The Long Road Home, part 6
By: Chocolate-chan

So later that day I found myself in front of Goten's house with little memory of how I got there. I hesitated before knocking, but when I did it was Goten's sister-in-law who answered.
"Ah, Bra-chan!" Videl said, seeming pleased. "We were just about to come see you."
"Ah.." I blanked. "Why?"
"Your birthday, of course. Did you forget already? You really are old." Videl laughed at the blank look I was still giving and stepped back to invite me in.
"Bra," Chichi said in mild surprise. "Come on in. What brings you out and about so early?"
But Pan-chan and Gohan-san were in the room with her, and I took so long working up the confidence to ask to talk to her alone that Gohan said something, and then I was forbidden to interrupt by rules of courtesy.
"Since you're here anyway, Bra-chan, we can give you your presents now," he said, and Pan moved out to the car. She brought in a white bag that had a few boxes in it, and handed it to me.
"Happy birthday, otomodachi!" Pan was all smiles for the first time I could remember since Trunks and Goten left. I couldn't help but smile at the look on her face. I always thought it was strange, when a Son smiled or ate or anything, they looked like a Son. Except for me and my mother, no one in my family looked like anyone exactly. We were all composites.
They gave me some cute things. After I'd opened them, Pan nudged the bag. "I don't remember that one," she said.
"Well it's Bra's," her father said, "So it's not important if you do. Bra-chan," he addressed me suddenly, and I noticed he had moved directly between me and Chichi-san. "Maybe you should open that one when you're alone." He smiled slightly, but it was almost disquieting, that secret.
I was so curious I nearly forgot why I had gone there in the first place, but when Chichi got up to move toward the kitchen, I scurried after her.
"Chichi-san?" I asked hesitantly as the kitchen door swung shut behind me.
"Is something the matter, Bra-chan?"
"Um... kinda. I wanted to ask you something. I've tried to think of everyway possible to say it so you won't be angry or think I'm an awful rude person... but.."
"What are you talking about, Bra-chan?"
"It's.." Chichi always closed off when someone mentioned my brother or Goten, but I had to try. "It's my brother," I admitted at last, speaking a little fast. "I just.. I wanted to know, why is it that you won't give him.." I risked a glance, got scared and looked at my feet. "Why won't you give them your approval?"
"Bra-chan, I really don't think this is a suitable topic," Chichi said, in the rather gentle motherly voice she usuallly used when communicating with me.
"You don't have to tell me why, I mean, that's not important, I want something else. I mean.. " I paused, blowing out a breath and tried again. "At first I was mad, you know? When they left, and then I just had to wonder why a lot. Why they ran away from home, that is." I had the feeling she was about to interrupt, which was her right as an adult, so I speeded up what I was saying in an attempt to keep her attention.
"You don't have to answer any of my questions, I just.. feel guilty asking my mother.." I squirmed slightly, "Since she misses Trunks-nii-chan so much." Chichi was quiet. "I was mad that they left, because I... well..." I took a deep breath and sighed, shifting my hands behind my back. Chichi had her arms crossed low in front of her, holding a wooden spoon she had picked up. "I liked Goten, that's why. I know I'm too young, but I didn't really care. And I didn't think it was fair when I found out he loved my brother, of all people. But.. I really miss my brother." I took a breath to keep control and not shout; that would only make her angry. "I miss them both. Maybe this was good for me, because I don't like Goten so much anymore, but now I just want them back. I can't stand not having my brother. You know how I woke up this morning? I just... woke up. As long as I remember, every year on my birthday my brother comes in my room and tickles me and carries me downstairs. I..." My eyes started to prickle hotly, and I lowered my face. "And every year on my birthday, Goten-kun buys me lunch wherever I want and spoils me until it's time to go home. Why can't they come home? I-"
I was cut off by the kitchen door swinging violently open, and Pan bounded right up to Chichi and grabbed her around the waist. "Did I hear Goten and Trunks?" She looked up at the older woman, saying, "Has anyone seen them? Are they coming back yet? What's going on?"
Chichi was silent for a long time, looking down at Pan, who was confused, looking from me to her over again. "Baa-chan...? Where's uncle Goten? My parents won't say anything to me about him..."
I heard a slight noise behind me, and saw Gohan and Videl paused at the door to the kitchen, calculating their entry. I had come to ask for my older brother back, but it had turned into a group effort. Gohan opposing his mother, I know it's one thing none of us expected. With Goten nobody was really shocked by anything but the speed. But Gohan was so well-behaved...
Gohan eventually decided that enough was enough. He moved into the kitchen and over to his mother, picking up his young daughter and lifting her onto his hip. She held onto him and actually turned on the tears.. whether they were real or she did it on purpose, even I couldn't tell the difference. "I want Goten back!" No 'o-ji' or anything.
"Say it right, sweetheart," Videl coaxed her as Gohan handed her off. It usually worked.
