A/N: Sorry for the extremley long wait. Some bastard hacker broke into my
system and messed everything up--internet connection included. But, here it
is, third chapter. Hope you enjoy.
Oh, and there's a little switching of POVs near the end of the chapter--I
hope it's not so confusing, but they were too short to add a double space.
Also, I know Vejita may seem a little OOC, but it's how I'd expect him to
react in the situation I put him in. He's still the arrogant ass well all
know and love most of the time, don't worry. (Plus, I'm using 'Bejita' in
this fic--sticking to Japanese names.) AND, this was going to be longer,
but I'm going to continue in the next chapter, which hopefully won't take
nearly as long to reach FF.Net. I think we've all waited long enough for
this thing to be posted. -.-'
Torankusu opened his eyes.
He found he was standing outside the time machine. This had happened the other times, too. Getting out was automatic. The reflex, for lack of a better term, didn't even give him a chance to fully recover.
Shaking his head to clear it further, he glanced to the other side of the machine. It seemed the same had happened to his mother. For a moment he was concerned, as she seemed disoriented, but then reminded himself that that was natural, and she could take care of herself as far as this was concerned.
This didn't stop him from asking if she was okay, even if he knew the answer before it left her mouth.
"Of course." He also knew, without looking, that she was smiling at him. He would have done the same, but at the moment, he was to busy being in awe.
He'd been here before, of course, had spent a good while in the pat, but still it amazed him. There were trees all around him, birds singing freely. He could actually hear a pterodactyl's cry as it flew overhead.
This was no barren landscape, and it wasn't for miles. There was no smell of charred wildlife in the air. There was no feeling of death and destruction pressing in from all sides.
He felt a surge of slight, calm pride wash over him. He had helped the world stay this way...
"My god..."
His mother's voice was soft, barely a whisper. This time, Torankusu did look at her.
Her eyes were wide, sparkling with tears yet unshed. There was a soft pain in them, the pain of beholding something you have lost forever. There was also the utter joy of it there.
"This...Trunks..."
Torankusu almost started. She hadn't called him that in years. The shorter version of his name, used for when he was a toddler.
It was also what Gohan always called him...
Mentally jerking himself from these thoughts, he let his worries for his mother come to the surface. He should have realized the past would have this sort of affect on...
But then she straightened, and the strength she seemed to pull out of nowhere appeared, that defiant determination replacing the tears in her eyes. Her expression reflected that look. Torankusu smiled. Again, he should have known better.
Then, quite suddenly, Buruma walked swiftly over to him and embraced him.
"I'm so proud of you..." she whispered. He hugged her in return, his smile becoming thankful, peaceful. Glad.
Then she stepped back, almost smirking now. Torankusu almost gulped. He knew that look...
"Lets go find a place to put our capsule house. And then we can enroll you!"
They ended up setting up their house in a kind of clearing in a forest, a real forest. The trees, all towering, with dense branches and an array of lustrous green leaves. The air was filled with the sound of chirping birds, scampering rabbits and other small creatures, and occasionally the distant roar of a dinosaur. At times a lithe, dangerous predator stalked near the edge of the grassless meadow. Torankusu knew that if he could see them, he would be captivated by their lethal beauty, if only because he'd never really seen one in his time. Most were dead, now. Caught in some attack or another...habitats destroyed...
Torankusu pondered* all of this as he leaned against his and Buruma's new house. His arms were crossed against his chest as usual. His hair fell freely to his shoulders, blowing occasionally in the light, smoke-free breeze.
His eyes were closed. There was no reason to stay alert, really. There wasn't in his own time either, now... Things were better, much better.
But this...
Compared to his world?
This was heaven. He felt and knew that as he drifted off to sleep.
Juunanagou braced himself as he stood in front of Capsule Corporation. This really wasn't the smartest idea he'd ever had... Yes, he knew Bejita was off training with Goku, he wouldn't come if he were there. To much of a hassle. Sure, he could certainly hold his own, but...even he had to submit to logic come time. And the basics were this: seven years ago, Cell had defeated him. Seven years ago, Bejita had defeated a Cell hyped up on Juunana's own power.
And that woman... The Saiyajin's wife wasn't powerful in the least, physically. But she certainly had a mouth on her, almost as bad as Goku's woman's.
...At least, that was what his sister had told him. Not like he was spying in his spare time because , say, there was nothing else to do and it was interesting. Nope, not him. Talk about pathetic, right?
Oh, and the brat... His mirai version had irritated Juunanagou enough (and from what Juuhachi said, had become just as powerful as his father, making him despise him all the more) but that kid... He was ten times worse than his niece. Especially if his other half were with him. Both Super Saiyajin, both annoying as all hell.
Of course, he was off playing with said half.
Smirking now, all semblances of doubt gone in an instant, Juunana knocked on the door. It was an award tap; it wasn't as if he did it very often. Not that it mattered much what his knocking was like. As long as it got Buruma's attention.
It obviously did. He heard soft, hurried footsteps headed toward the entrance to the domed building. Already, his face had resumed its expressionless mask.
Although, when the door opened, his eyes widened just a bit. For the woman who stood there wasn't Vejita's mate. No, this woman, with her towering hairdo of blond curls and overly cheerful demeanor, was much more disturbing, in his less than humble opinion.
Buruma's mother. He'd seen her a few times--not spying, of course, just in passing--and she even made Vejita shiver. Juunana cursed inwardly at his bad luck as she giggled.
"My, aren't you a cute one!" The cyborg fought the urge to clench his fists, but his teeth were gritted behind his placid lips.
"I'm looking for Buruma," he said, *usual monotone evident.*
Mrs. Barifusu put her hand to her mouth as she giggled again.
"My, you know she's a bit old for you, don't you? And she's quite taken--"
"This is purely business." Nothing of his aggravating showed in his emotionless voice.
"Oh, dear, then, please come in. I'll call Buruma for you, just sit tight,"
As she spoke she turned and walked toward the living room, gesturing with her free hand for Juunana to follow. He did, rather reluctantly, and then stood against the wall nearest the door, arms crossed loosely.
"I'll just be a minute!" he heard the woman say.
Juunana sighed mentally. Even her voice annoyed him. So...beyond cheerful. He swore it wasn't normal.
But then, neither was his. He always seemed to get a shiver out of strangers--like, for instance, bank staff. Sometimes he figured he didn't even need the handy little gun in his jean pocket.
It was then that he saw Buruma, walking into the room alone, thank...Dende, wasn't it? His thoughts had wandered but his eyes had not.
Her expression was one of pure business, but he could detect annoyance somewhere in there. Probably had been working on some invention or another and he'd interrupted her.
So much the better. He got a great deal of pleasure out of irritating people (mainly his sister), especially when he made them lose their temper; he liked it almost as much as liked scaring them
When Buruma saw him, however, all semblance of work fled from her features, her eyes. All that shown was...hey, fear.
