Unexpected Company Part Four A Dragonball Z fanfic By Hana Noir

The bright sunlight shining on her face roused Kauli from a sound sleep and she raised a hand to ward off the unfamiliar, intrusive brightness, blinking heavy eyes. A small breathy sigh from behind her made her tense uncertainly. She reached instinctively for her scouter before she remembered where she was and who she was with. Moving as slowly and quietly as she could, she managed to turn over to face the person spooned against her back.

Trunks was still sleeping, strands of his long lavender hair draped over his face. They moved ever so slightly as he breathed. Fascinated, Kauli stared at his sleep softened features, looking at him as she never had before. His face was gentler in repose, less tense and guarded. She couldn't help but to wonder what he dreamed of as he slept. She lifted her hand slowly, hesitant fingers pushing back the obscuring locks of fine, silky hair.

He struck with blurring speed, grabbing her wrist in an unbreakable grip, and twisting her arm so that she cried out in sudden startled pain. His eyes were clear and deadly as he shot up from the bed to loom over her, his other hand pulled back to strike. "Trunks-sama!" she gasped, cursing her shaking voice. She really should have learned her lesson from last night.

Trunks shook his head, her voice penetrating his sleep fogged brain. He released her quickly and sat back hard on the bed. "Kauli-chan?" he asked in disbelief. She nodded, scooting back against the wall, resisting the urge to rub her reddened wrist. Trunks ran a hand over his face, trying to force aside the last remaining wisps of his usual nightmares aside. "Oh, Kami," he said, mortified by his instinctive reaction. "Did I hurt you?"

Pride stiffened her spine and she shook her head. "Of course not," she scoffed, sneering slightly. A ghost of a smile lifted the corner of his mouth as he looked at her.

"Of course not," he echoed wryly. He caught her wrist again, gently this time and examined the deep red fingermarks he had left on her soft skin. He could tell that they would bruise and he rubbed his thumb over the marks he had made in silent apology. "So." Trunks kicked himself mentally for the awkwardness he felt. He didn't know what to say now; he had never woken up with anyone like this. He finally settled for a noncommittal greeting. "Ohayo gozaimasu, Kauli-chan. Did you sleep well?"

She blinked, surprised a bit by his attempt at mundanity. "Aa. hai, very well. Arigato, Trunks-sama." They sat there in uncomfortable silence for several seconds, neither sure what to do or say. Trunks couldn't help but to notice how prettily her sleep tousled hair framed her face. Or how little of her lithe body her night clothes hid. He closed his eyes for a second, pulling together the composure that was second nature to him. "Trunks-sama? Daijoubu?"

He opened his eyes to find her eyeing him with a mix of annoyance and concern. "Aa, I'm fine, Kauli-chan. Just thinking, that's all." She nodded her head slightly, sliding to the edge of the bed. Trunks bit back a tortured groan as the motion made her loose shorts ride up to reveal the smooth length of her legs and the barest curve of her buttocks. Being around her brought out all the lustful urges he usually had no problems controlling.

"I suppose," she said, pausing to stretch to her full height, raising her arms above her head for good measure, "I should go back to my room to bathe and dress." Trunks nodded mutely, unable to even speak. "I'll see you at breakfast?" she asked, her voice slightly wistful. He nodded again, still not trusting his voice. She hesitated for only a second longer, then slipped out the door.

When she had left, Trunks fell back onto the bed, the breath leaving his lungs in a loud whoosh. "What's wrong with me??" he groaned aloud. "I've been around girls before and never had so much as a single dirty thought. I've spent barely twenty-four hours around Kauli and all I can think about is." He sat up, breaking off his trail of thought. "I need a shower."

Kauli followed her nose after she took a quick shower and dressed. She had enjoyed the sensation of the warm spray falling down on her body and she could have stayed longer, but her stomach had been most insistent that it be fed. The smells wafting on the air were delicious enough to make her mouth water. She had no idea what sorts of foodstuffs were in wait, but if they tasted half as good as they smelled, the meal would be excellent. A loud banging noise was echoing down the hallway as she approached the kitchen.

