Okay, I guess I'm quite late with this chapter...And I'm terribly ashamed...and there's probably no excuse for the delay here. But I'll try either way: I was rewriting this one here about...10 times? Completely? I just couldn't get it right at all! So the last chapters had to be rewritten as well! And I'm still in the progress doing so, because my brain just had to jump to another idea I had to write down, too...So basically I'm writing on 5 different plots right now, and I don't even know how to handle that... Well...All I can say is: enjoy this little chapter here? And honestly: For all those who reviewed up till now "THANK YOU SO MUCH!"

You're all to good to me *cries*

Nine – My nightmare

His heart beat calmly inside of his chest, I noticed. I liked the sound of it. Sniffling the last tears away I smiled into his chest as I snuggled myself nearer to his warmth. Feeling him laugh in his baritone soft voice made me look up at him.

"I must look like a zombie with my eyes that red." I pouted playfully.

"You're as good as you are." He kissed my cheek lightly what only made me smile even more. I ignored the nagging sound in my head for the time being. I didn't want to think about her. I didn't want to...I didn't want...this was my moment.

His mouth met mine sweetly and I couldn't help myself but encircle his neck with my arms and play with his hair automatically as I pressed me nearer to him. I loved the taste of his lips, the way his skin brushed mine, how he whispered my name...everything.

"Promise to not leave me." He pleaded between two kisses again. I had already closed my eyes and concentrated on breathing entirely. The only thing I could do was nod as I didn't want him to stop so soon.

Keep on kissing me. Say my name. Engulf me with your heat...

Feeling him bite my lower lip I almost cried as the sensation ran through my body. His hands were flat on my back and showed only small motivation to wander. But I loved the way his fingers felt – every touch like an electrical shock.

And as we were hidden in the dark of the night I really didn't care about any other thing and the nagging sound in my head vanished.

At some point I felt a change in the air. The way the both of us embraced each other was getting desperate. I couldn't get enough of him and his scent, his lips, his gentle touches. Grasping for air I felt him licking my lip before he actually evaded my mouth. I didn't know what to do as I haven't shared those kind of kisses yet. And as it was Goku doing it I felt myself getting more embarrassed any second.

My heart was jumping out of my chest before he cradled my face and stopped the kiss by leaning his forehead against mine. He was just breathing as hard as I was. I looked at his closed eyes as he spoke.

"We should stop." His voice was hoarse.

"Why?"

"Because I can't stop if we keep on going." He almost groaned.

"Do you...want to stop?" I whispered.

"No..." his lips curled up into a nonchalant smile. "But it's best if we do."

"And what if I don't want to stop either?"

"You shouldn't test my patience." He breathed out and still his mouth crashed down on mine again and I sighed as he pushed me against a stony wall, my back meeting the coldness gratefully as I was basically on fire. Feeling his arms with my fingertips I couldn't help myself but wonder: did she touch him like that too? Had they done the same thing?

My concentration on Goku faded as soon as the jealousy stepped in.

And just before I wanted to break the kiss he pulled back slowly. "We really should stop." He brushed away a tear that snuck his way out of my eye. "Vegeta's waiting."

"Chiyo's probably waiting, too..." I said silently and saw his hand curl into a fist.

Stay calm...

"Yeah..."

With that he started walking before me and I followed him, glancing at his back every now and then.

I knew: My moment was over.

Everything felt like a dream. My eyes shifted to Goku and Chiyo as they chatted and smiled. We decided to travel towards the foggy thing just this morning, all together.

Vegeta didn't look happy. He analyzed her with narrowed eyes and didn't say even one word to her. He wasn't that bad even while getting to know me. I didn't know what to think of it. In fact I wasn't talking that much to her myself as she only started to speak of past things. She always remembered something she and Goku had experienced. What was there to interfere? I had no idea what they were talking about. And Goku obviously enjoyed remembering as he had a lot to remember.

And jealousy greeted me again this day.

Scolding myself I looked at Goku only and blushed once my eyes landed on his mouth while he spoke. What had happened three days ago was real, wasn't it? The way he had held me, kissed me, talked to me...it wasn't a dream was it?

