Hi everyone! I apologize for taking so long with this chapter. I'm such a slacker. well, it's a little over 4,000 words so I hope this will satisfy you until next time.
Ciao,
Echo
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LAST TIME
Darien watched the purple-haired lady suspiciously. "Boys! Come in here and watch Serena please. We're going to get lunch really quick."
"Alright! Coming mom/Bulma."
"They sounded like little boys!"
"Well, they might look young, but don't let their age or size fool you. They're among the six strongest fighters on this planet."
The doors slid open again to reveal two small boys with enormous muscles for people their size.
"Who's that?" asked the boy with black spiky hair when he entered.
"It's Aunt Serena's friend, Darien. He was the one that your dad got all upset about."
"Oh, that's right." Darien decided that he would ask about that later. He separated his hand from Serena's, immediately feeling the loss of warmth and security. He got up and left with Ami and Bulma.
"Don't worry, they'll be safe." Bulma walked into the kitchen with the two following behind her. "It's you I'm worried about."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
CHAPTER 29
"Hello Serena, it's been quite sometime since I've seen you last."
"Hi mother!" Serena ran to her look-alikes arms and squeezed. "So what news do you have this time?" Worry flashed in the queen's eyes, worry that did not go unnoticed by her daughter. "What is it? Why are you worried."
"Come, let's sit down." Queen Serenity conjured up two chairs of white and they both sat down. She took her daughter's small hands in her own and rubbed them with her fingers. "What I have to tell you comes from the mouth of Cronus himself." Serena listened quietly. "He has just told me that an enemy will reach earth and come for you."
"Okay."
"Now there's no need to...okay?" That was the last reaction she expected to see come from her daughter.
"What do I have to do?" Serena figured that she might as well be brave. After all, she had her brother and her lover there to help her, along with her other friends.
"I am not sure. All that Cronus said was that you will have to fight this evil by yourself, with no aid from others." She waited patiently for her daughter to process the information.
"Wait, did you just say by myself?"
The white queen nodded her head. "Don't worry, Serena. Cronus has assured me that you will be victor of this fight. It's just a warm up of things to come. He says its part of your training."
"Oh. Alright." Serena sighed to herself as she accepted her fate once more.
"Daughter, you make me so proud. The gods speak so highly of you. They predict you will shine as great as Selene did, if not more." She hugged her daughter and pulled away to look at her. "It is time for you to wake, love. There are some very anxious people waiting to see you." Serenity disappeared from Serena's mind and she slowly woke to the now all-too-familiar C4.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
IN THE KITCHEN
"So who's this guy that I should be keeping an eye out for?" Darien bit into his sandwich, waiting for a response.
"His name is Goku. The little boy with the black hair was his youngest son. You see...how do I put this? Alright, we're going to have to start at the beginning. Have you ever heard of Saiyans?"
AN HOUR LATER
"...and that's the shortened version of our life. Do you have any questions?" Bulma looked over the tall, handsome man that had just been "reborn" as they referred to it.
"Can you tell me where the nearest hotel is?"
"Oh, dear boy." Bulma laughed at him. "Come, I'll show you to your room." Bulma and her caravan walked up the stairs and down the hall to the guest rooms, where Lita and Ami were staying. Opening a large door, she stepped inside and waved for everyone to follow. Everyone except Bulma was shocked at the design of the room.
"This is amazing!" Ami commented. The room was decorated in dark blues and greens, the colors of earth of which he was prince of.
"How did you..."
Bulma efficiently cut him off. "Serena had designed seven rooms before you all came, as if she knew you all were coming back."
"Only seven? There are 8 of us all-together."
"That's right." Ami added.
Lita smirked. "I think that girl's hiding something from us." She looked at Ami and both girls looked at Darien with large smiles.
"Why are you smiling like that?" He nervously took a step backwards.
"No reason." Lita started giggling. She turned around and headed back downstairs. "I have some gardening to do. Arem and I are going to experiment today!" Ami shivered at the sight of Lita's smile.
"Have fun, Lita." Bulma waved and turned her attention back to her new guest. "All you really need to know is Sam."
"Who's Sam."
It was Bulma's turn to smile. "Only the most perfect man ever created. Sam..."
A mechanical voice entered the room. "Yes your highness?"
Darien's eyebrow rose. "Your highness?"
Ami decided that she would take her turn talking. "Yes. You see, Bulma is married to Serena's brother, who is the last Prince of the Saiyans, well...they have a son, but the last remaining prince from Vegeta-sei itself."
"Okay." Looking around again at where he was going to be living, he was shocked. "Serena really did a great job with my room."
"She did. If you ever need anything, just ask Sam. Even if it's to find out how to get out of this house or anywhere, just ask Sam."
