Welcome to Boxer & Rice

You'll never really know...I made that promise to myself long, long ago. And it was relatively easy to keep to that resolve.

I mean...I had to go, ne? If the memory and desire wouldn't fade...maybe distance and time would...kill them...?

No. Not likely. It was rather unfortunate I think...the need for you again.

Well...not as though there ever was a first time...

Only in dreams, kid.

But then...time travel was a dream for a long time...theories, formulae, ideals of flow and the nature of time as a tangible object...a creature to be tamed...

Like you...

Like me...

Heh. 'Guess I'm proof enough that dreams can come true, right? I mean, I'm here...you're here...by all rights and circumstance, we aren't supposed to be able to co-inhabit the same time...

Let alone fuck the same person...I mean...believe in the fates you wish to. Where I grew up, there was no god--no guardian to keep things from boiling over...

...no dragonballs...

What a concept...peace through a wish...

Tranquility through mysticism, all the ideals of 'better living through science and technology' thrown out the window...the company would be obsolete....

Hn. I bet Mama's had a hand in preventing that wish from being made...my mother would have loved nothing more--she would have welcomed the vacation. Your Okaasan, however....

The differences astound me, sometimes...

Between your life and mine, I mean.... What I could have been, versus what I actually became...who you are...who father is...

...if I had grown up beneath his wing, would I have become as weak as you...?

I would hope not...

Hope.

Hn.

Another joke for fools to see light in. After I visited the first time, I did what I came to, I helped the way they wanted me to...we won, here...the destruction was minor, loss almost nil...but at home...

Did I ever tell you that my mother had died...?

No. Of course not. You couldn't even walk when I saw you last. Why would it have mattered...but now you'll listen, ne...? When I returned home, I had little problem defeating them...training with father did me good...it was a one-sided victory.

But later...I went home...and she...

I hadn't a reason to stay there any longer. I would have been of no use to them. Rebuilding was smooth. Science was their savoir. Evolution was proceeding as planned.

My existence was transcendental.

I was obsolete.

So I came back, smile in place, heart on my sleeve, to the open arms of your now.

I could always go back if I wanted to, ne?

But I stayed...and I watched you--me...both of you grow up.

You, the spoiled brat prince I am glad I'll never be.

He, your faithful little shadow.

My shadow...

He's like a ghost, you know...always quiet, never in the way. Silent, polite, helpful, shy. 'Seen and not heard', just the way Chichi-san saw fit to raise him. Nothing like his brother.

Well...I can't say that...not...completely....

Do you realize he only ever talks out of line to you? 'Do not speak lest spoken to'. Another of her golden rules.

I'm even amazed she lets the kid visit you at all. You think she'd be afraid you'd corrupt her angelic little boy. Wonder why she's so lenient about that....

Heh-heh-heh...you know it's no surprise to me that you're so protective of him. You can't deny it--I feel it too. Damn Sons.

Though, being a prince, we'd never admit something like that to the walls, let alone another soul.

But they know. You can see it on their face, in their eyes. Gohan knew I had affections for him since the start. The kid even sat me down and talked about it! I didn't even realize he was doing it at first...he's clever like that. In a sense, I think he set me straight...or at least, helped me see the love I had wasn't for him so much as what I thought was him. It made sense to me, though I don't know if you'd understand it at all. You're young yet, chibi-chan. It's really nothing to worry about.

Damn Sons. Just when you brush one off, another pops up to replace him.

Goten.

Think yourself lucky, Trunks. You're both still kids, but it's already plain to see where you're going.

And I hope you'll forgive me for what I've done, but it was only a matter of time before the idea shifted from novel thought to full-fledged obsession.

It's not that I wanted to hurt you, but I...there are just some things you need to share, Trunks.

Love is one of them.

You can't keep a good thing all to yourself, chibi. It's only fair to spread the joy it brings, ne? Isn't that what you're supposed to do?

Isn't a prince supposed to keep his subjects happy...?

You'll forgive me. I know you will. If you don't, that would be like not forgiving yourself. Trust me. I know. But again, kiddo, don't worry about it. You've got your whole lives to push the events of one night out of your memory. In a year, you'll finger the scar on his chest and shake your head at the mystery shrouding it's appearance.

Whether he tells you or not depends on the Son power of recollection. He's a smart kid--much smarter than you or I that's a fact, but I think he plays the silent partner in order to keep you at his side.

And no one's the wiser. Heh. Have you seen his father? Of course you have. He was just here for dinner yesterday. Poor kid...a harpy for a mother, a rocket scientist for a brother, the Dumbass no Ouji for a father...

...and a prince for a lover...

Yeah. Poor kid.

Watch out for him, little brother. I'm trusting you. I may be old enough to know better, but he's your pet, not mine. No matter how long I stay in this place, I feel more and more the outcast.

I guess that's why father doesn't complain as much around me. He knows I'm the only one to truly understand him. Heh. I think he just likes the company of somebody with an IQ worth mentioning. How he got along so long without making good on his word and actually killing Goku-san is beyond me...

Hmn. I think it might be wise to wash before he comes to, don't you think? I'm sorry I've no senzu...a few days of rest will see you both back to your mischievous selves. The world will go on like nothing happened...and I'll be gone again...not for good, but for now. Maybe I'll come back when the memory has faded, and the rage re-directed toward the latest threat to this haven. I'll come back when they need me again, and they'll all forget about what happened that night they left you as my charges.

