A/N: Trying to get everything together for school next semester. Bleh, college sucks.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z or anything affiliated with it.

-MalRev

The Ties That Bind

9

Within the hour I was feeling well enough to tour Capsule Corp. Bulma immediately brought me upstairs to give me the clothes she had set aside to cross dimensions—they looked pretty normal and I was more than happy to swap Goku's clothes out for them. Videl accompanied us on the walk to make sure I didn't suddenly pass out from the strained connection between Goku and I. Admittedly, it hurt like hell, but I wasn't too keen on being whiny and demanding in the face of their generous hospitality.

We viewed the different rooms of the house, of which there were seven, alongside five bathrooms and another whole living room in the center of the second floor. They had a unique sense of style; almost futuristic and I found myself feeling more at home there than I did in my own world. Thinking of home still made me miss my parents and Erin dearly. I couldn't wait to go back and embrace simplicity again for a while. Traveling back and forth was gonna become a pain very quickly.

Bulma brought us to her gigantic laboratory as the last stop. The frantic tugging in my gut vanished to make room for awe as I was confronted with massive supercomputers and human-sized test tubes. I wandered around, admiring the incredible technology and noticed Vegeta sitting in a chair by a small computer, eyes closed and arms crossed. It confirmed my suspicions that he and Bulma were together but I couldn't say I was surprised. They were very alike in so many ways yet different enough to make something between them work. I was looking at tiny capsules when I felt a severe yank that nearly knocked me over.

Videl rescued me yet again and I heard Bulma make an annoyed noise followed by muttering about Chi-Chi being rude. I was placed in a chair like a broken doll and gnashed my teeth together to keep from yelping when the pulling intensified as if I was trying to rip out some of my internal organs. Videl patted my shoulder encouragingly and took a seat next to Bulma, who was typing away at one of the computers. It brought up a simulated green diagram and I could make out a tiny red pinprick near the center that kept flashing and moving.

"I've taken the ability to sense power levels to a whole new level," Bulma said. "This computer can seek out energy across the known universe and tell me where that specific person is. Of course, it's much easier with a Goku because he has the most prominent marker but I suppose it would be useful with others. He and Chi-Chi are on Namek now which is pretty far away. I hope they come back soon."

"It doesn't look like this is very good for Naomi," Videl said.

"Tell me about it," I said through gritted teeth. "This is the worst pain I've ever felt."

"The universe is mysterious. We can only guess at why it chose to tether you and Goku together." Bulma leaned back in her chair, tapping her chin. "I think it was to keep the universe from rupturing at the point where Goku entered your realm but I could be wrong. Whatever the reason, it really wants you two together. And I mean close together."

Vegeta laughed, making the first noise since our encounter in my world. "Now Kakarot has forced this woman into a life of misery and envy. Humans are such petty creatures."

The tugging suddenly slackened, making me fall forward like I'd been cut from a taut rope. Goku appeared in a flash of light with Goten on his shoulders and his wife on his arm. He let out a gasp and Goten immediately hopped off his back but Chi-Chi moved closer, feeling his forehead with the back of her palm. I was panting heavily in my chair while Videl rubbed my back carefully. It was understandable that Chi-Chi felt threatened but she had to be delusional if she thought her husband was sick.

Vegeta snickered at Goku's pale face until Bulma shot him a seething glare, making him turn back to looking at the floor. My heart pattered faintly in my chest and I shook as I readjusted myself in the chair, trying to relax before I had a stroke. Goku took a seat when Videl offered it to him then she left to get Gohan from the living room. Chi-Chi stood behind him, rubbing his shoulders with her bony hands while he continued to breathe like he had run a marathon. I felt terribly out of place.

"Where did you two go?" Bulma asked, giving Goku an expectant look.

"Around," Chi-Chi replied. "Goten was playing in the city so it was hard to find him. Then he wanted to go to Namek to see how they were all faring and I couldn't say no."

"Interesting. Well, Goku and Naomi should probably rest for a bit before we have dinner. They both look abysmal." Bulma patted my shoulder and turned her attention to Videl, neatly avoiding Chi-Chi's angry expression. "Why don't you bring Naomi upstairs, Videl? Gohan can help his father."

My new friend nodded quickly, apparently not willing to disagree with Bulma. Videl slipped one arm underneath mine and helped me to my feet, easily supporting most of my weight. Gohan did the same with his father and we left the lab, leaving behind a fuming Chi-Chi and smirking Vegeta. We made our way through the huge building to the second floor and our escorts dropped us off in a room down the hall. Gohan paused on the way out to smile at me but Videl dragged him out before I could smile back.

Goku hobbled to the bed and collapsed on his stomach, sighing with relief into the sheets. I awkwardly sat beside him and lay on my back to stare at the ceiling. Most of the pain was gone and I could breathe again but I didn't want to question Bulma and hurry back downstairs. Besides, Goku and I needed to talk about his wife separating us so far it nearly tore us in half.

"So how was your trip?" I asked.

One of Goku's grey eyes opened. "Sorry about that. Chi-Chi wanted to be far away so we could talk. It hurts me, too, when it happens. You can't blame her for being upset."

