" Shimatta! Katchan! " he swore at his attacker.
" What does she want now?! " Katera shouted back at her adoptive brother. " I told her, I'm big enough now that I can take care of myself! I'm not coming back! You and Goten can just cry about it like the weaklings you've become! Gokuusama can even cry! I don't care! I'm NOT coming home and Chichi can just shove it up her-- "
" Katchan! " Gohan attempted again, " I just-- "
" Just what?! What? I'm late anyway! I told Trunks I'd meet him around now! "
" How is Trunks' training coming? " Gohan inquired, trying to get the surprisingly heavy boulder off of him.
" Don't you change the subject on me, Gohan! " Katera snapped at him.
" Demo... " Gohan attempted, " I was just coming to check on you! Kaasan didn't send me! She's worried, but so are all of us. It's not the same without having you around! Kaasan cooks too much because she's used to feeding you. Then comments on how she never thought it would be possible to cook a meal Tousan couldn't finish! "
" Eh?! " Katera looked shocked at the thought of food left on a table after Gokuu having been there. " Hontoo ni? "
" I'm not lying! " Gohan finally got the boulder off and stood up, brushing his school uniform off. With a sputtered curse at his sister, Gohan scrambled for his essay. Having collected all his papers, Gohan turned back to Katera and offered an immense smile. " Anyway, I'm glad you're okay, Katchan. Daisukiyo! "
" Yeah, whatever. I'm late. "
" Me too. "
" Ja ne, " Katera took off for the horizon.
Gohan watched her go and sweatdropped. " Glad I never told her Kaasan really did send me to check on her, " he mumbled and headed for school. " Videl would think I'd been fighting again if I'd shown up all bloody and stuff. "
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Trunks sat at the top of a high cliff, the wind whipping around him and throwing his lavendar hair into disarray. The sword he'd received from Tapion so many years ago lying sheathed beside him. After a long moment of watching the horizon he gave a heavy sigh and closed his blue eyes. It was unusual for Katera to be late. She'd have his hide if he had the wrong spot. (Even though it was awfully hard to follow her directions) But, no, he had the right place.
Where was Katera?
The sound of a step behind him, and a fluctuation in his ki readings alerted Trunks to the presence of someone else. Scrambling to his feet, the twelve year old boy turned, ready to greet his sensei properly.
" Hah! Katerasan! "
Well, he almost managed it.
However, it was not Katera who met him when he looked up.
" You are, " the figure paused, looking him over appraisingly, " Trunksojisama? "
" Eh? " Trunks blinked at him.
The figure tilted his head, thick red hair that hung in great Saiyan-like spikes to his shoulders shifting subtly with this movement. " Son of Vejiitaojisama, are you not? "
Trunks was confused. What was this? " I... guess... " he answered slowly. He'd never thought about that, and even he knew his father wasn't much of a prince anymore. No one listened to him.
The figure smirked, and reached into his long white cloak to withdraw a kitana with a tempered stone blade. Raising the sword so that the tip touched Trunks' nose, he intoned,
" Shine. "
[You know what I mean there...]
Trunks blinked in surprise and ducked to the side. The sword blade pierced the air where his face had been, and swung around almost immediately to shear off too-slow strands of hair. Trunks dove for his sword, and came up drawing it from the red sheath.
The figure's eyes lighted on the weapon Trunks now held between his hands.
" Ah, " he said, affection seeping into his voice, " I see he has begun to pass the knowledge on. " Affection was soon replaced by rage, leaving Trunks no time to wonder who 'he' was. The figure came at him, sword raised, shouting, " Though why to YOU I'll never understand! "
Trunks blocked the first blow, and the second, after that he lost count. His opponent was good. As good as Katera, if not better.
Trunks shoved the figure's blade aside and moved in to offer his own strike. With his free hand, the figure slapped Trunks' sword off target and then elbowed the boy in the face.
Trunks fell back on his rear, grass staining the butt of his jeans... but that was about the farthest thing from his mind at the moment.
The figure raised his sword and began the final swing...
Before he could even begin to turn his swing into a downstroke, Trunks swung his foot out and knocked his attacker's legs out from under him. This time it was Trunks who raised his sword for the final blow.
The figure caught his blade with one hand, and levitated off the ground. He pushed Trunks back with every bit he gained. Lifting his other hand, he landed lightly on the ground and splayed his fingers directly before Trunks' face. Trunks was able only to gasp before the gray tinted ki blast tore past him.
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" Damn Chichi, " Katera muttered, still fuming over her family problems as she flew. She knew Gohan was lying. She just knew it. " Why can't she leave me the hell alone? "
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Kyande bounced out the front door of her house and turned to wave good-bye to her mother and father.
