Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Lost ❯ Deception Revealed ( Chapter 44 )

AUTHOR'S NOTE: MERRY CHRISTMAS MINNA-SAN!!!! I got a great Christmas present for you all, though it is a day late. And the next chapter won't be up till later today sometime. Gomen. Only three more chapter to go, since I'm splitting chapter 44 into two. Enjoy the chapter!!

Disclaimer: I don't own DragonBallZ or any of its characters, but I do own Xenia and her baby!

Lost

Chapter 44………

Was something wrong?

Beep…..

Why was there so much silence?

Beep…..

No movement; not a twitch, just the simple rhythmic breathing that he hoped would never stop.

Beep…..

Yet what prolonged her sleep? Had darkness finally consumed her? Did it have its claws so deeply imbedded within her that her eyes refused to flutter open.

Beep…..

This beat, a testament to her life or rather her life at this perpetual interval between life and death. It remained constant, smooth, no cessation, no accelerate

Beep…..

It held no rapid rhythm, yet despite this fact it held a music that only one who understood its origins could appreciate for its beauty.

Beep…..

His eyes roamed over her still form, his hand tightening around the seemingly lifeless palm that laid beside her. Small tawny droplets flowed down the clear tubing of her IV, their silent pitter-patter reflecting the heart monitor's perfect cadence. It had been nine days since Bulma and Gohan injected the serum into her body. Ever since that moment, she remained still upon the same white cot in the infirmary. They feared to move her. Though her attacks had lessened and were at present nonexistent, they were not about to take anymore chances. After having stared at the same blank walls over the past few days, he was starting to gain an abhorrence for the stark white panels. A slight glance at the two thin hands in their circular vessel told him of his limited time.

Each thought they should take turns watching her, after all they had no desire to leave the task solely up to Chichi and Goku. They couldn't ask that nor did they ever dream to do so. The couple had already endured enough heartache.

"Goten will be here soon." Commented Trunks absently, his hands rubbing her chilled palms in habit.

His eyes darted to her face, maybe expecting or rather hoping for a small flutter of movement for the comment, but she remained motionless.

Gohan's apprehension had begun to grow over the past few days. He was perplexed by her constant slumber, the recovery originally estimated at a day or two.

"Is this the reason?" Trunks inquired quietly, his palm drifting over her form to come and rest on her smooth stomach. He couldn't feel its ki, but he knew it was there. The constant shield protected it from prying eyes, but was that best? Should he go tell Gohan of her condition? Maybe it was prolonging her unconsciousness. A pang of resentment ran through his being, his mind mulling over the reasons why the child came into being. What purpose would it hold? Why did the fates wish to torture her so? He truly didn't understand how he felt over its existence, though he wished the resentment that always managed to creep up on him would disappear. He had no right to hate something that never asked to be created. It deserved to live, after all it wasn't its fault that its father was a selfish, manipulative, over-bearing, arrogant….bastard. A low decimal of grinding reached Trunks's ears, his senses ignorant of his teeth sliding abrasively against one another. He didn't need to think about Turlus, just concentrate on the girl that the man wounded. There'd be plenty of time for scalding remarks regarding the man later.

"Trunks?"

His head snapped up as he heard his name be uttered. Immediately his eyes flew to Xenia's face, his eyes glancing at her lips for any sign of movement, but she remained still.

"Trunks?"

A hand fell over his shoulder and he nearly jumped at the sudden contact. He glanced back quickly and sighed as he gazed at his life-long friend.

"You tired yet?" Goten asked, his tone a mixture of concern and a slight eagerness to be beside his sister, "I can take over for you now, if you want."

Ever since the procedure Goten had seemed all too eager to be by Xenia's side. Yet how could one penalize the boy for wanting to help his twin sister? He, at first, pleaded with almost everyone for their watch, but as the days passed and his request denied a few times more than he liked, he had managed to calm down. There had also been that little chat between him and Gohan that resulted in much shouting and nearly a new opening in the living room ceiling.

"No, its ok," Trunks smiled softly, "I've got a few more minutes."

