First things first this is an AU fanfiction and slightly yaoi. Plus I don't own any DBZ characters.

Italic denotes thoughts.

Bold italics mental talking between people.

Bold denotes the Dragon speaking

(Inside these are my thoughts and comments)

Chapter Three:

Help!

The gang had strayed outside when Chi-chi started to yell at Goku for destroying her kitchen. They all knew she would hurt someone with a stray pan and no one wanted it to be them.

Trunks was the only one who didn't go inside. His despair over Goten missing and his anger over the new potential, female, threat was making it had to keep his ki down. Goku let her get away, he let his son's killer go. Trunks keep seeing that knowing smirk of triumph she wore when asked about Goten. It was the same look his father wore when he was done pounding Trunks to prove a point.

That bitch knows something and she's not going to give it up without a fight. I hope it's with me and I get to break her. In sync with his thoughts he slams his fist into a nearby tree, splintering it in the process.

"Calm down," his father told him. Trunks had been so in his own world he didn't even notice his father approaching.

"Calm! You want me to be calm." He laughed and it wasn't one of gaiety, but of anger. Trunks knew he was acting loony but he had to vent his frustration somehow. The thought of his best friend never being around again was making him that way. Who knew that it would take him disappearing for me to notice him? Not that he didn't notice him, Trunks just took the fact that Goten was always around somewhere for granted. What would be really helpful is to hit something he thought. Someone would be better, preferably a dark haired, tailed, evil female. (Has there ever been a female villain before, besides 18? Not boys who look like girls, but actually female?)

As if reading Trunks mind and feelings his father's fist smashed into his face. Rubbing his shocked expression from his face he looked at Vegeta. It wasn't an overly powerful hit but enough to get his attention.

"You. Me. Spar. NOW." Vegeta was pointing to the distance. Trunks only nodded and proceeded to follow his father.

As they walked away Goku and a pale Chi-Chi joined the gang outside. Goku noticed the two walking away and asked about it. Krillin told him about Trunks break down and Vegeta's command of a spar. Goku looked a little sad that he wasn't invited but a slight tug on his sleeve brought him back to his present dilemma, find Goten's supposed killer.

Goku walked over to where Yamcha and Krillin stood. He told the how he wanted all other Z gang family members to be notified and safe from this new girl. He didn't know how bad she was but everyone's safety was upmost in his mind.

"If you could take Chi-Chi to Roshi's place that would be helpful. Also if you could gather the others up to the lookout. In, say, two hours we'll meet there and inform them on what's going on."

"Ok, Goku," Yamcha was leery of his new job "ALL of them?" The fighter turned sports player was dreading the flight he'll have. Mentally he went over who he had to contact: Roshi, Oolong, 18, Marron, Launch, Puar, Bulma, Bunny, Dr. Briefs, Bra, Videl, Pan, Chiaotzu, Korin, Yajirobe, Mr. Satan, Uub, and the Ox-King. He shook his head thinking, it'll be a snap cause most of those people live with each other or close by. Goku's "yeah" pulled him out of his thoughts. Yamcha's reply was, "ok no problem." He took off after saying so with Chi-Chi under his arm.

Krillin came up to Goku and asked, "anything I could do to help?"

Goku looked at his long time friend and for the first time Krillin saw despair; first time ever. There had been of joy, excitement, rage, and anger but with Goku, who hid most feelings well, despair was new. Trying to reassure him Krillin said, "I'm sure Goten is fine, probably snoozing somewhere." He patted Goku on the shoulder.

"Thanks, Krillin. It would be great if you could help me look for that girl."

"I'm on it Goku."

"Thanks buddy."

"Dad?" Gohan had also never seen his dad like this. When he had gone SSJ right away and took the girl by the throat Gohan had been shocked. There was no hint of the playful man in heat of battle; it was a side Gohan had never seen. Since coming back from training Uub Goku was much more family focused than ever before. Even the slightest hint of harm coming to his family could set him off. Actually it reassured Gohan that his dad was going to stick around longer.

"I'm fine Gohan; just a little shook up. But I'll be fine once I can get some answers from that girl." His face held that determined look he got when he went after a goal.

"Dad?" Gohan asked again.

"Uh?" Goku asked back a little distracted

"We need her alive and able to speak." Goku looked at Gohan perplexed and shocked.

