The Strangest Thing

by Ladii-Chocolate

[BG] The only thing anyone could ever see of Bra was a cold, almost rigid exterior. No one can see past this shell, but can one half Saiyan break through and see her for the gentle person she really is?

20. And the Story Continues

-New Week. New Chapter. New Drama.-

-Same Author. Same Style. Same Humor.-

-Deserved Gratitude-: Thanks to InuSaiyan007, GothicBlacre, TorankusuGohan, Garowyn, SAIYANWIZARD, Thomas Drovin, Godzilla2, Tellemicus Sundance, LucreziaNoin86, Goten's fan, DBZAngelX, 89, and alexis for reviewing.

-InuSaiyan007-: Why, thank you! I'm quite glad you thought so. Hmm – that does sound predictable, just like you said. And heaven knows that I'm trying not to be too predictable. It's a good thing that I didn't incorporate that in the chapter, then, right? Hmm…you sound like one of my best friends. She has some trouble sleeping, too, and it seems to be affecting her schoolwork. Well, thanks for reviewing!

-GothicBlacre-: You came back! Thanks. Yeah, it looks that way. She might become a fighter, or she just might lose interest in it. I won't tell you. (Grins mysteriously) But I'm pretty sure the answer is quite apparent. Nevertheless, thanks for the review and the compliments. They are greatly appreciated.

-TorankusuGohan-: Thank you! Okay, I'm glad you enjoyed the scenes with Goten and Bra training. I was so afraid that they weren't descriptive enough. I'm pleased that you think that I did a pretty good job on them. And yes, I agree. They are getting closer, finally, right? Wow – you seemed to have a pretty deep insight to the last chapter. I like to see that. Oh, didn't you see my first author's note (I think it was)? I explained that the first part of the chapter would be Bra's dream, but at least you realized that someone was dreaming. Heh, you know what? You're the second one to mention that – regarding what you said about expecting Vegeta to walk in while Goten and Bra were in that oh-so-awkward position (at least for Bra, it was). Actually, one of the reasons why I didn't make a scene like that is because it's just too predictable, like InuSaiyan007 mentioned in her review. But then again, having Vegeta walk in and catch Goten 'choking' Bra would have been quite hilarious, and not as predictable as the first instance. But then, it'd ruin the plot of the story, so I couldn't do it. Well, thanks for reviewing – and thanks for having such a great insight to that particular chapter!

-Garowyn-: Yeah, wouldn't it be a big surprise to everyone if Bra did enter a tournament? Oh, well. That won't happen in this story, though, unfortunately. It may happen in the sequel, though. Wouldn't that be interesting? Oh, and I can wait for my email. Just make sure you do all of your other obligations first. I don't want to be too much of a burden. And yes, I saw! Thanks so much for doing that – it flattered me to no end. (Grins happily, then gasps almost immediately) Oh, you'd do that? Wow – I'm so touched! I'd be so grateful – not to mention pleased, that someone wrote a one-shot especially for me! Oh, I don't mind if it's tragedy or not – I love just about any Bra/Goten story. I'm pleased to hear that the last chapter was one of your favorites, and I'm even more pleased to hear that it inspired you to start planning a fantasy one-shot featuring our favorite second generation couple. Oh, wow – only two scenes until Chapter 2's done? I can wait. I'm glad to see that you enjoyed the dream, and that you felt that the rest of the chapter was simply amazing. Thanks always for the reviews, Garowyn!

-SAIYANWIZARD-: Hello! Oh, have you? That's always nice to know, though. It's okay, there's no need to apologize. At least you're reviewing now, right? Thanks for reviewing – and don't worry, you're not the only lazy one. (Grins) I've had my own share in laziness quite too many times…

-Thomas Drovin-: Aw, thank you! Okay, I'm elated to hear that. I was a bit apprehensive with that last chapter. I wasn't sure if I could properly describe Bra and Goten's training well enough to keep the readers satisfied. Yes, I agree wholeheartedly – it's the simple things like training that will make them fall in love with each other later on. (Sighs dreamily) Young love – don't you just love it? Yeah, your character will hit the chapters in around June – and I totally agree about what you said regarding Bra's initial reaction to your character. I bet she'll be a bit upset at first, because she's so used to having boys hit on her. She might actually be a little offended, too, because he's so shy and won't talk too much to her at first! Of course, that's our ever-conceited Bra. Fear not, TD – she will get nicer, even if it is just slightly. Thank you for always making sure to review.

-Godzilla2-: Thank you for the compliments! Yeah, I first thought that initially, but when you think about it, this is Bra's first attempt at training. I didn't think it should be that action-packed - especially for someone like her, being so self-conscious and what not. I'm glad you thought that the chapter was well-written, though. Thanks for reviewing!

-Tellemicus Sundance-: I'm delighted to see that you enjoyed Bra's dream in the beginning of the chapter. Thanks! Oh, was it? Well, like I said before, it's Bra's dream – she does as she pleases. I'm glad to hear that you were impressed with Bra's progress in her training and her determination. Thanks, I agree that she's slowly but surely discovering her Saiyan side. That's great to hear, regarding the fact that you liked the end of the chapter. I have to admit – that was my favorite part. Hmm, I think you have a point. Wow, you really go into depth. That could really help you figure out what's going to happen later on in the story, especially in this chapter. Well, I'm really appreciative of the fact that you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for reviewing!

-LucreziaNoin86-: Hey, you reviewed again! Wow, thanks for the compliments! I agree – I'm a huge Briefs family fan myself. Don't worry, Vegeta and the others will find out about Bra's strength soon, although it isn't in this chapter. Nonetheless, thanks for making sure to review.

-Goten's fan-: Wow, that was a pretty long review you had last week. Aw, I'm sorry to hear that – regarding the fact that my updating was the only good thing that happened to you last week. Don't worry about being late. The good thing is that you reviewed, and told me how you felt about the last chapter. Oh, and unfortunately, Bra won't participate in the next World Martial Arts Tournament in this story. Perhaps in the sequel, maybe, but not this story. She needs to find her inner self, first. Yes, it'd be really cool to see Goten versus Bra in a tournament. I wonder who would win? Ha, Garowyn and I had a conversation about that a couple of weeks ago. Oh, don't we all have busy weeks sometimes? Don't worry – I like to hear about how other people are doing. Oh, do I update quickly? I only update once a week, as opposed to some people updating every day, but thanks for the compliments anyway. Heh, I knew it was you all along – I'm talking about the reviews from Bra and Goten. All three of you write and type the same. I was merely playing along, you could say. (Grins) I don't need to forgive you for something as little as that. Oh, and it's okay - I don't mind – I hope you have fun at your best friend's house! Thanks for reviewing!

-DBZAngelX (Chapter 4…)-: A new reviewer! Welcome to TST. I'm glad you feel that the story's a very nice one, even though you're only at the fourth chapter. To tell you the truth, I think that the first few chapters were a bit unorganized, but if you liked them, that's always good to hear. (Smiles) Thanks for reviewing.

-89-: Another new reviewer; thanks for checking out TST. Um, the only thing I can tell you is that I won't abandon the story, if that's what you're worried about. There will always be more until the very last chapter. Thank you for reviewing!

-alexis-: Another new reviewer! Of course I'll write more. I don't want you guys to be left hanging. You'll have to wait quite a number of chapters until this story's over… Hope you'll stay around to see how it turns out. (Grins) Thanks!

-Note-: Inspiration? Just reading a few past reviews from Garowyn, TorankusuGohan, Thomas Drovin, Godzilla2, and Tellemicus Sundance. Thanks so much - this chapter wouldn't be here without your indirect help.

-Second Note-: Having received a review from someone saying that she was an avid fan of Vegeta, Trunks, and Bra, I've decided to take the liberty of incorporating scenes of all three of them (individually or together) into this very chapter. Even Pan fans will enjoy this chapter (although she is, by far, one of my least favorite characters). But hey, this is all for the readers. Enjoy!

-Third Note-: I apologize for the long delay, regarding this update. But you have to realize that I have a school life as well as a FanFiction one. Just last week alone, I was swamped with about three new term projects, and tests or quizzes in every subject. I'm not trying to complain, mind you - I just want everyone to know and understand what I've been doing during this last week. And also, I've decided that I simply can't keep up with posting on Mondays, as you can see. From now on, I'll update whenever I can. Sorry for the inconvenience.

-Fourth Note-: Welcome to the third part of The Strangest Thing. The first part shows Bra and Goten's strong dislike for the other's personality; the second part shows our favorite two people slowly growing used to each other, while exposing their insecurities to you, the reader; and you can guess what the third (and probably the longest) part will include. If you really don't have a clue, what are you doing still reading? Also, I apologize for this particular chapter being so massive.

-Fifth Note-: I might change the summary again. Just letting you know.

-Disclaimer-: I don't own any aspect of DBZ. I do, however, own Tanith and Giselle - the latter will make another appearance in this particular chapter. Oh, and don't forget Giselle's fellow book pals - Reese, the 'Elle-sters (dubbed like so as a small shout out to my favorite Spanish teacher of all time, Senora Elster), Donovan, Takei, and Lord and Lady Chartreuse. Ha, Giselle's parents wish they were the lord and lady of something...

-In this Chapter-: Bra trains discreetly in the GR - against Goten's wishes - but he doesn't mind that much; Vegeta catches the two in the GR together - luckily not seeing them do anything (he's keeping his eyes on Goten, though!); Bra gets a tiny vision, which seems to gross her out; Goku, Chi-Chi, Gohan, Videl, and Pan come to visit; Trunks questions Pan about her birthday; Giselle gets closer to Takei, while Reese gets farther; Little Miss Chartreuse forgets about a certain 'man-on-the-side', who makes a reappearance in her life; Bra corrects Pan on an incorrectly devised strategy, which makes the latter enraged; later on, the two spend some time alone outside, chatting sociably with Trunks; Goten has yet another vision of Valese.

