Dun. Dun. Dun... There's a twist in this chapter!
"Knickers, are you excited or nervous?" Trunks asked, watching the road.
They had been in the car for about fifteen minutes now, and it was quiet:
Knickers was sitting in the front, looking out the window, tapping his foot. Leo was sitting behind Trunks, playing his 3DS. Momo was in her car seat behind Knickers, sleeping.
Trunks had Momo behind Knickers so he can check the review mirror to see what she's doing.
"Ummm… A little bit of both. What if we get there and she doesn't like me? What if she doesn't like gays?" Knickers replied, panicking a little.
"Knickers calm down before you have a heart attack. What do I always say if you meet someone who doesn't like you?" Trunks asked, watching the road.
"It's their loss?" Knickers asked, looking at his dad.
"Correct. If she doesn't like you when we meet, it's her loss. As for if she doesn't like gays, that's also her loss. Are you sure this is what you want? Are you sure you're ready today? Because if you're not one hundred percent ready, I can turn the car around and I can call her, saying it's not a good day." Trunks sincerely told Knickers.
"No. Please don't do that. I want this, I really do. And I'm ready, I'm just nervous." Knickers replied.
"Ok." Trunks sighed, watching the road.
An Hour & A Half Later:
Due to traffic, Trunks and kids were stuck in the car longer than planned. However, they still arrived about fifteen minutes early.
"Can we go swimming?" Leo asked right away.
"Maybe after meeting Emiko." Trunks replied, pulling into a parking space.
"Who?" Leo asked, confused.
"Knickers's learning buddy from that program he starts next school year. Are you kidding me?" Trunks answered and then huffed when he saw his mom's car.
"Hold on a second." Trunks told his kids before pulling out his cell phone.
"Hello?" Bulma asked on her end.
"Mom…" Trunks started only to be interrupted.
"Yes, Dear? How are you doing? How is that meeting with the buddy going?" Bulma asked.
"Oh, I think you know already. I can your car—and Dad's hair about four cars behind us to the left. What are you doing here?" Trunks replied and then asked, slightly annoyed, causing Knickers to sit back in his seat, sliding down, embarrassed while Leo sat in the back, laughing.
"Hold that thought. Leo knock it off and behave or you won't be swimming at all. Do not wake your sister right now. Do you understand me?" Trunks strictly warned.
"Sorry." Leo apologized, rolling his eyes.
"You really don't want to go swimming, do you?" Trunks asked, looking at his middle child.
"Sorry." Leo apologized again, not rolling his eyes this time.
"Is everything ok?" Bulma asked on her end.
"No, Mom; it's not. How did you find out what beach we were going to?" Trunks asked, annoyed.
"Your father wanted to make sure you were all safe." Bulma spoke right away.
"Don't bring me into this." Vegeta told Bulma right away.
"Trunks, we just want to meet his person…" Bulma started.
"Mom stop. At this point, you're already here; there's no point in telling you to go home. I'm not trying to be rude or cut you out of our lives, but I didn't tell you what beach we were going to because Knickers wanted this to be just him, me, and Emiko. I thought of dropping Leo and Momo off with you and Dad, but Momo's not doing well and Leo heard beach. I also figured if I'm going to have this person come to our home and everything, I might as well bring all the kids because I'm sure they'll be around as well. Mom—I know you care, but I do know how to take care of my kids. I do know who I can and can't trust; I know how to read people just fine—when it comes to the safety of my kids. But since you're here—behave and on your best behavior. DO NOT scare this girl away. If this is what Knickers wants, I will do this for him. If you can't do any of that for Knickers, you can watch from afar. Do I make myself clear?" Trunks sternly asked, sighing in frustration.
"Yes… I understand…" Bulma mumbled over the phone.
"Ok. Well, come on over…" Trunks sighed before hanging up.
"I'm sorry, Knickers." Trunks apologized.
"It's ok; it's not your fault. But thanks anyway." Knickers replied.
"Why didn't you just tell them you didn't want them here?" Leo asked, confused.
"You never say that to someone you love. And it's not that we don't want them here; it's we know how Grandma and Grandpa get. Knickers just wanted this to be simple. And I'm warning you right now: if you say anything like what you just asked to Grandma or Grandpa, you won't be swimming, and they will NO electronics for the rest of the summer. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" Trunks explained and then asked.
"Yes, Sir…" Leo mumbled, unbuckling himself.
"Let's go. Boys, I need you to carry some things. Leo, leave the 3DS in the car." Trunks instructed before getting out of the car.
"Of course." Knickers replied, stepping out.
"Fine…" Leo mumbled, annoyed. What was he supposed to do while they talked to this person?
"Leo—attitude check." Trunks warned, carefully removing Momo from her seat as not to wake her.
"Mmmm…" Momo moaned, feeling a light breeze hit her face.
"I know… I'm sorry." Trunks apologized as Momo laid her head against his shoulder.
"Maybe we should've rescheduled." Knickers stated once they got to the trunk.
"No, it's fine; this'll be good for Momo. It gets her out of the house for a little bit." Trunks replied, opening the trunk of the car.
"Will she be able to play in the water?" Knickers asked as Bulma and Vegeta walked over.
"Yes. I called her doctor and he said it'd be fine as long as I clean her chest really well afterwards." Trunks replied, handing Knickers and Leo a bag.
"Hi." Bulma chipperly greeted while Vegeta calmly spoke.
"Hi, Grandma, Grandpa." Leo happily greeted.
"Hey." Knickers solemnly greeted while Momo fussed.