"No!" Pan yelled. "I want Goten! I want Goten and Trunks." If she'd been on the ground she'd have stomped her foot and charged someone. But she did squirm free and then ran out the back door. There was silence in the room.
This was a disaster. It was all my fault, too. I had to open my mouth...
I opened it again, trying to rub at my watery eyes. "I'm sorry, I'll go.." I took my stuff and left the house as quickly as I'd arrived, popping my capsule car and getting into it quickly.
Did Pan feel the same way I did? I thought about it as I drove down the road. She was such a little tomboy; she was so much more attached to Goten and Trunks than I ever was. It had to be especially bad for her. In one way, I didn't blame her for wanting to keep them with her forever, because I wanted that too. But I also felt foolish, for not realizing that it was impossible to keep them both.
I took my presents up to my room, washed my face, fixed on a bright smile and went to pester my mother which was my custom every day. You have to give your parents love and attention or they won't grow up right. I watched for a little while as Tou-chan trained. I yelled encouragements and felt that my duty was discharged. I climbed the stairs again and opened the white bag, pulling my last present from it.
The card said something sappy about a 'darling little sister'... if he was here he wouldn't be saying that. He'd be calling me a pest. I opened it slowly.
Inside was a doll I'd wanted for my collection for a long time. I pulled it out, slightly entranced, and played with all of it's little buttons and such, and set it up with my others in the small collection. The ones that hadn't been presents I'd gotten rid of a long time ago, but this one really stood out among them.
In truth, I would have thrown it straight out the window if it would bring me my big brother back. But part of me still treasured it above the other presents I'd gotten that day, because I was relieved that my big brother hadn't forgotten me. As I thought about it, I realized I didn't think he ever would, but still... it's a wonderful thing to know.
********
One of the things Gohan had said to me on our way home from the hardware store that day was that I should talk to Trunks about how I felt. It was perfectly logical, which was probably part of the reason it was resisted by my consciousness. The other part was almost more telling; that we should talk to each other, and not keep things like our feelings from each other.
Did Gohan know something I didn't? Along with a talent for duplicity where our mother was concerned, he apparently had other talents.
So Botan-chan's sink was fixed, and Trunks didn't walk around like a shaggy rock monster. Life goes on. I still felt kind of like we were playing house, like after a while we would go home where our mothers would cook dinner for us and we would be expected to study before doing our chores rather than vice versa, or what have you. The freedom was kind of what put me off, too, ever since he had mentioned...
"Trunks..." I said one evening, as he came from the other room, after I had spent the day watching the distracted look on his face. I had gone to bed and not too long afterwards he followed. "I don't want to go back now."
"What?"
"I've thought about it since you've said it. If my mother asks us to come back, I'll be just as happy to do whatever's best, be it go home, or even just let them know where we are. But I don't want to invite trouble by trying to go home now." I had practiced this in my head a few times, and was relieved that it sounded less jumbled than it had the first time.
Trunks seemed surprised by me bringing up the subject so suddenly, and he sat down heavily on the bed. I pulled the covers up over my head, not really wanting to look at him when he was so silent. He reached over after a moment, and pulled at them with no success.
Trunks climbed into bed, then under the blankets and cuddled against me in the close atmosphere under the covers. His mouth found mine in the dark, kissing me very gently, until I found myself pulling back.
"...... Okay?"
I could hear him breathing; the sound was shallow, close, and his arms clung around my waist.
"Anything," he promised at last.
"I'm sorry."
"What?" he asked again, seeming more confused now than when he hadn't been sure what I meant.
"I'm sorry I made you agree. I'm sorry if I'm hurting you by... you know." I sniffed slightly.
"You know... what?"
"By.. asking you to be with me. By asking you to give up your family, if necessary to stay here. I didn't want to do that. That wasn't my intention at all. That's how it came out though, isn't it." I was a little dismayed.
"You're more than worth any imagined pain." My heart beat in my ears so that I almost couldn't hear him, but I could hear the sound of his voice, and it was more reassuring than I think he ever knew.
His fingers traced my jaw. I wondered if he could even see me in the darkness, but for some reason that was an attractive feature of darkness. I let him pull me close then, and my mouth found his just as he was leaning toward me, letting him push me onto my back.
Apparently he liked the dark, too. "Keep your eyes closed."
I let out a breath and did so, flinching slightly every time his mouth made contact with my skin. He left me with cold and hot shivers going through my body, and I let my hands wander across his back as his mouth moved slowly down my chest, pausing to tease one nipple, the other with his hand, before moving to undress me. I helped him, unable to keep myself still very well until he caught my wrists against the bedcovers and kissed me passionately, his tongue rubbing slowly against mine and forcing me to let him remain dominant for now.
He got better at this every time; the thought passed through my head briefly as his touch brought reactions from me. I couldn't help but respond to any move he made, almost helplessly. My obvious desire for him would embarrass me if I was clear-headed, but being so hard when he touched me made it difficult to think.