-Chapter 20-: And the Story Continues

-Subtitle-: Pan's Birthday Approaches

A few days later...

It was extremely early one morning - so early that outside was still riddled with stars - that a certain half-Saiyan slunk out of her bed, slipped on her training outfit and shoes, and headed downstairs towards the direction of the GR silently. She stealthily passed her parents' bedroom, making sure to suppress her ki almost perfectly, careful not to stir them. As soon as she had passed the closed door of their room, she made a mad dash for the GR, where she hurriedly typed in a password on the training room's database.

The computer beeped numerous times automatically, whirring silently as it processed her vital information quickly. "Analyzing human presence... Briefs, Bra," it finally read to her, speaking in an automated tone. "Sex: Female. Relations: Briefs, Bulma, mother; Prince Vegeta, father; Briefs, Trunks, brother. Age: Sixteen years and one hundred and twenty-seven days old. Blood type-"

'Are you kidding me? Since when do we have added security for the GR, of all places?' She snarled at the computer screen in a scathing manner, placing her hands on her hips impatiently. "Look. I don't have all day for this. I think I would already have a slight clue as to what my gender and age are. And don't even think of going into my height and weight, or trust me, there will be a problem."

"Very well; but it is now required that you are registered properly. Nevertheless, welcome to the Gravity Room, Bra. Please make sure not to touch anything throughout your stay," it warned her rather solemnly, still beeping and whirring automatically.

"And what if I do?"

"I'm just following my orders, Miss Briefs. Please do not challenge authority. According to your parents, namely your father, you do not have the complete knowledge to fully use this room to your advantage. Also, your mother seems to deem you to be very irresponsible these days."

Bra simply couldn't believe this. How was a simple machine the only thing prohibiting her from training in the one place she had dreamed about for months? And just how was she irresponsible? "Oh, come on. I really don't have time for this. Can you please just open the door now?"

"Fine, Miss Briefs. Again, please do not touch anything you wouldn't touch if either of your parents were present and accounted for," the automaton cautioned slowly one last time, just as it finally allowed the massive metal door to open for her.

"Okay, okay!" She put her two hands up in front of her in defeat, stalking into the GR in an indignant manner. "I heard you the first time!" Her mother and computers these days... Why was it that she always made them seem so snappy?

As soon as the door slammed shut behind her, however, she immediately made for the control center of GR, a snide smirk permeated across her facial features. "The day I listen to one of my mother's inventions must be the day HFIL freezes over. Honestly, I've been here long enough to know what some of these things do," she reassured herself quietly, staring at the vast array of multi-colored buttons. "Um... I know this blue handle controls the gravity..." She pulled lightly on the handle, and was promptly overcome by a chilling blast of air. 'C-C-Cold! When did Mom install an air conditioner in here?' She shut it off immediately, shuddering slightly, and pressed another blue button.

"Setting gravity to ten percent higher than normal."

"Great!" she told herself triumphantly, moving away from the control center and towards the middle of the gravity room. "I can start my training at ten percent, and then gradually increase it to fifteen... They'll all be so surprised when they see how strong I've become! I don't need that much of his help these days, anyway."

Ignoring the slightly heavy, tugging sensation she was beginning to feel on her muscles, she proceeded to begin her solo training session.

In Vegeta and Bulma's bedroom...

Apparently, Bra hadn't suppressed her ki well enough to keep a certain Saiyan Prince from waking up and sensing her presence. Still in the warmth of his and Bulma's bed, Vegeta's eyes shot open in the darkness suspiciously. Turning towards the spot where his wife lay beside him, he whispered harshly, "Woman, wake up. Just what exactly is Bra doing awake at four in the blasted morning?"

She stirred slightly, and mumbling in her pillow wearily, replied softly, "Vegeta... What are you doing awake at four in the morning?"

"I'm serious, woman," he growled in response, his eyes narrowing menacingly. "If you honestly took the time to learn how to sense ki instead of wasting your life building a cursed school, you'd realize that the girl has been waking up around the same exact time each and every day. What's the reason for her behavior?"

Bulma's soft snores answered him, informing him that she either did not contain the energy to stay awake and listen to him, or that she didn't care to stay awake and listen to him. Scowling once more, he chose not to say anything else to her. 'Intolerable woman... She doesn't understand anything.' He closed his eyes and succumbed to lethargy again, making up his mind to pay his daughter a little visit in a few hours.

Three hours later...

Bra had begun her warm-ups by sitting down on the GR floor and stretching her legs. She then proceeded to stretch her fingertips to each foot, holding onto her left foot for several patient minutes before shifting to the other foot, and then she rose up to her feet again, ignoring the heavy sensation that she seemed to be experiencing time and time again. Next, she went into a rhythmic stage of different fighting stances, each one modeled after Goten's, her father's, and her brother's own poses. Once she was finished with her calmer warm-ups, she began swift, hard kicks in the air, followed by even more rapid punches and a few energy beams that were shot at the walls.

As soon as she stopped punching into the air, however, the intense gravity of the room seemed to drag her down slowly to the floor, where she sat Indian-style, breathing softly. What...what was going on here? It hadn't even been four hours yet, and she was already tired? 'No way,' she told herself, in the middle of her strained breaths. 'I'm going to keep on training until I fall down unconscious. Today's the day that I prove to him that I can do this myself.'

Gathering what little strength she had left in her, she rose up from her spot, and was about to continue her strenuous training, when someone swiftly intervened. "I thought I told you not to come in here until I felt you were ready, didn't I?"

Bra whipped her head around and glanced at Goten fleetingly before resuming what she was doing previous to his arriving at the GR. "Well, I feel that I'm ready. I don't need your consent. When did you have the power of telling me whether I should go into my own gravity room or not?" A few seconds passed, and then, "Aren't my parents awake? My dad should've kicked you out of the house-"

He sighed loudly in exasperation, already slightly irked by her. Walking closer to where she stood, he told her, "To tell you the truth, Bra, your dad wasn't all too happy to see me. He was probably considering slamming the door in my face, but your mom insisted that I come in and make myself at home. Vegeta may be pretty cold and fierce at times, but he doesn't hold a candle to Bulma. I guess it's the same with my parents."

Although she didn't want to agree with him (heck, she never wanted to agree with the likes of him), Bra knew he was right. Her father could blow up at anyone he wanted, but he catered to her mother's every whim, no matter how much he detested the fact or didn't want to admit it. "So, what do you want? If you're just here to watch me train-"

"Actually, I-" he began, but was abruptly interrupted by an extremely vexed voice by the doorway. Flinching slightly, he turned his head hesitantly to view the source of the voice.

"I knew I'd find you here, brat," Vegeta spat meanly, stalking into the room in a rather violent temperament. His eyes flickered momentarily from his daughter to Goten, and then suddenly, back to Bra. "Tell me, what are you doing here? Wait a second - what are both of you doing here, together?"

"Vegeta, I can explain-"

"Daddy," Bra promptly interjected softly, plastering a sickly innocent smile on her face, "I don't know what he's doing here, but I came in here because I was curious about the new buttons Mom installed. You can tell her that they're very nice, too."

He snorted derisively in disgust, moving his glare towards Goten. "That'll only give the woman a bigger head than she already has. But if that's all you came here for, then you'd best leave this room now. I don't want you touching anything here. And you," this was now directed towards a rather flustered Goten, "I thought I told you to heed my warnings and stay away from the girl. Honestly, I don't have the slightest clue as to why you and your family always seem to hover around my house like Earth flies."

"You're telling me that his whole family's here, Dad?" Bra had long abandoned her phony voice for a more serious one. Slightly irritated, she placed her hands on her hips, looking downright adamant. "As in, right now?"

"Of course," he shrugged indifferently, now heading back towards the entrance of the GR, "they act like they don't have anything better to do with their pitiful lives. Especially that fatuous woman of Kakarot's... But I'm warning you, boy, I'm keeping my eye on you from now on." Without another word, he quickly exited the room, shooting one last menacing scowl towards Goten as he left.

"Well," Bra started carelessly, turning to face Goten, "that sure went better than I expected." She tucked a wild strand of hair behind her ear and smirked smugly. "He'll never get mad at me. Now, let's get at least one battle in before your entire family comes in...because I know that's what you really came here for. You don't surprise me much anymore-"

Goten was still wrapped up in his own theatrics to hear her, hence reminding Bra painfully of his mother. "Does he always have to threaten people?" he asked miserably. "I swear, the only person he doesn't threaten to mutilate is you, Daddy's little Princess-"

She simply answered him with her first move, using a quick fist to punch at his stomach, and then his face. Each time, however, he pushed her fist effortlessly away with his wrist. Backing up, she sent a powerful kick to his side, which he seemed to catch again with the palm of his hand. Noticing that all of her efforts were beginning to be in vain, her temper grew promptly, and she immediately began send numerous ki blasts towards him.

"You're getting too reckless," he told her calmly, and lightly kicked at her side to send her back. "Stop getting so angry."

"Look," she growled, quickly regaining her fighting stance before dashing back before him for another attempt in striking him, "I injured both a security guard and some guy at the mall just because one of them called me a 'Daddy's girl.' I can't help getting angry sometimes."

"All you need to do is control and harness your anger," he responded quietly, blocking yet another one of Bra's efforts to hit him. "Once you can learn to do that, your strength'll be beyond comparison. So calm down."

She suddenly wasn't listening to anything inside the GR as the fight continued - there was something going on just outside the room that caught her immediate attention.