She paused in the doorway to take in the scene at the table. Vejiita was wolfing down an indecent (by human standards) amount of food. Mrs. Briefs was at the stove, filling another plate to add to the already laden table. Chibi Trunks was in a high chair, food all over the tray and himself while Buruma calmly scraped more food into a spoon and held it out to him.

Vejiita sensed the girl's ki as she approached the kitchen and glanced up. She straightened instinctively, lowering her eyes and he smirked. Buruma noticed his attention straying from his plate and turned to see what had managed to distract him from food. "Ohayo, Kauli-chan. Come get some breakfast," she said, smiling at the hesitant girl.

Kauli walked slowly to the table, giving Vejiita a slight bow before taking the seat on Bulma's far side. Mrs. Briefs immediately placed a heaped plate down in front of her. Fluffy pancakes, strips of crispy bacon, a heap of scrambled eggs and golden hash browns covered the plate from edge to edge. Kauli picked up a fork, glancing at Buruma to see how she was dealing with the food. To her surprise, there was nothing before the human woman but a cup of bitter smelling black brew and a small plate with a few slices of toasted bread. She stabbed a piece of the eggs, sniffing cautiously before placing it in her mouth. Her eyes widened as the flavor filled her mouth. She abandoned caution and decimated the pile of eggs, then turned her attention to the hash browns and bacon. She hesitated again over the pancakes, poking at them with her fork.

A sweet smell tickled her nose and she glanced up to see Vejiita dousing his pancakes with a dark, thick liquid. He then began to cut the mound with his fork, barely chewing before bolting each mouthful down. There was a small pitcher of the liquid next to her, so she reached over and carefully tipped it over her plate. The syrup oozed out, covering the stack of pancakes quickly. She used her fork to pry a small piece free and sampled.

Buruma watched Kauli from beneath her lashes, trying not to smile at the girl's first breakfast. Her enthusiastic enjoyment of the food was refreshing and her table manners weren't that bad either. She pursed her lips, wondering what she could do to keep Kauli occupied all day while Trunks and Vejiita were gone. Shopping was right out. Perhaps she might be interested in helping her in the lab. An idea that had been teasing at her all night surfaced again and she smiled slightly, knowing exactly what to do now.

Vejiita glanced over at his mate, wondering what was causing her to smirk with such satisfaction. He turned his attention back to his plate, glad to be escaping when she was evidently in one of her moods. He looked up in time to see his older son entering the room. "It's about damn time, boy!" he barked, tossing his plate down on the table. "I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to drag your lazy ass out of the bed!!" Kauli bristled slightly at the tongue lashing but kept her eyes carefully on the plate before her.

Trunks sat down on the opposite side of the table from his mother and smiled up as his grandmother served him a breakfast even larger than the one Kauli had been given. It was hard not to respond to his father's taunts, especially with Kauli sitting there, but he applied himself to the food before him. He ate quickly, not wanting his father any angrier than he already was. He knew he'd be getting it when they got in the Room.

"I'm done," he declared, pushing his chair back from the table and rising to take his plate to the sink.

"Hmf." Vejiita snorted. "Took you long enough. Let's go." He glanced over at Buruma, his eyes softening for a mere second. He turned without another word and strode out of the house.

"Sayonara, kaa-chan," Trunks said, brushing a quick kiss across Buruma's cheek. He hesitated, his eyes on the silent Saiyajin girl sitting past his mother. Much to her surprise, and Buruma's hastily covered delight, he reached out, running a callused finger down the side of her face. "Sayonara, Kauli-chan. I'll see you tomorrow." The words were more a promise than a statement and she nodded, unable to find her voice. He gave them one last smile and hastened out the door.

"Well!" Buruma said, bringing her hand down on the table. Kauli looked up at her, violet eyes wide. "Are you finished, Kauli-chan?" The girl nodded, glancing down at her empty plate as if she couldn't believe it was empty. "Good. I need your help with a little project of mine. Do you mind?"

"Not at all, Buruma-sama," Kauli said, rising quickly. "What do you need me to do?"

"Kaa-san," Buruma called to her mother, who was relaxing in the living room, waiting for her soaps to start. "I'm going to the lab. Is Trunks- chan all right with you?"

