I'm sorry for the lack of activity with posting stuff, I've been very busy as of late. This is a Warning; this chapter is a kind of a tear jerker. Also for clarity, I will include an * for the conversations that take place between the Present/unchanged conversations.

Disclaimer: You've heard it before and I'll say it again, I do not own Dragonball Z or any of its characters.

Chapter Seven – Twice Removed

Son Household : Present 11:30am

The time machine appeared a few meters away from the house. Once again its travelers departed its confines and surveyed the area.

"I still don't understand why we didn't do this in the first place. We wasted our damn time going to the Past." Gohan looked down as if something were on his mind, "Mirai Trunks, Vegeta has a point. Why didn't we go back in time to our time line instead of another one?" Mirai Trunks thought for a moment, what they're suggesting makes perfect sense. "Well I sorta figured that the other time line had the same events as this one. I didn't know it too had changed. Not only that but in another time line we're capable of helping people; but right now all we can do is watch, but I do understand your point." "So in other words your intention was to help mom if she needed it." "Well guys, at least we aren't wasting time. I mean, we have all the time in the world." "It's true Goku, it's just that no matter what you do in any time line even our own, we still won't change the events that happened here." "I wish we could Mirai Trunks, but we'd probably end up screwing things up. So dad, should we look for mom since she can't see us anyway?" "Yeah Gohan, I think she's in the house right now. Why don't we split up? Mirai Trunks and Vegeta you two stay out here and me and Gohan will follow Chi-Chi, just in case that thing arrives before hand." Mirai Trunks nodded and Vegeta looked around eager to find that energy signal. "Hey Mirai Trunks, will we be able to feel power levels even though we can't interact with anything?" "Uhh, yeah we should be able to Gohan." "Great."

Gohan and Goku went inside of the house to find Chi-Chi while the other two searched the area for any suspicious persons.

Inside Goku and Gohan followed Chi-Chi unknowingly throughout the house while she did the chores. Goku watched admiringly, I should really include Chi-Chi on everything I do from now on. If I ever see her again… The last thought stung at Goku's heart and he silently prayed that the events that will later unfold would give him some answers to her whereabouts.

Son Household : Present 12:00pm

By now Chi-Chi's chores had led her outside to dry the laundry. Goku and Gohan continued to follow her watching intently. Then, the energy that they were waiting for emerged. All four Saiyans looked to one another realizing that the energy they felt was feint and seemed distant. It seemed as if the being was on their way to the planet.

"Was this power here all this time and we didn't know until later?" "I think so Gohan, I had felt a little uneasy around noon." "So, then this person came from space?" "Could be Mirai Trunks." The four waited patiently for the energy to draw nearer.

After about ten minutes of waiting the energy signal suddenly appeared a few meters in front of them. It walked slowly towards Chi-Chi a short distance then stopped and stared at her waiting for her to finish. Goku, Gohan, Vegeta and Mirai Trunks tried to make out what they could of this being. It was a woman that much they knew, but the figure engulfed by her was puzzling. Not to mention that this woman wore a halo indicating that she or it was once alive before meeting Chi-Chi. The expressions that each Saiyan wore were that of puzzlement and anger with a hint of fear. No one dared to move fearing that their movements would somehow be detected. Goku above all was feeling sick to his stomach by this figure.

The group's inspection of this creature was broken when Chi-Chi's shocked expression was heard while dropping the basket stunned. Goku couldn't help but feel panicked as he watched on unable to intervene. Chi-Chi assumed a fighting position, *"Who…who are you?" Gohan started to move forward but Goku grabbed his shoulder stopping him. Gohan glanced at his dad from his shoulder and realized that no matter what he did nothing would change. He was powerless to help his mother. The look of anger was replaced by that of fear as Gohan turned his attention back towards the scene before him.

*"Where is Son Goku?" came from the figure. Goku narrowed his eyes with anger burning in his heart. How does this person know me? His thoughts were interrupted, *"Who are you and what do you want with 'my' Goku?" "Ah! So you are his wife I gather." Goku noticed the shakiness and fear in Chi-Chi's expression and felt a wave of fear and guilt that he was needed and wasn't there to help her. Gohan too wanted to desperately grab his mother and shelter her from this person. *"Goku isn't here! Now get off of my property." The group watched carefully as the figure's expression looked like that of anger. *"Shit, this body doesn't have much time left." Mirai Trunks looked between the figure and Chi-Chi and observed as Chi-Chi seemed to have caught wind of the figure's statement. What does she mean by that? Goku had an idea, could this being also be granted time to come here to Earth? Somehow I doubt that though.

A smiled crept on the figure's face as she started to walk forward. *"I guess I'll have to settle for you then." Goku's jaw was clenched as he watched, Please Kami, don't! Goku watched as the figure moved forward in an instant and held her hand out preparing an energy blast. NO!!! Unknowingly Goku rushed forward and tried to punch the figure to no avail. Goku backed off a few feet and stood there stunned for a minute as realization suddenly came back to him. The other three moved closer to him as if being there to back him up against the unreachable enemy. Goku watched in horror as a blast of pure darkness engulfed Chi-Chi and her piercing scream could be heard. They watched as the blast begun to tear apart Chi-Chi's body. Shock and horror appeared on everyone's face. By this time Chi-Chi was holding herself still screaming. When the screaming had stopped, they observed as Chi-Chi watched in horror as her body dissolved before her very eyes. She closed her eyes again as death over took her. The last of the energy blast swirled around Chi-Chi's form reducing her to nothing.