"Okay thanks. Why do you say that he or it is the most perfect man ever created?"
"That's simple. I created him."
"Oh."
Bulma led them back downstairs so she could give Darien a tour of the grounds. Instead of going straight for the front door, they made a detour.
"We're going to check on Serena and the boys before we head out." When they neared the wing of C4, Darien stopped suddenly.
"What's the matter?"
"Can you feel that?" He looked at both women to see if they could feel the immense power source nearby.
"No, but hold on." Bulma closed her eyes and scanned the house for whatever it was that Darien was sensing. Pinpointing the energy to C4, she found out who it was. "Don't worry, it's just my son and Goten."
"How can you be sure?" Darien's body was tensing with worry. It wasn't possible for two boys to be that strong was it? "Yes I'm sure. I learned how to read ki signatures and you should too. It might just save you a lot of unwanted confrontation in the future. We'll have one of the boys teach you. They seemed to have taught Serena rather well." Bulma looked at the young man before her, late 20's perhaps, and saw that he was still apprehensive. "Watch this. Sam..." Sam's voice came over the intercom.
"How may I help you, your highness?"
"Sam, can you list off the people that are in the house right now please?"
"Six people detected. Prince Trunks, the Prince's bodyguard-Goten, Princess Serena, who are all in C4. Queen Bulma, Princess Ami of Mercury and Darien, who I need more information about."
"Thank you, Sam. That's all." When the small group got to C4, they saw the reason Darien could feel the boys' ki. They were powered up and holding on to the body lying on the table.
"What are they doing to her?" Darien rushed to the bed as well to try to pull the boys away from her. He latched on to one of them, he knew that much. With them in their Super Saiyan forms, he didn't know which was which. He pulled with all his might, but he was still a little weak from the energy he had already spent on Serena.
"Let her go!" He tried harder and harder but still the boy wouldn't budge.
"Darien! Let them go!"
After a few more tugs, he let go and stepped back a little. Bulma looked on curiously as he reached to his side, looking like he was reaching for something. Ami was watching as well but didn't catch on quick enough to realize what he was doing.
"Darien! No!"
In a split second, something was buzzing through the air, heading towards the boys. Faster than anyone in that room could see, two hands popped up in the air in front of their chests. Both women were anxious to see what it was they had caught.
Two steel-tipped roses were being held by Trunks and Goten while their other hands remained on Serena's body. Darien aka Tuxedo Mask was in utter shock when he realized that the boys weren't holding their wounds but were instead holding his weapons.
The boys slowly lifted their heads to look at Darien. Trunks lifted the flower he held to his nose and sniffed it, as if to mock the man who threw it.
"Tenshi will love it. She says thank you." His slow and soft voice made the dark-haired man shudder at the thought of what they could possible do to him. He watched as Goten and Trunks laid the flowers on Serena's abdomen. Goten was the next to speak, but it was too soft for anyone to hear.
"What did you say?" Darien didn't know what to think or how to think for that matter.
"I said, luce di paralisi"
"What does that mean?" Darien's brow furrowed.
"It means catch." Goten tossed a little glowing orb, which Darien caught all to easily. "It's a present from Tenshi."
He watched carefully as the ball dissolved into his hand. The light began to travel up his arm and he watched curiously with his limbs tingling. In a few seconds, Darien was fully paralyzed.
Goten lifted his eyes to Bulma's. "Tenshi is about to wake up now. She needs the IV's. She's very hungry and very tired."
"Got it."
Darien could do nothing but stand and watch what was going on in the room around him. He couldn't move or talk, which in Goten's opinion he had been doing too much of. He was a stranger. He didn't know how things worked around Capsule Corp.
"What are we going to do with him?" Ami couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her friend. After all, he was only trying to protect her.
"Just leave him there I suppose." Bulma's hand went to her chin. "Actually, I think we better move him. Goku knows that Serena's waking up and I don't think he'd like to see Darien standing so close. Maybe we should move him to the other side of the room."
"That's a good plan. I'll take care of it." Ami pushed her long blue braid behind her and held her hand over the floor in front of Darien. As she moved her hand, a path of ice was constructed, leading to the other end of the room. She walked behind the stiff man and pushed him across the ice. The slippery surface had no effect on her the way it did Darien. She was lucky for that. As she walked over it, it melted and left no sign of its presence behind. Bulma was amazed once again at the powers of her little genius friend.
Just as Ami made it to the other side of the bed and room, the door coolly slid open, revealing two large males, one slightly smaller than the other. Slightly.
Darien watched as they neared the bed where Serena lay. Jealousy coursed through him as he thought of how all these males were able to touch her and smell her, yet he, her best friend all her life had been paralyzed and had to watch from the side.