I think his name passed my lips a few times as his mouth played along my stomach, his hands letting mine free as though simply forgetting about them. I sit up suddenly and grab him to me, mouth latching onto his as we rubbed slowly, hard, against each other, savring each other's feel. His tongue fought mine for control, pushing mine back until he caressed my teeth, licked the inside of my cheeks with that velvet tongue of his, sending electric sparks through me as I held onto him.
One of my hands slid down to his lower back, pressing hard against that small scar, feeling him take a massive breath and haul me tight against him as I teased him there gently, stroking fingertips back and forth across it. He groaned low in his throat, obviously trying to think of some way to get revenge. He went strangely still for a moment, and I suppose he found it.
Two fingers pressed against me, sliding inside of me. I shuddered and nearly bit down on his tongue as his fingers moved in ways I could barely comprehend, stretching and stroking, finding their way deeper into me until they hit a spot that made me loose control of my voice, moaning helplessly as my lover groped sensually inside of me. I lowered my face to his neck, teeth taking hold gently and leaning into him, feeling rivers of pleasure let loose in my body as he moved, sucking my earlobe gently as he touched me.
I left a wet spot on the junction of his neck and shoulder as I opened my mouth to say his name, biting my lower lip as I found my voice become more pleading. "Trunks..." It was cut off by a moan. I wasn't entirely sure what he was doing, but kami, did it feel good.
"You have something to say?" He teased, voice a low purr.
"Make love to me," I said, not about to stand for any of his games. "Now."
He was quiet, and I think my demand startled him slightly. He took another moment to tease me blissfully, other hand wandering down to fondle that spot on my back as I'd done to him, nearly taking all control from me, but merely disorienting me long enough to spin me and press me onto my hands and knees. Embarrasing indeed. But I didn't care.
I could feel his erection nudging at me, before he thrust himself into me in one smooth movement. It always hurt somewhat as he filled me totally, but I bit my lip again and felt my eyes water slightly, hands fisting without me even realizing it into the sheets. He pulled back and moved in again, slowly, brushing his length against that spot.
I felt a rough sound emerge from my throat, feeling a drawn-out shudder course through me. He was taking his time, being so slow and savoring every moment, until I was almost itching from need.
"Trunks!" He didn't answer, so I picked the first phrase that came to mind. "Ram me to the headboard, dammit!"
He chuckled low, holding me tight around him, straining against my body to be even deeper in me. The sound made me feel a little light-headed, but he still took his time with it, his body doing dizzying things to mine as his hand reached around to touch me, fingers brushing along my length until I swear I was whimpering. "Trunks....!"
He grabbed my hips and pulled me back against him, not giving me any time to think, and holding me too tightly for me to move by myself. His hands moved me back and forth on him, and I growled with the sensation, straining to add to the momentum; I think we were rocking the bed. He bent over me, hot breath against the back of my neck as he brought me back against him time and again, harder with each thrust, and after a moment I thought that if he had been the one moving, he really would ram me into the headboard, but I loved every second of it, moving back against him and urging him forward with many words that ended as animalistic grunts or moans.
His hand found me again, moving over me with the same rhythm, and the entire world splintered apart as we created the most intense sensations. His hand tightened involuntarily on me as he came, and I knew my muscles clamed down on him, each orgasm leading to the other and neither truly coming first.. a symbiosis of thought and movement I was only beginning to.. ehm, appreciate.
He bent over me as I slumped into the bed, pressing himself all the way home inside of me for one final time as we both shuddered through the aftershocks of our pleasure. I try to open my eyes, to figure out what I should do now, but everything is swimming in bright colors as though I'd been exposed to a bright light behind my eyes, leaving imprints on my vision. All I could come up with was spending the rest of the night with him inside of me, but he moved before I could protest, and I almost felt the same pain from the loss when he left me as when he'd entered me.
I guess he figured I was too dumbstruck to move, because he manuvered me down to the bed with him and pulled me onto him, one hand in my hair as the other fastened itself around my waist. That's good, I never would have come up with anything that good. Usually I had such good endurance but I was still gasping now. He chuckled softly into my ear.
I opened my eyes, just able to make out his silhouette, and even as I sprawled out on him, all the customary tenseness leaving my muscles, I took a moment to be thankful for him.
"You're an evil hell-demon," I informed him. "And I will make you pay."
"I can't wait," he laughed, his fingers digging into my skin in just the right places that made me purr as I lay on him.
//Yeah right,// I said to myself. //How will I ever make him pay for anything? Especially when I like it so much whenever he uses me how he pleases. He's really good at that.// I could feel heat in my cheeks as I thought of it. He layed beneath me, silent, his arms adjusting around me to pull me close in another kind of intimate. He often spoke to me after we made love, seeing if he could "Talk me into it" again, but this time he was oddly quiet. I could feel it too.
I guess we had unfinished business. My excuse? All work and no play...
