Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Dude Looks Like A Lady ❯ Chapter Nine ( Chapter 9 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Innocence is Futile

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Dude Looks Like A Lady
By Raven Pan and Alison Sky

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Chapter Nine
July 27
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Trunks got everything she needed at the store, and was just checking out when she saw Paris was behind her in line. Time for investigating. When she paid for her groceries, she asked if she could get someone to help her with them to her car. "You see, I threw out my back last week, and it still just isn't up to par."

"I'm sorry ma'am, but we're short on staff today."

"Pity, there was one guy here the other day, Goten I think his name was?"

"Nobody working here goes by that name."

"No? Tall handsome, well built? He was so kind and put my groceries in my car for me last week," she smiled as though she were any young female. "Man, whoever got him is one lucky woman."

Paris just snorted a bit. "He's not all that you think, lady," she spoke, reading one of the magazines on the rack.

"I beg your pardon?" Trunks turned slightly and blinked, treating Paris as the stranger she was believed to be. "You know him?"

"Yeah, Goten's my boyfriend," she stated. "Sweet, yes. But there's no real brain behind it."

"Really? He was so polite and helpful, surely that takes some thought," Trunks absently handed over her credit card - one her mother had gotten her with the name 'Trina' put onto it

"Yeah, but he's so easy to push around," Paris laughed a bit. "He'll jump at anything I ask him to do. It's so cute it's sick sometimes."

"You should feel lucky - Most men I know just push women around, then drop them when things even start looking mildly serious!" ... like me...

"If you let a man do that to you, sweetie, you're going to be pushed aside until the day you die," Paris said. "You need to take what you can get, and then move on, that's it."

"Really, that's a strange philosophy on life," 'Trina' absently signed for her groceries as they were bagged. "You sure you're not selling him short?"

"Goten's a poor boy with nothing to offer but sweet nothings... and that's all they are, nothing. It's nice to have that, but a girl needs more in life than words and kisses."

"... I see..." Inside Trunks was boiling with anger, this girl obviously had NO CLUE what Goten had to offer. How shallow... ugh, she hated her already, even if she DID have a nice rack.

Paris put her basket on the table. It was filled with diet food and magazines. "If you want a real man, don't look for hicks in the woods, Honey. All they want are women to give them babies and let their old styled ways still work. I tried to teach Goten some more citylike ways, but his mother holds him too close, and he'll never grow up. Maybe one day he'll make a small town girl happy, but not me."

"If you're not happy... why did you start going out with him?" Trunks asked curiously - inwardly big-bang-attacking the broad from here to New Namek.

"Well, he was best friends with Trunks Briefs, of course. Now that's a man. I would do anything to land that man... even if I had to go through his naive best friend to do it."

"I hear he goes through women almost twice a week," Trunks said calmly - thank heaven for her... business face. Like she would ever have gotten away with it, she thought to herself. Nobody hurts my best friend and turns around to expect me to date them. Then she blinkd, "Was?" she asked.

"Haven't you heard? The Briefs' boy disappeared a few months back. Capsule Corp says he went on some charity mission, but I know Trunks. He cared only about himself, so I can only assume he did something terrible and has been exiled. Goten doesn't talk about him anymore, either, so I know it's true.

"Ah," she nodded. "So since you never really were going out with this Goten guy for him anyhow, but to get close to Trunks - game is getting boring?" She asked - trying to seem interested, and not throw her canned peas at the other woman's disgusting face.

"Yeah... time to look for greener pastures, if you know what I mean," Paris chuckled. "Oh, I won't break Goten's heart right away... probably let him down easy.... He'll cry, I'm sure, but he'll go on, like they all do. He IS cute... probably have another girl on his arm in no time."

"I still think any girl would be lucky to have a guy like him," Trunks said thoughtfully.

"Well, good luck. Give me another month, and then you're more than free to take him," she told her.

"Hn," Trunks nodded, "Well, I've got to get going," She said bluntly, turning the cart and pushing it out the door.

Man, Chibi... what kinda girl did you get yourself involved with? she thought to herself.

Paris shook her head, then started to whisper to the checkout girl about how lame Trunks was, giggling and rolling their eyes.

Once out to her car, Trunks pulled out a capsule, and put her groceries into the resulting large bin, closing the capsule up again before hopping into her blue porche, and driving home.

Should she tell him? Talk him into breaking it off first? What should she do. "What a fuckin bitch!" She shouted to nobody in particular as she drove along.

With a sigh, she parked in her usual spot, and headed in the door of the apartment building. She smiled to the old english lady who lived a few floors down from her and Goten. "Hello Mrs. Winterbourne, how are you feeling today?" she asked.

"Oh, hello deary," Mrs. Winterbourne smiled and waved. "Trina, right? Young Mister Brief's cousin?"

She nodded, "Yes ma'am," she walked over, seeing a rabbit in a box, a lovely white and black speckled Lop. "Hello Harvey, how are you today?" she asked, petting the rabbit behind its ears.