"Come on, Chi-Chi," Goku pleaded softly as he and his wife steadily approached the GR, "just let us train for a couple of hours." He tried to pry her fingers away from the cuff of his collar gently. "Please?"

"Dear," the Son woman chided lightly, shaking her finger at him in an admonishing manner, "don't be so eager to always train. There's more to life than that and eating, you know. Now come back with me to the living room. By the way, where's Goten?"

"How would I know..."

Having heard Chi-Chi's little statement; Bra shuddered in agreement, just as Goten evaded yet another punch from her. Why was it that males in their family had to be like that; with Gohan being a slight exception? Poor Chi-Chi - having an intolerable son was more than enough. But having an intolerable husband? That had to be horrible.

'Well,' Bra thought to herself, dodging a quick blow from Goten that seemed to be aimed towards her forehead, 'she must deal with it somehow, or maybe she's just incredibly patient and loving. Okay, maybe not the latter. And Videl... Even though Gohan isn't as bad as his brother or father, he can be just as annoying in the subject of training as them.'

And somehow (she had no idea where the concept even arose in the first place), she began to imagine how life would be with Goten as a husband, while she was still caught in the midst of their fierce battle:

She imagined their house being a low-budget, torn-down shack in a poverty-stricken neighborhood, and began to imagine herself as a miserable housewife (heh, nothing could make her lift a finger and perform menial tasks outside...as her mother always claimed, a female from the Briefs family was created solely for her husband to treat her like the queen she was). Yes, she was a miserable housewife, with a pitiful, unappreciative husband who stayed at home (as Goten didn't seem like the type of person to stay committed to a job either), and about six or seven wretched, ungrateful kids (it was six if one didn't count the unborn baby in her tummy at the moment).

She glanced wearily at the kitchen clock at present, groaning slightly as it read 3:00 P.M. "The kids'll be here soon," she called indifferently towards the living room, where her thankless husband and youngest daughter were currently situated. When she heard no response, she paused from stirring the soup on the kitchen stove, repeating carefully, "Didn't you hear me? I said-"

"I heard you the first time," Goten responded blandly, keeping his eyes glued to the tiny television screen as a raven-haired seven-year-old, who was seated on his lap, continued to tug on his shirt repeatedly. "Is the food ready yet?"

Bra scowled darkly, biting her tongue to avoid any sharp comments, just as the door swung open to admit two quarrelling kids. "The twins are back from school," she announced loudly, but no one seemed to hear her. Suddenly narrowing her eyes menacingly as a sharp squeal of pain was suddenly heard, she called, "Quit hitting him this instant, Goryn! You're already in trouble for what happened at school today... Don't think your teacher didn't phone us about your detention tomorrow!"

The blue-haired ten-year-old blushed brightly, smiling that trademark Son grin as she and her twin, Gotin, waltzed grandly into the room. The twins looked so alike, Bra was suddenly reminded, that it was almost painful to stare at them for long. "Aw, Mom, don't act like that. You know Miss Clark has had it in for me ever since I started attending this new school."

"Mom, don't believe her," Gotin whispered darkly, rubbing his bruised arm slightly. "You've gotten us kicked out of every school because you want to fight people... Ten schools already, Goryn, and we're not even close to high school yet!"

Bra stared at her oldest son approvingly before turning around to continue stirring the miso soup. "You know, he has a really valid point," she reprimanded Goryn, who seemed to redden even more in abashment. "Now, both of you get out of here before the baby wakes up." She shifted the abovementioned infant a little on her hip as she shut the fire off from the stove. The twins scampered out of the kitchen (actually, Goryn scampered out - Gotin felt like trudging slowly behind her), and the poor woman was left to be by herself (if one didn't count the baby on her hip and the baby in her stomach) for a few precious minutes.

However, it seemed as if one of kids present didn't want to cooperate. As if he was on cue, the small baby on her hip began to whimper audibly, eyes shut tightly. Without another word, he escalated his whimpers to full-blown cries. Poor Bra shifted him to her other hip, resorting to bouncing him softly as he refused to listen to her soft coos. "Come on, sweetie, food's almost ready-"

A sharp shriek was heard from the living room, hence helping the baby to become even more irritable. The raven-haired girl from earlier had jumped from her Goten's lap and was cheering yet another fight on. "Yeah! Hit 'im hard!"

"What'd I say about encouraging fights, Chemise? Come here now!" Bra yelled furiously, but she was hardly heard over the screams from the living room and the baby's shrieks.

"Aw. Mom, you're such a party-pooper. Tell 'er, Daddy." Nevertheless, she raced towards the kitchen's direction energetically.

"Tell that poor excuse for a father to come here, too, unless he wants to finally buy a clue and tell those boys to stop fighting!"

Goten was at a loss for words. It was good for his youngest sons, aged five and four, to start sparring at an early age; but at the same time, one of them was developing a rather nasty habit of using Bra's treasured purses and designer shoes to strike the other. At least three of her shoes' heels had already cracked; if she ever found out, they were all in for it. "Wait a second, Chemise. Can you get back here?" he asked miserably, finally arriving at a decision.

The rather exuberant, ebony-haired child bounced back excitably to her father, blue eyes twinkling brightly. "Yes, Daddy?"

"Can you please tell your brother to stop hitting your other brother with your mom's favorite purse?" he requested, ignoring Goryn's excited pleads for a quick training match.

Chemise nodded genuinely, and yelled rather loudly at her fellow ebony-haired sibling, who seemed to be having great fun of beating up a blue-haired, very adorable little boy, "Hey, Goken! Daddy said to stop it 'fore you get in trouble with Mommy!"

Goken promptly paused from punching the younger boy, discarding Bra's esteemed Stacey's purse to the side carelessly. "Aw," he spoke softly, obsidian eyes dulling at a rapid rate. Turning to the blue-haired boy, he added, "How're you supposed to learn to be a top-notch fighter if you won't stop being such a crybaby? Sheesh!"

Tike sniffed bitterly, and avoided his older brother's gaze, staring at the dingy rug below him sullenly. His big blue eyes turning watery at a remarkable rate, he whispered raspily, "I'm gonna tell Mommy on you, anyway... I told you I didn't want you to train me!"

Noticing the tears that threatened to spill from their second youngest brother's bright blue eyes right away, Chemise, Goryn, and Goken started to chant simultaneously, "Crybaby! Crybaby! Crybaby!" Of course, this certainly didn't make for a very pleased mother and father (the former, especially)...

"That's it!" Bra threw the cooking ladle down in a frenzied rage, paying no attention as the baby on her hip rose his screams louder and louder with each passing second. Stalking violently towards the living room, she glared at the pathetic sight of Goten sitting morosely on the couch with Tike crying shrilly in the background, Chemise still jumping fervently around the room, and Goken and Goryn involved in a little punching match. The only child who seemed to pay full attention to her was Gotin, but even he underestimated her anger, perhaps thinking she was just going through her typical bouts of rage. "I can't stand living in this misery of a house! Why can't we just live somewhere closer to my parents? That way, a couple of you menaces could spend time with them more often, and give me some peace for once-"

"Well, seeing as how your father disowned and denounced us years back, I don't think that's possible anymore..." Goten started solemnly, prying Goken's tight fist away from his oldest sister's neck gently as he awaited his wife's reaction.

She sniffed haughtily, taken aback by her husband's uncommon bluntness. "Us? I recall it being you that he disowned. Who'd be so stupid as to directly ask him what to call our firstborns?"

"Well, at least your mother and my parents still like us-"

"Do they even care to visit?" she hissed back viciously, temporarily forgetting about the two babies she was currently holding. "Who would? What do we have for them? All we have here is an untamed little girl who only wants to fight all the time; a gloomy little boy who has to put his two cents in for every single conversation; an overexcited twerp who doesn't know when to stop jumping around; an awful little boy who refuses to listen to orders first given; a four-year-old who still acts like a dependent baby; a wretched infant who won't stop crying for once... You know what? You're all ingrates, each and every one of you!"

Goten promptly paled, just as Chemise quit her crazed jumping to stare at her mother with a disbelieving expression. "Hey," he started softly, gazing down at his youngest daughter's suddenly widened, watery eyes, "you don't really mean that, do you?"

Bra was about to furiously inform him that if she hadn't meant it, she wouldn't have said it in the first place, now, would she; when she noticed that, one after another, Chemise, Goryn, and Goken began to wail loudly. "Of course not, you simpleton," she finally spat, and the sobs were promptly hushed. "Now, all of you... Go upstairs and wait for the rest of the food to be ready. And Goryn, take the baby with you, and put him in his crib, please." She gently handed the infant to his oldest sister, who received him with two earnest arms, and watched as one by one, all of the children left the room.

"You know, training every day will come in handy someday, Mom," Chemise commented softly as she and Gotin proceeded to exit the living room. "Daddy told me you used to feel the same when you were a little older than Goryn and Gotin." She stared up at her mother solemnly for a split second before her serious facial features gave way for her usual Son grin. "Gotin, I'll race you upstairs!"

"You won't win," he smirked smugly, accepting her challenge. Without another word, he flew up the stairs, with a very surprised but determined Chemise trailing behind his footsteps.

"Chemise is right, though, Mom!" Goryn chirped, holding the squirming baby dangerously under her arm as she and Goken joined the race. "You never know when some nasty old alien will come sticking his ugly head through our window!" She tugged violently on her younger brother's shirt collar, yanking him back a couple of steps. "No fair, Goken! The baby's interference! Lemme get a head start!"

He shook his head fervently, resorting to flying up the steps quickly, moving ahead of his shocked and resentful sister. "Nuh-uh, you're cheating, Goryn!"

"What're you doing right now, you hypocrite?"

"What's a 'hypocrite'?"

