Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Lost ❯ Discussions and Panic ( Chapter 41 )

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry if these chapter's seem kind of dull. I don't know if I like them, but hey I need to get this stuff in. This chappie kind of goes off the last one. I need some closure with all my characters. Five more chapters left! At least I believe so…..it might actually be four. lol. Sorry if there are more grammar mistakes than usual, I finished this up pretty late at night or early in the morning whichever you prefer…Also you must thank Jako, if it wasn't for his IMs this would have taken longer cause I always get self-conscious when I talk to a review and I haven't updated. Anywho, enjoy!

Disclaimer: Hontouni?!? You believe that I would own DragonBallZ?!?

Lost

Chapter 41…………

The tuff of obsidian hair grew and was soon followed by a rather shocked and fearful face. Yet he didn't move, but simply stayed there with his head stuck strangely out in the doorway.

"When I told you that you could come in, that doesn't mean just stick your head out." I stated sarcastically as I shifted in the tiny bed. Was everyone going to act this way around me?

He blushed slightly and stepped into the room as a hand moved casually to rub the back of his head in typical style.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation with Bra, but I woke up hearing laughter and wondered who would be down here. And then I saw the two of you talking and I found it strange since Bulma gave you that stuff earlier."

"Sedative?" I raised a brow and he nodded.

"Yeah, I didn't understand why you were awake so…uhhh…I decided to stay here and…uhh…make sure that everything was ok."

"Dad…." I shook my head ruefully at him, "You really are a terrible liar, you know."

I leaned over a bit and patted the seat beside me that Bra had previously occupied. After all it would be strange to have him just standing there right infront of the doorway. He did have a familiar expression upon his face, one that clearly conveyed that his one true desire at the moment was to bolt from the room. That was something that I simply wouldn't allow at the moment. Bra got me thinking, I really didn't know my father and if I didn't take every opportunity I could get then I might never.

"Sit down dad. We need to have a little chat."

"Chat?" He asked, the confusion apparent on his face as he took my advice and slid into the chair.

"Yeah, Bra got me thinking about you and I thought since we didn't have any time when you first came that we could now."

His face darkened at the memory, a frown pulling at his lips as he refused to look at me. Probably blamed himself, just like everyone else I spoke to. It seemed like every person that I talked to would have one reason or another to apologize to me. Albeit, I felt as though I should be apologizing to them to begin with since I was the one who almost killed Bulma, Videl and my own mother…..

"Sooo…why were you eaves dropping on us? Truthfully this time." I asked as I craned my neck so that I get a better view of his face. He glanced up and smiled, hiding himself behind that goofy grin of his once again. I hated that facade of his, but now wasn't the time to complain.

"Caught me, huh?" He chuckled as his warm ebony orbs fixed themselves upon me.

"Yeah, it wasn't that hard though." I stated simply and smiled as he seemed to lighten up from the small joke. Maybe this wouldn't be as awkward as I thought it would be.

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Swirling, bubbling and churning within translucent cruets, coils of crimson and ivory lick and whip against the smooth heated surface with fervor. Reflections of dark blurry masses on smooth gun-metal pewter dance across the room's stark white walls as shadows that mock against failed intelligence. All the while small panes of glass flash with a quick turn as glassy orbs fixate upon another failed solution. A swift thrust and the emerald colloid spews and froths within its confined glass prison if only to douse ivory walls with its essence. The resonating pitch of the shattering flask fills one's ears as tiny shards plunge towards the adamantine alloy below.

A thatch of obsidian locks falls and hits the counter sending a resounding thud throughout the room. Yet again, the action occurs and continues to repeat itself while the speed of each strike increases. A pair of small black rimmed glasses jumps against the smooth counter and falls to the floor as the meaningless behavior grows into a steady beat.

"Stop it." Cries an annoyed voice as a slender hand leaps out to grab the thatch and pulls it back, "I don't need you to procure any brain damage on me now."

A smile greets her with a low chuckle, "Sorry Bulma, just frustrated."

