Chapter 2
Goten flung his hair back as his head broke the surface of the lake. The stars reflected in his dark eyes as he looked at the indago sky. The crescent moon illuminated the lake as the saiya-jin bathed. The only sound that could be heard was that of the twin waterfalls in the distance. He swam about, enjoying the feeling of the water. He had never stopped thinking about Natari, wondering what he should do about his situation. He got out of the lake, putting on his pants. No matter how much he bathed, his skin was always rough to the touch, another thing that turned Paris and Bra off. He ran his fingers through his hair until it was in its normal state.
Suddenly, Goten heard a shrill howl of pain, literally. He automatically knew it was Natari. With all speed, he sprinted to the source of her cry. She stood there, blood oozing from a serious injury on her shoulder. It was who she was with that caught Goten off guard, his own brother. He had a black eye and blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth.
"What the fuck is your freakin' problem!?" Goten exclaimed.
"Goten, stay out of this. This is one of the creatures that Dad told Mum about," Gohan replied.
"You frigain bastard!" Gohan turned around, outstretching a hand, palm facing Goten.
"Don't make me, bro. I will. Dad said these creatures are dangerous." Goten got in battle stance.
"You don't stand a chance against me. Go fuck Videl!" That set Gohan off.
"You want to defend this thing!? So be it, Goten! So be it! But I'm not alone." Goten arched a brow. Before he could say anything, Trunks and Yamcha appeared.
"Keh, none of you have trained in ages," Goten growled. "Trunks and Gohan have jobs, and Yamcha's just lazy! Bring it! I dare you!"
"All of us combined are too much for you," Yamcha said. "You've become cold and heartless! You don't have the courage like the rest of us! We'll win!"
"Kiss my ass, fag!" Gohan, knowing that Goten was still powerful, instantly went super saiya-jin 2. He hadn't had to for a while, due to the power of the Z Sword, making him extremely powerful, but Goten could still put up a good fight. Trunks went into super saiya-jin, though the thought of fighting his one time best friend could only be knocked away by his hate of his new attitude. Yamcha powered up as much as he could, white ki surrounding his body. Goten smirked. "This should be fun." Goten clenched his fists and went super saiya-jin, not wanting to go to the second level just yet. After all, these wern't enemies. Gohan put an arm in front of his friends, not taking his eyes off of his sibling.
"I'll start, you two can come in after." Goten grinned confidently.
"You're digging your own grave." However, he was underestimating his power. Gohan disappeared and materialized in front of Goten, launching a powerful fist into his face. Goten fell back but did a flip and landed on his feet. "Cheep shot." Gohan was about to punch again but Goten ducked and buried his fist into his older brother's stomach. He jumped off the ground and kneed him in the side. Gohan retaliated by spinning around and kicking Goten's neck, sending him into a tree, which then cracked and fell over. He wobbled to his feet, feeling the warm blood ooze from his shoulder. "Is that all you got?"
"Not even close."
"You know big brother, there is a lot that I've learned in the time that I've lived in the woods," Goten told him, spreading his feet firmly in the dirt and putting the heals of his hands together in front of his chest. "Zartakar..."
Gohan put his hands together at his side. "Kamehame...."
Goten pushed his hands forward. "BLAST!"
Gohan brought his hands forward. "HA!" The blue blast of the kamehameha wave jetted out from Gohan's hands to meet a beam of black energy with blue spiraling around it. The two attacks met, but Goten couldn't keep up forever. The blast was coming form a super saiya-jin at the next level, so he had the disadvantage. In the end, his blast gave away and both attacks came hurtling at Goten. With a cry he was engulfed in the blasts. Once the light died down, they could see Goten on the ground, his skin covered in third degree burns and cuts. He laid in a large puddle of dark blood, not moving. Gohan turned to Natari.
"Now I can get rid of you, bitch. I see through you." He tore at her and punched her jaw, sending her flying into a rock with yet another howl. Her head banged against it, blood flowing like the waterfalls from her skull. She didn't move, just barely conscious. At the sound of the howl, Goten had opened his eyes and struggled to the ground. With and a scream of fury, he went to the next level.
