AN: I don't why, but I've been neglecting my other fics to finish this one...I guess I'm just inspired. I'm really enjoying this one. Bura and Gohan are a couple I've always liked. Maybe cause Bura is a really cool female character who never really got much development on the show. Or maybe its because I had a thing for Gohan when I watched DBZ and watched him grow up. Although Great Saiya-Man wasn't one of his best moments...

Any who...please read, review, and enjoy! Best Path! :)

Family Ties

THE MORNING CAME, as Bura knew it would. The world continued spinning, people carried on with their lives, and the sun rose as per usual. Everything was normal, routine, and dependable. Well, except for her personal life. That was in complete and utter shambles.

But, really, she was okay. Or so she told herself as a mantra, over and over. I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay...breathe in, breathe out, inhale, exhale, one at a time...

The sun filtered into her immense bedroom, and she groggily checked her alarm clock. Her eyes widened, as 11:42 am blared at her. Shit, she was most definitely late for work! Or, wait...

She sat up, tucking an aquamarine strand behind her ear. The Vice-President of Capsule Corporation vaguely remembered calling her brother to let him know she wouldn't come to work after all. As strong as she tried to be, she knew she wouldn't be able to make it through the day without dissolving into tears. She was certain Trunks and her mother would understand, considering the nature of how her evening went yesterday.

"I should do things I like...things that will make me feel better." she announced aloud to the empty master bedroom. The room said nothing in reply. How typical.

So she began her day by running a bath, selecting a good book to distract herself while luxuriating in the tub. It was a good opportunity to use one of her bubble baths that lined her tub's rim but seldom got utilized. After lounging in the bath for an hour, she drained the tub, applied the body lotion that matched the fragrance of the bubble bath, and donned a fluffy bathrobe.

From there she paddled to the kitchen, choosing a breakfast of Godiva ice cream with milk poured into it as an improvised milkshake. She gazed about her cheerily decorated kitchen and decided to eat her makeshift milkshake in the comfort of the living room.

Fortunately, there was a chick flick marathon on the television, so she knew exactly where she'd spend the afternoon until she either tired of it or one of her family members came calling to check on her. Somewhere in the middle of Pretty Woman she dozed off, and when she woke again it was America's Sweethearts. Geez, Julia Roberts sure was popular in this marathon...

Her doorbell rang. She blinked. Who...well, it was more of a question of which member of her family had decided to come call on her. She stumbled blearily from the couch to the door, opening it. Gohan stood before here, a bouquet of flowers in his hand, and apprehension wrought on his handsome face. She blinked once more, this time in shock. "Gohan." she said dumbly.

"Hey Bura," he smiled, gave a nervous laugh, "I thought I'd check on you." Not knowing what else to say he handed her the flowers. It was a colorful arraignment, with lots of bright yellows, oranges, and pinks.

She took them, suddenly self conscious that she was rumpled appearing from her couch nap. She wasn't wearing makeup, her hair was probably a rat's nest, and she wasn't exactly dressed 'cute'. "I...thank you." she stepped aside, allowing him entry, and closed the door behind them.

He looked about the room, having seldom ever been at her house in the past few years since she'd bought it. He stuffed his hands in his pockets, feeling distinctly uncomfortable. Perhaps it was inappropriate to drop by unannounced, perhaps it wasn't kosher for him to bring her flowers...

Gohan simply couldn't keep himself away. After all that had happened last evening, he knew he had to come see Bura. He didn't truly know what he could do to help her, but at least if he could keep her company. Maybe it would ease her grief.

"They're very beautiful." she said, feeling strangely giddy and warm that he'd brought her flowers. She'd always loved sentimental, thoughtful gifts. Though she'd seldom received them in the last years of her marriage. Maybe because she and Goten both knew they'd be useless when it was her money that bought them anyway.

Gohan felt his cheeks warm. "I know its probably silly, but I hoped they'd cheer you up a bit."