"What's going on? Do you need any help?" Bulma asked, concerned.
"Yeah. Take the picnic basket please. Dad, can you please take the towels?" Trunks replied, handing Bulma a picnic basket before grabbing towels.
"Sure." Vegeta replied, taking the towels.
"Are Knickers and Momo ok?" Bulma asked, concerned as Knickers led the way to a shaded area, not speaking.
"Not really. Well, Momo's just waking up and is a little fussy because she wasn't allowed to bring Berry Bear, Benny Bunny, or her blanket. She cried herself to sleep about ten or fifteen minutes into the drive. However, it's better than I thought was going to happen; I figured she'd scream her head off. And Knickers—he feels betrayed." Trunks answered.
"Betrayed? Why?" Bulma asked, confused.
"Stop where you two are right now and stay still!" Trunks called to Knickers and Leo before turning to face his mom.
"I'm not going to yell or scream, but you're kidding right?" Trunks stated and then asked, looking at Bulma.
"No. Why would I be?" Bulma asked, confused.
"Mom, the kids and I love you and Dad more than anybody and anything except each other, but Knickers just wanted this to be easy—and us. Mom, you have to know when it comes to things like school, you don't make things easy for others to help. No; I'm not done. When Knickers started school and we found out he was struggling with something, you marched all the way to the school. Once there, you proceeded to the principal and made her take you to his teacher. And once you made it to her, you berated her in front of the entire class—only to find out she was right. I spent over an hour apologizing and explaining to the principal and Ms. Craft how you are. That was early childhood. And then two years ago when he was in first grade, his teacher recommended tutors. I said yes, that would be great. At the time I had a seven, four, and a ten-month-old. And while you and Dad helped—and I was and am grateful for that help—and all the help now; it would've been nice for him to have the extra help with school. You scared away four or five different tutors." Trunks explained but was interrupted.
"Seven!" Knickers yelled up, hearing the conversation.
"Ok… Seven. Mom, we love you and love the help, but Knickers is nearly ten. He doesn't want our help with everything; he wants outside help. Let him have the help he wants. Please, Mom… If you keep meddling in his educational life without him wanting, he'll grow to resent you. I don't want that—and I know for damn sure, you don't want that either. Please, just let him have this. Once we figure out who this girl is and if she's not psycho, you can meet her as well." Trunks calmly but sternly told Bulma.
"I'm sorry." Bulma sadly and guiltily apologized.
"I'm sorry for not holding her back better…" Vegeta mumbled.
"Not me. Knickers. But give him some space first. Let him cool down and then apologize to him." Trunks told his parents.
"Ok…" Bulma mumbled, upset.
"Mom—don't do that. I promise you, if any of them horribly slip up with school because they're not trying, you can tutor them however you want to. But for now, Knickers is doing just fine—and his best. It's Leo I worry about doing something like that. I hope I'm wrong and this is just a phase, but I don't know… You can start going again!" Trunks sighed and then called to Knickers and Leo, turning around.
"I don't think school's really his thing; he likes fighting." Vegeta stated.
"Yes, I know. That's not always a good thing—especially now adays. We haven't had any kind of threat since Momo—well, since before she was born. As much as I'd like it to stay that way, I know that's not for certain. I know I have to let Knickers and Leo train—but that can't be everything." Trunks explained, walking down some log steps.
"Mm?" Momo asked, peeking her head over Trunks's shoulder to see what was going on.
"Well, good morning." Trunks and Bulma happily greeted as Momo looked around.
"Sandbox?" Momo asked, looking at all the sand.
"No, it's a beach." Leo corrected right away.
"Beesh?" Momo softly asked, confused.
"A lot of sand all around a lot of water. Uhhh… It's kind of like a giant sandbox—just without the box." Trunks explained once they made it to a spot next to a small open shelter with picnic tables.
"There aren't a lot of people here today. It's quiet." Bulma noticed, looking around, only to see a few families and other people there.
"It's nice." Vegeta plainly stated.
"It's the side of the beach that's usually meant people who just want to relax and peacefully swim. Not a lot of families come to this side because children tend to get rambunctious. That side is way on the other side of the lake. Can you go with Pop-Pop for a minute?" Trunks explained and then asked Momo; he was going to place some towels down to sit on.
"Yeah." Momo softly replied, looking at the sand.
Trunks traded Vegeta Momo for the towels from his phone started ringing.
"Who is it? Why do you have your phone?" Bulma asked, being nosy.
"Unknown caller. Hello?" Trunks answered and then asked, ignoring the second question.
"Hello, Mr. Trunks Briefs?" A female softly asked.
"Yes, this is he. Who is this?" Trunks calmly asked.
"Thank God. Sorry. My phone died and I couldn't quite remember your number; I've been calling all sorts of numbers. Sorry. It's Emiko Tsukihana." The female, Emiko, nervously spoke.
"Oh, Emiko. Is everything ok? You sound out of breath." Trunks replied, causing Knickers to run over.
"Yeah, everything's—fine. Umm…" Emiko started.
"Are you sure everything's ok? Are you still coming? It's fine if something came up." Trunks asked and then assured, looking at Knickers, unsure.
"Yes, I'm sure. Something did come up, but I'm still coming; I'm just running a little behind. Nothing serious. I just got a little turned around and ended up on the wrong side of the lake. I'll be there in a little bit. I just wanted to call and let you know I'm not flaking on Knickers. Sorry—I meant ditching, not flaking." Emiko explained and apologized.
"No, it's fine. We'll see you in a little bit." Trunks replied.
"Ok. There aren't a lot of people there, are there?" Emiko nervously asked.
