Once in a While

And that's all the time that it takes

For a heart to turn to stone

The sweeter the wine, the harder to make the break

You hear something about someone you thought you'd known

Part Two

The stripper with the stage name of Satine slowly backed away from Son Goten. Her eyes were filled with horror, shock and pain. Suddenly, she turned, and fled to the back rooms of the club. "Sparkling Diamonds" continued to play, but there was no one to mime the words.

The club owner finally realised that his star attraction had abandoned her routine. He sent out several other strippers, in the hope of keeping the audience settled.

Brett looked at Goten. The demi-Saiyan had a look of disbelief on his face. "Yo, Goten! What the Hell just happened?"

Goten shook his head, to break his daze. "Brett, I've gotta do something. I probably won't get back to the hotel tonight."

"What about our flight tomorrow?"

"I'll try to make it, but if I don't, just go without me. I'll meet you in Japan."

"But, Goten…"

"Just trust me, Brett. This is very important. Just trust me."

* * * * * *

Bra Briefs Vegeta drank a large glass of water, and wiped her eyes. Her mascara was already running down her face. She washed her face, then refilled her glass. Unlike most of the other strippers she worked with, Bra did not rely on heroine to calm her nerves. She had learnt plenty of relaxation techniques during her teenage years.

But today, none of them seemed to be working.

She heard footsteps behind her, but she didn't need to look behind her to see who it was.

"Bra?"

Bra took a deep breath, but still did not turn around. "Ah, je suis désolée. Je ne parle pas le japonais!"

"Don't give me that shit, Bra. I know it's you. Do you think I could ever forget you?"

Bra finally turned around, and the look on her face was enough to make a grown man quiver in fear. "Gee, why don't you tell me! Since your job was soooooo important to you, I thought that maybe it had taken my place in your mind."

"B-chan…" Goten placed his hand on her cheek. She slapped him.

"Keep your fucking hands off me, you son of a bitch. No offence to ChiChi-san, there."

Goten sighed, and rubbed his temples. The slap had not injured him physically, but the pain of rejection was starting to sink in. He sighed again. "Okay, fine. I realise that you're still pissed at me. But can we just put that aside for a moment. What the Hell are you doing here? Didn't you want to become a nurse? I know people do have weird, kinky ideas about nurses, but this is a little ridiculous, don't you think?"

Bra rolled her eyes at Goten's attempt at a joke. "This is none of your business, Goten. Just leave. Go back to India, and your perfect job."

"Actually, I'm on my way back to Japan. I was able to get a transfer."

"Well, bully for you!"

"Kami-sama, Bra! Can't we act like adults?" He lowered his voice. "And go somewhere else? I'm not all that comfortable about being in a strip-club."

Bra controlled the urge to make some snide remark. Instead, she sighed, "Yeah, alright. I should be getting home soon, anyway. Let me just get my coat."

Bra walked into another room, and soon returned, wearing a long, black leather jacket, and a new pair of shoes. She had also grabbed her bag. "Alright, let's go."

Goten raised an eyebrow. "Are you only wearing your stripping outfit under that?"

Bra rolled her eyes again. "I did put a skirt on." She continued to mutter something that sounded like, "Stupid fucking pervert."

The two of them left The Blue Lagoon.

~*~*~*~*~

"That was the greatest movie ever!" exclaimed Goten, as he and his five closest friends left the cinema complex.

"Yeah, who would've thought an elf could be so hot!" Marron giggled.

Trunks looked at his watch. "Whoops! Gotta go. Capsule Corp. has been without me for long enough. See y'all later!"

He gave Marron a quick peck on the cheek, and flew off.

"I should probably be getting home soon, anyway," said Marron. "Bye." She turned at the next street.

"Did your otousan give me a curfew for getting you home?" Uub asked Pan.

"I don't think so," she answered. "Besides, curfews only work at night. It's still daytime. Let's go do something else!"

"Well, we'll leave you to it," said Goten. "I wanted to…show Bra something at my place."

Bra gave Goten an odd look. He leant in close to her, and whispered, "My Okaasan isn't home."

Bra caught on, and grinned. "Oh, yeah. That's right. We'll see you guys later, okay?"

"Uh, okay. Bye, Bra. Goten." Pan shook her head. Uub waved to them. Then Uub and Pan wandered away, hand in hand.

"You are pathetic, do you know that?" Bra said.

Goten grinned. "Yep. Let's go."

Bra and Goten flew back to the Son house. Goten unlocked the door, and led Bra to the couch. They both sat down.

"So, where is ChiChi-san?" Bra asked, snuggling into Goten's embrace.

"Gone to visit Gohan and Videl."

Goten grinned again. He lightly kissed Bra, tracing her lips with his tongue. She opened her mouth slightly, and the kiss became deeper. His hands slid up her sides, and started to undo the buttons on her shirt. He cupped his hands over her breasts, and kissed down her neck.

"You are so hot, B-chan," Goten murmured against Bra's chest.

"Goten?" The front door opened. Goten sat up, and Bra quickly did her shirt back up again, smoothed her hair, and straightened her skirt.

"Okaasan!" Goten greeted. "You're home early!"

"Yes, I thought I should get home and start dinner. Hello, Bra-chan."

"Hi, ChiChi-san." Bra bowed.

"Oh, Goten, there's a letter for you."

ChiChi handed an envelope to her son. He ripped it open, and scanned the letter. "Sweet Kami-sama! I don't believe it!"

"What?" Bra and ChiChi asked together.

"I've been offered an IT position with Williams and Kent. They're a huge Law firm. It's basically impossible to get a job with them!"

"Congratulations!" ChiChi embraced Goten.

Bra smirked. "If it's practically impossible to get a job with them, how did you manage?"

"Well, it is in India…"

Bra's smile faded. "India?"

"Yeah. This is so great! But bad too. I have to take this job, but…I don't wanna leave."

Bra didn't hear the end of what Goten said. The phrase "I have to take this job" kept going through her mind. "I have to take this job."

Bra ran out of the Son house, tears already streaming down her face.

~*~*~*~*~

Bra opened to door of her apartment, obviously trying to be quiet. Goten wondered why. He assumed that Bra would live alone.

The apartment was fairly small. One bedroom, bathroom, tiny kitchen, and a living room. Bra seemed to think that she needed to explain the size. "It ain't much, but the rent is good. Besides, it does well enough for us."

"Us…?"

Bra smiled slightly. "Follow me."

She led Goten to the bedroom. The door was slightly ajar. "My neighbour has a key to my apartment. She keeps an on things while I'm at work."

Lying on the bed, sleeping, was a tiny form.

"Goten, this is my daughter, Estella."