She smiled, and despite her fatigue, she was beautiful to him. "I'm glad you came over." she admitted, heartfelt. She strode to the kitchen to get a vase for the flowers and Gohan took the opportunity to sit. He glanced about the living room, committing the furniture and decor to memory.

She returned quickly from the kitchen, choosing to sit next to him. She drank him in, noticing the dark wash of the jeans that hugged his sculpted legs so attractively. He wore a buttoned shirt, though the top two were undone and his sleeves were casually rolled up to the elbows. So handsome...

"I know we haven't been friends for very long..." she began tentatively, uncertain of the silence.

"At least not close friends," Gohan interrupted, taking her hands in his own, "but I'm here for you Bura. I know this is a difficult time..."

She smiled weakly, squeezing his hands. "As strange as it sounds, I'm sad, but now that I've been thinking about it all day...well, my marriage with Goten has been slowly dying for years...I was just too clueless to notice."

He chuckled. "Videl and I made the same mistake. And I gave up too much, and she gave up too little. We took so much for granted." he felt that pang of failure in his chest. The years of frustration, of never being human enough for his Chikyuu-jin wife. The divorce had only just been finalized, but he and Videl had been dragging out their resentment and disappointment for years, decades, even.

She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. Though she doubted whether this action was appropriate or not, it felt right. "I should have married Uub." she confided.

Gohan hid his smile at Bura's intimate action, shifting slightly to lean his own weight into hers. "Oh?" he queried absently. She smelled good...it was very distracting.

She giggled, hugging Gohan's muscled arm. "Yes. He was so shy, so sweet, he had a crush on me when I was a teenager and he was in his early twenties. I know Poppa would have approved too, since he was such a strong fighter." she sighed softly, thinking of that handsome, tanned warrior. But she'd been too caught up crushing on Goten to even give Uub a chance. And, thinking back, he probably would have been a caring and devoted boyfriend, if not husband.

Gohan heard what was unsaid. "You liked Goten too much, huh?" his hand, of its own accord, began stroking her hair. He took note of the length and texture...so long, so soft, like the silken strands of a spider's web. They slipped through his fingers like water. He craved more.

"Yes. But before I ever had a crush on Goten..." she trailed off, uncertain if she should admit this to the older man. It was true that she was in an emotional state and all, and was even in the comfort of her own home, but...

"Yes?" he questioned, curious at what Bura was reluctant to say. He pulled away slightly to gaze at this beautiful woman whose sweet scent was tantalizingly arousing him.

Her face colored slightly and she looked away. "When I was a very little girl, I had a crush on you. When I came over to play with Pan...I don't know, I just looked up to you." she uttered softly. She pressed her palms to her burning cheeks. She'd actually told him!

Gohan grinned. "That's really cute." he tapped the tip of her nose, unable to help himself. It was really touching to know that Bura had crushed on him as a little girl. Though she was a grown woman, and had switched her attentions to Goten, Gohan wondered if there was somewhere in her heart that she still harbored feelings for him. He couldn't help but hope so.

Vegeta's daughter slapped him playfully. "Don't even." she warned. She felt a surge of embarrassment for even having admitted this at all. Gohan probably thought she was a dork or worse. Damn, she was all too vulnerable right now.

"And, damn, I was young too." he mused, thinking back to when Bura and Pan had been playmates. He had been twenty-two when Panny had been born, so he'd actually been a very young father in comparison to Bura's father, who had been close to fifty when she herself had been born.

"Fool. You look the same now as you did then, if not more muscular." she chided, crossing her arms in mock temper. She wondered if maybe Gohan wasn't as self assured as she originally thought. Well, maybe she'd just have to get to know who he really was...

Gohan laughed. "We have Saiya-jin genetics to thank for that, I suppose." Which was actually pretty nice, now that he thought of it. Videl and him were now divorced, but she looked every bit of forty-eight while he was caught in a state of perpetual youth. It was actually something that Videl had complained about throughout their marriage when it became glaringly clear that he looked years, then decades, younger than her. She would stand in their bathroom mirror and critique her ever increasing signs of aging while he innocently brushed his teeth.