"Maa, maa, Buruma-chan," the perky blonde called back. "He's playing on his blanket, being a perfect angel. Go on and work, dear."

Buruma smiled, motioning for Kauli to follow her. Curious and nervous at the same time, Kauli did so, looking around with frank interest as they headed for Buruma's lab. There were so many new things to see that several times she paused for a better look at some of the works in progress. When they reached Buruma's private lab, she halted near the door as the lights flickered on, illuminating the room. In the center of the room sat two large crafts, one whole and in good condition, the other covered in moss and in a sorry state of disrepair. Buruma slipped a zipperfront jumpsuit over her clothes and tossed another to Kauli, who donned it wordlessly.

"This is Trunks-kun's time machine," Buruma said, gesturing at the newer craft. "It's recharging now, but it'll be ready for his return trip soon." She glanced over at the girl to see how her words affected her. Kauli stepped closer to the craft, something like awe on her face. She reached out and placed a tentative hand on the side of the ship.

Buruma picked up a bucket full of cloths and a large bottle of spray cleaner. "I've been working on repairing the other one," she explained. "Would you like to help me?" Kauli nodded, waiting for further instructions. They cleaned away the muck and grime in silence for a while until Buruma spoke again. "Kauli-chan? How do you feel about Trunks-kun?"

Kauli continued to scrub at the panel before her, unsure how to answer. Finally, she finished, placing the filthy cloth in another bucket with the rest of the used cloths. "I'm not really sure, Buruma-sama," she said at last, her violet-blue eyes dark and heavy. "I don't understand your human customs at all, and Saiyajin customs are useless here." She glanced over at the older woman. "I'm very confused," she admitted, snatching up another cloth and beginning to scrub again.

Buruma stared at her thoughtfully, cleaning at her own section of the hull. "I honestly don't know what to say either Kauli-chan. It seems to me that all I can tell you is what I told Trunks last night. You have to follow your heart, dear. That's all you can do sometime." She grinned wryly, thinking of Vejiita. Something else occurred to her and she looked back over at the silent girl. "And what were you doing in his room last night??"

Kauli gave her a puzzled look. "I could not sleep, and I asked him if I could sleep in his room. He agreed and we shared the bed." Buruma hid an amused smile. Her son was a consummate gentleman, it seemed. He'd never get anywhere with the girl like that. They worked in companionable silence for a while, Kauli levitating to reach higher areas of the machine. She wondered at the huge melted hole in the clear canopy, then decided to ask.

"Buruma-sama, what happened to this craft?" She stared down into the cockpit, noting the simple instrumentation inside.

"Aa. It's a long story, Kauli-chan, but as you've landed in the middle of it, I'll try to explain," Buruma said with a grimace. So she told the convoluted tale, cleaning around the boosters with a small tool that looked almost like a dental pick. "And that's how we ended up with Cell and TWO time machines," she said, glancing up at the silent girl. She grinned, speaking casually. "Of course, this one needs a lot of work before it can be used again, but with Trunks-kun's ship as a blueprint, it'll be easy to do." Kauli's head snapped downward, a determined look on her face.

"I would be willing to assist you, Buruma-sama," she said, turning her attention back to cleaning.