Goten stepped back and pulled up a chair besides the lavender-haired demi-saiyan, "I'll just keep you company till then."

The Youngest Son male, studied the Saiyan Prince's son with a peculiar interest. A small seemingly trivial thought nagging at his mind. He had dismissed the voice, turning the whole little incident as a hallucination that his apprehension, anxiety and sleep deprivation had spawned for amusement. After all, Xenia had already fallen unconscious, hadn't she? Then why did it bother him so much? Perhaps he was becoming paranoid, but he felt that the excuse was simply his involuntary way of avoiding his creeping doubts. Everyone believed that the connect that he possessed with her extended to every realm. That even when she was asleep, he would communicate with her in some way. As if he hadn't tried it enough, even before they asked. Only Vegeta granted him the much needed silence that he desired, but then again the Saiyan Prince wasn't one to pester another with perpetual inquiries.

"Something wrong Goten?" Asked Trunks curiously as he observed his friend's contemplative expression. Yet, Goten hesitated and mulled over the question for a moment. After all was it worth asking? It meant nothing right? But then again, it wouldn't hurt.

"Trunks do you know something about Xenia that you're not telling us about?"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

He wrapped his arms tightly around the petite waist, his head resting in the crook of his wife's right shoulder. A bit of warmth touched his heart, lightening the depression that hung over him. At least having her in his arms granted some comfort. Although he tried desperately to expel the image of his daughter in the infirmary from his head. If he could only picture her smiling, happy and full of life.

"Goku?"

He glanced at Chichi's upturned face and sighed against her skin, a low grunt as his only acknowledgment of her voice.

"Do you think," She paused for a moment, "Do you think she'll wake up soon?"

Goku pulled back on her body, bringing them to lay down on the small bed Bulma had set up for them in the basement. Though the blue-haired genius, using all her wits, tried to persuade the couple to stay in a room upstairs, neither would budge from the basement. Each claiming they could sleep in the chairs that littered the many rooms and be perfectly comfortable. Though the current arrangement were highly appreciated, especially since the two were a five minute-walk away from their daughter.

His hands wove through her raven hair, his fingertips playing with the curled tips that greeted him at the ends of every strand. What could he tell her? Did he believe she would wake up? He hoped for it. He hoped for it with all of his heart, but deep down….deep down in the pit of his stomach rested an uneasy knot that twisted at the thought of the subject. When contemplating another's life he never held doubts, he usually thought that they would somehow pull through or that if they proclaimed they were evil that somehow, some way they would realize that the claim was false. Yet, now why did his mind and his heart feud against one another? Why did a chill pass over him every time he saw his daughter's face?

His arms shifted and wrapped around her waist once more as he buried his face into her hair. If he could hide his face from her, if he simply didn't have to look into those desolate obsidian orbs that seemed to be on the verge of tears every moment….then he could lie. Then he wouldn't' have to reveal his heart's dark doubts and maybe he could deliver himself to the ignorance he feigned all his life. Maybe for once it would envelope him so that his body wouldn't feel so numb, so that his heart could feel warm and so that his soul would not feel as though he was doomed to wander through this endless darkness.

A tear slipped down his cheek, leaving a scathing path till it teetered and fell into the ebony locks before him. If he could hide then he could. He could lie.

"Yes, she'll wake up," he swallowed unsteadily and tightened his hold, "I know she will."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Obsidian analyzing crimson. Or rather in the man's point of view; staring at blood samples till you get a migraine. Taking off his glasses, Gohan leaned back against the chair; a low groan resounded from his lips as he massaged his temples. What was wrong with her? Her blood tests had already proved that nothing was obstructing the process of the serum, so….what was wrong?

"Find anything?"

He glanced over at his blue-haired consociate and frowned, "Do you have to ask that?"

Bulma sighed as she wheeled back to the computer, "Just checking. After all, your expression never changes now a days."

"I know," Gohan reluctantly admitted, his thoughts suddenly wandering off to the last time he had been out of the lab. "I just can't stop worrying. I know Xenia's condition is improving. There has been no attacks and she can take injections without any reactions, but…."