Almost made him giddy.
But then that was replaced, to, with anger. Disappointed him a bit, but this was almost as good, really.
Almost.
"Hey, Buruma. Nice to see you again." He paused, feigning thoughtfulness. "Well, no, actually. Always thought you were annoying." She glowered at him and he rejoiced. Her hands, fists, were clenched tightly* at her sides, fuchsia-painted nails biting into to soft flesh, showing her anger further.
"What do you want?" she snapped. Her arms, hands still balled into fists, left their place by her sides and folded themselves across her chest. She looked every bit the authoritive, strong-willed president of Capulse Corporations. Juunana might have been intimidated if he were someone else.
He knew for a fact that Juuhachi's little lapdog would be wetting his pants right about now.
"I was hoping you could help me," he answered smoothly. His emotionless voice didn't at all betray the fact that he really wished he wasn't...that he didn't need her help, or anyone's for that matter.
But, unfortunately, in this case he did.
Buruma's eyebrows rose, almost disappearing underneath the thick bangs of her newly short pale blue hair. Then she laughed, her arms again changing position, hands moving to rest on her hips, which were covered with a lavender skirt that reached to a little below her knees. It of course matched her nails perfectly, not to mention her darker high-heels and lighter blouse. Her earrings were an even brighter fuchsia than her nails.
"Help you?" she said after a moment. "You tried to kill my oldest best friend. Hell, you tried to kill all of my best friends, plus my husband! And, you let Cell absorb you and become even more powerful. Not to mention that fact that that future you made my future son's life a living hell and really did kill everyone, and millions of other people. Why on Earth would I want to help you?"
Juunana said nothing, as he knew there was more to come. Nothing she said induced the slightest bit of guilt. Really, he didn't even think he was capable of that emotion. Besides, he had expected something like this at first. Maybe for the entire time. Nothing had changed on his expression during her barrage of accusations, and for once it reflected what he felt.
Nothing.
"Besides," she continued, as he suspected she would, "you're a horrible uncle."
At this, Juunana merely raised an eyebrow, saying not a word. That wasn't something he'd expected, but of course it didn't bother him in the slightest.
No guilt there at all. Despite how he felt about his sister and the fact that he knew it saddened her. Ashe thought earlier, he never felt guilt.
Buruma made an exasperated noise at the back of her throat, but kept her mouth closed.
"You're done?"
Buruma scowled at him, which took to be a "yes".
He moved from the wall, stepping closer to the woman. Nothing in her countenance changed.
Probably knew he figured Vejita would kill him in the most painful way possible if he murdered the Saiyajin's mate.
Directly in front of her, facing her down coolly, he said, "I want to attend high school--and I need you help."
Buruma's eyes widened almost comically before she broke out into another fit of laughter. Juunana waited impatiently for it to subside.
It finally did ending when Buruma chuckled out, "You? In school? ...Why?"
"Not your concern. You only have to create some records for me."
Again her eyebrows rose.
"And what WHAT makes you think I'll do that?"
Juunana smirked, moving foreword until his face was only several inches from hers.
"Because if I can't do this, I'll be pissed off. When I'm pissed off, I destroy things." His smirk deepened, becoming more malevolent.
"Now what should I blow up...another office building? Museum, maybe?"
Doubt flickered in her eternally defiant eyes.
He put a smooth, pale finger on his chin, again pretending to be contemplating.
"Hmm...maybe a school?"
He knew he had her by the look in her eyes. There was no way innocent people--especially children--were going to die because of her, because she turned him down. She wouldn't be able to reach any of the Z-Senshi before the deed was done, and he figured she didn't want Juuhachi furious with her.
"Fine," she gritted, "but if you hurt me or anyone around me, I'm rebuilding Gero's deactivator."
Buruma smiled. It was a soft, grateful one as she watched her son from the doorway, eyes closed gently in sleep that seemed, for once, to be peaceful. Must be the atmosphere, she figured. He'd hardly stirred since he'd settled into unconsciousness, a few minutes after they arrived. It had been a few hours, according to her watch.
It also said, twelve thirty. Meaning lunchtime. Meaning, unfortunately, that she'd have to wake her son up. It wasn't something she really wanted to do, but boys needed their food--especially half-Saiyajin boys. She'd always made sure to give him large meals three times a day, always was very punctual, because she figured he needed at least that comfort. Most children in their world didn't have that.
Most of them had nothing. Sure, in the Underground, she, Chichi, and their sons---until Gohan was killed, then it was just the three of them-- cared for the ones they could save. Above all else, they made sure they were safe. But they also made the tunnels homey. There were tables, couches, fans, even a television, in each division. Of course, they'd all lost people, lost their homes...the grief was palpable and devastating. There was no way Buruma and her family could hope to cure them...but they could help, a little. Do more then keep them alive... They didn't want to just give them a shelter, they wanted to give them a home, and they did.
And here she was, reminiscing when she should be--
"Hey mom."
Buruma blinked, and looked down to her son. He was still in the same position on the ground, but his head was cocked toward her, and there was a small, amused smile on his face.
"...You're awake." Realizing she had just stated the obvious, she smiled sheepishly.
"Duh."
Torankusu chuckled, then got to his feet.
"Of course," he answered, smile still in place. "It's lunch time."
This time is was Buruma who laughed.
"Oh, yes, I forgot all Saiyajin have an inward food-timer. You all know exactly when meals are."
With that she turned, suppressing her own chuckle, and walked into the house, son in tow.
As they sat across from the dinner table, she addressed what she knew she had to. School was beginning tomorrow. She really wished they had gone sooner. She had thought of it a short while after he had killed Cell, but it had taken a good while to both finish the time machine and tell Torankusu what she planned to do.
Ah, well. They'd have to make due. They always had before.
"I have papers here, Torankusu," she began. Her son sighed--she knew he didn't like the idea. She also knew he wouldn't protest it anymore.
She continued.
"They confirm you've been home schooled all this time...give proof you are who you say you are...that I'm in a position to enroll you...everything."
"So we have nothing to worry about."
Buruma nodded.
"Right. ...We just have to..."
"I'm listening." Each time he talked, he paused in the relentless eating that reminded her so much of the Sons, Gohan in particular...he had, after all, taught Torankusu to eat that way.
"Well, no one can know there's to Buruma Barifusus in this world...so it would be better if the other Buruma enrolled you."
Torankusu cocked an eyebrow.
"She already has a Torankusu--a baby one. No one is going to believe he grew up this fast." He didn't dare voice the thought that Buruma of this timeline might looked to young to be his real mother.
"I know that, and I've taken it into account. I altered your papers a bit, Torankusu." She paused, noting the worrying curiosity in her son's eyes.
"You won't BE Torankusu Barifusu, you'll be his older brother, Bejita junior."