"Harvey's in a bit of a bind, actually, Dearie. That cold I had for a long time... the doctor says I'm allergic to him. And it's a shame cause my granddaughter gave me the bunny because she loved him, but was allergic herself. Shame really. I don't know what to do with him."

"That's terrible," Trunks crouched down to nuzzle the bunny, laughing a little at the whisker twitching. "He's such a sweet thing - trained and everything, you told me."

"Yes, such a sweet dear he is. I'm waiting to see if the paperboy might want the bunny... he's only twelve, he might want a pet, don'tcha think?"

"He might... if he doesn't will you let us know? I wouldn't mind taking him - it gets lonely with Trunks gone away for a while, and Goten's at work a lot. I work out of the apartment, so...."

The old lady tilted her head and smiled. "Well, if you're sure your cousin and the other boy won't mind... you can take him now. I haven't asked the paperboy yet..."

"Really? Oh thank you so much, Mrs. Winterbourne!" Trunks gave the old woman a hug. "And you can come by to visit Harvey any time you want," she smiled. "Just call first, in case I had to go out or something. You have our number?"

"That I do, but I'm going to be moving in with my son at the end of the month. I'm sure you'll take good care of Harvey."

"Oh I will, I promise," she smiled, sitting back again. "We'll get along great, won't we Harvey?" she asked the bunny, who only wiggled his whiskers.

Mrs. Winterbourne smiled. "Be good, Harvey. Make grandma proud," she petted the bunny, then sneezed a bit.

"I'll take him upstairs, you take care okay? Don't get sick," Trunks advised, picking up the bunny and cuddling him.

"Bye bye, dearie," Mrs. Winterbourne waved, then went back into her apartment.

Trunks pushed the button for the elevator and waited for it, soon riding it to the top floor, and walking down to the penthouse 1023. She put her key in the door, and opened it, going inside nearly three hours after she'd left, and closing the door behind her. "Well Harvey, this's your new home," she said, still cuddling the bunny as she looked to see if Goten was still sleeping on the couch.

He was. However, there was evidence of movement. An almost empty glass of orange juice was on the endtable, and the credits of a movie were scrolling along the tv. Goten was snuggled on his side, the afghan around his body and tucked under his head as he slept peacefully.

Trunks got a smile and snuck over to the couch, putting Harvey down in the crook of the couch near Goten's belly before going to the kitchen to put away the groceries.

Goten sniffed the air, then opened his eyes. He blinked. "What the?"

Harvey sniffled at him, looking with big brown eyes and wiggling his nose, his long ears draping down against the couch.

Goten blinked again. "Where did you come from, fella?"

The bunny obviously didn't talk back, but climbed up a bit more and snuggled under his chin.

Goten sat up, petting the bunny, yawning. He looked over his shoulder at Trunks. "I think we need an exterminator," he said.

"No we don't, that's Harvey - our new roomate," Trunks called from the kitchen where she was putting food away.

"Mrs. Winterbourne's Harvey?" Goten asked, standing up and walking to the kitchen, one arm cradling the rabbit while the other pet him.

"Yeah, Doctor told her she had to get rid of him - allergic... so she gave him to me," She stood out from putting some things on the bottom shelf of the fridge and leaned on the door a little with a smile. "I didn't think you'd mind?"

"I don't know if mom has any rabbit recipies," Goten stated, putting the bunny on the table.

Trunks darted forward and picked Harvey up, cuddling him. "HE'S NOT FOR EATING!!" she said in shock, horror, and disgust. "He's a pet."

Goten laughed. "Just teasing you," he said, sitting on the table. "You didn't by chance get all the supplies when you brought the bunny upstairs, did you?"

"Uhm... no.... he's housebroken, I figured I could talk you into getting a litterbox?" she grinned, grabbing some cans and going to put them in the pantry.

"What about food, bedding... a cage so he's not running all over the house... come one, Trunks!" Goten chuckled. "Want me to go down and get it?"

"I'll get them..." she sighed. "I didn't think letting him run all over the place was a bad idea..." she pouted.

"What if we step on him in the middle of the night?" Goten asked. "Then we'd really have to find a good recipe."

She handed Harvey to Goten, "Don't eat him!" she told him, dashing back out the door to the elevator, forgetting to shut it behind her.

Goten lifted the bunny to look at it's face. "Nah, you're too cute to eat," he said with a nod, then got up to go close the door.

A minute or so later, Trunks was knocking at Mrs. Winterbourne's door.

The old lady opened the door. "Oh, Hello again Dearie."

Trunks blushed, rubbing at the back of her neck. "Hello uhm..." she laughed slightly. "I was so excited about Harvey... I forgot to ask about what I need to take care of him properly."

Mrs. Winterbourne chuckled. "It's ok. Come inside. I have his things packed already." She waved Trunks in, walking slowly.

