I do not own Dragonball Z.
A month passed since "The Incident," as it was being called now. Bra was still mad about the entire thing. It wasn't as if she fell in love with Zen, she hadn't wanted to make him her mate. It was about her father controlling her life, taking all the fun out of it.
He had taken away any privileges she might have had before. Now everywhere she went, two female guards shadowed her. They were given strict orders not to let the princess out of their sight. She killed the first two assigned to her, so now if she gave them any trouble, they called her father. Her life had become a nightmare. The palace was now nothing more than a lavish prison.
It was the last straw. She had to get away or she would go insane. Bra spent the first week in her room, refusing to see anyone. She spent the time thinking of a way to get out. No one really knew what she looked like because she had been out of the public eye since her mother's death but her blue hair and eyes would be a dead give away. Not to mention the moment her father and brother felt her ki leave the palace they would track her down.
She had to work on these things if she was to get out. Her hair wasn't a big problem. She simply concocted a black hair die that she could wash out with a special solution. Her eyes had taken a little more time. Eventually she came up with brown contacts, something she got from her mother's journal. None of it really mattered though, if she couldn't hide her ki.
That was what she spent the last couple of weeks working on. Before her mother's death, she had been working on a device that could completely hide someone's ki, like they didn't even have one. That wasn't what Bra needed, but it was a start. She only had to modify it to change her ki slightly. This took up every available moment of her time. It was her ticket out, if she could figure out how to do it. Her ki was like a beacon to her family.
Bra had just spent the last fifteen hours straight in her mother's lab. It was late, about four in the morning, she figured. No one had even bothered with her in the last day. Trunks' and Pan's wedding was later today, so they were busy preparing for that and so was her father, much to his displeasure. Her guards had fallen asleep sometime ago. Bra was adding the final additions to her device. She had spent the last two and a half weeks working on it. She didn't know if it would work or not, but it was her only hope. As far as she could figure it would work. Only a few bugs were left that she hadn't managed to work out.
Bra sighed and sat back in her chair, looking over the little device she constructed. She had set the tiny circuitry into an anklet. Even though she was running away that didn't mean she couldn't do it with some style. On the countless times her father had asked her what she was doing, she had actually shown him the device, saying it was a wedding present for Pan.
Pan.
She couldn't really believe she was going to be leaving her. She could hardly remember a day when she wasn't with her, but Pan would be ok. Pan had her brother now and they were going to be married tonight.
And tonight was when she was going to make her escape. It was the best time. After the ceremony, nobody would be paying attention to her. She wouldn't have time to test her invention before she used it. She just hoped it worked like it was supposed to.
She yawned and stretched then looked over to her guards. One was snoring like an idiot. Disgusting she thought, making a face, I should just leave them here, but then father would have kittens and not let me out of his sight. Bra laughed, picturing her father with kittens. No, he was upset enough already with the wedding and would be in a stink after discovering her gone tomorrow. Bra shot a small blast in the direction of the guards. The explosion startled them awake. She stood, giving them a dirty look and went back to her room.
"Hey, Old Man! You still alive in here?" Goten yelled as he walked into his grandfather's house. Bardock came from the other room followed by Callie and Tavis. Goten smiled seeing Callie with her one-year-old son Avis. He walked over to the both of them and gave them a hug, earning a dirty look from Tavis.
Goten stepped back to look at the two of them, ignoring Tavis. "Hey little guy, you're getting pretty big." Goten said to the baby. He started making stupid faces at him and Avis laughed.
"Goten," Callie said laughing too. "When are you ever going to grow up?"
He stopped with his face making and looked at her. "Never. Who wants to get old and not have any fun?"
Tavis snorted. "That's why you'll never be a real warrior, Goten. You're not serious enough. That's why you'll never be a squad leader." He said with a superior smirk on his face.
Goten shot him a dirty look. "Funny, it's always enough to save your sorry ass."
Callie saw the growing tension between the two warriors and intervened. "Hey, knock it off you two. I made dinner, enough for even the "bottomless pit" over here. Why don't we go eat?"