And yet it felt just like one as I had the feeling a gap appeared between us. A gap that looked an awful lot like me, I noticed frustrated.

Get over it already; it's your own fault anyway. Have faith in him...

"Why are we travelling towards that thing?" Chiyo suddenly asked the three of us and I blinked at her. Haven't I told her the reason this morning? And the morning before, too? I sighed as I answered.

"This thing is the reason why everything here is stone."

"Oh right, everything's just stone..." she seemed absentmindedly. How in the world couldn't she see this? She was even sleeping on it!

"And what is that thing exactly?"

Goku inclined his neck as he answered her. "We don't know that, Chiyo. We already told you that several times."

She looked at him shocked. "Oh you did? I'm sorry...I wasn't listening then, was I?" she grinned.

"You should start to learn it." Vegeta suddenly spoke lazily.

"Who are you?" she looked at him confused. Vegeta ignored her question perfectly and I wondered what in the hell was wrong all of a sudden.

"That's Vegeta. You already know him." I answered to her matter-of-factly.

"Is everything alright?" Goku suddenly touched her forehead with his hand. "You seem confused."

"I'm sorry." She smiled as she took his hand away from her forehead but didn't let go entirely. I inhaled sharply but kept silent. "Everything's just happening so fast, it's a lot to understand."

"You will get used to it." He assured her as he patted her head affectingly. I stomped past them as I didn't want to see this anymore. It didn't take her long to change the topic either.

"Oh you remember the time when we had tried to picnic on the highest mountain we had?" I heard her say and closed my ears up. It was always the same talk. Do you remember this? Do you remember that? It was slightly getting on my nerves!

"I can't hear it anymore..." someone suddenly growled beside me and I looked at Vegeta who looked annoyed. Well, he basically always looked annoyed but now he looked even more annoyed!

"You will get used to it." I said instinctively and couldn't help myself but laugh out loud as he shot me a funny looking expression. It wasn't my intention to sound like Goku but I obviously did.

"I'm sorry." I tried to control my breath. "But I'm always thinking everything's funny once I feel too much pressure on myself."

"You're weird." He looked away from me and concentrated on the way again. I smiled at his profile. I couldn't help myself, but I liked Vegeta. He wasn't that bad and he always kept me company once I was depressed. He was awkward but a good guy.

We continued to walk in silence; the small chatter behind us didn't concern us. Brushing away the sweat that build on my forehead I sighed as I felt exhaustion taking me over. I remembered how it must have looked like without the stone and I knew that the fog was situated were once the ocean had been. So once we reached the beach we were about to face a desert of stone what once was water. My brain hurt at that thought as a headache overcame me. It had already been four hours and no beach was in sight. My feet hurt but I moved on.

"Can we take a rest?" Chiyo yelled from behind suddenly. "I'm exhausted."

Glancing at Vegeta and Goku who both looked as energetic as ever I waited for their answers. I wouldn't have minded a brake but I knew they wanted to go on. Vegeta made a low sound what reminded me of an angry wolf yet Goku frowned before he looked at me and nodded. "Alright, a brake wouldn't hurt."

Thankfully flopping down where I stood I sighed satisfied. Vegeta snorted what might have been a laugh before he leaned against the nearest stone and lit his cigarette like always. Smoking was a bad habit that probably would always remind me of him from now on.

Feeling the sweat drip from my chin I tried to remember when I had sweated this much the last time! I couldn't help myself but smile warmly as a certain memory crossed my mind.

"Why are you smiling?" Goku jokingly questioned me as he handed me some water. I grinned as I took a sip.

"I just thought about the last time when I sweated this much."

"I see." He grinned back. "And? When was it?"

"The first time I met you. I had to carry you the whole way up to my dojo as you were unconscious. And boy, you were heavy!" I made fun of him. "And then I ran those stairs down to reach Bulma and then I ran them up again to get her to you. It was your fault I was wet from head to toe that evening!"

He laughed out loud before ruffling my head gently. "Those stairs were your doom, weren't they? You always mumbled angrily to yourself when we had to walk back home."