" Bye-bye Mama! Bye-bye Papa! "
Sarro shot Yamcha a sidelong glance at that. " Excuse me, but when did we dispense with formalities around here? "
" Aw, Sarro! " Yamcha protested. " I think 'Okaasan' and 'Otousan' are too formal. Kyande's eleven years old now! "
" Yes, and she still thinks-- " Sarro trailed off and she blinked in surprise. Dropping the subject just like that, Sarro wandered back into the house, mumbling under her breath.
Yamcha stared after his wife, and then looked back at his daughter, who was scowling fiercely.
" It's that icky Namekuseijin, isn't it? "
Yamcha smiled tolerantly and closed the door. He stepped off the doorstep and approached his daughter. Crouching down to her level he chided with a smile, " Now, now, Kyandechan. Your Kaasan and Dende have to keep in touch. "
" But all he ever gives her is bad news! I wish he'd just leave us alone. I don't ever wanna see his green face again! " Kyande pouted and turned her back on her father.
Yamcha gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.
" Tousan? " Kyande spoke, just as Yamcha stood, " Why do Kaasan and icky Dende have to keep in touch? We defeated Majin Buu! Years ago! He's gone! There's nothing left to threaten us!! "
Yamcha smiled and perpetuated the lie for not the first time, " Of course there isn't dear. Now get along, or you'll be late meeting Goten. "
" Yeah! " Kyande took off down the street, " I was meeting him at a ramen shop! He'd better leave some noodles for me! "
Yamcha chuckled a bit, watching his daughter speed off down the street.
So many years had passed in peace. It was a good feeling. Despite his fighting spirit, Yamcha liked the peaceful times. Especially now that he had a family to share it with.
His smiled turned wistful as he watched Kyande throw up a cloud of dust as she picked up speed. They'd all grown up without even realizing it. Gokuu... Kuririn... Yamcha... Bulma... they all had families now. Their days of carefree adventuring were out of reach. Maybe it was time they all got together to reminisce...
As soon as Kyande was out of sight, his face turned grim, and Yamcha dragged himself back into the house to face what was undoubtably to be a rather displeased Sarro.
Carefree adventuring, no. But the threat of the Dark Power still hung over their heads.
But that had been so long ago.
Even Gohan and Katera had grown up in the time since...
Well, Gohan more than Katera.
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Trunks had lost the strength to struggle by the time his attacker paused in beating him and let the boy drop to the ground. He barely registered as the figure reached down and lifted him by the collar.
Drawing his hand back, the figure began to gather energy into a small gray ball that wavered in and out of alternating dark and light shades.
Trunks watched on dully, too spent to do anything about his impending
death. Still in his ears rang the sounds of his shattered
sword blade clattering to the ground, mingled with the sounds of his
own bones breaking.
So... this was what it was like to fight in a real battle...
" I suggest you put him down before I do the same to you, " commanded a deep voice quietly.
Trunks' attacker dissipated the energy and smiled, releasing Trunks. The boy hit the ground and forced himself to make sure his rescuer was who he thought it was. " Katerasan! "
Katera shot him a glance, then returned to glaring at his attacker.
She had her sword drawn, but her stance was only half in ready position. She didn't seem afraid of the attacker, nor did she seem to expect him to attack her. Instead, she said the five words that threw Trunks into a well of confusion; " What are you doing here? "
The figure smiled and stepped over Trunks to approach her. The two exchanged low words that Trunks could not hear until the figure took off towards the horizon and Katera uttered an obsenity that Trunks did hear. (He was only twelve! He shouldn't be hearing such strong language... at least that's what Bulma said...)
Katera walked over to her student, still scowling all the while. Sheating her sword, she picked him up by the shirt and wrapped her arm around his waist. This done she took to the air and headed for Capsule Corporation.
" Katerasan... " Trunks trailed off, the question left unasked as he lost conciousness.
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Sarro sat in the shadowy confines of the office she'd made for herself in the back of her house. Her fingers were steepled before her face and her expression was grim. For not the first time since that scene outside her home, she asked,
" Are you certain? "
Sounding as weary as ever, Mirai Dende responded, Yes, Sarro, quite
certain. I need you to go into space.
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[Of course, telling us why would be so much more helpful, Dende! Hello there everyone! My Gundam Wing fiction is coming along quite nicely if I do say so myself! What'd you think of the Alternate Universe story? As for Saga three, who attacked Trunks and what is his connection to Katera? Will Sarro really go into outer space? Will Goten eat the ramen shop out of business? Be here next time to find out!]
[Written by Inseiko, 2000]
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