Welcome to DBZ Love Garden

You and me We used to be together
Everyday together always
I really feel that I’m losing my best friend
I can’t believe this could be the end

Trunks looked out over the view below him. It was always so beautiful and peaceful here in his favorite spot. He would come here when he needed to think and today…he really needed to think. The scenery was right now doing its job of distracting Trunks from his problems. When he came here, it was so peaceful – the death and destruction caused by the androids never touched this place. As he looked in the sky, he saw the dark clouds rolling in – as if they symbolized what was going on inside him right now. ‘Why Gohan?’ He thought to himself. ‘Why are you doing this? Is it because I wasn’t strong enough? Because I wasn’t able to go Super Saiyan? Why?’ There seemed to be no answer – at least none that explained the older man’s actions earlier…

***

Earlier that afternoon…

“I am getting better aren’t I, Gohan?”

“Yes, Trunks you are.” Gohan answered softly. There it was again – an almost sadness in his friend and mentor’s eyes.

“Gohan? Are you okay?”

“Yeah Trunks, why do you ask?”

“You just seem so…distant lately.”

“It’s nothing, really.” Gohan quickly tried to assure him. Trunks however, could tell that Gohan was lying. Something about the smile he gave didn’t quite reach his eyes. There was something wrong – it was there in the way he moved, the way he talked, the way he stared off into the distance; the way he interacted with Trunks and his mother.
“Well, Gohan, do you know what today is?”

“23rd of June.” Gohan responded. Odd – there was no emotion at all in his voice. You would think he would feel something about today. It was sort of special, wasn’t it?

“Yeah, well…I was wondering if you would like to…I don’t know, spend the day with me and mom. If you don’t have any other plans, that is.”

“Gomen, Trunks.” There it was again, that sadness in his eyes and it was now reflecting in Gohan’s voice as well. This was awful sudden! Gohan never did things like this…

“Y-you’re…you’re going away?” Trunks asked in surprise. “W-why?”

“I just have some things to do, that is all.” Gohan answered.

“When are you leaving?”

“Tonight would probably be the best choice.” Gohan replied.

“You sure?” Had the guy really forgotten his own birthday? Or was it that he plain just didn’t care?

“Why not? Didn’t have anything planned for the day.” Gohan answered. Okay, he didn’t care, that was now obvious.

“What about training?” Trunks tried another tack. There was something about this that he instinctively didn’t like, and he didn’t want Gohan going away if this is what he was feeling about it.

“About that…” Gohan said softly. “Maybe it is better we don’t do that for a while.”

“But I am getting better, you said so yourself.”

“You are, but like I said I don’t know how long this stuff I have to deal with is going to take. I don’t know when I will be back.”

“Yeah, I guess. So, you want me to wait?”

“Yes. Go on and live something close to normal for a change, Trunks. You deserve better than this.” He hadn’t said it very loudly – it was probably more to himself than to Trunks – but Trunks still heard what Gohan said.

“Nani?” Trunks asked.

“Huh? Gomen Trunks, I went into my own world for a minute. Yeah, maybe you should wait. I will be willing to guess that I will be gone, oh…months at most.”

MONTHS???? WTF WAS GOING ON HERE!!?? “M-months? You’re sure?”

“Yes, I’ll be back before you know it.” Okay…spider sense, if you will, was seriously sending off O.S.S. messages. Something was wrong here – EXTREMELY wrong!! “Gohan…” He didn’t get to finish. Gohan turned to him, his eyes different somehow as they bore into him.
“Listen to me, Trunks…please. This is for the best now. I need to go take care of a few things – just PROMISE me you won’t go off doing anything stupid. Please…or Kami help me Trunks, we are ending all training right here and now, and sending you and your mother as far away from here as possible. And I’ll deal with the androids by myself. UNDERSTAND!!!???”

There was a fear mixed with rage in every inch of Gohan that Trunks had never seen before. It was almost scary – especially since Gohan now currently had him by the collar of his shirt and was lifting him up into the air. Waves of anger seemed to be coming over him, but he wasn’t going Super Saiyan. Trunks couldn’t believe what he was seeing – he had never seen his mentor and friend like this before, and right now the look Gohan was giving him was not unlike the look he got when he was facing the androids. Trunks never thought there would be the day that Gohan would look at him like HE was the enemy.

“Yes, I understand Gohan.” It took a lot for him to keep the fear out of his voice – part of him knew that was what Gohan was looking for and didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. It was after these words that Gohan snapped back to normal and realized what he was doing.

“Trunks?” He whispered. He carefully lowered him to the ground and let go. “Did I…Oh Kami, Trunks I am sorry! Trunks, I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Gohan seemed to have no clue about what just happened and was worried that he had hurt him. “No, you didn’t hurt me. You shouted at me a bit though.”

“I…what did you say?”

“You don’t remember?” Something seemed awfully suspicious here and he had a problem keeping his own suspicions out of his voice. Something about that seemed to set Gohan off right then. “I…I don’t even know why I’m trying to explain myself to you!” Gohan snapped.

“Maybe you don’t need to say anything!” Trunks shot back. “It’s pretty obvious.”

“Nani?”

“You need to go off and do something stupid, and don’t want a ‘dumb kid’ like me around to talk sense into you, right!?” Something about all this was flaring up Trunks’ own temper. Gohan rubbed his temple as if he was tired, or trying to stop himself from saying anything else stupid.

“Look, I have somewhere I need to be, Trunks. Goodbye – I will see you in a few months.”

Then Gohan flew off. That was it – end of conversation.

***

Just thinking about that upset him all over again. ‘I don’t get it, Gohan. What is going on?’ Trunks thought to himself as he stared at the sky, searching for some answer from the heavens. None came, and he kicked the ground with his foot. ‘Might as well go home and tell mom Gohan won’t be joining us.’ He thought. This wasn’t going to be pretty.

It looks as though you’re letting go
And if it’s real, well I don’t want to know
Don’t speak I know just what you’re saying
So please stop explaining
Don’t tell ’cause it hurts
Don’t speak I know what you’re thinking
I don’t know your reasons Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts