Please

Hey everyone! So here is the second chapter…I’m very into angst, but I’m also into happy endings. I guess we’ll see if this actually has a happy ending… I have an idea of where I want this story to go, but who knows? Enjoy!

Goten’s POV

The front door clicked open and I heard it shut from my place at the dining room table. I glanced over my mountain of homework to see Tousan shuffle in, his gi filthy from hours of training.

“Hey,” I murmured softly, afraid of waking Gohan who was sleeping upstairs.
He glanced at me with glazed eyes and nodded, before continuing his aimless walk. I heard another door open, probably his, and close.

A few minutes later, after I had returned to my homework, another door opened. I tensed, thinking it was Gohan. Tousan walked in, wearing a clean gi.

He sat at the other end of the small table. I waited for him to say something, but when he didn’t, I dropped my head and continued with my homework.

Tousan sat there in silence, and when I couldn’t take it anymore, I set my pencil down and leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Tousan?” I said quietly.

He looked at me as if surprised I was there, then blinked. He sighed. I noticed wrinkles on his forehead where there were once none. The world was hard, even for one as carefree as my Tousan. He blinked again. “I smell blood.”

I grimaced, knowing he meant my blood that had been spilt over the kitchen. “I don’t know what you mean,” I lied.

Tousan’s eyes, so black like mine, flashed angrily. But then they immediately clouded over again, leaving me with just a glimpse of his old self, the one that was alert and happy. “Don’t lie Goten,” he muttered in a tone that let me know he had already accepted defeat.

I almost considered telling him the truth. Almost. But then Gohan’s angry voice sounded in the back of my mind. “Um…” I mumbled, wishing for once that my brother was there to lie for me. “I…I cut myself with a kitchen knife.”

He looked into my eyes, imploring me to tell him the truth. As innocent as Tousan seemed, I was almost sure he knew about Gohan. But he looked so worn that I doubted he would ever accept it. No hope left. “Ok, son,” he whispered, standing with one last look.

I watched him leave the kitchen into the darkness of the hallway. Tousan’s once strong and proud shoulders were slumped. I bent my head and picked up my pencil.

Trunks’ POV

Where was he? Goten was never late for school. Actually no, that wouldn’t be true. He was always late for elementary and middle school, but he always arrived on time for every day of high school.

Being one year older, I was a senior, while Goten was a junior. My classes were way past those of my other classmates. I attended a college for the last half of my day, while Goten stayed at Orange Star High School the entire day. But we had some classes together.

He used to slack off, never doing his homework, but ever since high school, he has become a model student, advancing so far that he even came to the college with me to take a few classes. While the classes were simple for me, Goten had to struggle through them.

I waited at the corner of the school, away from the crowded entrances, where I always did. My sensitive hearing picked up grass being crushed behind me.

The familiar ki let me know it was Goten. “Hey, Chibi,” I said without turning, using the affectionate nickname. He used to hate it, but he gave in to my stubbornness after awhile. Being the leader of our little duo since the beginning, I could always get Goten to listen to me, even if it took some time.

“Hey Trunks,” he mumbled, stopping just behind me.

Something sounded wrong with his voice. I turned, only to be shocked by what I saw. Goten’s eyes were puffy and had dark circles under them. I was used to seeing this, since he stayed up so often to finish homework. But the side of his forehead had a gash on it that looked fresh. I glanced at his hands, the only other uncovered part of his body, to see them scratched.

He shifted uncomfortably, slipping his hands into his jeans pockets and avoiding my eyes. My hand darted out and gripped his chin, turning his face to mine. He didn’t try to fight me, but his eyes stayed focused on the ground.

“Goten,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm despite my anger. “What happened?”

He tried half-heartedly to turn his head away, but I held on tightly. “Nothing,” he mumbled, “I stayed up late.”

“That’s not what I meant.” He continued fidgeting, not quite challenging my authority but letting me know he was uncomfortable. I refused to give in, to let him lie again. “What happened?” I repeated through clenched teeth. “Look at me,” I practically yelled when he didn’t respond.

Goten’s eyes paused in their wandering and slowly rose to mine. From years of friendship, I could read those black orbs. Worry flickered through them…and something else. Fear?

“I…” he started, looking for a lie. “I-I fell down the stairs.”
The anger within me surged, partly from him lying and partly from the abuse I knew he received. I didn’t know who did it, but it obviously happened. One time, almost a year ago, Goten slept over. In the night, his blanket slipped off and I saw the bruises that covered his bare legs and arms. After I questioned him about them in the morning, he declined my other offers to sleep over. Every few days, after old bruises and cuts had faded, new ones would appear.
No matter how I questioned him, he never told me what had happened, at least not the truth. Some stupid excuse was made; I slipped on the stairs, I ran into the door, sparring got out of hand. Sometimes, I would pressure him until he started to tremble, begging for me not to ask again. I couldn’t bear to cause him any more distress so I always stopped.

I sighed and gave up, for the moment anyway. “Ok, Chibi,” I said, releasing his chin, “let’s go to class.”

A small smile crossed his lips, and he nodded happily. Goten was so easy to please.


We had our first class together--history. Gohan lectured us at the front of the room.
I leaned back in my chair, not really listening. History was one of the subjects I didn’t particularly care about. I didn’t see the point of learning about past wars, especially when I was a Saiyan and could destroy entire armies without breaking a sweat. Besides, I had already read the whole chapter and could recite it word for word. My mind, like my Kaasan’s, was a machine of incredible power and unlimited space.

Next to me, Goten scribbled furiously in his notebook. Memorization didn’t come easy to him, which was what history was all about. The dates and order of events just slipped his mind.

“Chibi,” I whispered, bored of listening to Gohan’s constant drone. He was a great professor, don’t get me wrong, but this class drove me crazy.

Goten acted like he didn’t hear me, but I knew he had. I repeated myself, louder.
He cast a glance at Gohan before glaring at me. “Shut up, Trunks. You’re going to get us in trouble.”

I frowned as he bent back over his notebook. Since when did Goten care about getting in trouble? Oh yeah, freshman year. I sighed and closed my eyes, letting myself drift into sleep.


After my third class, I met up with Goten at our little secluded corner. He was already there, leaning against the building with his books spread out around him, writing in a notebook on his lap.

“Look at our little scholar,” I teased.

Goten looked up, startled, and grinned. “Whatever, Trunks. Unlike you, I actually have to try to get my grades.”

I laughed, glad to see him smiling. “Are you hungry?”

“Oh yeah!” He began gathering his books and cramming them into his backpack almost frantically.

I chuckled, watching him in his haste to eat. My Chibi was so simple. But then I remembered his bruises. Maybe he was more complicated than I could see.
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