The last of the bunch, Tike, shot his parents one last demure glance before he himself slipped out of sight. And as soon as she couldn't hear his soft footsteps slowly ascending the stairs any longer, Bra sighed loudly, flopping down exhaustedly beside Goten. "I can honestly say that my life is downright miserable." 'And, one way or the other, it all leads back to you...'

Instead of frowning and sharing her woes and tribulations, Goten offered a meek grin towards her. "Aw, don't say that... Sure, we're not living in a rich mansion like the one you used to live in when you were younger. There's no use complaining about something you can't change, right? It was pretty nice of you when you took back what you said about the kids, though."

Rolling her eyes in a vexed manner, she shot back, "I only took it back because I didn't want to hear them make such a loud ruckus, you moron. My poor head can only take so much noise a day." Her blue eyes widened considerably as she stared at the damaged wreck she once called her favorite leather purse on the floor, but she chose not to bring about the subject.

Goten put his hands up in resignation. "Sure, Bra, but I know that deep in your heart, you didn't want to hurt their feelings." For a few seconds, however, she could've sworn that his face had hardened to show a more serious side of him that she had never really seen before. But just as quickly as she had noticed it, it had dissolved into the usual carefree, hopeful disposition he always wore on his face. "Only eight more years until the first two leave the house, right?"

She sighed, just as she retreated back to her only location of solace, her kitchen. "Whatever..." How had her life regressed from spoiled, rich living to dirty diapers, raucous fights, and numerous calls from furious teachers at school? She deserved a hard-working man, one who pampered her and catered to her every whim! Well, at least Goten could say that he had gotten something good out from all of this. He could brag to the next-door neighbors that he had the prettiest wife on the block, although he certainly didn't deserve her...

So, yeah, her life was the very epitome of misery. But it was a somewhat tolerable type of misery. She was certain that she couldn't get by without Goten's encouraging smile of optimism... It always lifted up her spirits, secretly-

Goten snatched her from her reverie rather unexpectedly. "Hey, Bra... You look all zonked out..." What was wrong with her? She had been mumbling incoherent words all throughout their training session, and suddenly, she'd stopped in her tracks, still staring out into space. "You okay?"

"Wha...?" Bra blinked twice, already reddening significantly. 'Okay - that was really, really disgusting...' Shaking a couple of strange feelings away from her mind, she shuddered visibly. How could she even think about that? Was she out of her sane mind as she knew it? 'Look at what training with him is doing with your sanity, Bra...'

"Um, by the way, you might not want to look at your outfit..."

She instinctively moved her wary glance from him to stare down at her red tank top. "What in the world - What did you do to my favorite tank top?" Her outfit's front was entirely and hopelessly ripped at the side, and it was quickly becoming evident that she wasn't very pleased with the entire ordeal. "Explain - now."

Goten shrugged helplessly, an amused grin overcoming his features. "I warned you right before I used the Kamehameha Wave on you. The first specialized attack ever used against you, and you weren't even paying attention! You're lucky you moved partly out of the way, though, or else something worse could've happened... I guess that's what they call true absentmindedness, huh?"

A furious blue aura had surrounded Bra's body, and her anger only seemed to be fueling it to grow larger and larger. Forgetting about the eccentric dream she had experienced not even five minutes ago, she moved closer to him, grabbing his shirt violently to jerk him closer to her. 'You think this - damaging my designer tank top from Stacey's - is a joke? I'll show you a joke...' "And I guess this is what they call true-"

Her coercive, balled-up fist landed short of hitting Goten's face as her mother abruptly cried, "Bra! What are you doing to poor Goten?"

She promptly released her tight hold of his shirt and blushed sheepishly as her family, Goku, Pan, Chi-Chi, Gohan, and Videl entered the GR all at once, all staring at her ruined tank top quizzically. "Nothing, Mom."

Vegeta frowned at Goten's flustered form almost in a distrusting manner before turning the other way. '...Poor Goten?' "Now that you've directed us to a place that even Kakarot's woman knows like the back of her hand, can you leave us to our duties for once, woman?"

"What duties, Vegeta?" Bulma rolled her eyes softly and lightly motioned towards Videl and Chi-Chi, who immediately went by her side. They had to get out of here fast - although she and the other wives weren't exactly in the center of the GR, where the adjusted gravity could be felt the most; she suddenly felt about fifty pounds heavier, and was definitely not enjoying the unfamiliar feeling. "I'm not going to argue with you, Vegeta, so whatever – it's a really nice day, so we'll be outside by the pool if you need us. Bra, don't you want to join us? You really shouldn't even be here in the first place."

The abovementioned Saiyan Princess scowled darkly as both Trunks and Pan nodded their heads in agreement. It was assumptions and generalizations like this that made her want to prove all of them wrong so badly. 'But they don't have to know yet. I want to really surprise them.' "Mom, I just want to hang out with Dad for a couple of hours. Is that so wrong? Just tell Tanith to leave my Molly's bikini and my Stacey's sunglasses out on my Thursday bed, and I'll meet you by the pool tables outside in a bit, I promise."

Her mother nodded in affirmation, and not another word was spoken as the three ladies left through the immense metal door of the GR. As the door began to shut automatically behind them, Videl could be heard asking hopefully, "By the way, can anyone explain that new style I keep seeing on the streets? I saw about five girls on the streets today wearing only one shoe!"

Chi-Chi snorted loudly, not quite believing her ears. "Please, Videl - that fad's been in for months! Where have you been? Bulma's told me that she already threw away a hundred and sixteen left shoes from her original three hundred and sixty-seven shoe collection... She still wants to keep the other left shoes, just in case the fad wears out, but I don't think it will..."

Goten seemed genuinely confused at both his mother and sister-in-law's actions. Scratching his head softly, he questioned, "Trunks, what were they talking about?"

He shrugged indifferently, watching Bra head over to the sidelines sullenly, an ominous glare riddled on her face. "Just some pointless trend. You know how girls are - Hey, Pan, that was really unnecessary!" Rubbing at his now-sore arm, he adjusted his words a bit to his friend's liking. "Okay, some girls are..."

"That's much better," she approved, but a warning glance from her father seemed to quiet her almost immediately.

"Whew!" Goku breathed a sigh of relief, directing a backwards glance towards his granddaughter before returning to his fellow full-blooded Saiyan. He wiped at his sweaty brow before thanking him - it sure was hot outside. "Thanks so much for making Chi-Chi agree to letting us use the GR today, Vegeta!"

The Saiyan Prince offered another one of his trademark scowls as he got position for the fight that was about to ensue. "It's too easy sometimes, Kakarot. Learn to handle your woman better, and you'll see just how simple your life will be."

"Um, okay..." Goku blinked a couple of times, just before he became surprisingly serious. Flash-appearing before his rival, he began to endeavor in a speed-attack, punching and kicking at Vegeta with determination shining in his eyes. Scowling, Vegeta transformed into a Super Saiyan 2, blocking each of Goku's hits with ease. This, in turn, prompted Goku to ascend as well, and the real battle thus began.

A very skeptical Gohan immediately selected his younger brother to train with, leaving Trunks to spar with Pan. "Hey," the latter suddenly called out to Bra, who stared up at her in irritation from the bench, "Papa's about to turn the gravity higher than this... Sure you want to stick around?"

Bra huffed, crossing her arms airily. Reaching for her purse, which happened to be conveniently placed near her feet, she responded, "For the last time, Pan, I'm fine. Wasn't I here before you? I didn't fall over and die, did I?" She dug into the not-so-compact handbag and revealed The Strangest Thing from it.

Pan smirked lightly, taking to the air. Trunks followed her and was about to deliver the first strike when she added, "You know, this is going to be much higher than that lousy ten percent you had it at before. Come on, even Grandma, Bulma, and Mama stood in here without complaining much."

"I promise you, Pan, I won't complain even if Gohan turns the gravity full-power." 'Although he'd better not...' Bra perused through the pages of her novel gently until she found her desired spot, and proceeded to continue reading, trying without success to veil her irate scowl. She disregarded the three very intense battles before her, only eager to catch up on her very interesting reading. For once, she could actually thank those perverts on the streets. Without their distraction, she never would've fallen and cracked her heel; and without that mishap, she never would have found Donald. And of course, that meant that she never would've stumbled across the West City Library, hence not ever coming across this very intriguing novel... 'Although that Giselle can be a really big pain sometimes...'

Meanwhile, Trunks and Pan were caught in a rather fierce sparring match in midair. Having transformed into a Super Saiyan very early in the match, Trunks evidently had the upper hand against his opponent. As Pan attempted to land a flying kick against his chest, he grabbed her foot speedily, using it to slam her down into the floor below them. But just as her head grazed the hard tiles, she halted her fall perfectly, just before she ascended into the air again for another effort. But again, miscalculating his movements, she found herself falling to the floor again. She shut her eyes tightly and panted lightly, holding at her side in slight pain. But hey, it was worth the pain sometimes... Knowing fully well that she was defeated this round, and not liking it, she picked herself up and stared expectantly at Trunks, who had descended back into his normal state to check up on her.

"I was going to ask if you were okay, but you've been through worse... Speaking of you, what're you going to do for your birthday? It is coming up soon, right?" he wondered inquisitively, just as Gohan sent a sharp glare towards his direction.

Pan immediately stopped grimacing and stood stiffly in her tracks, her mouth tightening into a single, pressed line. "Nothing. I'm doing absolutely nothing for my birthday," she spoke flatly, tucking several loose strands of hair behind her ear. Eyes narrowing at an alarming rate, she added, arms crossed irritatedly, "What's it to you, anyway?"

Trunks looked as if he was about to comment on her sudden, snappy attitude, when a very icy glare from an ascended Gohan was promptly shot towards him. Blanching slightly in apprehension, he muttered, "Nothing, Pan. Absolutely nothing. Just forget I ever mentioned it, okay?"