Then he gave a chuckle and said, "don't worry, even with two broken legs she'll live."

Gohan, Krillin, and Tien fell over in shock. When they got back up Goku was chuckling and scratching the back of his head.

"Gohan, I'm not going to hurt her I promise. This morning was a shock. I only want to talk to her. See if she knows anything about Goten."

"That's good to hear." Gohan sighed in relief. As much as he wanted to hurt her for insinuating she may have done harm to Goten, but the last thing he wanted was for anyone to get hurt when it could have been avoided.

"I'm going to break up that spar and get those two to help," Goku stated.

"If Trunks is cooled off enough," stated Piccolo. He had been silently watching these humans that he had known for so long panic when he could have just told them where to go. Being part of a former guardian he still picked up things he shouldn't, but the evil side of him was having fun watching them run around like chickens about to die.

"Is that what that's about? Goten was that close to him? Go figure losing him would affect him so much." Saying that Goku walked off to where the Saiyan Princes were sparring.

The others watched as Goku walked right between two fists aimed at each opponent, caught each one effortlessly, and began to talk. Gohan had to laugh at Vegeta's face; he looked ready to burst. His face was red and it looked like steam could be coming out of his ears. Obviously Goku didn't listen well or just didn't care that Vegeta has spoken about hating it when people, especially the 'stupid baka,' interrupted his spars. Vegeta looked like he was still fuming when the three started back towards the house.

"Ok, so we all felt what the girl's ki felt like. Spread out and check as far as you can go in two hours. At that time we'll meet at the lookout and discuss where to go from there." Goku knew all about strategy from fighting and this seemed the best way to look.

"Sounds good," Krillin said.

"Fine," grumbled Vegeta, probably miffed that Goku not only stopped his spar but also was bossing him around.

Tien, Piccolo, and Trunks really didn't respond; the first two nodded in agreement and Trunks didn't care to. The tick in his cheek told them all he would rather not say anything right now less they wanted to hear, "I'm ready to hurt someone not find them."

"Then in two hours. Good luck." Goku was getting ready to take off.

"Uh, and if we do find her?" asked Krillin. His question stopped Goku mid leap.

"Oh yeah." He thought for a second then continued with, "flare your ki three times and we'll all know you need help." All the others nodded in agreement, except Trunks, again. Only Goku noticed this time and stated sternly, "we need her ALIVE."

The two men stared at each other, both looks intense, both unblinking. Goku broke it by saying, "Goten is my son. He is your best friend. But the only way we are going to find out what happened to him we need that girl alive." He let Trunks absorb the info then went on, "I need you to focus on finding Goten and not on revenge. Can you do that?"

Trunks looked like he would object but he lowered his gaze and nodded. He added an "ok" to confirm he had heard Goku and acknowledge his agreement. Goku thumped him on the back and then took to the skies. The others followed suit but heading in different directions.

Meanwhile

Goten was crying more than she had been as a he. Still suppressing her ki was causing her to get a headache on top of that. At least she could cry without being thought as being weak.

She had hid when the gang had showed up in her parents' yard. She was going to IT right out but her curiosity got the better of her so she had hid behind some bushes and lowered her ki way past the level of a human. She wanted to see what would happen.

At first all the gang except trunks went into the house then all came back out in a hurry. Goten could hear why, her mom was in a fit about the wall her dad just destroyed.

But Goten's eyes were turned to Trunks. He was pacing, his fists clenched, his face in anger, and his ki flaring. He thinks I hurt me. At least now I know he has some sort of feelings for me, or the boy me. The friend he knew.

A crack brought her out of her messed up thoughts. Not ten feet from her Trunks had punched a tree and thought that he imaged her new face as the target. Vegeta told him to be calm and Trunks yelled back at him resulting in Vegeta hitting Trunks in the face.

That's when Goten thought, I have to get out of here. She looked around looking for a way to leave. So far all the rest of the gang was still milling about and in strategic positions to watch the sky and the house at the same time. Where would I even go from here? Then the image of her other mother came to mind, Bulma. She was the next best thing Goten had for a mother figure. Since Goten was little the female scientist was literally another mother to 'him' and 'he' sometimes would go to her for advice if Chi-chi had no idea how to handle it. So making up her mind she placed two fingers to her forehead and thought of Capsule Corporation (CC).

