[news]There was an error in the last chapter. Rhuda had her tail cut off, just so we're clear. I'm sorry for the confusion--I've been sick with a cold and its been difficult. Also instead of transporting them to Gohans home directly, Zamasu was supposed to take them to the Time nest. Thank you for understanding. [news]
Real World - Gaming Tower
Trunks followed Reimu up and out, only for the new helper to say, "Wait. There's something we must take care of here."
"What is it?" Trunk asked.
"The arcade machines. Some of them...have already been connected to the new game data GM will release in the future. He knew that you'd have help and planned around it. I'll go ahead and fight the enemies as they come. You stay here and find those machines. Destroy the games."
"Understood. Pan, follow Reimu."
Reimu left the gaming tower and Pan followed. Trunks stayed behind and began his search. He started with the first floor, finding two machines with the Xenoverse 3 open, and took the games out, crushing them in his fist. Floor by floor Trunks finished his search until not finding any more arcade machines with the game. Of course he got stopped along the way a lot, mostly by Dragon Ball fans, but he hedged around them.
'That's done...'
Trunks blue eyes looked to the ceiling. 'Chisato...are you okay? I told you I'd watch your match, but...looks like that's impossible.' There were simply too many things for him to take care of in the real world.
From nowhere Goku IT next to Trunks, making him jump. "Goku!"
Xeno Goku had Pan beside him. "Heard about Freiza. Man! I would have loved to take a crack at him. Anyway--we need to be going. Reimu is fighting a whole bunch of saibamen."
"Saibamen?"
Goku nodded. "Yeah. She said GM is trying to stall us."
'Stall...so we must be close to stopping him, then.' Trunks put his hand under his chin. 'We've destroyed the games in this tower, but I'm sure there's more. Just where would he have copies?'
"Trunks?" Goku asked, "You coming?"
"Sorry, Goku." Trunks said. "I've got to sweep this place one more time. If we leave even one game...he could do this all over again."
Goku left with Pan again, off to assist Reimu. Trunks checked each floor carefully before remembering Fu's hideout down below. He ran down the steps and went inside the room, and saw the monitors. "Five here..." Trunks mumbled to himself, before something caught his eyes.
"That's...!"
There, on one monitor was an open Xenoverse 3 game. The starting menu. On the screen Trunks read, 'Input Wish Received.' His memories jarred, knowing that to be the very game Chisato had been playing. "This is it! The copy Chisato had!"
Trunks ejected the game, powering it off and took the CD. He thought about crushing it. "If I destroy this one...won't her game end? I--I might not be able to make it back. Dammit! What should I do?"
At that moment a Kai voice said behind him, "Trunks. Give that to me."
He looked, seeing Zamasu there. The green skinned Kai dipped his head. "I'll take this to the future. The King of Time wishes to remake the game without the data corruptions. Also..unless it's being played, you won't be able to return, and you will cease to exist outside the real world."
Trunks looked at the CD in his hand before giving it to Zamasu. "Alright. I hope you know what you're doing."
"Hn! I'm doing what I was told to do. If you have a problem, blame yourself." Zamasu said.
'King of Time...' Trunks wondered on that.
Zamasu presumably left to the future, vanishing.
*
*
Shallot blocked Goku Blacks attack and grabbed his bleeding chest. "Dammit! When did he get so strong!"
Black chuckled. "...I've been training. Pitting my strength against adversaries at every opportunity. You don't have a chance."
"Tch!" Shallot flew back, sensing familiar energy. Bra, Vegeta, and Goten. They hovered near him.
"About time," Shallot said.
"Tch...! We'll take him down." Vegeta said. "Stay out of my way!"
But he never got a chance to make his move.
Out of nowhere a tiny vial smacked Black, whom twirled to see just who had dared touch him. The vial exploded, and the eruption made Shallot and his group squint their eyes. When the dust had settled they heard a female yell out, "Divine Flow!"
'What the...!'
*
Marisa Kirisame used her [Divine Flow] to slow down time. Everything dulled, dragging on at a snails pace. She flew up on her broom and saw the enemy--a pink haired, muscled man--and from her witchs outfit the Future Warrior pulled her hexagon, called Divine Time Mini-Hakkero. "Heh! This will do the trick!"