"Who's that?" A strong feeling to protect washed over the man with spiky black hair as he sized up the smaller man standing by the other medical beds.
"He's mine and Serena's friend. Who are you?" To say Ami was strongly attracted to this man was a great understatement. She couldn't even fathom how it was possible. She had never seen him before but he was radiating something that she couldn't fight.
And that body.
Yeah, he was radiating muscle.
Ami's mind quickly took off and thought about how she would like to freeze him and then slowly thaw him.
All of him.
With her mouth.
Her face turned a bright pink. How embarrassing! She had never met this man before and here she was thinking of...
Her face turned a deep shade of red. She mentally sent a cool mist through her body to cool her down and luckily for her it had worked. Onyx eyes had made contact with hers and suddenly the cool mist turned into a humid fog. The man could smell her scent changing along with the color of her face. Ami's body heat was quickly rising and he could feel it. Every. Single. Degree.
He licked his lips as he neared the woman in blue. With fire burning in his eyes and his body, he answered very smoothly, purring like a panther.
"My name is Gohan. I live here. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"
Ami's breathing grew faster with each breath. Her heart was beating erratically, something else she was not used to. This wasn't normal!
He wasn't normal.
But then neither was she.
Her mind scanned the alphabet, looking for familiar letters. 1, 13, 8. 'Match the numbers with their corresponding letters. 1=A, 13=M...What's the last one!?"
"Ami."
"I'm sorry?"
"My name is Ami."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mirai stood by his mother after greeting her with a kiss on her cheek. Bulma watched with interest as Ami and Gohan had their first little spat. 'It looks like Ami has found someone. They look so cute together.'
The lavender-haired man saw the look in his mother's eye but decided to say nothing about it.
"When did you get back?"
"We got back just a few minutes ago. I asked Sam where you guys were and he said you were having a party in here, so we came. We were just kind of disappointed that you didn't invite us." Bulma saw the smirk that her son had inherited from his father, making her smile.
"Well, I'm glad you guys came back to me safe and sound. I was getting worried about you." Bulma watched the two scenes before her. The younger version of her son and his friend at the table with Serena and the older Trunks and Gohan here with her too. Tears came to her eyes. While she watched Gohan talking to Ami, she noticed something different about him. Quickly, her eyes moved to her son and looked him up and down. "How long have you guys been gone?"
Trunks shifted meaning that it had been a long time. "Well, when we first started the rebuilding, time seemed to go really slow. After the first few years, we stopped counting. It wasn't until we got back in the time machine that we knew what the date was. It's nearly the third mark in my time. Most of the major cities have been rebuilt and we've found some survivors. Thanks to Serena and Lita, we have green again, food to eat, water to drink...we're living."
"I'm so proud of you guys! I can't wait to see what you've done with the place!" She squeezed her son's hand and asked him the question he hadn't answered. "How long have you been gone?"
"11 years."
Bulma couldn't have guessed that long. Her son was already 29! He and Gohan were *almost* as old as she was. "You're telling me that you've been gone for 11 years?"
"Yes."
Bulma didn't say anything. Mirai expected her to start crying or something and going off about how they should have come home sooner but the only reaction he saw on her face was a smile.
"Mom, are you alright? Do you need to sit down or something?"
Bulma's thoughts disappeared. "Huh? Oh, no. Everything's just perfect."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Vegeta was training in the gravity room when Bulma found him 20 minutes later. She left the hospital wing when the boys told her she would be out for just another hour. She decided that she would take her husband some lunch while during the wait.
Bulma walked to the gravity machine. She loved the little things that her and her sister-in-law added to it, making it so she could control the things it did as well. After knocking on the door, Bulma shifted the large tray of food on her hip to a more comfortable position.
The door slid open, startling her. She was greeted by a very large, very sweaty...very sexy Vegeta. He was panting heavily from the workout he had just undergone. Vegeta never really liked the restriction that clothes brought so he was wearing only his black spandex shorts. Bulma noticed that too.
Her breath quickened as pictures swam through her head. He was staring at her, straight into her and she felt it. She always felt everything when he was around. He made sure of it.
Bulma tried her best to form words. "Lunch."
Well, at least she got one.
"I can see that onna." In one swoop, the tray landed on the floor and Bulma was in Vegeta's arms being pressed up against his hard body. "But I'm not hungry for food."
She felt heat rise in her cheeks at his statement. Bulma knew what was coming and was very willing until something killed whatever heated thoughts were in her head.
"You stink! Don't you even think about touching me until you're clean!"
Vegeta growled and pulled his mate closer and tighter. His caught her lips and for a moment she couldn't remember why she didn't want him to touch her. It wasn't until they let up for air that she smelled him again.