"No. Just us and a few other families and some others. But not a lot." Trunks answered, looking around.
"Ok. Just you and Knickers?" Emiko asked.
"No. It's me, all three kids—and my parents." Trunks replied.
"Ok. Ok, I'll see you in a little bit." Emiko replied, out of breath.
"See you in a bit." Trunks agreed before hanging up.
"What's going on? Is she not coming? Did she change her mind? I knew it…" Knickers started panicking.
"Knickers relax; she's still coming. She's just going to be a little late; she went to the wrong side of the beach." Trunks replied.
"Are we sure about that? What if we went to the wrong side?" Leo asked, freaking Knickers out.
"Leo behave… We're on the right side. I think she's already on her way over." Trunks replied.
"Why was she asking how many people were here?" Vegeta suspiciously asked.
"We heard you telling her there weren't many people here." Bulma added.
"With how it sounded, she's nervous around a lot of people. We'll just wait and see what happens. We're all here; she won't be able to do anything to the kids." Trunks stated, looking at his parents.
Suddenly, they heard a gun firing.
"Give me the little girls, starting the girl with the pink hair and yellow eyes, and nobody gets hurt!" A man yelled, holding a gun in the air.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!" Vegeta snapped, stepping over.
"Back off, Man. Not if you want any of these children hurt." The man calmly stated before snatching Momo from her towel.
Boy, did Momo just start screaming—especially when the man held a gun to her head.
"Now, the rest of you little kiddies! Anyone makes a move; I'll blow her head off!" The man yelled.
Ten Minutes Later:
"Come on! Now people! I'll blow her head off, I swear it!" The man yelled, arguing with everyone.
"Go ahead!" A female yelled, walking up behind everyone.
"Hmm? Do you condone the killing of a child? Wait… Who are you?!" The man asked, turning around, only to stare slightly in fear when he saw a thin girl. She had light tan skin, long reddish-orange hair with long bangs, covering her forehead just above her amethyst-colored eyes. She was wearing a short pink and yellow summer dress, a purple choker with a silver charm attached to it, and purple sandals with straps going up her legs a little with little red hearts.
"No, I do not condone killing a child, but clearly you're going to have to because no one is willing to give up their daughters. You might as well do it if you want to show everyone here that you're serious. However, you and I both know you won't kill the child; you're incapable of doing so. Right? I mean, you don't like to kill little girls before you've had fun with them." The girl stated, looking at the man.
"Who the hell are you?! Come any closer and I'll kill her!" The man yelled, panicking.
Something about this girl freaked him out.
After a few seconds, the wind picked up, and something freaked the man out even more.
"You…" The man spoke, fear evident in his voice before stumbling backward.
"Are you going to shoot her or not?" The girl asked, continuing to walk towards the man.
The man cocked and shot the gun after a second or two, only to have bubbles shoot out.
"What did you do to it?! What'd you do to my gun?!" The man yelled, panicking even more.
"Why—whatever do you mean?" The girl innocently asked.
"Not another step! I'll throw her! You know I will!" The man yelled.
"Yeah? And you'll regret it." The girl stated.
"Who the hell are you?!" The man yelled, going from holding Momo around to waist to the back of her long shirt.
"Why? Don't you remember me?" The girl calmly asked.
"No—I remember you just fine. I guess I should be asking what you are! You're not supposed to be nothing but some useless princess from Venus or wherever!" The man yelled.
"Yeah… As you can tell, I'm not just some useless princess, now am I? You should really do your research on who you try to take. However, with that said, I am so glad to see you again. I want to say thank you. Thank you for taking me away from my family and bringing me here to Earth when I was six. No really; I mean it. My parents were overly controlling. However, that little girl and her parents seem to love her more than anything." The girl stated, standing about two feet from the man.
"What are you talking about?! I did my research!" The man yelled, glaring at the girl.
"On me—or the girl your clutching in your hand?" The girl asked, tilting her head.
"You! I didn't even know about this child until I got here today! Why are you here in the first place?!" The man yelled.
"I'm supposed to be meeting some people here. Now, do you wanna set the child down and let her go to her family? Or do you want me to have more fun with you?" The girl calmly asked.
"Wait… Are you Emiko?" Trunks asked, looking at the girl.
"That's my name, yes. And you are?" The girl, Emiko, answered and then asked, not taking her eyes off the man.
"Trunks Briefs." Trunks answered.
"Well—at least I'm in the right place." Emiko stated just as a gray cat with white undertones popped up around her shoulders.
"Ahhh! That's here too?!" The man asked, more freaked out.
"Of course; Yuki's always with me. And clearly, you did not do enough research on me to know I was probably a wrong child to try to take and mess with." Emiko stated, leaning sideways a little, allowing her cat, Yuki, down.
"Where is that thing going?" The man asked, freaked out, intently watching Yuki.
"Shade. And buddy, never take your eyes off who's talking to you because you never know where they can pop up." Emiko informed, in front of the man within seconds.
He quickly jerked back and whipped Momo a good ways into the lake.
"Now what are you going to do?! Are you going to go after me or the child?!" The man asked, running away.
"Hey, Jace… The girl's just fine. You should know better by now." The girl plainly stated, pointing to the water.
Momo was sitting in a ball, completely unharmed. She was crawling around, splashing at the water, giggling.
After a few seconds, a large portion of water turned to a giant hand; it reached over and grabbed the man and dragged him to the water.
All anyone could hear for seconds at a time was the man screaming. However, nobody could hear him coughing up water or anything.