Bulma paused in her typing and glanced back, "But…"

"But why hasn't she woken up then?!" Asked Gohan, exasperated. "Why can't I find anything wrong with her?"

"You want there to be something wrong?" Asked Bulma, quirking up a brow.

"No! Off course not, its just…." Gohan sighed in frustration as a hand slid through his locks only to tear at their ends. "If I could just find an explanation for her prolonged unconsciousness, then I'd feel a bit better."

The sound of fingernails raining down on keys filled the air again. "Being a bit selfish aren't we?"

"What?"

Bulma stayed silent for a moment, her hands flying across they keyboard. "Xenia has been fine for the past few days. No attack, no evidence that she is any terminal danger and now you're complaining about her sleeping too long"

Gohan shifted against his chair, "But how can I-"

"I know your worried Gohan," Interrupted Bulma as she spun around to face him, "But try to relax. Getting yourself high-strung and completely sleep-deprived won't help this situation. All I seem to be doing lately is scolding you with the same speech." Her glasses flashed at the end of the statement, adding to her annoyed and frustrated expression.

"All right, I'll try to dispel this pessimistic mood," He conceded quietly, "but I'm not guaranteeing anything."

Punching in a few more keys, the blue-haired woman stood up and smiled at Gohan, "Good. And get out of the lab for at least a few minutes. I'm sure Pan misses you. Not to mention Videl worrying over your new hermitage." She grabbed a few papers besides the computer and began walking towards the main corridor.

"Where are you going?" Asked Gohan curiously.

"I'm going to go see what my husband is up to."

A small smile climbed up onto the demi-saiyan's face as his eyes darted up to the ceiling and back to Bulma's small figure in the corridor. It had been a few days since he had talked to his wife and daughter.

As he stood up from his chair, Gohan stretched his sore muscles and casted a doubtful glance at lone microscope. His mind quickly raced over the possibilities of mishaps that could occur while both, him and Bulma, were absent.

"Perhaps, it would be better if I wait till Bulma gets back," He states to no one in particular as he sat himself down again, "I'd feel better if at least one of us stayed down here."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Taunt, thick air swathed his body, making breathing much more difficult under his constant training. He thrusted fist after fist in front of him, the invisible foe before him unrelenting in its own attack against his mind. Anger boiled within him, fueled by the persistent grin of his opponent. His sneer filled with arrogance, satisfaction and triumph. Every emotion which derived from the poor condition that his victim suffered in.

"Damn you." Energy outlined the Saiyan-jin's fist as his movement became faster and more reckless. He could almost hear the maniacal laughter of the being. The stench of his failure choking him, making every movement harder and harder to execute.

"Damn you." The energy grew brighter before him, its heat licking at his senses as he let loose a low growl. Every time he missed, every time his opponent grew stronger, and every time his blows would come too late. An image ran through his mind. Blood, screams of pain, wounds that mysteriously appear and never go away, then nothing. No movement, no sound except for the constant beating that would resound with his own heart.

The energy began to rapidly gyrate around his fist, crackles of lightening soon surging around his body as his obsidian orbs flashed teal for a moment. Yet his rival sneered at him in contempt and remained untouched by the Prince's anger.

"DAMN YOU!" His palm burst open as a large sphere of molten energy rushed towards the shadow in front of him. Only to pass through and slam into the opposite wall. The explosion throwing his tired body back, a low grunt escaping his lips as his flesh slammed into the door.

Closing his eyes for a moment he relaxed against the floor as the dust settled over his prone form. Every time he would missed, every time his opponent would grew stronger, every time his blows would come too late and he'd fail. He never would win. Never.

"Do you truly believe training till you knock yourself unconscious will help anyone?"

Opening his eyes he glanced at the figure that hovered over him. Her eyes were narrowed in annoyance with her hands resting on her hips. He hadn't' noticed that the gravity had returned to zero, nor had he heard the sound of the door opening. Maybe he was growing soft, but what good was it if it impaired his abilities during battle.

"What do you want onna?" He asked harshly as he pushed himself up.