Goten immediately forgot about Tavis at the mention of food and took off for the kitchen. Callie laughed and grabbed a hold of her frowning husband and followed him.
"Are you going to eat with us Bardock?" She asked as she walked away.
"Not tonight. Make sure that cub gets enough though. You know how Goten can be." He heard Callie laugh from the kitchen as he wandered over to his couch and sat down. He could hear Callie and Goten in there laughing and talking.
Bardock raised the two of them since they were tiny brats. He had always thought they would become mates. He knew at least Goten wanted too. They were raised together, had gone to the same academy together and were even on the same squad. But as it turned out Callie had fallen for their squad leader Tavis and now they were married. That was the reason Tavis and Goten did not get along.
Bardock grinned. Goten could be a squad leader if he wanted too. He had it in his blood. He had been a squad leader, so had Raditz and Gohan. But Goten was too much like his father. He was content to taking orders than giving them.
With that thought, his mind unhappily returned to the thoughts he had before the kids came over. His family, or what was left of it.
His mate, Qulia, had been beautiful, smart, and caring, the complete opposite of Bardock. That was what he liked about her. She had given him two strong sons, Raditz and Kakarrot. Raditz had looked just like her, but with Bardock's mentality. He was cunning, ruthless and had quickly risen through the ranks, as far as a third class warrior could go. He had been a squad leader at a young age and was even going to be in the royal guard, an honor for third class warriors. This was of course before the accident that took both Raditz and his wife.
Bardock had been off the planet at the time, picking up his youngest from a purging mission. The two were on their way to meet him. They weren't out of the atmosphere before the ship exploded. Some freak accident the officials told him when he returned. He had been angry, blaming himself for insisting they come and blamed Kakarrot for being off planet.
Suddenly he was stuck raising his son by himself. He had no idea what to do with a ten year old. The boy was a carbon copy of him, with all of his mother's best qualities. It was too much of a painful reminder of what he lost, so he had thrown him into the hardest academy they had, just to be rid of him.
Kakarrot was strong, stronger than Raditz had been and Bardock thought he would be something special. He had been sorely disappointed when he passed up every opportunity for squad leader. He just didn't understand why his son didn't want the prestige and glory he deserved. His boy was a softheaded fool!
Then Kakarrot met Chi-Chi. She was the meanest, nastiest girl he ever had the displeasure of meeting. She was nothing but trouble. Chi-Chi had been transferred there for causing trouble in her old academy. They had hoped to get her in line, but had been poorly mistaken.
He remembered Kakarrot coming home every other day, the shit beaten out of him. He had been defending Chi-Chi from the hotheads in the academy. She would start a fight and when it got too hot for her to handle he would jump in and save her sorry ass. She had been an ungrateful bitch about it too.
It went on like that for months and Bardock knew his son wanted Chi-Chi as his mate. Finally sick of it all, he told him to be with or be done with it. Not less than a week later he brought her home. He would never understand his son or why he chose such a bitchy mate or why Chi-Chi wanted to be with such a fool.
Chi-Chi was pregnant almost immediately after that and Bardock was afraid to see what their child would be like. Gohan had surprised him. The boy was smart, cunning, and ruthless, even as a small child. He reminded Bardock of Raditz so much it was scary. The kid had so much power, far too much for any normal third class. He rose through the ranks faster than he or Raditz had, becoming a squad leader at a younger age than either. The boy was special and held so much promise. That was until he met Videl.
It was the Queen's entire fault that Gohan met her. He had no business in the palace in the first place. However, the Queen insisted on personally congratulating Vegetsei's finest. His squad had just successfully purged a difficult planet with no casualties. Videl was the Queen's personal guard and when the Queen left them alone to attend to personal business, the trouble began.
Bardock remembered that night. He had been at his son's house playing with his newest grandson, Goten. He and Kakarrot were waiting up for Gohan to come home, eager to hear about the visit. He came home late that night, a little beat up, but with a stupid grin on his face that could only mean one thing. A girl. At first Gohan didn't want to talk about it but, they gave him a hard time and he finally broke down and told them about Videl.