"Why am I not surprised?" A male police officer with light red hair and blue eyes asked, walking over with a female police officer with blonde hair and blue eyes.
"What do you want, Jasper?" Emiko asked, slightly annoyed.
"That's officer Tsu— But Jasper…" The female officer started but then whined when the other officer, Jasper, put his hand up.
"It's fine, Nami; this is my younger sister, Emiko." Jasper simply stated, causing the female officer, Nami, to quickly calm down.
"Really?! It's nice to finally meet you!" Nami happily exclaimed, going to hug Emiko, who stepped away—and kept stepping away.
"Come on; hold still! I wanna hug my sister!" Nami exclaimed, trying to hug Emiko, who kept backing away.
"Woah! I can tell you're older than me; I only have one older sister and you ain't her. And as I've told you already, I'm not going back!" Emiko stated, freaked out.
"I will be in a few months." Nami stated a little hurt.
"Nami, that's enough; I haven't told her yet. And you won't be able to hug her; Emiko doesn't like to be touched. I know you're not going back; I'm not either. Emiko, this is my fiancé, Nami; we're getting married in three months. I wanted to tell you before, but you're so damn hard to get a hold of—let alone find. Unless there's some kind of trouble. Whenever there's some kind of trouble, you seem to be at the center of it." Jasper explained.
"Really now? Besides this, what else have I been part of?" Emiko asked, looking at her brother.
"Ok. It started when you were four when you went around throwing tantrums for no reason. God, you would just scream and scream. Then at five when Dad brought Mom home, you started lashing out. Remember when all the pillars fell? You were in the center of that. Now, I know you didn't do that, but you certainly didn't speak up to say who did. So, of course, you're the one who got blamed. You were there when the horses escaped and destroyed a few different places. Again, I know it wasn't you. There are a few more things up there. Dad and Mom were just tired. And then God forbid, I don't know how, but at six you managed to get yourself kidnapped. Until about seven years ago when you were twelve, nobody had heard from you; we all thought you were dead. I had to come all the way to Earth to see if you were here and alive—which thank God you were. Somehow… Luckily. How you enrolled in Earth school is beyond most, but then I remembered you're a very talented witch. There's a lot you can do. Which brings up the next problems. Of all people, you should know better than to attract the attention of witch hunters. Don't think I don't know because I know all about that. And on top of all that, I come all this way to bring you home. However, at twelve, you tell me and our parents "no?" Do you know what that did to Dad and Mom? And now this? Hey, you asked. You can't get mad or upset with me. Where are you going now?" Jasper answered her challenge before asking as Emiko started walking away.
"I'm going home! Mr. Briefs, I'm sorry about all this; we'll have to reschedule." Emiko yelled at Jasper before apologizing to Trunks.
"And where is that?!" Jasper called to Emiko.
"Why the hell would I tell you that?!" Emiko yelled back before disappearing over the small hill.
However, she was back within seconds.
"Mr. Briefs, I apologize again. Yuki!" Emiko apologized and called her cat over, walking over to the water; she called forth the water sphere with Momo.
With Yuki back on her shoulders, Emiko popped the sphere and then set a very dry Momo in front of Trunks.
"What?!" Emiko snapped at her brother, who stood in front of her.
"You can't get mad at me for answering your challenge. You can't use your anxiety, autism, or ADD to get you out of this. What?" Jasper started, only to stop and ask when he saw a look run across Emiko's face.
"Now you believe anxiety, autism, and ADD are real? Now you believe what the doctors here have been saying for the past—however many years since they had me tested or whatever? Why? Why now all of a sudden?" Emiko asked, becoming frustrated.
"Oh, it took a little bit, but I finally got him to understand." Nami spoke up.
"So she tells you they're real and not made up and you believe her? But I've been telling you and Dad for years and nothing?! I mean no disrespect to your fiancé, but seriously?! Years and nothing!" Emiko furiously yelled.
"You haven't contacted anybody in years. You haven't even tried contacting me; I have to find you at some kind of disturbance to see or talk to you. And now it's ending up with you becoming so emotional that you're freaking out. Maybe you do need to go home Do you know how worried Dad and Mom are? Now what?" Jasper replied before asking when Emiko started shaking and tried but failed to hold tears back.
"I'm not going back to them. Why do I care what they think?" Emiko asked, shaking.
"Excuse me? They're our parents…" Jasper started but stopped when Emiko began shaking and crying even more.
"They're not my parents! Dad stopped being my dad when he met Halley and she got into his head!" Emiko screamed.
"I'm sorry for what happened to your mom, but our mom has tried. All you do is make things difficult for her." Jasper argued, blocking Emiko from leave.