She thrust out her amulet and smirked, light golden eyes glinting with eagerness. "Divine Master Spark!"
Goku Black couldn't possibly react in time, due to her [Divine Flow] ability slowing things down. Marisa smirked, "Messing around here in the real world! I'll take you down, Black-ze!"
An incantation formed beneath her feet, swelling to make a circle. Two large white wings burst from her broomstick. It was her spell, and and very strong one. She pointed to Goku Black as a massive white light burst from her hand clutching the Divine Time Mini-Hakkero, causing her hands to shake from all the pressure. She grit her teeth and grabbed her witchs hat, which was threatening to fall off. "Hyah! Ah ha ha!" She laughed, seeing that Black had taken serious damage.
All the white faded and she paused, seeing if he was still there or not. He was.
"So...you still live! I'll fix that!"
She grabbed her hat and charged her power. "Here I go! Divine Blazing Star!"
Black was surrounded by the large star shaped attack as her broom propelled into him--creating a trail of stars that followed her pattern. Marisa looked behind her and saw that Black was finished.
"Ah ha! You dare call yourself a villain with such weak strength!" Marisa crossed her arms and let her [Divine Flow] fade away, restoring time to it's natural order. Black fell before vanishing into a purple void, defeated, and Shallot and his group of warriors looked on with wide eyes.
*
"What the?" Shallot twirled, seeing a girl wearing a witchs dress floating on a broom. She had long wavy blonde hair and light golden eyes, wearing a black and white dress, complete with a white ruffled apron. There were brown boots and a black hat, and even it had ruffles.
"What the hell?" Vegeta asked, flying to her. "He was mine!"
Seeing Vegeta about to begin a totally useless and pointless fight, Shallot grabbed his shoulder. "Oi! We should see who she is before just fighting!"
The girl sighed. "Good grief. You're the same no matter what time, ne Vegeta?"
"How do you know my name?" Vegeta asked, crossing his arms in a huff.
Shallot got between the two. "...Okay. You one shot Black; awesome. Now tell us who you are."
"Marisa Kirisame. I was brought here by the King of Time." Marisa said.
Marisa began to explain everything that she could, letting them all know that a future Trunks had brought her and Reimu to their history in order to preserve it. "So you know, me coming here is inevitable."
"Hn. We're supposed to believe this nonsense?" Vegeta asked.
Shallot gave him a look. "..She defeated Black pretty fast. And we all know Trunks will do anything to protect time...even sending in a witch from another game."
Marisa smirked. "Heh! I'm the best there is. Now..let's get going."
*
*
Shallot met up with Trunks, and they discussed what to do about GM. "We don't know where he is...or what he looks like," Trunks said with a frown.
Reimu, Goku and Pan met up with them in the sky. The group of heroes hovered above Japan, debating on just what to do from there. A minute later Zamasu the Kai returned and handed Trunks a CD. "Take this. It's the same game you're in, only without the corruptions."
Trunks, awed, looked at it in wonder. "Really? That...fast?"
"I went a little further in time to get this." Zamasu said, waving his hand, bored. "Do whatever you want with it."
"But..." Shallot looked from the CD to Trunks, "...won't this erase Chisato?"
"The King of Time transferred all of her data into this...thing," Zamasu said. "He merely changed just enough to prevent this GM from doing what he likes."
"I..see. Wow...so I can do this type of thing in the future?" Trunks asked, blue eyes wide.
"Yep! You're pretty smart, King of Time," Marisa popped in.
Trunks told them he didn't think it was a good idea to keep the game there, at the gaming tower. It was too easily findable. That's when Shallot suggested they use his house, seeing as everything he owned was still there and his parents likely wouldn't check if he kept his screen turned off. "It will work for now.." Trunks said, nodding. "We'll come back later and find a better place."
And so the group convened at Shallots old home. He flew in, played the game and loaded the last save.
All that was left was to head back home. To Xenoverse 3.
*
*
*
Peace...had been restored.
