This time around... this AN is short. R&R and I'll see you at the bottom.
Chapter 11: The Return
Mai- 23
Trunks- 19
Goten- 18
Pan- 17
Bra- 16
"Don't get yourself killed." Bulma told her sarcastically. Today was the day she returned to the other time line.
"I love you too, Grams." Mai smiled. Her long, sleek black hair pulled back into a braid. She nervously toyed with the end of her shirt as she looked up at the man she now resides with. Quickly rising to her tip toes, she kissed his cheek and blushed a deep red. Bulma laughed at the display of affection.
As Mai hopped into the time machine, she turned back. Something was off, though she couldn't put her finger on it. Bulma and the other man stepped back quite a bit from the machinery as she waved to them. Then she took a deep breath, before pressing the red button.
xXxXxXx
"Can you get any stronger? Jeez, you could've gone Super by now." Goten said, picking himself off of the ground. The sky began turning hues of pinks and even pale purples.
Pan sighed deeply as she shook her head. "Should've." She corrected. "I should've gone Super a long time ago. What's the deal? I'm half Sayian just like you, so what am I doing wrong!?" Her voice gradually rose, along with her frustration. It was true; she trained almost daily, sometimes into the night. But nothing could push her past the plateau she was stuck on. Even though she had a tail, it didn't change a thing. "I must just be a weakling then."
Goten furrowed his brow. "You're a Son, there's not a chance in hell you're a weakling." He scolded. "Maybe you just haven't been pushed over the edge. You're not angry enough yet." Pan pondered the thought. What could get her angry enough to break through the ceiling?
"Maybe Vegeta would know." He began, wiping the sweat from his brow. "He has been training Trunks and Bra, and from what I've heard, Bra's almost there."
Pan narrowed her dark eyes at her brother. "Just what do you mean she's almost there? Are you telling the truth, or lying to piss me off?"
'Well, whatever it is, it's definitely working.' Even though Pan remained visibly calm, her energy showed otherwise. Her emotions ran amuck, as they spun violently. Confusion, anger and relief spun like a whirlwind inside of her. For the first time in a long time, Pan didn't know what she was to do.
She pinned her hair up once more. Her tresses had grown longer, as they now reached just past her bottom.
"I guess that means another round?" Her brother questioned. As Pan rose from the ground, she felt as if she'd suffocate. Goten felt it too as he helped her up, looking in the direction of the power.
"What the hell-"
"Who the hell is that?" Pan corrected again. The ki emanating from the west blew through in large waves. Never had they felt a power quite like this.
"Let's go check it out." She said in awe, lifting her body into the air.
xXxXxXx
"Wow! Just what do you think it is?" Bra exclaimed, rushing to the conference room window. She was clad in a deep purple blouse, and black pencil skirt. The annual budget meeting went as expected, and both Trunks and Bra were exhausted.
Bulma walked into the room amongst the confusion. "What's going on you two?" She wondered, picking up papers from the desk. As she turned back around, she found her nineteen year old son jumping out the window. Her short blue hair blown into her face as she huffed.
xXxXxXx
The machine's loud humming ceased as it hit the twigs and branches beneath it. Throwing a bag from the seat, Mai jumped out after it. She had finally returned. To a time where her family was alive, and the world kept its status qua.
Mai picked up her belongings and capsulated the time machine. As she did though, a strangely familiar scent filled her nostrils. 'I guess I'm homesick already.' She thought, as she began her flight to the one place she knew by heart.
xXxXxXx
As the front door opened everyone jumped on guard, not realizing it was a false alarm. Goku and ChiChi walked into the "lobby" of Capsule Corp. as the teens wondered who or what the massive energy was.
"Could it be what we've been preparing for?" Asked Goten. All of them had trained nearly every day since they found out what was going to happen.
Bra shook her head. "I don't think so Goten. This isn't as easy as training for Majin Buu. Hell, I don't even know what that kind of power is."
The circle expanded by one as Pan joined in. "You have to admit, the energy signal does feel familiar."
"Whatever it is, it's getting closer." Trunks said quietly.
Three... Two... One... Ding dong.
The sound of the doorbell reverberated off of the walls and straight to everyone's sensitive eardrums. 'Well, at least we know that they have manners.' Bra thought smugly, crossing her arms over her chest.
Whoever was on the other side took it upon themselves to open the door. It slowly creped open as the gang grew antsy in anticipation. 'Come on you idiot, show yourself.' Vegeta thought frustratingly.
After a few agonizing moments, the door opened completely, showing a slender young woman with black hair and blue eyes.
Mai-Chi was back, determined and stubborn as ever.
"Hello everyone. It's been a while, hasn't it?" Mai asked, looking at the shocked faces of those around her.
The power that radiated off of her was truly amazing. The air felt thicker, warmer. Goku knew who that kind of power belonged to, even before she walked up to the door. But when she returned, he felt another ki there with her. It wasn't as strong, but surely rattled his nerves.
Vegeta on the other hand, was fearless of the power. He was actually rather impressed with it. 'So, the girl has kept up with her training, and whoever she brought with her.'
Everyone cheered as Mai smiled widely. At that second, Trunks saw a flash of familiarity. 'She looks so familiar, and not because we've already met.'
xXxXxXx
He kept light on his toes as he hopped from one roof to another. Stealthily hiding within the shadows of the night. Little moonlight, and perfect eyesight made this trip perfect. Now, if only he knew where to find it.
xXxXxXx
"I think most of us can tell that you've kept up with your training. So, just how far have you gotten?" Gohan asked, sitting next to little Takara.