"Ha! Halley tried?! That woman is not my mom—and she never will be! And she doesn't even want to be; she wants nothing to do with me! What am I talking about? Why don't you ask that guy in the water? I'm sure he can tell you all about Halley. Or that witch hunter who always seems to find me no matter where I go; he could tell you as well! Still nothing?! Halley is the one who tells them where I am! The horses, the pillars, everything else up until I was kidnapped was her trying to kill me! The man in my water hand is the guy who kidnapped me and brought me here when I was six! He was going to "have his way" with me and then kill me because that's what Halley told him to do! Don't believe me? Ask him yourself! How the hell does he know her by name! How did he know me or even how to find me?! Halley hates me because of what I am! You and Clover? You're half Lunarian and half Solsun and she's half Lunarian and half Arien; you're both just fine. I'm half Lunarian, half Venarian, and a full witch! My mother was a Venarian witch! Halley had her killed! I heard her say so! I tried to tell Dad, but he didn't believe me; his whole life became about Halley as soon as they met! He stopped caring about me as soon as they met! I was pushed to the back because of what I am! Also because I'm a trouble child that nobody knew how to handle because there was nothing wrong with me! The moon does not have such disabilities, right? Everyone there is perfect except for the child who couldn't be handled and was a useless half breed! I was too much to handle so Halley had me kidnapped! She wanted me dead! That man is the one who told me! Get rid of me and Halley promised him he'd be young forever! Halley hates Aphrodite, Venarians and Witches—especially witches! And do you know why? Hmm? Because she's from a family of witch hunters! The witch hunter who always seems to find me is a relative of her! So don't tell me Halley tried. Oh, wait… Never mind. She did try; she's been trying to kill me since I was four! She's not my mother! And Clover? She hates me as well; she says so enough! None of them care about me, so why should I care about any of them?! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going home! Don't follow me!" Emiko screamed before leaving, tears just pouring down her cheeks.
Once she was gone, the hand of water came to the surface and spit the man out, drenched from head to toe.
"Sir?" Nami asked, looking at the man.
"Gahh! Get away from me! Oh, my God; there's another one of them! Do you do weird stuff to?! I was only hired for the girl! I didn't know there was a guy too!" The man yelled.
"Do you know Emiko Tsukihana?" Nami calmly asked while Jasper stood there.
"Do I know Emiko Tsukihana? Of course, I know the little bitch! Every time she's around I get hurt! That Halley woman never said anything about anything supernatural when she paid me to take the brat! Screw the brat; she's impossible to kill! Immortality or looking young all the damn time ain't worth it! Screw all of them!" The man yelled, both pissed and freaked out.
"Ok. Sir, you're under arrest for the kidnapping, the attempted sexual abuse of a child, and the attempted murder of Emiko Tsukihana, the attempted kidnapping with intent to sexually abuse and then murder several young girls here today. You have the right to remain silent, and anything you say can be held against you in a court of law. Do you understand your rights as I've explained them to you?" Nami explained and asked, cuffing the man before taking him up the hill and to the squad car with Jasper slowly and quietly following in shock.
"Well, this was fun." Leo spoke up first.
"Leo knock it off." Trunks scolded right away.
"Do you think Emiko will still want to be my buddy?" Knickers asked, worried.
"I'm sure we'll see her again. I don't believe this was part of her plan for the day; she seemed excited to meet you when we talked on the phone. She was even bound and determined to make it here when she realized she was on the wrong side of the lake. She even called to say she got turned around and would be late. It may be a few days—or even weeks, but she'll call again. She's just upset. Another reason I know she'll call to reschedule; she said she would. Don't you worry." Trunks explained, patting Knickers on the head.
"Well it certainly explains why she wanted to come to this side of the lake." Bulma stated, looking at the sky.
"Hmm?" Everyone asked, looking at Bulma.
"She and her brother said she had autism, ADD, and anxiety—and my guess would be social anxiety. And with all that's happened to her, I wouldn't be surprised if she has PTSD as well." Bulma answered, explaining a theory.
"But she's super smart, isn't she?" Leo asked, confused.
"That's what her file says… Why?" Knickers asked, looking at Leo.
"I thought all people with autism were dumb; that's what a lot of other students at school say." Leo replied.
"That doesn't make it true…" Trunks sighed, remembering what Zeke told them when Momo was in the hospital.
"Well—and I'm not trying to be mean or anything when I say this… But it certainly gives hope for Momo in the intellectual department. And no—I'm not saying we'll love her any less if she's challenged intellectually." Bulma explained.
"Wait a minutes… Emiko's a real-life witch! She's awesome!" Leo excitedly exclaimed.
"Emi…" Momo mumbled, holding onto Trunks.
"Well—the kids seem to like her already. And she's not the only one." Vegeta noted.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Both Trunks and Bulma asked, narrowing their eyes.
"Oh, come on… I saw they way you were looking at her…" Vegeta started, looking at Trunks.
"Oh, Trunks… Not another fling." Bulma scolded Trunks right away.
"Why would he fling her?" Leo asked, confused.
"Wrong kind of fling. And it's nothing for you to be concerned about. Trunks—you can't with Knickers's buddy; it could ruin a lot of things." Bulma stated, making a point.
"He won't have a choice. Knickers chose Emiko, did he not? You said she was the first and only file she looked at, correct?" Vegeta stated and then asked, looking at Trunks.
"Yeah…" Trunks started, only to be interrupted.
"What does that have to do with anything? And what do you mean he doesn't' have a choice." Bulma asked, butting in.
"Knickers, take your brother and go swim for a little bit." Trunks instructed, holding Momo to his side, seeing this was going somewhere not for them to hear—and Momo was too young to understand.
"Fine…" Knickers and Leo mumbled, walking away.
"Have you ever wondered why it didn't bother you when Mai just left? I mean sure, it hurt for a few days, but that's it. And clearly, Leo and Momo are the results of one-night stands that you didn't care about. But you look at Emiko and you feel something. It's because none of the girls you've previously been with meant nothing; they weren't your true mates. Emiko, on the other hand, is your true mate. I can tell by how you look at her—and not her body. Her in general. When she freaked out at the end, becoming so upset she was screaming and crying, you felt your heart ache. I could see and read it on your face. We all know Knickers; he gets along with just about everyone. But not only choosing his buddy person from a single picture with some information—choosing this girl from a single photo and some information. And I saw the look in his eyes as well. Not like how you feel about her already, but he likes her. Leo… Unless it's someone around his age, doesn't like any adults. And Momo… Well, she doesn't like anyone she doesn't know. But she's repeating Emiko's name. You and your kids chose this girl to be in your lives. And one way or another, she will be." Vegeta seriously but sincerely explained, looking at his son.