It didn't take long to get to the present Buruma's house--after Torankusu recovered from her news, anyway. They both knew the way, after all.
It took only a few hours, Buruma being a computer genius and all--why else would he have chosen such an irritating woman? Of course, there was only one other he knew. And that one almost made him shudder. Hell, he figured she would have made Cell cower.
Wife of Goku, mother of Gohan and Son's mini-me, the scariest human woman ever to live.
Son Chichi.
And she had to pretend to be his mother, for there was no way in hell he would go to the trouble of seeking out his real one.
It made sense. Buruma had made the adoption papers for him confirming she was his guardian. Only, of course, because between another fit of laughter she assured him Chichi would never do it. She wouldn't even do it for someone she didn't despise with a passion, and, as she so gracefully put it, someone who's neck she wanted to ring with a diamond-back cobra. After all, she went on, he tried to kill her husband, helped in making her 'baby' train for three years, caused her worry like she'd never known before, which was saying something, and killed Gohan in the future timeline.
No, he was not in her favorite people's list. But no matter her threats or her legendary mouth, he was ten times stronger than she was. He could make her do anything he wanted.
Besides, he had Juuhachigou as a twin sister. Surely he could handle Son Chichi...
"YOU!!"
Juunana was almost knocked of his feet. As soon as Chichi had opened the door her eyes narrowed and her mouth became a thin line. That is, until she opened it and her mouth took up half her face, which seemed to have grown half the size of her body as she bore down on him.
"WHAT are you doing here?!"
"I need help. And if you start laughing, I rip out your heart and mount it on my wall."
That actually shut her up. Made her a few shades paler, too, though her livid expression had only gotten more intense, and when she spoke, it was in a furious growl.
"What do you--" And then a thought seemed to occur to her.
"My son--"
"GOHAN has taken your smaller brat and Bejita's fishing," he said coolly. "I could easily kill you before he gets back."
Chichi gulped, nervously he could tell, though she was trying and failing to hide the emotion. Then her fury was back in place in her expression and countenance.
"You've got five seconds, Juunanagou. Any more and I will SLAM this door in your face, GOT IT?" Juunana didn't know if she was bluffing or not, but decided not to press his luck.
"I'm going to be starting high school. I need you to play my aunt. I'll give you the information you'll need tomorrow."
Chichi could do nothing but gape at him. He smirked.
"Remember," he said smoothly, "if you don't agree to this, I'll kill you. Gohan will be to late. I don't believe he has that uncanny ability to show up in just the nick of time his father does...excuse me, 'dead father', and 'did'."
The woman froze. Grief emanated off her like a heat wave. It was so intense even Juunana noticed. For one instant, Chichi let the tired and sad woman she was show through.
He knew he had her, even when her mask was back up. She nodded, spat some vehement obscenities at him, and then slammed the door. Satisfied, he levitated a few feet, turned, and flew toward his cabin.
Chichi leaned against the door, her hands trembling. She tried to tell herself it was from the fury she felt for the bastard jinzouningen who had the nerve to ask her help, the gull to bring up her...dead...
Goku...
She closed her eyes, and let herself go limp, so she was fully depending on the door for her to stay risen from the ground. Then she let the tears fall. Normally, she waited. Waited until she was alone, in bed. An empty bed. No one was there to comfort her because he couldn't. Because he was the one she was grieving for.
Chichi hated to cry, but at the same time it felt good. It had been seven years, but still, every day, she carried a baggage of crushing despair. The man she loved was gone and he wasn't coming back this time. You'd think...she was Son Chichi after all...you'd think she'd get over it. But it was impossible. Not when it was Goku, the man she'd known since she was only a child. The naive, amusing boy who's she developed a crush within ten second of their first meeting. Even then he was being the hero. He wasn't supposed to die, ever. Not...not permanently. But he had, and how could she deal with that? Especially when Gohan and Goten had so much of him inside of them?
Her whole body was shaking now with sobs, and she let herself slide to the unbelievably clean wooden floor. That was what she did, now. Cleaned and cooked all the time, that or train Goten, or teach Gohan, so she wouldn't think of Him. Night was the time for remembering all they'd been through together.
Yes, it is.
The sobs stopped abruptly and Chichi's mouth became a thin, determined line. She stood. The only sign of her earlier devastation was the many tear tracks on her face. She'd go wash it. Then she'd go on with her day. Son Chichi wasn't some weakling who couldn't deal with grief, not some girl who broke down every time Goku was mentioned. And that was true. If it was Gohan or Buruma...she'd smile sadly, reminisce. But Juunana was so cold and uncaring. Having Goku's death thrust on her like that, so suddenly and cruelly, was more than she could bare right now. Even after so long.
Chichi scowled menacingly. She'd give the bastard hell for this. Lets see what good old Auntie Chichi could cook up...
Juunanagou sat against the door of his cabin, staring at the papers, pictures, and tapes splayed out none to neatly in front of him.
He picked up a tape. It was labeled Daryn and Crystal, Eighteenth Birthday. Yes, that would give him something of an idea on the way he should act in school.
"Aw, C'mon, Daryn!"
Juunana blinked. That was Juuhachi's voice, obviously, but--
"Crystal...no. Absolutely not!"
His hand, after having clicked the thing on and pressed the play button, that was returning to its place at his chest to cross with the other one, froze. That...that was him. His timbre, at least. But...there was...emotion...
His eyes, wide, locked on the tape recorder. He couldn't move. No...part of him couldn't move. Something inside him...the person who had spoken in that recording. The young man who could actually let his feelings surface to his voice. The boy who could actually truly -feel-. The human...
"Daryyn.... Please??"
"Nu-uh. That hat is embarrassing. Besides, I already have one."
"That old thing's not even half a hat, you dolt!"
Daryn had playfully punched her on the arm after that. He...he knew...
"Hey, sis, watch it. This 'old thing', as you call it, happens to be near and dear to my heart."
"If you had a heart you'd do this for me! We need promotion, here!"
"Promotion..." Juunana muttered. "For..."
He blinked. Then he lived again.
Crystal had her hands on her hips and she was pouting. He wished she wouldn't do that. It always made his resolve waver. Why did she have to know him so well?
"Daaryynn..."
"Oh, not the prolonged whining," he groaned, bringing a hand to his face. It hid his smirk.
"Ha ha, bro," his twin said dryly, and he saw her roll her eyes through the gaps between his fingers. Then her expression became a mirror of his own.
Uh-oh. That was never good. What did she gave up her...
"Violet just joined."
Daren's hand fell back to his side abruptly and he gaped stupidly at his sister for a few minutes.
"Violet?" he said weakly. Vi...his ex. He'd been trying to get her back for months now. Just because he looked at a guy, really...simply because he found men attractive too didn't mean...
