Crimson Tide
Chapter Five: Your Joy, My Pain

It was another normal night at Capsule Corporation, more or less. Bulma was attempting to cook dinner for the entire family, eyes on a cookbook hand-made by her friend, Chichi. She was upset when Vegeta refused to eat the food she cooked one day, and she stormed to the new residence of the Sons --- Goten's mansion --- in frustration. To calm the angry woman down, Chichi quickly made a cookbook, a compilation of her best recipes that Vegeta would surely enjoy.

Bulma was trying it out now.

On the other hand, Vegeta was in his training chamber, doing what he did everyday. Train. Ever since Goku left for some planet to learn new techniques, Vegeta had been training harder than ever. To add to his frustration, his sparring partner, Goten, had been busy with his new movie that he was unable to spend time with him, bringing the Saiyajin no Ouji back to where he was before. Self-training.

The eldest of the Briefs-Vegeta brats, Trunks, was too hooked up with all the negotiations as he was now the Chief Executive Officer of Capsule Corporation. Because of his job, he never got the chance to resume training, much more spar with his father. During the day, he was at his office, facing countless number of papers in piles all over his desk. At night, he was in bed, trying to get back all the energy he had lost during the day.

Keeney, on the other hand, was once again locked up in her room, just as always. No one was really certain of what she does in her room every night. In Bulma's point of view, her eldest daughter was endlessly pondering over fashion magazines to design the perfect gown for her upcoming fashion show. For Vegeta, Keeney was secretly meditating and building up her ki. For Bra, her Oneechan was trying out her clothes over and over again, and parading in front of the mirror. For Boxer, she was talking with either Goten or her fashion peers for the whole night. But for Trunks, her little sister was merely thinking of Goten and no one else but him.

He was right.

Boxer was doing his usual routine: tinkering with tools and trying to invent new gadgets. That what was he was best at. He had tons of papers containing blueprints of his inventions, and once he manages to get a hand on some valuable materials fresh from the lab, he starts building them to his heart's content. In fact, he had a whole cabinet filled with all his inventions and blueprints. Trunks would take the blueprints, Goten would take a look at the inventions themselves.

And Bra... was pestering Bulma. As always.

"ONNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Vegeta's voice thundered all over Capsule Corporation, despite the clashing sounds of the TV set from Keeney's room, the head-banging music from the radio in Trunks' room, the booms and blams from Boxer's room, the sizzling of the garlic and other spices from the kitchen, and Bra's continuous whines.

After a couple more rounds of screaming, yelling, whining, wailing and crying --- as well as thundering footsteps, breaking china and dropping metals --- everyone was at the dining table, ready to devour all the food that was available. And they all looked eager to eat and get back to their own businesses.

The moment Bulma put down the plates, the race began.

The five saiyajins ate to their heart's content... make that four. Keeney was eating a lot slower than usual, although the quantity of the food she shoves into her mouth every night still didn't change. Just... a little bit slower, but Bulma didn't really notice what was wrong. Not when piles and piles of plates began to pile up in front of her, and she heaved a sigh.

Chichi was lucky. She only had three saiyajins to handle. And now, she didn't have to worry about them. Gohan was pampered and served well in some planet she could not seem to name, Goku was out on one of his planet-to-planet journeys, and Goten had his own mansion with no worries at all. Sometimes, Chichi would cook for Goten, but most of the time, her son would let her just go shopping and enjoy her life to the fullest.

Suddenly, Bulma noticed that it became extremely quiet. She peered over the piles of plates in front of her to see five saiyajins looking at her in some strange manner she could not interpret. Until she noticed that Bra was impatiently tapping her spoon and fork. A sheepish smile then escaped her as she tiptoed towards the kitchen and took what was left of the food she cooked.

"Well, Chichi, your idea definitely worked," she whispered as she set the food down, and the race resumed. She sighed as she continued to bring the empty plates back to the kitchen, and when they all seemed to calm down, she sat down and helped herself.

"Hey mom," Boxer began as he stuffed another heap of food into his mouth. "Ith madeh ah bluehprinth ofth---"

"Don't talk when your mouth is full, Boxer," Bulma reminded, as she stopped to help herself with another spoonful. When she finished chewing, she opened up the conversation once again. "Any news? Vegeta?"

"When's that blasted movie of Kakkarot's brat going to end anyway?! I need my dummy back!"

"Vegeta!" Bulma exclaimed as she glared at him. "That's not nice! He's even helping you out, and you just call him your dummy?"