"Hai." Buruma said softly. "I rather thought you would."

~~~~~~~

Five hours later, Buruma called a halt. The older craft looked much better than it had this morning. All of the grime and debris had been cleaned from the outside, and barring a scrapes and dents, it was actually presentable. A robot arm overhead had lifted away the ruined Plexiglas bubble and Buruma had settled into the cockpit, examining the instrumentation with a magnifying glass, declaring it all repairable.

"Oi!" she exclaimed, washing her hands at the nearby sink. "I don't know about you, but I'm starving. We probably missed lunch, but there's plenty of things to heat and eat in the kitchen." She stepped out of the oily, grime covered overalls and tossed them into a bin in the corner. Kauli followed suit, walking along with Buruma to the living area of the giant dome.

They ate quickly, Kauli wolfing down four human sized servings while Buruma picked her way through one. They had found a note on the table from Mrs. Briefs informing them that she had taken Chibi Trunks to the park since it was such a lovely day. Buruma had other things to attend to, but she knew that Kauli wasn't the type to lounge around and watch soaps all afternoon. But how to occupy her?

The answer finally came to her with sudden realization. The girl was a Saiyajin. What did Saiyajin enjoy more than anything else? "Kauli-chan, would you like to train this afternoon?"

Kauli looked up, a spark of interest in her eyes. "Hai, Buruma-sama! Very much so!"

Grinning, Buruma pushed away from the table. "Go and get what you need and meet me right back here." The girl nodded, bouncing to her feet and disappearing down the hallway, the wind of her departure blowing Buruma's hair about her face. She was back, only minutes later, dressed in her Saiyajin clothing, grinning slightly in anticipation.

Buruma led her out to the gravity room, explaining the function of the device as they went. Kauli looked around as she entered, taking in the weight equipment in the corner and the faint scortch marks on the walls and ceiling. "What would you like it set for?"

She blinked. "Ten times, please."

Buruma frowned slightly. "That's a lot for a first session, Kauli-chan."

The Saiyajin girl smirked, chuckling slightly. "That's Vejiitasei's natural gravity," she explained. "I'm used to it."

Buruma shrugged, reaching for the computer controls. "It's pretty self explanitory," she said. "The key with the UP arrow increases the gravity in increments of five. The key with the DOWN arrow lowers it, again by five. This button," she indicated a large red button in the center. "shuts the system down. So does the red button on the panel next to the door. Need anything else?" Kauli shook her head, eyes gleaming in anticipation. "I'll call you when it's time for dinner then. Have fun." She smiled as she walked back out.

Kauli waited until Buruma had exited and the door closed behind her before activating the gravity machine. She let out a small "hm" of pleasure when the gravity increased. The lighter gravity here made her a bit dizzy sometimes. She did a set of stretches to warm up, then began to work through all the forms that she had learned from the educational system in her pod. They were embedded firmly in her memory, but only through actual practice could she perfect them.

She lost track of the time while working, pausing only once to increase the gravity to twenty. She could feel the strain on her muscles but by increasing her ki she could move freely. More or less. She was on the point of collapse, drenched in sweat, her muscles screaming in pain when the com buzzed. She halted mid-kata, almost losing her footing as she turned.

Buruma's face popped up on the screen. "Kauli-chan? You've missed dinner. Don't you think it's time to come out? You look terrible."

"I feel great," she replied, grinning. "I've never had such a hard workout!" Her stomach interrupted her by growling loudly. "But yes, I am a bit hungry."

"There's plenty waiting for you," Buruma said with a laugh. "My okaa-san made sure of that."

"I'll be right there." The screen went dark and Kauli shut down the gravity machine, feeling extraordinarily light as Chikyuu's normal gravity was restored. The first few steps were awkward after spending several hours in twenty times normal gravity, but she quickly adjusted, her muscles feeling rubbery as she walked back to the house.

Buruma was waiting in the kitchen, several full dishes on the table sending out wonderful aromas. Kauli's nose twitched as her mouth began to water. "I didn't realize how hungry I was!" she exclamed, dropping into the chair she had sat in at breakfast, looking to Buruma for permission.

"Help yourself," she said with a laugh. "Then you might want to take a shower. I can tell you've been working out." Kauli blushed slightly, pausing in mid-grab for the basket of rolls. "Eat all you want." She didn't need to be told twice and minutes later, the bowls were bare of anything save the occasional crumb.

Sated, Kauli leaned back in the chair, a delicious feeling of lassitude spreading all over her. Her eyelids felt like lead weights. "Kauli-chan." She blinked, Buruma's voice pulling her back to reality.

"Mmm?" She managed to bring her head up enough to focus on the blue haired woman.

"You're all done in. Why not bathe and go to bed?" Buruma asked, amusement in her voice.

"I-" She paused, yawning widely. "I think I'll do that. Oyasumi nasai, Buruma-sama."

"Oyasumi, Kauli-chan," Buruma said softly, watching the Saiyajin girl wobble sleepily out of the room.

She found her room easily enough, managing to shower without dozing off, then changed into a skimpy set of pajamas before heading into the bedroom. She caught sight of her reflection in the large mirror taking up part of the wall and paused. She couldn't help but to wonder if she was attractive by human standards. Her tail twitched slightly behind her, rubbing the back of her leg. The humans didn't have tails, she thought. Neither did any of the Saiyajin here. She grasped the furry length in her hand, considering. She would not give up her tail willingly. But would they ask her to remove it? She sincerely hoped not.

She leaned a bit closer to the mirror, examining her features. Her eyes were of a different shape than that of all the ningen females she had seen, more angular and a bit wider. Other than that, there wasn't a lot of difference. She bared her teeth, noticing one more difference. Saiyajin teeth were sharper and a bit more pointed then those of the humans. She shrugged, annoyed slightly by her foolishness. He either wanted her or he didn't. She wasn't going to change her appearance for him. She heaved a sigh and headed for the bed.

After tossing and turning for several minutes, unable to make herself comfortable, she sat up with a disgusted exclamation. "Kuso!" She walked across the dark room and out into the hallway. Peering cautiously up and down the its length, she stepped out and padded silently to the room she had slept in the night before. She opened the door and slipped in, going to the rumpled bed. She debated with herself for several seconds before crawling in under the covers. She burrowed her head down into the pillow, inhaling deeply of the scent clinging to the fabric. Trunks-sama. Within minutes, she was sound asleep.

