Chapter 3: Somethings Should Not Be Remembered
Author's Note: I am a little disappointed that I only received two reviews for my second chapter but as I can guess it probably did not get as much publicity as the first chapter. Thank you to the people who did review and on with the story.
Disclaimers: I don't own a darn thing so go away ya' stupid law people.
Somethings should not be remembered
Hotaru watched space, stars and other galaxies wide spread and almost too much for any mind. Off to the distance she could just make a out a small group of specs with one pale yellow light in the center.
"My home," she whispered to no one and felt herself float closer towards the cluster. She started moving at a faster rate and was happy to see the faint outline of her planet and its moons.
Falling through the gas she landing softly on the stony center of Saturn and was mildly surprised to see herself. "Welcome," the clone said.
"Hello. Have you just come into being?" the real vampire inquired.
"Yes," she answered shortly. She seemed not to be thrown by the fact that the person she was talking to looked exactly like her so Hotaru continued to speak.
"How has it been so far?" Hotaru inquired as if she were speaking to someone she had known all her life, which was technically true.
"Fine. I am a little irritated that King Darien did not give me any people of my own like the he did with the other planets but I will make due with the animals that Amara left to me," Hotaru 2 said, stroking a black cat with her two middle fingers.
Hotaru grinned slowly. "Do not worry, you will think of something to keep yourself occupied."
"I am sure," the girl answered back. Suddenly she jerked her head to the left, "I have to go, there is a meeting being held. It was nice meeting you." They shook hands and Hotaru 2 faded with the rest of the scenery. Years passed quickly like when Hotaru fast forwarded a movie.
The next picture was one Hotaru remembered so well. She was on the planet Earth, sometime around the year of 300 B.C, before Darien had let his humans destroy the environment and there was still plenty of forest to sneak around in. If Hotaru relived correctly they were somewhere in Southern Italy.
There were about 50 humans following her meekly, their minds blank for the moment. She planned to take them all back to Saturn and make them her own. "Follow me, follow me, to the land of milk and honey," she sang softly to keep the people from wondering off. "If Darien didn't want to give me some of his humans then I will just have to borrow a few."
"Such a smart girl," the real Hotaru said with smile. Again the stage was changed and she stood behind a curtain in the ball room on Jupiter.
"Where is this?" Hotaru wondered quietly. She couldn't place the time exactly but it still seemed familiar.
Hotaru watched keenly and stared in wonderment when she saw herself enter with her arm linked with a taller man. For a few minuets Hotaru couldn't tell who the man was, it was a blank in her memory, a hole.
Then it all came to her, the man was her husband, Adam. He had been truly handsome, ink black hair, a lanky figure and piercing blue eyes that never stopped to amaze Hotaru. How could I have forgotten him? Hotaru thought with puzzlement.
Following the couple a few feet behind was a small boy who had Hotaru's purplish black hair and Adam's icy blue eyes. Hotaru fell to her knees, weakened by the yearning to run up and hug her 6 year old boy.
"Mommy," he called to the woman in front of him.
"Yes?" she answered back.
"I think I just saw you behind the curtain," he claimed and the real Hotaru backed farther behind the fabric.
"That would be hard to do because I'm standing right here," Hotaru 2 answered with a laugh and went back to critiquing King Darien's clothes.
"Go play with the other children," Adam said then added, "no biting."
"No way, none of them are cool enough to be vampires," Duo decided. [Not related to GW character].
"That's right," Hotaru said and bent down and fixed Duo's tie. "Go, while me and your dad talked about business."
"You mean people's dresses?" Duo said with a laugh.
"What did I tell you about reading my mind?" Hotaru scolded mildly.
"Not to do it or you'll take away my powers with vampbane," Duo said, looking down at his feet.
"Exactly and I just happen to have some in my purse." Hotaru reached into her bag but Duo had ran away before she had actually had to reveal that it was only gum.
The real Hotaru watched from the window sill, still trying to recall when this had happened. On the other side of the ball room were the Inner planet rulers, all glizt and glamour, some with children and some without. She listened in on their conversation, while keeping an eye on Duo who was playing with Amara's daughter, Leya.
"Is everything positioned?" King Darien asked Queen Ami.
