Chapter Fifteen

Goten was unsure what to think of the silent and rough demeanor surrounding Makoto that morning she arrived at their home. It looked as if she was cooking up a storm and everyone stayed away from the kitchen, even his mother was afraid to enter. Goten remembered a call he received during the middle of the night, a distress sending a signal of the way her voice sounded and urgency. Makoto wanted to talk to him but the topic was never let on. Peeking into the kitchen, Goten looked at the stiff slumped shoulders while Makoto moved around putting the finishing touches on the cake while the food littered the table in a massive mound. His mouth was watering and it was then, at that moment, he noticed the alcohol and cup sitting on the counter next to where she was working. He never took Makoto for much of a drinker, but could see she held it strongly or at least never let anyone one that she was already drunk.

"Wow, it really smells good in here!" commented Goku, stepping away from the grill for a moment to grab a few more drinks for him and Vegeta. Makoto just gave a nod as Goku quickly slipped out of the kitchen while sending a concerned smile over to Goten who knew it was now his job to figure out the problem. Sneaking into the kitchen, Goten watched from afar by the fridge as Makoto's hands shook frosting the cake. He knew her as someone who could make a cake like nothing but this one was taking longer than usual. Setting down the frosting bag for a moment, Makoto let out a sigh as her hand grabbed a filled shot glass and took a drink.

"That's just going to make you shake more," commented Goten, seeing Makoto ignore him while she continued frosting the cake. He had never seen her this way and decided it would be his job to help her in the place of Trunks. Moving closer, more to the bottle to snatch it, Goten leaned casually to watch her cold, blank face. "Are you that nervous to marry to my friend?"

"I will speak to you later, lets enjoy Augustus' birthday," responded Makoto coldly while Goten tried his best to figure out her demeanor. Already he noticed she wasn't wearing her engagement ring and wondered if it was just due to cooking. Starting to take the food out to prep on the table, Goten noticed a bit of a glow surrounding Bardock as he played with Augustus, trying to get the child to walk on his own already. Goten watched from the shadows while the party began, Makoto carrying the cake out and Bardock seeming to move next to her side. He was too close for Goten's comfort, seeing his hand touch the small of Makoto's back for a moment while they spoke in quiet voices. Somehow, Goten watched as Bardock talked the alcohol from Makoto while sealing the lid.

"What's going on between them?" asked Goku suddenly in Goten's ear, almost scaring him at his own father sneaking up. Goten gave a shrug while he looked over to ChiChi who seemed to be glowing at the interaction between the two.

"Mom keeps telling Bardock to go for it, although Makoto is Trunks' woman," replied Goten lowly with a cold tone. Goku had never thought about his wife of doing things but let out a sigh as he looked over at the raging Vegeta with his eyes glaring daggers at the young parents taking care of Augustus in his high chair.

"Makoto said she needed to talk to me later, so let's just keep the party rolling," replied Goten honestly, knowing he would do his part to keep Makoto away from interacting with Bardock so much around Vegeta. Laughter came easily with the small crowd as they enjoyed the company, seeing Augustus react to the cake, take their fill of food, and joke around. Goten watched Makoto slowly start to calm and ease up as the ending of the day was starting to wind down. Vegeta stayed later than usual, sitting on the couch watching television with Goku while Makoto and ChiChi were in the kitchen doing dishes. Augustus napped lying on Bardock's chest while he lazily watched the tv. Goten took his time to sneak into the kitchen to see what his mother was up to.

"You two look like the perfect couple," commented ChiChi, seeing Makoto just give a nod while they continued with the dishes.

"ChiChi, can people hide their true character and intentions for so long?" asked Makoto seriously, seeing ChiChi pause for a moment.

"I'm sure everyone has their own motives in time, it's just trying to find someone with the same to match up with," she replied. Makoto nodded as if understanding and felt ChiChi's warm wrinkling fingers touch her arm. "You've had a long day, go get some quiet time outside."

Makoto couldn't agree more as she moved out the back door quietly, taking in the fresh air as the sun was starting to send a dark orangish red glow over the horizon while stars begun to peak out in the darkening bluish-purple sky. Climbing into a nearby tree, Makoto balanced and leaned relaxingly against the thick, supportive branches. Pulling from one of her invisible pockets, Makoto opened the silver flask as she drank away.

"I've never seen you like this before," said Goten, appearing crouched closely on a branch near hers. Makoto gave him a sad smile and let out a sigh before taking another drink.

"Not many people ever do, unless they're in my line of fire at a bar fight," replied Makoto honestly, feeling drained, alone, and so vulnerable.

