Trunks slowly helped Trini back to the cave. On the way, a friendship somewhat
formed between the once rivals. As they reached the main room, Trunks called
out, "Duo, we need some bandages."
Duo and Shirina appeared from a tunnel. "What's going on?" Duo asked.
Shirina saw her sister's bruised wing and rushed over. "What happened?"
Trini slowly shook her head. "It's nothing. Just had a close encounter with
a tree branch. I just need it bandaged," she explained.
Duo went a cabinet and pulled out some bandages for Trini's wing. As Trunks
helped her sit down, he looked up to see eye to eye with Shirina.
"Trunks, what happened? How did Trini get hurt?" she asked.
"It was race we had… around the Snow Forest. She didn't make the turn at the
jagged edge," he said softly.
Duo shook his head as he slowly and gently wrapped up Trini's injured wing.
"Trunks, even know you should know better than to--" Shirina began.
"He didn't do anything, sister. It was my challenge to him… I wanted to see
if he could prove me wrong. And he did. I accept as a part of our family now,"
Trini said.
Duo and Shirina quietly looked at each other at the word "family".
"Well, it's been a long day for the both of you. Trini, get to bed, and I'll
take your dinner to you. You should get some sleep in as well, Trunks. I'll
call you when dinner's ready," Shirina quickly said, motioning for the two teenage
Shoyrus to get going.
Trini complained loudly as Duo led her away down one of the several tunnels.
Trunks looked at Shirina for a moment, wondering if he should question if she
had something on her mind. He thought better of it, nodded, and headed to his
room.
Duo slowly walked back out. "When are we going to tell him?"
Shirina let out a soft sigh, and sat down by the fireplace. "I honestly think
it's best to tell him tonight. Once Caliaf gets back… after dinner… we'll tell
Trunks what we found."
Trunks sat quietly on his cot, polishing his fire sword. He examined it for
scratches. Once he was satisfied, he placed it in its sheath and lied down on
his back. I wonder what's going on. Shirina is acting a bit strange, and
so is Duo, he thought. Deciding to shrug it off, Trunks closed his eyes,
and fell to sleep.
Trunks later awoke to someone calling his name. "Mum?" he said sleepily.
Shirina's eyes narrowed for a moment with sadness. "Trunks," she said again,
"Trunks, get up now, it's time to eat."
Trunks slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurry. He finally focused on the
figure of Shirina, who was standing at the entrance of his room. She smiled
at him. "Hey sleepyhead… time for dinner." And with that, she left. Yawning,
Trunks shook off what was left of his sleepiness and followed close behind.
Dinner among the group went along as it usually did. To Trunks' surprise,
Barock was sitting quietly in the corner, eating. Of the entire time he had
been living with them, Barock had shown up to dinner with everyone else about
twice. Other than that, everyone acted normal. Caliaf told his corny jokes;
Shirina went about, passing out more food and serving more drinks, teasing Caliaf
every so often. Trini made comments every now and then, and Duo actually laughed
at the jokes behind told, adjusting his glasses every so often. And yet, Trunks
could tell that there was something hanging in the air. Once plates were cleared
and stomachs were full, everyone would usually go their separate ways for the
night, but instead, everyone sat in the room, as if almost waiting for something.
"What's going on?" Trunks asked the silent room of friends.
Duo slowly stood up, took the book lying on his desk, and walked over to Trunks.
"Trunks… we have something to tell you," he began, "For a while now, I've
been doing some research. Research on your origins. Where you could come from,
being born a fire Shoyru, and not painted."
Trunks looked a little surprised, but remained silent, waiting for Duo to
continue.
"At first it seemed hopeless," Shirina spoke up, "But we didn't want to give
up. You're a special kid, Trunks. We just wanted to help you. We know you left
your family because of how you found out that you were adopted."
Duo slowly adjusted his glasses. "I couldn't find anything in the beginning…
but when I referred to some of my older books that I have in my room, I found
something."
He handed Trunks the book he was carrying, showing him a page. Trunks quickly
read over the page, and looked up in shock.
"I… I… so you're saying… I have no biological parents?" he asked quietly.
Shirina slowly nodded. "You were born… but with no parents…. Technically speaking,"
she said slowly, trying her best to explain.
Trunks looked stunned. "So I'm just a thing… I wasn't born out of love or
anything. I was just… created," he said softly.
Duo shook his head. "No Trunks, don't think that. We did even more research
on you. You're what is called a 'higan'," he said.
Trini looked up. "A wish from the heart?" she questioned.
Shirina nodded. "Exactly. You were born out of love, Trunks. You were wished
to life by those who love you the most."
Trunks blinked again. "My parents…."
Duo and Shirina slowly nodded, smiling. "Yes. Your parents."
"I'm alive… because of my parents. They really are my reason for existing,"
he said softly, coming to a realisation.
The whole group watched him quietly as he continued.
"If I had known… the whole time… I never would have left," Trunks said sadly,
looking down at the ground.
Caliaf kneeled next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey… it's not
your fault. You were just a little kid when that happened. I can still remember
the first day I bumped into you, Trunks. Do you know how much you've grown since
then?" Trunks looked up at his friends as they gathered around him.
"I didn't want you to be a part of this family, Trunks, you know that," Trini
began, "But today, you've proved yourself. You've been a part of us this whole
time. But… you have real family back where you come from, who probably hope
everyday that you'll go back to them. And you should."
Trunks slowly stood up. "Go… home? This has been home… you guys have been
my family," he said. Then he paused and nodded, taking in Trini's words.
"But I do have family and friends back where I used to live… they're a part
of my heart, and I miss them." The others nodded silently.
"We're gonna miss ya, kid," Caliaf said with a half smile.
The next morning, Trunks slowly packed for his journey back home. As he looked
around his room one last time, he walked out and through the tunnel, to the
main room, where everyone was waiting for him.
He was greeted by warm, yet sad smiles. "I suppose… this is good-bye," Trunks
said hesitantly.
Caliaf walked up and patted him on the back, laughing. "Geez Trunks, you make
it sound like you're never gonna see us again!" Trunks couldn't help but laugh
as he gave his friend a hug good-bye. Trini walked up to him and smiled softly.
"You're always welcome here, Trunks. We're here if you need us. Only a memory
away," she said, giving him a quick hug, and stepping back.
Duo stepped forward, a book in his hand. "Here, Trunks. You gotta keep practicing
that magic of yours," he said with a grin.
They shook hands and Trunks thanked him, putting the book away in his pouch.
Shirina walked up to him, carrying a long, wrapped item.
"Got you a little going away present," she said.
Trunks slowly took the present from her and unwrapped, revealing a long, new
Mono-Scimitar.
"I know you're attached to your Fire Sword, but… you've kinda outgrown it,"
Shirina said, finishing with a smile.
"Thanks Shirina. It's great," Trunks said, removing his fire sword and replacing
it with the scimitar in the sheath strapped to his back.
Trunks took a step back, looking at his friends. "I could never thank you
guys enough for being such good friends to me. You've all taught me a lot. You
accepted me as a part of your family and trained as if I have always been here.
I'll never forget you all, and will come visit when I can," he said.
Nodding, Trunks walked to the opening of the cave. Outside, standing at the
entrance was Barock. Trunks glanced at him for a moment, not sure what to say.
Barock looked at him, and half smiled.
"Good luck, kid." Trunk smiled and nodded, taking the air. He looked behind
him one final time, and waved to the Masurao Hyousetsu before taking off, back
to his old friends and family.
The End | 