"I came to get a little breather from the lab and spend time with my husband, but what do I find? You half unconscious on the floor!"

Stalking towards the gravity machine, the Saiyan Prince glanced back at his mate. "Leave me to my training! I don't need you here pestering me!"

"Vegeta!" Bulma cried angrily as she stalked up to him, "Why don't you set aside your pride for one moment and try to act like my husband?! No one is even here. You don't need to prove anything to me!"

"Act like some pathetic earth husband?" He asked mockingly, "And what will that get me onna?"

Bulma opened her mouth to speak, but Vegeta cut her off.

"Grow soft and be a loving father and husband? Have my fighting skills diminish before my eyes to the point where I can't even fight off one single opponent!" He cried out angrily as he launched his fist against the tall coiled cylinder before him. "Sit back and simply watch as others surpass me, simply by the reason that I have allowed my skills to wane?!"

He wanted her to scream at him and tell him how useless he truly was. Or to lock the gravity mode into an impossibly high level, where standing was an unfeasible task. He didn't need sympathy, he didn't need pity. All he needed was to get stronger, to surpass everyone…Kakarrotto and his own invincible foe who held his rival's features to an exact point.

"Vegeta." A hand fell over his shoulder and he growled at the sympathetic gesture.

"Onna-" He was cut off as a hand flew into his cheek. The action shocking him more than anything. After all even if she tried, his mate could never harm him.

"Damn it Vegeta!!" She screamed, the anger in her voice all too apparent, "Do you think that this is your fault?!"

He frowned at her question and turned away. He didn't need to grace her with any answers. Yet, she simply marched around him and planted herself fully in front of him, "Don't you dare turn away from me!!" Bulma's body was trembling with rage now, her voice breaking as tears slide down her cheeks. The scathing streams swelling from her emotions, who until this moment were held back by her professional will. Yet, now they flooded her senses in unrelenting waves.

"You couldn't have done anything!! It wasn't your fault she was taken! It wasn't your fault that…that bastard did this to her!!"

"But isn't it?!" He inquired cynically as he grabbed her forearm. "How is it that I could not sense him taking her?! How is it that I didn't realize that corpse which lies with her marker did not possess her ki signature?! How is it that I was unable to defeat that bastard who took her?!!"

He gruffly pulled her to his face and growled at the pity she held for him. "You say that this wasn't my fault, when your own eyes betray you and brand me with this shameful sign of failure!!"

He let her go at that moment. His sudden release of her arm, causing her to fall to the floor in front of him. Vegeta stared at her fallen form and surpressed the desire to hold her. Over these past years, as his emotions grew stronger and began to dominate him, all they assisted in doing was making him weak.

"You're emotions do not make you weak Vegeta."

He snapped out of his reverie for a moment and studied his mate who still sat before him, head bowed. A low chuckle fell from her lips and he hitched up a brow in slight confusion of her actions.

"You think you're mister tough guy. If you don't hold this high and mighty persona, then you're weak." She looked up at him that moment and in her eyes he saw no pity, no sympathy, but something else which he could recognize all too well. Something he had allowed to gain control over his actions over the past years.

"You think that if you let your emotions control just one action, that you're weak," She stood up with that statement, her eyes never leaving his own, "You think that if you hadn't then you would have been able to save Xenia."

Vegeta's expression stayed emotionless, his mask holding against her words. For these few moments, the Saiyan Prince didn't know whether to curse his bond with his mate or appreciate its ability to convey his emotions without him vocalizing them. After all he wasn't one known to spout off how he felt, no matter the situation.

"I know you Vegeta, probably better than you know yourself," Her hand came up to cup the side of his face and he flinched at the contact, but did not remove her hand. He simply would entertain her for the moment and allow it. Just for the moment…..

"Damn your pride, you persistent desire to be better. What do you have to prove? Tell me."

Vegeta stayed silent. Whether because he didn't know how to answer, or that he knew her words to be correct, Bulma did not know.