"I said don't touch me! I hate it when I get YOUR sweat all over MY body."
"Onna, you were sweating all over me last night and you didn't hear me whining about it!"
He had her there. It was a hot night last night.
"But it wasn't because you were working out...well, we both were, but...what am I talking about! You're not eating *eating* anything until you clean up. I can't believe you got me dirty too! Serena's waking up in an hour and..."
"Well, we better get going then. I'm hungry and I only have an hour to eat!" Without letting her go, he teleported to their bedroom.
"You can teleport? I didn't know you knew how!"
"I just remembered. It was one of the gifts my stepmother gave me."
"Serena's mom?"
"Yeah. Enough talking. It's time to get you clean cause you're all sweaty." Vegeta smirked making whatever smart comment Bulma had totally disappeared as they stepped into the shower.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
45 minutes later...
Bulma emerged into the hospital wing where the boys still were. When she had inquired about Mirai and Gohan's whereabouts, the boys just shrugged their shoulders. She noted that Darien was still frozen and standing off to the side. Feeling sorry for him, she walked over and started talking.
"You do understand why we had to do this to you right?"
His eyes hardened and she could see it. She had seen it enough times from other people.
"If you promise you won't try to hurt anyone else, I can have the boys take you out. If not, you get to stay there until Serena decides what she wants done with you." Bulma watched carefully for signs of him letting up. Slowly but surely, his eyes softened, telling her he was ready.
"All right boys, let him out."
Trunks was smiling. "We can't mom. That ball is supposed to hold until Aunt Serena tells us to let him go."
"Are you sure about that?"
Goten nodded his head. "She said she didn't want any problems when dad comes. Darien, she says she's sorry and that my dad gets really jealous of other guys around her. She's doing it for your own safety." The little boy went silent for a few seconds. "She says you can talk though, here." Goten shot a white beam directly at Darien's mouth. He closed his eyes, waiting for the pain but none came.
"Huh?"
"There, all better now. Just make sure you don't say anything mean when Goku comes." Bulma patted his cheeks before making her way back to Serena. She checked the stats on the computer screen and saw that everything was fine.
"Alright dear, its time to wake up. You've been asleep for a long time." The rhythmic beeping sped up as Serena's heart rate did. Darien could feel a powerful force coming towards the building.
"What is that?"
"That's a heart monitor. The beeping is speeding up, meaning she's getting excited."
"No, I know what that is. What's that power?"
Serena screamed from her position on the table. "GOOOKKKUUUUU!"
A man suddenly appeared out of nowhere and walked next to the woman on the bed. He was wearing a midnight blue gi with white symbols on the chest and back. Black, untamed hair reminded Darien of the little boy by Serena's head. The lights flickered for a bit until he reached for Serena's hand.
"I'm here. Wake up, Tenshi."
Serena felt a warm wave of baritone wash over her. She knew he had come. Now was the hard part...opening her eyes.
A little voice sent out a command. "Sam, dim the lights in here."
The computer obeyed Trunks and the room grew darker. A white light could clearly be seen in the darkness of the room and seemed to grow brighter. Silver hair began to wave around in the streams of energy that surrounded the couple.
"Wake up my little one. You've been asleep without me for far too long." Goku lifted her body off the table after Bulma quickly removed the tubes and other things that were attached to her. He kissed her forehead and pulled her body closer. Trunks and Goten stood off to the side as they watched Goku try to wake Serena.
Darien could feel as well as see the power snapping off of his body in thick, dark red waves. He decided that he should do exactly as Bulma instructed. He kept silent.
Goku looked down at the sleeping angel in his arms. He had missed her touch, her smile, the way she curled into him when they slept. He was right. She had been sleeping without him for far too long. He whispered something into her ear before placing his lips on hers. At first there was no response, but slowly, he felt her move in his arms, responding to his kiss.
'Mmm,' Serena thought. 'What a nice dream.'
"I'm hurt. I would have thought I was better than some fantasy."
Serena giggled. "You're too cute."
"And I'm all yours."
She opened her stunning blue eyes and Goku was paralyzed by their beauty. Small tints of silver flashed at him when she laughed, bringing to his face a smile of his own.
"Hi."
"Hi." Goku's husky voice sent shivers up her spine. "I missed you."
Serena placed her hand on his cheek. "I know and I'm sorry."
He kissed the inside of her wrist and a trail along her arm up to her neck. "Hey, that tickles!" She made her wings appear and wrap around her so he couldn't see her.
"Hey, that's not fair."
She jumped out of his arms and landed on the table next to the boys. One of them pulled at her shirt.
"Tenshi, someone's standing over there waiting for you."
