Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ White Tail & Angel Wings ❯ It's You ( Chapter 4 )

"I can't believe I'm going with you two," Karaine muttered, looking out the window at the rapidly passing scenery.

&nbspI turned in my seat to look at my dark-haired cousin who sat in the backseat behind the driver. As a note, the driver was my close friend, Cronus. Karaine always said that we'd always been more than friends. I ignored her whenever she said things such as that.

&nbspFrom my perspective in the passenger's seat, Karaine resembled a child dreading the trip to the dentist. Her attire, however, was very much grown up.

&nbspShe wore clothes that were in some respect skimpy, if you take notice to the white halter-top she wore under that decorated blue jean jacket that I gave to her for her birthday. Along with the halter-top, Karaine wore a pair of cutoff blue jeans that went up to her mid-thighs. On her feet she wore black combat boots. I despised those things. Karaine was the epitome of tomboy. In fact, she hadn't worn a dress in over ten years.

&nbspWithin the past year, I had obtained a job at the Capsule Corporation, and had risen quickly up the corporate ladder. Mrs. Bulma had become like a second mother to me. A week ago, I had received an invitation to a small party for her family and some friends. The invitation stated that I might bring two others, and no more.

&nbspI begged and pleaded with Karaine to wear a dress, but she simply refused. This aggravated me to no end.

&nbspWhen I first was hired at the Capsule Corporation, Karaine first thought I did it to annoy her, but soon she showed her support by attaching a Capsule Corporation badge on each arm of her jacket.

&nbspI turned back to face the front and I felt Cronus slip a hand over mine. I enjoyed this feeling until we both heard Karaine go, "Aha!" Cronus immediately put his hand back on the steering wheel.

&nbspOkay, I admit it, there is a little more than friendship between Cronus and I. I watched Cronus brush his platinum hair back with a hand as his blue eyes remained focused on the road.

"Think about it, Karaine," I piped up, running my hand through my hair. "You may get to see him again."

"I doubt it," Karaine replied, a tone of skepticism in her voice. "It's been ten years."

"So?" I press, turning to look at her. Her eyes don't leave the window.

"He probably hates me for leaving him like that. You took me away too fast."

"Now, Karaine, don't start that. You said yourself that you intended to go through with the tradition," I said.

"Yes, but you could've given me time to explain it to him!" Karaine looked at me with protesting eyes.

"I'm sorry," I apologized. "But, it's in the past, we really can't change that now." I pause as she looks back out the window. "Maybe you can catch up if he's there…"

"No." Karaine cut me off. She remained silent.

&nbspCronus glanced at her in the rear view mirror. "Od uoy evol mih?"

"I beg your pardon?" Karaine asked, an edge on her voice.

"I just asked whether or not you loved him," Cronus eased on the brakes as he approached an intersection.

"I…don't know," Karaine said softly.

"Look!" I said, pointing to the growing building in the distance. "There's the Capsule Corporation compound."

&nbspKaraine stuck her head in between the two front seats to get a better look. "That's where you work?"

&nbspI smiled to myself; she seemed relieved to get off that subject.

"Yes," I replied.

&nbspWe pulled into the company parking lot and filed out of the car.

"Excuse me!"

&nbspI looked up in time to see a blue-haired girl come running up to use. She was dressed in red, and looked strikingly familiar.

"Excuse me," she paused, getting her breathing under control. "Are you Ms. Laurelle?"

&nbspI nodded. "Yes, I am."

&nbspShe smiled. "Good. I'm Bra, Bulma's daughter." We briefly shake hands.

"Follow me, please." Bra led us into a building of the complex that I hadn't been into yet. We climb upstairs to the second floor, and into a ballroom-like room with an ornate skylight. The starry night sky bled into the room through the glass.

"Mom," Bra called, lifting her hand up. A women with short bluish hair like Bra's came over to where we stood in the doorway.

"Mrs. Bulma," I said. She smiled at me and we hug.

"I trust you are well, Laurelle?" She asked. I nod. She looks to Cronus. "Who's this handsome young man?"

"That's Cronus," I replied.

"Your brother?" She guessed.

&nbspI shake my head. "No. A good friend." I turn slightly and motioned to Karaine. She has her arms crossed over her chest and is staring somewhat at the floor. "This is my cousin, Karaine."

&nbspBulma looked at her. "The name…sounds so familiar." She smiled. "Have you met my son yet?" I shake my head again.

&nbspShe takes my arm in hers. "Come on, then, he needs a girlfriend."

"Mrs. Bulma!" I said, embarrassed by her remark.