In those moments Gohan would always spit out his toothpaste and retort with something comforting or reassuring. But Videl was seemingly clinging to a multitude of things to be unhappy about. He'd been aware of her displeasure over his Saiya-jin side, and he hadn't realized that this would be another strike against him and his heritage. He had an idea that he'd age more slowly, gauging by how his father had never seemed to age much, though he'd spent the better part of his life not living.

But he hadn't known that however slower he seemed to age than her would even bother her. There were a lot of things that had become issues that he never imagined when he had first married her. And now they were divorced, Videl looking as though she could be his own mother as they left the courthouse in strained amiability.

How long did Saiya-jin and their half blooded offspring live, he wondered. The whole gang had just celebrated Vegeta's seventy-third Birthday and the man hardly appeared a day over thirty. The party had been all Bulma's doing, of course. She had beamed the entire time, not really looking her seventy-two years, but at least seeming to be in her sixties.

Gohan hadn't thought to ask the Prince of Saiya-jin just how long Saiya-jin lived. Nor was he certain that Vegeta would give him an honest answer, if the man even knew it himself. And so he figured he would just wing it, see if he woke up with any gray hairs, and would probably then proceed from there.

He looked at Bura. If he was to be with her, they would look like a normal couple, not one that had twenty-three years between them. They both would just seem like a cute twenty-ish year old couple...

He inwardly wanted to slap himself. What was he thinking? Being with Bura... the woman had scarce known of her own husband's betrayal for twenty-four hours! And here he was, bringing her flowers, practically cuddling with her on the couch, flirting even...oh Kami-sama...

She smiled. "Yes. Quite the advantage now that you're single."

No, I don't want to be single, he thought, I want someone to spend my life with, to have a family with, to share everything. And it'd be nice if whoever she was didn't begrudge me my Saiya-jin heritage.

But that couldn't be with Bura. Not now. Perhaps not ever. Gods, why was his brain so stuck on this? Why had he wanted her so bad since that day he'd comforted her in the halls of Capsule Corp? Why was this happening? He would be no better than Goten if he went after his own brother's ex-wife.

But she'd complement him perfectly, somewhere inside of himself argued. Not only would she not mind that he was half Saiya-jin, she'd probably enjoy it, being demi blooded herself. They would both age at about the same rate, would both answer the call of fighting together, and just enjoy the fact that there was someone in the world to match them. Trunks and Pan had found similar happiness in these circumstances.

"It's...interesting, to say the least." he finally replied, remembering that he and Bura were in the middle of a conversation, his musings impeding the process.

She arched a brow. "Something on your mind?" she queried, noticing Gohan's pregnant pause.

He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "It's not that I'm not interested in talking about my dating circumstances, or lack thereof, but I guess I was musing over Saiya-jin and how they age." he admitted.

Bura blinked. "Oh...well, yeah, it's kind of obvious when my mom looks like she collects social security and my dad is still in the gravity room every day." she wondered what had Gohan on that track, but it was something she'd often given thought to herself. She had seen the sadness in her father's features when her mother seemed increasingly frail and feeble in her older age. She had thought she was safe from that destiny, having married a demi Saiya-jin herself. But since Goten and she had not worked out, she might very well end up with a Chikyuu-jin male and watch him slowly wither away while she withstood the sands of time. She shuddered to think of it, knowing how much her Papa suffered from that fate. Kami-sama knew what he'd do once her mother passed on from natural old age.

And from what she knew of Gohan, he'd had a similar problem with his wife. Videl-san certainly seemed to be in her forties while Gohan could pass for a college student. Were demi Saiya-jin doomed to outlive their human partners? To suffer the heartache of your lifelong mate withering before your eyes while you remained seemingly youth eternal? To lose them to the vestiges of time, alone yourself, unless you chose to betray their memory by loving another?