She turned to see who it was Goten was talking about.
"Darien!"
Ciao,
Echo
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LAST TIME
Darien watched the purple-haired lady suspiciously. "Boys! Come in here and watch Serena please. We're going to get lunch really quick."
"Alright! Coming mom/Bulma."
"They sounded like little boys!"
"Well, they might look young, but don't let their age or size fool you. They're among the six strongest fighters on this planet."
The doors slid open again to reveal two small boys with enormous muscles for people their size.
"Who's that?" asked the boy with black spiky hair when he entered.
"It's Aunt Serena's friend, Darien. He was the one that your dad got all upset about."
"Oh, that's right." Darien decided that he would ask about that later. He separated his hand from Serena's, immediately feeling the loss of warmth and security. He got up and left with Ami and Bulma.
"Don't worry, they'll be safe." Bulma walked into the kitchen with the two following behind her. "It's you I'm worried about."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
CHAPTER 29
"Hello Serena, it's been quite sometime since I've seen you last."
"Hi mother!" Serena ran to her look-alikes arms and squeezed. "So what news do you have this time?" Worry flashed in the queen's eyes, worry that did not go unnoticed by her daughter. "What is it? Why are you worried."
"Come, let's sit down." Queen Serenity conjured up two chairs of white and they both sat down. She took her daughter's small hands in her own and rubbed them with her fingers. "What I have to tell you comes from the mouth of Cronus himself." Serena listened quietly. "He has just told me that an enemy will reach earth and come for you."
"Okay."
"Now there's no need to...okay?" That was the last reaction she expected to see come from her daughter.
"What do I have to do?" Serena figured that she might as well be brave. After all, she had her brother and her lover there to help her, along with her other friends.
"I am not sure. All that Cronus said was that you will have to fight this evil by yourself, with no aid from others." She waited patiently for her daughter to process the information.
"Wait, did you just say by myself?"
The white queen nodded her head. "Don't worry, Serena. Cronus has assured me that you will be victor of this fight. It's just a warm up of things to come. He says its part of your training."
"Oh. Alright." Serena sighed to herself as she accepted her fate once more.
"Daughter, you make me so proud. The gods speak so highly of you. They predict you will shine as great as Selene did, if not more." She hugged her daughter and pulled away to look at her. "It is time for you to wake, love. There are some very anxious people waiting to see you." Serenity disappeared from Serena's mind and she slowly woke to the now all-too-familiar C4.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
IN THE KITCHEN
"So who's this guy that I should be keeping an eye out for?" Darien bit into his sandwich, waiting for a response.
"His name is Goku. The little boy with the black hair was his youngest son. You see...how do I put this? Alright, we're going to have to start at the beginning. Have you ever heard of Saiyans?"
AN HOUR LATER
"...and that's the shortened version of our life. Do you have any questions?" Bulma looked over the tall, handsome man that had just been "reborn" as they referred to it.
"Can you tell me where the nearest hotel is?"
"Oh, dear boy." Bulma laughed at him. "Come, I'll show you to your room." Bulma and her caravan walked up the stairs and down the hall to the guest rooms, where Lita and Ami were staying. Opening a large door, she stepped inside and waved for everyone to follow. Everyone except Bulma was shocked at the design of the room.
"This is amazing!" Ami commented. The room was decorated in dark blues and greens, the colors of earth of which he was prince of.
"How did you..."
Bulma efficiently cut him off. "Serena had designed seven rooms before you all came, as if she knew you all were coming back."
"Only seven? There are 8 of us all-together."
"That's right." Ami added.
Lita smirked. "I think that girl's hiding something from us." She looked at Ami and both girls looked at Darien with large smiles.
"Why are you smiling like that?" He nervously took a step backwards.
"No reason." Lita started giggling. She turned around and headed back downstairs. "I have some gardening to do. Arem and I are going to experiment today!" Ami shivered at the sight of Lita's smile.
"Have fun, Lita." Bulma waved and turned her attention back to her new guest. "All you really need to know is Sam."
"Who's Sam."
It was Bulma's turn to smile. "Only the most perfect man ever created. Sam..."
A mechanical voice entered the room. "Yes your highness?"
Darien's eyebrow rose. "Your highness?"
Ami decided that she would take her turn talking. "Yes. You see, Bulma is married to Serena's brother, who is the last Prince of the Saiyans, well...they have a son, but the last remaining prince from Vegeta-sei itself."
"Okay." Looking around again at where he was going to be living, he was shocked. "Serena really did a great job with my room."
"She did. If you ever need anything, just ask Sam. Even if it's to find out how to get out of this house or anywhere, just ask Sam."
"Okay thanks. Why do you say that he or it is the most perfect man ever created?"
