Chapter Eight

"Damn it, Trunks, you're not a teenager anymore!" Bulma paced in the President's office that had once belonged to her and her dad.

"Then why are you yelling at me like I'm one?" Trunks replied carelessly and had to wince at the killer look he received from his mom.

"Cause you're acting like one. Honestly, ditching work to go to a concert! What were you thinking?" Bulma demanded.

"I was thinking I wanted to be normal for once," Trunks grumbled miserably to himself, "Mom you can't ever say you never skipped work to go on a shopping spree."

Bulma paused in the middle of her tirade to study her son. He was physically fit, though it would be impossible for him not to, however there was tiredness about his eyes . . . weariness . . .

Normal, Bulma barely resisted the urge to shake her head, just being my son would have prevented him from being . . . normal.

"Trunks," Bulma sighed, "If you are going to take these outings during work than at least have the decency to call in sick . . . like I did."

A delighted grin crossed her son's face as her words sunk into his rather thick head. Inordinately pleased with herself Bulma returned his delight.

"After all Trunks, you're an adult so you should be smart enough to supply excuses," Bulma remarked dryly despite her smile.

"Right," Trunks smiled dimmed a bit, "Did you bring dad with you?"

"Yes why?"

Bulma found herself alone with only the door swinging shut the only evidence of her son's movement.

"What did he do now?"

**

Zarah shook himself, he had hit his head really hard.

"Sas?" He recognized his sister's voice.

There was a sudden yelp of pain.

"I suggest you answer me Zarah," his sister hissed at him.

He blinked up at her trying to clear his vision when he stood up abruptly.

"Sasoli, what are you doing with Terry?"

Sasoli was holding the hapless secretary by the neck with narrowed eyes. A scared whimper escaped Terry as her eyes darted to him for help.

"I could ask you the same," Sasoli sneered at the terrified woman in her grasp, "Pathetic."

Something dangerous flashed in the woman's eyes before it disappeared so quickly it made Sasoli wonder if she was seeing things. Well, there was only one way to find out and that was to push her further.

"What makes you worthy of my brother's attentions, hmm?" Sasoli nearly smiled when the woman glared at her.

"Sasoli," a hand gripped her arm, "That's enough."

Brother and sister glared at each other for a heated moment.

"If she can't stand my test than she won't pass Mom's."

Zarah frowned, "There is no need to test her, she isn't mine."

Terry's eyes widened with surprise at his words. How could he say that?! After everything they had been through together!

Sasoli released Terry without another thought, "Then why were you on the ground together?"

Zarah glanced at Terry only to find her studying his carpet with a fascination born of desperation.

"I slept here last night, Sas, I am not sure why Terry was on the floor," Zarah watched a fierce blush take possession of Terry's face.

"I . . ." Terry's eyes darted around the room for any excuse to be there when she saw the muffins, "I was bringing Mr. Briefs his breakfast when I noticed he was on the ground. I wasn't aware he was s-sleeping and thought he might need medical attention."

Terry glanced at them nervously to see if they had bought her excuse when her eyes caught on Zarah's shirt. He must have been uncomfortable sometime during the night and undid several of his buttons. She hadn't noticed when he was lying down due to the fact that he had been on his side, effectively keeping it closed but now . . . His half open shirt gaped open to reveal a tightly muscled chest.

"Terry, I told you the other day, you are not allowed to come into my office unless given permission to do so," Zarah grumbled rubbing his forehead.

Sasoli watched Terry drool over her brother for exactly ten seconds before she decided she had had enough.

"Leave," Sasoli ordered the other woman snapping her out of her daze.

Terry mouthed a quick apology and dashed into the relative safety of her office.

"What are you doing here, Sas?" Zarah picked up a muffin, sniffed it, and took a bite.

"Someone has to clean you up. Look at you, you're a mess," Sasoli smirked at her brother.

"Hn," Zarah pulled his shirt out of his pants so he could fix it.

"Your buttons are misaligned," Sasoli pointed out as she stole a muffin from the desk.

"How did that happen?" Zarah shrugged and undid them.

Both of their heads snapped up as they felt the unmistakable rise of ki. They were out of the door the next second to confront it.

**

Vegeta was not having a good day.

First he got to listen to his wife rant and rave about the irresponsibility of their son. Then she decided to drag him with her so she could yell- discuss this with Trunks in person.

And now. . . he was surrounded by girls with high-pitched voices.

"I haven't seen you around," one voice flirted, "What's your name?"

Vegeta ground his teeth in frustration, "Leave me alone."

"Oh, a dark one!"

"He's so cute!"

"A real bad ass!"

"I love a man in tight clothes!"

Vegeta didn't even notice when his power level raised with his temper.

An arm looped through his, "I'll let you take me out if you ask me."

"Get. Off. Of. Me." Vegeta jerked away from the woman desperate to just get some air only to find that he was trapped . . .