"Well they are responsible for my calves looking like those of a football player." I pouted but smiled warmly soon after. Yes, those stairs weren't my best friends but they always showed me my way back home. Those stairs were in fact part of my home.

"Oi, woman." Vegeta suddenly took our attention as he talked to Chiyo who clutched the spot over her stomach and crumbled over in some sort of pain. Goku leaped to her side immediately and held her in his arms gently. As my worry was greater than my sense of jealousy I followed him and kneeled beside the both of them. An awful lot of sweat was on her forehead and she had trouble breathing.

"Is this due to the exhaustion?" I wanted to know as I tried to touch her forehead to check if she had some kind of fever. I barely touched her as she growled darkly. It almost sounded animalistic.

Yanking my hand back I shivered as I couldn't read the look in her eyes. What was wrong?

"Chiyo, calm down. We want to help." Goku assured her and her gaze on me softened immediately.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered before she huffed as the pain obviously subsided seconds later. It must have been a short seizure. I still couldn't understand what happened.

Her eyes...

I didn't like the look in them at all.

"I'm alright now." She smiled at us again as she received some water from Goku who still checked her condition with his hand on her forehead. She hadn't a problem with his touch.

I couldn't help myself but think she absolutely loved the attention she got from him, didn't she?

"Women are beasts..." Vegeta murmured beside me as he wrinkled his nose in disgust. I inclined my neck.

"Why would you say that?" I may not have liked the way she danced around Goku but there was no helping either. She was having her difficulties, too.

"Look into her eyes and guess why..." Vegeta just spat as he moved forward again. Glancing over my shoulder I saw her kissing Goku's cheek as she returned the bottle to him. I gulped as I remembered how she growled at me just moments ago. Maybe Vegeta was right...

The more we wandered after that the more I felt something pierce through my back. I was too scared to turn around and somehow I had the feeling to know what was going on. And each time Goku and I were talking about something – be it important or not – it worsened. Was Chiyo jealous of me? Could it be she knew what Goku's decision was? But...he never showed any kind of affection towards me.

Even I was wondering about that night!

I kept thinking it was all just a dream! Had he really chosen me over her? Or was it just me thinking he did? Then why did her behavior chance this much the last days? She seemed like one of those shadows we tried to fight herself...

Chiyo quitted talking to me at all once we reached the beach finally.

Nobody except me noticed it so far. But the more we went on the more Vegeta stayed by himself, the more Goku got infatuated with his and Chiyo's past and the more I felt left out. Everybody just behaved rather strange, I couldn't explain it.

Sighing to myself I set down my backpack as I gazed over the desert before us. The fog was wavering as usual over the world although it looked kind of calm all of a sudden. Wind suddenly picked up and blew through my clothes. It made me shiver.

Vegeta was smoking in some silent corner again and Goku and Chiyo still chatted. I wondered when they will finally be finished thinking about the past. Growling I wished they would end their reunion soon. What happened to his promise not to dwell in the past? It had been five days already! I huffed as I decided to take a walk by myself. I was jealous again and I felt pathetic.

"I'm going for a walk." I informed them shortly. Goku tried to make a fuss but was held back by Chiyo who grabbed his arm saying "Let her go, Goku. She needs time for herself, too."

How nice of you to think of me... Argh Chichi! Stop being so sarcastic! That's not like you...

I couldn't help myself but to despite her the more I was in her sight. Was it a sin hating yourself? If so, then I didn't care at all!

Gulping down my anger I started to walk furiously. I shouldn't be angry, I told myself. I shouldn't be angry with her or with Goku. Although I couldn't help it. I was behaving strange. So it was not just her being weird, but I was too. I needed a change of mind. So I sat down on a small bolder and inhaled the fresh air with my lungs after some time. I needed to calm down. Just calm down...although this environment wasn't really calming to look at. And with no sound of waves crushing I couldn't help but not calm down at all!

"Chi?"

I whirled around. "Goku?"

Standing up I reached him with a beating heart. "What is it? Did something happen?"

He smiled at me as he caressed my hair. "No, I just wanted to look for you."

Feeling myself blush I evaded his gaze. "Is...that so?"

Fidgeting with my fingers I continued. "What about the others?"

