40.0

With limited amount of vision, due to the moon exploding and not having adjusted to the new level of night time, Shallot and Trunks could only hope to detect where Fu had gone.

"Dammit! I can't sense him anywhere!" Shallot cursed. He then shivered, because naked, and Trunks snickered a little.

"H-here, Shallot," Trunks said as he handed him a capsule containing Male Equipment. For a split second, however, Trunks had scrutinized Shallots' goods and smirked confidently.

"Could have gave me that sooner. My balls are froze solid."

Trunks detected an energy rise for just a moment and fade. Fu. He zoomed down to the middle of Tokyo, passing by the wreckage left in the wake of Shallots Ape Form, to check on tiny Chisato, whom he'd left by the Tokaido Shinkansen, or bullet train.

His gut reacted as he grew nearer, tapping down at the spot he'd told her to wait. Only..he couldn't make out her energy. "Tch! Where--?! Damn, where did she go?"

At that moment a statue brought his attention over. Amidst the screaming citizens who'd been terrified by all the mass explosions and giant ape terrorizing the city, he caught sight of Chisato.

She was...

Frozen solid.

"N-No!" He flew over and grabbed her stone arms, gritting his teeth so hard together they made a squeaking noise.

Fu had found her somehow and in their blindness, used his demon spit to turn his girlfriend into stone.

Shallot tapped down beside him, also seeing Chisato. He burst into a super saiyan and yelled behind them, "FU! Fuck you! Come face me, you chicken shit!"

"...He's toying with us." Trunks growled.

Fu could have slain her at any time, but instead decided to only turn her into stone, and Trunks heard an amused chuckle above his head. After pulling his sword and throwing his body weight over Chisato, Trunks waited to see what Fu would do.

"She's only stone. I can...turn her back, if you promise to leave this realm." Fu said.

"Tch! As if! We'll save her on our own, and take you down, bastard!" Shallot yelled. He then flew up and began hand to hand combat, while Trunks could only stare in despair at the girl he loved. He'd lost her, again. The warriors thoughts spiraled down, down, into bleakness.

"Trunks! Get up here and help!" Shallot said.

Fu stopped dodging Shallot to view Trunks, seeing him trembling. That trembled turned to raw anger, and his blue eyes blazed along with his energy. He was a SSG at his peak.

"You." Trunks spat with a snarl. He held his blade out to point at Fu, "Turn her back NOW."

"...And what do I get out of it? You know if I restore her and let you be on your merry little way, I don't get rewarded for it." Fu said.

"Grrr!"

"But...I might do it, if you leave this realm."

Trunks looked to Shallot who shook his head. But Trunks couldn't stand the thoughts of his precious love being killed yet again, all for their pleasure. He stepped forward and bowed his head. "...Fine. We'll go."

"Ah! I like that answer. You're a man of your word, so I'll keep mine." Fu smiled like it was all one big misunderstanding and waved his hand, and Chisato slowly came back to life.

That's when all Hell broke loose.

Shallot grabbed Fu in a pin grip, and yelled, "Trunks! You can't do that! We have to take him down, now!

Chisato surprised them all by saying, "Trunks. Do what you must, for everyone."

Trunks looked from Chisatos calm demeanor to Shallot, who was struggling in his SS form to hold Fu. Fu was glaring, waiting to see what Trunks would decide.

Ultimately Trunks sheathed his sword. "...We're going, Shallot."

"No! I won't!" Shallot roared and rose his energy as high as he could, making Fu angry in the process. No sooner had that occured when Zamasu came from the sky and drove into Fus' chest, puncturing his heart muscle with his divine sword.

All gasped. Shallot released his grip and Fu fell over, spitting up blood.

Zamasu turned to Trunks in a reproachful manner and scowled. "You were going to let him live."

Trunks hung his head. "...He...he had her."

Shallot and Zamasu stared at Trunks for a moment, seeing how torn the Briefs genius was, and missed Fu, who had taken his last energy and vanished from sight.

"No!" Shallot ran to where he was, only seeing darkness. "That--that bastard got away!"

Chisato blinked in confusion. "He...did? But..." her vision darted to the right, where she could see Fu raise his sword to attack Trunks in the back. Her body moved on its own and flung across him, and thus the girl was hit instead.

"*hak!*"

Chisato fell over on her side as everyone realized that she had in fact been able to see Fu, when they could not. Trunks pulled his sword and tossed Shallot a satchel. "Heal her! Now!"

The girl could make out through fuzzy night Fu, who was smirking at her. "...They can't see me. Yet you can. How special! Maybe it's because you're the vessel."