I raised my head from where I had lain comfortable and warm against his neck, and propped myself onto my elbows even though they shook slightly with exhaustion. "This is an odd detour, but..."
He seemed to get what I wanted to talk about. "I.... bought my sister a birthday present."
"And?"
"Gave it to Gohan..."
"What if she tells your parents, huh? Or worse yet, my mom, like Pan did." Trunks was still and silent as though expecting his tongue-lashing. "I don't wanna lose seeing my brother, too..."
Trunks let me go as I was about to push away from him to think. He turned onto his side, away, and sighed softly. "I know. But I.. you don't know how I feel."
"I guess not," I told him, just as soft as his breathing that floated between us. "Never had a sister. Y'know, 'cept for yours."
He was quiet for a beat. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," I told him. For some reason it was. I wrapped arms around his waist, kissing him between the shoulderblades. "And here you're making me look bad; I didn't buy her lunch this year."
"Uhm... Goten?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you.. let go of me?"
I blinked for a moment before it came into my head to be offended. "What'd I do?"
"Nothing." My arms slid away from him and back to me slowly. He rose after a moment and pulled on his pants again, and stood to go to the bathroom. The bright light blinded me quite a bit, but I shielded my eyes and sat up. He reached into the medicine cabinet and brought out about three or four aspirin and washed them down with water cupped in his hands.
One hand pressed absently to his lower back as he did so. I was reminded of his occasional pain or stiffness by the light scarring left from his surgeries. I cringed, putting aside my momentary hurt feelings as trivial and telling myself that I'm sure what we just did didn't make it any better.
The light flicked off at last, and he groped his way into the room and back to the bed, blinded by the dark for only a second or so. After a moment he stepped over the discarded clothing and climbed back into bed.
"Your back is hurting?"
"Yeah..." He layed down carefully, adjusting himself onto his side facing me. "Just a bit."
"Didn't...?" I could have sworn I saw him take two aspirin before he came to bed.
"I'm fine." He pulled me to him then and made himself comfortable. "Don't worry."
I frowned and couldn't help a bit of a noise. At last when he seemed to be breathing okay, pulse normal, I caught myself trying to sleep and fighting to stay awake. I nuzzled against him, feeling his smooth skin on mine. When I next woke, it was morning, and my day off, he was gone.
********
I sat at my desk, trying to keep my mind focused. On the one hand I needed to finish his report by the end of the workday, and really wanted to go back home to Goten. The other reason I didn't want to do overtime was because my back hurt.
'Course, that's the reason I was having trouble thinking straight.
I was long past the point where I was starting to get worried that I was constantly in pain. I got a papercut the other day and bled freely for fifteen minutes. That was how I knew I was overdosing on aspirin. I had heard it was a blood thinner, but damn. Then again, the last thing I wanted to do was worry Goten, and besides that we simply didn't have the money to pay for more hospital bills. We were managing just as we were, so of course something like this would come around.
"Oi, Trunks. Get that box for me, willya?" A coworker of mine pointed to a big box on the top of the shelf across the room. He was inundated with work, and was sorting through other kinds of boxes.
"Um... could I just cover for you while you get it?" //I hope I hope..//
"What?" Annoyance. "Just get it. You're strong; it'll only take a second."
I sighed and rose, mounting the small stepladder that led to the top shelf. Still don't understand why coworkers think it's weird to fly. I got a grip on the box and moved down a step, sliding the box down. I felt a knife-pain through my back just as I knew the box would go for my head.
It felt like I had lain to rest for a good while before I felt a light slapping on my face. "Trunks? You beaned yourself pretty good; wake up man!" I opened my eyes slightly. Stars exploded as I did, but I forced them open anyway.
"You okay?"
I managed to nod slightly. "If I'm breathin'."
"Help you up?" He stood and reached down a hand to me, and I nodded as I took it. He pulled me up, and as my spine bent I almost felt something rip. I heard a yipe of pain that didn't take much guessing for me to figure out it came from me.
"Shit!" I was dropped clumsily back to the floor. "What's wrong with you?"
"My back," I said, biting my lip. I took a breath and positioned my hands to push me up. When I tried to move, however, there was no response.
Frowning, I tried again. My arms managed to push me up somewhat, but I came crashing down as pain bit at my nerves. "I... can't move.."
"Does this happen often? Do I need to call an ambulance?" He was concerned.
//Holy cow.// "Yeah," I admitted. Strange, but my body didn't hurt if I was still. My toes were buzzing.
He called, and as he replaced the phone I asked him to give it to me. He shrugged and stretched the cord out toward me. I dialed the number from memory and waited until Goten picked up. His voice was sleepy, and I wasn't overly surprised he had slept in. "Goten?"
"Trunks, that you? You coming home for lunch or something?"
I almost chuckled. "Not exactly....."
