Chapter Eight

Sometimes the heart is treacherous. Sometimes it plays tricks on you. It makes you feel for someone so genuinely, then turns on you. It's a rose, beautiful, fragrant and alluring. But as you reach out to experience, to touch its glory, you are met with a searing pain. This is love. This is the experience Bra was enduring.

Her soft, green eyes were lowered to the ground as it swayed to and fro beneath her feet. They rocked with the motion of the swing, her hand firmly grasping the old metal chains holding it up. Her sad, gloomy face was in contrast to her surroundings. Young children ran about, sliding down slides, teetering on teeter tots, smiling, laughing...enjoying the bliss that was youth. How she longed for those days at times. The simplicity of it all. To tolerate school and go outside and play were your only desires and obligations. The harshness of the adult world was do far away. The vows to never grow up. The vows to never kiss a boy. The vows to never be like your parents. Bra allowed herself to smile, remembering what it was like for her and Pan. But, never and no more.

Bra stopped the swing abruptly and hopped down without much effort. The sun was still beaming, but not as intensely as earlier. She dusted her dress off and began to walk back home. She would be expected soon. Pan wanted to go to a concert tonight with Linkin Park and she promised to go, though she didn't too much care for the rock group. She wondered if Pan would mind staying in tonight when she felt someone watching her. She looked about...but saw no one. Bra sighed and made her way to the sidewalk and to the direction of Capsule Corp.

Off in the distance, MT watched as Bra finally headed home. He had been spying her for an hour almost, but he did not make an attempt to comfort her. He wasn't quite sure how to approach her. How was he to explain witnessing what he did? He was no voyeur, but he watched them anyhow. Why was Goten acting like this? The girl was crazy about him, yet he acted like a she was the plague. Surely his father was not that dead-set against them being together. There was something else going on perhaps. But, it was none of his business, really. He just so happened to stumble onto his problem. It was not his to solve. MT put his hands in his jeans pockets and decided to take a little trip to the CC corporate office. He and Chibi had become casual friends over the short time he had been there. At first, he sensed hostility, but now, they were growing closer. Though they we technically the same person, they could be no more different. But, it worked for them. Remembering a shortcut, MT walked swiftly throughout the playground and down the adjacent street and headed to the office. Little did he know there was already someone there.

"Well, we were going to...but I couldn't. I mean, the streetlight was green and I couldn't get the car in first gear, if you know what I mean," Goten said, stumbling through the events of the day. Trunks brought his palm to his chin and leaned to the side a bit. He looked at his best friends and chuckled.

"Are you sure you want to be telling me this about my kid-sister, Goten? I know we are best buds, but com'on, you want me to give advice on how to lay my sister," he said with a bit of humor. The pair laughed as Goten brought his hand to the back of his head in the classic Son style.

"I didn't mean it like that, Bro. It's just I don't get why I'm so afraid. I love Bra, I really do. I mean, I know we have a few years between us, but look at me. I'm still hot and young looking. A regular person would be none-the-wiser. I used Vegeta as an excuse for the longest, but now, I dunno," Goten said, pacing about Trunks' office. He stopped at the window just in time to see Bra pass by. She looked so sad, her eyes lowered, her walk not as tall and proud. Goten frowned at the thought of hurting her.

"Look, you are afraid of what most men are afraid of," Trunks said, not really paying attention to what had Goten's eyes. "It's the dirtiest word ever created by man. It is so feared that it is embedded in the genes of every virile male."

Goten turned around and looked at Trunks. What ever was he talking about this time?

"Commitment, my friend," Trunks said before Goten could verbally ask. "It is the bane of all males. The sum of all their deepest fears. Why do you think my father resisted my mom for so long? It's not because he didn't love her, he didn't want to commit to her. What wild beast wants to be tamed?"

The proverbial sweatdrop ran down Goten's forehead as he was frozen with a sense of, "I can't believe I'm listening to this." Yes, Trunks was always the one coming up with "theories" of life and how the male is never to be tied down to one female. It's not the way of nature. His thoughts were laughable, but this time, he may have been onto something.

