. Right at that moment, the girl was all that he could think about-that beautiful, amazing girl-Miyuki.