~~~~~~~~

It was such a pleasant dream. His arm was heavy on her waist, strong hand splayed possessively over her stomach. His warm breath was tickling the strands of hair falling over her neck. She moved back against the warmth of his body, only thin fabric separating them. She could feel the smooth skin of his arms against her back, one muscular leg shifting to drape over hers. Content, she sighed.

It was the sound of loudly chirping birds right outside the window that woke Trunks from a deep, hard sleep. Groggy, he blinked heavy eyelids as his mind slowly cleared. It had been a long time since he had slept so soundly. He had become used to sleeping lightly, sword in hand, ready for anything. He stared down at the girl snuggled up against him, her face softened in sleep and he smiled slightly. This was a first for him, to wake up with a girl in his arms. But it was strangely pleasant, however. Vejiita had been absolutely brutal on him in the Room of Space and Time. They had come home, and he had headed straight for his room only to find it occupied. It had taken him only a moment to make up his mind. Stripping to his tank top and boxers, he had climbed into the bed and fallen into a sound sleep.

He was somewhat used to communal sleeping arrangements. He and his mother had often traveled from Capsule Corp into the surrounding pockets of communities to help with repairs and construction when it was safe. Most of the remaining people on earth had taken to living in underground bunkers, and privacy was not a large consideration. It was safer and warmer to sleep in groups. Most of the time the people sharing space were family members, but sometimes you slept where you could find room to stretch out.

He pushed away the memories of home and brushed his fingers across the surprisingly soft mass of dark hair spread across the pillow next to him. Something unfamiliar slid across his thigh and he bit back a startled exclamation, quickly realizing that it was only Kauli's tail. He reached down and found the mobile appendage winding around his leg and grasped it gently, trying to loosen its hold. He found her tail interesting, though, as he had never had one. He bore the scar where it had been, but it had been removed right after his birth. He wondered how it attached to her back and his fingers rubbed against the bare skin of her back, finding the point where fur met flesh. He was unprepared for the reaction his touch elicited, however.

Kauli let out a throaty moan and shuddered all over, her eyes opening slowly. Her back arched, pressing her body against Trunks' and she threw a leg over his own. Trunks stiffened, blushing beet red as she rubbed against him intimately. His breathing was labored as his own traitorous body responded. Pulling his hand back as quickly as if he had been burned, he met Kauli's unfocused eyes. Her lips curved up in a sensuous smile and she slid a hand up beneath his t-shirt, caressing his warm skin.

"I - uh - I didn't mean to wake you," he stammered softly. He waited for her to say something, anything and end the strained silence, but she continured to stare at him silently. When she finally spoke, her voice made him jump in slight surprise.

"Trunks-sama," she whispered, her eyebrows drawing close in puzzlement. "Why do you touch me, if you do not want me? I think that you do not know what it is that you want." He stared at her in pure amazement. As he did, his mother's words echoed in his mind. "You do what your heart says is right, Trunks-kun. It'll never lead you wrong." He blinked, staring into the violet depths of her eyes. Somehow, this Saiyajin girl had done what no other female had ever managed to do. He cared for her. More than he had ever thought possible. The entire time he had spent in the Room, all his subconscious thoughts had been of her. And now, with her in his arms, he found that he no longer had any desire to deny himself.