An elite.
Forbidden.
It was against every rule in the book. You do not marry outside your class. Kakarrot lost it. He slammed Gohan against the wall and forbade him from ever seeing her again. Gohan was enraged and the fight that followed nearly tore the house down. In the end, Gohan did as he wished and because of his selfishness everyone died.
Bardock had been alive long enough to know what happens when you break the rules and cross a noble family. It was only a matter of time before something horrible happened. After three years everyone began to relax, even him. He was enjoying his three-year great granddaughter and five year old grandson.
He took the kids one night and went deep into the woods for an overnight trip of hunting and sparing with Toma and his daughter Callie. Immediately he knew something was wrong when he returned home. The houses were dark and silent when they should have been alive with the women cooking breakfast. He couldn't find any traces of ki in either of the houses and had hoped against hope that they were all out. He left the kids outside and went in. The sight that he found in his son's house turned his blood cold. They hadn't even had the chance to get out of bed and defend themselves. There were huge holes blown through both of the men and the women looked as if they had been raped and tortured. Videl's head was missing and to this day it hadn't been found.
Bardock didn't remember much of what happened after finding his son, grandson, and their wives like that. When he came back to himself, Pan had been taken away and he was stuck raising Goten on his own. He knew that if he hadn't taken the kids out that night all of them would have died. He hardly heard word of his great granddaughter after that. Only that she was living in the palace as a royal guard to the Princess. Not too long after that terrible day the Queen lost her life. The King kept the entire planet in a state of mourning after her death.
Goten never talked about that day. He had come into the house after hearing Bardock scream, but never said one word about it. He never shed a single tear. Goten never talked about his father or his brother or his lost niece. He kept it all to himself and pretended that they never existed. Tonight was different though . . .
Bardock was brought back to reality by the sound of Avis running through the room, Goten hot on his trail. Callie was laughing and Tavis had his arms wrapped possessively around her waist. Avis ducked under a table and Goten, who wasn't paying attention, ran right into it head first. Everyone burst into laughter while Goten lay out on the floor rubbing the forming lump on his head.
"Uh, that sucked. Hey! Does anybody want to go to the bar? I think I need a drink." Goten said. He leaned his head back to look at everyone.
Tavis made a face. "Goten you're nothing but a drunk. Can't you do anything other than drink?"
Goten sat up with a devilish look on his face. "Yeah, I can think of something lots more fun, but I doubt she'd return to you when I'm done with her." He said looking expectantly at Callie.
Tavis growled, lunging at Goten with murder written on his face. Goten dodged the punch but not the kick to his mid section which sent him flying backwards into the wall. The entire house shook from the force of it. He jumped up and met Tavis in the middle of the room. The entire house was about to fall apart from the force of their fighting. Bardock did not want his house torn apart tonight. He went into the middle of the fight and blasted both of them, sending them flying into opposite walls.
"Knock it off both of you! Show some respect to your elders!"
Tavis sat up, glaring at Goten and Goten glared back. Callie stepped in between the two of them a very unpleased look on her face. She shot Goten a dirty look over her shoulder and helped Tavis up. "Come on, let's go home. Avis needs to sleep."
Tavis followed her out the door with no argument. "We'll finish this tomorrow Goten. You won't be walking away next time."
Bardock helped Goten up after they left. As soon as he was standing, he smacked him on the back of the head, sending him flying into the floor again.
"Aaahhh! What in the hell did you do that for?" Goten yelled as he picked himself up off the floor again.
"What the hell is your problem, brat? You don't say shit like that to another man's mate unless you want to die. Especially not your squad leader's wife! Are you a complete idiot?" Bardock yelled. As of late Goten has been acting as if he were losing his mind. It was to the point that Bardock was becoming a little worried.
"She was mine first," Goten grumbled.
Bardock rolled his eyes. "She has been with Tavis for almost five years and you're just now getting bitter? Tell me what the problem really is."
"Never mind those two," Goten said sourly. "Come old man, let's go to the bar and celebrate. My niece is a princess today."
