Chapter Six

Over the next few days, Makoto was released while she went through the process of meeting Trunks and Goten's families. Bulma and ChiChi were fine women, strong and hot tempered when it came to putting the men of the group inline. They looked very excited to welcome another female into the group with curious looks to Goten and Trunks, wondering who Makoto was dating. Makoto decided to let them have their mental battle of thinking it was their own respective sons and kept silent on the issue. Bulma was able to get Makoto released from the hospital and signed her responsibility to Makoto as her own patient. For now, Makoto was told she would be staying at the Briefs household until she recovered and then they would be moving to a safer location away from the city. The other members Makoto met was Goku, the father of Goten, and realized where Goten got his carefree attitude from. Makoto was able to meet Trunks' father Vegeta when she was brought to their home, finding him very stand-offish, cold, and always frowning. He didn't look too warmly and ignored her presence mostly as if she was an annoyance.

Bulma was very technologically advanced and Makoto knew she would get along with Ami, their gadget-enthusiastic friend and teammate. Makoto kept to herself most of the time, focusing her thoughts elsewhere while to the situation at hand and staying in her room. Trunks had given up on trying to coax her out and left her in peace. She couldn't even look at him the same with those words floating through her mind; to be used as some breeding tool. Although she didn't want to admit how scared she was, continuously she went sleep deprived due to the vivid nightmares. Bulma wouldn't take 'no' for an answer and managed to get Makoto to at least sit in the lab to watch over the paling child while she worked.

"Are you keeping in contact with your family? They must be worried about you going camping by yourself in a strange area," commented Bulma only to get a small shrug from Makoto's slumped shoulders.

"My parents died when I was very young," replied Makoto softly, staring at the rain continuously falling. Since she came here, for days it kept raining with her low mood. A flash of lightning streaked through the sky for a moment, making Makoto wonder if she could bring it closer and it would obey her will.

"You poor thing," said Bulma, suddenly giving Makoto a hug that made her stiffen lightly in surprise. Bulma gazed down at her with those same soft blue eyes her son held as her turquoise hair hung long and loosely.

"Thank you," replied Makoto softly and watched Bulma look pleased.

"From what Trunks said, I understand you like baking. How about making something for the dinner tonight?" suggested Bulma, hoping it would get Makoto from her slump. Nodding, Makoto knew to obey as she walked through the large domed house toward the kitchen. Pulling a recipe from her mind, Makoto slowly started in on the project as her mind slowly started to ease in a relaxing manner. Nimbly, she started the beautiful three layered moist lemon cake. She had a special way of making it, deciding the cake would be a plain yellow with accented lemon crème between the layers before coating it in a yellow lemon hinted frosting. Around the edges, she decorated with green lime flavored frosting before decorating on top. It was harder than she thought using only one hand to do this task as she looked at the top layer of the cake that needed something else. So far she had some decorated pieces that looked like slices of lemons and limes but wasn't able to plant them in the precise order in her mind without having to redo the top layer of frosting and remake the pieces.

"You could always lay them flat on top," said a voice softly behind her. She had expected it for a while since she was sure he would know of the escape from his mother's watch. Makoto give a nod simply as she tapped her fingers impatiently on the counter for the idea to come.

"It would work, but then one would need an aerial view to see the design," replied Makoto, starting to frown. The idea slowly came to her as she brightened up looking at the tools lying around but not finding what she needed. Giving a glance over her should, Makoto smiled as Trunks reluctantly came forward. "I just need another set of hands."

The process took another hour with the two beginning to giggle over the lemon and limes made into little characters dancing on top of the cake. It was a nice creation for it being summer and brightened up the house. She could feel Trunks fingers rubbing across her hand, sending a sudden blush through her as their eyes seemed to lock again. What was this feeling, this moment? His hand touched her cheek as he took hold of the moment, leaning in. Makoto felt frozen, unsure how to act in the moment as her pulse raced. Within a blink, she saw his pale blue face, white hair, and dark blue eyes haunting her with a grin.

A good source for breeding a powerful saijin. The words flashed before her mind as she tried to the two responses different. Goten's words flashed through her mind. Trunks was saijin, a Prince at that while they were starting up their race again. Jerking back, Makoto pulled away as she glared in his direction. He was part of it all, they had lured her here and made it look like they were going to take care of her when in fact he was trying to seduce for his own purpose. Trunks could see the lack of sleep showing in her body from the sickly look, paling skin, and dark circles under her eyes. Why wasn't she resting to gain her strength? Each day was a ticking time bomb to when these men would re-appear. "You're plotting and planning with them too…I can see it. It's whoever gets to me first, huh?"

