Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Smoke and Mirrors ❯ As the Smoke Begins to Clear ( Chapter 10 )

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

" You're what? " Gohan exclaimed staring in disbelief.

" That means..."

" Yes, " Aurora comfirmed shifting her gaze to Videl, " your daughter, Pan, is my great grandmother. "

" I don't believe it, " argued Gohan quickly closing the gap between himself and the girl.

" It's true, " Videl said quietly looking rather faint, " look at her eyes, Gohan. She has eyes just like Pan's."

Gohan looked down at Aurora, then turned away, " I suppose she could be. " He knew though. The wide, chocolate brown eyes fringed with long curly lashes were the perfect mirror for his daughter's.

" This isn't good, is it? " Goku assessed. Previous experience had taught them that a visitor from the future was immediate cause for concern, and he could sense that this situation was no different.

" If you are who you say you are, then why did you destroy our home? "

Aurora walked over to Chi Chi and took one of the woman's hands in her own, " It wasn't me. I swear it. There is so much that you don't know yet. "

" But the man you were with... "

" Trace? It wasn't him either. "

" That explains why he didn't attack Goten that night, " Goku nodded thoughtfully, " but then who is he? "

Aurora took a deep breath, " That's going to take a little more time to explain, I'm afraid."

She finally released Chi Chi's hand before reaching into her pocket and pulling out the device she'd had the night before. She pushed a button. It clicked twice then buzzed quietly.

" We really need to know what's going on, " Goku looked at the device curiously, " and where does Jiara fit in to it all? "

" Please, one thing at a time. I'll explain everything, but I don't know how well it's going to go over. " The device clicked again then fell silent. Aurora muttered something under her breath and tapped on it with her other hand. " Do you know when to expect Jiara back?"

" No, she went out for the day with my son. They haven't come back yet. "

" Goten? She's with Goten? " her eyes narrowed suspicously, and she pulled back the sleeve of her duster pushing a button on a slender wristband, " You better get over here now. The parameters are clear, but I think we may have trouble. "

" What trouble? " Chi Chi gasped, " Is Goten in trouble? "

" It's too soon to tell. Please, don't go all hyper on me. Trace will be here in a moment, and then I promise I'll tell you everything I know. "

" Why didn't you say something before? And why did Jiara accuse the two of you of killing her mother? None of this makes sense. " Gohan was rambling, but every passing second increased his concern for his little brother's safety. This was insane!

" If you'll just wait... "

Gohan interrupted her when something occured to him, " The other man! The one you two were fighting with last night. He's the one that's trying to kill Jiara, isn't he? "

Aurora seemed to be losing her patience with the questions, but a knock on the door brought a sudden smile to her face. " That must be him! " Without consulting anyone, she ran over and threw open the door. " Thank goodness! "

The man standing on the porch was a very imposing figure. He was slightly taller than Gohan with a build like Goku. He had Saiya-jin style hair, but it was a deep cobalt color that glistened oddly when touched by the light. His complexion was pale contrasting the darkness of his eyes.

" You guys aren't going to attack me again, are you? " There was a pleasant tone to the deep voice and a hint of a smile lit in his eyes with the question.

" Of course not, " Goku grinned feeling instantly at ease. " You should have spoken up the last time. My son thought you were the who destroyed our house. "

Trace shook his head, the humor quickly fading, " No, I had nothing to do with it. "

" That's what Aurora said, but Jiara described you as the guy who was trying to kill her. " explained Videl, " She said you killed her mother, and that Aurora was helping you. "

Aurora cast a worried glance from Videl to Trace then back again, " Trace is Jiara's brother, and he's not the one who...who did it. "

" I guess the dreams she was having weren't quite right then, " Gohan said.

" Dreams? " Trace repeated exchanging a look with Aurora.

" Yeah, " Goku told them, " when my son and his friend found her, she'd lost her memory. We agreed to give her a place to stay and try to help her figure out what was going on. Someone is trying to kill her. They attacked her right before the boys found her, the day after she arrived, and they destroyed my home while she was staying there.

At one point she'd mentioned to Goten that she'd had a dream about the man who was after her. Apparently he wanted to kill her over something her father did. She gave him your description. Later she said that you'd killed her mother. "

" Damn, " Trace muttered one gloved hand curling into a fist at his side.

" You said that she's with Goten, right? " asked Aurora.

Videl offered a response, " Yes, they wanted to spend some time together today. They really seem to like each other. " She wasn't sure how how much she should tell them. This was all happening so fast!

" Do you have any idea where they went? " Trace seemed tensed, ready to spring.

The thing that still bothered Goku was Trace's lack of a power level. He couldn't sense any type of energy radiating from the unusual man, but he knew that the guy must be strong judging from his skirmish with Goten.