"What!? Why the hell didn't you say something before, you total nitwit?" I could hear scrabbling on the other end. My coworker raised his eyebrow as he heard the screaming. "Oh, you are dead when I see you!"
"Uhm, yeah."
"Can you feel your legs?"
"Uhm... How far up is that?"
"Shit. What do you feel?"
"I can't feel my toes, but I can feel halfway up past the kneecap. Look on the bright side, ne?"
Goten cursed randomly. "Meet you there."

Goten was nearly there before I was, and as soon as I was in the emergency room, the doctor checked my charts. As he read a wrinkle of concentration appeared between his brows. "Would you like your old room?"
"That's fine," I sighed, laying back.
I'm not entirely sure how he found me, but I was being chewed out in no time.
"Hey.. don't worry, Goten. I'll be out of here in no time. Besides, we don't exactly have the money for another operation." That last was under my breath, but he heard me and I think he about slapped me.
"I don't care about the money!" Goten was starting to turn a little red in the face, nearly beside himself. "I care about you!" He fell heavily into a chair beside the bed. "What would I do if this can't be fixed again? What could I do for you?"
"You've done enough, Goten. Now it's..." I felt like sleeping. I knew it was time to surrender. "We'll never pay for anything like that alone. There's enough money at home for everybody to get an operation."
Goten was quiet. "Go back? You're saying it's time to go home?"
I tried to shrug, but it hurt as though I'd pinched a nerve. "I don't know any more."
Goten sighed softly. The doctor came in after a while and informed us that the effects of the surgery were reversing themselves. Apparently it was common in human patients, and all (currently known) Saiya-jin had a history of rejection problems when it came to medical procedures (and practical advice). Our bodies didn't generally tolerate foreign bodies very easily. If it did, the immune system was so suppressed that it was in a stupor.
Anyway, they were going to try again, this time in conjunction with an odd drug developed to interface with the effects of the surgery. It was also a slightly different procedure as well.
"Hmm..." the doctor said, looking at my file. "You have some odd bone configurations."
"Is that... bad?"
"It's highly abnormal. But, hey, you've lived this far, right? Anything you break could be set, I guess." The doctor grinned slightly and went serious. "Your surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. Is this acceptable?"
I glanced at Goten, who sank slightly. "Hai," I nodded.
"Alright then. You know where the nurse's button is if you need anything." He left. I looked up at the ceiling for a long moment. It was hard to move very well, especially without pain. I had already been given painkillers which had started to kick in, but it still left a dull ache around my tail spot, where my spine was most sensitive.
"Goten?" I asked, almost idly after a long moment.
"Yeah?" He moved the chair over within my comfortable viewing range and dropped his hand onto mine.
"I'm sorry."
"Nani?"
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you how bad the pain was. I didn't want to upset you. You're already bad enough now, without me having had you stewing on it for weeks."
Goten swallowed hard. "Weeks?" He shook his head. "I'd rather you'd have told me. I was starting to get concerned anyway."
"And I'm sorry for everything else I've put you through."
"What do you mean?" Goten's tone was soft.
"I mean everything. Having to go through all that at home, and now-" I broke off. "I wanted it to be better than that for us." I guess the little apartment where we lived was nice. It was in a fairly good neighborhood and it was, most importantly, unknown by our families. But I still felt guilty sometimes when I looked at my lover, wondering if there was any way I could have played things differently and done better by him. "I'll try to make up for it."
"You have nothing to make up for," Goten told me, his expression passionate and compassionate, and I found myself smiling slightly in return. He probably had no idea how happy he made me, but I loved him to death for it.
"Are we going back then?"
"Yeah." Goten sat back slightly, and I felt a pang at knowing that it was not what he wanted. But he wouldn't bring himself to say that he was doing it for me, and somehow... I don't know, it just made it worse. How could we go home and still be together?
"Call Gohan," I said suddenly. "Tell him I need to talk to him." Goten gave me a questioning look. "Tell him I need him to do a favor for me, ASAP." In my slightly dreamy induced condition the idea I'd had sounded good.
"Are you..." Goten bit his lip and forced himself to keep from asking questions. "Alright." He left the room and I lay back on my bed, thinking hard, planning.
********
I called Gohan-nii-chan from a payphone and wondered what was up with Trunks. An odd expression had come into his very slightly glazed eyes as he looked at me then. Gohan arrived about twenty minutes later, after I had placed the call, and found me outside with a furrowed brow. He aimed a curious look at me, but I just gestured him inside.
"Goten-chan, go get me some water?" Trunks asked sweetly, handing me a cup. I glared slightly, because he knew I was curious, but I went anyway. I ran there and back, and when I arrived, Gohan was sitting in my chair with his chin on his hand, looking intently at Trunks, who was talking.
"So.. you'll do it?"
"Yeah," Gohan said, with a sigh. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," Trunks said, with a firm voice. Then he noticed me and said, "Great, I'm thirsty."
I brought him his water and set it down. "What's going on?"