The blast faded and nothing but a pile of dust remained. Gohan looked on realizing his theory was correct. He dropped to his knees staring at the pile before them a few feet. Goku couldn't bring himself to turn away, he stared on in disbelief his body trembling. Mirai Trunks could only stare wondering how they would stand a chance against this person. Vegeta being the only one to turn away continued to watch the figure. The figure turned and began walking away, *"We will meet, Son Goku." Goku's only response could be heard, "Chi-Chi…"

As if on cue the figure stopped in its tracks. Vegeta who was the only one watching her noticed her halt. The figure turned around scanning the area, *"Son Goku?" Goku's attention snapped to the figure about ten feet away wondering who said his name. Gohan and Mirai Trunks also noticed the figure looking about. *"Is that you Son Goku?" Vegeta looked back and forth between Goku and the woman before him, "Mirai Trunks I thought you said she wouldn't notice us?" "What…?" was all that Mirai Trunks could really say. Gohan stood once more, How…how is she able to see us? Vegeta looked at the figure again and noticed that she was trying to locate them. "Hmm, you can't see us can you woman?" The figure raised an eyebrow in response listening keenly. "Who are you?" came from Goku. "What do you want from me?" The figure smiled in response, *"Ah Son Goku. So you 'are' here, in theory I suppose." The figure chuckled, *"So…you traveled through time just to meet me, I'm flattered. And I gather that your astral selves are invisible and can't intervene, how very interesting. Pity…that means I can't harm you either. I'm sorry that you weren't on the receiving end of my blast Son Goku. I'll just have to make sure to pay you a visit again sometime." Everyone was taken aback by her comments. An angered Goku walked towards her, "You killed my wife for no reason! Next time we meet you won't be so fortunate!" The figure seemed to be entertained by the events and laughed, *"You are fortunate that I am unable to go through time myself and kill you unnoticed." "Who are you and what do you want with us!" Mirai Trunks asked in anger. *"Hmmm…I guess you can say that I'm here to simply kill you all." "What have you done to Chi-Chi!?" *"Pathetic creatures, you know not whom you're dealing with. And as for that woman," the figure said with a smile spreading across her face, *"she is no more."

With that, the figure turned again and walked away. "Wait, who are you!" Gohan demanded. But the figure continued to walk away and in a flash of light, the figure was gone.

For a moment the four Saiyans stood there puzzled. Goku stood there and felt as if someone were squeezing his heart, Chi-Chi… Mirai Trunks was the first to speak up, "I have no clue how she was able to hear us…" "It seems to me that this 'woman' knows more then we do," Vegeta remarked. "But who is she? And why does she want dad?" "I think she wants all of us dead son. I just hope we can stop her." "Mirai Trunks, she said that she was once capable of traveling through time. Do you know of anyone like this in your time?" "No I don't Gohan. But maybe she's from another time, like Cell was." "My question is, is she in the Other world now? She was wearing a halo if you idiots hadn't noticed." Goku brought his attention to Vegeta's statement recalling the figure's appearance. "There was a small figure surrounded by her. I don't think it was a kid." "I only know of one being that small in size who would want us dead," Vegeta stated in recollection. "Who?" Gohan questioned. Vegeta frowned, "Kakkarot, we need to get back to the tower." Goku nodded slowly and brought his fingers to his forehead. "Wait," Mirai Trunks called. He ran over to his time machine and reverted it back to its capsulated form. He came running back to the group placing it in its original position, "We still have some time to kill guys. Should we wait 'til we leave or go back to the present to after we leave?"

Before anyone could respond the Present Goku and Gohan touched down. *"Chi-Chi! Chi-Chi, answer me!" Goku watched as his counterpart looked around frantic. Goku then rushed into the house and Gohan began expecting the scene. "You're not going to find anything," Gohan stated wanting to know if he would hear. But the figure before him continued to scan the area unaware of his presence and his statement. "I guess it's just that 'being' who can hear us." Vegeta turned to Goku, "Kakkarot, when did you notice that the energy was gone?" Goku looked sadly at Vegeta, "I was too worried about Chi-Chi to notice." "Dammit! So you mean to tell me that woman had time to have a conversation with us and you didn't notice?" Goku could only respond by looking at the ground frowning. "Blast!" "So I guess everything from here on happened as is."

Goku emerged from the house, *"Gohan did you find her." *"No dad…but I found a pile of dust by the laundry basket." The group couldn't help but watch as Goku bent down to examine the pile of dust that lay there. Goku stood there watching as the pile was carried with the wind, knowing now that Chi-Chi will never be once more. A lump formed in Goku's throat at the sight, *"This doesn't make sense, was Chi-Chi kidnapped or…" Tears threatened to spill from hearing his counterpart's statement. Mirai Trunks and Vegeta looked at Goku seeing a broken warrior.

*"Hey dad, the energy signal is completely gone now."

Even Vegeta couldn't help but feel saddened by all of this. He walked over to Goku and said softly, "Kakkarot, we should get going now." Mirai Trunks saw that Gohan also was grief stricken. Gohan was always hopeful thinking of some way to save Chi-Chi, and now…I don't think we'll ever be able to. I don't think Goku will ever recover from this…

Unable to bear watching any longer Goku turned away from the scene and the group and brought his fingers to his forehead. They all vanished unnoticed to the other two whom were in deep discussion with King Kai.