Welcome to DBZ Love Garden

You know, I'm still sleeping. I gotta be. I mean, I...things like this don't happen to me...I may be my father's son, but that doesn't mean I'm my father. I just...I've gotta still be sleeping...

He called me koi....

Nobody told me this was gonna happen. I mean, look at us! We're friends--BEST friends! We're GUYS! It's not right! It's not rational! How could we ever...

I give up. There's no reasoning it. It was all a mistake--it has to be...or a dream. I'm not really here, and he's not really next to me.

We are not together.

We can't be. It's not right. Everything says so: the looks I got when I carried him up the stairs...the whispers my sensitive ears caught when we walked through the room a little flushed from our workout...the taunting we both openly ignored as we walked down the street...

...the fire ants nipping at my insides, crawling around, irate....

Heh. Or mebbe this is what love feels like....


"A vacation...? You've got to be kidding."

"No way, mi amigo. Dead serious. Ever known me to jest...?"

"Hn."

"C'mon! It'll be fun! Me. You. Mebbe a prank er two on the unsuspecting natives...?"

"Of Chicago."

"Yah! I KNOW you've never been--and I already got it all figured out! You GOTTA come with me..."

"You know I can't. I've got work, and Mama, and Papa an--"

"I already talked to your okaasan--she AGREES with me. Work isn't a problem--like I said, I already talked to Bulma-san. It's all set. And as far as I'm concerned, your father can go fuck himself. You're on vacation. He'll live."

"...."

"Well?"

"Where will we stay."

"I know someone who CONVENIENTLY needs a house-sitter."

"How do you know them."

"School."

"How will we get there."

"Fly. Dumbass."

"Luggage?"

"Again. Stop proving your father right. Three words. Hoi. Poi. Capsules."

"...."

"Well...?"

"What will we eat?"

"Food. You know I can cook. They've already stocked the pantry for us. Plus there's eating out..."

"...."

"Awwww.... C'mon, Trunks-kun...you know you wanna. You've been working sooo hard--I actually had to make the appointment to see you TWO WEEKS AGO! I know I'm no better, but at least I know when to take a break..."

"How's the school coming?"

"We're almost finished. Since I started helping 'niichan, we've been put ahead of schedule by a whole four weeks! Two more weeks and we should be ready. And anyway, Go-kun all but DEMANDED I go away--everything short of firing my ass..."

"Heh. So, good ol' 'get-up-and-go-'til-you-drop' Gohan said to go away...?"

"Yup. Five days of culture, clubs, and fine Italian cuisine."

"Hn. You know, hanging around a bookworm as much as you are certainly seems to up your vocabulary..."

"Fuck you."

"You wish."

"Whatever, baka. So. What do you say? You gonna make me do this all alone? Or are you gonna swallow that damned Saiyan pride and admit you need a break."

"...."

"...."

"Only five days...?"

"Just one work week--well, NORMAL work week."

"...."

"...."

"Fine. I'll go."


No. NonononononononononononononononononononoNO! This can NOT possibly be happening to me! Yeah, I love him, but I don't know if I LOVE him! FUCK! I can't LOVE HIM! I can't love him...! I just...can't.... They'd never accept us like that...in that way--fuck! I don't even know if I want to accept us in that way....

Oh, but Dende...you do wear red well....


"NO! Don't cook it like that!"

"Like what?"

"With butter baka! What the heck are you thinking!?"

"Well excuse me, mister 'high-and-mighty-grand-poobah-of-the-kitchen'. Like I know what I'm doing."

"Dammit! For a genius you really...fuck you, Trunks."

"Hn. Keep dreaming."

"...."

"...."

"There. See? It's got it own...'butter'...just...flip it in a few minutes. It'll be fine."

"Hn."

"And will you stop doing that? Oi. You know your father creeps me out as it is...I don't need his purple double on my case, too..."

"You know, that still confuses the hell outta me--I mean, the man practically raised you...what's got you so weird...?"

