*Chapter Five*

Later that evening, everyone was gathered in the living room after dinner.

Vegeta and Goku had been unusually quiet most of the day and Trunks hadn't said much since the sparring incident. Gohan, on the other hand, was full of questions and Anai and Nemie tried to answer him. Bulma was her usual talkative self between dinner and taking care of the baby.

"Bulma," Anai said, "since Ryukin is after Chibi Trunks, I think it's best if we guard him tonight. No one knows what tricks Ryukin and Pichu will try."

Bulma sighed and nodded. "That's a good idea. I'm so afraid something will happen to him."

"That's why we're here." Nemie pointed out. "To protect the child...and what he will one day become." Her eyes flickered toward Trunks, and she shook her head to clear her thoughts.

Anai saw her sister glance at Trunks, and when Nemie looked at her, Anai raised an eyebrow curiously. Nemie glared at Anai and turned away.

"Tell me something, either of you." Vegeta began. "When we do fight this Ryukin, do we actually have a chance of winning? Or are you two just doing this in blind hope of killing him?"

The sisters made eye contact, and for the first time since they showed up, there was fear there.

"We..." Anai hesitated. "To be honest, we were really no match for him in our time. But with the combined powers of all of us...I think we can do it."

"You think." Vegeta said, irritated.

Anai nodded and looked down at her lap. "We're sorry, but it has to be done."

"There's no question that it has to be done." Goku spoke up. "But the question is, can we train enough in just five days to be strong enough to destroy him?"

The girls shrugged. "Possibly."

Gohan sighed. "Does this mean we have to use the Hyperbolic Time Chamber again?"

Goku nodded. "I think so, son. But I don't know if we have the time because someone has to guard Bulma and Chibi Trunks."

"Great. Just great." Gohan replied sarcastically.
* * *

That night, everyone settled down in Bulma's house to try and get some sleep. Bulma was sound asleep in her room with the baby, and Trunks took first shift at guarding them. Goku was in one of the guest rooms, and Vegeta was in the other. Nemie and Anai had opted to sleep in the floor in the living room. Gohan took the couch.

But about two in the morning, Anai awoke with a start. Nightmares of Ryukin and the horrid battle they were sure to face plagued her sleep. She sat up, cold sweat rolling down her face, and looked around frantically. About three feet away, her sister lay sleeping peacefully. Anai scanned the other side of the room for Gohan, but he was nowhere to be seen.

A slight breeze blew her hair and she glanced over to where the balcony doors were left half-open. Outside, Anai could see Gohan looking up at the sky.

Throwing off her blanket, she stood up and walked out to stand next him. Gohan barely glimpsed at her.

"What are you doing out here?" He asked quietly.

"Nightmares. What about you?"

"I just couldn't sleep."

They just stood there for a moment before either spoke again.

"Gohan, how old are you?"

"Elev...Sixteen, I mean."

Anai looked at him. "Were you about to say eleven?"

Gohan blushed slightly. "Well, I was eleven a few days ago. It's a crazy story, believe me." He went on to tell her how he'd spent a total of five days in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, a room where twenty-four hours outside equaled a year inside.

"I think I remember Master Trunks mentioning that. I don't know...it's been seven years since I saw him last." Anai turned her head away from Gohan so he wouldn't see the single tear that slid down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away.

"Why is it that every future we're told about is a bad one?" Gohan asked suddenly. "I mean, why doesn't it ever end happily?"

Anai shrugged. "It never really ends, Gohan. It's an on going battle between good and evil. We just happen to be heading down hill right now." She studied Gohan carefully, then sighed. "You're too young to be having to fight like this."

"Too young? You're only a year older than me."

"We're all too young. You, me, Nemie, even Goku. Nobody should ever have to live in a constant battle, no matter how old we are."

Gohan was quiet for a moment. Then, he started slowly. "Anai...what's this kind of thing like for a girl?"

"What?"

"Well, the only females I've ever seen that fight are my mom and Android 18. Mom hasn't been through half the stuff Dad has, and I don't talk to 18. You're a Saiyan; a true warrior. How is it different?"

Anai leaned against the door and thought. "It's tough. I don't really know how else to explain it. Honestly, Gohan, it scares me. I have to be strong, because Nemie and I are really all that's left. But sometimes, when everything has fallen down around our ears...I wish there was someone there to hold me and tell me it'll be all right. For all my Saiyan blood, I'm still only a woman. I'm constantly afraid, but I have to 'take it like a man' so to speak, and fight anyway."

Gohan slid a little closer to her and tried to give a comforting reply, but before he could, a scream sliced the stillness of the night. The scream was followed by an angry roar, a baby shrieking, and an inhuman sound like nothing Gohan had ever heard before.

"Dear Kami, NO!" Anai gasped. "It's a hellhound!"