Mrs. Briefs, or Bunny, was in the garden and happily told Goten were to find Bulma; in the lab where else.

Bulma will help me, she kept saying to herself as she walked down the stairs. She will, she has to.

The further Goten went into the CC underground lad areas the louder the banging and cursing became. "Damn Vegeta, always beating the shit out of my bots. Jerk, swine, bastard…" on and on Bulma vented.

Goten smiled though at the moment she felt like crying. As much as Bulma and Vegeta fought they really did love each other. They had a weird sort of bond that most Saiyans get when married; the fight and make up sex kind. That's what I want just not with the fighting. But if everyone thinks I'm a bad guy, correction bad girl, how am I to get someone to fall in love with me? She shook her head at herself, that's what you get for playing Vegeta games.

Love, it was the whole reason he became a she in the first place. Goten had never felt right as a boy. Kissing girls as a felt wrong and a little disgusting, and the thought of kissing a guy as a guy was just as bad. He had always wondered what it felt like for a girl to be kissed by a guy. The thought had never left as he matured and so he made the wish. Now he can find out.

Goten had absently knocked on the door.

"They'll be done when I'm good and ready. Do you hear me Vegeta!"

Goten knocked again this time alert from the yelling that was almost comparable to Chi-Chi's. The door flew open with a "what!" Bulma hadn't really looked to see who it was when she screamed this. But when she looked and saw a young woman standing there she was quick to make amends.

"Sorry, I didn't realize they would be sending you so soon. Come in." as the young lady walked in she thought, if I had been paying closer attention Vegeta would not have knocked but just barged right in. Aloud she said, "I hope you're the expert on engine removal and redesign?" No answer came, just a dazed look. "No. Well I'm Bulma Briefs and you are?"

"I'm not sure." And Goten lost it. The tears started and she couldn't seem to stop them. That got Bulma up faster than Goten had ever seen her move, even if through blurry vision. "Oh, honey what's the matter?"

Goten blubbered out the entire story. She went as far back as the weird feelings had. At age 12 he had felt odd, and then at age 16 knew he was in love with his best friend, and then at age 19 vowed never to kiss another girl let alone go out with one. And now at 25 wished himself into a girl so to experience a true true loves kiss, thus leading the Z gang to think she was an enemy and how she came to be crying on Bulma on her lab floor. So really EVERYTHING.

So this is how Goten was crying more than she/he ever had before.

"o.o…Go…Goten?" Bulma asked. She had not said a word after the young girl started to cry and tell of her life. At first Bulma had no idea who the Saiyan looking girl was or why she would be crying to her, but as the story unfolded and became detailed she was shocked to realize it was Goten. Goten as a girl in the Saiyan under armor she created.

At the sound of "Goten" the girl nodded. Bulma's mouth was hanging low to the ground. Here in front of her was a very pretty girl version of Goten; a crying mess of a girl but Goten, who was now crying softly and not gushing as much.

Dazed for only a few moments, she is a genius after all, Bulma took Goten's hand and said, "oh Goten."

"Bulma I don't know what to do." She hiccupped after saying this.

"Let me handle that. You just try to get calm. So the gang is after you because apparently you are a threat. More precisely Goten's supposed killer with extreme power." She paused to take a breath then stopped to think. Boy what I won't give to test the female Saiyan who actually trained. "Goten how is it that they haven't tracked you here if your ki is higher?"

"I'm constantly holding it down, but soon they will locate me because the stress of doing so is making me hurt."

"Hurt? Hum…that will not do. Come off that floor and into a chair with you. I think I might have a solution to your ki problem." Bulma had her pointer finger tapping her chin as she thought.

Bulma helped pull a surprisingly light Goten up and guided her to a chair. Goten was calmer since spilling the beans, though some tears still leaked out but now they were more from stress and her growing headache.

Hiccups were coming more frequent now (always happens to me after I have a good cry) as she asked, "how…how are yo…you going to help me? Ki is ea...easy to manipulate but ha...hard to control." It was one of the first lessons Goku had taught Goten about the IT technique.