Perhaps if she had been sensible and married Uub...the reincarnated form of Kid Buu, who could probably live a lifetime with her. Or even the handsome man before her now who was suffering the same fate at her: a divorce when you were in your prime. Gohan...

"Both of our parents went through the same problem, it seems." Gohan remarked thoughtfully. Chichi and Bulma had definitely adapted well to their husbands' lifestyles, though their fathers had suffered from their wives' shorter lifespan and lack of ki.

Bura sighed. "It makes dating seem very unsavory." She didn't even want to think about jumping into the dating world. It seemed very futile, to even try dating a human. Someone who wouldn't likely want or understand what it meant to be a Saiya-jin. She wondered if Uub was still single, or even still interested in her. But Gohan was here, and she felt such a pull towards him...

But Kami-sama, it would make such a mess of things...

"Chikyuu-jin aren't very understanding of our Saiya-jin nuances." he replied, knowing exactly what Bura meant. She was in the same predicament as him, it seemed. Maybe, just maybe...

She snorted in response, not wanting to even think of Gohan on a date with some giggling human female. "Perhaps those of Saiya-jin blood are meant to stick with their own kind."

Gohan felt his heart skip. "Well, Trunks and Pan seem very happy with that arraignment." he trailed off, recalling how happy Pan had always been with her friend, lover, and father of her child. He had approved of Trunks marrying his daughter because of how deliriously happy they were together. No one else could have suited Pan better. His daughter and the heir to Capsule Corporation were a fine match.

Bura's eyes locked with Gohan's. She felt the charge of her statement and his. Could Gohan be thinking the same thing that she was? Could his mind be following the same path as hers? Could she be getting carried away with her imagination? "Gohan..." her heart was pounding, her pulse jumping.

"Bura," he began, pausing when she uttered his name in unison with him, "go ahead."

She shook her head. "No, you first."

He felt his face warm. "I...uh...I know that you and Goten have just...well..." he trailed off, his fingers twiddling nervously. He shifted in his seat, facing her, their bodies a hair's width from touching. "I would like to take you out. Help distract you." he managed without stuttering.

Bura blinked. "Do you mean...?" her heart was fluttering like a bird in a cage. Was he asking her out like a date? How had she gone from being married to an impending divorce and some sort of attention from her soon to be ex brother in law?

"I..." he flushed, and she found it simply adorable, "I'm not implying anything romantic, or putting any pressure..." he nervously rubbed the back of his neck, feeling like a faltering teenager. "I just like the time we've spent together so far. I like the woman you've become. I like you." he felt courage as he continued. She didn't laugh at him or seem put off by what he was saying. "I want to spend more time with you and get to know you better."

She smiled, feeling incredibly silly. Courting was not something she was truly accustomed to. She'd barely dated as a teenager because she had been so lovesick over Goten and Goten had never truly courted or dated her. "I'd like that..." she trailed off, happy that Gohan had said such things. That he'd been so dauntless with admitting his feelings. She wished she had the same fortitude.

"But?" he questioned, fearful that he'd said too much.

"I don't want you to think I'm someone who can turn her back on her own husband so quickly." she murmured, looking away. Ashamed that she did have such feelings for Gohan, that she'd been harboring them for some time now.

He cupped her cheek, turning her face to his. "I know you better than that. You've loved Goten for years, decades. But I also have been divorced, and know that this situation you're in isn't something that happened overnight." he felt that familiar, dull pang of hurt. No, his marriage to Videl had begun crumbling long before the divorce papers had been signed.

She bit her lip, feeling so unsure. "I like you too. I would like to get to know you, Son Gohan, the man you've become."

He smiled softly, tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear. "If it leads to more...well, I'm not saying I wouldn't like it, but I'm not expecting it or planning on it."