"YOU FUCKIN BASTARD!" Goten tore at him like a bullet and as Gohan turned around he delivered a round house kick to his ribs. Gohan quickly recovered and gave a powerful right upper cut to Goten's jaw. He didn't stop there, however. Once Goten was on the ground, he tried to smash his foot into his chest, but Goten was able to move over, resulting in his upper arm taking the blow. With an ear splitting scream blood spilled from his arm, shoulder, and mouth.
"You've gone evil, Goten! You're protecting the enemy! That makes you the enemy! Trunks, Yamcha! We have to do this! He is no longer on the side of good." Goten winced, but refused to give up. He could no longer feel his arm, making it useless.
"I'm not evil." He turned his head and spat out blood. "Just pissed." Goten felt an elbow crash into his rib cage. More blood spurted from his mouth as he saw Yamcha. With all his might he punched the two at the same time, getting them off of him. The two got to their feet, towering over Goten.
"You are evil, Goten. Admit it," Yamcha growled. "What happened to you? You live in the woods and hate everyone. You crossed over." They were about to deliver a nasty blow to Goten, but Trunks appeared out of nowhere, headbutting Yamcha and plowing him into Gohan.
"He isn't evil, you shit heads! Get out of here! Go! Leave the girl and him alone before I use my sword!" the son of Vegeta ordered. Gohan and Yamcha, surprisingly, obeyed.
"He is, Trunks," Gohan replied. "He isn't my brother anymore. We'll get him. Him and that bitch."
"Call her a bitch again, fag, and I'll rip you to shreds, and that's a promise," Goten growled through clenched teeth. With that, the two left. Goten closed his eyes, struggling to breathe.
"You okay, buddy?" Trunks asked.
"Trunks, don't worry 'bout me. Tend to Natari." However, she was already conscious. She lifted Goten's body onto her knee, holding his head gentilly. She stroked his hair and stared at him with glassy eyes.
"Goten, don't let go. Please," she urged. Trunks took him from her, holding him in his strong arms.
"Damn it, Korin Tower's too far away, it would be too late by the time I got him there."
"Quick, I brought some things with me from my planet in my ship. I have a rejuvination tank. Follow me." As they sprinted through the woulds, Goten smiled weakly.
"Hey, Natari, you okay?" he asked. "M sorry if I came little late." Before he could hear her response, he closed his eyes and passed out.
Water was the first thing Goten felt when he woke up. It wasn't exactly something he was used to waking up to. He furrowed his brows. Suddenly the water drained and he collapsed to the bottom. He removed the mask over his mouth and nose then the wires connected to his body. The side door wooshed open and he came out, grabbing a white towel and wrapping it around his waist. Trunks leaned against a white wall and Natari sat in a chair, holding her bandadged head.
"Where is he?" Goten growled. "Where are they?"
"Gohan went home and Yamcha's at the Kame House," Trunks answered. "So, how ya feeling?"
"Oh, just wonderful." He looked at Natari. "So, what happened back there?"
"That guy you called Gohan attacked me and called these two to help," she answered. "I got in a fight with him, but it didn't last long since you showed up." Goten turned his back to them, reaching for his ripped and bloody pants and boxers.
"He better hope I never see his ugly face again, or he'll get his ass kicked." As quickly as possible he put his pants and boxers on. "As long as I draw breath, I will be his better."
"I sense that you were once nothing like this," Natari said, smirking.
"Believe me, he wasn't," Trunks told her. "Quite the opposite as a matter of fact. He's had two girl friends aswell." Goten spun around, glaring daggers at Trunks.
"I have no use of love! I told you not to mention it around me!" He sighed. "M goin back to my tree. I need some sleep. Where's the way out?"
"Oh, no you don't," Natari replied, getting up. She grabbed for a roll of bandages. "You just got out of the tank. You aren't healed yet." Much to Trunks's amusement, he watched as the tough saiya-jin struggled under the grip of the intotsu. She was stronger than he thought. He didn't want the bandages, but he had no choice. He was only making things worse. By the time she had successfully dressed his shoulder, she went for his rib cage. "So, Goten, do all saiya-jins have abs like yours?" Goten and Trunks almost fell over at the comment.