Too late for that. Once the subject had been raised, it would be impossible to disregard it, especially when the subject was on the girl's birthday party. Vegeta and Goku exchanged slightly annoyed glances while they sparred, knowing fully well Pan could go on and on about this subject. "Just forget about it? I don't think so, Trunks. News flash - although I've been saying this since three months back, I'm telling you know that I don't want a Sweet Sixteen. I've been begging my mother to let me be for once, but she won't listen - she already had Grandma make me a stupid party gown. Like I'm going to bother wearing that trash... Anyway, I want what Bra got for her birthday. It'd be so cool to be allowed to go on a worldwide trip for an entire month for my birthday, but it's impossible-"

"That's the difference between you and Bra. Nothing's impossible for her because she gets what she wants all the time," he supplied effortlessly, and luckily, his sister hadn't caught on to the conversation. "Also, she did have a Sweet Sixteen on top of that trip. Anyway, why would you waste your money on a worldwide cruise when you could fly around the globe in less than a day?"

Pan scowled lightly before rolling up her shirt sleeves. "It makes it more enjoyable when you're catered to while you do so, you know." She entered her fighting stance again, glaring up at him. "I want a rematch. So, let's just drop this thing and never talk about it again."

Shooting a backward glance towards her father (who was still staring quizzically in their direction), Trunks shuddered visibly before entering his own fighting stance. "Sure thing, Pan..."

Goten, having noticed the entire ordeal, stopped his fervent attacks on his older brother to stare at him in puzzlement. Still hovering in midair, he inquired, "Hey, Gohan... What was that all about?" When an exasperated frown met his bewildered facial features, he quickly added, "Oh. You're still going on with that? Didn't you hear her reaction to Trunks' simple question?"

"I did, brother," Gohan replied stiffly, deciding to use Goten's confusion to his advantage. A frown still lingering upon his face, he directed a fluid punch towards the younger Son, who immediately realized his mistake just in time. "But we will go through with it. Do you honestly know how many times Mom's bothered me about this whole thing? If she won't let it go, then Videl and I definitely can't."

Goten nodded slightly, moving faster than Gohan's next attack and blocking it strongly with his fist. "Okay..." Brushing a golden lock of hair from his blue-green eyes, he stole a curious glance towards Bra, who was observing the whole battle from the sidelines with interest. As soon as their eyes met, however, she averted his stare readily, turning back towards her novel. 'I wonder if she knows...'

However, Bra wasn't even thinking anything remotely close to any topic including Pan. 'It won't be that long until I can become a Super Saiyan, I'm sure...' she thought to herself quite optimistically, and turned to the very next page of The Strangest Thing:

I had finished with giving a manicure to Reese's crusty fingernails in no time flat (I was still in the midst of questioning myself, 'Why'd you let this cheap girl put her dirty feet on your bedspread, Giselle?'), and now, we just relaxed, lying comfortably on my spacious mattress. Or rather, she was the one who seemed comfortable. I'd be comfortable to have that wench out of my room as soon as possible, but it didn't look as if she wanted to budge from my bed anytime soon.

At present, I just watched her observe her newly painted nails in awe. Silent awe, it seemed - I bet she couldn't afford to get a design like that done at the boutiques. But, of course, things like this (watching ordinary girls act like it was Christmas just because I did them a meager favor) bored me easily. There was something I wanted off my chest, and because I was none other than Giselle Chartreuse, I came out with it. "So, you like Takei, huh?" I finally asked her. "Why?"

She chuckled softly, blowing on her nails to dry them off quicker. I didn't warn her that she would smudge them if she blew too hard because one, it was a waste of breath; and two, even if she did smudge them, I wouldn't bother helping her fix them. "It's not like I can't live without him, Giselle, if that's what you're thinking," she spoke, her eyes dancing in mirth. "It's not infatuation. It's just that whenever I see him, I can't speak properly. Heck, I can't even breathe properly." She suddenly reddened, immediately shielding her blushing face from me by hiding it with one of my royal red velvet pillows. "I can't believe I'm telling you this. I'd never just tell someone I just met today that I had a crush on someone they knew."

Blah, blah, blah. I heard the same lame trash from the 'Elle-sters back at home. It was always 'Oh, Giselle, Takei makes me melt into goo whenever I stare into his eyes' or 'Takei makes me want to be the mother of his children', followed closely by 'Oh, Giselle, I wish I were you. Takei only seems interested in you, just like all the other boys.' All I was focused on right now, however, was that she had to get her disgusting, oily face away from my imported Persian pillows immediately; or make no mistake, there would be some trouble. I simply narrowed my eyes and she got the idea quickly.

Strangely enough, though, it didn't seem as if Takei was paying as much attention to me as the rest of the guys were. And he was the one I wanted the most. This was getting even more fun, I decided. This whole game of trying to hook him would end up in me taking him for my own, just like it always ended up as. And I could very well use this sucker Reese for my own personal gain. It seemed as if I had already won her over - the way she would gaze up at me admirably at abrupt and awkward times was only one of the many hints.

"So, Giselle, do you know when he's coming back?" she turned the tables on me suddenly, staring at me with that same adoring glance. Hey, every girl I met seemed to do the exact same thing - I guessed it was hereditary to admire the Chartreuse family. "You told me that he works for your father. I'm just assuming that you know when he comes to deliver things to you guys-"

I cut her off, staring at her critically for several, prolonged seconds. Should I tell her the gospel truth, or should I toy with her mind a little? It was always fun to play with girls like her sometimes, but I tried the former first. "Actually, he should be coming back soon. I don't know why he left the neighborhood in the first place. Maybe he had to take a bathroom break." Okay, so I had lied a little. Well, I wasn't about to let her know that Takei had rejected me.

"But couldn't he have used the bathroom in your house?"

If I hadn't been convinced about Reese's commonness before, that last statement of hers confirmed everything three times over. "In my house? That's unacceptable," I informed her stoically, watching in disdain as she picked at my pillow's fine threads anxiously. "We don't let scum like that even through our doorway." Well, we didn't let people like her in the house either, but I needed her in some sort of strange, twisted way.

Coincidentally enough, I heard his convertible pull up beside our curb again. "As a matter of fact, Reese, he's here now." Immediately after my pronouncing of his presence, I flew into action, heading over to my private bathroom, which I was positive had to be bigger than Reese's whole living room. Turning on the tap water, I proceeded to scrub my face clean of the heavy makeup I had on previously. I then reached for my hair straightener, and without another word, began to use it on my curled, magazine-cover worthy hair. While I was straightening my hair, I slipped smoothly out of my miniskirt and halter-top and replaced them with a more conservative pair of white pants and a not-as-revealing top.

Oblivious to what I was doing in the bathroom, Reese questioned my actions curiously. I could hear her timid, demure voice inquiring from behind the closed door, "Um, Giselle? Are you applying new makeup on, or something?"

"No, Reese. I'm just cleansing my face of all the impurities teenage girls usually have," I lied, having never experienced an outbreak before in my life. "You know what I'm talking about, right?" Of course she would know - that huge pimple on her forehead informed me just as well as she could.

I opened the bathroom door and stepped out, exchanging my stilettos and huge silver hoop earrings with simple two-inch heels and diamond studs. Still bewildered, Reese stared at me critically before taking a glance at her own clothes. "Oh, my gosh, Giselle. What do I do? I can't wear this!" she squeaked shrilly, freaking out already. "I want him to notice me for my excellent fashion sense! Can you help me, please?"

'What fashion sense?' I wanted to ask her, but refrained from doing so. Smirking lightly, I slowly ventured into my walk-in closet, reemerging with a handful of clothes a couple of minutes later. "Wear this, Reese." My smirk only grew wider as her face blanched at the simple tube top, short shorts, and stiletto heels I held in my hands.

She asked dubiously to be certain with my intentions, "Are you sure he likes this?"

I snorted, self-consciously moving a finger to stroke my now-straightened, plain hair. Turning around as to give her some privacy as she changed into my clothes, I coaxed her, laying on the sugary sweetness, "Trust me, dear. I know his personal preferences very well." Of course I did - that was how I reeled most of those pushovers in. "Now, are we ready to go meet him? Don't worry," I suddenly added, forcing a smile on as she still doubtfully stared in my direction, "you look absolutely ravishing, darling. Try my hoop earrings – they'll look beautiful on you."

Once I had successfully plastered enough makeup for three women on her tiny face, we left my house, walking up to the front steps. There, we sat, waiting for him to notice us. I had to motion lightly to Reese for her to stop blushing so much - she was really cramping my style. Geez, even the 'Elle-sters knew better than that. Hell, those wannabes were probably getting along with their lives easily now that I was gone, while I had to be stuck with this piece of driftwood for the rest of my teenage life as I knew it.

After a while, I had Reese yell for him to come over. His brown eyes flickered over us for a few seconds, passing me almost immediately to stare in disbelief at my redheaded companion (who was donned in my usual type of clothing). I did my best to bite my tongue from any comments and forced the biggest feigned smile my mother had taught me. Anyway, as soon as I saw that his eyes had strayed from her own easily, now staring back at his car, I got up from my seat and headed over to him naturally.

He didn't seem fazed to see me approach him. Still gazing in disinterest at his convertible, he mumbled in disappointment, "What do you want, Princess?"

Ignoring his frustrated disposition, I grinned even more. "Hey, Takei," I started my second attempt as naturally as they came, placing my hand softly on top of his own. He stared at my smooth hand for several seconds, still not lifting his head to glance at me. I could see Reese's jaw drop remarkably in the corner of my eye as I lightly stroked his hand, and she only fueled my flirtatious attitude. 'Yeah, that's right, sweetie. If you ever want a real lesson, don't look to school for guidance. Don't ever trust Giselle Chartreuse, because she can steal your man faster than you run to the nearest dollar store daily.' "Takei, tell me how I look today."

