Ch 72

The morning was early as the Briefs, Son, and Sharpner family hiked up to Mt Vesuvius. Their tour guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the area as they stopped to look into the crater of the mountain.

"Hm, big deal I've made craters twice this size," said Vegeta as the tour guide and the tourist gasped.

"Vegeta!" yelled Bulma.

"Dad!" said Bulla.

"What? What did I say?" asked Vegeta.

"Mt Vesuvius erupted, killing a lot of people in 79ad," said Trunks. "When the town was excavated years later, Archaeologists found bodies preserved by the volcano ash. You can see some evidence of what happened in the town today but over the years, the grounds have been influenced by other conditions that we can't really see the impact of what the eruption did to these people."

Suddenly the tourists gathered around the lavender haired man with more questions, which rubbed the tour guide the wrong way.

"Sorry about this," said Bunny. "My grandson is somewhat of a history buff, and he loves to share his knowledge."

"It's all right. I'm use to at least one know it all on my tour trips," said the tour guide.

"Well in this case my brother really is a know it all," said Bulla. "He's a genius."

"Oh well great," said the tour guide. "Come on folks lets see Pompeii."

The ruins were something to see for the tourists as the tour guide painted a vivid picture of what occurred. Trunks could imagine in his mind what happened, and he thought about all the battles he had been a part of.

"They never had a chance did they?" asked Goten as he looked around the site.

"No," said Trunks as he felt his mate's sadness. 'It's so like him to care about people,' he thought as he smiled sadly.

"It really puts life into perspective, doesn't it?" said Uub. "You never know when your time is coming."

"Um maybe we should finish up the tour and do something that will bring us all some joy," said Bulla as her friends, family, the tourists, and tour guide agreed.

"Does this mean we can't go see Rome's catacombs and crypts?" asked Uub.

They walked the tour of the catacombs and crypts when every now and then Trunks saw the expression on his sister's face as she looked around the place. He heard Uub reassuring her that everything was ok.

"Hey Bulla, what's going on?" asked Trunks.

"I just don't feel good about this place," said Bulla.

"We're in the catacombs and crypts. It's understandable, but you think you can hang in there until the tour is over? I'm sure we can do something more fun afterwards. Plus," Trunks said, "I think dad's having a morbid fascination with the catacombs and crypts."

"Oh great well good for him I guess," said Bulla. "I'm sure I can survive the rest of the tour," dhe smiled. "Thanks Trunks."

"Anytime," Trunks smiled as he watched Bulla squeeze Uub's hand for comfort, and he put his arm around her. She smiled.

"You're a good big brother you know," said Goten.

Trunks smiled. "I try my best so are you enjoying the tour?"

"I've seen skeletons in real life before but not all together in this way. It is a bit unsettling."

"I know. I mean we're essentially walking through a burial site, but it's kind of designed as a museum."

"And that concludes this tour," smiled the tour guide. "I hope you enjoy the rest of your vacation."

"Well I don't know about you guys, but I'm hungry," said Gohan as everyone agreed. "We should go eat somewhere. Bulma, do you have any suggestions?"

Bulma smiled. "Of course I do."

They followed Bulma into a pizza and gelato place for lunch. They sat outside, overlooking the beautiful views of Rome. Conversation started around the table once they ordered their meals.

"Well that was an interesting experience," said Gohan.

"Never again," said Bulla. "The whole place gave me the creeps."

"It was quite unusual how humans store their dead," said Vegeta. "I never seen anything like it."

"I never understood it myself, but cultures have different ways of living," said Bulma.

"That is what makes the world an interesting place to travel," said Trunks. "You learn so much."

Goten smiled at his mate's eagerness about the world.

Their heavy breathing became one as they came down from an intense lovemaking session in their hotel room. Trunks gathered his mate into his arms and sighed as well as smiled, deliriously.

"Ch—chibi?"

"Ye—yeah?"

"Just making sure you're there."

"That was—I don't even know how to describe it," Goten sighed as he rested his head on Trunks' chest.

"Different good," he said as he rubbed his mate's back while looking at him. "I'm glad we did this."

"I—I am to, even though I'm exhausted. Who knew there were that many sexual positions?"

"We've only experimented with half chibi."

"Oh no don't even tell me you want to do more positions," groaned Goten as he turned over and out of his mate's arms to lie away from his mate. "Boy I'm tired."

"Take a nap then," said Trunks as he held his mate's body close, kissed the back of his neck, and got out of bed. "I'm going to shower and then stretch my legs."

"Ok Trunks," said Goten as he drifted off to sleep.

Trunks smiled at the site of his mate. 'I can't believe it. At this age he's still adorable," he laughed before he disappeared into the bathroom.

Making his way down to the lobby, he spotted his grandparents reading in the common room. He was hoping to get away before they spotted him but no such luck.

"Trunks, come sit with as dear," said Bunny.

"Uh sure why not?" said Trunks as he sat next to Bunny. "So, what do you two crazy kids have planned for the rest of the day?"

Bunny smiled at her grandson's playfulness. "Well we were going to get a drink at the bar when we're done here and there's a dance class later today that your grandpa promised to take me to. It will be so wonderful. The ballroom here is just so beautiful."

"That sounds like fun," said Trunks.

"So what have you been doing all day?" asked Dr. Briefs.

He wanted to say Goten, but he knew it would upset his grandma. "Just getting to know Goten better," he smiled.