For a time, anyway.
But there were still some things to take care of; such as enlisting Granola as the newest member of the Time Patrol, the conclusion of the Universal Tournament--Goku won, and he was gifted the Super Dragon Balls.
"What do you like to wish for?" Grand Priest asked, a twinkle in his calm gaze.
Goku thought long and hard. Just when everyone present thought he wasn't going to speak, he said, "I...want to save my wish. If that's okay?"
"Of course. When you're ready, come find me." Grand Priest said.
He and the other Angels and Destroyers left with their respective fighters, leaving Whis and Beerus, whom was angered about being mind controlled, and had went on a rampage about Shallot. The Angel Whis looked over at his Universal fighters proudly before transporting them all back to the Time Nest.
*
Time Nest
Rhuda, Granola, Gohan and SKOT were talking amongst themselves just as the remaining Time Patrollers, whom had been present at the Tournament popped in. Broly and Goku wasted no time in greeting Rhuda and half fought over who would get to her first.
"You were amazing out there," Goku told her.
"Really?" Rhuda asked.
"Yup! Wasn't she Broly?"
Broly nodded. He looked a little miffed though, until snatching her up to his giant chest and giving the girl a big squeeze. "I was worried. But you were okay."
Beerus and Whis left along with Vegeta back to Capsule in search of food. Goku said his goodbyes to his daughter and promised to visit real soon, after he got nice and full of Chichi's cooking. That left Broly, Granola, Rhuda and Gohan.
"Heya...sis?" Gohan asked, walking over from the pond, where he'd been petting Tokitoki.
"Yes?"
Gohan scratched his cheek. "Er...do you think it would be hard for you guys to wish me back to life?"
"Oh! Of course not! I'll ask Trunks right away...well, when he gets here." Rhudas green eyes fell a little with sadness, missing her handsome boyfriend quite terribly. She doubted he'd been able to watch her fight at all. With a shake to her loose hair she grabbed Gohan hands and raised them, giving his calloused hands a kiss. "...I want to say thank you again. For...coming. I--I wouldn't be here..."
Her words trailed off in a daze, realizing how close she'd truly came to total KO.
'Gohan gave his life to come help me. How can I ever repay him?'
The half saiyan looked at his hands, still quite close to her face before he swiftly grabbed both of her red cheeks and mushed them together. "Chisato..." he murmured. The dark chocolate of his eyes softened as a slow and gentle smile he bestowed. "...I told you that I'll protect you."
'But that's only because he feels guilty about what Fu made him do. I shouldn't be so selfish--but I can't help but...be so happy...that he's here...' Her mind traveled, staring into his handsome face until she realized he was leaning and eyeing her lips.
"!"
Before the SKOT, Broly, Granola and Tokitoki, Gohan kissed Rhuda. It wasn't chaste nor short. In fact his lips took hers for quite a ride, testing her hearts ability to control its pace until Rhuda couldn't help but tremble against him and shut her eyes in defeat.
"OI!"
Shallots loud voice broke them apart--
--and Rhuda was jerked sideways, right into her boyfriends trench coat.
"What do you think you're doing?" Trunks growled, looking over her head to Gohan, whom had went red in the face.
"I was--I..." Gohan clamped his teeth together. He turned away. "...Sorry. I'm going home. See you later, Chisato."
"Y-Yes!"
Trunks had a tight grip on his tiny girlfriend, whose smell was rising, cluing him into things he'd rather not know. Such as her innate saiyan attraction to Gohan. Trunks let her go reluctantly and ignored the stares of everyone--including the future warriors--and kissed her hand. "...It's been awhile, Chisato."
"..."
Finally. She was looking at him, seeing him, as if time had stopped. From his cropped lilac hair, bright blue eyes, and the grin on his beautiful face, Rhuda could have looked at her boyfriend forever. So much had happened in such a short time, and it was as though she'd have to live a life time without him. Her eyes blurred with happy tears, inhaling his expensive cologne and a deeper, more sensual scent. Rhuda grinned like a fool and relished his closeness.
'Trunks...! We did it..!'