And just like someone would do to a princess, he complied with my commands. He stared at me genuinely for a few seconds, taking in my clean, glowing face, conservative clothes, and peaceful countenance all at once. "You actually look very...very nice, Giselle," he confessed softly, never moving his stare away from my sparkling green eyes. About time. "You look so…natural. It looks...nice on you."

Easy. Almost as easy as it was for my housekeeper to prepare my favorite dessert, chocolate mousse. Although, I had to admit...nice? Couldn't he have found more flattering adjectives? I took off my designer makeup and clothing for 'nice'? Reese was nice. Father was nice. Puppies were nice. Giselle Chartreuse, simply put, wasn't. Plastering on another natural smile, while furiously praying to God not to make it seem too forced, I told him, "I know, Takei. You wanted to see the real me, well, here she is. Do you feel anything for me now?"

He wasn't listening to me, which seemed to annoy me slightly. "You know, I think I may have underestimated you, Giselle," he said, gazing into the distance, where Reese was still staring in shock, "I always thought you were...well, what she is. I guess I underrated you and overrated her. Underrating is better than overrating, though, like your dad always says."

Just the words I wanted to hear coming out of his mouth. However, I wasn't about to commend him for simply restating one of my father's wise, thoughtful quotes. It was time to take things to the next level, I told myself. To tell the truth, I was a bit taken aback as to how easily he had fallen under my spell, but of course, I had seen easier men. He was still holding back, somehow. Oh, well. I'd get the whole him out soon enough. After all, I couldn't shatter just part of him. Hell, I was going for the whole Takei. "My mother is having one of her weekly parties this Saturday. I was wondering...would you like to accompany me?"

"You'd really do that?" he breathed in awe. I guess I could see why he seemed so surprised – Mother's parties were all the rage wherever we went. Her seemingly pointless celebrations comprised predominantly of superstars and millionaires, so if Mother suddenly invited someone at the last minute, they'd have to be pretty darn special if they weren't one of the above. And trust me, I wanted to make Takei feel special. All the better to break his futile little spirit.

"Well," he started dubiously, heading back to the driver's side of his convertible, "although it sounds pretty interesting, I don't think I can make it, Giselle. I'm sorry, but I don't think I could hang out with anyone like you for too long."

"Okay," I told him simply, not in the least bit disappointed. The good thing was that at least he had stopped calling me out of my name in every sentence. Oh, he could try to resist me, but it would all end up in his imminent demise. I was already imagining how good I would look in the passenger's side of that luxurious car. Oh, the 'Elle-sters would all have a fit when they saw me. "I guess I'll see you later, then. Don't forget about what you saw today."

Takei grimaced lightly as he stepped behind the driver's wheel, which led me to believe that my last statement must have been a bit cocky. "Tell Reese I said hello, I guess."

He couldn't possibly be serious. How was he telling me that he was still semi-interested in that commonplace girl? I must've done something wrong. And everyone knows that Giselle Chartreuse makes no mistakes. "Okay. G'bye, Takei."

Grinning flusteredly, he responded, "Bye." Without another action, he sped off into the distance, while Reese was still gawking.

Perfect. Life was absolutely, undeniably perfect. Nothing could ruin my spirits now, unless Reese suddenly grew guts and decided to pull my hair out in her rage. Well, my spirits were inarguably up, until I heard a familiar someone's rackety car in the distance, slowly nearing my mansion. I immediately blushed as Reese dazedly left her spot and ventured home, and I began praying urgently to the heavens above, 'Oh, please, don't make that who I think it is...'

Shoot - God definitely wasn't on my side on this one. I was staring at the thoroughly geeky image of Donovan Miller in less than a second. Peering at me curiously from behind the front wheel, he whispered, "Wow, Giselle. You...changed."

"Fool, I just came out from the shower. I never wear anything cute when I come out from the bathroom," I lied viciously, my good mood temporarily broken. Promptly changing my tone to a coy one, however, I added quickly, "But if you want me to change into something nicer, I don't mind."

He shook his head animatedly, still grinning obnoxiously. What a pathetic loser. "Don't worry, you always look fine. Come in the car."

I begrudgingly heeded his request, opening the door of the passenger's side and slinking in smoothly. Once I made myself as comfortable as I possibly could in his trash heap of a vehicle, I asked him the first thing that was on my mind, "How did you find my new address? I told you that I'd come to you when I needed you, not the opposite."

"But we're in a relationship," he whined pitifully. Ha, so he thought. "We need to be together more, Giselle. Don't I give you everything you want? But anyway, I asked Gisella about where you know live, you know - that girl who always followed you all the time, and she gave me the information."

Ugh - that two-dollar commoner. I couldn't believe she had sold me out to my own 'boyfriend'. Or rather, to one of my 'boyfriends'. "I guess you're taking me back to your store, then. Or maybe to your house... Whatever - just as long as I get back before two in the morning, I don't care." I can honestly say that I didn't want him to know my true feelings about him - he was utterly boring. Too bad I wasn't doing a very good job. Well, at least I didn't sound too sour...

"You don't sound too happy, Giselle."

'Oh, you think?' "Do you want me to show you how happy I am to see you, baby?" I sighed hesitantly, and without another thought, planted my lips gently on his own. I didn't move or flinch when I felt his arm find its way on my waist. "I hope that was enough proof for you... Can we go now?"

So we pulled off from my curb, leaving this new city and heading back to my old one. Exactly where we were going, I honestly had no idea. Guys like Donovan did this all the time. Well, as long as we were back before two o' clock the next morning (like I had told him), then I was okay with it. I'd do whatever he wanted for the time being, so I could get my just reward. Hmm - what would it be this time? He'd better buy me a genuine diamond anklet to match my bracelet-

Bra was interrupted from her reading as a short yelp of shock was heard coming from her brother and Pan's side of the GR. Her posture straightened against the hard wood of the bench as she stared at Pan, who, as it seemed, had been overtaken by a surprise energy beam. Resting her arms comfortably on her lap, and propping her face onto her hands, she observed their training session carefully. By just staring at her brother, she knew that the look on his face was one of a man who was mindfully confident and aware of all of poor Pan's attacks.

In a sudden, almost blind rage, the quarter-Saiyan flew towards her target, and without warning, lashed out numerous energy beams in his direction. Of course, being years older than her, he'd instinctively flash-dodged her attacks and directed a carefully aimed fist towards her shoulder, knowing fully well what was about to ensue.

Pan hit and kicked at Trunks over and over rather recklessly, but each time he pushed her fists and feet away with ease. Moving faster than her next attack, he flash-appeared before her, aiming a bright blue energy orb right in the space between her eyes. Grinning slightly as her pupils began to dilate noticeably, he provoked her further by saying, "You should just give up now, huh?"

"Never," she spat slowly with a bit of resentment detected within her voice, and without a second thought, shoved a rather astonished Trunks' open hand away from her face. "I'll show you, Trunks Briefs. You can be a Super Saiyan - heck, you can be a Super Saiyan Three for all I care, but I will beat you regardless."

"Okay," he responded to her challenge by powering up into a Super Saiyan 2. Blond locks flying wildly everywhere, he smirked lightly as a golden aura immediately engulfed his being, swirling around him in a furious tornado. "Remember, you asked for it, Sweet Sixteener."

"Oh, good one, Trunks," Pan rolled her eyes sarcastically, gathering enough ki to create her own aura of energy. 'What kind of comeback is that?' "I'll finish this off with one last attack. It's getting kind of old, anyway. I want to go down to the pool and swim for a couple of hours." She prepared to speed over to where Trunks stood, when someone smoothly intervened. Scowling, she turned her head to angrily view Bra.

"If you're about to do what I think you're about to do, Pan, don't," the blue-haired half-Saiyan informed her knowingly. She slipped The Strangest Thing back into her purse and patiently awaited Pan's snappy reply.

Needless to say, Pan was very enraged at Bra's condescending attitude towards something she was positive she knew more about than the Saiyan Princess. "What would you know, Bra? Keep your nosy self out of things that don't concern you... Pay attention to your makeup, or something as pointless as that."

Whoa - Vegeta would rip out Pan's throat for even hearing her speak to his daughter like that. Too bad he hadn't heard what exactly was transpiring between the only two girls of the room. Well, Bra wouldn't take Pan's ignorance seriously. "Just warning you," she stated simply, and looked on as the match continued just as quickly as it had been paused. "I don't want you to be upset when my brother beats you."

"That's what you think. Watch and learn, Princess." Once she had mentally blocked Bra from her mind, she dashed over to her opponent and delivered a powerful kick to Trunks' face. Grinning, he effortlessly blocked the attack with a strong wrist, grabbing a shocked Pan's leg and slamming her powerfully into the floor. "...Ow, Trunks!"

He shrugged indifferently, powering down to his normal self and descending down to the floor. A familiar Vegeta smirk sprawled across his face, he spoke victoriously as he joined her at her spot. "You should've listened to Bra."

Abovementioned sister hid her own triumphant smirk behind her pocketbook and rose from her spot at the bench. Ignoring Pan's deadly glare, she announced to no one in particular, "I guess I'll be joining Mom, Chi-Chi, and Videl at the poolside, then." However, the only people in the room that seemed to give her some acknowledgment were her father and brother, but she didn't take it too seriously. She strode over to the metal door of the GR, where she met Goten and Gohan still at a heated clash of strengths. "...Coming, Pan?" She watched the quarter-Saiyan grumble a few words under her breath, pick herself off and trail behind dispiritedly.