"I'd better go do that," Gohan said. "Take good care of Trunks, little brother." He clapped me on the shoulder. Gohan smiled as he walked out.
"What's going on?"
"Nothin', Goten-chan." I frowned heavily at him. "You'll find out."
"What did you ask Gohan to do? Tell me." I sat in the chair and made faces at him. He had elevated the bed earlier, wincing as his spine was bent, and now he reached for my arm.
"Be patient, Goten." Seeing my look he sighed. "One thing was to bring them here."
"Our families?" Goten looked at me, blankly.
"Yeah." Trunks nodded and gripped my wrist a little tighter. "Trust me, everything will be okay."
"Are you sure?"
"Do you love me?" It was the first time he had ever asked me that, not to mention he answered a question with a question.
"O-of course," I stammered, startled and caught offbeat. "But what does that-?"
"Then everything will be okay, because I love you too."
I cocked my head slightly, unable to fight down a rising tide of guilt and panic at the thought of my mother. I think he must have heard my thoughts, because his almost cobalt-colored eyes bored assuringly into mine.
I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, still somehow nervous.

"Are you ready?" My brother asked me. I felt a little dizzy as he said it.
I managed to nod, but the room was warm and fuzzy.
"Alright, just stay calm and don't worry. Kaa-san's likely to behave rather psychotically, but if she decides for one reason or another to hit you, just take it like a man."
"I know that," I managed to sound scathing instead of seasick. Trunks sat on the edge of his bed, looking at us with an unreadable expression. "I'll be fine."
There was a knock on the door, and it opened, admitting Bulma and Vegeta and Bra. Bra ran to her brother, crying "O-nii-chan!" and nearly jumping into his lap. Gohan picked her up by the back of her shirt, holding her back.
"We only just got him sitting up," Gohan said. "It'll be painful for him if you're too rough."
Bra made an admirable effort to restrain herself, and hugged her brother as tightly as she dared. "I missed you!"
"I missed you too, little sister. I promise I'll make up to you all that time I was gone."
"It's okay," she said, trying to fight off a grin at seeing him. "If you and Goten-san are okay, then everything's alright."
"You mean it?" Her brother fixed her with a smile, and I couldn't quite recall any time when the two had looked at each other nearly as equals.
"Yeah, I think I do," she said, sounding a little surprised now that he had pointed it out. She smiled guilelessly over at me, and I returned it, feeling a little better. "I'm really glad to see you both."
Bulma had held herself back as long as she could. She came to her son and hugged him, hands trembling slightly against his shoulders. "I'm so glad you're okay. We missed you, all of us." Vegeta held his chin up as though she were lying, but his eyes were calm, and not offended like they would be if she had really told a lie on him. He and Trunks shared a long look. Trunks' eyes were rather wide, and Vegeta at last nodded once.
//Why's he nodding? What's going on?// I looked quizzically at Trunks, who only smiled gently at me.
That was when I turned my head and noticed that the door was open, and my mother stood there.
Her face was a shade too pale, but composed. She came and hugged me, whispering that she missed me. I was frozen, but managed to return it despite the tightness in my stomach. I saw Videl and Pan come into the room behind her.
She stood beside Bulma then, where they could see both of us. She inquired politely into Trunks' well-being, and merely nodded once when he said he felt pretty good with all the painkillers, Chichi-san, and thank you very much. I didn't think she would seem so uncaring. But when she heard he was alright, I thought I saw her relax slightly.
Pan looked from one of us to the other. I found my eyes on her for some reason. She looked down at her feet, and scuffled them slightly, and then ran for me. "O-ji-chan!"
I don't know if I'd ever seen anyone so happy to see me in my life. She did some kind of Saiya-jin power jump right into me, and I caught her and twirled her around once like my brother used to do to me, like I did to her when she was little and before she "grew out of such things." I surprised myself with being happy to see her, especially since she was sniffling and mumbling apologies. "It's okay, Pan-chan."
I set her down after a moment and she went and nearly hid behind her mother. "I didn't think she would get around to that," Videl said, holding the girl near her. "She has my pride."
I smiled slightly, and looked around. The room filled with silent expectation. It made me slightly more sick to the stomach.
"Okay then," Trunks said with a nod. Everyone else seemed to be expecting something too, but they looked at him and each other as though unsure of what. "I guess it's time we got started."
"Is anyone going to tell me what's going on?" I asked weakly. A few chuckles emerged.
Gohan moved over beside Trunks almost nonchalantly, but it was the only real movement in the room, so it was noticed.
"Of course, I'm sorry I had to keep you in the dark, Goten-chan." He smiled at me, and I thought I felt my mother flinch, across the room, at the endearment. "But I think you'll understand why, and why I had to do this."
As he spoke he reached out a hand toward me, and I crossed the room to take it almost dazedly. "...What?"
He smiled up at me, that warm smile that he usually only gave me when we were alone. It felt almost criminal in front of so many people, but I found myself returning it.