He didn't take that very well and was prepared to make his own way through--

"Dad!"

"Uncle Vegeta!"

"Daddy!"

"Uncle Vegeta!"

Vegeta allowed his tensed muscle to relax as the group of girls seemed to evaporate. His relations had saved him from blowing up the entire the floor.

"Daddy," Bra smiled at him, "You didn't tell us you were going to visit today."

"I didn't realize I was coming," Vegeta let his lip curl, though the presence of his family had soothed his temper completely.

The other three members let out a silent breath. When suddenly there was a squeal of delight and the women magically reappeared, only around Zarah.

"Oh man, I knew he was dreamy but this!"

"Here my number!"

"He's too hot to stay single!"

"No, take my number!"

Eyes wide Zarah backed away from the screaming women with his hands up as if to try to keep them away.

The other Briefs watched the situation with surprise and found the reason for the supposed insanity was Zarah's shirt . . . or rather the fact that he had never gotten around to rebuttoning it and hung open. Sasoli made an alarmed noise gaining the attention of her cousins.

"What is it?" Trunks frowned.

"His tail," Sasoli flicked her eyes to Trunks before returning it to her brother.

Sure enough Zarah's tail was hanging behind him instead of being wrapped around his waist. The only reason the mob of girls hadn't seen it was due to the fact that Zarah was wearing a long shirt and their eyes were glued to his chest. There was no way for him to rectify the situation without drawing attention to his extra appendage.

"What the hell is going on in my company?!"

All motion stopped as everyone turned to find the former President Bulma Briefs with a dangerous expression on her face.

All the women gulped, they remembered the times she had caught them hitting on her son. The results hadn't been pretty and Trunks had become that much more unattainable.

"Go back to WORK!"

The women employees visibly scattered before the wrath of Bulma Briefs.

Sasoli cleared her throat catching Zarah's attention and motioned to her waist. Confusion settled on his features as he glanced down at his waist, his tail snapped around his hips.

"Zarah," Bulma stepped up to her nephew, "I believe there is a dress code."

"I . . ." Zarah yanked his shirt closed, "You see . . . um . . ."

Bulma raised an eyebrow at her uncharacteristically flustered nephew.

"He was fixing his shirt in his office after I threw his secretary out," Sasoli spoke up helpfully.

Everyone's brows went up in surprise at the accidental insinuation.

Trunks eyebrows lowered into a dark expression while Vegeta became amused.

"It was buttoned wrong," Zarah growled at his sister, "Nothing happened."

"What was Terry doing in your office while you were half dressed?" Trunks demanded, "Consorting with the staff? I thought you knew better."

Zarah's expression darkened as well, "She snuck into my office. I do know better than to involve myself with an employee, after all, you were such a sterling example."

Trunks snarled at the reminder of his ex-girlfriend who had tried to blackmail him after finding out he could fly.

"Well, at least I didn't try to kill her like you did."

The intensity level jumped to unbearable as the two cousins squared off.

The sound of chuckling sliced through the tension, "Is this true brat? Were you entertaining your secretary in your office?"

"No, she snuck in while I was sleeping," Zarah answered honestly.

"Sleeping?" Bra repeated surprised.

"Why were you sleeping in your office?" Bulma frowned.

"So that's where you went," Sasoli mused out loud, "He activated adult rights last night, Uncle."

Understanding made Vegeta nod his respect to his nephew, Zarah returned it hesitantly.

"Why didn't you come to our house, Zarah?" Bulma touched his arm, not quite sure what was going on.

"That would have defeated the purpose of his stand," Vegeta gave his wife a look, "I'll be more willing to explain on the way home."

"All right, all right," Bulma glanced at Zarah over her shoulder, "Good luck."

Zarah let a wry smile cross his lips at her remark before he turned to go back to his office. Bra quickly followed him down the hallway determined to find out exactly what was going on.

"Sasoli," Trunks motioned for her to walk with him, "Let's talk in my office."

"Nice to see you too, cousin," Sasoli grinned at him, knowing exactly what he wanted to talk about.

Trunks smirked, "All right, you caught me. What the hell do you mean 'adult rights'?"

"You mean you don't know?" Sasoli raised her brows with mock surprise before leading the way to his office.

"Sasoli," Trunks followed, "Come on, tell me."

Sasoli stopped a moment, "He declared his independence from the cave and will not be able to return home until he can present a mate."

She picked up her pace again only to leave a shocked Trunks behind.

**

"What do you mean mate?!" Bra exclaimed with surprise dripping from her tone.

Zarah dropped his head on his desk miserable.

"She just on my case about being an inventor and single," he grumbled, "Then last night I discovered Terry was hitting on me and I . . . blushed."

"You blushed!" Bra couldn't imagine it.

He nodded, "You know my mom."