"Leave me alone, woman," he growled. "I don't like compliments." She narrowed her eyes and slapped his back playfully. Goten let out a shrill cry at the feeling and jumped into the air. Damn wolf's trying to kill me! Trunks howled with laughter. Goten laughed sarcastically as he got the pain under control. "Ha ha ha. Laugh it up, Trunks. Laugh it up."
"Sorry, man, it's just," he whiped his eyes, "I've never seen a look like that on you before, not since we were kids." Goten shot him an icey glare, then continued to let Natari dress his abdomen.
"Uh, Trunks, you going home?"
"Yeah, Mom and Maron went back, and I have work tomorrow," he answered.
"Then I'd better stay. I don't trust Gohan," he told them. "You got any spare rooms or somethin?" Natari shook her head.
"One room only, unless you wanna sleep in the control room or in here," she explained.
"I'll do the control room, I guess."
"You sure you don't want mine?"
"Don't worry, I'll live." After that, Trunks left. Natari went to her room and fell asleep quickly due to her injuries, but Goten was wide awake. Being in the same ship as her made him feel rather uneasy. He sat in the co-pilot's seat, staring out the windshield. After a while, he crept into Natari's room and watched her sleep for a while. He walked over to her bed, leaning over her. He felt so weird around her. He stared at the intotsu, her red-orange hair spred out on her pillow, her lips slightly parted, her chest slowly moving in and out as she breathed...
Goten nodded. It was worth it. It was worth hardly being able to move his arm. It was worth the agonizing pain in his ribs. It was worth defying his family and almost losing his life in the process. He had done the right thing. His ears twitched as Natari began to stir. He bolted out of the room, leaving the door open. He jumped back into the seat and tried to look comfortable. However, Natari never came. He cursed quietly at having to move so quickly for no reason. He looked around, hoping to find something that could attract his attention. On the floor was a portable compact disk player. He arched a brow and put on the headphones. He adjusted the volume to a reasonable level and turned it on. The first song was called I Stand Alone, which he liked a lot. After that was Stillness of Heart, then Please Forgive Me, and Baby I'm Amazed by You. The rest of the songs he didn't listen to because the first four were the best of them.
Then Goten heard something through the music. He paused the c.d. player and listened. Someone was walking towards him, and judging by the smell, it was Natari. As quick as he could, he pretended to be asleep. Just before she was at the side of the chair he felt his injuries hurt badly. He tossed about in agony, grabbing his shoulder, cursing in his mind. He stopped after feeling her hand on his cheek. He slowly inhaled. He had never felt such a sensation before in his life. Memories of the old days when he was care free and optomistic flashed in his mind, followed by Paris and Bra dumping him and when his heart froze over and shrunk. He couldn't help but give out a low whine, like that of a dog. He didn't have to be cold "in his sleep." He could do things he would never do in real life. He took this to his advantage, and moved a bit so that he could slip his hand out onto her arm.
"If only you could always be this way," Natari whispered. Goten moved to put his hand on hers, but the pain stopped him, and he thrashed against the chair gripping the arm with the hand of his injured arm and grasping his shoulder with the other. He hissed behind clenched teeth. The rejuvination tank wasn't good enough for an injury inflicted by a super saiya-jin 2 with the power of the Z Sword. He began ripping at the bandages without meaning to, trying anything to stop the agony. Then he found the way. He felt his hand being removed and being replaced with that of Natari. She caressed it delicately. Goten's face softened under the touch and he slouched in the chair. "You saiya-jins are so confusing. You can be as hard as stone and as gentle as a light breeze."
She looked down and noticed the c.d. player that had fallen from Goten's lap. It was on constant play, and she listened to each song and smiled. "So, he does have a sensitive side. Well, music soothes the savage beast." Goten growled mentally, but didn't allow the features of anger to over come his serene expression. He didn't know if he should "awaken" or not. What would he do or say? He swallowed in his mind. It was worth a shot.