Hearing her thoughts, he had his own. ('Yes. You're safe now. Fu is gone, and for now GM isn't able to make a move.')
She nodded.
'I'm sorry that Gohan--'
('Don't. Please. We can talk later. For now, I'd like to celebrate and forget this madness.')
"...Ano..." Rhuda looked around, before looking to him shyly. "...Can I hug you?"
"Pfft."
With a roll of his eyes to the Nest sky and a smile on his face, Trunks tucked her to him.
'He's here with me. We can be together...forever.' Rhuda inhaled his particular wonderful scent some more, mesmerized by her genius boyfriend. 'Oh..! We're...getting married soon...! That means--' Her thoughts went into images of the intimate kind, daydreaming about that wedding night and beyond, until Trunks grunted and secretly nipped her ear.
('Chisato! I can't focus if you're thinking like that..please, if you don't mind, save those thoughts for later?')
"S-Sorry!"
She left his embrace and hid her cheeks, wishing for the first time he couldn't read her thoughts or feelings. It wasn't fair.
Trunks then addressed everyone. He began by reviewing everything that had happened, and what to expect. "We need to prepare for GMs next move. I don't think he'll give up anytime soon."
SKOT agreed with his sentiments. "You're...probably right, Trunks. We should keep an eye on the real world. Who wants to be part of the team to go there?"
Granola, Shallot, Bra and Goten raised their hands.
"Good. You'll leave first thing tomorrow. For now...let's rest up. Okay?" Chronoa smiled and clapped her hands, "And good work! I'm very proud of you all!"
Reimu and Marisa, who Trunks introduced to Rhuda, said they'd stay in Conton until needed elsewhere. Those two--along with the tsundere Kai Zamasu--went with Chronoa into her home. One by one everyone said goodbye, until it was just Broly, Rhuda, Shallot and Trunks.
"..Ano...brother?" Rhuda asked.
He looked down, down at his little sister.
"Can you stay with me? At..Gohans?" She asked.
"Me..stay with sister?" Broly repeated. Slowly he nodded, before a big smile he gave to her.
"I think that's a good idea." Trunks said. ('He can keep Gohan away...sorry, Chisato. But I don't trust him not to keep his hands off.')
Rhuda flushed and glanced to Trunks. 'I..need to tell you something about that.'
('Understood.')
"W-Well...we should rest up. Meet here tomorrow." Trunks said.
Shallot couldn't help but remind Trunks that 'he' was Leader now before telling everyone the exact same thing. Shallot left, heading to destinations unknown with Bra, and the three remaining headed to their respective abodes...
*
The After Math
Videl was home with Pan, who was informed that her husband had been temporary disturbed out of his body. Those two must have had a conversation, because when Rhuda waltzed in with Broly, Gohan stepped away from his wife and greeted them with a conflicted expression. "Sis. Oh, and Broly. Welcome!"
His home was filled with guests. For such a big place to be teeming with activity, from running children --Pan chasing Puar around, shouting "Kitty!"--to Oolong sneaking away with something expensive, Rhuda was overwhelmed. Oolong was caught red handed by Android 18, holding Kolard in her arms and kicked the pink Pig in the head. Krillin and Yamcha who were having a sparring match in his living room.
It was chaos.
--And it only became more chaotic the moment Rhuda was introduced to everyone.
"So you're the famous Chisato," Yamcha said. He stuck his hand out, smiling. "Heard a lot about you."
"Ano...you are Yamcha." Rhuda said, recalling she'd sparred him a long time ago. It had been a simulation in Vegetas gravity chamber.
Her green gaze flit to Kolard longingly.
"You know my name? Of course you do. Heh. So uh, can't help but notice Trunks isn't here..." Yamcha leaned in, and Rhuda leaned away, hiding against her brother Broly.
Broly didn't even need to say one word for his deep glare was enough to intimidate Yamcha into meekness. But that didn't stop Master Roshi, whom grabbed her butt cheeks from the side and shouted, "Woo wee!"
"Kya!"
...And Master Roshi crashed into the wall upside down, courtesy of Broly and his raised fist.