Letting go of the man's hair, she laughs at his strange nature, "You and me both, Gohan."

"It didn't work. I combined one cc of it with her blood and…."

Tipping back in her chair Bulma sighed as the dull ache within her head increased, "Dammit. At this rate we'll never find it."

Glancing over at her saiyan accomplice she frowned at his wary and dejected face. He had refused to leave the laboratory, insistent that he felt fine and wasn't hungry at the least. However based upon his race's history as well as his own eating habits that one statement was seen as an obvious lie. Yet, even with his daughter and his wife begging him to rest he wouldn't budge from this room.

"Gohan maybe you should-"

"No, Bulma," His head fell against the large counter as his hand fumbled against the floor, "I'm not leaving. I already told you that."

"Yes, I know…" Removing her glasses, Bulma rubs her forehead in a poor attempt to dull the growing migraine as it threatened to split her skull in two.

"I'm not leaving till we have…..well something that guarantees some sort of percentage that will prolong this damnable virus or cure it!" He yelled as his fist came barreling down against the counter, "Not until them. I just can't Bulma."

Glancing into the warrior's dark desolate orbs she sighed, "At least let me get something for you."

He opened his mouth to object to only have her continue with a tone that suspiciously reminded him of his mother when she was angry, "Now I know you are a saiyan Gohan and even if you all can last longer without food than us, I still believe you should eat something."

"But Bulma-"

A slender hand fell over his lips and he frowned at the older woman's antics. He didn't wish to be a bother to the woman and besides the food might contaminate one of the solutions that he had as of yet to test upon Xenia's blood samples. Yet as if reading the young man's mind, she smirked, "Don't worry about the mess. You can go over to the desk beside the storage room and eat. And if I know you, you will be done within a few minutes if not seconds and at least after that you'll have more energy and some nutrition."

Glancing at her squared off shoulders and narrowed aquamarine orbs, he sighed in defeat, "Alright, but only a sandwich."

Brightening up at the saiyan's acquiesce, she quickly turned to sprint over to the stair, "I'll be back in a few minutes Gohan. You better be right there when I get back or you'll not only have me to deal with, but Chichi as well."

With that comment the demi-saiyan visibly winced and nodded at Bulma, "I'll stay right here."

"Good, I'll be right back with some food," She called as she went up the long staircase.

//….and some aspirin too, lots of aspirin….//

Chuckling at the woman's maternal behavior he swiveled back to the microscope beside him, "I'll try a few more before Bulma gets back."

Plucking another small flask from the shelf, he gently placed it on the counter before taking a small amount in his dropper. Just as he was about to place a few cc's on the fresh sample a small quake ran through the laboratory nearly causing every flask on the mobile shelf to fall and shatter on the floor. With lightening quick speed he turned and held onto the structure for dear life and waited till the tremor subsided. Opening one eye he glanced at the small cruets and sighed in relief before glancing up darkly at the ceiling, "Damn you Vegeta. Do you have to train now? You know the gravity chamber is just above us!"

Mumbling a few curses to himself, Gohan turned away from the disturbance and back to the work at hand.

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"Damn it boy, defend yourself!!" Cried Vegeta as he watched his son pull himself out of the large indention that he had made in the gravity room's wall. The young demi-saiyan didn't even grant his father the pleasure of a amused smirk or a fighting stance to repute this onslaught. Instead he contented to simply stand there, his face a mask that hid his emotions just as well as his father's did.

"What the hell is the matter with you?!" Roared the Saiyan-jin Prince as his fist sunk into his son's stomach; choking the demi saiyan as the burning bile and blood rose within his throat. Yet Trunks did not retaliate, instead he simply fell over into his father's arms as he waited for the next blow that was to come.

His father had been the one to drag him into this damn room for training, but he refused to fight Vegeta. He didn't feel any need for the action, nor did wish to continue his life at the moment as if nothing had happened. Something his father had done for the past two days. Yet, Vegeta still held the intercom within his ear which was directly connected to the sensitive microphones placed within Xenia's room. This fact alone crediting to the obvious apprehension that still existed within him, though he always hid it.