Fu had no knowledge that Trunks could read the girls thoughts.

Shallot hurried over and gave her a sensu bean just as Trunks turned, clanking his sword against nothing. Only by perceiving the girls thoughts could Trunks face Fu, and he said to Chisato, "...Tell me where he is."

"Y-yes!"

Fu rolled his eyes. "Oh come on. Just die already!"

Chisato repeated his words in her mind. Trunks growled. "You gave me your word."

"I healed her didn't I?"

The wound from Fu was fading, as if he was healing all on his own. Chisato sat up, and watched everyone except Zamasu gasp.

Fu had turned himself into Chisato.

He cowered into himself as Trunks came near. "No--! S-Stay away!" He said, mimicking her perfectly.

Trunks grip on his sword shook. "You...coward!"

"Hya!" He screamed, as Shallot ran over and punched his chest.

Chisato watched her fake self get punched in the gut. Then a cruel smirk began on her face. "...Kill me. I'm....not worth anything, am I? I'm useless!"

Shallot stopped his attack. Trunks rushed forward and pulled him away from Fu. Zamasu, who wasn't moved or amused, didn't appear to care that the girl resembled Chisato. He struck her arm and severed it. The arm fell, blood spurting out.

"Chisato!" Trunks yelled.

Zamasu gave Trunks a fierce glare. "Idiotic mortal. That isn't her. Don't be fooled so easily."

Trunks hadn't been fooled. He merely couldn't stand to hurt someone with the face of his beloved, but kept that to himself.

Fu transformed back into his self and used his good arm, slicing an arc towards Zamasu. It landed, and the Kais body began to glow with purple energy. It would seem that Zamasu had now been taken over by Dark Magic.

"Tch!" Shallot turned to Zamasu. "I'll take him on. You finish Fu!"

"Right."

Trunks garnered his energy and let it fill his sword. It was a new attack he'd been working on, and Fu had yet to see it. "...This is the end, Fu."

"Oh? A new move? I'd love to stay and see it, but I do need to be going."

"No you...DON'T!" Trunks jumped high into the air and sliced, sending Ki waves radiating with his God energy from the sword, heading to Fu.

As he had feared, Fu was already gone, back to the Dark Demon Realm.

Trunks sagged to his knees and punched the ground, cracking the roadway. "Dammit! How could I let this happen!" He hung his head as if in defeat.

He's so upset, Trunks heard Chisato think.

Trunks quickly stood and turned to her. "Shallot, meet me at your school."

"Uraah! Yeah, be right---THERE! Special Beam Cannon!"

As Shallot took on a powerful Zamasu, Trunks grabbed Chisato and flew off with her.

Kya-! Too close!

Trunks allowed himself to relax slightly. While he hadn't managed to destroy Fu, he did protect Chisato. However, it had came with a heavy price. It meant he'd need to come back and fight him again, and whomever Fu would bring with him.

****

****

Chisato was sat down on the school roof. She didn't get to relax however, because Trunks grabbed her shoulders tightly. "What were you thinking?! You almost died, Chisato!"

She hadn't been thinking at all. The girl was only doing what her body wanted, and it had moved on its own to protect Trunks.

"I-I'm sorry, Turunksu...p-please forgive me." She bowed.

"Its not that...dammit. I...I can't lose you again!"

Trunks dropped her shoulders. He looked so tense and uptight that the girl could only hope he wouldn't channel that power into punishing her. She'd only been trying to help.

Finally he sighed a long drawn out sigh of exasperation and said, "Why...do you smell like him?"

"Eh?"

"Like Shallot! I'm asking why you smell like him!"

She recalled him kissing her. Was that what Trunks was referring to? She didn't know and hesitated to answer.

"I'm sorry. It's not your fault..." Trunks ran his hand through his hair, "...I've known for awhile how he feels about you."

Chisato slowly came closer, only for him to hold his hand up. "Don't. I need...space, right now. You don't understand it, but right now I'm feeling kind of crazy."

"Y-Yes. I'll stay here." She shivered a little. The wind and snow had completely soaked her socks through, and her toes had grown numb. Still she obediently gave Trunks space, staying a few feet away.

Her mind wandered, though.

Why was he so upset? Did she do something? Was it because Shallot had kissed her, or because she'd touched his tail?