"That's simple. I created him."
"Oh."
Bulma led them back downstairs so she could give Darien a tour of the grounds. Instead of going straight for the front door, they made a detour.
"We're going to check on Serena and the boys before we head out." When they neared the wing of C4, Darien stopped suddenly.
"What's the matter?"
"Can you feel that?" He looked at both women to see if they could feel the immense power source nearby.
"No, but hold on." Bulma closed her eyes and scanned the house for whatever it was that Darien was sensing. Pinpointing the energy to C4, she found out who it was. "Don't worry, it's just my son and Goten."
"How can you be sure?" Darien's body was tensing with worry. It wasn't possible for two boys to be that strong was it? "Yes I'm sure. I learned how to read ki signatures and you should too. It might just save you a lot of unwanted confrontation in the future. We'll have one of the boys teach you. They seemed to have taught Serena rather well." Bulma looked at the young man before her, late 20's perhaps, and saw that he was still apprehensive. "Watch this. Sam..." Sam's voice came over the intercom.
"How may I help you, your highness?"
"Sam, can you list off the people that are in the house right now please?"
"Six people detected. Prince Trunks, the Prince's bodyguard-Goten, Princess Serena, who are all in C4. Queen Bulma, Princess Ami of Mercury and Darien, who I need more information about."
"Thank you, Sam. That's all." When the small group got to C4, they saw the reason Darien could feel the boys' ki. They were powered up and holding on to the body lying on the table.
"What are they doing to her?" Darien rushed to the bed as well to try to pull the boys away from her. He latched on to one of them, he knew that much. With them in their Super Saiyan forms, he didn't know which was which. He pulled with all his might, but he was still a little weak from the energy he had already spent on Serena.
"Let her go!" He tried harder and harder but still the boy wouldn't budge.
"Darien! Let them go!"
After a few more tugs, he let go and stepped back a little. Bulma looked on curiously as he reached to his side, looking like he was reaching for something. Ami was watching as well but didn't catch on quick enough to realize what he was doing.
"Darien! No!"
In a split second, something was buzzing through the air, heading towards the boys. Faster than anyone in that room could see, two hands popped up in the air in front of their chests. Both women were anxious to see what it was they had caught.
Two steel-tipped roses were being held by Trunks and Goten while their other hands remained on Serena's body. Darien aka Tuxedo Mask was in utter shock when he realized that the boys weren't holding their wounds but were instead holding his weapons.
The boys slowly lifted their heads to look at Darien. Trunks lifted the flower he held to his nose and sniffed it, as if to mock the man who threw it.
"Tenshi will love it. She says thank you." His slow and soft voice made the dark-haired man shudder at the thought of what they could possible do to him. He watched as Goten and Trunks laid the flowers on Serena's abdomen. Goten was the next to speak, but it was too soft for anyone to hear.
"What did you say?" Darien didn't know what to think or how to think for that matter.
"I said, luce di paralisi"
"What does that mean?" Darien's brow furrowed.
"It means catch." Goten tossed a little glowing orb, which Darien caught all to easily. "It's a present from Tenshi."
He watched carefully as the ball dissolved into his hand. The light began to travel up his arm and he watched curiously with his limbs tingling. In a few seconds, Darien was fully paralyzed.
Goten lifted his eyes to Bulma's. "Tenshi is about to wake up now. She needs the IV's. She's very hungry and very tired."
"Got it."
Darien could do nothing but stand and watch what was going on in the room around him. He couldn't move or talk, which in Goten's opinion he had been doing too much of. He was a stranger. He didn't know how things worked around Capsule Corp.
"What are we going to do with him?" Ami couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her friend. After all, he was only trying to protect her.
"Just leave him there I suppose." Bulma's hand went to her chin. "Actually, I think we better move him. Goku knows that Serena's waking up and I don't think he'd like to see Darien standing so close. Maybe we should move him to the other side of the room."
"That's a good plan. I'll take care of it." Ami pushed her long blue braid behind her and held her hand over the floor in front of Darien. As she moved her hand, a path of ice was constructed, leading to the other end of the room. She walked behind the stiff man and pushed him across the ice. The slippery surface had no effect on her the way it did Darien. She was lucky for that. As she walked over it, it melted and left no sign of its presence behind. Bulma was amazed once again at the powers of her little genius friend.
Just as Ami made it to the other side of the bed and room, the door coolly slid open, revealing two large males, one slightly smaller than the other. Slightly.
Darien watched as they neared the bed where Serena lay. Jealousy coursed through him as he thought of how all these males were able to touch her and smell her, yet he, her best friend all her life had been paralyzed and had to watch from the side.