Another quick blow to his abdomen caused Trunks's body to reel back before coming in contact with his father's forehead; the two skulls smashing together violently. A splitting pain coursed through his cranium as he fell back towards the floor bringing forth another pain-filled groan. Why did his father keep him in here if he could obviously see that his son was not going to fight back?

Hitting the floor unceremonially on his back Trunks smirked. //Probably doesn't want to wreck all of the droids mom built for him to use. After all, one work load is enough.//

"What is so amusing boy?!" Asked Vegeta gruffly as his anger poised his ki on the brink of super saiyan, "You disgrace yourself infront of me and yet you still find yourself amused?"

Glancing to the side, Trunks's eyes fell over the face of his enraged father. Maybe making him more angry would get him out of this place. Then again, it might just get him beaten to were he was unconscious. Averting his gave to the ceiling once again Trunks prompted himself into silence.

"Well boy?"

A wicked grin fell over Trunks's face as he continued to ignore his father's questions. Yet there is one thing everyone knew very well, and that is that you should NEVER disrespect the Saiyan-jin Prince unless you plan to die or come close to it. Pulling back his hand, Vegeta let loose a low growl as forewarning of his attack. After all, this was his son. Ignoring this as well, the boy simply laid there as he watched the energy surge within his father's palm. Every golden coil churning within another till a perfect ball of energy loomed over him. Thrusting his palm forward the prince began to eject the blast at his son when……

"VEGETA!!!"

Covering his ears quickly, the Saiyan-jin Prince winced as the womanly shriek resonated against the circular walls. The misdirection of his hands causing the blast to fly towards the ceiling instead, bringing forth yet another tremor throughout the large building.

"Dammit Onna!! What the hell do you want?!"

A high pitched ring cut through the air as the blue-haired woman on the screen adjusted the microphone before her. The sound causing both saiyan males to grant a painful groan.

"Vegeta you know me and Gohan are down in the lab that's just below the gravity chamber!!"

Pulling his hands away, Vegeta frowned at the screen that was poised just above his son, "You're point being onna?!"

A muffled growl could be heard through the intercom as Bulma grew more frustrated with her mate. //That man has to be the most stubborn person in the entire universe!!!//

"Either tone down your training with our son or I'll shut that room down completely."

"It takes more than darkness to scare the Saiyan-jin Prince, onna," Vegeta mocked loudly as low chuckle fell from his lips.

"The prospect of no oxygen won't either?" Her innocent tone causing an invisible chill to run up the Prince's spine. He hated it when she became like that, it was worst than her tantrums. However….

"You wouldn't dare do that onna! After all, your son is in here too."

A sickeningly sweet smile graced her beautiful face, "Oh he'll survive…."

Taking in her suspicious expression he turned away from the image, before cursing silently to himself.

"Good! Now you two have fun!" She cried bubbly as her facade tried to hide her true feelings toward the situation. Truthfully though, both saiyan males knew too well what this behavior symbolized within the ningen. The screen flashed for a moment as the image disappeared leaving behind a faint hiss.

//Priceless… // Letting a low chuckle fall from his lips, Trunks smiled at the amusement of the situation. His father may be one of the strongest warriors in the universe, however when it came to his mate he would always loose.

"Yes, boy just lay there on your pathetic ass and laugh your damn head off. After all, they seem to be the only things you are capable of since that girl has been down there with that infernal disease." Barked Vegeta as he strode over the tall console that positioned itself in the middle of the room. Watching the tiny black monitor he quickly toned down the gravity within the room, the frown etching itself deeper into his royal face.

Pulling himself up shakily, the demi-saiyan turned towards his father, an emotionless expression upon his face once again. They stared at one another for a moment before the saiyan Prince turned away and back to the console, "Get out of here boy, unless you wish to resume our training."