"Chiyo exhausted herself with talking and Vegeta keeps guard. You should come back before it's getting too late. The sun will set soon."

I nodded but couldn't bring my feet to move as he still brushed my head gently. I...wanted to ask him what was bothering me but I was somehow too afraid to actually ask him.

"Is there something on your mind?" he smiled down at me before he grabbed my hand with his and squeezed it lightly. His palms were cold.

"Ah..well...no...I mean..." I didn't know how to start this conversation.

He laughed before kissing the back of my hand lightly. "It's okay. Just pretend I didn't ask."

And with that he pulled me with him back to our little camp.

Until I stopped.

"Goku?"

He turned around with wonder written on his face. "Yeah?"

"Are you...really in love with me?" I wanted to know and felt utterly embarrassed asking him that out of the blue but I just had to be sure! "Because you know..." I interrupted him before he even could answer me. "...ever since you told me you had chosen me I wondered...does Chiyo know about this? Have you told her yet? Because I really think you didn't and I...don't even know if I want to let her know but...I just wanted to make sure your words weren't a dream! I always think I just imagined you saying that and it scares me not to know if I can believe your words or not and..."

"You're jealous?"

I blinked a few times before I felt the heat get to my head. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to sound childish or spoiled!" I waved my hands in front of him. "I know you two have experienced enough together! I just didn't want to get in your way and so...so..." I looked down to the ground. Great. First I was angry and now I was backing her up again? Goodness...what kind of human was I?

His soft kiss brought my head back up. "Why is it that I'm always making you feel insecure?" he smiled warmly at me before I leaned my cheek into his palm.

"I'm sorry..." I whispered.

Somehow I feel like a trained puppy...where has my temper gone to?

I behaved this weak ever since Chiyo had appeared. It felt like my jealousy was swallowing me up...and turned me into something I didn't want to be. Or more like the situation we were in changed me constantly. I hoped I was more like my old self once we were done with this matter.

I sighed as I leaned my head against his chest. "I behave strange, don't I?" I questioned Goku just as I questioned myself.

"You behave like yourself." He assured me but I wasn't content with his answer, so I just hummed a yes without any motivation at all.

"Everything you feel and the way you are has been a part of you. It grows as you grow. So you don't behave strange at all. You're just getting to see a new side of you. And I'm happy I get to see it too." He tried to explain to me. I couldn't help myself but giggle as he suddenly sounded too wise for his own good. Was it because he had been alive since over 300 years that he could speak like that? I hadn't imagine he could talk like that at all!

"What's so funny? Are you making fun of me?"

"I'm sorry." I grinned into his face and earned a playful pinch in my cheek as an answer. "You little..." he warned me before he laughed out loud and took me into his arms, lifting me up suddenly. I couldn't help myself but laugh out as well.

"Am I interrupting something?" the both of us heard a voice too friendly to not hear the light venom. Goku set me down immediately and turned around to face Chiyo who obviously wasn't as tired anymore as the both of us had thought. I looked to the ground, trying to ignore the stare I felt on me. Before even Goku or I could say anything, Chiyo chuckled. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to scare you. I was just thinking of talking to Chichi. May I?"

With me? Why for god's sake did she suddenly want to talk with me? I blinked a few times before I nodded slowly. "Sure."

Taking my arm she pulled me with her while leaning over to Goku. "Don't panic, girl's talk. We will be back soon. Promise." And with a final smile gracing her lips she told him to leave us alone. Trying to read his gaze I searched for his face but the only thing I saw was Chiyo's smile facing me. I had somehow a suspicious feeling in my stomach.

"So, what was it you wanted to say?" I questioned as her staring got really uncomfortable.

"Oh well, you know..." she started as she brushed some hair behind her ear gently. "...this is kind of difficult to tell you."

My temper rumbled in my chest. "Just spit it out." I nearly hissed but held myself back. I shouldn't be bitchy here. So I silently waited for her to continue while my chest cramped painfully. I held my breath but ignored it as I looked at her and waited.

"Before you reacted to my call and found me, I had found something – or rather someone in my world." She started, her smile never leaving her face. I wondered if I could look like that too. If so, I had to stop looking like that.