"Who's that?" A strong feeling to protect washed over the man with spiky black hair as he sized up the smaller man standing by the other medical beds.
"He's mine and Serena's friend. Who are you?" To say Ami was strongly attracted to this man was a great understatement. She couldn't even fathom how it was possible. She had never seen him before but he was radiating something that she couldn't fight.
And that body.
Yeah, he was radiating muscle.
Ami's mind quickly took off and thought about how she would like to freeze him and then slowly thaw him.
All of him.
With her mouth.
Her face turned a bright pink. How embarrassing! She had never met this man before and here she was thinking of...
Her face turned a deep shade of red. She mentally sent a cool mist through her body to cool her down and luckily for her it had worked. Onyx eyes had made contact with hers and suddenly the cool mist turned into a humid fog. The man could smell her scent changing along with the color of her face. Ami's body heat was quickly rising and he could feel it. Every. Single. Degree.
He licked his lips as he neared the woman in blue. With fire burning in his eyes and his body, he answered very smoothly, purring like a panther.
"My name is Gohan. I live here. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"
Ami's breathing grew faster with each breath. Her heart was beating erratically, something else she was not used to. This wasn't normal!
He wasn't normal.
But then neither was she.
Her mind scanned the alphabet, looking for familiar letters. 1, 13, 8. 'Match the numbers with their corresponding letters. 1=A, 13=M...What's the last one!?"
"Ami."
"I'm sorry?"
"My name is Ami."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mirai stood by his mother after greeting her with a kiss on her cheek. Bulma watched with interest as Ami and Gohan had their first little spat. 'It looks like Ami has found someone. They look so cute together.'
The lavender-haired man saw the look in his mother's eye but decided to say nothing about it.
"When did you get back?"
"We got back just a few minutes ago. I asked Sam where you guys were and he said you were having a party in here, so we came. We were just kind of disappointed that you didn't invite us." Bulma saw the smirk that her son had inherited from his father, making her smile.
"Well, I'm glad you guys came back to me safe and sound. I was getting worried about you." Bulma watched the two scenes before her. The younger version of her son and his friend at the table with Serena and the older Trunks and Gohan here with her too. Tears came to her eyes. While she watched Gohan talking to Ami, she noticed something different about him. Quickly, her eyes moved to her son and looked him up and down. "How long have you guys been gone?"
Trunks shifted meaning that it had been a long time. "Well, when we first started the rebuilding, time seemed to go really slow. After the first few years, we stopped counting. It wasn't until we got back in the time machine that we knew what the date was. It's nearly the third mark in my time. Most of the major cities have been rebuilt and we've found some survivors. Thanks to Serena and Lita, we have green again, food to eat, water to drink...we're living."
"I'm so proud of you guys! I can't wait to see what you've done with the place!" She squeezed her son's hand and asked him the question he hadn't answered. "How long have you been gone?"
"11 years."
Bulma couldn't have guessed that long. Her son was already 29! He and Gohan were *almost* as old as she was. "You're telling me that you've been gone for 11 years?"
"Yes."
Bulma didn't say anything. Mirai expected her to start crying or something and going off about how they should have come home sooner but the only reaction he saw on her face was a smile.
"Mom, are you alright? Do you need to sit down or something?"
Bulma's thoughts disappeared. "Huh? Oh, no. Everything's just perfect."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Vegeta was training in the gravity room when Bulma found him 20 minutes later. She left the hospital wing when the boys told her she would be out for just another hour. She decided that she would take her husband some lunch while during the wait.
Bulma walked to the gravity machine. She loved the little things that her and her sister-in-law added to it, making it so she could control the things it did as well. After knocking on the door, Bulma shifted the large tray of food on her hip to a more comfortable position.
The door slid open, startling her. She was greeted by a very large, very sweaty...very sexy Vegeta. He was panting heavily from the workout he had just undergone. Vegeta never really liked the restriction that clothes brought so he was wearing only his black spandex shorts. Bulma noticed that too.
Her breath quickened as pictures swam through her head. He was staring at her, straight into her and she felt it. She always felt everything when he was around. He made sure of it.
Bulma tried her best to form words. "Lunch."
Well, at least she got one.
"I can see that onna." In one swoop, the tray landed on the floor and Bulma was in Vegeta's arms being pressed up against his hard body. "But I'm not hungry for food."
She felt heat rise in her cheeks at his statement. Bulma knew what was coming and was very willing until something killed whatever heated thoughts were in her head.
"You stink! Don't you even think about touching me until you're clean!"
Vegeta growled and pulled his mate closer and tighter. His caught her lips and for a moment she couldn't remember why she didn't want him to touch her. It wasn't until they let up for air that she smelled him again.