&nbspMrs. Bulma practically drug me across the dance floor in the middle of the room to where three men stood group together. One, obviously the eldest, had black spiky hair with a somewhat receding hairline and held a Champaign glass in one hand and had his other hand stuffed in his pocket. The other black-haired man, younger than the other, but also had spiky hair, and their favoring looks made it obvious they were brothers. The last man, a young man like the second, had short lavender hair and blue eyes.

&nbspBulma stopped next to the younger black-haired man and motioned towards the one with lavender hair.

"This is my son Trunks," Bulma said.

"Hi," I wave pathetically, holding my ankle with the other hand. Bulma had drug me so hard across the wooden dance floor and I twisted my ankle as a result.

"You hurt her, mom," I heard Trunks say with a chuckle to his voice.

"I did not!" Bulma countered.

&nbspThe pain receded in my ankle and I looked up at Trunks. I offered my hand. "My name's Laurelle."

"Trunks." He took my hand and shook it gently. That's when I felt it. He was…the one Karaine was forced to leave behind. "Have we met?"

"Huh?" I came whirling back to reality from the depths of my thoughts. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"I said, 'Have we met?'" He repeated.

"Uh…I don't think so," I answer semi-truthfully. I had seen him at the age of 17. That makes him around the age of 27 now.

"By the way," Trunks said. He motioned to the young man standing to my left. "This is Son Goten." He motioned to the other. "And this is his older brother, Son Gohan."

&nbspI exchange handshakes with both of them.

"So, Trunks…" Goten said, but stopped when he saw Trunks just staring straight over his shoulder. "Trunks…" he waved a hand in front of the purple-haired man. Goten turned and looked over his shoulder. "Wow. Who's that?"

&nbspI looked. "That's my cousin. She's not very social." Karaine was walking across the dance floor for the open balcony to my now left. I glance back at Trunks; he looks mesmerized.

"What's her name?" He asked.

&nbspI smirk; I couldn't help not to. "Her name is Karaine."

"Karaine…?" Goten whispered as the name registered something in his memory.

&nbspTrunks' eyes widened and he drained his Champaign glass quickly. Handing it to Goten, he excused himself.

&nbspBulma looked at me. "What was that all about?"

&nbspI smiled at her. "Tell me Bulma, it was the winter of about ten years ago. You met a young 17-year-old girl with long black hair and brown eyes. She just appeared and totally threw your son's world out of whack. Do you remember?"

&nbspBulma hesitated, retreating into the world of her memory. "Yes…" she said slowly. "I do. Her name was…Karaine."

"I was the girl who came and got her."

"How…?"

"How did I disappear?" I asked. She nodded. "That is something I choose not to share at this present time."

&nbspI stood on the balcony outside the ballroom. I'm not the party type. It's too oppressive inside. I need clean air. I lean on the railing and stare into the stars. My home was once one of those stars, I guess. I don't know how far away home was.

"The stars are beautiful aren't they?"

&nbspI gasp in surprise and I whirl around. There's no mistaking who's standing there, in front of me.

"You…" I trailed off.

"It's been a long time Karaine," he said.

"Trunks…"

"Where have you been?" He asked.

&nbspI turn back around to face the railing. "Why do you care?"

"I do."

"Why?"

"Because ten years ago, I was in love with you."

&nbspTrunks was being blunt. How aggravating.

"What about you? What were your feelings?" He asked me.

&nbspInner turmoil. What do you expect me to say? "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" I'm no Juliet, if that's what you're looking for. I've changed a lot since that time, ten years ago.

"Karaine?" He pressed. I sighed. Fine.

&nbspI turned back around and cross my arms. "I…don't know. I didn't get time to tell you everything I wanted to. Laurelle took me away too fast."

"Why did she?"

"I am following, or trying to follow, in the footsteps of my father," I answered. I turned back around. "It's none of your concern."

"I think it is," he said. I felt a pair of arms circle around my abdomen. Trunks embraced me from behind. "Because…I know I'm still in love with you."

"Trunks…" I whisper. I've always loved him…I…just couldn't show it.

&nbspHe rests the side of his face against the junction of my upper back and the back of my neck.

&nbspAs he held me, I heard the French doors that led back into the ballroom swing close. The both of us turn to look, and noticed Bulma smiling at us before she shut the curtains, blocking us from insiders' view.

&nbspI try to turn back around, but Trunks holds me still.

"Let me go," I muttered. He didn't. I look up at him, into his eyes, and I remember the past. Images from ten years prior flashed through my mind. Us meeting on the couch; the snow blanketed the ground outside; our first kiss.

&nbspBefore I know it, I leapt into his arms, wrapping my arms around his torso and burying my face into his shoulder. I feel his arms embrace me gently; somehow, I feel the need for comforting from him.

&nbspA dark shadow grows in my mind, but I ignore it. I just want to stay like this for now…with no interruptions.