"I know it's been pretty difficult, and I'm sure there will be more crap in the future. Life's just that way." He had affected a formal tone that bewildered me even more. "But being with you has been the best part of my life, and I don't want to ever lose you, Goten, no matter what. You've given me absolutely everything. I love you, so much." It dimly occurred to me that he had never said that in front of so many people before, but it got barely any reaction from our families. His eyes were locked on mine, freezing me in place as his hands grasped at mine. "That's why I want you to marry me."
My face felt cool, as though all the blood had drained away, which was entirely possible.
"Someone catch him if he falls," Trunks said in an aside.
"Trunks..." I tried a couple times, but at first I almost squeaked, my mouth and throat were so dry. ".. You mean that?"
He smiled more warmly, if possible. "Look in my eyes. Do I mean it?"
I found my eyes tearing up slightly, but blinked furiously to hold it in, just barely seeing as Trunks turned and whispered, "Gohan-san, that's your cue."
"I'm sorry," Gohan said, starting. "It was just beautiful." He pulled out a box and handed it to Trunks, who opened it and offered me the simple gold ring.
I remember my vision clouding up, my face going cooler while my body went hot, and the vague voice from the back of my head that told me I could rest now.
********
I saw Goten stir, and a smile touched my mouth. My father had left, claiming that he had "seen the thing, and all knew what would happen next." That was probably followed by a Son family commentary, but by that time he was out the door.
Chichi-san had been the next to pass out, but that was before my dad left and he caught her almost automatically, then stared down at her in shock as she opened her eyes and apparently thought he was her husband, saying "Goku" while trying to kiss him. He had held her at arms length until Videl took her and stood her up straight. The back of my father's neck was red as he left. Kaa-san laughed really, really hard.
Gohan had picked up his younger brother, and laid him across the bed next to me. I looked at him in complete surprise for a moment, then folded up the ring box with a little snap. "Guess that can wait..." It was so funny, though.
Bra looked at Goten in dismay, and Pan looked almost embarrassed but trying to hide it with a bored look. "So.... is he gonna say yes?"
"I hope so," I replied.
Videl and Pan and Bra went out then, and my mother and Gohan remained for another moment, Gohan bringing his mother's wits back around. "Son... are you sure of what you're doing?" Somehow, my mother managed to say it without making it accusational.
"I am," I told her with a small shrug. "I love him." I saw Chichi looking at me.
"Ganbatte," she said softly and led Gohan out of the room.
I looked across the room at "my nemisis," noting that she looked pale and sad.
"Chichi-san... I was... maybe hoping you would wish us good luck too. I mean, no matter what, he's your son and you both love each other." I managed to sound a lot less nervous than I felt. My pain medicine was wearing off. I hoped she wouldn't start hitting me again. If she tried to beat me up I was screwed.
For some reason, Chichi looked at me for a long moment, and then turned her gaze to her unconscious son. "Your damn father, why did I have to marry him? I should have known our kids would be so thick-headed!"
"But he gets his determination from you, Chichi-san."
"I don't have any options, do I Trunks?" I didn't do her the dishonor of agreeing. She paused for a long moment, seeming to choose her words delicately. "Do you... really love him?"
"I do, you don't know how much," I told her readily. I felt my heart skip slightly as I looked at his face, color slowly returning to his cheeks.
"And could you take care of him? He's just like his father, he needs someone who will watch out for him and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid. And make sure he's fed."
"He's not that bad."
"Fed a lot. There's never enough food." She looked as though that thought had gone through her head quite a few times since she married Goku. "And he won't study unless you make him."
"I'll do my best, Chichi-san, but I could never be his mother." I said it as respectfully as possible, trying to make her know that I wouldn't insult him like that, as well as the fact that I couldn't devote my every waking moment to making sure he didn't lean against hot stoves or something like she did for her children. She seemed to catch both meanings.
"Maybe there's hope for you yet." She turned to walk away.
"Then... you'll approve?" My tone came out hopeful and I fought to bring it back down to normal.
She looked at me. I realized as her gaze slid down that my hand had long since found Goten's. "If my son says yes," she replied at last. For some reason the words sounded smaller than I'd imagined them, but they were still welcome.
She left before I could say more, and I was left with Goten. I noticed that Gohan had laid him quite close to me, and I could bend my back just enough to look down at him.
He had been still for a long time, and continued to lie there now. I slapped his cheek lightly. "Goten-chan, time for school..."
He groaned.
"Goten-chan, your dinner's ready." He opened his eyes slowly.
"Whuh...?"
I smiled and waited for the recollection to return to him. When it did, he blushed furiously, and clapped his hands over his cheeks as though knowing how radically different the shade was from his own. He looked at me with mixed emotions.
"You okay now? I'm surprised if you were that stressed that you didn't just throw up or something." His eyes narrowed slightly. "You looked so cute, passing out..."