Goten slowly opened his eyes half-way, staring into the emerald eyes of the intotsu. He felt as though he would melt away. She smiled warmly at him. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"No," Goten answered in a quiet voice. "My arm just felt sore, but then there was something and it felt better and I woke up to see what it was." He looked down at her hand. He thought about what to say, but the truth was all that would work. So, he had to spice it up a bit. "You have a very nice touch, for a wolf."
"And how would you know how this feels?" she shot back. Goten couldn't fight back and he sneered slightly. She smirked at his expression, then stroked his shoulder. He sat up, his dark eyes meeting hers.
"Why are you doing this? I'm a bastard," he asked.
"You aren't a bastard," she replied. "Just a saiya-jin, and they act hostile when they're not."
"I don't act," he told her. His eyes traveled back to her hand. "I am what I am. You should just forget about me."
"You proved something to me," she said. "When you saved me, you showed that you aren't cold. Just confused about your feelings."
"I have no feelings." She growled.
"See, you're doing it! Goten, look at me and tell me you don't have feelings." He looked at her, his normal frown in place, but as he stared into her eyes, it left. He looked away, not knowing what to do. She was killing him! His eyes found her hand again, still on his shoulder. He put his rough hand on hers, amazed at how different they were.
"The wolf has a point," he said, trying desperately to keep his voice hard, though Natari saw through it.
"And the monkey has feelings." Goten removed his hand and placed it on his ribs, staring out the windshield.
"You should be asleep," he told her. He smelled her a bit. "You haven't been in the rejuvination tank? God damn it, you put me in there first?"
"We had to, you would have died! There was no way around it!" Natari retaliated. Goten got up painfully and walked heavily to the tank, pressing buttons.
"Well, I ain't in it now, am I? Get in!" She walked passed him.
"Maybe later. Speaking of caring about someone's wellfare, go to sleep!" Goten walked over to his chair, then stopped abruptly.
"Are you implying that I was caring about you?" She smirked, and he got ready to say something, but there was nothing. He couldn't find an excuse. Defeated, he plopped down in the chair and finally went to sleep.
Goten flung his hair back as his head broke the surface of the lake. The stars reflected in his dark eyes as he looked at the indago sky. The crescent moon illuminated the lake as the saiya-jin bathed. The only sound that could be heard was that of the twin waterfalls in the distance. He swam about, enjoying the feeling of the water. He had never stopped thinking about Natari, wondering what he should do about his situation. He got out of the lake, putting on his pants. No matter how much he bathed, his skin was always rough to the touch, another thing that turned Paris and Bra off. He ran his fingers through his hair until it was in its normal state.
Suddenly, Goten heard a shrill howl of pain, literally. He automatically knew it was Natari. With all speed, he sprinted to the source of her cry. She stood there, blood oozing from a serious injury on her shoulder. It was who she was with that caught Goten off guard, his own brother. He had a black eye and blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth.
"What the fuck is your freakin' problem!?" Goten exclaimed.
"Goten, stay out of this. This is one of the creatures that Dad told Mum about," Gohan replied.
"You frigain bastard!" Gohan turned around, outstretching a hand, palm facing Goten.
"Don't make me, bro. I will. Dad said these creatures are dangerous." Goten got in battle stance.
"You don't stand a chance against me. Go fuck Videl!" That set Gohan off.
"You want to defend this thing!? So be it, Goten! So be it! But I'm not alone." Goten arched a brow. Before he could say anything, Trunks and Yamcha appeared.
"Keh, none of you have trained in ages," Goten growled. "Trunks and Gohan have jobs, and Yamcha's just lazy! Bring it! I dare you!"
"All of us combined are too much for you," Yamcha said. "You've become cold and heartless! You don't have the courage like the rest of us! We'll win!"
"Kiss my ass, fag!" Gohan, knowing that Goten was still powerful, instantly went super saiya-jin 2. He hadn't had to for a while, due to the power of the Z Sword, making him extremely powerful, but Goten could still put up a good fight. Trunks went into super saiya-jin, though the thought of fighting his one time best friend could only be knocked away by his hate of his new attitude. Yamcha powered up as much as he could, white ki surrounding his body. Goten smirked. "This should be fun." Goten clenched his fists and went super saiya-jin, not wanting to go to the second level just yet. After all, these wern't enemies. Gohan put an arm in front of his friends, not taking his eyes off of his sibling.