"Sparring partner," Vegeta snorted. "Happy now, onna?!"

She sighed heavily, and then averted his eyes to her eldest son. "Trunks? Anything new?"

"Pretty much the deal with Boxer's blueprint," Trunks replied as he turned to his mother. "And Goten's new movie. We got a couple of requests to have some items released, although the negotiations are still ongoing. I mean, we can't just dash into things, can we? The matter still has to be investigated."

"But I don't think you'll need any more investigations," Bulma said. "All of Goten's movies were blockbusters. Surely this one will be."

Boxer grinned. "He's doing romance for the first time. That's what he told me."

"Oh?" Bulma asked. "He'll do just great! No wonder Chichi's so proud!"

"He's giving us free tickets too," Bra pitched in.

"Naturally," Vegeta snorted.

"You're going to watch the movie with us, Otousan?" Boxer and Bra asked together.

The older saiyajin smirked. "It would be a waste of time, especially with all that mush and crap, but he said he would not resume sparring with me if I would not watch it, so I have to. Stupid brat of Kakkarot."

A smile formed on Bulma's face. Vegeta was trying to make it sound as if he was really forced, but she knew that her husband has become really close to Goku's son. It was, of course, understandable. Goten had no one to train with and look up as a father except Vegeta. On the other hand, Vegeta could not hang out with his children because they were all doing businesses of their own. Trunks had become a workaholic, trying to surpass an invisible rival --- invisible to his family's eyes, that is --- that had just surfaced in the past few years. Keeney, Boxer and Bra had their own businesses to attend to as well, and it seemed as though it was only Goten who bothered to spend time with him.

"Well that's great," Boxer said with glee when Trunks cleared his throat loudly to give way for another topic. He was beginning to feel horrible --- upset, frustrated, you name it --- due to the fact that he was in his own home, but his family was still talking about the Son brat.

What's going to be the next topic? Goten's marriage? he thought sarcastically as he turned to his other siblings and smiled. "Hey, there's going to be another get-together to celebrate some important matters in Capsule Corporation's history."

"I'm not coming."

"Boxer, stop coming up with excuses!" Trunks snapped. "You have to come! You've been hiding under mom's skirt long enough, you have to come out and show them who you really are!"

"What do you mean hiding under mom's skirt?! I do not hide under her skirt!"

"It's an expression," Trunks said as he rolled his eyes. "Geez, Boxer. You seem touchy."

Bulma's happy expression faded away noticeably as she felt that a fight was about to ensue between her sons. She wanted to open up yet another topic, but she did not know what.

"Excuse me," Keeney said as she stood up. "I have to go to my room."

The dining table grew quiet as all of them followed Keeney with their eyes. And then, everyone else stood up and parted their ways.

A thousand thoughts ran through Keeney's mind, but all of them were of Goten and Celeste. Unshed tears glistened in Keeney's eyes as she thought of the possible aftermath of her silence. Goten and Celeste would be happily married, with a lot of kids running around, calling them Mommy and Daddy, while she would be left out in a corner, with no one to keep her company. Then she thought about the possible aftermath if she would tell Goten what she really felt about him. Goten would not propose to Celeste anymore, but instead to her. And they'd have a very wonderful family, and she'd be happy as long as she would be with him.

It struck her. What if... he really cared for her only as a friend? A best friend, a sister, but nothing more than that?

But even her words would be useless against that reality. However, that still wasn't proven. And it was worth a try to change things. After all, who knows? A few words could make the big difference. The big difference not only in her life, but the lives of everyone else as well.

She took a deep breath as she reached out for the telephone.

It rang.

She froze. The phone continued to ring for a couple more times, before she regained her composure and picked it up. However, the more she panicked when she heard his voice from the other end of the line. Along with that panic came excitement and joy as well. Her emotions were all jumbled up inside, but she knew that she must stay composed so that she would set the mood right, and for everything else to just flow into place.

"Hey Keeney," he greeted. "I've got something to tell you."

She blinked. She wanted to take the chance right then and there, but there was something holding her back. Something that was stopping her from telling him that she had something to tell him. Even though it wasn't what she truly wanted, she said, "Tell me about it."

"It happened."

Keeney was petrified. In shock, in disbelief, and in realization of the truth. Goten's words were loud and clear. It happened. Celeste had accepted the proposal. And there was nothing more to that.

It was over for her. Over.

"Keeney?" Goten asked as he noticed the sudden silence that took over. "Are you alright? Is something bothering you?"