"I dunno. He just...I dunno...ever since we were chibis...I don't know...he just...does."

"Baka. He makes everyone feel like that. I don't know why you seem to take it so personally. You're too sensitive sometimes, you know that...?"

"...."

"...."

"...."

"...Goten...?"

"You gotta flip it now, Trunks. I'm gonna teach you to cook even if it kills me."

"Goten...? Bacon an flambé...?"

"Nan--SHIMATTA! Cover it! COVER IT QUICK!"

"So...it's not supposed to flame up like that, right...?"

"BAKANA! Iie! Of course not! It was too hot. Great...there goes that...."

"...."

"...."

"But there are a few...not black pieces..."

"...."

"...."

"Fine. You eat it. Me, I'm sticking to the french toast."

"C'mon, Go-chan...burnt bacon can't be all THAT bad."

"Burnt, no. Charred, you're on your own."

"Ah, well, more for me then."

"...You've never eaten burnt bacon before, have you?"

"...."

"...."

"FUCK ME! THAT'S HORRIBLE!"

"Hmn. I thought not."


Dende...I never once pictured you would be that good.... Heh. You got me...I do admit I've thought about it...once or twice growing up...maybe more.... But I never dreamed you would be so...warm, so...comfortable, so...soft...heh...I guess I can almost understand papa's reasoning...

I bet you didn't even realize you were doing it, did you...?


"So...where'd the cork go?"

"Dunno...over there...somewhere..."

"Hmn. Great. OI! Any more marshmallows left...?"

"You're serious. You can't STILL be hungry...Dende-sama...maybe it is true...I bet you really DO eat more than your father, don't you..."

"Baka...nobody eats more than 'tousan...it's like an accepted rule of the universe--like water is wet, and ice is cold."

"And what's with all the cold, wet, slimy references?"

"...."

"Oi...whatcha doing to that poor marshmallow...no. You dinnit just do that...."

"What? It'll hafta do 'til we find the cork, ne? I don't see your brilliance coming up with anything better."

"...."

"I thought not."

"Yeah...so, anyway, where DID you get that scar from? I don't ever remember seeing it before--is it recent...?"

"Iie...old...very old...you were probably just used to seeing it, is all."

"Where's it from? How old is 'very old'?"

"Old is old. Chibi old."

"Did I do it?"

"No, not you."

"Gohan-san?"

"Not him either."

"It wasn't...you know...your mother, was it...?"

"Iie. She made sure not to mark me. She was careful."

"Then where'd it come from?"

"Why are you so interested? Is this some weird game you're playing with me...? What's the deal, Trunks?"

"Oi! Dinnit mean to step on toes, Go-chan! Gomen. I just don't remember seeing it before. Was curious is all. You don't wanna talk about it, then fine. No worries."

"...."

"...."

"...a spar."

"Nani?"

"A spar. With your father."

"...When did you spar with my father? Hn. I thought he just always refused to acknowledge your existence--circumstances and all."

"Hmn. Woulda been nice if it had stayed that way..."

"...."

"...."

"You all right, Go-chan? You look...I dunno...sick."

"Fine, Trunks. Unpleasant memories, is all. You'd think I'd learn not to drink so much...heh. I'm shocked we're both still coherent..."

"Ah-ha, give it another thirty minutes my dear fellow--full force then. But seriously, Goten, what's wrong? You know I care--I'm not the best bud fer nuthin'...!"

"Gomen nasai, Trunks-kun...I just...I mean...let's not, ne? I'm ruining the mood as it is..."

"No way, Goten. You are the master of the non-sequiter. You aren't changing the topic THAT easily this time. Spit it out, boy. What's wrong. You get funny once in a while and don't explain."

"Only once in a while? Huh. Guess I need new jokes."

"Knock it off, Goten. Baka. Seriously. Tell me what's up. I don't like you like this."

"...."

"You tell me your secret, I'll tell you mine."

"The president of Capsule Corporation has secrets? Since when were you allowed that luxury?"

