Deep Forest

Chapter Three: Disbelief

Goku's eyes narrowed slightly remembering the ruthless wolves. They were cold hearted and discussing creatures, which, he had thought, he had gotten rid of once and for all. But apparently not…

He suddenly snapped out of his thoughts as a slight whimper escaped young Reno's throat. He looked down to see two sad, tear streaked eyes still looking up at him. His cold eyes melted once more as the concern now radiated from them. He pulled her to him and rocked her slowly, not saying a word.

"I'm scared papa…" Reno whispered shakily into his chest, her small hands clenching to his shirt. Goku sighed and laid his head on his daughters gently. "Don't worry, sweetie… You know I won't let any thing ever happen to you. I will always protect you." She only nodded sadly, her long saiyan tail loosening from her waist a bit. Goku rubbed her back again as he gathered her into his strong arms, standing up. Reno blinked a bit as he started towards the house slowly. Her eyes grew wide as she started to shake slightly in his arms, not wanting to face the wrath of Chichi again. Goku noticed this as he took one of his hands and scratched the back of her neko ears gently. "It's fine, Reno. Remember, I said I would always protect you from anything." He stated, a light laugh in his tone that caused the young half-breed to calm again.

He carried her in through the door, still holding her close to him protectively. Reno looked around slowly, her deep red eyes scanning the room she was in. She stopped when she noticed her brother laying on the couch holding his head, as Chichi stood over him, frying pan in hand. She gulped gently seeing this, her small hands clinging tighter to her father's shirt. Chichi's head snapped to the door, her eyes narrowing in disgust at the sight of the half-breed. Her teeth clenched once more a sound almost like a growl coming from her throat. She stomped towards the two in the doorway, screeching. "Goku? Dare you bring that-that thing into MY house!" She screeched, pointing to Reno. Goku's grip tightened around his daughter, trying to stay clam. "This thing," He started. "Happens to be my daughter, Chichi. And I will bring her into this house whenever I choose." Chichi stood there in disbelief, the frying pan dropping from her hand and onto the floor with a loud 'clang'.

Goten stared in awe from the couch. Never before had he seen his father stand up to his mother like that, especially in the strong tone of voice he had done it in. Goku was actually amazed at him self also, but keeping it quite well, liking the feeling of poser he had at this point. He walked right past them both and into the kitchen. He set Reno onto the counter and wet a paper towel under warm water to clean up her wounds a bit.

"Bye mom!" The lavender haired teen yelled down to his mother in the lab. She blinked and came out room under the machine she was working on. "What?" She questioned. The teen popped his head in the door. "I'm going to Goten's, okay?" She nodded and smiled. "That's fine, honey. Just don't go killing each other." She laughed as she lust smirked almost to much like his father and ran out the front door, jumping into the air and blasting off towards the mountains.

Goten finally shook from his astonishment and looked at his mother. He blinked and walked over to her, shaking her a bit to get her out of it, also. She just stood there, in the same position she had been in when Goku stood up to her. "Mom?" Goten questioned as he shook her again. "C'mon mom, snap out of it." Goten sighed angrily as she only continued to stand there in shock. He finally picked her up and carried her upstairs and set her on the bed, then wondered back down to the kitchen slowly.

Reno looked up and over at him as he walked into the kitchen. She squeaked softly and scooted back on the counter more. Goku blinked and looked over his shoulder at his son, then smiled a little. "It's fine, Goten. You can come in." Goten nodded and slowly walked over to them. Reno whimpered gently as he did, causing Goten to stop in mid-step. He stood there and managed a smile. "Hi there, Reno." He smiled softly, standing a few feet away so he doesn't scare her any more. All he ever wanted was a younger sibling, especially a sister. So when he first found out he had one, he was ecstatic. He started to think of all the things he would do with her. Just like Gohan had done for him when he was growing up. But his dreams were shattered when he was told he was never to see, or even speak to her. Chichi did not want him, or even Gohan, to have any contact with her because of what she was, and how she had gotten there. It was still hard for Goten to understand what had actually driven his father to have an affair with Reiko. But knowing how hard his mother could be on him, it was understandable. Since it had happened only a tear after he had been given his life back, Goten suspected that he was having a hard time getting used to Chichi again.