"I'll start, you two can come in after." Goten grinned confidently.
"You're digging your own grave." However, he was underestimating his power. Gohan disappeared and materialized in front of Goten, launching a powerful fist into his face. Goten fell back but did a flip and landed on his feet. "Cheep shot." Gohan was about to punch again but Goten ducked and buried his fist into his older brother's stomach. He jumped off the ground and kneed him in the side. Gohan retaliated by spinning around and kicking Goten's neck, sending him into a tree, which then cracked and fell over. He wobbled to his feet, feeling the warm blood ooze from his shoulder. "Is that all you got?"
"Not even close."
"You know big brother, there is a lot that I've learned in the time that I've lived in the woods," Goten told him, spreading his feet firmly in the dirt and putting the heals of his hands together in front of his chest. "Zartakar..."
Gohan put his hands together at his side. "Kamehame...."
Goten pushed his hands forward. "BLAST!"
Gohan brought his hands forward. "HA!" The blue blast of the kamehameha wave jetted out from Gohan's hands to meet a beam of black energy with blue spiraling around it. The two attacks met, but Goten couldn't keep up forever. The blast was coming form a super saiya-jin at the next level, so he had the disadvantage. In the end, his blast gave away and both attacks came hurtling at Goten. With a cry he was engulfed in the blasts. Once the light died down, they could see Goten on the ground, his skin covered in third degree burns and cuts. He laid in a large puddle of dark blood, not moving. Gohan turned to Natari.
"Now I can get rid of you, bitch. I see through you." He tore at her and punched her jaw, sending her flying into a rock with yet another howl. Her head banged against it, blood flowing like the waterfalls from her skull. She didn't move, just barely conscious. At the sound of the howl, Goten had opened his eyes and struggled to the ground. With and a scream of fury, he went to the next level.
"YOU FUCKIN BASTARD!" Goten tore at him like a bullet and as Gohan turned around he delivered a round house kick to his ribs. Gohan quickly recovered and gave a powerful right upper cut to Goten's jaw. He didn't stop there, however. Once Goten was on the ground, he tried to smash his foot into his chest, but Goten was able to move over, resulting in his upper arm taking the blow. With an ear splitting scream blood spilled from his arm, shoulder, and mouth.
"You've gone evil, Goten! You're protecting the enemy! That makes you the enemy! Trunks, Yamcha! We have to do this! He is no longer on the side of good." Goten winced, but refused to give up. He could no longer feel his arm, making it useless.
"I'm not evil." He turned his head and spat out blood. "Just pissed." Goten felt an elbow crash into his rib cage. More blood spurted from his mouth as he saw Yamcha. With all his might he punched the two at the same time, getting them off of him. The two got to their feet, towering over Goten.
"You are evil, Goten. Admit it," Yamcha growled. "What happened to you? You live in the woods and hate everyone. You crossed over." They were about to deliver a nasty blow to Goten, but Trunks appeared out of nowhere, headbutting Yamcha and plowing him into Gohan.
"He isn't evil, you shit heads! Get out of here! Go! Leave the girl and him alone before I use my sword!" the son of Vegeta ordered. Gohan and Yamcha, surprisingly, obeyed.
"He is, Trunks," Gohan replied. "He isn't my brother anymore. We'll get him. Him and that bitch."
"Call her a bitch again, fag, and I'll rip you to shreds, and that's a promise," Goten growled through clenched teeth. With that, the two left. Goten closed his eyes, struggling to breathe.
"You okay, buddy?" Trunks asked.
"Trunks, don't worry 'bout me. Tend to Natari." However, she was already conscious. She lifted Goten's body onto her knee, holding his head gentilly. She stroked his hair and stared at him with glassy eyes.
"Goten, don't let go. Please," she urged. Trunks took him from her, holding him in his strong arms.