"Maybe I do. But you won't know until you talk. Why so weird? What's with the scar?"

"...."

"When did you spar with papa...?"

"...."

"Hn. Is that why he makes you so...anxious...?"

"Na...ni...."

"The scar. The spar. Papa. Is that it?"

"...."

"Goten? Goten...?! Goten! Breath baka! Dende! Fuck me--what's happening to you?!"

"...."

"Goten! GOTEN!"

"...h...."

"Goten!?"

"...hai...gom'...na-sai..."

"Go-chan! What was that?! What happened?!"

"Gmn, Trnks-kn...jus'...serta...faded out fer a minnit..."

"'FADED OUT'!? Fuck you, Goten! You STOPPED BREATHING! What in HELL brought that on?! We were talking and then you just--"

"Too much wine...."

"...'Too much'...Goten...are you all right? I've never seen that happen after 'too much wine'...."

"Yah, Trunks...fine--better, at least...gomen..."

"Go-chan...stop apologizing...you dinnit do anything wrong...I just...worry 'bout you sometimes...you know that, right...?"

"Hai, hai, I know...I don't mean to do it, Trunks-kun, honest...."


Asleep. I've still got to be asleep. There's no other way to reason it...Dende...and you're still so warm to me...I wish you knew what I was thinking...wish I didn't have to talk and risk fucking things up between us...you know I love you, right? Heh. You've probably always known...prob'ly knew it before I did.

You have such patience with me...I want nothing more than to repay you...will you let me...? Even after...this...?


"C'mon, Goten. Tell me. Mebbe I can help you get over your fear of him--hell! You might even grow to like him if you learn exactly how to handle him...!"

"I highly doubt that...."

"Well, how do you know if you don't try...?"

"Trunks-kun...please...I know how much you love him...let's just leave it at that..."

"And I love you just as much. I wanna help. I wanna do what I can--"

"There's nothing TO do, Trunks."

"Sure there is! Whatever happened to 'there's-always-a-way-around-it' Son Goten? Where's he hiding?"

"He got hit on the head too hard and has yet to recover."

"...."

"...."

"Go-chan. Tell me. I want for you and papa--"

"Yamero Trunks! I didn't get you all the way out here so we can talk about what it was your father di--"

"...."

"Trunks-kun..."

"Goten. I'm serious."

"As am I. Stop it. Now. Just enjoy what's left of the...haze. Have a cigarette or something...."


You know...I never really thought about exactly how much you meant to me until you weren't there anymore. Like that time you had to go with your mother to your grandfather's funeral--I swear those eight days were gonna kill me. Heh. And then there was the time I threw a hand full of pebbles at you during a spar. When you went home your mom thought you had chicken pox and she wouldn't even let me talk to you on the phone for days until she was satisfied you were all right.

And the time you were in the hospital....

You know, they never told me why you were there, just that you were too badly hurt to have company. I used to bribe them with anything I could think of to get in there and see you...but every time, they said no. You needed rest. You needed quiet. You needed to recover and seeing me would only make it worse.

If they were so worried about distractions then why did they always let your mother in the room? For the longest time I had myself convinced that SHE did it to you. I wasn't sure how, but I knew--ever since the day I stopped by to tell you about our vacation and saw what she would do when she thought no one was looking.

When she thought no one could hear you crying....

Dende preserve you...I'm always surprised by the fact you're still one of the good guys....


"YOU'RE LYING! HE WOULD NEVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT!"

"Trunks-kun...please..."

"FUCK YOU, GOTEN! I THOUGHT I KNEW YOU BETTER! I NEVER WOULD HAVE IMAGINED YOU AS THE LIAR!"

"Please, Trunks-kun, just listen..."

"To more lies?! Who else have you told this...this...fuck you Goten! Papa's rough but he'd never do that! Never!"

"I told you, Trunks. I told you to leave it alone, not worry about it, it was all in the past. You had to push! For three straight days all you did was pry and prod and beg and whine and--dammit! Can't you see what you're doing? You're being exactly like him!"