"What has you down? I'm here if you need to talk about it," replied Goten. Makoto let out a laugh; that's a line everyone spoke of saying they were 'there if you needed them' but always never being there when that time came.

"What do you know of Trunks' character?" asked Makoto suddenly. Goten couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

"If you two are having an argument over the wedding colors, tell him he has no taste in color," joked Goten, finding that he was the only one laughing and quickly suppressed himself.

"There might not be a wedding," spoke Makoto in a low, painful voice. Goten was shocked and almost fell off his perch.

"What do you mean there isn't going to be a wedding?" asked Goten roughly. He was trying to figure out how almost a week ago she said yes and then this weekend she revoked her agreement. There never seemed to be anything wrong in the relationship besides the small disagreements most couples have.

"What is it you boys are keeping from me?" Makoto's voice was filled with anger as she glared over at Goten, seeing his shocked expression that seemed puzzled. "Did you think it would be a great laugh? That I wouldn't find out?"

"What are you getting at Makoto? He is head-over-heels in love with you and wouldn't do anything to hurt you. Maybe you're right to call it off for your crazy talk, especially the way you acted today with Bardock. You think none of us noticed? I'm sure Vegeta wants to fry his head off but is restraining due to the respect for his son," Goten remarked, finding glaring emeralds in his direction.

"Oh really? Was I drooling over him while playing with Augustus? I haven't seen him in over a year and it is surprising how well he is taking care of his son." Goten felt the fire coming as the two started to heat up in their battle.

"You know what's surprising? How well Trunks is taking care of Augustus, who ISN'T his son," defended Goten only for Makoto to let out a hearty laugh.

"I admit he has done a great job of winning me over, offering to help raise Augustus, and then when my back is turned sleep with maids in front of Augustus. I chose a real winner, huh?" asked Makoto, feeling her tears starting to revolt against the suppression. Swinging her legs over the branch, Makoto let herself fall down the tall pine and landed gracefully on her sneakered shoe. At that moment, she felt thankful for the relaxed attire she wore in plain faded hip hugging jeans with a vintage printed black t-shirt scrawling blue, pink, and gold picturing. Walking further into the forest, Makoto knew she needed time to quickly gather her thoughts before it came time to speak to Trunks. Raging inside her, the battle finally went into the skies while a storm rolled in overhead. The cold wind started to blow while Makoto tuned out his voice, a rumbling sounded before the light filled the air. That was when the rain started. It was an icy cold rain, something she wanted to numb her to the core. Goten grabbed her arm, pulling her limply to face him.

"You really believe Trunks would cheat on you?" yelled Goten over the storm, concerned how she walked lonely into the woods.

"I really don't know what to think…the photos speak for themselves," responded Makoto, watching Goten look at her shocked before she pulled her arm free. He understood her need to be alone and let her walk deeper into the stormy forest alone.

The Son Family waited two full days for Makoto to return from the forest since Trunks would be arriving that evening. Her weekend here was closing to an end, and ChiChi felt worried as the storm never once let up. She was unsure what was going on but felt it was going to be an end to the happiness around here on one level. Goten showed the same silence, looking through a folder over and over again he had found in Makoto's briefcase. Still, he couldn't believe his friend would do something of this level and just had to figure out who played what parts. Makoto didn't seem like the paranoid type to hire a private investigator to check up on Trunks. Vegeta had waited, what looked, patiently for her return as well but keep looking at his watch around the almost silent living room, except for the soft murmuring coming from the television. Pushing to his feet, Vegeta looked at his watch once again before letting out a growl.

"I'll go find her," he groused, leaving Goten and Goku behind when he exited the house. Goku looked at Goten lean against the door lazily.

"What happened?" asked Goku, concerned for the situation.

"You'll find out in due time," responded Goten, moving back into the house.

Vegeta placed on his eye scanner he used for searching for people, checking around sections of the stormy forest but saw a swirling cloud center gathering over a thickly wooded area. Following closely to the power signals, Vegeta lowered into the forest to see what his future daughter-in-law was doing. Makoto sat cross legged under the small waterfall in a meditative state while murmuring, her skin looking paled from who knows how many hours under there. Finally, her darkened emeralds opened as she moved into a standing position before jumping off the rock and swimming toward shore. Vegeta saw to the mouth of the river how it opened wider at the destroyed rocks lodged in trees. Moving from his hiding spot, he glowered at her curiously as she noisily came up to the banks where he stood.