//Don't have to tell me twice…// Placing his palm against the small screen, he sighed as a small green light flickered out of the corner of his eye. Finally…. Pulling through the two sliding doors, he immediately took a quick stride down the long corridor.

Damn his father….Why did the Saiyan-jin Prince always instill in his mind that his son was an incompetent fool. A title that, though never given vocally, always swam through the you demi-saiyan's head since the day he was old enough to be trained.

Taking one more sharp turn he walked into the spacious room before simply flopping back against one the many sofa's that lined the room.

//At least he let me leave…though he usually ignores mom and just continues with the beating….//

Closing his eyes, he relinquished at the darkness that greeted him behind his closed lids. Finally he could enjoy some peace and quiet….

"Whatcha doin'?"

Groaning at the small voice, he cracked open one eye, "Pan?"

The young raven haired girl smiled at him, "Where have you been Trunks?"

"In the gravity chamber." He answered, as he turned away from her.

Plopping down at the end of the long sofa, she watched him silently as he hugged one of the pillows to his face. Felling the intent gaze upon his body, he granted a sparing glance at his sister's best friend, "What?"

"It's nothing really," She answered quietly as she swung her legs against the soft material, "Just thought you might be down stairs. You stayed down there in the little waiting room for a while when Xenia first came here."

"Waiting room?" He asked quirking up a brow in confusion.

"Yeah, that room outside the infirmary."

Averting his gaze, he turned onto his back granting no signs of confirmation to Pan.

"So…"

"Don't worry about it Pan." He answered curtly as shifted for a moment.

Pan opened her mouth to speak again, but decided against the action. Her father had warned her about talking to Trunks. He said that Trunks was upset and that talking to him might get him angry or depressed, though the young girl couldn't decide which emotion was present within her uncle's best friend.

Sliding down from the couch, she granted Trunks one last smile. Its purpose to try and cheer up the teenager, but it quickly faded as the boy didn't seem to notice the action. Feeling slightly dejected and a bit angered by his behavior, she decided to leave. After all, what was the point of try to talk to him if he never wanted to answer you in the least.

//He's turning into Vegeta….// Pan thought distastefully as she retreated to her room.

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"Really?"

He grinned sheepishly for a moment as he leaned back against the small chair, "Yeah. I couldn't help myself."

My father standing outside the room eaves-dropping….how did it come to that? That was something that I would expect from mom, but not dad. It was strange though….He had the same insecurities as I did. Maybe I had been acting a little cold towards him, well maybe `little' was too suttle of a word.

"Did you get…well…." I paused for a moment and thought back to the large canvas within the cold cove. Was it still there? Did they move it? Of course they moved it! Being exposed to water moisture for such a long time would have ruined the paint!

"Xenia?"

My head shot up at my name being spoken, "Sorry, I…well…I was wondering if you got the painting and letter that I had done for you. I know the painting wasn't finished, but well I didn't have enough with the tournament and everything else that happened…." I trailed off at the end, knowing full and well that mentioning the little `kidnapping' incident would not be a good decision.

"Yeah, I saw them." He smiled and moved his hand over to his pocket, "Actually I never go anywhere without that letter you wrote."

What the hell?!? I gazed at the folded envelope in his hand. He actually carried that thing around with him all the time! But…why would he do that? I mean, wouldn't it just make him more depressed? Running his hands gently over it's smooth, now slightly tan surface, he sighed to himself.

"I just can't seem to let it out of my sight. Well I can, but only if I can get it out within a second." He smiled up at me with that comment. Yet, his eyes still conveyed a heavy sadness, something that would never disappear because of endless pain and worry. What had I done to him? Gohan always described him as a man who would never be seen without a smile upon his face. Well except for battles of course, but could you blame him then?

"Reading it just made me feel that I was close to you," His gaze flickering back to the envelope as small glittering stars appeared at the sides of his eyes. Yet they didn't move, just sparkled against the room's bright lights.