"Getting broody all ready, Dar," Crystal said sympathetically, shaking her head. "You really are pathetic when it comes to old Vi. But if you help us, maybe--"
Daryn help up his hands, admitting defeat.
"Okay, okay, you know you win, no need to rub it in..." He sighed as she smirked again, one arms extending him, offending hat clutched loosely in her hand. Frowning, he took it from her and examined it once again. As he expected, it seemed no more appealing than it had last time. A vibrant aqua blue with bubbles, etched in white, floating throughout, it had his sisters' activist groups' logo, center on front, beginning at ending at matching points. Big, darkest fuchsia bubble letters outlined in bright blue announced the name: Anti-Whalers. Little red squiggles appeared throughout, flowing in and out behind the text.
He hated it. Nonetheless, he slid off his beloved pale teal cap and slipped it into place, stuffing his own hat into the pocket of his jeans.
"Happy?"
Crystal grinned from ear to ear.
"Hell yeah!" she whooped. He knew she was saying "go me, go me" inside and mentally doing the happy dance. She'd beaten him again, this time because of Vi. Tch. If she could look at other guys, why couldn't he?
Juunana snapped out of the reverie when he snapped off the tape. His wide-eyed, semi slack face regained its normal aloof mask as his composure restored itself. To look at him, you wouldn't know the turmoil his soul had just endured. Even to see past this mask, you'd only discover a slimmer of pain, as he hid it so well even from himself. He didn't care about his past.
Not at all.
Silently, he set aside the cassette player and ruffled through some papers.
Torankusu had made sure to fly above the clouds so know one would see them. Now he found himself wishing it had been a little trickier. He really didn't want to get here so soon. If Bejita were there...he doubted it, but still. If he was, Torankusu wasn't sure how her mother would handle it. He'd seen him when he came last time, but Buruma...
But she was already ringing the doorbell. No inhibitions for her, not when she wanted to do something. There never had been, as far as he knew.
Her hand was clutching his. He squeezed as much as he dared--only slightly. She needed comfort, even if she wouldn't admit it in words.
She didn't need a broken hand.
"Bejita, get the door, will you?!"
Buruma's voice was muffled, but loud enough so that Torankusu, with his enhanced hearing, could hear.
"Why should I?!"
He tensed. Bejita's voice...his fathers voice...
He was there...
"I'm busy!! Doing what you wanted me to do, remember?!"
"FINE!"
His mother did hear that. A shuddering breath passed her lips. She swallowed tightly.
The door opened, and there he stood.
He was wearing the blue spandex pants the both remembered, but also a matching tee and sneakers. His scowls was firmly in place, yet...something about it was different. It wasn't the scowl of an evil warrior prince, it was the scowl of an annoyed...husband.
"...Hi, Bejita."
Bejita's eyes narrowed slightly more than they were as he studied his future son. Only a slither of his shock--glad shock, maybe?--shown in his eyes, but it was more emotion that Torankusu had ever seen there.
"Torankusu." His scowl shifted into a smirk...a soft smirk, almost a smile...no one else, he figured, would take it that way. It was like the one he'd had when Torankusu had left, those many months ago, to go back to the future.
"Father." His tone was more distracted than it would have been normally, because he could feel his mother shuddering, through the hand locked in his.
"B..Bejita..."
His father's gaze shifted, slowly, to his mother. And then, the smirk became a strait line, a sad one, and his eyes softened.
"Buruma."
Buruma almost pulled a Chichi and fainted right there. She had never heard such gentleness in Bejita's voice, not since that one time... Her eyes were watering now, something she had sworn to herself they wouldn't do. She'd never shown any sort of weakness in front of this man, never...
For his part, Bejita was almost surprised at himself. This wasn't the he acted around his Buruma...not in daylight, not in public. And yet, this one...it may have seemed he hadn't cared when Torankusu had relayed the events of his life over seven years ago, and back then, he probably didn't. But even if he never said it in any place other than their bedroom--well, at times in their bedroom--he loved Buruma. And he knew, no matter how much they bickered, how much their equally strong wills clashed, she loved him, too.
Buruma had a big heart, he knew that. And to lose him, and Kakarotto...and all the rest, one by one, it must have crushed her. And he couldn't stand it, and he couldn't be anything else but gentle with her, not now.
"Come in."
He was glad that none of that showed in his voice this time. Wouldn't want to become to soft, not like...
Fuck, can't even think his name. Bastard.
"Woman! We have company!"
There was a pause.
"Fine! I'm just getting washed up. Be CIVIL, Bejita!"
Bejita just rolled his eyes.
"...C-Cleaned up?"
Buruma hated the stutter in the voice almost as much as she hated the fact that she was clutching her son's hand so tightly she was sure it would break if he were human. Or the fact that she was just short of trembling violently, or else bursting hysterically into tears, or maybe running into Bejita's arms and sobbing like a child.
This wasn't her, it just wasn't. None of these embarrassing impulses represented Buruma Barifusu at all and she knew it. And yet... Here was the man she had, regardless of all his many flaws...loved. Alive, after almost two decades. And he had been...different, in a way she know only she, and maybe Torankusu or...or Goku, would have picked up.
Meanwhile, while all these thoughts and emotions churned inside her like clothes in an old washing machine, Bejita snorted.
"One of her half-assed inventions, as usual. Damn thing blew up in her face." Despite the annoyed, almost callous words, Buruma could detect a hint of fondness in his voice. She smiled a half smile much like her son's, and then glanced at said young man to see exactly how he himself was coping.
Unsurprisingly, he looked unfazed in everything but those eyes, always a dark blue storm of emotion. She could see both grief and glee there, and also worry, for her, which she normally rolled her own eyes at...but this time, she saw the point.
In his expression was only a sad smile, almost invisible.
"WOMAN! HURRY UP!"
Buruma flinched, then said hotly, "You don't have to yell, you know! I don't need my ears damaged!"
She stopped abruptly, blinking. Bejita was staring at her, he seemed shocked, but she could see a smile in his eyes...yes, there it was... But she could barely think. She had just lapsed into a habit of a lifetime ago...one that drove everyone both her and her mate knew up the wall, including themselves...and had loved it.
Her gaze moved slowly to Torankusu. To her surprise, he was grinning, even if, as always, there was a sadness there.
She was sure something would have been said, by one of them, but just then Buruma, the present one, the one who belonged here, appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Alright, loudmouth, who do we--my god, TRUNKS!"
Mirai Buruma gave a sideways glance at her son.
"Trunks?" she mouthed. Torankusu just shrugged.
Meanwhile, the present Buruma was running down the stairs. Soon, she had all but leaped on him, hugging him fiercely.
"Oh, Trunkschan! How have you been?"
"I...uh...er..." Torankusu stuttered, a blush spreading from the middle of his nose in both directions across his cheeks. "Fine, Buruma...mom..."
After a few moments more, she released him, beaming.