Gohan nodded to the two girls briefly before turning back to the more important thing on his mind - the training match. His brother, however, had more to say to the Princess, although it wasn't all that much. "I saw what happened, Bra," he whispered to her, just as she exited the room. "...Good job."

She smirked, currently wrapped up in the smug countenance she usually carried, not turning back to view him as she and Pan ventured into one of Capsule Corp's enormous and empty hallways. "I know."

Meanwhile...

It was a hot day for springtime at Capsule Corp. Although the logical thing to do during a day like this would be to stay inside the building where it was thoroughly air-conditioned, Bulma and her female guests decided that it would be far more enjoyable to lounge out by the pool side and attempt to get a pre-summer tan. At present, the three mothers and wives reposed comfortably on beach chairs while they sipped pink lemonade and chatted idly, dressed in nothing but simple one-piece bathing suits.

Bulma relaxed on her pool chair between Videl and Chi-Chi, wearing a designer baby blue bathing suit. Shifting her expensive sunglasses to the bridge of her nose to amusedly watch Tanith reach over to pour more lemonade in Videl's glass, she remarked to her companions, "So, ladies, I hope you're enjoying yourselves."

"For sure, Bulma. It feels good not preparing food for once," Chi-Chi sighed in bliss, dressed in a simple green bathing suit. She slowly rolled over onto her stomach, allowing her back to catch a few minutes in the sun. "No Goku stealing bites out of my apple strudel; no Goten sneaking out with that Valese girl, although it's great that he's not with her anymore..."

"What are you doing sunbathing, Grandma?" teased Bulma mischievously, moving her head slightly to the right to view the abovementioned woman better. A wicked smile coming over her face, she glanced promptly to her left, where a younger woman dressed in a dark blue bathing suit lay silently with her eyes closed. "And what about you, Videl? You're far too old to be wearing pigtails, considering most mothers haven't worn them since they were ten-years-old."

Chi-Chi mumbled something lazily in response, but could barely be heard, as her face was partially buried in the chair. Videl, however, seemed to have something to say to Bulma's taunts. Opening her eyes, she sipped gently at her lemonade before arriving at a thoughtful comeback. "I wouldn't be talking, Bulma, seeing as how you're the oldest out of all of us."

"Well, Miss Videl, who says the oldest mother can't look gorgeous?"

Videl laughed and set her drink back on the table that sat in front of the three women. "As much as I like arguing sometimes, you do have a point. You look wonderful today, Bulma. And by the way, it's Mrs. Gohan Son to you. I'm afraid I haven't been a 'Miss' in the longest."

"Join the club," Bulma muttered in vague remorse, just as Chi-Chi rolled over on her back to join the conversation again. "Speaking of Gohan, how does he feel about Pan's surprise party?"

The dark-haired, blue-eyed woman lifted her head up upon hearing the question. A small smile slid across her face as she thought about her husband. "Well, to be honest, he's pretty reluctant about the whole thing. He wants to heed Pan's decision about not wanting a party, but Chi-Chi's practically forcing him to agree with her and keep the party going, even if it is a surprise one."

"Come on, Videl. I'm not forcing Gohan to do anything."

"Oh, so now sobbing dramatically about how you raised my husband better than the way he's acting, and fussing about how you've tried to provide for him his entire life isn't called 'forcing' anymore."

Bulma and Tanith (who was still standing close enough so that the conversation was still audible) exchanged glances. Amiable with each other one second, and arguing the next, Chi-Chi and Videl had a peculiar mother/daughter-in-law relationship. At the moment, Tanith added to the strained tension, "Well, I don't know about your family, Mrs. Son, but in mine, grandmothers don't interfere with parties. They merely attend them and keep quiet the majority of the time."

"Tanith," Bulma warned, just as Chi-Chi prepared to rise up to her feet in order to give the former mogul a good telling-off. "Anyway, Chi-Chi, Tanith promised me that she'd help out with the party. Well, at least with the decoration and food ideas – I'll provide the entertainment and the theme... You know how much of a success Bra's party was; and believe it or not, it was all Tanith."

Aforesaid housekeeper let a smug smirk overcome her face, watching as Chi-Chi slowly calmed down and regained her laid-back composure. "True. Although I don't want to sound snobbish, I did make my daughter Amaryllis's Sweet Sixteen a blast. She's only a few months older than the wretches - er, Bra and Pan, you know. And also, she wants to apply to your new school, Miss Bulma. When's the last date for registration-"

"Yuck, school. Why is that topic always raised in front of me?" a voice griped pitifully from behind the women's views. The four heads cringed slightly as they heard a familiar pit, pat from someone's feet on the ground below them.

"At least you don't have a brother who brings it up every two seconds, Pan. Anyway, how can you stand walking with bare feet? Don't you get calluses, or something? I wouldn't trust my feet on this rough pavement..."

"Like you don't get calluses with those extremely high stilts you're wearing-"

With that said, Videl was the first of the four women to glance behind her, staring at the two girls in a friendly but anxious manner. "Why, hello, dear. We were just talking about you."

Pan sniffed at her mother disdainfully, self-consciously tugging at the strap of her orange one-piece. "I bet you were. Sheesh, Mom, you already know that I want to go to Bulma's school, so can you stop bringing the subject up to her?" She glared pointedly at the housekeeper, who shrugged innocently.

"Don't bust an artery worrying about what Tanith thinks, Pan," Bra added to the conversation indifferently, walking up beside her age mate. "Who cares about her opinion, anyway?" She took a seat on a pool chair beside Videl and crossed her long, slender legs that were shown off from her rather skimpy bathing suit choice. Dressed in nothing but a red bikini and expensive stilettos, with her usual Stacey's eyewear, Bra looked simply stunning. Her scanty outfit seemed all the more fitting on her because of her trim, lean figure and the overwhelming confidence she seemed to display so perfectly. "And the last day you can register Amaryllis is Friday of next week, Tanith."

"For the last time, it's Miss Tanith to you!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Bra began, tugging lightly on one of her golden hoop earrings. She feigned a loud yawn and turned over to her side, already in the process of sunbathing. "We go over this everyday, but I never seem to learn, do I?"

This comment earned a variety of different responses from the women around her: a chuckle from Pan; a warning glance from Bulma; two amused expressions from Chi-Chi and Videl; and a heated glare from Tanith, who, as it seemed, had quite literally had enough of all of Bra's mocking and put-downs.

"Anyway, Mom," continued Bra, smirking heartily back at Tanith (hey, it was fun tormenting her - but it got boring sometimes), "what were you talking about before we came? I mean, we heard Pan's name being said by 'Miss' Tanith over here, but that's about it."

All of the women present exchanged nervous glances, not one uttering a single word as they sought to avoid Pan's curious gaze. Who honestly cared about what Bra heard... Had Pan picked up the part about the party?

Apparently not. Disregarding the silence with ease, Pan ran gracefully over to the diving board of the swimming pool, and began to climb the long ladder up. "I just love your pool, Bulma. It has the highest diving board I've ever seen! It's probably bigger than the pools in the Olympics! You coming, Bra?"

Bra temporarily forgot her question, and the women were finally left at peace. "You must be kidding, Pan. I bought this bathing suit for the sole purpose of looking cute, and you can't look as cute in the water as you can on dry land. I'll have to pass on this one, sorry."

Pan shrugged, now standing on the very tip of the diving board, "Whatever floats your boat, Bra." She giggled a bit at her joke and without a second notion, dived from the board, making a smooth splash as her body collided with the water.

The Saiyan Princess couldn't hide the faint smile that was slowly becoming apparent on her face. 'That Pan...' "Now that she's gone, you can tell me what you were talking about. This whole secrecy thing is regarding Pan's party, right?" The astonished look on about three of the other four women present seemed to amuse her greatly, "So, how many people are coming, Chi-Chi?"

The flustered woman could only choke out, "About three hundred fifty people..."

Bra's big, blue eyes widened considerably upon hearing the amount. "You're inviting three hundred fifty guests?" she asked incredulously, staring over to the pool, where Pan was screaming her lungs out in delight as she splashed around. How could over three hundred people stay at Videl's tiny house without one complaining of being uncomfortable? "Come on, does Pan even know that many people?"

Videl seemed to have heard Bra's thoughts perfectly. "Well, your mother did say we can have the party at your house," she responded carefully, picking at a loose thread on her bathing suit. "I realize that it's about the same amount of people that you invited to your party, but it's mostly teenagers. What harm can they do?"

"A lot," griped Chi-Chi, glaring up at Tanith, who had been in the process of trying to sneak away unnoticed, "but at least Gohan selected the small majority of good students at Orange Star High to come to Pan's birthday party."

"Like who?" Bulma asked, curious to know Gohan's preferences. Of course, he probably wanted Pan to be acquainted with lifeless nerds, boring geeks, and innocent little girls who had never talked to a boy before in their lives, but maybe Gohan was going to respect Pan's choice in friends this time. And if he didn't, oh, well. Geeks weren't that bad, anyway.

"Well," Videl revealed, stealing a wary glance towards her daughter, who was still swimming avidly around the pool, "Pan has hinted that besides Goten, there's one other person she talks to in school, and her name's Printa. I've met her before – she's a redhead with the most piercing green eyes. Although she's a bit mouthy and disrespectful every so often, Pan seems to enjoy her presence at times, so we decided to invite her. Also, there's Locka, a very intelligent girl who has skipped at least three grades. She's so adorable, and Gohan really wants her influence to be on Pan. Of course, our daughter has been showing signs of Locka slightly annoying her, but according to Chi-Chi, it doesn't matter who Pan likes or dislikes..." She winked lightly at Bra as her mother-in-law flared up again.

"Stop making it seem like I'm the villain, Videl!"

