Chapter Eighteen

The blinding rays of early morning forced MT to cover his lids, then turn over to his side to escape the light. There was nothing he could do to escape the sound of starling singing their song, though, and he sat up, defeated. He looked to his left to see Pan sleeping soundly. This is where she had been sleeping every night for the past two weeks. She had practically moved into Capsule Corp and with no objection from Bra. Pan always thought it to be a pity, for she was just waiting for the opportunity to fight her nemesis. But, Bra had seemed to step aside and said not a work to either Pan or MT. Though the situation was mildly pleasing and overly amusing to Pan, MT couldn't help but to wonder and to worry. After all, did he not sleep with Bra, then turn around and sleep with Pan? That was the biggest mistake he had made since his arrival. MT began to question his sanity and his ability to be anything to any of the women who claimed to love him. It seemed his actions were not his own, or at least, nothing he thought to do consciously. It always seemed to be an invisible force guiding him into the pits of lust and evil. The force led him away from decency, from him love for his Dominican and from logic. But could he deny how he really felt for Bra? Was that evil, or was that him?

Pan yawned and rolled over the same way MT did moments before, but she was able to stay sleep somehow. MT was forced to smile. Never did he see someone who could sleep though damn near anything. She snoozed straight through the 5.0 earthquake they had last week and snored through the aftershocks, right up until noon. She smelt something that she thought was food cooking...but it was really a few houses that had somehow caught fire. MT chuckled, remembering.

What were his feelings for this young beauty before him? He was unsure. He didn't love her, but he did. He didn't love her like he loved Bra, but he didn't love her like a friend, either. There was definitely something that bound them together, but he wasn't sure what it was? He extremely was protective of her and cared for her very deeply. But, there was something missing. There was something that failed to capture his pure devotion and spirit. Surly, Pan was more worthy of his devotion, love and spirit than Bra ever was. In fact, a part of him hated Bra, yet, he loved her. Bra was ungrateful, spoiled and pretentious. Yet, she captured him. She was head-strong, yet terribly vulnerable. Intelligent, yet naive in matters of the heart. Experienced, yet, inexperienced. Actually, she was much like himself. Another tortured soul. But, she had not been thought what he had. There was no reason for the lack of sanity and control on her part. Why was she like him? Why?

MT rose from the bed and carried his nude body to the window. He gazed out to look at the glorious morning. Instead, he caught a glimpse of a glorious beauty. Bra was walking across the lawns, but not in her normal sweats or shorts and a tank. She was dressed in mechanic blues, her hair tied up in a messy ponytail. Like that, she reminded him so much of his mother, and MT smiled again at the memory.

"Mother," he whispered to himself, remembering again the circumstances under which he left. Remembering the spite he had for her, then remembering how he finally came to an understanding to her methodology, her reasoning. Suddenly, he had the urge to see her again, to be with her again. He loved his mother dearly. Perhaps...perhaps if he just went back to the past, everything would be alright. Separate himself from the situation, from Bra and from Pan. Being alone would be better than the mortally sinful actions he was currently taking. Yes, he had to go back.

Looking over at Pan, his heart sank a bit. How could he possibly leave her? She needed him in so many ways. She loved him so much and it showed with every passing day. He truly was not worthy of her. Perhaps if he left, she would find someone right for her, someone that could truly be called her mate, her partner.

MT walked over to Pan and kissed her lightly on the cheek. A smile ran across her heavenly face and she turned to her lover. Her smile grew wider as she lifted her head to peck him on the lips. How she loved to wake every morning to his face...his solemn, yet sweet face.

"Good morning," she whispered in a voice made coarse from several hours of love-making and only a couple of sleep.

"Morning. Ready to eat?" MT asked, rubbing her shoulders?

"Food? No...I think I'll rest for a bit. I'm not very hungry," Pan said, turning up her lips.

"You? Turning down food?" MT mockingly put his hand on her forehead, pretending to check her temperature, "You sure you, ok?"

"I'm sure," Pan chuckled, pulling her sheets back over her face. MT laughed, then rose from the bed. He walked over to his dresser and pulled out some shorts and a t-shirt and began to dress. Pan, pulled the sheets back down and looked at him oddly.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"Out to the shed to look at my capsule," he replied, almost flatly.

"Your time capsule? Why?" she asked again, this time, a hint of concern in her voice.

"Just to pass the time. Wanna help?" MT asked, knowing what her answer would be.

"No, you know I'm not one for mechanical things. Br..." she then trailed off...remembering her former best friend, as beautiful and dainty as she was, she was also a mechanical wizard. Fucking bitch. Fucking fucking fucking bitch.

"I'll just sleep in," she said finally, her eyes low. MT frowned, wondering what else was going on in her head.

"Alright, later hun," MT said as he walked out his room, shutting the door behind him. A tear rolled down her face as memories started flooding back to her. Memories of her seemingly wonderful childhood with her seemingly perfect childhood friend. How much she loved her. Why did it go wrong? How did it go wrong? She just couldn't figure it out. Suddenly, she felt the bile rise from her gut to the pit of her throat. She leapt out the bed and into the bathroom to release the contents into the porcelain bowl. After her light dinner was before her once again, she stood at the sink to clean her face. She looked into the mirror at the person before her. This person was not the same Pan she knew. She was different. She was older, more mature, wiser...

She was pregnant.