"He's only been gone for a few months," Mirai Buruma said, smiling faintly. She was calm again, finally. This loud, slightly amusing disruption was what she needed.
She expected the wide-eyed glance she got from her counterpart, the mouth that opened and then closed soundlessly, but not the words that came from it after her gaping was finished.
"But...no...it's been seven years since Torankusu has been here!"
Torankusu opened his eyes.
He found he was standing outside the time machine. This had happened the other times, too. Getting out was automatic. The reflex, for lack of a better term, didn't even give him a chance to fully recover.
Shaking his head to clear it further, he glanced to the other side of the machine. It seemed the same had happened to his mother. For a moment he was concerned, as she seemed disoriented, but then reminded himself that that was natural, and she could take care of herself as far as this was concerned.
This didn't stop him from asking if she was okay, even if he knew the answer before it left her mouth.
"Of course." He also knew, without looking, that she was smiling at him. He would have done the same, but at the moment, he was to busy being in awe.
He'd been here before, of course, had spent a good while in the pat, but still it amazed him. There were trees all around him, birds singing freely. He could actually hear a pterodactyl's cry as it flew overhead.
This was no barren landscape, and it wasn't for miles. There was no smell of charred wildlife in the air. There was no feeling of death and destruction pressing in from all sides.
He felt a surge of slight, calm pride wash over him. He had helped the world stay this way...
"My god..."
His mother's voice was soft, barely a whisper. This time, Torankusu did look at her.
Her eyes were wide, sparkling with tears yet unshed. There was a soft pain in them, the pain of beholding something you have lost forever. There was also the utter joy of it there.
"This...Trunks..."
Torankusu almost started. She hadn't called him that in years. The shorter version of his name, used for when he was a toddler.
It was also what Gohan always called him...
Mentally jerking himself from these thoughts, he let his worries for his mother come to the surface. He should have realized the past would have this sort of affect on...
But then she straightened, and the strength she seemed to pull out of nowhere appeared, that defiant determination replacing the tears in her eyes. Her expression reflected that look. Torankusu smiled. Again, he should have known better.
Then, quite suddenly, Buruma walked swiftly over to him and embraced him.
"I'm so proud of you..." she whispered. He hugged her in return, his smile becoming thankful, peaceful. Glad.
Then she stepped back, almost smirking now. Torankusu almost gulped. He knew that look...
"Lets go find a place to put our capsule house. And then we can enroll you!"
They ended up setting up their house in a kind of clearing in a forest, a real forest. The trees, all towering, with dense branches and an array of lustrous green leaves. The air was filled with the sound of chirping birds, scampering rabbits and other small creatures, and occasionally the distant roar of a dinosaur. At times a lithe, dangerous predator stalked near the edge of the grassless meadow. Torankusu knew that if he could see them, he would be captivated by their lethal beauty, if only because he'd never really seen one in his time. Most were dead, now. Caught in some attack or another...habitats destroyed...
Torankusu pondered* all of this as he leaned against his and Buruma's new house. His arms were crossed against his chest as usual. His hair fell freely to his shoulders, blowing occasionally in the light, smoke-free breeze.
His eyes were closed. There was no reason to stay alert, really. There wasn't in his own time either, now... Things were better, much better.
But this...
Compared to his world?
This was heaven. He felt and knew that as he drifted off to sleep.
Juunanagou braced himself as he stood in front of Capsule Corporation. This really wasn't the smartest idea he'd ever had... Yes, he knew Bejita was off training with Goku, he wouldn't come if he were there. To much of a hassle. Sure, he could certainly hold his own, but...even he had to submit to logic come time. And the basics were this: seven years ago, Cell had defeated him. Seven years ago, Bejita had defeated a Cell hyped up on Juunana's own power.
And that woman... The Saiyajin's wife wasn't powerful in the least, physically. But she certainly had a mouth on her, almost as bad as Goku's woman's.
...At least, that was what his sister had told him. Not like he was spying in his spare time because , say, there was nothing else to do and it was interesting. Nope, not him. Talk about pathetic, right?
Oh, and the brat... His mirai version had irritated Juunanagou enough (and from what Juuhachi said, had become just as powerful as his father, making him despise him all the more) but that kid... He was ten times worse than his niece. Especially if his other half were with him. Both Super Saiyajin, both annoying as all hell.
Of course, he was off playing with said half.
Smirking now, all semblances of doubt gone in an instant, Juunana knocked on the door. It was an award tap; it wasn't as if he did it very often. Not that it mattered much what his knocking was like. As long as it got Buruma's attention.
It obviously did. He heard soft, hurried footsteps headed toward the entrance to the domed building. Already, his face had resumed its expressionless mask.
Although, when the door opened, his eyes widened just a bit. For the woman who stood there wasn't Vejita's mate. No, this woman, with her towering hairdo of blond curls and overly cheerful demeanor, was much more disturbing, in his less than humble opinion.
Buruma's mother. He'd seen her a few times--not spying, of course, just in passing--and she even made Vejita shiver. Juunana cursed inwardly at his bad luck as she giggled.
"My, aren't you a cute one!" The cyborg fought the urge to clench his fists, but his teeth were gritted behind his placid lips.
"I'm looking for Buruma," he said, *usual monotone evident.*
Mrs. Barifusu put her hand to her mouth as she giggled again.
"My, you know she's a bit old for you, don't you? And she's quite taken--"
"This is purely business." Nothing of his aggravating showed in his emotionless voice.
"Oh, dear, then, please come in. I'll call Buruma for you, just sit tight,"
As she spoke she turned and walked toward the living room, gesturing with her free hand for Juunana to follow. He did, rather reluctantly, and then stood against the wall nearest the door, arms crossed loosely.
"I'll just be a minute!" he heard the woman say.
Juunana sighed mentally. Even her voice annoyed him. So...beyond cheerful. He swore it wasn't normal.
But then, neither was his. He always seemed to get a shiver out of strangers--like, for instance, bank staff. Sometimes he figured he didn't even need the handy little gun in his jean pocket.
It was then that he saw Buruma, walking into the room alone, thank...Dende, wasn't it? His thoughts had wandered but his eyes had not.
Her expression was one of pure business, but he could detect annoyance somewhere in there. Probably had been working on some invention or another and he'd interrupted her.
So much the better. He got a great deal of pleasure out of irritating people (mainly his sister), especially when he made them lose their temper; he liked it almost as much as liked scaring them
When Buruma saw him, however, all semblance of work fled from her features, her eyes. All that shown was...hey, fear.
Almost made him giddy.
But then that was replaced, to, with anger. Disappointed him a bit, but this was almost as good, really.
Almost.
"Hey, Buruma. Nice to see you again." He paused, feigning thoughtfulness. "Well, no, actually. Always thought you were annoying." She glowered at him and he rejoiced. Her hands, fists, were clenched tightly* at her sides, fuchsia-painted nails biting into to soft flesh, showing her anger further.