"I'll be there on time, that is a promise," replied Makoto, starting on her way back to the city. Vegeta ignored her words and grabbed her like a rag doll, swinging her over his shoulder. Flying back was easy, but getting her into the car to go back to her hotel room was another issue in itself. Goten had coerced her with promises that she could always come back and he would still talk to her after all was said and done. Vegeta waited until the ride home to take his turn on the situation; he knew his son for being pig-headed at times and doing this in the past but not with someone like Makoto. Trunks had been excited to ask for his grandmother's ring, knowing she was the one.

"Act as if nothing happened," spoke Vegeta, scaring Makoto with the sudden sound of his voice. She hadn't known him to speak much but found when he did, it was for when it counted. Gazing at him for a moment, Makoto wasn't sure if he said it because it was his son or if he really cared for their situation. "Gather facts and evidence before accusations."

That was the best advice Makoto had heard all weekend.

Trunks was pleased to be back home, wanting this moment all weekend when he could hold Makoto in his arms and kiss her once again. Uneasiness washed over him as they approached the stormy city. At this time of year, it was rare for it to be so dark that he was unsure what to expect when he got off the plane. Bulma sat bubbling beside him and talked his ear off with plans she wished to see incorporated into the wedding as well as gave list of suggested places to have the ceremony and made sure to be there for helping Makoto pick out the perfect dress. Trunks couldn't agree more since he knew it would be something that would bond the two together. Following Bulma down the stairs of their private plane, Trunks felt relieved to see Makoto standing as beautiful as ever next to his father. The black pinstriped pant suit with silky pink camisole fit her curves beautifully but he sensed darkness in her presence as she stared with soft, fake smile gracing her lips. He knew that look well, and it meant business or a drastic change was going to happen. Did something happen while he was away?

Worried, Trunks watched his parents greet for the first time as Bulma planted a kiss on Vegeta's cheek. His skin stung when he felt her cold flesh come in contact with his warmed hands pulling all his attention back to the brunette, worried. Pulling her against him, Trunks felt how tightly her arms moved around his waist as if she was never going to let out. Giving a chuckle, he petted her head tenderly.

"I've only been gone a few days, did it really feel that long?" asked Trunks as she nodded against his chest.

"I'm sure you have a lot of catching up to do, we can meet tomorrow for lunch before you set out?" asked Bulma, her arm wrapped back behind Vegeta with a grin. Trunks groaned at what his mother meant and gave a nod.

"Sure, a late lunch I might add," he responded as the two chuckled before settting off on their own ways. Feeling her cold grip, Trunks snuck a peek over at her relaxing form before sending her a small smile. "How was Augustus' birthday?"

Makoto wished she could tell the truth, but slid into the car as the story formulated quickly.

"Augustus was making progress on walking and my hands got a break from his tight fingers," she replied and turned just as Trunks leaned in to give her a kiss. The moment they made contact, Makoto felt everything melting away and her doubts leaving her. Trunks pulled away slightly to kiss her forehead as he trailed a thumb down her cheek.

"What's going on, Mako?" probed Trunks. Makoto felt nervous, the cold sweat creeping all over from him see through her. She wasn't trying to make it obvious but instead evaded for a moment as she pushed her face into his neck. Trunks could tell it was serious but waited to give her plenty of time. Finally, Makoto slowly pulled back with a nervous look as she pulled the black folder out of her briefcase and handed it to him. Trunks wasn't sure what to make of it as he finally opened the folder, flipping through the pages holding a firm jaw. Was this real? Was he being framed or set up? These had to have been altered since he knew these never happened.

"I think we should put everything on hold until this is figured out," conveyed Makoto, her voice above a whisper as she darned not look in his direction. Trunks was in a state of shock, rubbing his chin thoughtfully while he gazed through the photos one more time before processing her words.

"Do you believe these?" enquired Trunks, trying his best to keep his temper low while he looked at her with pleading eyes. The moment she looked away, Trunks knew there was doubt as he hurled the folder into the depths of the limo, the pictures bursting like fireworks in every direction. At her silence, Trunks turned his cold blue gems to stare while waiting for a reply; his lavender brows wrinkled to show his distress. Seeing as how she was on the spot, Makoto swallowed the lump choking her throat.

"I don't know what to believe…that's why I've extended our stay at the hotel and pushed back my schedule to…resolve issues," responded Makoto, feeling herself want to reach out for him, seeing how defeated he looked leaning back into the seat with his eyes cast to the floor. Finally, she pushed through all her thoughts to reach a hand out to caress his cheek and felt his worried eyes gazing. Mustering up a soft smile, Makoto let out a long sigh before moving her fingers into the bottom strands on his hair. "Trunks, this is one of our stepping stones we must overcome."

Giving a nod, Trunks knew he would need to figure this out soon and find where the foul play was coming from with further examination of the photos.