"Yes, all the crystals are pointing to the right planets and as soon as the Sun crosses paths with Jupiter in 10 minuets we should be able to use it's heat to destroy the Outer Planets, with the exception of Jupiter itself of course."
Hotaru's head jerked up, "No," she whispered fiercely. "This was not when it was suppose to happen." But then Hotaru tried to remember exactly when the attack had happened, she couldn't place it. "No," she whimpered again.
"I will take care of Hotaru and her family," King Darien said with cold satisfaction in his eyes and Hotaru saw the sliver of a wooden stake beneath his cloak. "We will be rid of the those Outer Witches once and for all."
"Why did I not remember this all?" Hotaru wondered and though of warning herself of what was coming. "No, I could never do that, it would alter time, maybe even existence." So the vampire sat and watched as Darien went into a separate room with the rest of the rulers.
There was an unexpectant shake of the room, the entire planet and Queen Lita, the only neutral ruler collapsed into tears from guilt. Queen Ami lifted her up and took her into the bathroom, saying it must have been something she ate. The clone Hotaru looked at Ami carefully and instantly knew what had really happened.
"I'm sorry Hotaru, all of you, I'm so sorry," Lita sobbed and Ami let her drop to the ground.
"They destroyed our planets," Hotaru announced with scorn, staring fiercely at King Darien.
"I knew it would come soon enough," Amara said, standing next to Hotaru, both with weapons in hand, making suggestive glances to each other.
"I do not think so," King Darien smirked, shaking his fingers to the arms. "You would not want your family to end the same way as your planets would you?"
"Leave them alone," Hotaru said, standing steady with her scythe in hand.
"No, we need you all gone. Who knows what might happen if we were to let you live?" Queen Raye said wickedly.
The real Hotaru controlled herself, trying not to scream as King Darien slipped out a wooden stick and stabbed Adam in the back. Her husband disappeared in a burst of smoke and Duo, who had been in his arms, fell to the ground.
"ADAM!" both Of the Hotarus screamed in agony at the same time.
"Mommy," Duo whined. Hotaru looked up with blood stained eyes and saw that Darien had his arms wrapped tightly around the little boy's neck. That was the last thing he said because before Hotaru could speak out Darien had snapped Duo's brittle neck.
All around her the families of the Outer Planets dropped, each being killed by different leaders. The real Hotaru rose from her hidden seat, ready to kill Darien herself if her other did not move but the room misted into another before she could get more than two feet. "Wait!" she objected but then was quieted by the new setting.
They were still on Jupiter's planet but now hidden in one of Queen Lita's secret chambers. "What are you doing Sestuna? Should we not be planning on how to get revenge?"
"We will not get revenge, that would only lead to more violence," Sestuna objected and put something on her hands. "Be quiet for a moment, you have a cut." The real Hotaru tried to read Sestuna's mind but it was masked with a wall that only very powerful people could put up.
"There is no cut on my head," Hotaru said to herself and then watched Sestuna touch her clone's head.
"Do you feel better?" Sestuna asked the clone.
"Yes." the girl said, unaware of what had just happen.
You wiped it from my memory didn't you, Sestuna? the real Hotaru realized, So I wouldn't hurt anyone in my fury. That was why she hadn't remembered the night at the palace or her family.
"But I do now, and I will take my vengeance," Hotaru thought as the rest of her life melted quickly away. There was no time to cry, crying would not bring her planet back...or her family.
++++
Michelle watched the creation of her planet which brought tears to her eyes. It was so beautiful at the beginning. A giant thunderstorm with rocky islands surrounded by a deep blue sea where all sorts of creatures lurked, some waiting for a clumsy human to fall to their watery death. Time sped forward and Michelle was dropped into a meeting of the planets.
"Your fish raped my human!" Darien said angrily.
Michelle watched herself shrug. "You left them to my disposal and I let them live their lives. When something this interesting comes up I can not help but let it work itself out. Besides it is not my place to kill one of my people because she did not protect herself."
Darien sulked while the others imagined what the children would be like. Time went by again and Michelle found herself at the berth of Huya's fish children. She felt the same delight that she had felt a billion years earlier when she saw the small children with radiant scaled tails and hypnotizing cries.
"My people, please welcome our new friends in to the world, the MERPEOPLE!" she announced and held one of the new riggling babies above her head while the audience applauded.