Bra walked into her room and closed the door, leaving the guards outside. She promised them her special tea that got rid of hangovers since both had too much to drink tonight. The ceremony was beautiful. It had gone smoothly; even her father behaved himself. Pan was radiant and glowing and looked gorgeous in her gown. She and Trunks didn't take their eyes off each other once the entire time. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever witnessed her entire life. Bra cried during the entire thing. She cried from the sheer beauty of it, because you could see the love they shared radiating from their eyes when they looked at each other. She cried because this would be the last time she would see either of them.
She finished making the tea and added the fine, white sleeping powder to both cups. There had to have been well over a thousand people in the palace alone for the celebration. Everyone was in high spirits enjoying the momentous occasion and she knew the celebration was going on across the planet.
She took the cups outside to her guards, who gratefully took them. She told them she was turning in for the night and returned to her room to prepare. She didn't plan on taking much with her, a few trinkets, some makeup, and undergarments. She managed steal a few of lower class uniforms earlier in the week, knowing her royal armor would give her away.
She went into her bathroom and applied the black die to her blue hair and tail. When she was done, she applied the contacts to her eyes. She took a good look in the mirror and gasped at her reflection. She almost didn't know the girl staring back at her. The simple alterations hadn't changed her too much, but if she went far enough away no one would recognize her.
Bra tiptoed to the door and peaked out. The guards were already fast asleep. She figured her father would be busy brooding by now and the newly married couple was surely too busy to realize she was gone. Sighing, she and put on the armor and ki-altering device, feeling an unpleasant hum and draining sensation through her body. She finished packing her things and walked over to the balcony doors. Bra pushed them open and stepped out into the crisp night air. She turned around and gave one last look at her room, then jumped into the air and flew away as fast as she could.
Bra flew high into the sky, enjoying the freedom she got from flying so high. She flew to the south, intent on flying until she was too tired to do it anymore. Only then would she land and seek shelter.
Bardock sat back in his chair, enjoying his ale and laughing at his grandson. Goten was making a fool of himself on the bar with a bowl on his head, singing and dancing like an idiot. The place was packed; everyone had come out to celebrate the Prince's union. They had been there for a few hours and already Goten was smashed. Bardock was too feeling a bit tipsy.
He turned his attention from his grandson to the door when he heard someone come in. He started when a young, pretty female walked through the door. She was very young, Bardock observed, far too young for him. She walked with an air of superiority up to the bar where she sat down and ordered a drink. As Bardock watched her, he got an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. She wasn't very tall, but her body was full of curves and well toned muscle. A little curvier than most woman he'd seen in these parts. Her long, black hair looked a little too well kept for someone of working class and those light brown eyes seemed out of place. It was like he had seen this girl before, but couldn't place when and where. The girl seemed almost out of place in the loud, dirty bar. There was just something wrong about her, but he just couldn't put his finger on it.
The girl caught the attention of several of the bar's other male occupants as well. Goten had completely abandoned his act to get a good look at her. He jumped down from the bar, grabbed a drink and headed over to Bardock.
"Whew! Man, do you see her? Who the hell is that?" Goten yelled over the loud music.
"I don't know." Bardock answered back. "Never seen her around here before. I don't think she belongs here. I've got a bad feeling her. That girl is trouble."
Goten never took his eyes off the pretty, young girl sitting at the bar. "Well, I'm certainly up for some trouble tonight!"
Bardock rolled his eyes and watched as two guys walked up to the girl.
Bra sat in the loud, dirty bar feeling sick. This was the most disgusting place she had ever been in before. Her drink was gross too and she ordered the best they had. Bra decided to leave and find somewhere more suitable for her class. She paid the bartender and stood. When she turned around to walk out, she came face to face with two drunken men.
"Hey beautiful," the first one slurred. "What's a place like you doing in a girl like this?"
Bra crinkled her nose at the fowl smell emanating from his mouth. She decided not to dignify that with a response and tried to push past them. She barely made it a step when the second one grabbed her arm.
"I think we were talking to you. A young thing like you shouldn't be so rude as to walk away before we're finished." He sneered at her.