"I could see how that is possible. That's what ruined it for me and Paris. I just couldn't commit to her...and that was her fault. But with Bra, I know I want to. I don't want other women. Why would I be scared to commit," he questioned, sitting back down in the chair in front of Trunks' desk. His best friend folded his arms and placed them on the desk in a serious, professional manner. Trunks straightened his tie and cleared his throat like a professor beginning his lecture. His lips pursed and Goten knew at that moment that something incredibly stupid was about to be said.

"My dear boy. When will you learn that it is not in the nature of the male to settle? Monogamy is a foreign concept created by the right wing. It is in our gene to copulate as much as possible. Your denial of this is causing your anxiety," Trunks said in a most serious tone. All that could be seen of Goten was his legs in the air, peaking over the desk.

As Goten collected himself, the phone rang. Trunks answered it and listened to the voice on the other end. As moments passed, he eyes glanced to his friend and he shrugged his shoulders. He covered the mouthpiece and whispered, "I have to get back to work."

Goten nodded and showed himself out quietly. Sometimes he really did wonder how in the world they stayed best friends. He was surprised there were no new STDs named after him. But, all jokes aside, he was a good friend. They had always been there for each other and that's the way they would always be.

Making his way down the hall, Goten noticed the other Trunks. The Mirai Trunks and Chibi Trunks were nearly indistinguishable, except for a slight scar MT donned. He and Mt had not spoken much, but not because he didn't like him. He was always sparring with Vegeta or meditating. He always seemed so calm and serene. He would see him when he would go to Bra's home and try to get the nerve to speak to her. One night, he opted to leaving flowers where he knew she would find. Goten frowned. Why couldn't he do right by her?

"What's bothering you," MT asked Goten mockingly as he was about to pass him. Goten had almost forgotten he was there.

"Eh, nothing really. Woman troubles," he said, he voice low and sad. MT looked at him. In the back of his head he was thinking of how much of a coward he was. But, he could see the situation was hurting him as well. MT knew well what it felt like to hurt.

"You mean Bra? Well, women are tricky to figure," MT commented, not wanting to let on that he knew what had transpired.

"It's not Bra that's hard to figure. I know she wanted me and I want her...I just don't know why I can't say yes," Goten said leaning against the wall. He folded his arms and kept his eyes to the gray-blue carpet.

"Well, maybe there is something you fear and you don't realize it. Have you been hurt by a woman before," Mirai Trunks asked sincerely. Goten raised his head up and looked MT in the eye. Could it be possible that he could relate to him? That he truly understood?

"Why yes. I dated this girl. She was so sweet. Had to be the cutest brunette I've ever seen...but she was a complete ho. Now, don't get me wrong, I was no angel, but she was just out cold," explained Goten. "I wanted to commit to her, but at the same time I didn't. On our two-year anniversary, I decided to give it a try and went over to her house to tell her. Well, when I get there I find her modeling a teddy I gave her for her birthday for her "ex" boyfriend."

MT shook his head as he heard Goten tell his tale. Where woman from this era really this trifling? When he was from, there was no time to play such game, to be so cruel. And Bra could not be that type. Sure, she was bossy, inconsiderate and bull-headed...ok, maybe she COULD be the type, but she didn't seem like she was. From what he could tell, Bra loved Goten very much and wants to be with him. Now MT was facing a dilemma. Would he break his own promise and interfere in Bra's life? It wouldn't be that bad, after all, why shouldn't other be happy. Just because his chance at love was over didn't mean he couldn't play cupid.

"Well, it seems to me that you two need a push in the right direction. I think I can help you out. Just tell me some things about Bra and then I'll ask Bulma for some help," MT suggested to Goten. He brought his hand to his chin and rubbed the non-existent hair.

"I don't know what you can do. I thought that maybe I needed counseling or something. I've tried dates and meeting with her already and blew all of those changes. What would make this any different," Goten replied with a sigh. He was truly frustrated with the situation. He had turned Bra down flat. He was just about to go through with it and he stopped. How could MT possibly help.

"Look, all you need is the right atmosphere and timing. Let me try, it's the least I can do," pleaded MT. Goten thought silently for a moment, then nodded in agreement. Mirai smiled. Finally, a chance to do something other than sparring with Vegeta, not that he didn't enjoy spending time with his father.

"Yanno, I didn't think you were the match-maker type," Goten chuckled, extending his hand to gesture that it was a deal. MT smiled and shook his hand. Now, how to get his little idea to work.