Another scene smacked Michelle in the face and she saw herself being changed into a mermaid herself after all the humans had died off. It had been a painful experience but worth it over all. She had then felt closer to her people and visa versa. As Michelle's other body slipped into the water she could see the joy on its face as she glided through the water with ease and pleasure.
"Why do I move so quickly through my life?" Michelle wondered as she was dragged into another unfamiliar dream. "Where would this be?" she wondered with giddiness. Her life had been happy and go lucky until the explosion of her planet and this was not how it had happen so it must be fun.
Michelle hid behind a menu at one of the tables, pretending to be a guest from another planet outside the galaxy. She spotted Hotaru, her husband Adam and their child Duo. Oh when Hotaru sees him she will be so torn up, I wonder if she'll forget about Goten.
The mermaid watched the door intently for her entrance and was pleased to see her self in a fashionable dress with her ....her....she couldn't place it. But of course that became clear as everything that she had forgotten over the years slowly had. It was her fiancé, Matthew. I had forgotten how cute he was she thought with a smile and watched herself flirt with him intensely.
There was dancing and eating, some kissing of the neck which of course made Michelle gleeful. She expected the whole thing to pass her by quickly like all the other events had but she continued to watch as the rulers enjoyed themselves.
Suddenly there was a violent shake of the room and Michelle almost lost her seat. Then Lita crumbled on the ground and started to apologize passionately between sobs. "They destroyed our planets," Hotaru said and Michelle again almost fell out of her chair.
"No, this is how it happened. We..we...," Michelle stopped and her eyes watered when she couldn't recall what had happened.
"ADAM!" Hotaru screamed and Michelle covered her eyes. That didn't help though, she still heard the crack of Duo's neck, Leya cry for her mother and Matthew's profound cursing but then instant silence.
"No, no," Michelle said in objection, shaking her head behind the menu that still protected her identity. The words and description clouded either because Michelle was crying so much or because the picture was passing.
"Stop crying Michelle, they will hear you," and the mermaid lifted her head but saw that Sestuna was talking to the other one. "You need to be strong." Michelle wached Sestuna out her hands to the girl's head and suddenly she stopped crying.
"What happened?" Michelle wondered.
"What happened?" The clone asked.
"Our planets were just destroyed by Darien while we were at a conference."
"Oh I am so sorry, but where do we go now?"
Michelle didn't hear the answer because she was suddenly back in the void, staring at the pile of books in front of her, all lined up in order. Passed that she could see Hotaru's books that were also in order, and Hotaru, who looked like she had just gone through her life all over again, which she had.
"Honey?" Michelle called out.
"Duo," Hotaru said in her usual monotone voice, "my Duo, he killed Duo."
"I know, I know, I saw," Michelle said, walking over to comfort her friend.
"I didn't want to remember it Michelle, I don't want to have those pictures in my head," Hotaru finally sighed, now showing her 600 years of life. "Make them go away, make them go away, Sestuna," she rumored mournfully. Michelle wished that Hotaru would cry, it would help the healing process but the vampire never cried, it made her look weak she claimed.
"They aren't going away. You just have to let them go," Michelle advised.
"No, no," Hotaru said, "I don't want to forget them, not them, just that time" and she stopped talking, sitting in silence with her own thoughts. There was a flash of light and Michelle opened her eyes to find herself still holding Hotaru's hand in a room.
"You're awake, and two different people" Trunks said groggily and was about to say more but stopped when Michelle looked at him.
"Get out please," she ordered softly but with so much force that Trunks stumbled back into the door.
"Hotaru, will she be okay?" he inquired. To Trunks the small vampire goddess looked beaten and worn like an old lady.
"You have done all that is possible. Leave," she repeated, energy now crackling in her eyes. Trunks did not say anything more and left the room.
"Are they all right?" Goten asked eagerly.
"They're up and they've divided if that's what you mean," Trunks said. Goten looked to him for more and Trunks dragged the boy into another room. "Before they woke up but after they came apart Hotaru looked like shit and kept mumbling about this person Duo."
"Boyfriend?" Goten said skeptically.
"I don't know. They're gods, they probably had a lot of boyfriends, but she seemed so sad."