She watched his face carefully, blood pounding through her veins. What would he decide? She could see the conflict in his eyes and she wondered what he would decide to do. She had no qualms; her decision had been made. Her breath caught in her throat when he suddenly brushed his fingers over the root of her tail again, making her quiver.

His bright blue eyes gleamed down at her, amusement crinkling the corners. "You like that?" She shuddered, nodding her head jerkily. He lowered his head, catching her mouth with his own, tongue teasing her lips open. She let out a small moan and moved against him, a purring sound vibrating her body. It was with difficulty that he ended the kiss, breathing in rasping pants. He pulled away slightly, amused by the disappointment on her face. He gave her a slight grin, nuzzling the side of her face. "Go and get dressed," he whispered. "We're spending the day together."

"Nani?" she asked, surprised. "Should you not be training?"

He shrugged. "I've done all I can. Two days won't make a difference one way or the other." He smiled at her then, his long hair obscuring his face. "And. I'd really like to spend the time with you." Her answering smile was as bright as the sunlight pouring in throught the window. She sat up, the thin strap holding the chemise style top up sliding down to bare her shoulder and the top of a full breast. He felt his groin tighten at the sight, fisting his hand into the sheets to keep from reaching out to touch. She slid out of the bed, twitching the strap back up her shoulder, then stretched, rising up on her toes, arms over her head.

Trunks' eyes almost fell out of his head. She was wearing a silky ensemble, the top a creamy white color, and the bottoms were a startling aqua blue. Not only that. they were nothing but a pair of bikini panties. Very sheer bikini panties. He blinked, then blinked again. "Ah. did anyone see you walking around like that last night?"

"No," she said, her tail wrapping around her waist, making an interesting contrast betweent her smooth skin and the silky material. "Why?"

He sighed in relief. Good, now he didn't have to kill anybody. "It's not exactly something you want people to see you wearing." he said nervously, trying to explain the idea of human modesty to her. She shrugged, making one of the straps dip perilously. "Why not go and get dressed. Something casual. We'll go the amusement park."

He could tell she didn't have the foggiest idea what he was talking about. "All right."

"I'll grab a quick shower and meet you downstairs in a few minutes, all right?" She grinned and nodded, walking out the door and to her room. He sighed and threw back the covers, grimacing wryly. He had an almost painful erection and he hadn't wanted to get up with her in the room. He showered quickly, finding a navy blue tank top and a pair of faded jeans and throwing them on. He tied back his hair and found his boots, gave his sword a slightly pained look, then headed out the door without it.

Kauli was waiting for him downstairs, her hair in its usual ponytail. She was dressed in a white tank top and denim shorts, an open button front shirt in a bright shade of peacock blue over the tank. Her tail was wrapped around her waist, looking like an odd brown belt, but not all that noticable. Leather sandals covered her feet, which were surprisingly dainty. She smiled shyly when he entered the room, standing up.

Buruma glanced up at her son, noticing that there was something different in his attitude this morning. Vejiita had came into their room right when they came back, waking her from a sound sleep with his entrance. Not a word had been said about their training session. She grinned smugly. There hadn't been a lot of talking, period. Their lips had been busy with other matters.

"We're going out, kaa-chan," Trunks said, giving her a slight smile. "Don't expect us back anytime soon, ne?"

She nodded, trying to keep her face blank when what she wanted to do was stand up and cheer. "That's fine, Trunks-kun. I've got things to do today anyway." Like working on the other time machine, she thought slyly. "You two have a good time. There's some capsule cases next to the door if you think you'll need them. Got enough money?"

Trunks rolled his eyes. "Hai, kaa-chan. I'm good." He grinned rogueishly, looking surprisingly like his father. "I've got it all planned out." She nodded, standing up to give him a hug, surprising Kauli by giving her one too. She grinned broadly as the two youths went out the door, flopping back onto the couch to smirk. She was just TOO good sometimes..