"I CAN'T believe you SAID that to me!"

"You really are your father's son...."

"What's that supposed to mean...!"

"The temper. The anger."

"Fuck you."

"The ignorance."

"I am NOT ignorant! You have no RIGHT to say the things you just did! You have NO RIGHT to accuse him of such acts! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT--"

"You haven't even asked me why I said it yet."

"...."

"Trunks...Trunks-kun...you've known me forever. Have I ever done this before? Have I ever been known by ANYONE to spread rumors?"

"...."

"Have you asked yourself what it is I'd have to gain from telling people what I just told you...?"

"...."

"...."

"Then why. Why did you just say it."

"Because you wanted to know."

"Oh, fuc--"

"Because I thought I could tell you anything--because you wanted to know, and I thought I could trust you to listen."

"...."

"Because I needed to tell someone...and I..."

"...."

"...."

"Goten."

"...."

"Is it true, then."

"...."

"What you said is the truth then, isn't it."

"...."

"...."

"Hai."

"...."

"...."

"All of it? Every word?"

"...hai...."

"...."

"...."

"...I...need to...I'm going to the store...I'll..."

"Hai...I know...."

"...I know you know..."


The idea of my father being anything other than my father is almost impossible for me to see. When I was growing up, the old turtle hermit would tell me stories about how papa had come to destroy everything on this planet and then sell it to some other planet for whatever reason they wanted it.

I couldn't see it.

I could never picture papa as the bad guy--well, I mean, the times he was possessed aside. I just figured him incapable of doing wrong--of being anything other than the shadow in the kitchen. Or the quality controller, the guy who made us build a better robot.

In my mind, he was impervious to all the little, normal things you encounter in everyday life...

I never would have pictured him as the reason you had to go to the hospital. I would have NEVER pictured him raising a fist to you outside of a spar--you were practically his second son! My omnipresent shadow, to say the least--a force to be accepted and tolerated, at VERY least.

But now that...bliss...is gone...

I really am my father's son...and I hope there's still time to make it up to you...

There is...isn't there...?


"...."

"...."

"They'll be back tomorrow night."

"Hai."

"...."

"...."

"We should probably clean up later on."

"Hai."

"...."

"...."

"Pizza for dinner?"

"Not really hungry."

"Me neither."

"That's a first."

"Fuck you."

"Keep dreaming."

"...."

"Gomen. Force of habit."

"I know. Cocktease."

"Cocktease?"

"You deaf?"

"Hai. As a doornail."

"Hmn. I suspected as much."

"Temperamental, too."

"...."

"Not to mention angry. Almost got the market cornered on that one."

"...Trunks..."

"And ignorant? Absolutely, overwhelmingly, blissfully so. My own little bubble."

"Trunks-kun...please...."

"No, Goten. You were right. I was wrong. I overreacted. I'm sorry."

"Trunks, I...I know..."

"I know you know. You always know. You always wait for me to pull my head out of my ass--and then you're always there to hose it down for me."

"That was...unpleasant..."

"I know. But it's the truth. Like you said: I am my father's son. And I'm sorry for that."

"Don't be stupid. You can't apologize for who you are OR where you come from. Only a fool tries to be what he's not..."

"Reading the fortunes again?"

"Only after I eat that damn cookie."

"Heh. If it weren't for take-out you wouldn't learn anything..."

"Fuck you, Trunks."

"You wish."

"I do."

"...."

"...."

"Excuse me...?"

"Hmn...? Oh. Right. You're deaf. Gomen nasai. I said, 'I do'."

"...."

"...."

"...."

"...."

"You can't lie, can you."

"Not a stitch."

"You're being honest again, aren't you."

"If it's the opposite of lying, then yes."

"...."

"...."

"Is that why you wanted me to come out here with you so badly?"

"I thought we could both use a vacation, Trunks. That's all. No secret plans, no hidden agendas. A week away, where the most traumatic decisions hang around what to eat and when--"

"Which, in itself, is a tragedy when you're involved."