Tanith still stood by Bulma's side, grimacing at the sweat she began to feel trickling down the side of her neck. "It's kind of warm outside...can I go now? I can see where I'm not wanted," she nagged, fanning herself lightly with the back of her hand.

Bulma cut her a cold glance - of course that lazy housekeeper would think it was 'too warm to work,' although she'd only been outside for a mere fifteen minutes. The Briefs woman got more excuses out of her than Bra could give to her father after arriving home at three o' clock in the morning random times (sometimes, those shopping escapades took longer than usual). Well, Bulma wasn't about to let Tanith off the hook this time - not eight times in a row, that was for sure.

Nothing was said after the housekeeper's comment. The group became subdued as Bulma silently dismissed Tanith, Videl shut her eyes again, Bra turned to her other side to gaze into space sullenly, and Chi-Chi stared quietly at her feet, which were clad in wooden sandals (well, at least one of them was – she'd conveniently kept the other shoe at home).

Someone abruptly broke the repose. "Hey!" Pan chirped cheerfully before the four sluggish women, wringing out the cold pool water from her sodden raven locks. "Why're you all lolling around like a bunch of snails? Go for a short swim; it really helps! Besides, the water isn't even that cold, anyway."

Bulma, Chi-Chi, and Videl all looked at her quizzically for a moment before smiles reached their faces. "I guess it'd be nice to cool off in the pool," Videl was the first to give in, rising to her feet and stretching her loose limbs. "It looks like I was the only one tanned, anyway." She laughed as Bulma and Chi-Chi stared at her skin in envy and resentment before rising up from their spots as well. With that said, the three left from their chairs to slowly ease themselves into the water, after first slipping off their sandals. A few squeals of "Ooh! It's fr-freezing!" were heard, followed closely a threat of "Pan! You're nothing but a little liar! When I get out of here, I'll..."

"Okay, Grandma!" Pan waved amiably as Bulma and Chi-Chi shuddered visibly, choosing her mother's abandoned seat to relax in. She hesitantly stole a peek at Bra, whose eyes were closed, and added softly, "I guess I have to apologize for what happened earlier. I really shouldn't've yelled at you about correcting me... Who would've thought that Bra Briefs could actually be right about something related to training?"

'Your uncle does,' Bra wanted so desperately to tell her, but bit her tongue wisely. Instead, she grinned bemusedly, a particular subject crossing her mind. "No offense taken, Pan. Anyway, are you excited about my mother's new school? The first term starts in a couple of months, you know."

Pan's grin soon disappeared as an absent scowl found its way onto her face. "I'm never going to be excited about any school. First of all, I don't think I'll know anybody there, besides Goten, Marron, and Trunks. Second, they're making my grade take some stupid foreign language and career tests. I was in French 4 last year, but now there's a possibility that they might put me in French 1 if I bomb that stupid language test! Also, those career tests are so overrated. One said that I'd be a good film critic, and now they're forcing me to join Drama Class!" She recollected herself. "Anyway, I know that you're probably planning not to go to school, but what are you going to be when you grow up?"

"What kind of question is that?" Bra snapped, her peaceful countenance taking a drastic turn for the worst. She cut her eyes menacingly at her startled companion. "When you finally grow up, tell me, but as of now, I know I'm an adult. I mean, I have a car, I have more independence that most kids, I don't have to go to school..."

Pan sniffed, deeply taken aback by Bra's snappy attitude. "First of all, lots of kids our age can drive. Second, you do have to go to school. You're just lucky that one of those school police hasn't caught you yet. But anyway, you're basically saying that while Trunks is training to be Bulma's successor, you're going to be a nobody living off of your mother's riches?"

"Well, I'm planning to." A second later, she changed her words. "Actually, I can be whatever I want to be, and it'll be simple. After all, I am the daughter of Bulma Briefs... I can be a doctor, a lawyer, an astronomer, a psychologist... I just can't stand those math classes sometimes. Why would someone need Algebra to be a psychologist?"

"Actually, you need to take Statistics to be a psychologist, and you'd need Algebra as a prerequisite for Statistics," a voice said rather knowingly, his form suddenly standing before the two girls.

Bra scowled up at her brother, while Pan looked slightly impressed. "Move, Trunks. You're blocking the sun. And why would a psychologist need Statistics? And who asked you, anyway?"

"Internal contradiction..." Trunks pointed out. When she didn't make a reaction to him, he merely shrugged. 'Just goes to show that she really needs to go to school.' "Okay, say you're doing a study on lavender-haired guys who are suddenly committing suicide. You've noticed that, strangely enough, all of these guys have younger sisters with blue hair. You'd be using statistics to solve your problem, as you'd need to find out whether it's the sisters who are causing their brothers' demises, or-"

Bra rolled her eyes at his joke. "Oh, shut up." She reached up and punched him lightly on the arm, just as Pan began to smile widely. "I didn't want to be a psychologist, anyway."

"By the way, Trunks, where's Goten?" Pan inquired curiously. "I thought he'd be coming along with you."

Trunks crossed his arms across his chest and began to look serious. The girls' huge smiles soon faded as they saw how solemn and concerned he looked. Staring in the direction where he had just come from, he spoke. "Actually, he was following me in the hallway when he said he had to stop for a few minutes and think about something - alone."

"That's pretty strange," Pan mused out loud, her left eyebrow raised slightly in question. However, a Son couldn't keep up with being pensive for long, as Trunks and his sister would soon realize. Squeezing the rest of the water out of her hair until it was nice and dry, she added jokingly, "Well, it has to be something serious if Goten has to stop and think, with his carefree self."

Bra didn't add a thing to the discussion, leaning back against her chair and dismissing Pan and Trunks' worries as if they were nothing. She only sighed apathetically and closed her eyes in a gentle motion.

But little did she know that Trunks had been correct. Goten was still in one of the hallways of Capsule Corporation, and seemed unexpectedly melancholy. Pausing every now and then to wipe a bit of sweat that was trickling slowly down the side of his face, he frowned slightly and blinked. He stopped in his tracks and leaned against the closest wall, putting his one foot against the wall to support himself.

Why...why was she still troubling him? He couldn't get it. There was something wrong with all of this - lots of guys had girlfriends, had broken up with them, and had forgotten about them. Sure, it took some guys longer than others to get over the loss of a girlfriend, but why was he having recurrent nightmares of Valese? What was his problem?

He closed his eyes again, becoming increasingly aware of her presence with each passing second. Slowly but surely, she showed herself to him, looking the same as she had looked the last time he had seen her, with the exception of her one blue eye and one hazel eye. However, there was one other thing he noticed on her, and it was beginning to frighten him.

"Valese..." No, that wasn't her name. This Valese was much more baffling and troubling than his Valese had been. But what else could he call her? "...What'd you do to your hair?"

The strangely familiar figure merely laughed hazily, grabbing a chunk of her hair smoothly and shoving it in his face for him to examine closely. "You like the color, Goten?"

He stared critically at her mixed-colored locks, his eyes dilating noticeably in befuddlement, and, for a few slow minutes, fear. "Why is some of it brown...and the other parts...blue?"

"Notice how stringy and coarse the brown hair is. Notice how sweet-smelling and smooth the blue hair is, Goten. But seriously, I'm no longer the Valese you once knew – I'm your Yesterday and Tomorrow. Quit living in the past... Goten, you need to embrace the future with open arms. It's waiting for you to unravel it and comfort its insecurities."

Okay, now this was getting a bit terrifying. Yesterday and Tomorrow? What? This was sounding a little too 'A Christmas Carol'-like for him. What was he, Valese's Scrooge or something? But he'd never done anyone a dishonest action in his entire life! If he had hurt anyone's feelings, it was always unintentional... And of course, when he and Trunks had been younger, the practical jokes they played on Bulma, Vegeta, his brother, his mother, and Videl were all for fun. He had never intentionally tried to break someone's spirits... So why was this all happening to him?

Hazy Valese smiled softly one last time before she faded into the oblivion where she had come from."I see you're a bit confused. Heed my warnings, Goten. Only then can you be at peace..."

Goten's eyes snapped open; his knees buckled from under him and he collapsed to the ground, breathing hard. Blinking several times, he made up his mind to head to the mall the next morning, where he was sure Valese had to be hanging out these days. Perhaps he'd confront her and find out what she was doing lately, and then his troubled mind could finally be at peace.

But first, he'd have to tell Bra that he couldn't train with her tomorrow. By just thinking about it, he knew that it'd make for an extremely infuriated and disappointed Princess, but she would simply have to wait.

-Special Note-: In case you were wondering about the name of dream Bra and Goten's second daughter... Chemise is a sort of underwear, and you know how the Briefs are with naming their children after that type of clothing. It kind of sounds French when you think about it, huh? And Goryn's name is pronounced (GO-rin). Just some basic information. But it's not like you'll hear about Goryn, Gotin, Chemise, Goken, Tike, and the baby anymore, unfortunately. Also, some of you may have questions as to why Chi-Chi, Bulma, and Videl only had one shoe on. Well, remember when Bra broke her heel after crashing her car, thus inadvertently creating a new fad? The aftermath of that misfortune is shown in the latter chapters.

-Ending Note-: I hope you enjoyed the chapter, although it was mostly character development for everyone other than Goten and Bra. Also, I have another question for you - who do you think will find out about Goten and Bra first, when they finally do start going out? Will it be Pan, Gohan, Chi-Chi, Goku, Trunks, Videl, or Bulma? Heck, it could be Tanith or even...Vegeta! I'm curious to see whom you guys think would be best. Of course, I have it all figured out already - I just want to see what you guys think. Stay tuned for Chapter 21, which will be coming soon, hopefully.

-Ladii-Chocolate-