"Emi…" Momo mumbled again.
"See?" Vegeta asked.
"That's just ridiculous. They don't even know her!" Bulma snapped.
"Mom stop. Relax. No, we don't know this girl… But Dad's right; there is something about her that pulls me—and the kids in. Normally, the only people Momo calls for are me, Knickers, Dad, you, and sometimes Leo; she never calls for someone outside of the family. Hell, she rarely ever talks to Bulla or Gin." Trunks calmly told his mother, giving her "the look."
"It's a Saiyan thing. All Saiyans know who they're meant to be with. It's how I feel about you." Vegeta spoke up, looking at his wife.
"Aww! I love you too. But we don't know anything about this girl." Bulma happily cooed, hugging her husband before sternly stating.
'She doesn't get it…' Vegeta thought to himself.
"Her name is Emiko Tsukihana; she's nineteen, has autism, ADD, and anxiety. She's half Lunarian, Venarian, and full witch, has an older brother, and apparently an older sister. Her mother died when she was young, and her dad remarried a lady who doesn't like her. She was kidnapped at six and is struggling. She has a cat named Yuki, who I'm guessing since she takes everywhere, is meant for therapy or emotional support. I know I don't know her, but I want to get to know her; I want to know her. I also want to know more about her culture so that I can maybe explain it to Momo when she's older seeing as they're both half Venarian. No, I won't push or force her into anything, but I want to see her again and get to know her. But that's the end of that for now. Momo, do you want to play in the water or sand?" Trunks asked Momo, who was becoming finicky.
"Pease!" Momo cried, reaching for the water.
Three Hours Later:
"Ok… Leo, what's wrong?" Trunks asked, looking at Leo once they got inside.
"My 3DS is almost dead; I need to charge it. I haven't reached a safe spot yet." Leo stated, kicking his shoes off.
"How are you going to do that without your chargers?" Trunks asked, reminding Leo that he took them away earlier.
"Umm… I'll be ok." Leo replied.
"Really? Because you kept one behind your bed?" Trunks asked, watching Leo turn to face him.
"What do you mean "kept" one behind my bed?" Leo asked, looking at his dad.
"I mean, I found and put it with the other chargers—which you'll get back Monday." Trunks informed Leo.
"Wha-what? Why?!" Leo yelled.
"Because you took your sister's stuffed animals without asking and then got an attitude. You're lucky I'm not taking them away for longer with how your attitude at the beach got." Trunks informed Leo.
"But… That's not fair! Come on, I need a charger! My DS is going to die, and I haven't reached a save spot yet!" Leo yelled.
"You should've thought about that before you took your sister's things without asking and copping an attitude." Trunks calmly told Leo.
"I'm sorry. Can I please have one of my chargers?" Leo desperately asked, looking at Trunks.
"I appreciate that. I have to give your sister a bath so that her scars don't become infected. If you agree to sit at the table, take a shower when I get Momo done, and can get Knickers to agree to let you use his charger and sit at the table with you, I'll let you get to a save point. However, once you reached said spot, you save and turn it off and it goes to Knickers to give to me. Do you understand?" Trunks explained and then sternly asked.
"Yes, Dad. Of course, I promise! Knickers, please! Please! Please! Please!" Leo promised his dad before begging Knickers.
"If you stop begging like that." Knickers told Leo, walking to his room.
"Of course." Leo replied.
"Give me a second." Knickers sighed, walking to his room.
"Kitchen table. You do not take the 3DS anywhere else. If that DS leaves the table, you won't have it for a week." Trunks warned.
"Yes, Dad…" Leo mumbled as Trunks walked to the bathroom with Momo.
Twenty Minutes Later:
Trunks just got Momo out of the tub when he heard Knickers and Leo arguing.
"Now what?" Trunks sighed, wrapping Momo in a plush towel.
"What's going on now?" Trunks sternly asked, walking into the kitchen.
"Nothing!" Leo yelled.
"That's enough! Leo—I know the game you're playing—and I know it saves every five or ten minutes give or take. So why is it still on? And Knickers—why didn't you come get me when you saw that he was still on even after I told him save and be done? While I appreciate the help, you're not an adult yet; you can't take these things into your own hands. Leo lose the smirk. I did say Knickers was to get your DS and bring it to me when Momo was done with her bath—and you didn't listen. So, guess what." Trunks raised his voice a little before scolding both boys.
"That's not fair!" Leo yelled, holding the DS close to his body.
"What's not fair is you not listening and respecting what I, your father, tells you to do. Now, you hand the DS over now and you'll get back in a week and a half vs. me having to use other means to get it and then smashing it to pieces later." Trunks calmly warned, holding his hand out.
It took a few minutes, but Leo eventually handed the 3DS over and sat back at the table.
"Good. Now, if I hear any complaints or arguing, these groundings will be longer. Leo, at least for the next week and a half, except for family night, you're grounded from electronics. That includes watching TV. Knickers, you're grounded for the next four days with no electronics. Leo go take your shower. Knickers you get in after him. Make them quick if you want to see what's in the box Momo received from her aunts, uncles, and cousins. Also, I'm ordering pizza tonight; I'm planning a movie night. Now go. Make sure you scrub really well to get all that lake off you." Trunks instructed, taking Momo to get dressed.