She wanted to scream, she wanted to yell right then and there that he was her problem. But she couldn't. She had the heart not to. She loved him dearly, and she would never want to disappoint him, hurt him, or upset him. Even if she would suffer for the rest of her life, just not him. That's how much she truly loved him. "Nothing, Goten," Keeney answered. "I'm... alright. Congratulations."

"Keeney," he began, concern in his voice. "I can feel it. Something's not right. You've had that emotion... ever since I showed you the ring earlier. What's wrong, Keeney? You can tell me about it. I'm your best friend."

That's the problem! I'm only your BEST FRIEND! I love you, Goten! I really do! And it pains me because you're going to marry someone else, when there's someone right here, waiting for you, loving you! Keeney wanted to snap at him so badly, but she couldn't. "Just a little argument with the kids, that's all," she lied as she forced back sudden tears. "So... you got the wedding planned out already? Or..." she hesitated at the idea that came into her mind, but she decided to do his best friend another favor, nonetheless. "... do you need a wedding planner?"

"Wedding planner?" Goten asked in his same, naive tone.

"Yes, and if you want, I can be your wedding planner. I'll arrange everything, from the gowns to the venue to the food. Of course, you and Celeste get to pick stuff, but I'll make sure everything will be ready on the day of your wedding... Goten?"

"Food?"

She sighed. "Yes, Goten. There will be food."

"Great, Keeney! That's just awesome! Thanks a million! I really really love you! Well, you know that," he exclaimed. "Ummm... I gotta go... my mom has began her grandchildren speech already to Celeste and it might drive her nuts, so... I'll talk to you later...?"

"Yes, Goten, I'll talk to you later."

He hung up.

She dropped the phone as she realized what just happened. Yes, he loved her, but not the kind of love she had for him all along. He loved her as his best friend, as his sister, but nothing more than that.

Then why are you doing everything for him if he doesn't love you back?

She lay down on her bed, suddenly out of energy. She pulled out a picture frame, with his picture in it, from under her bed. As she ran her fingers through his picture, she replied to the voice within her, "Because I love him. And if this is what makes him happy, then..."

She swallowed as the pain crept to her throat. "Then... so be it..."

"Oneechan? You done?"

"In a while, Boxer."

The day had come. It had been two weeks since Goten proposed to Celeste, and because of Keeney's hard work, everything was ready, and everyone was as ready as they'll ever be.

Except... Keeney.

"Hey Keeney, time to go," Trunks called out as he entered her room, still fixing his tux. "The maid of honor can't be late for the wedding she had long been waiting for."

"You go on ahead," she replied with her back still turned away from them. "I still have to fix something up. The best man can't be late for the wedding he had long been waiting for."

"You're upset."

"About time you figured," she shot coldly.

His elder brother sighed as he pulled out a stool and sat beside her, and he could hear the sobs she had been forcing back. She was trembling noticeably, and her hand was clamped over the lipstick tightly Trunks was afraid she was going to break it. "Whoa, Keeney, calm down. That's your only lipstick. Mom's at Goten's house, getting Celeste all ready, and she took her make-up kit with her. You would look like the clown if that's the case. You haven't applied lipstick on your lower lip yet."

"Oniichan, you're not helping."

"Then what is wrong with you?"

She started sobbing. "I love him, Oniichan! I love him, I really do! I don't know why... I managed the first two weeks, getting everything ready... I really managed! But now... I'm breaking down... I don't know why... I don't think I can go to the wedding..."

"You don't want to go to the wedding," Trunks corrected.

"No, I want to. But... I don't think I can. Oh I don't know, Oniichan! I don't know! It's just that... my love for him... is tearing me up inside."

"You just have to accept things," Trunks blurted out. "Sometimes, you just have to. I mean, at first it was pretty hard for me to take that he got the role I wanted and I didn't, but I couldn't do anything about it anymore. So I had to accept it, and move on. That's what you have to do as well. And don't worry, you're famous and all. You'll meet a lot of men around. Just make sure you screen them properly, and that you pick the right one."

"Oniichan..."

"We have to go," he said, rising up from his seat. "Do you want to make Goten upset in his wedding day?"

She smiled. "Of course not! I want him to be the happiest man alive today!" she exclaimed as she put lipstick on her lower lip, tucked the lipstick into her bag, and dashed towards the door. "I'll race ya to the copter!" she teased as she pulled Boxer and ran down the stairs.

"Damnit, Goten... I lost to you... again." Trunks hissed as he gazed out of the window.

Then, he smirked.

"But it's not over yet."