Bulma gave a smug smile, "it so happens I have been perfecting a ki suppressant device and it's been ready for year but you Saiyans would not let me experiment on you. One mishap a long time ago and never again; bunch of babies." She muttered the last bit to herself. She was digging through a packed file cabinet muttering other things about the race of baby Saiyans when she gave a great "whoop" and came up with a silver bracelet in her hand.

Bulma handed it to Goten. She turned it over and over looking at the intricate design at every angle. "How does it work," she finally asked.

"Ah that's the cool part," Bulma started to boast, "no batteries needed. It works off your body temp, more importantly you ki." So saying she take it back and slaps it onto Goten's wrist.

"Whoa…" Goten began to protest.

"Relax," Bulma says as she locks the ends together with a snap and a little green gem lights up. "See here, "she points to the gem, "this indicates that you have a pulse and sufficient ki to sustain the bracelet."

Bulma takes a step back as she continues, "the ki restraint band will now lower your ki to that of a normal humans, all without taxing you physically."

Goten was still too nervous to let her ki down and Bulma must have noticed for she said, "let go Goten. The band has already lowered you ki. Can't you feel the tug?"

Goten nodded. She could feel a tug and it wasn't an external one but internal. Plus the headache was getting worse. So Goten let go; doing so she flinched as if expecting her dad to IT next to her and pummel information out of her. But nothing happened.

Bulma also flinched when she noticed Goten's face relax when she let go. Bulma didn't tell Goten that the extent of ki the bracelet could withstand was never tested, cause of baby Saiyans. Bulma was glad it didn't explode from the high ki Goten must have to scare the gang. Now she was smiling and she said, "see no one came. Now try flaring you ki in warning, say three times."

Goten shrugged and tried it; still nothing. Bulma sighed in relief of no explosions and Goten sighed with no pummeling forth coming.

"Bulma you really are a genius."

"Thank you Goten. This should help get the gang off you tail for awhile."

"How did you know I got my tail back?" Goten sounded shocked.

Again first thoughts of how she would love to test a Saiyan with a tail came to mind, and then she actually thought about what Goten said. "What?" she asked.

"It was one of my wishes. Plus everything I would need as a girl."

Bulma was going to ask what that meant, but a yell from upstairs startled both women.

"BULMA!" it was Yamcha. Goten looked panicked. "They found me," she said scared.

"No, I think it's just Yamcha." Bulma tried to sound convincing.

"But he was there after I made my wishes. He say me as this," she gestured to her new body. "He saw me as a threat." Now she was pacing like a caged animal ready to pounce at any moment, or flee like one.

Bulma walked over to Goten, took her by the shoulders, looked her in the eyes, gave her a little shake, and said, "go home."

"What! People may still be there and I want to live…"

"No! Go to where you live."

"Oh yeah, my home, my apartment."

"It's the last place the gang would look for you, your killer, you know what I mean. It may be some time before they realize to check there."

"BULMA! WHERE ARE YOU!" Again from Yamcha.

"Go!" she demanded it his time cause he sounded closer.

"Ok" Goten replied weakly.

"And Goten," the younger looked at the older in the eyes, "if you need help call anytime."

"Thanks Bulma." Goten didn't know why but she felt it but she had to do it; she hugged Bulma. "Thanks a lot." And then Bulma was standing alone.

"You're welcome," she said to the air.

That's how Yamcha found her, spacing out. "Bulma, why didn't you answer me?"

"I was busy," she said when his words brought her out of the daze.

"At least you ok, physically." He whispered the last part. "Geez I could just see it now when I told Vegeta that you were nowhere to be found or worse dead; I would be dead."

"What's up?" Bulma asked trying to sound intrigued.

"Goku wants us all to meet up at the look out. And the he'll tell us all about it."

"Ok," aloud and inside, must be about Goten.

"Could you get your parents and Bra together? Goku wants everyone safe, I mean up there." Ah so they still feel she is a threat.

"Yeah, give me a few minutes. How about we meet you on the front lawn?"

"Ok" he said and walked out.

"Men," she said when he was gone. "It's been years since a bad guy and the first person to appear remotely strong is a threat. What idiots. Kill them then ask questions. Well not this time." Bulma had a plan.

Sorry it took so long to get this out I hope you all like it. If you must know I also updated a few things in chapters one and two. It may help to re-read those. Any suggestions or comments are welcome. ;)