"Doh-doh pease." Momo softly spoke as Trunks set her on her bed.
"Doh-doh, huh?" Trunks asked, placing Leo's 3DS on the top shelf of Momo's closet.
"Yes, pease." Momo softly replied as Trunks brought her clean undies and a dress.
"I suppose… But we need to talk first." Trunks told Momo, kneeling in front of her so he could start dressing her.
"Are we starting to get used to the new house and your new room? Can you please not chew on your fingers?" Trunks asked, looking at Momo, removing her fingers from her mouth.
"Home?" Momo softly asked, looking down.
"Home? Where is home?" Trunks worriedly asked, carefully lifting her chin to look at him; he worried she was going to shut down and start crying that she wanted to go home.
"…Home—here?" Momo softly asked, looking at her hands.
"Yes, this is home—our home. We'll give it a little more time and then we'll get some pets. Maybe some puppies—or kittens?" Trunks replied before explaining, smiling when he saw a slight smile on Momo's face.
"Kitties?" Momo softly but excitedly asked.
"Yes, we'll get you a kitty or two. And your brothers will get a puppy each." Trunks happily replied.
"You?" Momo asked, looking at Trunks, confused.
"Oh, trust me… When you and your brothers get pets, I'll be getting the same pets. Lord knows I'll be taking care of them." Trunks replied with a smile.
"I care kitties." Momo stated, sitting up straight and pointed to herself.
"Oh, you're going to take care of your kitties, are you?" Trunks asked, looking at Momo.
"Yes." Momo confidently answered.
"Ok. We'll see." Trunks replied with a smile.
"Utter home?" Momo softly asked, looking up at Trunks.
"We don't have another home; we just have this home now. We can't live at the other house anymore, remember? Other people are going to be moving in, in a few weeks." Trunks reminded Momo, hoping not to upset her.
However, what came out of her mouth, Trunks never expected from her.
"Fuck." Momo mumbled, looking Trunks in the eyes; Trunks just stared at her in shock.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck…" Momo repeatedly mumbled, upset.
"Momo, no. No. No. No. Baby, that's a very, very naughty word; you can't be saying that—until you're a lot older. If you keep saying that I'm going to have to wash your mouth out with soap or hot sauce." Trunks started explaining.
"NO! I sowee! No soap! No hot swoss! PEASE! I SOWEE!" Momo screamed, apologizing, covering her mouth as tears just poured down her face.
Trunks couldn't be too mad at her; she was only three and didn't understand it was a bad word. I mean, he never said it around her. And he made sure his parents swore not to say it around her.
"Momo, Baby—it's ok; you're not in trouble this time. You just have to promise to never say that word ever again. Do you understand?" Trunks gently explained, taking Momo in his arms and rocked her, rubbing tears from her eyes.
"I pomise." Momo softly agreed as the hiccups started.
"Ok good. Now, you're not going to get soap or hot sauce, but you are going to have to go on a timeout. We have to learn from our mistakes, correct?" Trunks asked, standing up.
"Dats fair…" Momo mumbled, clutching to Trunks's shoulder as he carried her to the kitchen.
"Good girl. You're going to quietly sit in your chair, and when you hear the beeping, you can come off. Comprende?" Trunks asked, setting Momo in a purple chair with a soft pillow on it.
"Compenday." Momo answered.
"But—before we start timeout, where did you hear that word in the first place? Did Grandpa, Grandma, or Aunty Bulla say that word?" Trunks asked, looking at Momo.
"No…" Momo softly replied, looking at her feet.
"Who said that word then? Did you hear it on the TV somewhere?" Trunks asked, looking at Momo; she remained silent.
"Baby, I promise you, you're not in trouble—nor are you going to get in trouble for telling me." Trunks promised, looking at her.
"No wan him hate me no moe…" Momo softly replied.
"Who? Baby, you have to tell me where you heard that word." Trunks insisted; he hated pushing her, but he needed to know so he could talk to said person.
"…Uh… Leo say it lots times." Momo softly answered, looking down with tears in her eyes.
"When does he say this word?" Trunks asked, gently placing a hand on her head.
"Click. Click. Click. Click. Angy yell. Moe angy yell. Fu—bad word. Bad word. Bad word. Angy bad word. Berry angy bad word. Click. Click. Click. Click." Momo explained, holding her hands up and used her thumbs and fingers in the air, indicating Leo was playing a game.
"Ok… I'll have a talk with him." Trunks sighed, standing up.
"No!" Momo screamed, falling out of her chair, having a panic attack.
"Momo, Baby, what's wrong? I have to talk to Leo about this. He can't be saying those words. It's not your fault he's saying such naughty words." Trunks explained, picking Momo up, concerned.
He only became severely concerned when she couldn't breathe because she was panicking so much.
"No! No! No! No!" Momo screamed, struggling against Trunks—something she usually never does.
"What's going on in here?!" Vegeta demanded, bursting in with Bulma.
"What's wrong?" Bulma asked, concerned.
"Momo said her first naughty word today; she said fuck. I told her it was a bad word and if she kept saying it, she'd get hot sauce, or I'd wash her mouth out with soap. She immediately apologized and promised she'd never say it again. However, I told her she still had to go on timeout so that she would learn her lesson; she agreed, and I sat her down. However, when I asked her who she heard say it, I got some resistance. Eventually, she told me she heard Leo say often—especially when playing his games. She only started panicking when I said I'd have to talk to him about it." Trunks explained, doing his best to keep hold of Momo.
"Let me take her." Vegeta instructed right away.