Pan had known for about a week of her condition, but did not know how to bring it up. She and MT had only been dating for a few months...and only started having sex recently. They did not rush into sex, but she certainly did get knocked up quick enough, probably due to the extreme lack of contraceptives on both their parts. Pan's mother had always told her to use condoms when she started having sex, but her first time was so unplanned, things just happened. They just never became important. Now she was expecting his child, and Pan welled up with pride. She would have a family soon...and Bra would be all alone.

Pan danced into the bedroom and pulled out a shirt and some drawstring shorts. She would fix herself some breakfast, then join her beau. She would break the news to him today. She didn't know how he would take it, but she knew it would all work out. It had to.

MT walked across the back lawns to the shed where his capsule was located. He knew Bra was in the vicinity, but he would avoid her at all costs. Why come around her when she didn't go around him. Perhaps she finally made up with Goten. He hadn't spoke with either one in so long, he had lost track of the world around him. His days consisted of working in town at a construction site, sparing with Vegeta, then returning to Pan. Occasionally, they went to the movies or the club, but otherwise, led a secluded life. MT looked up at the blue sky and paused for a moment. It was such a perfect day. Perhaps after he fixed the capsule, he would spend one last day with Pan at the park. Yes, one last happy memory for her. She would be so much better off without him. MT opened the door to the shed and was completely taken back by what he saw.

"Bra? What are you doing?" he questioned.

Bra was working on his capsule, her overalls, face and hands covered in oil and other mechanical fluids. She threw her wrench down and prepared to storm past MT, but a strong arm stopped her from proceeding. She looked down at his hand and attempted to move it aside, but for all the strength she possessed, she couldn't make him budge.

"Let me go," she snarled, a look of disgust on her face.

"Tell me what you were doing," he demanded.

"Working on this damned thing so I could get out of here!" she exclaimed, her eye stinging from threatening tears as she finally admitted to someone else what her plans were. Why she blurted it out, she didn't know. She then fell into a sobbing pile of flesh, emotionally and physically drained. MT helped her to her feet and sat her down on a stool. He then went back to shut the door and knelt down to her.

"You shouldn't leave," MT whispered, holding her hand. To both of their surprise, she didn't jerk away. She lifted her tear-stained face to reveal distraught eyes, which in turn revealed a broken heart and spirit.

"Why?" Was all she mustered to ask.

"Because...I'm going to leave. I'm going to leave this timeline. I've caused so much pain and damage, it's beyond belief. If I go, everything will be ok," MT explained. Bra shook her head at his commentary.

"No, things will never be ok. I've scorned Goten, for what? For you? You, who cannot admit he loves me. I thought, no, I did love Goten...but you are the person my heart was made for. You understand me better then I understand myself. I couldn't go back to Goten, thought I wanted to so I could somehow make it up to him...but he wouldn't have it. He said his heart couldn't take anymore. I can't take anymore either. You can stay here with Pan and live a happy life together based on an incestuous affair and lies. I'm leaving," Bra said with a renewed sense of spite and vigor.

"I can't stay here with Pan. I love her, but not how she needs me. And, in this timeline...I simply can't be with you, as much as I want to. There's no way," MT exclaimed, trying to reason with her.

"WHY NOT!"

"BECAUSE YOU ARE MY SISTER!"

The two stood face to face, chests heaving from the rush of adrenaline brought on by the shouting contest. Their expressions were that of desperation, hurt, and anger. Then, slowly, the scowls softened to frowns, the hurt dissipated to tears. The pair entangled their arms and joined their lips in heated passion. Bra parted her lips and darted her tongue into MT mouth, cause him to moan. At last, he had her in his arms again. Why? Why did this feel so right?

The lovers moved to the floor, where MT tore at Bra's overalls in a rush of desire, exposing her bare flesh. He took an erect nipple into his mouth and suckled on the full breast. Bra moaned as she clawed at him, urging him out of his trousers. He willfully complied, his straining member flush with her womanhood. The moment of penetration was upon them, when....when...

"I....I can't," MT said, panting. Bra looked at him, puzzled and confused.

"WHAT!" She exclaimed, writhing in anger.

"Not now...I can't," he repeated. For once, a show of self-control, though it was too little too late in so many ways.

"Why?" Bra spat.

"We have no future, not here," he commented.

"Why? Because you are still searching for a way to justify our love? Why do we need too? We love each other? That's enough. There's no way we can stay apart. I can eve forgive you for being with Pan...just, say you won't leave me," Bra pleaded. MT's mind worked, thinking about what his lover had said to him. After a couple of moments, he sprang up, realization upon him.

"We'll leave together," he said. Bra smiled and leapt into his arms.

"And what about Pan?"

"She's young. She'll get over it."

Just as he finished his sentence, the shed seemingly broke apart and MT sensed a high energy coming straight for him. He put his arms around Bra to protect her as glass and machine parts flurries around them. Before he could make another move, he felt him being ripped away from Bra by a strong pair of hands that had a death-grip around his neck. MT gasped for air as he tried to focus on his attacker, but a knee to the groin sent him doubling over in pain and an overhand punch to the back sent him hurling to the ground. MT landed with fury and the ground shook from the impact. He tried to move to his knees, but he was still in shock and pain from the surprise attack. He kicked up dust as he finally was able to sit up and look at the attacker hoovering in front of him. The immense power of a Super-Sayian was before him, he knew...but the ki signature was different than any he had know. Yet, it was familiar. The golden aura encompassed a slender, feminine frame. Ocean blue eyes set fear and pain in his heart.

"I'll get over it?" Pan said calmly, holding Bra above the ground by her hair.

OHHHHHHHHH, Cliffhanger!!!!! One more chapter to go. OHHHHHH, I know y'all didn't see that coming.