"Oi! So I have a little problem making up my mind! So what!"

"Hn. If only you weren't so damn fickle, life'd be a hell of a lot easier..."

"Fuck you Trunks."

"Now?"

"FUCK. YOU."

"Later then...?"

"Dammit! Knock it...off...."

"...What? You want me to stop so soon...?"

"Fuhhh...mmmm...."

"Were you about to 'fuck me' again, Go-chan...?"

"Sssstop..."

"...."

"...."

"...."

"Not THAT, baka!"

"Well you did say 'stop'..."

"You just can't help yourself, can you?"

"When it comes to busting your balls? Nope. Not a stitch."

"Fuck you, pretty boy."

"Here?"

"Iie...not here...."

"...."

"...."

"Let's go to bed...koi...."


I still can't believe it, can you? I mean, when I said 'yes', I had no idea all this was going to happen. If someone had told me everything that was going to happen in the past five days...hell...I probably would've laughed, cried, swore, then killed them. Well...I guess that pretty much sums up what did happen, don't you think so...?

Koi...?

"Goten...?"

Dende...you're so beautiful...have I ever told you...? I wish I had...even now you look so...I think 'lovely' would be the word, though I'm reminded more of flowers than of you. I just don't have the poet's vocabulary, I guess.

You look so small, you know. If I didn't know better, I would never've thought you capable of anything more than lifting a stack of books. I love the softness of the tone in your stomach. It's there, but not hard like your brother's--or your father's...or mine for that matter....

But I am my father's son, ne? I can't apologize for that. You've already seen to it.

And just like papa...I want what I can't openly have.

At first I tried to think it through, to force logic into love...but I know it won't work. There's no explaining this thing is there? Love? Heh. Of course not. I may be slow sometimes...but I'm a fast learner.

I'm sure you know that now.

Hn. Who'd've thought you'd be so...ticklish.... But as long as you liked it...

Dende...have I told you how good you look in red...? Maybe I should give you a bath before we leave...you'd like that, wouldn't you...? Remember, you can't lie....

A hot bath. Dende-sama...you're getting cold again...mebbe more blankets...?

No. No more. I think I got everyone in the house on top of us...guess I just need to warm you up myself...maybe a kiss would help, ne...?

You taste so good...you smell so sweet...you felt so...comfortable....

No wonder papa marked you.

Hai, Go-chan, I know what the scar means. I don't know if it's good or bad that you didn't, but that doesn't matter now, does it...?

You're mine, koi. Papa can't have you anymore. No one can have you but me. You'll wait for me, won't you, Goten? I never knew how long I've actually waited--actually wanted you...until last night. You'll be there for me, right koi...?

"Right, Goten...?"

Heh. I can only imagine the witty remark you'd try to come up with...if you could. And I think I'm suddenly sorry I took you so soon. But I had to, you know. You make it so easy...you beg for it without actually speaking. And who am I to deny your wishes...? Certainly I don't have that right....

Like papa never had the right...

Like your mother never had....

"It's over now, Goten-kun...."

It's hard to believe it, but it's true. You are mine now. You belong to me. They didn't deserve you, so I took you and claimed you for my own. You're safe now, Goten...you're mine...

...and I'll be yours soon....

I guess maybe now we should shower...you don't look nearly as good in brown as you do in red...and your skin only makes that rusting colour look worse. Dende...you're so pale...so...cold....

Heh...you almost look like glass, Go-chan...but I know you're stronger than that--if the marks you left on me are any indication.... But I guess they hardly compare to your bruises...I hope I didn't damage you too badly... You know...in this light, they almost look like little cracks. Your perfect pallor fractured, but not broken. Snaking patches of blue along your shoulders and neck...following the curve of those narrow hips...

Hmn. After staring at your lips for so long, I'm starting to think that shade of baby blue is rather becoming....

Dende help me....

"I never would have thought you'd look so much more enchanting in death than in life, Son Goten...."