Goten pushed himself upright, shakily. "Hey, take it easy, love," I warned, but he didn't try to stand, he only turned to look at me. "Could you...."
"What?"
"Try that again?" He blushed slightly.
I smiled at him. Kami, he's so adorable! "Goten..." I fished around and somehow found the ring I'd asked Gohan to buy for me. Everything had about figured in as I had thought, and I would be able to get at my bank account and pay him back now. "I've realized, that the time I spent living with you was easily the best in my life. I enjoy being with you so much.. I nearly lost my job a couple of times 'cause I couldn't keep my mind off of you." I grinned and flushed and he laughed at me soflty.
"I like to think you feel as wonderful with me as I do with you. And there just aren't any words for me to tell you how right it feels to love you. I want to be with you forever. Would you marry me?" Damn. I was on a roll.
"You get better at that every time," Goten said as he leaned into me gently, not pressing against me, as though he were going to break me. I leaned into him and hugged him tightly, feeling his arms go around me, and feeling for the first time, free.. as though having to sneak had affected us somehow. But either way we still loved each other.
"Goten... are you going to keep stalling?" I murmured, cheek resting against his head. I offered him the ring, and he took it.
"Baka. You know I'll marry you." Goten took it, and let me fit it onto him, and sighed softly as he clung to me.
"Your mother said... if you said you'd marry me, then she would giver her approval."
"Did she really?" Goten seemed as struck by that as anything else.
"Yeah... I'm so glad you said yes." He kissed me gently, both of us holding the other close for a long time.
"How could I not when I can't help but love you so much?" He looked up at me with his brows drawn, smiling a bit, almost looking guilty. I realized at last that he was wearing a slighly playful expression, and I smiled. My precious Goten.... I felt almost disgustingly fond of him.
"Goten," I said after a long moment, kissing him on the forehead and then on the mouth gently, "They moved my surgery up to today. It's almost time."
"Really?" He asked, his eyes meeting mine almost fearfully for a moment. "I'm worried," he admitted.
"I know. But don't worry, okay? No matter what, everything's going to be okay." I sighed a bit, swallowing hard. "You're such a mush, Goten."
Goten didn't say anything. But he held on very tightly.
********
I waited in tense silence among my family members, twisting the gold band on my finger and staring at it like a parasitic organism had attached itself to my finger. It was sucking out all my thoughts into it's own existance, and all my feelings were...
My brother drank coffee from a styrofoam cup and glanced at me over the rim. I looked to where my mother was reading a magazine, jangling the bracelets on her right wrist in an almost nervous habit. What does she have to be nervous about? I mean, it's not as though I think she doesn't care about Trunks, but.....
I switched my gaze to where Vegeta had tried to tell Bulma for the millionth time that since Trunks was his son, he was invariably strong enough to survive, and since that was the case, he should be allowed to go home and train and not take up space in the waiting room in case I started to pace again. He threw a glance at me, missing Bulma's glare, frowning heavily, and I wondered to myself how Vegeta felt about me being....
I looked at my left hand again and felt my face go warm, completing my thought. ...Married to his son! It sent a flutter of shock and pleasure racing through my veins, and I felt a little light-headed all of a sudden. I layed back in my chairs and felt an impulse to move. I paced again. My mother looked up and frowned slightly. Gohan watched mutely, having previously failed to distract me. The girls were talking softly, Bra pausing in the middle of a sentance and one elevated hand stilling as she looked at me with a frown of her own.
Vegeta growled softly and crossed his arms tightly. Bulma watched me in concern, and I paused, happened to be facing her as I turned to circle a row of chairs. She reached out her hands to me, and I found myself going to her, plopping heavily into the chair next to her, and she hugged me gently. She was always so kind to me, so considerate.... her shoulder was comfortable for my cheek, her perfume was quite different from my mother's, but still comforting in its familiarity.
I woke when the lighting was dimmed, and Bulma was shaking me, her fingers gripping my upper arm. I flexed involuntarily, breaking her grip as I blinked with a start. "Goten-kun, Trunks can get visitors now. He's in recovery."
She was smiling gently, but I couldn't read anything from it. I bit my lip and sat up, rubbing my eyes furiously, as a nurse stood near the doorway to the waiting room with a clipboard in hand. When I rose, she gestured to me to go with her. She led me down nonsense corridors, stopping at a door and knocking on it gently for me.
I pushed it open, and stepped into the darkness, my eyes attempting to adjust. As I blinked, my eyes went a little less fuzzy. Enough to see. Enough to recognize my lover's silhouette plastered against the window, standing as close as he could get, palms resting on the glass as he stared up at Venus.
Standing....
He must have heard my uneven breaths, because he turned, purple hair swishing slightly as he turned. "Hi my love..."
Trunks reached out a hand to me, and I was so filled with relief I could barely stop myself from running into his arms.
*~*~*~*~ Oshimai