Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ THE TRUNKS AND ALANNA SAGA ❯ Christmas ( Chapter 5 )

Chapter Five

"Christmas"

The weeks continued, the snow fell, nights and days passed in a blur. Trunks and Alanna grew closer and Vegeta was seen less and less, spending his days and a few of his nights in the gravity room, training and thinking. Trunks was starting to get worried. Not about Vegeta, he had always been like that. No, it was Christmas that had him worried. It was just like Alanna's birthday, he had to get it just right or he was sunk. He spent most of his time wandering through stores or sitting silently, but he was always thinking of what to do, what to get. Alanna didn't seem nervous at all, she had found her perfect present. On the bright side, Trunks didn't have to find something for his father. Vegeta didn't participate in Christmas, he never had. Trunks wondered for a moment if he should get something anyway, then decided against it; he didn't want to widen the gap between himself and Vegeta. No, it was best to concentrate on Alanna. Vegeta would probably be training all Christmas anyway.

Trunks paced his room, trying to think of something to get Alanna. He stopped suddenly. Of course! Why didn't he think of it before? He leapt out his bedroom window and began his search. He thought it would be easier once he knew what he was looking for, but he was wrong. It was harder.

Finally, it was Christmas Eve. Alanna and Trunks sat up late in the living room, talking excitedly. Trunks had never been allowed to have a Christmas. Alanna felt sad for him, and very angry with Vegeta. How dare he treat Trunks that way!

Trunks presently asked Alanna how the whole thing worked. "Well," she said, "usually you get all your presents in the morning, but I always used to do it all at night and sleep in in the morning because it makes more sense."

Trunks nodded. "Sleeping in is good."

Alanna smiled. "Well, you're getting yours now, k?"

Trunks sat up attentively, tail twitching. Alanna laughed, reached under the couch and pulled out two boxes. There was a medium sized, flat box under a very small one. Trunks turned pink. "Aw, gee Snook..." She blinked expectantly at him. "Um...do I open them?" He asked. Alanna nodded and he picked them up, setting them on his lap, looking embarrassed and shy. He then looked thoughtful a moment. "They say good things come in small packages so...big one first." He put the small box aside and put a hand on the big one, looking unsure.

"Just rip the paper off as fast as you can. It's fun!"

Trunks proceeded to tear off the wrapping paper in a furious whirlwind of paper bits while Alanna laughed.

In a matter of seconds, there wasn't a scrap of paper left on the box. Trunks stuck his tongue between his teeth and grinned, eyes closed. "That was fun."

Alanna patted his shoulder. "Well, what are you waiting for, Trunks? Go on, open it."

Trunks smiled and opened the box. He took off a sheet of tissue paper, then pulled out a black leather jacket with flames on it and, in silver, "Trunks," on the back. Alanna smiled. "You like it?"

Trunks turned it over in his hands. "I love it! Thank you!" Trunks went into the hall and turned into the closest room with a mirror. Everything was silent a moment, then Trunks, in his new jacket, slid into view again, singing at the top of his lungs, "I feel good! Nanananananana! I knew that I would! Nanananananana! So good! Dodo! So good! Dodo, I got you! Boo boo boo WOW!" He did a hilarious impression of Micheal Jackson on his way back to the couch. "OW!" He then blinked innocently and sat placidly, Alanna rolling on the floor in tears. He grinned again. "Thanks, Snook!"

Alanna climbed back onto the couch, wiping her eyes. "Jeez, Trunks," she gasped, "You're such a FRUIT!" He shrugged modestly. "Anyway, open the small one!"

Trunks stuck a finger in a fold in the wrapping paper and tore it off with a flourish. Inside was a gold chain with a rectangle of crystal on it. Written there, in real ruby, was `Trunks.' "Wow! It's way cool! Thank you Snook!!!" Trunks hugged her tightly.

They were startled when the ruby letters started to glow like embers. "What's going on?" Trunks asked. Alanna was staring at the necklace like it was possessed. It very well could have been possessed. Trunks poked it and the light vanished as quickly as it had appeared. "Ummm..." Trunks looked at a loss for words. "What the hell was that?" He asked, not directly to Alanna because he knew she didn't know either. Alanna could only shrug. They sat quietly for a while, watching the necklace. As though acting innocent, the lettering stayed cool and placid.