"I should go in and talk to her then," Goten decided and before Trunks could warn him he had disappeared. There was a flash of blue lighting and Goten walked back up with a dazed look. "Michelle is a little mad."
"Oh really, I couldn't tell," Trunks said sarcastically. "Well we can't really do anything now can we?"
"We'll just have to wait until they're ready to talk," Goten agreed and walked into the living room. Trunks grabbed the remote before his friend could and flipped through the channels, and half listening to the whispers in the room.
++++
"I'm sorry," Hotaru said, sitting up to look at Michelle. "You lost Matthew, and you're not breaking down like a little girl."
"Because I'm not a little girl, you are remember, you're my little vampire," Michelle said quietly. She did not need to cry really she supposed, she had done that enough right after the incident occurred. "What do you need?"
Hotaru looked around for a moment, "A wash cloth probably and then your corporation."
"A wash cloth I can do." The mermaid disappeared into the connected bathroom for a moment and came back with a wet washcloth. She handed it to Hotaru and waited until the girl was done cleaning her face to inquire more. "Why do you need my corporation?"
"We need to move faster now that Darien knows where we are. He is going to try to stop us from getting the Dragon Balls when he realizes what we are trying to accomplish. I need to erase the Sayians' minds and we need to get the tracker so we can find the balls by ourselves without endangering them, and I need you to get the tracer while I mind warp everyone" Hotaru explained.
"Okay, but Hotaru," Michelle asked shyly.
"Yes," Hotaru asked.
"Don't take your anger out on just anyone, wait for Darien," she advised.
Hotaru nodded slowly. "I will try but it's hard, very hard not to hurt someone." The now feeble looking vampire was using all her strength not to break into tears but they had things they needed to do.
The two goddess got up from the bed and realized that they were not wearing any clothes. "This could be a problem," Michelle said with a chuckle. "I'll call Bra and ask for something to wear."
Michelle stuck her head out the door and looked up and down the hallway. Down stairs she could see the glare of the television and hear people talking in the kitchen. The mermaid pulled her head back into the room and went into the bathroom to grab the biggest towel she could find which was still somewhat flashy.
"I hope you don't run into Vegeta or Piccolo," Hotaru jeered.
"I hope I don't run into anyone but Bra," Michelle prayed and crept outside of the room. She tiptoed down stairs and to the entrance of the living room, then looked around the corner. She could see Goten but no Trunks.
"Uhhh," a voice said behind Michelle and the mermaid became bright red.
Michelle turned around and locked eyes with Trunks. "Hi Trunks," she said meekly. Trunks looked down at the floor to be respectful and Michelle couldn't help but smile. It was so hard to hold on to the anger she felt about Matthew's death when she saw the demi-sayian with that familiar embarrassed smile.
"Sorry for yelling at you earlier. Hotaru were just a little emotional from reliving the past," Michelle explained.
"That's okay," Trunks said. She is really hot, Trunks thought in sort of a half daze. "Do you need something like clothes?"
Michelle smiled gratefully and followed Trunks to Bra's room. "Bra!" he called.
"What do you want?! I'm talking to Pan," Bra answered back.
"Michelle and Hotaru need clothes and I know you have enough to spare," Trunks requested.
"Oh, okay. They can come in but not you," Bra said harshly. Michelle laughed at Trunks' exasperated sigh.
"I'll go get Hotaru," Trunks told Michelle as he held the door open for her without looking in.
"Hi," Bra answered cheerfully. Sitting next to her was a slightly older black haired girl that reminded Michelle of Goten. "This is Pan, Gohan's daughter."
"Hi," Michelle said but continued to stand shyly against the door while Bra continued to talk about people in her magazine.
Pan sighed and got up, "Sorry, Bra tends to get off track," she explained and went rummaging through the side closet.
"Shut up," Bra said to Pan then turned to Michelle. "So you like my brother."
"I do?" Michelle repeated as a question.
"It's so obvious. I mean you stopped that freaky girl from killing him and you laugh at everything he says," Bra decided while flipping through the magazine. Michelle could only nod and wonder what else that girl thought of in her spare time.
Where is Hotaru when I need her, Michelle wondered. When she arrived they could change clothes, erase everyone's memory and be done with it all. As if her prays were being answered Hotaru pushed open the door and closed it quickly.
"Here," Pan said and threw Michelle underwear and some of Bra's clothes.