He shook the thoughts from his mind. He was just happy that she was here now. Though he was worried as to why she had come in the first place. He had never seen any one look as hurt as she did. Not physically, but mentally. She was obviously having an intense battle in her mind, and he was curious as to why. He smiled again and took a few steps closer to her. She squeaked once more and jumped into her father's arms. Goku only laughed and patted Reno's head. Your much to shy some times, Reno." She blinked and looked up to him as he smiled. "Goten's your brother. He doesn't want to hurt you. In fact, he's the one who has always wanted to meet you." Her head shifted over to Goten, a slight curiosity in her eyes. "It's true." He stated happily as his son stared back at Reno, his eyes filled with hope. Hope that she would understand that all his father, their father, was saying was true. He slowly walked up to her, holding out his hand still smiling gently. Reno stared at it for a moment, then shakily reached out her hand, wrapping her small fingers around his hand lightly. Goten grinned widely as she looked up at him, her deep, dark red eyes seeming different some how. Almost like all of the fear had disappeared and been replaced with curiosity and innocents. Goku gently set Reno down and took a step back. She only continued to stare up at her brother. She blinked and suddenly lifted her arms up to him, wanting to be picked up. Goten stood there for a second, almost not sure if he should. He looked over at his father, his eyes asking silently. Goku nodded, a smile on his lips. Goten's smiles widened as he leaned down and picked her up gently. She smiled for the first time since she had arrived as her tail swished lazily behind her. Goku leaned against the counter amazed at how Reno had come out to liking Goten so quickly. He smiled even more once he saw how happy his son looked holding Reno in his arms. But his smile quickly faded slightly as he saw Reno tense up, her ears twitching wildly. "What's wrong?" Goten asked, blinking a bit. "S-Some one's coming…" Reno replied shakily.

And, just as if on cue, there was the sound of feet hitting dirt. Every one quickly gathered outside to see the young lavender haired teen smiling at them. "Hey guys." He stated happily. Goten smiled back as he gently set Reno down and wondered over to his best friend. "Hey Trunks. " He replied with a high five. Reno blinked at the new person, but quickly ran behind her father as her looked over at her. "Who's that…?" Trunks asked as he stared at the girl. Goten only smiled more as her walked over and picked her back up. "This is my sister, Trunks." She squeaked and clung to Goten's shirt as Trunks yelled in shock. "That's Reno?!" Reno whimpered as the fear returned to her deep red eyes. Goten glared at Trunks as he held her close. "Yes. And you don't have to yell about it." Trunks blinked a bit. "Sorry, I was just surprised. I didn't think you were aloud to see her."

"I'm not." Goten replied plainly. "But it's only because… She's here… Because--" He stopped suddenly and thought, then looked over at Reno. "Why are you here?" He questioned. Reno gulped and looked to the ground sadly, her lip quivering. Goku sighed and walked over, taking her from Goten and cradling her in his arms. "Dad…?" Goten questioned. "What did happen to her? Is she going to be okay?" Trunks blinked and walked over to her, not even realizing what he was doing, he took her from Goku and rocked her gently in his arms. And for some reason, she didn't even struggle. No whimpering. No crying.

Nothing…

Reno was not even sure why she didn't. For some reason she felt safe. She only laid on his shoulder sadly. Goten and Goku stood there watching in awe. Goten had seen how hard it was for Reno to even go near him, and he was her own brother. Goku on the other hand, had never before seen Reno take a liking to some one so quickly. She was always so shy and scared. So for Trunks to just come up and have Reno lay onto his like this was quite an accomplishment. Reno continued to lay on him, not saying a word or even crying any longer. Trunks held her close as he walked over and sat against the wall rocking her once more.

"Umm… Trunks?" Goten managed to get out of his shock. Trunks blinked slowly, and looked up to him. "Hmm?" Goten shook his head and blinked widely. "H-how did you do that…?" He asked shakily. "Do what?" He asked, not sure what he was referring to. "Get Reno to just come over and basically ling to you just like that." He pointed, still in disbelief. Trunks only shrugged and rubbed Reno's back gently. "I'm not sure… Some thing just told me to come over and--"

"What the hell!?" Came a voice from inside the house, interrupting Trunks in mid-speech. "Oh give me a break for once…" Goten whined as he turned to see his frightfully angry mother in the doorway to there home.