"I said don't touch me! I hate it when I get YOUR sweat all over MY body."
"Onna, you were sweating all over me last night and you didn't hear me whining about it!"
He had her there. It was a hot night last night.
"But it wasn't because you were working out...well, we both were, but...what am I talking about! You're not eating *eating* anything until you clean up. I can't believe you got me dirty too! Serena's waking up in an hour and..."
"Well, we better get going then. I'm hungry and I only have an hour to eat!" Without letting her go, he teleported to their bedroom.
"You can teleport? I didn't know you knew how!"
"I just remembered. It was one of the gifts my stepmother gave me."
"Serena's mom?"
"Yeah. Enough talking. It's time to get you clean cause you're all sweaty." Vegeta smirked making whatever smart comment Bulma had totally disappeared as they stepped into the shower.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
45 minutes later...
Bulma emerged into the hospital wing where the boys still were. When she had inquired about Mirai and Gohan's whereabouts, the boys just shrugged their shoulders. She noted that Darien was still frozen and standing off to the side. Feeling sorry for him, she walked over and started talking.
"You do understand why we had to do this to you right?"
His eyes hardened and she could see it. She had seen it enough times from other people.
"If you promise you won't try to hurt anyone else, I can have the boys take you out. If not, you get to stay there until Serena decides what she wants done with you." Bulma watched carefully for signs of him letting up. Slowly but surely, his eyes softened, telling her he was ready.
"All right boys, let him out."
Trunks was smiling. "We can't mom. That ball is supposed to hold until Aunt Serena tells us to let him go."
"Are you sure about that?"
Goten nodded his head. "She said she didn't want any problems when dad comes. Darien, she says she's sorry and that my dad gets really jealous of other guys around her. She's doing it for your own safety." The little boy went silent for a few seconds. "She says you can talk though, here." Goten shot a white beam directly at Darien's mouth. He closed his eyes, waiting for the pain but none came.
"Huh?"
"There, all better now. Just make sure you don't say anything mean when Goku comes." Bulma patted his cheeks before making her way back to Serena. She checked the stats on the computer screen and saw that everything was fine.
"Alright dear, its time to wake up. You've been asleep for a long time." The rhythmic beeping sped up as Serena's heart rate did. Darien could feel a powerful force coming towards the building.
"What is that?"
"That's a heart monitor. The beeping is speeding up, meaning she's getting excited."
"No, I know what that is. What's that power?"
Serena screamed from her position on the table. "GOOOKKKUUUUU!"
A man suddenly appeared out of nowhere and walked next to the woman on the bed. He was wearing a midnight blue gi with white symbols on the chest and back. Black, untamed hair reminded Darien of the little boy by Serena's head. The lights flickered for a bit until he reached for Serena's hand.
"I'm here. Wake up, Tenshi."
Serena felt a warm wave of baritone wash over her. She knew he had come. Now was the hard part...opening her eyes.
A little voice sent out a command. "Sam, dim the lights in here."
The computer obeyed Trunks and the room grew darker. A white light could clearly be seen in the darkness of the room and seemed to grow brighter. Silver hair began to wave around in the streams of energy that surrounded the couple.
"Wake up my little one. You've been asleep without me for far too long." Goku lifted her body off the table after Bulma quickly removed the tubes and other things that were attached to her. He kissed her forehead and pulled her body closer. Trunks and Goten stood off to the side as they watched Goku try to wake Serena.
Darien could feel as well as see the power snapping off of his body in thick, dark red waves. He decided that he should do exactly as Bulma instructed. He kept silent.
Goku looked down at the sleeping angel in his arms. He had missed her touch, her smile, the way she curled into him when they slept. He was right. She had been sleeping without him for far too long. He whispered something into her ear before placing his lips on hers. At first there was no response, but slowly, he felt her move in his arms, responding to his kiss.
'Mmm,' Serena thought. 'What a nice dream.'
"I'm hurt. I would have thought I was better than some fantasy."
Serena giggled. "You're too cute."
"And I'm all yours."
She opened her stunning blue eyes and Goku was paralyzed by their beauty. Small tints of silver flashed at him when she laughed, bringing to his face a smile of his own.
"Hi."
"Hi." Goku's husky voice sent shivers up her spine. "I missed you."
Serena placed her hand on his cheek. "I know and I'm sorry."
He kissed the inside of her wrist and a trail along her arm up to her neck. "Hey, that tickles!" She made her wings appear and wrap around her so he couldn't see her.
"Hey, that's not fair."
She jumped out of his arms and landed on the table next to the boys. One of them pulled at her shirt.
"Tenshi, someone's standing over there waiting for you."
She turned to see who it was Goten was talking about.
"Darien!"