Rhuda recovered from sheer embarrassment and escaped to Android 18, wanting to hold her son badly. Kolard was asleep in the androids arms and sucking his thumb.
"Here you go. He's been very good, well, except when we had to catch him." 18 said.
"Catch him?" Rhuda asked.
"He must have been looking for you. Little guy flew all over before we finally caught him." 18 said, smiling.
Rhuda took Kolard and stared at her tiny baby son, almost crying. She didn't though--sniffing loudly--and glanced over to Gohan. He was watching Pan and her newest training results from Piccolo. The little girl had fiery eyes as she tried time and time again to land one hit on her Dad, and when finished Gohan snuggled her and caught Rhudas stare.
'He's such a good father. I'm glad Kolard has a Dad like him,' Rhuda thought to herself.
Gohan, hearing her thoughts grew red in the face and sat Pan down, walking to her. "...Are you hungry, sis?"
"Y-Yes. Very!"
With a laugh Videl said she would order food. That changed, however, when Goku, Chichi and Goten arrived. They had brought a large amount of meat and rice to celebrate.
Goku was walking very carefully. His arms had been piled high to the ceiling with containers of food, and eventually he dropped them. Before they hit the ground everyone hurriedly dashed around the room, catching the containers just in time.
"Phew!" Goku said, "Thanks guys!"
"You need to eat, Chisato!" Chichi said, shoving a plated container bento filled with home cooking to the new mother.
The food was passed around until everyone had a share of the meal. The saiyans in the room made short work of what remained, until not even one speck of rice was left. With full bellies and happy comments the party began to disband. As for Rhuda, she held her son and kept looking to the door, until Chichi sat beside her on the fluffy couch.
"He'll be here." Chichi said.
"Eh?"
"You're waiting for Trunks, right?"
Rhuda nodded. "Y-Yes. I...haven't gotten to see him for very long."
Her mom pat her hand and took Kolard, cooing and bragging about the saiyan. Rhuda coudn't help but be happy, knowing her family was such a loving bunch.
Trunks finally arrived, and she couldn't see him for the bags covering his face, arms, and chest. The bags were from West City Mall.
"Little help here!" He said around his filled arms.
"Trunks...!" Rhuda jumped up and took some of the load, finally seeing her boyfriend. "What are all this things?" She asked him.
"Well uh..." his cheeks became pink, "...I told mom you needed some clothes and stuff."
"These are all for me?" She asked.
"Yeah. Come on, let's go put them in your room."
*
"There." Trunks sat the last bag on her bed and wiped his forehead. "I'm pretty sure you won't need clothes again, ever."
Rhuda began to look through the clothing and saw they were nice, matching, and she even had new undergarments. "Oh, wow...! This is too much!" The girl said, holding her red face.
Trunks chuckled and sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her. "Get used to it. You'll be one of us soon."
"Yes...I'll be Trunks wife..." she giggled and flung into his chest. "I'm so excited! It will be a new journey."
"For me, too." Trunks gave her a chaste kiss and took her hand in his. "Now, what was it you wanted to say?"
"Well..." Rhuda began to fidget, not knowing the best words. "Gohan...ano...when I had Kolard...he had to bite me, you see."
"!"
Her boyfriends blue eyes constricted. "H-He bit you?!"
"Yes...he had to. I wasn't able to calm down...i-it was my fault, asking him to do such a thing."
They sat silently for a time. But it wasn't completely silent, for Rhuda could hear her boyfriends thoughts churning quite angrily, until he stood. "...So that's why he acts like that."
"I'm sorry...!"
Trunks gave her a tight glare, "Is there anything else?"
"..." Mutely she nodded. "...I also had trouble getting Kolard to feed."
She explained what happened and wasn't expecting her kind hearted boyfriend to grow so upset, but his lilac hair lifted and burned blonde.
"You---you asked him to---!" Trunks choked out.
Of course she tried to defend herself. "Only because I didn't know where you were. I--I tried to find you, and he was crying so very much I couldn't just leave!"