Trunks narrowed his brows; what was she talking about?

"Makoto, you need to get some rest. Let's get you to bed," replied Trunks, reaching ouch for her only for his hand to receive a smack as she backed up.

"I can't stay here, it's like sleeping under the enemy's roof," replied Makoto, finding herself trapped against a wall. Trunks frowned, concerned for her well being and when she started to see them as the enemy when they had saved her. Everything was revolving around that time she fought that man by herself. Bulma appeared at the exact time Trunks wished she hadn't to see the scared girl against the wall and what looked like Trunks to be the culprit.

"What's going on in here? Trunks, are you bugging her?" asked Bulma getting angry only for Trunks to shake his head.

"Get the sedative; she's so tired her mind is hallucinating," said Trunks. Bulma nodded and Trunks moved in, disappearing and reappearing in beside her. Managing to be as careful as possible, Trunks held down the roughly fighting as she tried her hardest to get away from him. Bulma came from the side and put the shot in her. It took the medicine a moment as Makoto stopped struggling as the effects took over.

"Do you know what you just did?" asked Makoto looking up at Trunks as he held her softly, carrying her to the laboratory behind Bulma. Pushing a few of the auburn strands from her face, Trunks shook his head at her softening eyes. Her hand reached up and grabbed his shirt lazily. "He's now going to get me when I close my eyes."

Trunks frowned, feeling her hand slide down his chest and rest on her stomach as her eyes finally came to a close. Everything was falling back to the information she excluded to tell in the hospital. How long had she been suffering from these hallucinations and why didn't she speak about it to anyone to get help? Trunks was starting to understand the mystery around her; from what he collected she had no family, depended on no one, and did everything herself. These burdens could be a lot of the mind and stress the body. If only there was a way he could help? She still never talked about the situation in detail of why she was camping to begin with. He was sure it had to do with her story about protecting 'her royal highness the Moon princess'. Reluctantly, he laid her onto the bed and let out a sigh.

"She will be fine Trunks," replied Bulma, pulling a blanket over the sleeping form.

"I don't think so Mom; I don't think she will ever be fine until she has someone in her life to help with the unbalances and make her feel more secure," he replied. Bulma stared at her son for the longest time as he gazed at the sleeping woman. Was this what she thought it could be? Feeling joy stream through her, she kept it to herself as she checked Makoto's vitals. Bulma placed a hand on Trunks' shoulder and sighed.

"You should rest too son; you've been training almost every day in the hyperbolic time chamber and look ragged. You're going to start aging too much," said Bulma, worried that her son looked too old for the age he was supposed to be.

"You of all people should know one doesn't age physically in the chamber. We grow on our power basis and so far, Goten and I are getting to a further point than we thought possible. If those guys come back, we will all be ready. Dad and Goku are in the chamber today since we have been swapping days," said Trunks, keeping his eyes focused on Makoto while pondering for a moment. "That power she is holding still needs developed and it looks like it will take time. It is going to be harder for her than anyone else to unlock it. The mental obstacles need to be removed and then will a clear mind I know she can do it."

"Don't even think about it," said Bulma coldly, knowing what her son was thinking. "Doing something like that would be dishonest without giving her a chance to do it on her own."

"We're running out of time and you know it. I know you have been investigating where the Red Ribbon Army is moving next and their plans. They will attack any day and she is continuing to get worse; this is the only way," said Trunks, frowning. Bulma knew how stubborn her son was and didn't say a word. He would have it his way no matter what and there was no way to stop him. "Goten must not know, I believe he is hiding his feelings for this woman after the last situation we had."

Bulma felt shocked since she did remember the last argument the two had. Both of them were close and liked the same girl. Immediately, the competition began and it almost caused them to fall out as friends. They made a promise that day that they wouldn't let any girl get in the way again. Now that they were older and mature, would it happen again? Bulma wasn't sure this plan would work since Goten tried his hardest to get to see Makoto. Maybe she could explain Makoto was ill? Lying wouldn't work and made her feel horrible when she did.

"I'll see what I can do," was all Bulma could reply to the situation.