"Thanks," Michelle said and went into the bathroom to change. She wasn't surprised that Pan had chosen some flashy clothes, namely a light blue mini dress and long black fish net coat.
"Hurry up," Hotaru requested outside of the door and Michelle stopped trying to fix her hair and walked out. "They kept asking questions about my tattoo," she whispered and Michelle nodded in understanding. Hotaru had and all to attracting paint job done on the small of her back of the symbol of Saturn circled in thorns. The vampire shot past and came out wearing tight black jean and a purple halter top that just barely covered the design. Michelle elbowed her, "Oh right, thank you," Hotaru said.
"No problem, it's fun to dress people up," Pan said with a smile.
"We have to go talk to Trunks and Goten, it was nice meeting you," Michelle said and dragged Hotaru out of the room. "Ready?"
"Yes," Hotaru answered shortly. "I'm going to erase all the memories they ever had of us. They should be in a daze for about a minuet, that will give us time to grab the dragon ball tracker in Bulma's room and leave."
"How do you know about the tracker?" Michelle asked.
"I searched Trunks' mind when he escorted me upstairs," Hotaru explained. "We can leave whenever we want."
"So they'll just forget about us?" Michelle repeated.
"Yes, it would be best that way, we don't need anyone getting hurt if we meet with Darien," Hotaru explained, sounding as if she were convincing herself.
Michelle hesitated, "I know you'll think this is corny but I want to say goodbye."
Hotaru sighed and nodded in agreement, "It will take me about 30 minuets to regain enough energy to clear everyone's mind anyway. I'll meet you in the kitchen when you're done okay?"
"Thanks," Michelle said and trotted down stairs to where Trunks and Goten had zoned out in front of the television. Trunks either heard or saw her enter and muttered something to Goten before getting up.
"I don't suppose you would mind a small walk," Michelle suggested, holding out her hand.
"I know a place we could go," Trunks said and took hold of her smooth hand. He really had no clue where to go but it sounded like a cool thing to say.
The two teenagers walked outside where the sun was just setting, casting a different light on everything. "Beautiful," Michelle murmured.
"Just what I was thinking," Trunks agreed and Michelle noticed that he was staring at her instead of the sunset.
"So what did we do to you and Goten?" Michelle asked quietly.
"Well it was pretty gruesome, first you pushed me into the ground, then kicked me into a mountain and then there was a big surprise and you plunged your hand into my chest," Trunks explained calmly and with an actual smile.
"Sorry," Michelle said with a guilty tone.
Trunks didn't answer and continued with a strange smile on his lips, "All while you were doing this you were saying this is for Pluto, this is for Uranus, this is for Saturn but then, I think just before you were about to rip my heart you stopped." He stopped walking and turned to Michelle. "You were just about to say, 'This is for Neptune' but you stopped and screamed 'No this is not their fault' and I could tell it was you because you looked at me and seemed so sorry."
"I never wanted to hurt either of you but...." Michelle was trying to think of a reasonable explanation. She looked down because she felt ashamed for loosing control and almost killing someone but Trunks lifted her chin up gently and all her blame disappeared. His eyes were so warm and inviting, Michelle leaned forward, touching their foreheads and whispered so softly, "I would never hurt you."
"I know," Trunks said and kissed her ever so gently. Michelle could tell that he didn't want to take advantage of her because of what she had just gone through but politeness was not what she needed right now. She wrapped her arms around the boy's strong neck and intertwined her slim fingers in his soft hair, pushing his lips closer to hers. Trunks responded all to well, enclosed Michelle's waist in his arms and massaged her back with his callused fingers.
How could it have happened so fast? In just a few days, only two days? Michelle wondered while thoroughly enjoying her time being spent. Queen Mina had also said that mermaids were romantic creatures with their elegant bodies and melodic voices. Maybe she was right, or maybe it was fate.
++++
Hotaru decided to do the same as Michelle and at least explain to Goten what she really was. She wasn't sure if she was strong enough at the moment to bring up such a subject though. The vampire walked into the living room where Goten was in a slump.
"What are you watching?" Hotaru asked quietly, sitting down next to him.
Goten was silent for a moment then spoke without looking at her, "It's a movie about this boy and girl. They're completely opposites but that didn't bother them much, they're still friends, then the boy finds out that the girl really is different but she didn't think he would like her so she never told him and almost killed him."