"What do you want?" she snapped. Her arms, hands still balled into fists, left their place by her sides and folded themselves across her chest. She looked every bit the authoritive, strong-willed president of Capulse Corporations. Juunana might have been intimidated if he were someone else.
He knew for a fact that Juuhachi's little lapdog would be wetting his pants right about now.
"I was hoping you could help me," he answered smoothly. His emotionless voice didn't at all betray the fact that he really wished he wasn't...that he didn't need her help, or anyone's for that matter.
But, unfortunately, in this case he did.
Buruma's eyebrows rose, almost disappearing underneath the thick bangs of her newly short pale blue hair. Then she laughed, her arms again changing position, hands moving to rest on her hips, which were covered with a lavender skirt that reached to a little below her knees. It of course matched her nails perfectly, not to mention her darker high-heels and lighter blouse. Her earrings were an even brighter fuchsia than her nails.
"Help you?" she said after a moment. "You tried to kill my oldest best friend. Hell, you tried to kill all of my best friends, plus my husband! And, you let Cell absorb you and become even more powerful. Not to mention that fact that that future you made my future son's life a living hell and really did kill everyone, and millions of other people. Why on Earth would I want to help you?"
Juunana said nothing, as he knew there was more to come. Nothing she said induced the slightest bit of guilt. Really, he didn't even think he was capable of that emotion. Besides, he had expected something like this at first. Maybe for the entire time. Nothing had changed on his expression during her barrage of accusations, and for once it reflected what he felt.
Nothing.
"Besides," she continued, as he suspected she would, "you're a horrible uncle."
At this, Juunana merely raised an eyebrow, saying not a word. That wasn't something he'd expected, but of course it didn't bother him in the slightest.
No guilt there at all. Despite how he felt about his sister and the fact that he knew it saddened her. Ashe thought earlier, he never felt guilt.
Buruma made an exasperated noise at the back of her throat, but kept her mouth closed.
"You're done?"
Buruma scowled at him, which took to be a "yes".
He moved from the wall, stepping closer to the woman. Nothing in her countenance changed.
Probably knew he figured Vejita would kill him in the most painful way possible if he murdered the Saiyajin's mate.
Directly in front of her, facing her down coolly, he said, "I want to attend high school--and I need you help."
Buruma's eyes widened almost comically before she broke out into another fit of laughter. Juunana waited impatiently for it to subside.
It finally did ending when Buruma chuckled out, "You? In school? ...Why?"
"Not your concern. You only have to create some records for me."
Again her eyebrows rose.
"And what WHAT makes you think I'll do that?"
Juunana smirked, moving foreword until his face was only several inches from hers.
"Because if I can't do this, I'll be pissed off. When I'm pissed off, I destroy things." His smirk deepened, becoming more malevolent.
"Now what should I blow up...another office building? Museum, maybe?"
Doubt flickered in her eternally defiant eyes.
He put a smooth, pale finger on his chin, again pretending to be contemplating.
"Hmm...maybe a school?"
He knew he had her by the look in her eyes. There was no way innocent people--especially children--were going to die because of her, because she turned him down. She wouldn't be able to reach any of the Z-Senshi before the deed was done, and he figured she didn't want Juuhachi furious with her.
"Fine," she gritted, "but if you hurt me or anyone around me, I'm rebuilding Gero's deactivator."
Buruma smiled. It was a soft, grateful one as she watched her son from the doorway, eyes closed gently in sleep that seemed, for once, to be peaceful. Must be the atmosphere, she figured. He'd hardly stirred since he'd settled into unconsciousness, a few minutes after they arrived. It had been a few hours, according to her watch.
It also said, twelve thirty. Meaning lunchtime. Meaning, unfortunately, that she'd have to wake her son up. It wasn't something she really wanted to do, but boys needed their food--especially half-Saiyajin boys. She'd always made sure to give him large meals three times a day, always was very punctual, because she figured he needed at least that comfort. Most children in their world didn't have that.
Most of them had nothing. Sure, in the Underground, she, Chichi, and their sons---until Gohan was killed, then it was just the three of them-- cared for the ones they could save. Above all else, they made sure they were safe. But they also made the tunnels homey. There were tables, couches, fans, even a television, in each division. Of course, they'd all lost people, lost their homes...the grief was palpable and devastating. There was no way Buruma and her family could hope to cure them...but they could help, a little. Do more then keep them alive... They didn't want to just give them a shelter, they wanted to give them a home, and they did.
And here she was, reminiscing when she should be--
"Hey mom."
Buruma blinked, and looked down to her son. He was still in the same position on the ground, but his head was cocked toward her, and there was a small, amused smile on his face.
"...You're awake." Realizing she had just stated the obvious, she smiled sheepishly.
"Duh."
Torankusu chuckled, then got to his feet.
"Of course," he answered, smile still in place. "It's lunch time."
This time is was Buruma who laughed.
"Oh, yes, I forgot all Saiyajin have an inward food-timer. You all know exactly when meals are."
With that she turned, suppressing her own chuckle, and walked into the house, son in tow.
As they sat across from the dinner table, she addressed what she knew she had to. School was beginning tomorrow. She really wished they had gone sooner. She had thought of it a short while after he had killed Cell, but it had taken a good while to both finish the time machine and tell Torankusu what she planned to do.
Ah, well. They'd have to make due. They always had before.
"I have papers here, Torankusu," she began. Her son sighed--she knew he didn't like the idea. She also knew he wouldn't protest it anymore.
She continued.
"They confirm you've been home schooled all this time...give proof you are who you say you are...that I'm in a position to enroll you...everything."
"So we have nothing to worry about."
Buruma nodded.
"Right. ...We just have to..."
"I'm listening." Each time he talked, he paused in the relentless eating that reminded her so much of the Sons, Gohan in particular...he had, after all, taught Torankusu to eat that way.
"Well, no one can know there's to Buruma Barifusus in this world...so it would be better if the other Buruma enrolled you."
Torankusu cocked an eyebrow.
"She already has a Torankusu--a baby one. No one is going to believe he grew up this fast." He didn't dare voice the thought that Buruma of this timeline might looked to young to be his real mother.
"I know that, and I've taken it into account. I altered your papers a bit, Torankusu." She paused, noting the worrying curiosity in her son's eyes.
"You won't BE Torankusu Barifusu, you'll be his older brother, Bejita junior."
It didn't take long to get to the present Buruma's house--after Torankusu recovered from her news, anyway. They both knew the way, after all.
It took only a few hours, Buruma being a computer genius and all--why else would he have chosen such an irritating woman? Of course, there was only one other he knew. And that one almost made him shudder. Hell, he figured she would have made Cell cower.