They may feel guiltier that way. To know they volunteered you both to my care. To realize the fallacy of their ways in telling me to keep you in line, do whatever I had to, so long as the house remain standing upon their return.

'Are you certain that's what you want', I asked.

'Yes,' was the chorused reply as they sped out the door on their way to...where ever...

They gave me permission, chibi, so then it's okay, ne...?

....

Mebbe I should not've forced you down so far. The anatomy of an eleven-year-old isn't exactly built for sucking dick. Heh. I always wondered what it would feel like to do that to myself...guess I can say I've done it now, eh...?

....

What was that? Goten? Oh, he's...here...and there...he's around, don't worry. They'll stitch him back together in no time. He'll be fine, chibi. Somewhat...shorter on one side, but fine.

....

Well, he should not have tried to run, I told him that before we started playing.

....

Cold? No, I'm--oh. You. Hmn. Let me move the blanket...there. Hn. I guess I should bring him to bed, too, ne? It's not right for such a sweet toy to have to sleep on the floor. Unless you two play that sort of game already...? No? Well...you can't blame me for asking...you two did surprise me for a while, there, holding your own and all...

....

Dare? As in 'truth or...'? Sugei. That's a novelty I hadn't anticipated. And here I thought you both...virgins.

Oh. I'm sorry. You were. Well then. I hoped you enjoyed it.

....

Sore for a little while...it'll shrink again...see? It's already too tight for three...hm? More...? Trunks...I'm surpri...oh. No more. Heh. If that's what you desire, my young Ouji, I am forced to comply....

....

Goten? He's right beside you, can't you see him...? Gomen nasai, chibi-chan...they do say you can go blind from doing that...hmm...Mama may need to bring you to the doctor, after all. Looks...infected....

No matter. They'll be home soon, anyway. I'll leave a note before I go.

'Chibis asleep. Had a long day. Did what they were told.'

....

But you didn't like it, Trunks...? I know Goten didn't, but you, you I would have thought to enjoy it. Ah well...I enjoyed myself. I guess so long as one of us did, it matters naught.

....

The blood. Hai. We should clean that up...damn Sons bleed too much...

Hn. No. I'll do it. You two need rest. New sheets, a few towels mebbe...water? All that screaming must have made you thirsty, ne? Hai. Two glasses...and a straw. I think he may need that. They should put a warning that says something like 'going super Saiyan will increase the tackiness of duct tape'....

.oO0*0Oo.
"Oi! Trunks-kun!" He raised his head at the high pitch that accented the click of the lock giving in to the turn of it's knob. Smiling brightly, he managed to gesture as he slipped one arm through the worn leather of his jacket.

"How were they, Trunks?" The woman kissed him lightly on the cheek as Goku removed the dark shall, lightly tossing it to rest on the back of a near by chair. Freeing himself from his own outer formality with a huff, the Saiyan froze, raising his chin to sniff the air of the cool kitchen. Brow furrowed, he trained his eyes on the stalwart youth chatting and grinning at his mother.

Something wasn't quite...right....

"Fine, 'kaasan. They did everything they were told to without complaint. It was nice." He let the unnoticed smirk curl as she turned from him to fiddle with her purse. "I wouldn't mind doing it again sometime. They were...fun."

"Really?" Bulma arched a brow in his honor. "Trunks and Goten? Behaved...?" she drew to her full height, balling her hands to rest them on her hips, "how odd..." She smiled, forgetting the peculiarity clouding his testament. "Guess there's just something about you, ne, Trunks-kun...?"

He shrugged, casually stepping toward the door. "Hai." A soft smile greeted her brilliant bob, eyes flashing once to the eldest Son who continued his silent scrutiny. "Just something about me they love, I guess." A wink saw him out the door and he leapt into the air, lips curling cruelly, pert tongue licking at the last dabble of blood graciously stored in the corner of his mouth.

He stiffened at the shriek, demonic smile slowly painting his angelic façade a color of crimson found only in the corners of hell.

Or on the sheets stuffed in the closet...

Guess there's something to be said about the curiosity of the genius...ah well....

Turning, he moved onward, intent to leave, to remain on schedule even though they had come back early. There were other branches of time to explore.

To corrupt.

And he wasn't about to sit here and wait for his father or Goku to invite him to his own funeral. They had strength and speed. He had brains. He was using them.

Touching down, a quick sweep told him the paternal duo would arrive shortly. Smirking, he pulled the hatch of his escape vehicle down, punching a litany of keys in an order as complex as his trademark attack, the silent symbol of technological superiority hummed to life in a blaze of rippling gold and pale blue.

He smirked at the colors, reveling in the hues he'd left painted so brilliantly upon the delicate bodies of the two unconscious children. Cruel? Maybe. Greedy? Oh, most certainly. Worth it...?

Definitely.

The phosphorescent contrivance slowly blinked out of existence before the Saiyans even showed. Relaxing back into his mechanical hovel, the Briefs boy idly chewed his lower lip, waiting 'til he entered upon another reality...another home away from home.

Another place to play.

With more toys to play with.

More toys like the last two...

But mebbe he wouldn't be so cruel...? After all, they were just children...

He chuckled at the thought.

"Now where would the fun be in that...?" He grinned at the answer never received, staring mindlessly into the high polish of his own reflection as ribbons of green and red pirouetted insanely to the tune of his journey. An eerie calm crossed his translucent mien.

"You and me, chibi-chan...always you and me..."