"Damn it, Korin Tower's too far away, it would be too late by the time I got him there."
"Quick, I brought some things with me from my planet in my ship. I have a rejuvination tank. Follow me." As they sprinted through the woulds, Goten smiled weakly.
"Hey, Natari, you okay?" he asked. "M sorry if I came little late." Before he could hear her response, he closed his eyes and passed out.
Water was the first thing Goten felt when he woke up. It wasn't exactly something he was used to waking up to. He furrowed his brows. Suddenly the water drained and he collapsed to the bottom. He removed the mask over his mouth and nose then the wires connected to his body. The side door wooshed open and he came out, grabbing a white towel and wrapping it around his waist. Trunks leaned against a white wall and Natari sat in a chair, holding her bandadged head.
"Where is he?" Goten growled. "Where are they?"
"Gohan went home and Yamcha's at the Kame House," Trunks answered. "So, how ya feeling?"
"Oh, just wonderful." He looked at Natari. "So, what happened back there?"
"That guy you called Gohan attacked me and called these two to help," she answered. "I got in a fight with him, but it didn't last long since you showed up." Goten turned his back to them, reaching for his ripped and bloody pants and boxers.
"He better hope I never see his ugly face again, or he'll get his ass kicked." As quickly as possible he put his pants and boxers on. "As long as I draw breath, I will be his better."
"I sense that you were once nothing like this," Natari said, smirking.
"Believe me, he wasn't," Trunks told her. "Quite the opposite as a matter of fact. He's had two girl friends aswell." Goten spun around, glaring daggers at Trunks.
"I have no use of love! I told you not to mention it around me!" He sighed. "M goin back to my tree. I need some sleep. Where's the way out?"
"Oh, no you don't," Natari replied, getting up. She grabbed for a roll of bandages. "You just got out of the tank. You aren't healed yet." Much to Trunks's amusement, he watched as the tough saiya-jin struggled under the grip of the intotsu. She was stronger than he thought. He didn't want the bandages, but he had no choice. He was only making things worse. By the time she had successfully dressed his shoulder, she went for his rib cage. "So, Goten, do all saiya-jins have abs like yours?" Goten and Trunks almost fell over at the comment.
"Leave me alone, woman," he growled. "I don't like compliments." She narrowed her eyes and slapped his back playfully. Goten let out a shrill cry at the feeling and jumped into the air. Damn wolf's trying to kill me! Trunks howled with laughter. Goten laughed sarcastically as he got the pain under control. "Ha ha ha. Laugh it up, Trunks. Laugh it up."
"Sorry, man, it's just," he whiped his eyes, "I've never seen a look like that on you before, not since we were kids." Goten shot him an icey glare, then continued to let Natari dress his abdomen.
"Uh, Trunks, you going home?"
"Yeah, Mom and Maron went back, and I have work tomorrow," he answered.
"Then I'd better stay. I don't trust Gohan," he told them. "You got any spare rooms or somethin?" Natari shook her head.
"One room only, unless you wanna sleep in the control room or in here," she explained.
"I'll do the control room, I guess."
"You sure you don't want mine?"
"Don't worry, I'll live." After that, Trunks left. Natari went to her room and fell asleep quickly due to her injuries, but Goten was wide awake. Being in the same ship as her made him feel rather uneasy. He sat in the co-pilot's seat, staring out the windshield. After a while, he crept into Natari's room and watched her sleep for a while. He walked over to her bed, leaning over her. He felt so weird around her. He stared at the intotsu, her red-orange hair spred out on her pillow, her lips slightly parted, her chest slowly moving in and out as she breathed...
Goten nodded. It was worth it. It was worth hardly being able to move his arm. It was worth the agonizing pain in his ribs. It was worth defying his family and almost losing his life in the process. He had done the right thing. His ears twitched as Natari began to stir. He bolted out of the room, leaving the door open. He jumped back into the seat and tried to look comfortable. However, Natari never came. He cursed quietly at having to move so quickly for no reason. He looked around, hoping to find something that could attract his attention. On the floor was a portable compact disk player. He arched a brow and put on the headphones. He adjusted the volume to a reasonable level and turned it on. The first song was called I Stand Alone, which he liked a lot. After that was Stillness of Heart, then Please Forgive Me, and Baby I'm Amazed by You. The rest of the songs he didn't listen to because the first four were the best of them.