"We never got to meet that day of the tournament and…" He paused for a moment and I swear I could see his body tremble before me, "…it just made it bearable. I felt that if I could always keep this by me, that….that then you would have never left. I…"

I didn't have to see the tears before they ran down my face. Two hot streams that mocked my sympathy and pain that I felt for my father. After all, wasn't my absence the cause of his pain? And having to bury that girl, and thinking that she is your daughter the whole time. That poor girl…I wonder who she was….

"Dad, I'm sorry about this. I don't actually remember it you know?" I plastered a false smile upon my face. "I mean…I remember mom beside me when I got sick and then the next thing I remember is being in this dark room and then Turlus coming in." I glanced up at those dark ink pools and felt the bitter laughter within my heart as I saw his sympathetic look. I didn't deserve that…

"Ok now, lets get off that subject!" I proclaimed loudly as I hastily wiped away the tears on my face. One glance at me and a small chuckle fell from my lips. Here I was crying and he hadn't shed a tear. Though it did appear that he might at any second.

"So what's going on with this thing?" I asked as I watched him put the letter back into the safety of his pocket.

"With what?" His silly grin appearing on his face once again. Oh dear Dende not this thing again….I hated it when he played dumb.

"Dad, you know what I'm talking about."

His grin quickly vanished from his face, only to be replaced by a deep frown that did nothing to expel my fears. He grew very quiet at that moment and I watched his eyes nervously go to the door and then the corner which the wretched camera had been placed. Suddenly he stood up and leaned over my headboard, his arm stretching out behind it and then he smiled and simply sat back down. What the hell was that for?

Yet Goku simply smiled at his daughter for she didn't know exactly the extent of their little surveillance system. // I just hope Vegeta doesn't notice that I disconnected them….He just might with that thing in his ear…..//

"Dad?"

His face darkened once again and his eyes quickly took a new interest in the tile. This wasn't good.

"Bulma and Gohan are working on it around the clock. They have been able to duplicate the serum you brought, but it isn't as potent as the originals…."

He seemed to hesitate at the end of that last sentence, as if there something that he wasn't sure I should hear yet. "There's more?"

He glanced at me for a moment with wide eyes and then quickly nodded, "Yes…." His hands nervously wove themselves together as he returned his gaze back to the smooth ivory stone. "The virus. It has, well Bulma said that it has begun to evolve and compensate for the serum. Which means that we now have less time to find a cure then we originally thought."

What? I might die soon? Was that what he was saying? I suddenly felt my lungs constrict violently as panic threaded itself deeply into my being once again. But what about? My eyes flew down to my smooth stomach. Should I tell him? It would be for the best. What would he say? It was Turlus's child after all. He wouldn't want to kill it would he?

"Xenia? Xenia are you ok?"

I felt his hands grip my shoulders tightly as I turned to his worried face with wide eyes. I was so scared, but not for myself….

"What's the matter? Are you in any pain? Dear Dende I shouldn't have told you…."

Should I tell him? He was my father after all, but what if…No telling him would be the best option. Then at least I would be able to put down the barrier around it. Keeping it up all the time was warring on my ki.

"I'm fine…" I smiled at him for a moment and watched him sit down; a sigh of relief falling from his lips. I can't, I just can't. What a coward I have become.

"Ummm…." I bit my lip for a moment, "Can I be alone for a few minutes."

I watched him wince slightly at my words as he quickly got up from the chair. Oh dear Dende, here I go again with making people feel bad.

"Dad, wait!" I shouted. He quickly spun around, the hope within his eyes was too hard to miss. "After a few minutes, like twenty or something like that….ummm…could you come back?"

He smiled at me for a moment and nodded; his eyes now filled with a new warmth. He started to leave, but stopped right before the doorway, "And I would like to talk about Trunks."

I stiffened at his gruff voice. It was almost as if he was becoming defensive of me, but why? Trunks? I thought….Oh dear Dende….My hand flew to my lips as I remembered a certain blue-haired girl. He heard us before! Well off course he did! But it's just Trunks I mean, what is there to talk about?!