"Was the girl a mortal enemy of the boy's grandfather?" Hotaru inquired.
"No I don't think so but if I were that boy I wouldn't let my grandfather's opinion decide who I liked," he answered harshly.
Hotaru continued to play along. She was truly now on the verge of tears, she didn't want Goten mad at her, she wanted him to comfort her. "Do you think the boy is going to forgive the girl if she has a good explanation?"
Goten smiled visibly and turned to face Hotaru, "Of course, it's a Disney movie."
Hotaru, for the first time since the death of everything she held dear, smiled and started to cry. Goten, caught by surprise, wrapped his arm around Hotaru and pulled her closer.
"Be careful, my tears are blood," Hotaru advised and pulled away but Goten pulled her back and rubbed her shoulder.
"I can always buy a new shirt," he said.
Hotaru thought of explaining why she was crying and she could tell that Goten was thinking about it but if he wasn't asking there was no demand to relive it. Then on a second thought, it may help. "We were having our annual Eclipse Ball on the planet Jupiter where Queen Lita was ruling. She was such a sweet woman, I know she never really wanted to destroy our planets but under the peer pressure of all the other monarchs she was broken easily," Hotaru paused and against her usual character pushed herself closer to Goten's warm body which no longer felt like a giant flame. "I hadn't really wanted to go to the Ball because it was always so boring. Adam had said that we had to go though so Duo would have the experience of being at a formal meeting. They're the ones I miss the most, Adam and Duo. Adam was always so sensible and had the perfect features for a king. You remind me of him, so kind but still powerful."
"And Duo was your son," Goten finished.
Hotaru smiled again at recalling her son, "Yes, he was so young and carefree. He had just turned 6 a few weeks before we went."
"He sounds cute," Goten added.
The vampire sighed, "We went to the ball and were greeting all our usual friends, the Outer Queens mostly because the others never wanted to have anything to do with us. Duo was off playing with Leya, the Princess of Uranus, Adam and I were playing mind games with Sereana, the Queen of Earth who was never quite as smart as her husband." Hotaru paused and Goten drew her closer for support, "Then the whole room shook and Lita fell on the ground, apologizing to us and crying. Queen Ami had said she was feeling sick but I read her mind and could tell what was going on."
"That was when it happened?" Goten asked and Hotaru nodded slowly, becoming detached.
"I wasn't sure how to react. I must have become distracted because Darien had dashed behind Adam and stabbed him before I could say anything. Just like that my husband had evaporated into dust, like he was never there." It had taken Hotaru only a few minuets to stop crying and she had thought that she couldn't give anymore but she started crying again. "Then he had Duo in his hands, that evil bastard looked at me with just this mocking happiness and snapped my son's neck, as if it were nothing."
Goten sat quietly for a moment, not really sure what he could say to make it any better. "You can't say anything," Hotaru said. Goten looked at her strangely because she had known what he was thinking but then wrote it off. "Just keep me warm, I'm sick of being cold Goten, so sick of being hidden."
"It doesn't have to be like that Hotaru, you can stay here and I'll protect you from whatever the stupid King wants to do to you," Goten promised and kissed her forehead gently. Hotaru choked out a cough and crawled into his lap like a child would do to her father if she had one. She curled up and just sobbed without restraint or worry about how weak she looked or actually was.
++++
Trunks and Michelle came back a little more after the hour they had left and Michelle prayed that Hotaru wouldn't be waiting at the door, tapping her foot like a mother waiting for her daughter after the prom. "Hello?" Michelle called out but Trunks put his finger to her lips and pointed into the living room.
I never thought I would live to see this the goddess thought pleasantly. On the couch was the sleeping Goten with his arms wrapped protectively around Hotaru who was lying on top of him in a fetal position, also asleep.
"Adorable, beauty and the beast," Trunks joked.
"Be horrible to wake them up now right?" Michelle asked.
"Of course it would," Trunks said. "You can sleep in the guest room tonight if you want," he suggested sheepishly.
"Okay," she agreed and added with a wicked smirk, "Don't suppose you would want to tuck me in?"
Trunks returned her smile and followed her upstairs, being sure not to wake the couple on the couch.