Impulsively she leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his mouth before throwing her arms about him in a hug. "You have no idea how much I appreciate you coming here and checking on me, keeping me company, talking to me..." she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Stunned by the quick kiss, but not a complete fool, he returned the hug, taking in her scent and the wonderful sensation of her body pressed to his. "I couldn't let you go through this alone." he found himself saying. He couldn't hold back anymore, this moment here with her like a truth serum of sorts. He'd said the feelings he'd kept concealed since he had comforted her in the halls of Capsule Corp, and she had not shunned him, laughed, or asked him to leave.

Perhaps honesty truly was the best policy.

She pulled away, gazing into his eyes, scarcely believing that she'd planted a kiss on the father of her best friend, a man she'd known since before she could recall. And she wanted to kiss him again. And again. And more.

His fingers trailed over her cheek and she leaned into the tender touch. He felt like drowning in the pools of her beautiful eyes. "You're beautiful. My brother's an idiot." he spoke softly.

She closed her eyes, the hurt still fresh. "Gohan..." tears pricked her eyes. How much would she cry over Goten? How much was enough?

He leaned in, his breath hot on her sensual mouth. "I don't want you to think I'm taking advantage of you in your vulnerable state..."

"I had thought of you even before I found out that Goten cheated." she confessed, wondering if she was no better than her husband. She hadn't acted out on her desires as he had, but thought alone was bad enough.

His nose brushed hers. "I better go. I'll end up misbehaving otherwise." He didn't give her the chance to protest, pulling himself from the couch. Things had moved quickly as it was between them, and Bura had enough going on without him complicating things. And he wasn't sure if he could stop himself from tumbling into...he didn't even want to think further into things. Bura was in a vulnerable state, and he didn't want to be a jerk that would take advantage.

She nodded in agreement, pulling herself from the couch as well. "Thank you for coming by. And for the flowers." she murmured softly, not sure what to say. She'd have a lot to think about once he left.

"I'll call you tomorrow and we can set something up. Wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do." He promised.

She followed him to the door. "That sounds great." she looked into his obsidian eyes, wondering exactly how she had come to care so much for this man. How he had even come to care for her. How he had the courage to tell her. She smiled, unable to help herself.

This time he was the impulsive one, pressing a quick kiss to her mouth. "See you." he left before he could boff things further, closing the door behind himself. The spring air was crisp, and it cleared his head almost immediately. What the heck had happened in there? He'd gone from concerned friend to non-threatening love interest in the short time he'd called upon the Saiya-jin Princess. And, even crazier, she hadn't minded. Had admitted she wasn't so innocent either.

His blood boiled and Gohan was glad he'd left when he did. If not he might have pulled Bura into his arms and he wasn't sure if he'd let her go. If she'd even push him away. He wasn't certain that they would remain just friends, especially once Bura's divorce got finalized. They obviously desired one another.

He found himself smiling on the border of stupid. Bura liked him. She even said she'd thought of him before Goten's infidelity had been discovered. Cloud nine wasn't just some silly proverb. Nothing could bother him now. Not today, at least. And he was looking forward to making plans with Bura tomorrow. Perhaps even kissing her again.

BURA SAT BACK down on her couch, wondering if that whole interaction with Gohan had just truly happened. But when she peeked her head into the kitchen, the vase full of the flowers he'd brought were still there, their cheerful colors accenting her kitchen perfectly. The house felt quiet now that Gohan had left. Too quiet.

She was quick to admit she'd liked his company. She wished he hadn't left. She wished that he had spoken up when he excused himself to leave. 'I better go. I'll end up misbehaving otherwise.' he'd said. Well, what if she wanted him to misbehave?

Bura knew she wasn't one hundred percent rational since she found out about Goten's infidelity and pregnancy with Marron. And her father had to go stop Trunks from killing Goten while she cried in Pan's arms, wondering if she wouldn't have to bother with the divorce if Trunks wasn't stopped in time.