"You ok?"

I glanced up quickly and cursed quietly to myself as I surveyed his smirking face. Was everyone against me on this issue?!?!

"I see that we'll need a long `chat'." He said mockingly. Using my own words against me, well in a way, was too cruel.

I opened my mouth to speak, but at that moment he quickly sped out through the doorway. Letting out a small whimper, I slumped forward and rested my chin over the back of my palms. Won't that be fun….

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Cracking open one cerulean eye, Trunks listened intently as the barely audible sound of a door creaking open filled the room.

//What the hell? Mom just left to go down there and with all the food she had with her, I don't think she would be coming back up now. Then again Gohan is down there too….//

Sitting up, he glanced over the top of the soft grey material and watched as figure slowly emerge from the basement. Turning around slowly the figure closed the door and succeed without making a single sound.

"Goku?"

Suddenly the saiyan jumped up at the sound of the voice, his body smashing into the door. Glancing up quickly from his position the his eyes fixed themselves upon Trunks.

"Ok….uhhh, what are you doing?" Trunks asked uneasily as the saiyan stood up. After all it wasn't everyday that you saw Son Goku trying to sneak around, well unless he made his wife angry….

"Sorry, Trunks. Just don't want to wake anyone up." He stated calmly as he rubbed his head awkwardly. Suddenly his eyes opened and his goofy grin faded from his face. Instead a very contemplative stare came over the saiyan and his eyes were fixed up a certain lavender-haired demi-saiyan.

"Goku?" Trunks asked as he watched the man scrunch up his face in thought.

//What the hell is going on?//

"Maybe Bra is right?" Goku mumbled to himself.

"Bra? What?" The demi-saiyan's cerulean eyes widening as he surveyed the saiyan's strange behavior. What could his sister have said to prompt such a thing? Taking a few steps forward, Goku sighed to himself as he cocked his head slightly.

"Trunks do you like my daughter?"

"WHAT?!" Trunks sputtered as his eyes widened in shock. WHAT THE HELL DID HIS SISTER SAY?!?!?!?!?!?! This wasn't happening…Why the hell was he asking this in the first place?!

"No don't answer that."

Trunks glanced up at the smirking man and simply stared at him, mouth agape. What the hell was going on?

"I'm going to go check on Bulma and Gohan. But you think about that ok." Goku said deviously as he remembered Bra utter almost the same exact words. Yet, what he was enjoying the most was the priceless expression upon the boy's face. Had his daughter acted the same he wondered. Shaking his head, he gripped Trunks's shoulder and smiled, "Why don't you go down there and have a little chat with her tomorrow, since its too late for that tonight."

//Besides, I have something that I want to discuss with her.//

Trunks opened his mouth to speak, but once again didn't have the chance before Goku continued.

"It's settled them. You go and talk to her tomorrow." The man smiled warmly at Trunks before turning around and quickly making his hasty exit to the basement.

"What the hell just happened?" Asked Trunks quietly to himself as he glanced around the room, his wide cerulean orbs filled with utter shock and confusion.

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More turmoil between the two teens. Trunks….don't I just love to torture the poor boy? lol And Xenia…is it just me or is that every time she hears Trunks's name she has a panic attack? ^_^

To tell ya the truth I completely screwed up my whole plan for this story. I accidentally made it so that Xenia caught Goku eaves-dropping when originally I didn't want that to happen YET. Due to that little mistake I had to combine what would have been separately chapter 41 and chapter 42. Thus reducing the time frame I originally put up. Gomen.

I hope this doesn't make the story seem like it is going too fast. Every chapter was suppose to represent one day and well the next chapter was suppose to represent the fourth day after the little incident between Vegeta and Trunks, however now its the third day. Don't worry though, this won't make the updates come with longer intervals, just felt like venting a little of my frustration while at the same time explain why this chapter may sound like scenes were cut out or that this was written in a rush, which it wasn't! Wow, long A/U here….I'll stop now. Ja ne minna-san!