Lavender Time

Part Nine

Soft pressure against his ribs woke Goten up. With a low unhappy groan he swatted at the thing poking his side and attempted to roll over in bed, grasping out for the warm blanket that had slipped off him as he slept. However, the blanket was nowhere to be found and the hard area he was sleeping on definitely wasn't his bed.

Dark eyes cracked up to investigate. A low hanging light blinded him for a second before a head moved into view and blocked it. Mirai's smile was apologetic as he poked Goten one last time, "Sorry, but don't you want to sleep somewhere more comfortable?"

Confused, Goten looked to see where he was. The last thing he remembered was sitting in the work shop, watching as Mirai and Bulma huddled over a table. They'd locked themselves in the garage for hours. Bulma wrestled out the ancient saiyan scouter she had collected from Radditz once upon a time ago and used it to calculate their power levels. After that, Goten sat on standby in case he was needed. Apparently, he'd fallen asleep on the small wooden bench he'd been seated on.

A sharp pain hit his back as he moved to sit up. Bulma was still bent over the table, her back to them as she was lost in her own world. When he looked back over towards the lavender haired saiyan Mirai gave a warm smile, "It's nearly two in the morning. Let's get you to bed."

"Sorry," Goten mumbled as a warm hand helped him to his feet, "I didn't mean to fall asleep."

Mirai shook his head, "Don't apologize. We've been at it for hours. I don't know how mom keeps going. But you need rest."

Goten didn't protest as he was lead out of the workshop. The metallic clink of Bulma working was closed off behind them as they walked into the small hallway. He stifled a yawn and stumbled behind Mirai, barely noticing which direction they were going until they stopped in front of a familiar door. He blinked sleepily at it to make sure he wasn't imagining things. "This is your room."

"I figured you wouldn't mind sleeping here again." Mirai said off handedly as the door slid open. When Goten didn't reply he turned and pinned the teen with a concerned look, "unless you don't want to."

"No," Goten blurted out quickly, as he pushed both their bodies into the small space. The door slid quietly behind them, shutting them in the dark room. Goten's hand on the small of Mirai's back was the only reason he knew where the other man stood. "No, I liked sleeping together. It was the best sleep I've had since I've been here."

They didn't move to turn on the lights. Instead they shifted closer to the bed where Goten fell happily onto the mattress. He was too tired to take off his clothes, but he could hear the shuffle as Mirai shucked his jacket and boots and then the bed dipped under his weight.

"You must have been bored," Mirai commented softly, his fingers creeping along the base of Goten's back where they kneaded at the sore muscles. "Sorry, mom can get a little caught up in her inventions."

Goten hummed in agreement as massage sent of surge of pleasure throughout his body, "Are you planning on helping her tomorrow?" he asked, "Or do we have time to train?"

"If we want to finish this thing in time I think I'm obligated to help her," Mirai sighed, "But you should train."

"Mmm okay," he agreed, "maybe I'll drop by and see my mom again."

"Sure," Goten could feel the steady rise and fall of Mirai's chest is the older man drifted between consciousness and sleep. He was exhausted as well, after hours tinkering around with the machine Mirai needed time to rest.

"I think I want to tell her about us," Goten slipped in. He didn't miss the pause in Mirai's breathing as the words settled over them. He rushed to reassure his bed mate, "It's just.. your mom took the news really well, and you know those two will talk about it eventually. I would just rather she heard it from me."

There was a long pause where Mirai didn't say anything. In the dark room, Goten couldn't make out his expression. The older saiyan's voice was its usual calm and collected self when he finally did speak. "You know your mother Goten… I'm not going to tell you no, but she can be a bit…"

"Over protective," Goten finished with a sigh, "I know. It's just… if something happens against the Elysians, I want her to know."

Mirai made a sound of understanding as he cuddled closer. Their noses brushed against each other, when Mirai spoke, his breath was hot against Goten's cheek. "I just think we need to concentrate on one thing at a time. Right now, defeating the Elysians should be our number one priority."

Guilt chilled Goten from the inside out. Only to relax when Mirai's warm breath ghosted over his neck. "You smell good," the older saiyan commented, his voice sounded far away. "Just like how I remember Goku and Gohan smelling."

It was a strange comment, and it made Goten's stomach curl into a heavy ball but he laughed it off. "Like mom's cooking probably. I wonder if that smell will go away if I stay here…"

He meant it as just a passing thought, if he would eventually adapt his own scent instead of one that he shared with the rest of his family.

The arms around him squeezed tighter around his waist, as if Mirai couldn't bear the idea. The lavender haired man didn't say anything else and neither did Goten. Eventually their breathing matched the same slow rhythm and they fell asleep with words hanging between them.


The next day Goten was a bundle of nerves as he flew Bulma's hover craft into the mountain. Without the reassuring presence of Mirai by his side he wasn't confident in how talking to his mother would end. He wanted to bring the subject up, just one more time before he committed, but when he woke up it was too an empty bed. When he checked the workshop, only one body was bent a steel slab working endlessly on the Ki Device. Bulma distractedly told him Mirai had left early in the morning. Goten assumed to get his own training in before helping his mother.