But she wouldn't hook up with Gohan to get revenge on Goten. She wouldn't want to hurt either men like that. And it wouldn't help her conscience any. But, Gods, she wanted Gohan. She wanted him to stay so badly her heart ached. But she wasn't sure she could trust herself not to touch him. Kiss him, expose every inch of his sculpted frame.

He was attractive. She was attracted to him. And he liked her. He wanted to get to know her better. She felt like a teenaged girl, ready to swoon at such romantic things. As shy as Gohan had been, he'd been bold enough to admit his feelings.

In moments like these, she'd always gone to either Pan or her mother for advice. But...seeing that Pan was Gohan's daughter... Well, it probably wouldn't be wise to tell Pan that she'd kissed her father. That he was planning on taking her out on a kind-of-date. That they could possibly become more than friends.

And...well, for Bulma...her mother was probably having a heart attack as it was with Goten being a cheating liar. And since she had been married to Goten for nearly six years, he might be entitled to a share of Capsule Corporation, whether he cheated or not. Bura hoped he didn't. He didn't deserve it. But, she digressed. She just simply couldn't tell her mother she had a huge crush on Gohan.

Trunks would freak out too. He was already flipping his lid as it was, and because Pan told him everything, Trunks would find out that Gohan had an interest in her. And perhaps her brother would go beat him up too. Who knew with Trunks? Her brother could eerily behave like Vegeta at the most unexpected times.

Bura sighed, then blinked. Vegeta. Her father. Perhaps she could tell him. He'd been surprisingly logical and level headed about everything that had unfolded last night. But then again, the Prince of Saiya-jin was only so patient. Would he care to know that the other Son brother was expressing an interest in her? Would he think her ill-bred and low born to have such feelings for another man while she was still resolving issues with the last one?

There were instances where she knew her father better than anyone else, but there were also moments where she wasn't certain. Vegeta was an unpredictable man. And she'd never expected herself to be in such a situation. She never thought her world would come crumbling down around her. Bura cuddled up on the couch and decided she'd think about all of this tomorrow. There was no point running herself ragged right now.

Though one thought did stay with her, and that was that Gohan would be calling her tomorrow. Well, that and they kissed. She felt warm, and somehow, happy.

BURA HUMMED SOFTLY to herself as she sorted the papers on her desk. She'd been gone one day and her desk had become cluttered with piles of paperwork. She'd handled most of the business that she'd missed from the prior day, and even tended to business of her own. Calling a lawyer, actually.

She'd given him the run down of the situation with Goten, and it seemed like the case would work in her favor. Which was good, because he was a cheat and a liar and it would ease her family's nerves some.

At that very moment Trunks burst into her office and she couldn't help the wry grin that graced her features. "Hello, brother dear." she drawled, continuing with the sorting of her paperwork as he seated himself on the corner of her desk. He gazed at her for a few moments, not speaking, and she arched a brow. "Are you going to say something, or just stare at me all day?" she finally queried, keeping the annoyance in her tone to a controlled minimum.

"Are you okay?" he finally asked, and she blinked, staring at him for a good long minute of her own. She shook her head, looking over a document that was marked urgent.

"Don't be silly, of course I'm okay." she retorted quickly. She and Trunks didn't always have the closest relationship, seeing as how they were nearly fourteen years apart in age, but he was her brother and she loved him. And he obviously cared about her enough to go and beat up her good for nothing husband.

He studied her intently, and after an excruciating pause, said: "I'm sorry for beating the snot out of Goten." It was as if he had read her mind. She laughed.

"Trunks, you are my brother and I love you. If anything ever happened to Dad I know you'd take his place and protect me in a heartbeat." she answered, patting his knee comfortingly.

He relaxed. "So, did you contact-"

"Yes, I contacted a lawyer. Goten was in the wrong in this situation, so its unlikely that he'll get any portion of the Corporation's profits or even a sum from the divorce." She leaned back in her chair, observing her brother.