Trunks sternly walked to his girlfriend, lightning crackling, and she scooted away from him on the mattress. He hissed, "I can understand that he had to bite you---but---he's not only kisssed MY mate, but---Urgh!"
Rhuda was trapped beneath him on the bed, ashamed and not able to face her boyfriend properly. 'I'm so sorry! I wasn't trying to do anything wrong!'
If Trunks heard her plea he ignored it, growling at her face. "...You're mine, Chisato. Whatever the two of you have going on---needs to stop. I--I won't be so forgiving a second time!"
".....Uuu....."
Seeing her tears, Trunks leaned away in an angered huff and added, "If there was another place safe from negative energy I'd make you go there instead. Until I can find one...you have stay here. But...don't look at him...like you do me. Ever!"
"Y-Yes! I-I won't!"
She grabbed his hand and he swatted it away. "I've always had deep respect for Gohan...." Trunks said, easing from the bed and glaring at the wall, "...But even I have my limits."
"T-Trunks--! Please don't go! Please...!"
'He'll leave me alone again. Just like in the Time Chamber...I couldn't be where he was.' Her heart pound, thinking bad things, until Trunks had no choice but to sit back down and deal with his anger the hard way, lest his girlfriend became a teary eyed mess. His hands where fisted and rest on the tops of his thigh meat, unable to do more than bear what he'd learned in silent rage.
Slowly Rhuda drew him to her and clung on. There was many a bad thought in her mind, remembering her childhood and how her father had acted, and her limbs trembled, not wanting her sweet boyfriend to be even a little upset with her. "...I'll do anything...just don't...look at me like that...I--I can't bear it."
"I can't help it right now!" He shouted. Then, quieter he said, "How would you feel? If some other woman had bitten me, Chisato? Kissed me? And...even touched me, like he did you?"
Rhuda imagined that and her heart began to shatter. She dropped away from him and left the bed. "...I understand. I'm asking too much. If--If Trunks wants to go...then..." her words trailed off as she dropped down and sobbed.
*
Gohans attention went from Videl who was talking about everything to a sharp Ki which had risen, coming distinctly from Trunks, who was within Rhudas bedroom.
'What's going on in there?'
He stood and took Kolard from Chichi, telling them he'd be right back. Goku hopped up as well. Once they were away from everyone Goku said, "...Trunks is mad. I can sense it."
"Yeah. But why?" Gohan asked his Dad.
They pecked on her bedroom door and Trunks opened it, his hair blonde with the power of a super saiyan. Seeing Goku and Gohan with Kolard he stepped aside and said over his shoulder, "I'll be back tomorrow. Rest."
After Trunks had gone the two walked in, seeing Rhuda sobbing away like a small child, holding her knees and burying her head down. Slowly Goku said, "...Everything alright in here?"
"No....Trunks is mad." She said.
Gohan knew at that moment exactly why Trunks was upset. To Goku he said, "Maybe we should call it a night."
His Dad crossed his arms and hedged into the room. "We'll leave. But answer something for me. Do I need to have a talk with Trunks?"
"N-No." She said, never looking up.
Goku sighed and told her he'd be back soon, and Gohan didn't move from the door frame until he sensed everyone had left his home, aside from his wife and Pan, who was playing tag outside with Broly. Slowly Gohan said, "...It'll be okay. If he's mad at anyone it should be me, Chisato, not you."
"Hic...."
"Look, Kolard is waking up. See?" He brought Kolard over hoping the sight of him would help cheer up Rhuda, but if anything it only made her more sad.
"Gohan...how can I do this...? It's because I chose to keep Kolard that this has happened..." Rhuda whispered, looking at her son sadly. "Trunks wants me to move out soon. And he was so upset when I told him how you had to bite me. I don't know what to do to make it better..."
Once again Gohan was agitated by Trunks. Leaving her there crying after she'd already had a hard day to say the least, facing down death itself. The evening was supposed to be a good one full of celebration, but for her, it had ended miserably. Gohan kneeled and gave her Kolard and rubbed her back as he thought on what to do.
Finally he stood. "I'll talk with him. Tomorrow. Try to sleep, okay?"
"Hic...yes...t-thank you, Gohan..."