Leaving him to go off and face Chichi… alone.

Happy or disappointed his mother would be sure to let him know exactly what she felt about his decision to be romantically involved with his best friend. When it came to her children, Chichi was protective. She hadn't even approved of Videl initially, even though Hercule's daughter was a perfect match for Gohan. Smart, beautiful, wealthy. The same could be said about Mirai, but would she be able to look past the most obvious feature of their relationship?

There would be no grandchildren. Their life wouldn't be any more peaceful because they were both fighters. There was a noticeable age difference.

Goten bit the inside of his cheek as the negatives built up. She would probably have a difficult time accepting it, but since Bulma already knew their secret it was only right to tell his mother. His thoughts distracted him from the fact that the hovercraft was shuddering more than usual. His trembling hand only made the situation worse.

Still, he arrived at the Son household too soon. The knot in his stomach still applied a stinging pressure and his heart rate was well on its way to sky rocketing.

Smoke was billowing up from the chimney, a familiar sight that often meant his mother was cooking. A happy sigh escaped Goten when his feet hit solid ground. He let himself into the house, knocking gently against the wooden door even as he pushed it open. "Mom?"

Dishes clattered in the direction of the kitchen before Chichi's head stuck out from the door way. A bright smile dashed across her face, "Goten, honey. Good to see you."

"I hope you don't mind that I dropped in," he said politely, "Mirai and Bulma are keeping themselves busy today, and I had nothing to do."

"Do I mind?" Chichi scoffed softly, as if the question offended her. "You came just in time, I just made rice and deer stew."

Glancing into the kitchen revealed a large pot covering the entire stove top. There was enough food to feed more -at least an entire family. Goten sighed softly, "Bulma told you I was coming didn't she?"

"She may have called me this morning with the idea." Chichi admitted, not looking at all guilty. She urged him to sit while gathering the bowls that were sitting on the counter top. Her voice was chipper as she continued on, "Bulma mentioned she's working on a new machine with Trunks. Something that will give us an advantage…"

"Yeah, they're working hard to get it finished before the next attack." Goten answered as his bowl was filled. The stew smelled amazing, even with her resources cut his mother was an amazing cook.

His hand was already spooning up a mouthful as Chichi cut in with a proud remark, "She said it was originally your idea." His mother sighed happily, "My boy, so smart. You must get that from me."

A blush touched his cheeks at the comment. "I'm not really."

"Nonsense. Now, how is training going?

"Its fine," Goten answered with a spoonful of stew in his mouth. A hard look from his mother encouraged him to swallow before continuing, " I'm probably going to head up the mountain later and train by myself."

"Oh Goten," Chichi sighed as worry clouded her eyes, "I wish you wouldn't go off by yourself. What if something happens?"

He gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile, "You don't think I could handle some Elysians by myself mom?"

"I know you can," Chichi shook her head, "I just don't want you to get hurt in the process."

It was only a mother's hope that he wouldn't get hurt, but past experience taught Goten that no one left a fight completely unharmed. He stirred his stew quietly and tried to steer the conversation in a different direction. His heart gave a final nervous squeeze as he readied himself for the next topic. "So did Bulma tell you anything else?"

His mother hummed thoughtfully, "We chatted a bit about the past. You know, it's almost the anniversary of Gohan's death."

"It is?" Goten heard his spoon clatter against his bowl as he looked over at woman sitting across from him.

Chichi looked up and gave a soft smile, "Yes. I know it sounds silly, to have a anniversary for such a sad moment in our lives, but I think that was a tipping point for all of it. For me it was the moment I truly lost everything. I usually take this time of year to reflect not just on Gohan but everyone we've lost."

"Does Mirai know?" Goten asked, his voice becoming oddly quiet.

"Oh I'm sure he does, he never forgets," Chichi assured, "Those two… they were very close." He voice dropped down to a breathless whisper. Something about her tone was off.

Goten captured his bottom lip between his teeth, unsure of what to say next. "Yeah, he mentioned something like that." It was clear where Mirai disappeared to now. Not to train, but to have a quiet time with his old mentor. His friend.

"He did?" Genuine surprise scuttled across his mother's face before she schooled her features back into place.

It wasn't quick enough. Goten frowned in confusion, "Why is that surprising mom?"

Chichi looked lost, her black eyes flittered across the room as she tried to find her words. It was disconcerting, seeing her nervous. Goten couldn't remember a single moment when his mother didn't speak her mind.

"Goten… you know I love Trunks," she said quickly, as if to caveat the next few words. He could practically here the '...but' that trailed behind her words. "It just surprises me that he would bring up his relationship with your brother to you. Even on a day like today it just isn't polite conversation."

His brain kept turning her words over and over, the meaning of her words clicking with every adjustment. Chichi was too polite to say the it out loud but the emphasis was there. Mirai and Gohan were close. Mirai and Gohan's relationship.