Chisato nibbled her chapped lower lip with anxiety. Finally, when Trunks had calmed himself and lowered his shoulders down, he turned to her with a smile. "I'm really sorry about all of this. It's...a saiyan thing. Uhm, to put it simply...I'd compare it to someone playing with your favorite toy. They've gotten their spit on it and germs, and now it feels different. Although the toy belonged to you, it's...not the same. And it uh, it makes you angry. Because...."

The girl giggled.

"W-What?"

"I was just thinking that...Trunks is very nice." Chisato bowed, "If I am your favorite toy, then I am very blessed. And I hope that...I can be the same again."

Trunks hadn't expected an attack like that. Her words shot to his heart and he nearly slid from the side of the school roof, and the girl automatically reached towards him. It was a valiant effort, however Chisato was much too tiny to haul him up by herself and thus fell from the side.

He hovered, clasping himself to her. "You...keep trying to scare me to death." He said.

I'm so silly--I forgot he could fly!

Trunks chuckled. The chuckle turned into a laugh, and the laugh into something he couldn't contain. His sudden out burst was contagious, and Chisato also giggled with nervous excitement, looking into his handsome face.

"..."

The laughter stopped, and she watched as Trunks tensed.

Some strange heat crossed over her body.

"You were freezing. This should help."

What is that? Could it be he's warming me with that energy?

"Yeah. I am."

He nose brushed her jawline, nudging it to the side. Softly he pressed his lips to her neck. "I like...being here. I can see everything."

Trunks had been referring to the way her eyes crinkled at the edge slightly as she'd giggled, how the light colored hairs on her arms had risen when she'd gotten cold, even the tiny pores on her skin, catching the light and reflecting as blood filled the vessels. He would never forget those things.

It tickles! Chisato thought.

"Uh, sorry. I'm getting carried away. S-Shallot should be here soon."

"Y-yes!"

Chisato was expecting to be sat back down but she remained in his arms. They were strong and secure, hoisting her like she were a feather. She thought to herself that they were good arms, and that Trunks must have really taken care of his toys.

"....I did. Well, when you don't have many...they're all the more precious."

He'd not had toys like other children his age. Being thrown into the end of the world had left him without those things, and only when his mother had found one to give, he'd taken it and cared for them as if they were a prized possession. It was only later in life, when Trunks realized where his mother had gotten those toys that he refused them, instead telling her to get him books instead. The fact was that he couldn't bear to play with another childs' toy who'd lost their life to the Androids.

What's he thinking? Chisato wondered. His eyes look so sad all of a sudden. Was he poor, like me?

"In a way I 'was' poor. Being rich doesn't mean much, if it leaves you....alone." He said.

"I see. Ano, I'm very sorry. I don't mean to pry like that...uhm..." Chisato trailed off.

"No, I don't mind. Oh, yeah. Here."

He sat her down to extend what appeared to be a watch. She took it and he adjusted it to her tiny wrist size. "This is a save game point. When we go back, I want you to save right away. I don't know what world we'll be walking into, but...I'll figure something out."

The girl pondered what he meant. She'd be going back into the game? If so, how?

"Turunksu?"

"Yeah."

"Ano...I would like to help you." She said. "I know that I may be small...and...not a fighter, but..."

"Chisato." He said, and she met his gaze. "...You already are. You saved me from Fu, and...made me..."

"...?"

She saw his pale cheeks become pink. He wasn't cold, as they were both warm from his Ki, so she knew he was blushing. Slowly Trunks added, "Because of Chisato Shino, I'm no longer alone."

"Y-yes! H-How wonderful! T-That makes me s-so happy t-to hear!" The girl looked to and fro in a flustered mess, making him chuckle. He pet her head. "...My girlfriend is too cute."

"Uuu...!"

Of course a shy and timid girl like Chisato could only burst into sudden unexplained tears, not being used to such affection and consideration. She smiled through them, closing her eyes, and wrapped her tiny arms around his neck.

"Arigatou~ Turunksu, arigatou gozaimasu!"

"W-What does that mean? I uh, don't know that...word."

"Thank you for the kind words, Turunksu. M-My heart," she placed her hand to her chest, "it feels so happy, and beating away....ano...I-I'm so sorry! I'm so strange, aren't I?"

Trunks quickly turned away and tucked her head to his chest. He couldn't bear to look at that beauty, feeling through their connection how truly happy she was. His heart could only beat faster in sync with hers.

"...No. Not strange...at all."

Like this they waited for Shallot, who took his sweet time in coming and reprimanded Trunks for leaving him 'hanging'. Trunks explained that he wanted to keep Chisato from danger and left it at that.

Finally it was time to go back.

Back to Xenoverse 3.