"How dare you touch me! You low class piece of shit! Get your filthy paws off my arm this instance!" Bra yelled, out raged.
The man grabbed her other arm and slammed her into the bar. "Dirty little whore. Don't talk to me that way." He looked over to his friend and grinned. "I think we're gonna have some fun with this one tonight. She has spirit. What do ya say, cupcake? Me and my buddy are gonna show ya a good time." He leered at her.
Bra froze a minute before becoming consumed with rage. The idea that this low class idiot would dare to touch her and suggest such things! She grinned evilly at the man holding her and brought her knee up into his groin. The man yelped in pain and doubled over, releasing her arms at the same time. She looked smugly at her handy work and to walked outside.
She just made it out the door when the first man grabbed her by her hair and slammed her into a wall. Bra looked up dazed as the man pressed his body against hers pinning her to the wall. She struggled against him but couldn't get away. She was beginning to get scared as she saw several other men come up behind them. They were all laughing and taunting her helplessness.
"Hey, be sure to leave some for me!" She heard one of them yell out. This was followed by cruel laughter. Bra powered up, her aura flashing brightly, knocking the offending man off of her. There were sarcastic ohs and ahs coming from the crowd that had gathered. She snarled angrily and flew at the one who had her pinned against the wall. She landed an uppercut to his chin, sending him flying backwards. The guy got up and wiped the blood away from his mouth. He smirked at her. "Yeah, I like spirited ones." He said as flew at her.
The two of them traded blows but Bra couldn't get the upper hand. She had never been in a real fight before; she didn't have control over the outcome of this. The guy was quickly wearing her down. She tried to power up more but found that she couldn't. She panicked, why can't I power up? She thought frantically as she dodged another punch. The ki-altering device! I can't summon my full strength! Bra was in full panic now. This guy was going to beat her if she couldn't power up to maximum. She thought about ripping the anklet off, but then someone would certainly find her. In her state panic, the guy landed a kick to the side of her head went crashing into the ground.
Bra pulled herself up from the crater she made. As soon as she was up two men from the crowd ran at her, grabbed both of her arms and slammed her into a wall. They held her tight, bruising her skin. She couldn't get away.
"Let me go! I'll have all your heads!" Bra screamed frantically as she thrashed about. The man she had been fighting landed in front of her grinning. He walked up to her and slapped her hard across the face. Bra's mouth dropped open in shock. She's never been treated like this before.
"Cocky little bitch, you need to learn your place." The man said, and then punched her in the stomach. Bra doubled over from the pain, shame burning her face. She was beaten and it hurt. She'd never been beaten like this before. Nothing had prepared her for being treated like this. There were people standing around watching the entire scene. Weren't any of them going to help her? Bra was more scared than she could ever remember being since her mother's death. She screamed as the guy ripped the top of her armor off. Trembling as he told her of all the horrible things he planned on doing to her. Was this why her father and brother kept her locked away in the palace? To keep her away from things like this? What she wouldn't give for one of them to show up now and kill all these bastards. If only she could reach her ankle, it would all be over. Bra crossed her feet, intent on kicking her boot off so she could reach the anklet tucked inside.
The man saw her cross her legs and pushed his body against hers. He smelled a disgusting mix of filth, sweat and liquor. Bra thought she was going to be sick. He grabbed a handful of hair and titled her head back so she had to look at him. He was grinning wickedly and had a crazed look in his eyes. Bra winced as he gabbed his knee in-between her legs, forcing them open. He took his other hand and began to brutally feel her up. In the background she could hear the others whistling and catcalling, but no one was making a move to help her. Bra was vaguely aware that she was whimpering and begging him to stop. He wasn't listening and she felt tears well up in her eyes but refused to let them fall. This wasn't how it was suppose to be! Why didn't anything ever go as planned?
Bra closed her eyes as the guy put his hand up the top of her body suite. She just hopped that the guy killed her when he was done and not let the others have their way as well. There would be no going home after this, she didn't think she could live with the shame she'd brought upon her family. Never before had she felt so weak.