Then Goten heard something through the music. He paused the c.d. player and listened. Someone was walking towards him, and judging by the smell, it was Natari. As quick as he could, he pretended to be asleep. Just before she was at the side of the chair he felt his injuries hurt badly. He tossed about in agony, grabbing his shoulder, cursing in his mind. He stopped after feeling her hand on his cheek. He slowly inhaled. He had never felt such a sensation before in his life. Memories of the old days when he was care free and optomistic flashed in his mind, followed by Paris and Bra dumping him and when his heart froze over and shrunk. He couldn't help but give out a low whine, like that of a dog. He didn't have to be cold "in his sleep." He could do things he would never do in real life. He took this to his advantage, and moved a bit so that he could slip his hand out onto her arm.
"If only you could always be this way," Natari whispered. Goten moved to put his hand on hers, but the pain stopped him, and he thrashed against the chair gripping the arm with the hand of his injured arm and grasping his shoulder with the other. He hissed behind clenched teeth. The rejuvination tank wasn't good enough for an injury inflicted by a super saiya-jin 2 with the power of the Z Sword. He began ripping at the bandages without meaning to, trying anything to stop the agony. Then he found the way. He felt his hand being removed and being replaced with that of Natari. She caressed it delicately. Goten's face softened under the touch and he slouched in the chair. "You saiya-jins are so confusing. You can be as hard as stone and as gentle as a light breeze."
She looked down and noticed the c.d. player that had fallen from Goten's lap. It was on constant play, and she listened to each song and smiled. "So, he does have a sensitive side. Well, music soothes the savage beast." Goten growled mentally, but didn't allow the features of anger to over come his serene expression. He didn't know if he should "awaken" or not. What would he do or say? He swallowed in his mind. It was worth a shot.
Goten slowly opened his eyes half-way, staring into the emerald eyes of the intotsu. He felt as though he would melt away. She smiled warmly at him. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?"
"No," Goten answered in a quiet voice. "My arm just felt sore, but then there was something and it felt better and I woke up to see what it was." He looked down at her hand. He thought about what to say, but the truth was all that would work. So, he had to spice it up a bit. "You have a very nice touch, for a wolf."
"And how would you know how this feels?" she shot back. Goten couldn't fight back and he sneered slightly. She smirked at his expression, then stroked his shoulder. He sat up, his dark eyes meeting hers.
"Why are you doing this? I'm a bastard," he asked.
"You aren't a bastard," she replied. "Just a saiya-jin, and they act hostile when they're not."
"I don't act," he told her. His eyes traveled back to her hand. "I am what I am. You should just forget about me."
"You proved something to me," she said. "When you saved me, you showed that you aren't cold. Just confused about your feelings."
"I have no feelings." She growled.
"See, you're doing it! Goten, look at me and tell me you don't have feelings." He looked at her, his normal frown in place, but as he stared into her eyes, it left. He looked away, not knowing what to do. She was killing him! His eyes found her hand again, still on his shoulder. He put his rough hand on hers, amazed at how different they were.
"The wolf has a point," he said, trying desperately to keep his voice hard, though Natari saw through it.
"And the monkey has feelings." Goten removed his hand and placed it on his ribs, staring out the windshield.
"You should be asleep," he told her. He smelled her a bit. "You haven't been in the rejuvination tank? God damn it, you put me in there first?"
"We had to, you would have died! There was no way around it!" Natari retaliated. Goten got up painfully and walked heavily to the tank, pressing buttons.
"Well, I ain't in it now, am I? Get in!" She walked passed him.
"Maybe later. Speaking of caring about someone's wellfare, go to sleep!" Goten walked over to his chair, then stopped abruptly.
"Are you implying that I was caring about you?" She smirked, and he got ready to say something, but there was nothing. He couldn't find an excuse. Defeated, he plopped down in the chair and finally went to sleep.