"It pleaded for me to stop it."

"Stop what?" the question left my mouth before I could think about it. Her grin even widened.

"You haven't noticed?" she inclined her neck cutely. "I had thought so, but I somehow whished for you to notice it yourself."

"Notice what?" I pressed out and fought back what might have been a growl. I had no idea what she was talking about.

She giggled as she took two steps away from me. "I know I took it quite far, haven't I? But I wanted to do something for you before it's over. But I guess we have to end it now. It was fun, but it's enough now."

"End what? For god's sake! I don't know what you're talking about!" Seeing her just smile I huffed. "You know what? Forget it. I will overlook this stupid conversation and keep silent to the others but don't bother me again!" I was fuming. This girl was...so not like me! But I had figured that out long ago! It was just annoying to find it out over and over again.

"You won't find anyone over there." She stated as I finished ten steps. I frowned. Why wouldn't I find anyone? That's the direction I came from, so Goku and Vegeta had to be there. I sighed as I turned around.

"Are you confused again?" I tried with an apologetic smile but felt my face grimacing?

"The one, who's confused, is you." She said pointing her finger at me. "I told you, we had to end it now. So we will end it. I'm sorry, but that's as far as you can get. I hope you were able to enjoy yourself."

"Enjoy myself?" I whispered as I didn't get her at all. My stomach ache worsened at her words. And I felt fear crawling up my spine. "Wait a minute what do you mean!"

"It's time for you to wake up." She announced calmly.

"But I am awake!" I shouted at her before a sudden wind picked up and made my head turn towards the grey big cloud. What was the meaning of this?

"You're not. Now wake up." Her voice echoed in my ear and I suddenly had a very strange feeling in my heart. Wake up? Why did she tell me to wake up? I wasn't even sleeping!

The dirt on the ground lifted itself up as it encircled my body in a smooth movement. My fear turned into pure panic and I couldn't breathe anymore.

"Wake up!"

"I am awake!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "Did you hear me?! I am freaking awake!"

I felt tears streaming down my face and a cold shudder on my back. My feet were unable to move so I was just standing there and could do nothing!

"Wake up!"

"Just leave me alone, I am awake!" I cried as I didn't know what to do anymore. Why was nobody coming? Where was Goku? What about Vegeta? Didn't they see what was going on here? The sand from the ground swallowed me up and I felt it evade my mouth and nose as I screamed at the top of my lungs to stop this. Coughing up I screamed in shock.

"Wake up!"

"I AM AWAKE!" I yelled afraid as a sudden force blew me off of the ground and pulled me away. Stretching out my hand I tried to grasp something, anything. But I didn't. There was nothing. Nothing for me to hold on to. I was right in the middle of something like a hurricane!

I looked down to the ground and up into the sky. The cloud was hovering above me. Closing my eyes I prayed, chanted for this to stop. I questioned myself what I had done wrong. And I wanted to fix this. Just to fix this...I was totally captured by praying that I hadn't even noticed the sudden silence around me. It just felt like a bad dream and I was about to be swallowed by it mercilessly. Then I screamed.

And the world around me turned pitch black.

When I opened my eyes again after some time I saw the surrounding of my old home, thinking my mind was playing yet another trick on me. Holding in a sob I turned around only to look at myself. I felt my heart stop beating while my body stepped towards me slowly.

"Just what in the world are you…" I heard myself question me and I automatically lifted my hand towards the mirror I knew just too well once I had spotted it. Only to not find my hand but a foggy something instead. I stilled.

This couldn't be true, could it? Looking with wide eyes to myself as I questioned my current self what I should do now I didn't know what to think anymore.

This had to be a bad dream because there was no way this was happening, right?

It was absolutely impossible!

"That was you, wasn't it?" I heard my angry voice shout at me as I still held up my foggy hand. I wanted to cry as I couldn't answer. This situation felt just too weird. I didn't get it anymore!

I remembered that day that I currently relived yet quite the wrong way! The realization was too much for me to understand and I could do nothing as look at my body who talked to Goku right now. I whimpered while watching this scene before me.

And one question came down my brain like a hammer.

Had I been Little One all along then?