"No, but I can blame her for causing me unnecessary pain. Make sure she knows we're not involved and we never will be. I personally can't wait to go home and see Craig again. A cross-dimensional relationship isn't my idea of a good time."

"Chi-Chi's a woman. All she sees is a girl half her age hanging around her husband. If this situation was reversed I'd be pretty upset. I think. Just try to be empathetic and let it go if she says anything. We're only here for a few more days then we'll go back to your world."

"Whatever. The faster Bulma breaks us apart, the better."

"Hey, don't say that. I still like being friends with you, regardless of what happens between us. My wife is a little jealous; so what? She'll get over it and everything's gonna be fine."

"You two are married. She isn't gonna suck it up and let you sleep with another woman every night. Of course she's worried. You weren't exactly hit with the ugly stick and you're more or less a decent guy. You slipped up once in my room but it wasn't that bad and we stopped. I'd be concerned about losing someone like that to a random chick from a different world."

My outburst seemed to energize Goku. He pushed himself up on his elbow to look at me, now turned on his side and facing my direction. A big grin spread across his face and widened when I blushed and covered my eyes with my forearm. I'd done very few bad things in my life and I didn't want to add "homewrecker" to my nearly spotless record. Craig was waiting for me at home and it looked like the two of us could really make it work this time around.

"The truth comes out," Goku said. "I knew you were attracted to me!"

"Obviously. Like I said, you're by no means ugly and we sleep together every damn night. It's gonna make me have mild—very mild—feelings for you. Don't let it go to your head and don't tell anyone. It's purely physical attraction anyway. I'm sure I'll feel different when Craig and I are together."

"Sorry, it's just a little exciting. Chi-Chi and I married when we were young and I don't know many women besides her so hearing other women say I'm attractive is kind of neat."

"Neat? What are you, twelve?"

"Only when I have to be. I've kinda grown out of it but it makes everyone happy so I just play along as best as I can. You're not ugly, either. You're really pretty. It isn't easy sleeping next to you most nights. But all I have to do is think about Chi-Chi or Goten and everything goes away."

"Terrific. I'm gonna go back downstairs and eat before I pass out."

When I started to prop myself up on my elbows Goku was on top of me again, pressing his chest so close to mine I could feel his heartbeat. He studied me for a few seconds with a ravenous curiosity; it was like he really depended on what he saw in my eyes. My brow furrowed irately when he didn't move after a few moments and developed into a scowl when his eyes traveled to my lips.

"This needs to not happen anymore," I said. "You're not gonna pin me down whenever you feel like it."

"I'm not pinning you down, just preventing your escape for a minute. It's a completely different concept. You're getting too caught up in the details, Nome."

"There's nothing to escape from. I'm hungry and I'm going to get some food in my stomach."

Goku leaned closer, causing me to lean back further on the bed. "But it doesn't bother you that I'm so much older than you are? I know I look to be around your age. I think about that sometimes and it baffles me. Humans are weird creatures… after all these years I thought I'd be used to them."

"That reminds me," I said, starting to sweat, "what's a Saiyan? Videl mentioned it in the lab."

"You wouldn't believe me."

"Hmm, what could be worse than you being from a realm other than my own? I think I can handle a few more surprises, Goku."

"It's just a race of primitive warrior aliens. They… I mean, we… conquered planets and sold them on an intergalactic black market. No big deal, really. Aliens are pretty common in my world. Most of them mind their own business but if they try to mess with Earth they have to answer to me and my friends. Anyway, it just means I'm strong and technically should have a monkey tail."

My face must have betrayed my shock because Goku frowned and leaned back to give me my space. Aliens existed? Maybe they didn't in my world but apparently they did in Goku's. That explained why he looked a bit odd to me—he was an alien for Christ's sake. That meant his sons were half alien and Vegeta must have been one, too. Could that have to do with us meeting one another? His race could've broken the barrier between our worlds to conquer us.

I swallowed hard. No, I needed to get a grip. No one was trying to conquer my planet besides the weird demons I had seen in my vision. Something was holding them back, though. They were waiting for a specific event to completely bind our worlds together. Right now only Goku could truly pass between worlds of his own accord. He could bring passengers but I had a feeling such trips came at a price. It was a boundary only he and I were meant to cross. But why? Why us?

Something told me we wouldn't have an answer to that question until it was too late.

Goku sat beside me with a very nervous look on his face. "I'm sorry, I just told you a lot of things very quickly. It's getting hard to refuse you."

"I'm… surprised, but I think I'll be okay. You being from a parallel dimension is the weirdest thing I'll ever hear. Let's go downstairs and have some dinner with everyone else. I can stay here tonight so you and Chi-Chi can be alone, alright? I'm too lazy to do more traveling today."

"Chi-Chi is bringing Goten to a piano teacher over at the next city. She's gonna be gone for the rest of the week. It's okay, she said it's fine if you stay with me. It's strictly platonic; I promise I won't bother you at all. Otherwise neither of us will be sleeping."

"That's fine," I said, rising to my feet. "I'm gonna uh… go downstairs now."

Somber grey eyes watched me leave the room and head into the hallway. When I reached the stairs, I felt an uncomfortable tug and realized Goku had relocated somewhere relatively far away. Why was he suddenly so stressed about me?