++++
Hotaru rose with a start and then paused to push back a piece of stray hair. What a horrible dream, she thought but then smiled when she couldn't recall it at all.
Goten made a grunting noise that startled the vampire a little and then turned over. Hotaru got up before she hit the ground and looked around before realizing that she wasn't in her own apartment. What had happened last night?
"Crying?" she reminded herself and went into the bathroom. Sure enough there were blood stains on her face and she wondered how Goten had managed not to be turned off. The girl washed her face, went back out into the hallway and ran into Bra.
"You're still here?" Bra said with sly wonder. Hotaru could tell what she was thinking, including some graphic pictures.
"Yeah, Michelle felt really sick so I didn't want to make her drive me home," Hotaru lied. "Do you know where she is?"
"Up in the guest room I assume but you might want to knock before going in," Bra snickered and went into the kitchen.
"Pervert," Hotaru muttered and went upstairs to where she predicted the guest room would be. She eased open the door and was actually relieved to see only Michelle in the bed.
"Mournin' sunshine," Michelle said, sleep still thick in her voice. "Ready to leave?"
"As soon as you are," Hotaru agreed and sat down on the edge of the bed while Michelle changed back into her borrowed clothes.
"I saw you with Goten last night," Michelle said with a hint of glee.
"I shouldn't have used him like that," Hotaru supplied an excuse. "I was so hurt, I would have taken anyone to comfort me, but it won't matter, he won't remember."
Michelle stood there with her only her underwear on in shock, "Oh no you don't. Don't try to write this off as a one time thing. I know you like him."
"You're in denial Michelle," Hotaru explained sourly. "I just needed a shoulder to cry on and he was there."
"Right," Michelle said sarcastically but didn't argue anymore. If that little vampire wanted to build a wall around herself she was more than welcomed to.
[A/N-You didn't really think that Hotaru would get over her husband that easily did you?]
Hotaru didn't answer and decided it was time to change the subject. "I read through some more minds. The tracker is in Bulma's office in a cabinet behind a jar of pennies. Have you said you final goodbye to Trunks?"
Michelle smiled to herself, receiving an obvious eye rolling from Hotaru. "Yeah, twice actually, but I could do it again if we have time."
"We don't," Hotaru snapped, sounding more harsh then she meant to but Michelle either didn't notice or didn't say anything. "We should leave before there are too many people walking around the house to get in our way when we leave."
"You mean that if you see Goten you might want to stay longer," Michelle muttered with a chuckle.
"What did you say?" Hotaru asked.
"Oh you heard me perfectly well," Michelle said.
"I'm going to start now, go get the tracker and meet me on the steps outside the house." Michelle wanted to say something more but Hotaru cut her off by closing her eyes and breathing in deep, showing that she was concentrating. Michelle sighed heavily and waited for the light purple ripple to spread over the room, a sign that Hotaru had really begun her magic.
"See ya later," Michelle said and skipped lightly down the stairs. She paused a moment and noticed how eerie the usually warm house seemed without any people talking or walking around. The mermaid shrugged off the feeling and rooted out where Bulma's study was. Once in there it was easy to locate the tracer because all the cabinets had windows where she could easily peek in.
"I wonder if Hotaru's done?" she thought. "Of course not. I have plenty of time," Michelle convinced herself and went back upstairs but instead of going back towards the guest room she took a detour to her demi Sayian's room.
Michelle opened the door and was over ridden by the smell of Tide and what she could swear was cinnamon. "Strange boy," she thought and look to the bed. There he was, so peaceful, and ...what was this? Shirtless, his beautiful and well developed muscles exposed just above the naval. "Yeah this helps," she snickered and climbed onto the bed next to the lilac haired boy. "Goodbye Trunks," she murmured and kissed his forehead.
"What? Who are you?" he inquired with a muddled voice.
Shit Michelle thought. "Just kiss me, you're only dreaming."
"Okay," Trunks agreed easily and propped himself to meet his mysterious visitor's full lips.
"Sleep," Michelle sang gently into the boy's ear and as soon as he had done her command she left the room, careful to avoid any of the bustling bodies that now populated the house.
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A/N-Okay, third chapter, yippee for me. I don't mean to sound shallow or anything but I really would appreciate more than two reviews this time. Thanks, adios.