Trunks followed her in, "Thank you, sorry to bother you."

"It's no bother. I don't get many visitors," she chuckled. By the dinning room table was a large cage. A box beside it held food and other things.

Trunks smiled, following her. "Uhm... can I ask you something?"

"Sure, dearie. Want some tea while we talk?" she asked, moving to the kitchen. A pot was already under the faucet, filled with water and overflowing from the still running faucet.

"I guess so," she smiled, "Let me help you with it."

The woman smiled. "Thank you dearie. The tea bags are in the cupboard."

It wasn't long before they were sitting at the table, a few biscuts on a plate between them as they chatted about nothing... finally, Trunks brought up her question. "Mrs. Winterbourne...I need some advice..."

"What's that about, dearie?"

"Well... I kind of know something... about someone... that could really hurt someone else I know... and I don't want the else to be hurt, but the someone's probably going to hurt them, and should I tell them, or keep my nose to myself...?"

The old woman laughed and put her teacup down. "I guess it all depends on the person and the news, I'm afraid, Dearie."

"Well.. the person who's going to be hurt... this person thinks the other person is something the other person isn't."

"You're going to have to be more specific, dearie."

"Uhm... he thinks she's really nice and he's in love with her, but she's just a real shallow mean person who's using him," Trunks tried - not wanting to go TOO far into detail.

"Ah yes... the evil girlfriend problem," Mrs. Winterbourne chuckled. "A problem that's existed throughout time, I assure you, dearie. Basically, it's sad, but your best bet is to wait it out... he won't let himself believe you, dearie. If he is in love with her, he'll hold her higher than anyone, and it won't be until the fall that he realizes the truth."

"But I don't want him to get hurt..." She bit her lower lip.

"He will be hurt either way, dearie... that is the pain of love." Mrs Winterbourne took another sip. "If you tell him now, he will be mad at you for tellling lies... if you don't, he'll blame you for not knowing. Either way, there will be pain."

"So all I can do is be there with ice creame and soda when it's all over, huh..." she sighed, looking down at her plate.

"Being a friend... when one needs one most... is the best medicine a heart could ever need." Mrs. Winterbourne chuckled. "And perhaps, this will let you reveal your true feelings to him as well."

Trunks coughed, "Uh... no nothing like that," she shook her head swiftly. "he... no. no no no no," she waved her hands. "just... no."

Mrs. Winterbourne chuckled softly. "Sure, dearie. Well, you'd better not leave Harvey up there alone with your roommates... heaven knows they might eat him."

"They do I'll kill 'em," Trunks smiled slightly. "Thanks for the advice, Mrs. Winterbourne... and for Harvey."

"You're welcome, Dearie. You can see your way out, I hope?"

"Yes Ma'am, thanks!" She pulled out her capsule and opened it, putting everything into the large box, then capsulising it again so she could carry it all upstairs.

Upstairs, the smell of dinner started to drift under the door.

Trunks opened the door to the apartment, and sniffed. Then she sniffed again, and looked around. "Uh, Goten.... where's Harvey?!"

"In the tub," he stated as he started to peel carrots and toss them into a large tub of boiling water on the stove

"In the... THE TUB!?!?!?!?" Trunks shrieked. She came into the kitchen and saw the boiling water, saw white meat... and Thud. fainted right then and there.

Goten blinked then turned the stove off, getting down and gently slapping Trunks' face. "Trunks, wake up."

"Nnnnn," she scruntched up her face and turned away from the slap.

"Trunks, come back to me," Goten said, shaking her a bit.

"Uhnnnn," She opened her eyes, then sat up quickly, bonking her head on Goten's and laying back down, holding her head. "Damnit!"

Goten chuckled. "You ok?"

"You have a hard head, you murdering sonofa-"

"I'm a Saiyan... and what's this about murdering?"

"You're cooking HARVEY!" she sniffled.

"If that's what you named the chicken you brought home..." Goten raised an eyebrow.

"Huh??? But you said he was in the tub - and we've called that huge pot the tub ever since we bought it!"

"Yeah... but there's also a BATH tub." Goten sighed.

"...." she coloured, "oh," she said in a very small voice.

Goten helped her up and sat her in one of the kitchen chairs. "Just relax, Trunks. Everything is ok. I told you I didn't have any rabbit recipies," he smirked.

"Yeah, sure, whatever... get me some advil?" She asked puttig her head on her arms. Knowledge she'd gained weighing heavy upon hrer.

"How many?" he asked with amusement.

"Two. you know, the human dose. Idiot Pharmicist," she mumbled.

Goten just smiled and did what he was told, bringing the two advils and a glass of water, then turning back to the cooking, whistling happily, the anger from the night before all forgotten.

"Thank you," she took the medicine, and pushed away from the table, wandering to the main bathroom and getting Harvey, soon returning and putting him in her lap as she watched him cook - wearing a small frown.

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