Rise and Shine
By Duran the Gladiator
Chapter 14: …where angels fear to tread
The rest of the week passed very quietly. Goten stayed away from the palace and Capsule Corp., pretending his work took too much of him, but was silently counting the days that had passed. He snuck up at Dende's Lookout a few times to ask Mister Popo how she was doing.
"She's doing fine… I've helped her train all the basic moves, and now she's able to perform them on her own. She's a fast learner. Your father was right to send her here to strengthen!"
"Thanks, mister Popo. Tell her I came by, and that I miss her already…" I'm starting to get sick, he mentally added. It was true: he already had started to suffer the effects of the distance between them. Not wanting to collapse, nor to let anyone else know what was going on, he had stayed active and out of reach. It helped to train whenever he wasn't at work in the training centre, and food also seemed to alleviate his sorrow. But he wondered just how long he could still hold out…
"Uh… Yeah?" Goten was woken from his sleep by his cell phone. The fact that it was Pan didn't stop him being grumpy.
"Uncle, I didn't know you had a morning temper! I just called to ask if you wanna have lunch today, with me and Tora. You know, to talk a bit."
"Wait, lemme check my schedule… Uh-huh… 'kay, that's a deal!", he said, showing his infamous Son grin. Pan smiled.
"Great! I was wondering what it would take to get you to crawl out of your shell again, and then I figured food would do the trick… the usual place, okay? Don't be late!" She hung up, and Goten looked at the alarm clock – he was late for the morning class! He hurriedly got dressed, ate a bit and flew over to the training centre. Missy, as he called his co-worker Mistral Daniels, was teaching the class by herself, and was very glad to see her companion arrive. After class, she stopped him when he went to the vending machine.
"Goten, is something wrong? You seem a bit… distracted lately."
"Ah, love trouble… Nothing to be bothered about, Missy. I need to get a bit of fresh air… blow me some, will you?", he said. Missy chuckled – an old inside joke between them, which they invented when they were together in martial arts class, she being named after a passat current, he having a "family name" both literally and figuratively – and tossed him a bottle of water.
"Take it easy, "Daughter"… Come on, it's your favourite class in a minute. I'll betcha it's so much fun having dozens of teenage girls drool over you…", she said with a cheesy grin as she head to the office. "Seems more fun than replying to letters of satisfied or disappointed customers…" She didn't fail to notice Goten's lack of enthusiasm, even if it was the class he never looked forward to, and sighed, wondering what was on her partner's mind.
"Now, people, where did we stop last lesson?", asked Goten. A girl with freckles and braces answered:
"I think it was pulling out of a dive, mister."
"Oh. Yeah. Let's see if you've practiced…"
The lesson seemed to last an eternity to Goten, and the fact that none of the girls had practiced didn't help one bit. One girl even failed to pull out of a dive and threatened to fall flat on her face if he hadn't caught her in time – she didn't seem to mind, and the thought that she'd pretended crossed his mind. He was glad when Missy entered and told them class was over.
"Remember to tell your parents they have to come here next week, since it's time to tell them about your progress… some of you may even advance!", she added sarcastically. "Seriously, girls, it would help if you got the teacher out of your mind… Goten!!" Missy ran from the group when she saw Goten rush past her, to the toilets. She stood and waited as he spilled the contents of his stomach, worried. "Goten, are you alright?"
"Yeah… Uh…", he said between waves of nausea. "God, where'd that come from… I felt fine a minute ago!"
"Here, this always works for me… take my advice and head home now. Just go, I'll manage. Besides, if you really want to, I can call Dane to help me…"
"You sure he wants to help?", Goten asked as he changed.
"Hey, what else are brothers for? He'll love to! Especially when I tell him he'll be teaching teenage girls all afternoon…", she said with a grin, "Poor girls. Anyways, be glad it's Sunday tomorrow, so you can rest."
"Well, if you're that determined to let me go… I'm off! Thanks again, Missy. You're the best co-worker I can imagine!", he said when he took off and headed to the place where he was about to have lunch with Pan and Tora.
"Pan, Tora, nice to see you!", said Goten, still a bit pale, as he arrived. His niece and her boyfriend were already there, drinking a nice cool drink.
"Goten! Hey, we were afraid you were going to forget about us… C'mon, sit down, we were just about to order." They placed their order and talked while they were waiting for their food to arrive.
"So… how have things been lately? We haven't seen you ever since you left in such a hurry after the dinner…", asked Pan while noticing a faint trace of a blush creeping on her uncle's cheeks.
"Well, yeah, I had to go then… urgent business, you see. And, what's new with you?"
"Oh, just the usual. Say, Tora…", she suddenly whispered, "Isn't that…"
"Fern?!" Goten turned to where the two were looking. Sure enough, walking over the square, was Fern… and he was together with Marron! The two looked too caught up in their conversation to notice the three sitting in the restaurant. "Damn, he won her over. Lucky son of a bitch he is…", he said, smiling genuinely.