Suddenly he felt sick, but his mind was on a roll. Mirai didn't tell him what day it was. Why? So he could have alone time with his lost love. Because it would be to awkward to explain to Goten why he was in pain? To wrong to have his new lover standing right there?

And then there was everything else. With startling clarity he recalled the moments Mirai tried to encourage him to go back to his own time. How Mirai apologized when he first kissed him. Goten's stomach churned at the idea that the apology wasn't meant for him.

As if that wasn't enough he couldn't help but notice the tone in his mother's voice as she spoke about the relationship. Disdain covered with false politeness.

His heart broke, but he couldn't tell which realization had done the deed.

Across the table Chichi had paused and was giving him a concerned look. "Goten are you alright?"

Goten pushed his chair back, letting the wood screech against the tilted floor. "I'm… fine," he said, but his voice betrayed him. He tried to shake of his mother's worried look as he came to a quick conclusion, "I need to go…"

Chichi jumped up from her chair as he made his way to the front door. Her voice rang with motherly concern as she called out, "Goten!"

"I'm sorry, I'll be back soon." He threw back over his shoulder, but the promise was empty. His whole body felt numb, hollow. Without a second thought for safety, or the hovercraft still parked outside the small cottage, he took off into the air.

Behind him Chichi screamed out his name one last time before the air swallowed it up. The adrenaline warmed up his frozen body as he soared higher and higher. Flying was the quickest way he was going to get to Capsule Corp and the fresh air had always helped his rushing mind calm down in the past. Now though, it barely affected him. Goten had no idea what he was going to say to Mirai when he saw him, or what he expected the other man to say.

Would he confess to only loving Goten? Or admit that the only reason he fell in love in the first place was because of Gohan.

The second option hurt more than Goten could put words to, and yet he felt like that one held the only truth. It wouldn't be the first time. Everyone expected him to have great potential just like Gohan. Everyone expected him to be the exact clone of his father, just because they looked alike.

Mirai was no better than everyone else.

Tears started stinging the edge of his eyes before the wind whipped them away. The ground below him flashed by in a blur of dying grey colors. He was going fast, his ki spiking with emotional turmoil, but Goten couldn't bring himself to care.

He felt foolish. Hopeful in a hopeless world. Mirai had been trying to spare him this feeling but he hadn't listened.

Goten came to an abrupt halt at that thought. The tears that the wind had been blowing back fell down his face so easily it was embarrassing. He whipped at them, trying to compose himself. He couldn't face Mirai like this. Crying over his own stupidity, he wasn't a child.

The wind rustled his air, soft and cool as it brush against Goten's skin. He blinked back the rest of the tears, and took in the surrounding area. He was close to Capsule Corp, close enough that he could feel Mirai's energy frazzled and struggling to stay low as it inched towards him. No doubt the older man had felt his approach and worried.

Mirai's alarm was heartwarming, but Goten still clung to his own anger at being betrayed.

A sudden noise from behind tore him out of his thoughts. A distant rumble that grew louder as time ticked looked around, searching for the source. Around him the clouds started to stir, whirling into one another before disappearing completely.

There was nothing below him; as the rumble became a roar he looked up. The air was sucked right out of his lungs at the sight. One, two, at least four giant ships were descending upon the earth. Two dropping down in the distance, and two particularly right on top of him.

Shock numbed his burning anger, leaving his limbs frozen in place before instinct screamed at him to get away. His ki jumped to super saiyan form, survival mode kicking in .

There was only one reason for the ship's presence- an all out attack. Goten gritted his teeth as he watched the ships come closer and closer, bringing with them a greater chance of the Elysians winning.

He couldn't allow it. Wouldn't allow it.

A great shadow was cast over him as the wind whipped around. Trying to pull him one way or another, but the super saiyan strength managed to keep his leverage.

With his mind made up, Goten crouched to brace himself and began to raise his ki. His aura flared out around him, dancing with life like a raging fire. The ship continued its course, threatening to run into him if he didn't move.

Eyes narrowed on the giant object, the saiyan brought his hands together and focused his energy into a single point. "Kame...hame..." A blinding light pulsed between his palms, throbbing with power. It vibrated with the need to be free, and Goten was more then happy to unleash it. "HA!"

The wave of raw power shot forward and made a direct hit with the ship's underbelly. Immediately an explosion occurred, as smoke billowed up.

Goten smiled at the sight, as the ship swayed to the left. It's control clearly lost. His victory was short lived as the ship started to descend faster, it's movements were not deliberate as it overcorrect and began to free fall.

Almost too late the young saiyan realized it was still on top of him, as bits from the ship began to peel off and fall to the earth. Goten kicked up his power and moved to be out of the ship's falling radius, but there was no time.

In the distance he could feel Mirai's power surge in speed, rushing towards him, before the Elysian ship swallowed him in its shadow.


Author's Notes: Sorry there was been such a long pause all- Work has started to get busy and all the writing time I had was lost. Hopefully this chapter was worth the wait. Things are going to start picking up! Once again, sorry about the spelling errors. I was eager to post this chapter since everyone has been so awesome. I really appreciate the support for this story.

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