Trunks didn't reply and just handed Momo to his father; she calmed down after a few seconds because Vegeta squeezed her just the tiniest amount.
"Momo… What's the matter?" Bulma asked, rubbing Momo's back.
"No… No wan play choke game no moe…" Momo muttered, coughing a little.
"Choke game? What's the choke game?" Trunks, Vegeta, and Bulma, asked, concerned.
"Why are you talking about the choking game?" Knickers asked, walking out as Momo started fading into sleep.
"What's the choking game?" Trunks asked, looking at Knickers.
"Although, I really wouldn't consider it a game, it is—I guess. It's where one person lies on the ground—or leans against a wall and another person uses their hands to choke the person on the ground or against the wall. One of my friends and I heard someone talking about it one day at school, so we looked it up online. There were a lot of videos. Challenges, if you will. I know students from school do it because we hear about it. Why?" Knickers explained and then asked, confused.
"Your sister just said she didn't want to play it anymore. Do you know anything about that?" Trunks asked, looking at Knickers.
"No. But…" Knickers apprehensively started.
"But?" Trunks and Bulma asked, looking at Knickers.
"I promise I haven't done it—or let anyone do it to me. But because I'm half Saiyan, some other students wanted me to do it to them—or to do it to me. I repeatedly said no, so they told a recess teacher, who told the principal. Those three students were expelled because that's an absolute no game." Knickers honestly explained.
"Ok. Is she sleeping?" Trunks asked, looking at his dad.
"Yeah." Vegeta replied, walking to Trunks.
"Ok… I'll take her." Trunks stated, taking Momo from his father; he was going to take her and place her in her bed.
"No…" Momo mumbled in her sleep.
"It's ok, Momo; I'm just going to put you to bed." Trunks calmly told her.
"No moe choke game. No wan play no moe." Momo mumbled.
"You don't have to play no moe." Trunks assured, rubbing her back.
"I pomise no tell Daddy. Leo, I pomise… No wan play no moe." Momo continued to mumble in her sleep. However, now, tears were freely flowing from her sleeping eyes.
"Leo?" Trunks asked, confused.
"Yeah?" Leo casually asked, walking out.
"Dad, take Momo please." Trunks told Vegeta.
Vegeta didn't hesitate; he just took Momo.
"What is it?" Leo asked, looking at everyone.
"Why are you saying "fuck?" Where did you learn that one?" Trunks asked, looking at Leo.
"What? What are you talking about?" Leo asked, looking at Trunks.
"Don't you dare lie to me." Trunks warned.
"It's not that bad. My friends and the people on the TV and in songs say or sing it all the time." Leo answered, backing away a little.
"You know you're not supposed to be saying that word, though. I thought I made myself clear the last time we talked about that. You know better." Trunks sternly stated, looking at Leo.
"I'm sorry?" Leo asked, looking at Trunks.
"Oh, not as much as you're going to be. What is the choking game?" Trunks asked, narrowing his eyes.
"The choking game? Momo…" Leo asked and then growled.
"Why are you playing it with your sister? She is much too little for that kind of stuff. You have her so afraid of you now. Why?" Trunks asked, looking at Leo.
"Why? Why? Good; I'm glad she's afraid of me! I hate her! I don't want her here! I want her dead! I want it back to how it was before with just you, me, and Knickers!" Leo yelled.
"Well, that's just not how it works. I've explained that to you." Trunks stated, trying to remain calm.
"Only because you fucked some whore…" Leo stated with malice in his voice.
"Excuse me?" Trunks asked, shocked.
"You heard me." Leo challenged.
"What has gotten into you?" Trunks asked, demanding an answer.
"Nothing's gotten into me, Father. I've just opened my eyes to the truth: you only care for Knickers and Momo—the perfect children. He was right." Leo answered, looking at Trunks.
"Knickers and Momo are not perfect. You know that; I've told you all that multiple times. Yes, to me, you are all perfect, but nobody is actually perfect. And who's he?" Trunks argued and then asked.
"A friend." Leo replied.
"Who is this friend of yours?" Trunks asked, demanding an answer.
"Wouldn't like to know?" Leo asked, looking at Trunks.
"Yes, actually, I would." Trunks replied.
"You know… When Momo gets older, she's going to be a slut like her good-for-nothing mother. I was going to be her first. I've seen the people in the movies and on the internet; I know how to fuck someone. I've tried—but one of you two always interrupt. God damn… Do know how frustrating it is to pretend to be something I'm not? I'm so glad I can be out and in the open and just be who I am. And who I am, is evil. I've always been evil—I just never realized my true potential. Oh, look—my friends are here to pick me up. Goodbye. I hope you're happy. I'll be back one day. And when I come back, I'll make her mine. We'll make perfect babies together." Leo explained, looking from everyone to the sliding glass doors where a man with short, spiky black hair and a woman with long straight blood-red stood. They stood with a boy around Knickers age with short spiky black hair with red streaks and a little girl around Leo's age with long blood-red hair with black streaks. They all had red eyes.
A gust of wind blew all around for a few seconds. When the wind stopped, so were Leo and those people—and the kitchen was a disaster.
"What the hell just happened? Sorry—I don't mean to swear, but what the hell?" Knickers asked, shocked.
"That little girl was Leo's true mate." Vegeta stated, shocked, holding Momo close.
"Sorry. Sorry. I'm sorry. I know I'm late… Oohh…" A familiar female voice apologized, walking in through the broken sliding glass door.
It was Emiko. Not only were Trunks, Knickers, Vegeta, and Bulma surprised to see her—Emiko looked just as shocked to see them…