Bra nodded with perfect understanding, her dad could be the same way sometimes.

**

"So he has to get a place of his own and a wife to prove himself as a competent male," Bulma gave her husband a skeptical glance.

"Yes, and without the physical help pf his parents," Vegeta confirmed, "Ava will be strict to tradition and only offer him advice from now on."

"Isn't that extreme?" Bulma winced.

"If he cannot survive on his own than he will have proven he was never meant to be a warrior," Vegeta shrugged, "Zarah is very resourceful, and he will be successful."

"You sound very confident," Bulma sniffed at his tone.

"He is of the Vegeta line."

"He's a Briefs," Bulma nodded, "Hey, how come this hasn't come up before."

"None have felt the need to settle down," Vegeta smiled, "Gohan is the only one to leave the home, all the others still stay despite their age. Family is a rare thing for a saiyan to experience, just ask Bardock, the offspring seem to sense this and are reluctant to leave."

"So you're saying it's an instinct?" Bulma lifted a brow, "What about your sister?"

"We were each other's guardians and when I became involved with you she took off on her own. Didn't you ever wonder why she never spent the night after she moved out?" Vegeta inquired.

"Yes, she wouldn't even stay to eat sometimes," Bulma frowned.

"She declared her right to run her own life," Vegeta sighed, "and now Zarah has done the same."

Bulma paled, "What if he moves away and we never see him again? Is there a time limit?"

Vegeta snorted at her.

"No time limit exactly. He'll stay close. His life is here, let's just wish him luck, it will be difficult to find a mate within the city."

"Why should that be so hard?"

"He lives in a cave, Bulma."

"Oh, I see."

**

"So what are you going to do?" Bra's eyes were sympathetic.

"What I am expected," Zarah started typing on his computer, "Luckily I know of a cave that will do nicely. It's on a cliff so no animals inhabit it."

"A cave?" Bra winced, "Um, since you are going wife hunting . . . wouldn't a cabin be a bit more appropriate."

Zarah looked at her blankly.

"What's wrong with a cave?"

Bra flicked her hair over her shoulder with slight annoyance.

"Be serious, Zarah, not every girl dreams of living in the wild. Not to mention living in a cave," Bra twisted her lips, "You'll be lucky if they didn't think you were a psycho."

Zarah shrugged, "I'll find someone."

"Someone who can pass the tests of both your mom and sister?" Bra asked dryly.

Zarah's shoulders slumped a bit though he maintained a determined expression.

"I'm not saying it's impossible," Bra gave him a considering look.

Zarah hung his head for a moment before turning to face his cousin.

"Then what are you saying?"

Bra grinned at him.

"Well, I just happen to know this girl--"

"Bra, I am not going to participate in your matchmaking schemes, Bra," Zarah gave a hard look.

"Wrong, you gave me your word that you would go out with my friend," Bra reminded him smugly.

Zarah growled at her though she only smiled sweetly in response.

"I think I have the perfect girl in mind and the best part is you know her," Bra's smile turned smug when she saw interest spark in his eyes.

"Really," Zarah couldn't help the interested note in his tone.

"Really," Bra was very pleased with his reaction.

**

"What do you mean he's not coming back?"

Ava sighed at her mate's question, it was times like this she wished her planet hadn't been destroyed.

"You said it yourself, he's not a little kid anymore."

17 caught the slightly lower sound that he had to train himself to hear, "Ava, what's wrong?"

Ava closed her eyes on her tears as 17 cupped her face in his hands. She felt his soft lips on her forehead and then, suddenly she was in his arms. Then, there were times like these she was almost glad she had to mate an alien.

"Ava," 17 whispered into her hair, "He was bound to grow sooner or later."

"Don't make fun," Ava hit his chest.

17 couldn't help the smile that crossed his face.

"Ava, you do realize that most humans throw their kids out at the age of eighteen."

"What? Why?" She met his eyes with shock and dismay.

17 chuckled and kissed her.

"I don't know, they're not superior saiyans."

A grudging twist of the lips, "Not everyone can be superior like us."

17 picked his wife and spun her around, "Hey let's go on a date! We've never been on a date."

Ava relaxed her grip as he stopped spinning her and looked at her mate with bemusement.

"A date? Isn't that what you do when you're looking for a mate?"

"Most of the time," 17 tilted his head, "But anyone can do it and you can wear the clothes I bought you."

Ava's face fell, "But . . ."

"But?" 17 locked his arms around her, he wasn't going to let go until she agreed.

"I . . . don't know how to wear some of the clothes," Ava tucked her head into his shoulder.

"Don't worry about it," 17 nuzzled his wife, "I'll take care of everything."

End of Chapter Eight

AN: Gah! Sorry! I am running into technical difficulties, my new computer won't accept my Palm. ::Pout:: So there might be a lag in future chapters. Sorry. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, you guys make me smile.