Wife of Goku, mother of Gohan and Son's mini-me, the scariest human woman ever to live.
Son Chichi.
And she had to pretend to be his mother, for there was no way in hell he would go to the trouble of seeking out his real one.
It made sense. Buruma had made the adoption papers for him confirming she was his guardian. Only, of course, because between another fit of laughter she assured him Chichi would never do it. She wouldn't even do it for someone she didn't despise with a passion, and, as she so gracefully put it, someone who's neck she wanted to ring with a diamond-back cobra. After all, she went on, he tried to kill her husband, helped in making her 'baby' train for three years, caused her worry like she'd never known before, which was saying something, and killed Gohan in the future timeline.
No, he was not in her favorite people's list. But no matter her threats or her legendary mouth, he was ten times stronger than she was. He could make her do anything he wanted.
Besides, he had Juuhachigou as a twin sister. Surely he could handle Son Chichi...
"YOU!!"
Juunana was almost knocked of his feet. As soon as Chichi had opened the door her eyes narrowed and her mouth became a thin line. That is, until she opened it and her mouth took up half her face, which seemed to have grown half the size of her body as she bore down on him.
"WHAT are you doing here?!"
"I need help. And if you start laughing, I rip out your heart and mount it on my wall."
That actually shut her up. Made her a few shades paler, too, though her livid expression had only gotten more intense, and when she spoke, it was in a furious growl.
"What do you--" And then a thought seemed to occur to her.
"My son--"
"GOHAN has taken your smaller brat and Bejita's fishing," he said coolly. "I could easily kill you before he gets back."
Chichi gulped, nervously he could tell, though she was trying and failing to hide the emotion. Then her fury was back in place in her expression and countenance.
"You've got five seconds, Juunanagou. Any more and I will SLAM this door in your face, GOT IT?" Juunana didn't know if she was bluffing or not, but decided not to press his luck.
"I'm going to be starting high school. I need you to play my aunt. I'll give you the information you'll need tomorrow."
Chichi could do nothing but gape at him. He smirked.
"Remember," he said smoothly, "if you don't agree to this, I'll kill you. Gohan will be to late. I don't believe he has that uncanny ability to show up in just the nick of time his father does...excuse me, 'dead father', and 'did'."
The woman froze. Grief emanated off her like a heat wave. It was so intense even Juunana noticed. For one instant, Chichi let the tired and sad woman she was show through.
He knew he had her, even when her mask was back up. She nodded, spat some vehement obscenities at him, and then slammed the door. Satisfied, he levitated a few feet, turned, and flew toward his cabin.
Chichi leaned against the door, her hands trembling. She tried to tell herself it was from the fury she felt for the bastard jinzouningen who had the nerve to ask her help, the gull to bring up her...dead...
Goku...
She closed her eyes, and let herself go limp, so she was fully depending on the door for her to stay risen from the ground. Then she let the tears fall. Normally, she waited. Waited until she was alone, in bed. An empty bed. No one was there to comfort her because he couldn't. Because he was the one she was grieving for.
Chichi hated to cry, but at the same time it felt good. It had been seven years, but still, every day, she carried a baggage of crushing despair. The man she loved was gone and he wasn't coming back this time. You'd think...she was Son Chichi after all...you'd think she'd get over it. But it was impossible. Not when it was Goku, the man she'd known since she was only a child. The naive, amusing boy who's she developed a crush within ten second of their first meeting. Even then he was being the hero. He wasn't supposed to die, ever. Not...not permanently. But he had, and how could she deal with that? Especially when Gohan and Goten had so much of him inside of them?
Her whole body was shaking now with sobs, and she let herself slide to the unbelievably clean wooden floor. That was what she did, now. Cleaned and cooked all the time, that or train Goten, or teach Gohan, so she wouldn't think of Him. Night was the time for remembering all they'd been through together.
Yes, it is.
The sobs stopped abruptly and Chichi's mouth became a thin, determined line. She stood. The only sign of her earlier devastation was the many tear tracks on her face. She'd go wash it. Then she'd go on with her day. Son Chichi wasn't some weakling who couldn't deal with grief, not some girl who broke down every time Goku was mentioned. And that was true. If it was Gohan or Buruma...she'd smile sadly, reminisce. But Juunana was so cold and uncaring. Having Goku's death thrust on her like that, so suddenly and cruelly, was more than she could bare right now. Even after so long.
Chichi scowled menacingly. She'd give the bastard hell for this. Lets see what good old Auntie Chichi could cook up...
Juunanagou sat against the door of his cabin, staring at the papers, pictures, and tapes splayed out none to neatly in front of him.
He picked up a tape. It was labeled Daryn and Crystal, Eighteenth Birthday. Yes, that would give him something of an idea on the way he should act in school.
"Aw, C'mon, Daryn!"
Juunana blinked. That was Juuhachi's voice, obviously, but--
"Crystal...no. Absolutely not!"
His hand, after having clicked the thing on and pressed the play button, that was returning to its place at his chest to cross with the other one, froze. That...that was him. His timbre, at least. But...there was...emotion...
His eyes, wide, locked on the tape recorder. He couldn't move. No...part of him couldn't move. Something inside him...the person who had spoken in that recording. The young man who could actually let his feelings surface to his voice. The boy who could actually truly -feel-. The human...
"Daryyn.... Please??"
"Nu-uh. That hat is embarrassing. Besides, I already have one."
"That old thing's not even half a hat, you dolt!"
Daryn had playfully punched her on the arm after that. He...he knew...
"Hey, sis, watch it. This 'old thing', as you call it, happens to be near and dear to my heart."
"If you had a heart you'd do this for me! We need promotion, here!"
"Promotion..." Juunana muttered. "For..."
He blinked. Then he lived again.
Crystal had her hands on her hips and she was pouting. He wished she wouldn't do that. It always made his resolve waver. Why did she have to know him so well?
"Daaryynn..."
"Oh, not the prolonged whining," he groaned, bringing a hand to his face. It hid his smirk.
"Ha ha, bro," his twin said dryly, and he saw her roll her eyes through the gaps between his fingers. Then her expression became a mirror of his own.
Uh-oh. That was never good. What did she gave up her...
"Violet just joined."
Daren's hand fell back to his side abruptly and he gaped stupidly at his sister for a few minutes.
"Violet?" he said weakly. Vi...his ex. He'd been trying to get her back for months now. Just because he looked at a guy, really...simply because he found men attractive too didn't mean...
"Getting broody all ready, Dar," Crystal said sympathetically, shaking her head. "You really are pathetic when it comes to old Vi. But if you help us, maybe--"
Daryn help up his hands, admitting defeat.