"Lucky Marron too, by the looks of it…", said Goten, glad that their lunch had arrived in the meantime, but suddenly he was overcome with another wave of nausea. He pushed his steak away forcefully. "Uh… I'm not… I've gotta go." He stood from his chair, a bit unsteady.
"Goten, what's wrong?", asked Pan, "You usually are happy with food…" But she didn't get the chance to finish her sentence: Goten fainted, shaking.
"Quick, Pan, let's get him to his house!", stated Tora as he rose from his chair and lifted the unconscious Saiyan. "He's seriously ill!"
"I'll call grandmamma, she'll know what to do."
"Hello… Oh, hello Pan! Huh? Ill, you say? Tell me what's wrong… uh-huh… and then he fell? Yes… I see. Bring him here. Yes… well, because I think it's caused by the bond… The bond, you known, with Bra… I don't know where she is either, but she had better return soon! Is he conscious again? Good, tell him to come here. Yes, very clever of you. Bye Panny!"
\Goku, you heard, right? I didn't tell her where you and Goten sent the princess. But I expect an explanation!/
\Yes… You see, at the dinner, they were kind of caught in a moment by me and Bulma. Imagine Bulma freaking out on her daughter cuddling with a man that's seven years older than her. Well, there you have the image… but instead of obeying her mother like she was used to doing, she revolted and told her mother she'd run away until she was old enough for Goten. And I, in order to shorten her absence for everyone to benefit, suggested…/
"But why?", Chichi asked out loud.
"Because the poor girl has never been able to go outside the castle, or walk around freely, that's why. She's been confined in her room since birth." Goku's simple, but effective reply hit her hard.
"I… How can Bulma do such a thing? How could she let Vegeta do such a thing?!"
"I don't know for sure… I think they grow towards each other in character, so maybe Vegeta's cold-heartedness rubbed off on her." They were interrupted by the doorbell, and the maid coming in, telling them that Goten had arrived with a suitcase.
"Mom…", muttered Goten, "Oh mom, I felt so bad…"
"Let's get you to bed, dear. You'll be staying here until she's back!" She smiled as he did, obviously comforted. "I hope for you that she returns soon…"
"Oh, wait, that reminds me… I have to go back to my place for a few last minute preps, for when she arrives. I'll be right back!" He left in a hurry, and was indeed back in ten minutes.
"What is it you went to do?"
"Oh, just… a little surprise for her…", said Goten, smiling weakly as she led him to one of the guest rooms and made sure he had everything he would need.
"Finally done!", said Bra as she flew back to Goten's place. She had noticed every bit of the changes that had happened. First of all, her beautiful hair had grown to waist-length, and she wore it loose, so it fell as smooth and sea blue as a waterfall. Then, of course, she had grown a considerable amount. She had gotten some clothes from Mister Popo, old training gi's of Gohan when he was a teenager, but desperately needed the feel of a decent piece of clothing on her. Lastly, she had lost much of the innocent features of a child: her face was less round, her eyes seemed more pronounced, and a funny little mole had shown itself directly below her left eye. She knew she'd make Goten very pleased with her new appearance, but secretly hoped he'd not see her in the scruffy clothes of his older brother.
When she entered, the first thing she saw, was a note.
"Dear Bra," it read, "I guessed you'd need some new clothing and a nice shower before you came to see me, so I bought you some stuff. If you're looking for me, I'm at my parents', suffering bonding sickness. I take it you've felt awful the last few days (years) as well… I hope the stuff I bought you, is to your liking. But I'll bet it beats my brother's old outfit. Greets, your Goten." She smiled, and her smile turned into a grin when she saw what he'd bought her.
The first item she noticed was a dress in a deep blue colour, which she knew would fit her like a second skin. She was wondering how he'd known when she noticed the other things: soap, perfume, and a beautiful sliver necklace with an emerald dangling from it. She took her time to shower and to get dressed. Just when she wondered how she was supposed to fly in that dress, she found a capsule car, probably his dark blue convertible, she realised.
Back at the palace, Chichi heard a car pull up, someone slam the door shut and come in without knocking.
"Uh… hello, dear…"
"Is Goten here, miss Chichi?"
"Uh, yes, he's here. But why…?" She didn't have the chance to finish her question, though, as her youngest son came running down the stairs and caught the young woman in a loving hug.
"I'm so glad you're back!", he said. She just smirked and gave him a kiss on the forehead. It was then that Chichi realised who the girl had to be, and she was truly stupefied.
"Bra? Is that you?"
A/N: Yes, indeed… Poor little Goten, having to suffer that much… but what can I say, no pain no gain! I do intend on making him and Bra very happy together, and the future still holds some surprises for Tora and Pan… what will happen next chapter? Thanks again to Parron/Maruta-chan (well, I am always looking forward to your reviews) and all of the others (love y'all!). Now I wish you farewell, and toodles…!