At length, Trunks shrugged. "Oh well. Anyway I guess now it's time for your present." Trunks stood up.

"BOY!!! The local gang's attacking Sector Six, take care of it!" Vegeta didn't even bother to enter the room.

Trunks scowled deeply, then sighed. "Well, duty calls." He said apologetically.

Alanna rose as well. "Don't worry about it, we'll finish this tomorrow. Go get `em, Trunks."

He smiled slightly. "Sleep well, Snook." Trunks sent her off to bed before setting out on his latest Mission-All-Too-Possible. On his way out, he noticed a small card in the necklace box that probably told about it. He tucked it in his jacket pocket; he'd read it when he got back.

Well, he hadn't been in time to stop the first exchange, but at least he'd bought some time. It was a good thing trouble started when it did, Vegeta mused. That wretched girl, why couldn't she just DIE?! Hm...that didn't sound like such a bad idea. Maybe she could have...an unfortunate accident? Vegeta snickered evilly as he made his way back to the gravity room. He turned the machine on low, deciding to relax and just sit and think while increasing his stamina.

As he moved towards the center of the room, he noticed a black box on the floor. He sat beside it and picked it up, wary. Vegeta turned it over and over in his hands, then opened it. Inside, there was a gold chain with a gold rectangle, his name written in black opal. He was aware that the pendant Trunks had given Alanna contained black opal, but he knew Trunks wasn't stupid enough to think he'd participate in all that Christmas nonsense. So who had given this to him? He sniffed the box. It didn't smell like him or Alanna. So who? He couldn't think of anyone who might give him anything. So who? He turned the necklace over and noticed that there was something written, tiny, on the back. He focused his eyes and easily read the small print, "Merry Christmas, Vegeta." It was signed "X". Vegeta's brow furrowed, confused. X? The necklace felt warm in his hand, but he chalked that up to having been holding it. He didn't know why, but he put it on and tucked it under his shirt.

It was very late, or rather, very early when Trunks returned. He stopped to check in on Alanna. She was sleeping soundly. He turned and made his way to his room, falling into bed, exhausted.

He slept in late the next morning. Alanna didn't mind; he deserved a long rest. She waited in the kitchen for him to come eat. It was a good post; one of the first things on his mind when he woke would be food.

Indeed, when Trunks woke up, the first thing on his mind was food. The next was Alanna, then everything else occurred to him in a blur. Get dressed, make bed, go downstairs... He closed his eyes a moment to organize his thoughts. He also let go of the thoughts that he would take care of by habit. He was left with only one...the card. He reached for his jacket beside the bed and felt inside the pocket until he pulled out the cream coloured rectangle. The font was small, black calligraphy. He read it over. It was supposed to have strong healing and soothing powers, the usual medicinal qualities. He read it over once more before the last line sank in. The line that stated that if one received this and truly loved the one who gave it to them...the letters would glow. Trunks stared at the phrase a long while, then dropped the card on the nightstand, got dressed, and went downstairs.

Alanna was finally able to speak, interrupting Trunks, who had been apologizing profusely for being asleep for so long. "Trunks! It's alright! You had a good reason and I'm not mad!" Trunks' rambling slowed and he finally breathed again. "Come have some lunch, Trunks." She said. Trunks sat and, after a wary moment, started scarfing. Alanna pushed her plate away and waited for him to finish.

He finally started to slow, then, eventually, stopped. He sighed, patting his stomach in his usual, grateful way.

"All done?" Alanna asked. He looked thoughtful, then grabbed a grape and popped it in his mouth. "Now I am." Trunks rose and cleared the table, then sent Alanna off to brush her teeth.

When she returned, Trunks was in his new jacket and she could see the necklace chain around his neck. "There's somewhere we need to go, Alanna." He said tentatively.

"Where's that, Trunks? And why?" Alanna asked, cocking her head. She shifted from foot to foot idly. She'd go anywhere, as long as he came too.

"It's...for your present." He answered shyly. He wasn't sure how to go about doing this. Alanna made the decision for him by opening the front door and stepping outside. Trunks smiled gratefully and followed, scooping her up and taking to the sky.