"Okay, okay, you know you win, no need to rub it in..." He sighed as she smirked again, one arms extending him, offending hat clutched loosely in her hand. Frowning, he took it from her and examined it once again. As he expected, it seemed no more appealing than it had last time. A vibrant aqua blue with bubbles, etched in white, floating throughout, it had his sisters' activist groups' logo, center on front, beginning at ending at matching points. Big, darkest fuchsia bubble letters outlined in bright blue announced the name: Anti-Whalers. Little red squiggles appeared throughout, flowing in and out behind the text.
He hated it. Nonetheless, he slid off his beloved pale teal cap and slipped it into place, stuffing his own hat into the pocket of his jeans.
"Happy?"
Crystal grinned from ear to ear.
"Hell yeah!" she whooped. He knew she was saying "go me, go me" inside and mentally doing the happy dance. She'd beaten him again, this time because of Vi. Tch. If she could look at other guys, why couldn't he?
Juunana snapped out of the reverie when he snapped off the tape. His wide-eyed, semi slack face regained its normal aloof mask as his composure restored itself. To look at him, you wouldn't know the turmoil his soul had just endured. Even to see past this mask, you'd only discover a slimmer of pain, as he hid it so well even from himself. He didn't care about his past.
Not at all.
Silently, he set aside the cassette player and ruffled through some papers.
Torankusu had made sure to fly above the clouds so know one would see them. Now he found himself wishing it had been a little trickier. He really didn't want to get here so soon. If Bejita were there...he doubted it, but still. If he was, Torankusu wasn't sure how her mother would handle it. He'd seen him when he came last time, but Buruma...
But she was already ringing the doorbell. No inhibitions for her, not when she wanted to do something. There never had been, as far as he knew.
Her hand was clutching his. He squeezed as much as he dared--only slightly. She needed comfort, even if she wouldn't admit it in words.
She didn't need a broken hand.
"Bejita, get the door, will you?!"
Buruma's voice was muffled, but loud enough so that Torankusu, with his enhanced hearing, could hear.
"Why should I?!"
He tensed. Bejita's voice...his fathers voice...
He was there...
"I'm busy!! Doing what you wanted me to do, remember?!"
"FINE!"
His mother did hear that. A shuddering breath passed her lips. She swallowed tightly.
The door opened, and there he stood.
He was wearing the blue spandex pants the both remembered, but also a matching tee and sneakers. His scowls was firmly in place, yet...something about it was different. It wasn't the scowl of an evil warrior prince, it was the scowl of an annoyed...husband.
"...Hi, Bejita."
Bejita's eyes narrowed slightly more than they were as he studied his future son. Only a slither of his shock--glad shock, maybe?--shown in his eyes, but it was more emotion that Torankusu had ever seen there.
"Torankusu." His scowl shifted into a smirk...a soft smirk, almost a smile...no one else, he figured, would take it that way. It was like the one he'd had when Torankusu had left, those many months ago, to go back to the future.
"Father." His tone was more distracted than it would have been normally, because he could feel his mother shuddering, through the hand locked in his.
"B..Bejita..."
His father's gaze shifted, slowly, to his mother. And then, the smirk became a strait line, a sad one, and his eyes softened.
"Buruma."
Buruma almost pulled a Chichi and fainted right there. She had never heard such gentleness in Bejita's voice, not since that one time... Her eyes were watering now, something she had sworn to herself they wouldn't do. She'd never shown any sort of weakness in front of this man, never...
For his part, Bejita was almost surprised at himself. This wasn't the he acted around his Buruma...not in daylight, not in public. And yet, this one...it may have seemed he hadn't cared when Torankusu had relayed the events of his life over seven years ago, and back then, he probably didn't. But even if he never said it in any place other than their bedroom--well, at times in their bedroom--he loved Buruma. And he knew, no matter how much they bickered, how much their equally strong wills clashed, she loved him, too.
Buruma had a big heart, he knew that. And to lose him, and Kakarotto...and all the rest, one by one, it must have crushed her. And he couldn't stand it, and he couldn't be anything else but gentle with her, not now.
"Come in."
He was glad that none of that showed in his voice this time. Wouldn't want to become to soft, not like...
Fuck, can't even think his name. Bastard.
"Woman! We have company!"
There was a pause.
"Fine! I'm just getting washed up. Be CIVIL, Bejita!"
Bejita just rolled his eyes.
"...C-Cleaned up?"
Buruma hated the stutter in the voice almost as much as she hated the fact that she was clutching her son's hand so tightly she was sure it would break if he were human. Or the fact that she was just short of trembling violently, or else bursting hysterically into tears, or maybe running into Bejita's arms and sobbing like a child.
This wasn't her, it just wasn't. None of these embarrassing impulses represented Buruma Barifusu at all and she knew it. And yet... Here was the man she had, regardless of all his many flaws...loved. Alive, after almost two decades. And he had been...different, in a way she know only she, and maybe Torankusu or...or Goku, would have picked up.
Meanwhile, while all these thoughts and emotions churned inside her like clothes in an old washing machine, Bejita snorted.
"One of her half-assed inventions, as usual. Damn thing blew up in her face." Despite the annoyed, almost callous words, Buruma could detect a hint of fondness in his voice. She smiled a half smile much like her son's, and then glanced at said young man to see exactly how he himself was coping.
Unsurprisingly, he looked unfazed in everything but those eyes, always a dark blue storm of emotion. She could see both grief and glee there, and also worry, for her, which she normally rolled her own eyes at...but this time, she saw the point.
In his expression was only a sad smile, almost invisible.
"WOMAN! HURRY UP!"
Buruma flinched, then said hotly, "You don't have to yell, you know! I don't need my ears damaged!"
She stopped abruptly, blinking. Bejita was staring at her, he seemed shocked, but she could see a smile in his eyes...yes, there it was... But she could barely think. She had just lapsed into a habit of a lifetime ago...one that drove everyone both her and her mate knew up the wall, including themselves...and had loved it.
Her gaze moved slowly to Torankusu. To her surprise, he was grinning, even if, as always, there was a sadness there.
She was sure something would have been said, by one of them, but just then Buruma, the present one, the one who belonged here, appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Alright, loudmouth, who do we--my god, TRUNKS!"
Mirai Buruma gave a sideways glance at her son.
"Trunks?" she mouthed. Torankusu just shrugged.
Meanwhile, the present Buruma was running down the stairs. Soon, she had all but leaped on him, hugging him fiercely.
"Oh, Trunkschan! How have you been?"
"I...uh...er..." Torankusu stuttered, a blush spreading from the middle of his nose in both directions across his cheeks. "Fine, Buruma...mom..."
After a few moments more, she released him, beaming.
"He's only been gone for a few months," Mirai Buruma said, smiling faintly. She was calm again, finally. This loud, slightly amusing disruption was what she needed.
She expected the wide-eyed glance she got from her counterpart, the mouth that opened and then closed soundlessly, but not the words that came from it after her gaping was finished.
"But...no...it's been seven years since Torankusu has been here!"