Trunks grinned. "Good."

Something niggled at the back of Bura's brain. "Are you okay?" she asked suddenly, blurting it before she could even check herself.

Trunks's features crumpled into an expression akin to the pain Bura herself felt. "Getting involved with Goten really put me in a difficult spot, Bura." he said carefully, afflicted as he was.

She felt a chill up her spine. This was something she'd half known about all these years, but she hadn't realized just how much her involvement with Goten had rended Trunks's relationship with him. "I'm sorry." she whispered.

Trunks shifted, uncomfortable. "He was my best friend. I wasn't sure how to handle my little sister marrying my best friend seemingly out of nowhere. Especially since Goten had been head over heels with Marron." Trunks's eyes were unfocused, as if revisiting a distant memory, something elusive he couldn't quite grasp. "I told myself over and over that he wasn't doing it for the Capsule Corp fortune, but as the years passed it seemed that way. And now he's broken your heart for Marron. I can't help but wonder why you two married in the first place."

He stood, shoving his hands into his business slack's pockets. He ambled over to Bura's office window, gazing down upon the bust street below. "I know I may seem somewhat of a hypocrite, what with getting involved with Pan and all, but she and I were, are, and always will be genuinely in love. It has never been about money, status, our families, or anything else. It is just her and I, a bonded pair, mates for life whether anyone agreed with it or not. And now we have a beautiful son together, and hopefully more children will follow."

He turned, gazing back at his sister. "Goten was my best friend, someone I knew as well as I knew myself. But, somehow, once you got involved with him, our friendship began to tear, to dissolve. Our friendship withstood Pan and I openly dating, so I can't help but wonder why you and him getting married caused a rift between us."

"Trunks, I-"

He raised a hand, effectively silencing his younger sister. "Goten and I have fought against countless enemies together. We have even fused into Gotenks. We have survived through so much...and to slowly have that friendship slip through my, his, hell, our fingers...it cuts deeply. So, please tell me why he, in one day, went from being in love with Marron to getting married to you."

Bura locked eyes with her brother, her heart dropping. "Trunks...I..." she looked down at her lap, clasping her hands together. Could she tell her brother the horrible truth? She bit her lip. Trunks, her only sibling, deserved to know. She was responsible, hugely responsible, for his and Goten's friendship collapsing.

"I had seduced Goten, not caring that he was with Marron, and I ended up pregnant. Goten was only trying to do right by me and our family by marrying me. But I miscarried before even announcing the pregnancy to anyone. Goten tried so hard to be good, Trunks. He stayed with me anyway, even though I knew he loved Marron. I was young and selfish and, Kami, I'm sorry Trunks. I'm so sorry." her throat clogged with emotion, her eyes burned. Family was so complicated and heart rending...

Trunks had frozen while listening to Bura's explanation. "...Gods I wish I could throttle you right now." he finally said.

Bura sobbed softly, bringing her hands to her face. "I never realized it'd go this far, that it would get this bad Trunks." she mourned aloud.

"Your stupid teenager ideals...you couldn't let Goten live his own life...Kami, Bura, he was in love with Marron!" he yelled suddenly, his anger no longer restrained.

"He still slept with me anyway, Trunks. How does that reflect on Goten, huh?" she shrilled back, standing to meet her brother face to face.

"Two wrongs don't make a right! Kami, I went over to Chichi-san's house and beat him within an inch of his life, Bura! I felt his bones break beneath my hands! He was my best friend!" his voice was filled with horror, disgust, anger, and unfathomable sorrow.

"Trunks, Goten and I have both been wrong! We have both made our mistakes! Don't put all the blame on me for your relationship with Goten! I will take responsibility for what I have done wrong, but don't punish me for Goten's crimes!" she screamed, shaking with fury.

He glared at her.

"Get out of my office!" she shrilled. He turned and left, slamming the door so hard it nearly fell off of its hinges. It was then that Bura burst into tears.