"Vegeta?"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Had he heard correctly? He hadn't seriously asked him that? Had he? For a moment the demi-saiyan Prince mulled over his friend's question. How would he know? The only people who would know were Xenia and himself and he was sure Xenia wouldn't have told her brother yet. But they did have that bond between twins and he might have heard her thoughts. Yet, being a female Xenia held more powerful telepathic abilities than her brother, therefore being able to block him from her mind as she had done during the battle with Turlus. But then, why did he ask him this? What did he expect him to say….

"Trunks?"

He glanced up at his best friend and smiled, "Sorry, I kind of zoned out for a moment there, didn't I?"

Goten nodded, but his serious expression did not fade, "Do you Trunks?"

Should he tell him? Goten was her brother after all and with her persistent slumber, shouldn't he? Yet, he promised her. She didn't want them to know till the whole thing with the virus was over, but….

"I don't know what you're implying Goten, but I don't know anything." He stated solemnly, hating the guilt that accompanied the lie, "I wish I did. I wish I could help, but I can't."

Goten didn't seem convinced with his answer for a moment and Trunks feared that his fellow demi-saiyan had found him out, but Goten simply sighed and turned away.

"Then why?" Asked Goten quietly.

The silent inquiry caught Trunks's attention, "What do you mean Goten?"

Goten reached out and clasped his sister's hand in his own and closed his eyes. He seemed to be battling with himself for a moment, debating whether the subject should be breached or not.

"Why did she ask me?" He asked Trunks turning to face him now. "Why did she want me to ask you?"

Shock flooded Trunks at the question. She had told Goten….but then why did she make him promise not to tell them. "What are you talking about Goten?"

"Just before she passed out," Goten glanced at his sister, "Right after Gohan injected the serum into her. I could have sworn that she told me to ask you."

"Ask me?" Trunks inquired, slightly confused, "Ask me what?"

"I don't know." He reluctantly answered, "but she sounded frightened."

Maybe she hadn't told Goten, but then again maybe with the anesthesia that they gave her after the serum she didn't have enough will to must up the strength to say it. Was he suppose to tell Goten then? Did Xenia want him to tell Goten?

"At first I thought it might just be my mind playing tricks on me. You know with everything working out for the better, my mind decided to rile me up with some kind of doubt, but now….maybe it was her."

Goten didn't seemed inclined to ask the statement again, apparently satisfied with Trunks's answer. After all what proof did he have to believe that his best friend would lie to him.

"Goten," Trunks stated softly.

At hearing his name he turned to the lavender-haired Prince, "What is it Trunks?"

"Put your hand on her stomach."

"Trunks-"

"Just do it." Trunks stated rather forcefully as he shut his eyes. He hoped this was what Xenia wanted. He didn't want to betray her.

Goten complied with the command and studied the area and with finding nothing wrong, turned a confused face to Trunks, "Am I suppose to notice something?"

A low chuckle fell from Trunks's lips as he remembered the barrier that was around her stomach. "No, you're not."

"What?" Goten asked, confused by the reply ,"Trunks, what is going on?"

"You're not suppose to feel anything because," he took a deep breath, "because she has a barrier over her stomach."

Goten's eyes widened at the statement, "Why did she do that?"

Trunks glanced down at the floor for a moment, his brows knitted together in contemplation. It was now or never. Well not never, but maybe if he didn't…it'd be too late later. If she was frightened then…

"She wanted to hide it, " Stated Trunks as he kept his gaze on the floor.

"Hide what?"

Goten's voice conveyed impatience and fear and Trunks hoped to Dende that what he was doing was right.

Glancing up at his best friend, the young Prince grimaced as he spoke, "Turlus's baby."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Taking a small gulp, Gohan sighed as the water quenched his parched throat. Yet the bit of liquid did not help to satisfy his now quickly growing hunger. A small little break would not hinder his work. Yet before he could even move from his chair he was yanked to his feet.

"Gohan!" Glancing at his panicked brother, the older demi-saiyan tried to push back his own rising panic. Had Goten just come from the infirmary.

"Ohgod,Gohanyouhaveto-Xeniashe's-andTrunkstoldmethat."