" We have no idea. They've been gone since this morning, " Chi Chi whispered her lower lip trembling slightly.

" I'll call Trunks and Vegeta, and we'll go find them, " Goku announced turning to go.

" It won't do you any good, " Aurora sighed.

There was a moment of stunned silence. " What do you mean? " Gohan finally asked when the silece became overbearing.

" If Jiara doesn't want to be found, you're not going to find her. "

Gohan arched a brow at Trace's simple statement, " What's that supposed to mean? "

" Do you notice anything unusual about me? "

" No power level, " Goku pointed out beginning to see what Trace was saying.

" Exactly. Now watch. " He didn't move, but suddenly the air around him sparked to life and his power level shot up out of nowhere.

Goku and Gohan stepped back as his power level continued to increase. The ground began to shake, blue bolts of energy radiating around the man's body. Suddenly it all stopped. Trace had never even flinched, but now there was no remaining evidence of the incredible power he'd just exhibited.

" You're not telling me that Jiara can do that? " Goku practically shouted.

Trace nodded briefly, " For starters. "

" WHAT? "

Everyone started asking questions at once, and Trace looked down at Aurora, " You didn't tell them anything before I got here, did you, Rory? "

" I thought it would be better to wait. "

Trace pressed a finger to his temple, " That explains a lot. " He looked at the frantic group and raised his voice, " If you'll settle down we will answer all of your questions! I know this is a lot to handle at once. "

He managed to get their attention, so Aurora stepped up, " If you'll all move to the living room and take a seat we'll get started. "

The four of them quickly walked into the living room and seated themselves all the while watching Trace and Aurora expectantly.

*~*~*~*~*~*

" Jiara? " Goten whispered. Something didn't feel right. His throat felt raw, and there was a faint ringing in his ears. Very slowly he opened his eyes but found that his vision was blurry, and a dull ache began throbbing behind his eyes.

" You have woken already? "

The voice echoed oddly and seemed to be far away. His head felt heavy, and when he tried to move, he found that he couldn't. " What's wrong...with me? "

He had trouble hearing the reply as it seemed to fade in and out. Several minutes passed before his vision finally cleared enough for him to make out a form. Someone was standing on the far side of the room in front of a control panel studying a moniter for a brief moment before flipping a series of switches.

Goten took a few shallow breaths trying to ease the pain. Little by little he felt the tension lift allowing him to focus on the figure across the room. His heart stopped when he realized that it was Jiara.

Her lithe form was encased in a red spandex type material and black boots that rose to mid-thigh. Her black hair flowed down over her hips, and when she turned to look back at him, he could see the black armor plates across her chest.

" You should have slept much longer, Goten. " She crossed the room, her heels clicking softly against the floor, until she was standing over him. A long strand of her hair brushed lightly against his cheek as she stared calmly down at him.

" What's going on? " he croaked.

" Do not bother yourself with the petty details just yet. It will all be apparent quite soon."

Something about her appearance seemed different, but he couldn't think clearly...couldn't concentrate enough to realize what it was. " I don't understand. "

" I do not expect that you would, " she mused running a fingertip along his jaw.

" All this time....everything...you said. "

" My sister is an extraordinary actress, but then she excels at most things. "

With much difficulty, Goten turned his head to see a man standing at the other side of the table. He had black hair much like Jiara's, and his facial features also bared a remarkable resemblance to hers. His eyes, though, were a deep shade of green that gleamed eerily in the dim light.

" Goten, this is my brother, Caden. My apologies for not introducing you earlier. "

The man's arms were crossed over his chest, and his lips turned up in a cruel smile. "All that time, for him? Jiara, really, I would have expected more from you. "

She lifted a brow and smirked, " I would like to have seen you do better. Perhaps you could have succeeded in seducing Vegeta? " she taunted.

Goten shivered at the obvious change in her demeanor. If he didn't know better, he would never have guessed the sharp, cold words had come from her lips. There was a sadistic humor in them; a challenge that promised injury to the challenger.

" Always the bitch queen, dear sister, how priceless. "

" Why is it that the realization of your own inferiority never fails to illicit such blatantly childish behavior? "

Caden growled but made no move to act, " I am going to check the circuits in the main transportation unit. You can keep your boyfriend company. "

Goten watched him leave then looked back to Jiara who was staring after her brother with narrowed eyes. That's when it hit him. Her eyes! They were no longer ebony, but a dark vermilion with the same unusual light hidden in their depths.

" Your eyes... "

" Hm? " Jiara reacted as though she had forgotten he was there, " Oh. My eyes. Certainly you are aware of contacts? "

A million thoughts raced through Goten's head. Why was she doing this? How could he have been fooled so completely? As she moved away from his side, he closed his eyes trying to fight the pain of betrayal welling up in his heart.