Goten's Torment
He had had his bones broken many times. He remembered times when his muscles ached so much that he wanted to rip them off of his body. There had been times when his body battered and broken had been in such excruciating pain that he had wished somebody would kill him and end his misery. But all the physical pain that Goten had ever endured could never come close to the mental anguish that he was now feeling. He felt as if a part of him had been ripped out when Vegeta, literally, tore Bra from his arms. It was too much, how could he forbid him from ever seeing her? How could he? Didn't he know that after what happened he would go insane if was forced to stay away from her? Of course he did. That's why he decreed it. This was Vegeta's way of making him pay for falling in love it his little Princess.
Goten slumped to the ground and began to whimper, 'Goten.' Whispered Gohan from the other-side of the door, 'Are you alright little brother?' he asked in a gentle voice, 'Mom's really worried about you. Even dad is concerned. They asked me to come and have a talk to you. Try and see what's wrong.' He said softly, 'Can I come in?'
'Yes.' Said Goten, who had taken the time to compose himself while Gohan had spoken.
Gohan stepped inside. Goten presented him with a forced smile. But it did not fool Gohan, 'What's the matter little brother?' asked Gohan.
'Well for starters don't call me little brother.' Said Goten playfully, 'I am fine.' He lied.
'No your not.' said Gohan, 'I can tell. What's the matter are you in love or something?' Gohan added trying to mimic the playful tone of Goten's voice.
Goten's face fell and he slumped back on the ground, 'I am in love.' He whimpered out, 'With a girl who by all indications I can never have.'
Gohan's jaw dropped as far as it could go. He had said it as a joke. Never in a million years did he expect it to be true. 'Who… Who is it?' he asked, 'Don't tell me it's Marron.' He groaned, 'I could have told you that was not going to go anywhere. I mean Trunks and Marron have been together since she was eight, much to Vegeta's displeasure, I mean those two are meant to be together. You can't just…'
'It's not Marron.' Goten cut him off in annoyance, 'Besides if it was Marron I would have rather killed myself than do anything that would hurt Trunks.' He looked away, 'It's Bra.' He whispered.
Just a second before Gohan heard the name of who Goten was in love with he would have believed that nothing sort of a being ten times more powerful than his father and Vegeta would have surprised him. He was wrong. Stunned was too mild a word for what Gohan felt. This was incredible. 'But she is just a child.' He blurted out. A look of guilt and shame flickered across Goten's face, 'Is even eighteen?' wondered Gohan.
'Yes!' Goten all but screamed. Suddenly he didn't want Gohan there anymore, 'Go away.' He said firmly, 'You are not helping.'
Silence. 'Goten this is serious.' Said Gohan softly.
'When did I give the impression that it wasn't serious?' demanded Goten irritated. 'I am in love with Bra. But Vegeta has forbidden me from seeing her ever, under pain of death.' He looked away as tears began to gather at the corner of his eyes, 'I don't even know what Bra is being made to endure because of me. I love her, I have never felt like this about anyone. I…' Goten dropped his head into his hand, 'I can't live without her.'
'Than don't.' said Gohan. 'If you really, really feel this strongly about Bra than you deserve to be with each other.' Gohan knelt down in front of his brother, 'Besides looks to me you have little choice in the matter. You said it yourself, you can't live without Bra and Vegeta threatened to kill you if you come near her. Looks to me the situation is that either way you die.' Gohan pointed out, Goten nodded, 'If you are going to die either way why not die fighting?' asked Gohan.
'It's not that simple.' Said Goten looked into his brother's eyes, 'I wouldn't flinch in opposing Vegeta but I couldn't fight Trunks for real… I couldn't.' he looked away, 'I just couldn't.'
'What makes you think Trunks opposes your and Bra's union?' asked Gohan.
'Why else would he shut me out?' asked Goten hurt broken. 'He hasn't answered my calls or e-mails and won't acknowledge my psychic contacts.' Goten said with such a melancholy tone in his voice that Gohan felt his heart ache even more for his poor brother, 'Not only have I lost the love of my life forever but I have lost my best friend as well. My life is over.' He slumped against the wall and let out a long, wry sigh.
'I don't know why Trunks is shutting you out.' Said Gohan, 'But I am sure he has a good reason.'
'Like what?' demanded Goten in irritation.
'Well, you try finding you out that your best friend is slept with your sister and got banned from your house because your father caught him and is threatening to kill him and see how you handle it?' snapped Trunks.
Goten's eyes immediately tracked to the source of the words as Gohan turned around to find Trunks lounging against the door-post. 'Trunks!' Goten cried out with heart felt delight.
'Did I interrupt a older brother, younger brother bonding session?' asked Trunks none interestedly.
'No.' said Gohan, 'I was just leaving.' With another sympathetic look towards Goten Gohan left the room. Leaving Trunks and Goten to short out the problem.
'Is he alright?' asked Chichi as soon as Gohan came into the kitchen.
Gohan shook his head, 'Right now Goten is in the worst shape he has ever been but hopefully by the time Trunks leaves he will be… better.'
'O I hope so too.' Said Chichi as she looked up towards the ceiling, 'My poor baby.'
Goten slowly stood up as Trunks walked up right in front of him. 'Well?' asked Goten softly. Trunks let out a deep breath and with lightening fast speed punched Goten square on the noise, breaking it with a loud snap.