Suddenly the man stopped his torture on her body. He was shouting something to someone behind him. Bra couldn't quiet hear over the roar in her ears. She opened her eyes to see what was going on, but her tears blurred her vision. Someone had finally come to her rescue and attacked the man in front of her. The men that held her pinned against the wall let go to fight whoever had stopped them. Bra's body fell in a tired slump down the wall. Wrapping shaking arms across her chest, she wanted nothing more than to run away, but she was too tired to move.
Bra rubbed the tears from her eyes and looked up to see who her savior was. She was surprised to find the man that had been dancing on the bar when she first came entered. He was taking on all three of her attackers and didn't seem to be having a problem. She watched in awe as he blasted one of them and sent him flying into another. They both went crashing through a nearby building. He turned on his last opponent, grinned and charged at him. She watched as he blurred out of sight only to come up behind the other guy. He landed a hard hit to the back of the guy's neck, knocking him out. The man fell to the ground and didn't move.
Her savior landed gracefully in front of her and gave a hard look into the crowd, challenging anyone who dared to come forth. A few people who shot him dirty looks for breaking up the show, but they all went back into the bar. Bra curled into herself when he turned to look at her. She didn't know what he would want for saving her. The young man gave a friendly smile and offered his hand out to her. She looked at him warily.
"Come on, I'm not going to hurt you. What would be the point in that after I took care of those guys for doing the same thing?" He said in a friendly voice.
Bra carefully took his hand; he smiled and helped her up. He had a nice smile, she noticed. She smiled shyly back at him. They stood holding each other's hands for a moment.
Bra frowned, remembering something and snatched her hand back from his. "I could have taken care of them myself." She said in a snotty voice. "I was in complete control. I didn't need your help!"
The smile never left his face as he answered. "I know, but then I wouldn't have been able to play hero and save the damsel in distress." He said in a joking tone. Bra laughed a little in spite of herself. "Let's go inside and have a drink. I'm sure you could use one. I know I can." Bra agreed and they headed inside. She saw him turn to someone, who looked a lot like him, standing a few feet away and give a little wave. The older man nodded and took off into the sky. Bra figured it must have been his father.
He led her into the bar and over to a table in the far corner. She sat down while he went to the bar and order drinks. Bra felt a little more than nervous sitting there by herself, but nobody paid any attention to her. He returned with drinks a few minutes later. She gratefully took hers and took a big swig. She made a disgusted face, sticking her tongue out at the bitter tasting ale. He laughed at her reaction and she shot him a dirty look.
"How can you drink this shit! It revolting!" She said as she pushed the glass away from her.
He looked a little confused. "This is the best on the planet. Well, that third class can afford." He said. "Why, have you had better?"
Bra suddenly remembered where she was and quickly recovered. "Once and I haven't drank since then." She lied.
He looked at her suspiciously for a minute, and then shrugged it off. "Anyway, my name's Goten. What's yours?"
"Br...ah...Beta! My name is Beta." She said quickly and smiled sweetly. That would've been brilliant! She mentally berated herself as she took a sip of her drink. She was better able to control her face this time.
Goten gave her a weird look. "Okay. So, um, I've never seen you around here before. Where are you from?"
"Oh, I'm from...um, the east! Yeah, I grew up on the eastern continent. You from around here?" Shit! Why didn't I think up a story first! He knows I'm lying! She thought, when the odd look he was giving her intensified.
"Yeah, I'm from around here. What are you doing this way? Did you get transferred to an academy here or something?"
"Ah, no, I...ah, moved out here. I guess needed a change of scenery."
"Oh, what about your family?"
"Um...my family? They...ah, they're...um... I don't have a family." She said lamely. The look on Goten's face was disbelieving.
"You don't have a family." He said slowly, as if he were trying to believe it.
"Well, I did have one, of course. They were all killed on a purging mission not too long ago. That's why I moved. I was the only one to survive." She said thinking fast. She looked Goten in the eye, hoping he bought her story. He did.
Goten's face softened hearing that. He could relate. "Oh man. I didn't mean to pry. I'm sorry."
Bra waved it away with her hand. "Don't worry about it. It was a while ago. Shit happens. I'm just trying to move on." She gave him a reassuring smile. "So, um, why don't you tell me about yourself."
Bra and Goten sat at the bar talking and drinking long into the night. They talked about anything that came to mind. Bra was quick to come up with things to cover who she really was. It was about the fifth time that Bra yawned that Goten got the hint.
"So, um, I guess you want to head home or something, huh?" Goten said a little disappointed that she wanted to leave. "Are you staying around here?" He asked. He really liked Beta and wanted to see her again.
"Well, I just got into town tonight, so I don't exactly have a place to stay. I'll find a boarding house or something though."
Goten made a face. "You don't need to stay in a dirty boarding house. I have an extra room at my place if you'd like to stay there with me." He asked shyly. He never really felt shy about inviting girls back to his place before, but this one seemed different.
Bra looked at him suspiciously. "No, I think I'll be alright. Thanks for the offer." She stood to leave, suddenly uncomfortable.
Goten stood as well. "Come on. I'm not some creep who's going to try anything. You'd be safer with me than at a boarding house anyway. They don't exactly screen who they let in there. Come on, I give you my word on the Queen's honor."
Bra was shocked that he said that and it showed. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat at the mention of her mother. "The Queen is dead, Goten." She said, her voice hollow.
Goten gave a strange look at her reaction to the mention of the Queen. It looked almost as if she wanted to cry. "Yeah, well, she was a good Queen and her honor still lives on. Look, your tired and have had plenty to drink. If some creep tried anything, you might not be able to fight back. You're a sweet girl and I really like you. I'd feel terrible if something bad happened to you." Bra opened her mouth to protest again, but Goten raised his hand to silence her. "I know you can take care of yourself and all but, I'd feel better knowing you were safe until you have some place to go. I give you my word as a warrior, I won't harm you." He finished sincerely.
Bra frowned. Why were people always trying to protect her? Did she have fragile stamped across her forehead? But she knew what Goten said was true. She wouldn't be able to fight back if something like tonight happened again. And there might not be someone to help next time. She looked into his dark black eyes and wanted to trust him. She barely knew this man but he was sweet and had saved her earlier. She didn't have anyone else she could trust right now. She liked Goten. He was handsome and seemed to have a boyish innocence about him. She couldn't explain it. She just felt safe with him.
"This will only be for one night and don't you dare try anything or I'll be forced to kill you." She said with deadly seriousness.
Goten broke out into a huge grin that made his eyes light up. He didn't say anything, just nodded his head and led her outside. Once outside, he took her hand and they flew into the air toward his house. They landed about twenty minutes later in front of a small house in the woods. Bra looked around. There was nothing else out there save for two other small, dark houses a few feet away in either direction. She could just barely make them out in the dark. Goten turned to her and smiled.
"Well, this is it. My father built it. It isn't much, but it's cozy." Bra tired to smile and not look too disappointed in the size and condition of the house. It was smaller than her bedroom in the palace, but she knew he didn't live the fancy life that she had. He opened the door and led her inside. He turned on the light and she took a good look around. It was sparsely furnished; two couches and a table made up the living room. There was a small kitchen off to the side and a short hallway with three doors. Goten led her to one of the doors and opened it. It was a bathroom.
"This is the bathroom." Goten explained. "And this over here," he turned and opened the door across from it, "is where you'll be sleeping. I'm just down the hall in the other room if you need anything." With that, he turned and went into the other room, closing the door behind him.
Bra walked into the room and closed the door. The room was medium sized with a king size bed in the middle of it. It had a closet and a dresser for clothes. Bra sighed and took off what was left of her armor and body suite and climbed into the soft bed. She was exhausted, the day's activities catching up with her. She wondered if Goten would really keep his promise not to try anything with her. She almost felt a little disappointed that he hadn't. An attempt at a kiss would have been fair. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep, but the bed was unfamiliar and therefore uncomfortable. Her mind was a whirl of thoughts. She didn't know what to do now. Tossing and turning restlessly, she finally fell into a light, dreamless sleep.