The woman stared around the room for a moment. "Well, I've gone Super." She whispered.
But to Pan, the answer was shouted from the highest rooftops. 'How is this possible!?' "Am I the only one that can't go freakin Super Sayian?!" she exclaimed, jumping from her seat on the couch. Her ki leaped to new heights at the news. "First Goten has to rub it in that Bra has gone Super-"
"Bullshit." Bra interjected. "I have not."
"And then this time traveling… freak. I can't take this anymore!" She cried, tears streamed down her face. Unbeknownst to her, all of Capsule Corp. was shaking the entire time.
'Mother.' Mai thought admiring her inner strength, thanking Kami she had inherited that.
"Auntie Pan." Takara whispered, cowering behind her father. "Are you okay?" Her eyes were wide was she took a peak at her young aunt. She had never seen her with long blonde hair, 'but it sure is pretty.' She thought innocently.
"Pan." Trunks saw her piercing teal eyes and paled at the sight of them.
Her eyes softened as she looked at her niece, "I'm going to be okay Kara, why?" And her world blacked out.
xXxXxXx
The young man stopped mid-stride, almost misplacing his foot. 'Whoa! Just who was that?' he thought, turning in the direction of the off-the-chart energy signal.
xXxXxXx
Bulma got up from her chair next to Vegeta, and told them all to stay the night, "it's getting late." As Trunks picked up an unconscious Pan and carried her to his room.
"What the fuck! Why did you tell her that I could, you know I'm not even close." Bra yelled, hitting Goten upside of his head, angered at the lie.
A sour look overtook Videl's features at the curse, as she covered her five year olds ears. "Look, I'm sorry, but it worked, didn't it?" She heard him say. Bra rolled her eyes and walked away.
"You may act like a douche, but I love you." He smiled at her semi kind words.
The next days were grueling for Pan. Her training became a time of hell, with no reprieve. "Get up, Pan! Or are you finally giving up?" Her father yelled at her. She was strong, and even though she didn't want to admit it, she knew her limits. How was she to beat him, when he was at Super Sayian two, and barely breaking a sweat? The woman could barely stand as it was.
So all she did all she needed, she dropped to her base form and asked if she could go to a regeneration tank. "I've been fighting for days. Its hurts so much." The woman pleaded.
"You're lying Brat!" Exclaimed Vegeta as he jumped to an attack.
"Vegeta no!" Goku screamed as the older Sayian stopped feet from Pan. Instead of attacking her, he was stopped by Mai, looking menacingly at him.
The small ki blast within her hand expanded as she uttered, "back off gramps."
xXxXxXx
Twenty years later
Not one of them knows what they're in for. Well, maybe grandpa Goku. I think that year on Yardrat gave him weird powers beyond instant transmission. I don't even know how to tell them, especially after that stunt grandpa Vegeta pulled today.
- Mai-Chi B.
It was a long day for everyone that day. But maybe the longest was yet to come.
xXxXxXx
He laid eyes on the one place so familiar to him. 'Should I just knock on the door? Or bide my time some more?' The man pondered all possible outcomes, none of which were too great. "Soon." He whispered, sleeping high in a tree on the property.
xXxXxXx
Mai looked for any sign of them before saying hello to her grandmother. "Morning grandma Chi." The food on the burners smelled delicious. As she caught a good wiff, the young Briefs couldn't help but take a quick sample. When she heard the wonderful crunch of the bacon wrap, she was met with a wooden spoon to the head.
"What the hell?!" She exclaimed, mouth still full.
ChiChi angrily put her hands on her hips. "Watch your language missy. You may not be my kid, but close enough." Her expression softened. "Besides, it's ten in the morning."
"So." She retorted. "How can any Sayian deny your food?"
Point taken.
"Go wake up those lazy kids while I finish up." The older woman shooed her out.
Mai smiled, tying her long hair back, adjusting her oversized pajama shirt. "My way is full proof." She mumbled.
After rummaging through her backpack, she finally found just what she needed.
A loud bullhorn made Bra scream and Goten leap from his bed to the floor. "What is your problem?!" The young bluenette was furious. "Why couldn't you have woke us up like a normal person?"
"Because I'm not normal." Mai shot back. "Breakfast is ready."
In the other room, a young couple stayed entangled in the sheets -and each other- asleep. Pan's eyes shot open in realization. "Trunks, we can't be seen like this!" She whispered harshly, pulling the heavy blanket over, covering her bare shoulders. This only caused him to pull her tighter to his chest.
"Five more minutes." He mumbled.
"In five minutes, we might not be alive." She quipped telepathically. It was true, for neither of them knew who was knocking on his bedroom door.
"We'll be fine, check the energy." He opened his blue eyes. "Go on, just look." But the one on the other side spoke, giving away her identity.
"ChiChi cooked some breakfast for whenever." And just like that, Mai was gone. Pan let out a breath she almost forgot she was holding.
Goten all but jumped for the last pancake, only to be beaten by Gohan. "You snooze, you lose little bro." He said with his mouth full. Little Kara laughed at her father's foolishness, as Videl shot him an annoyed look.
Of course, both Goku and Vegeta scarfed down their six plates before thanking ChiChi, and rushing to the lookout at Piccolos request. All while the girls ate their breakfast peacefully, and catching up on certain things.
There was just enough food for both Trunks and Pan as they came downstairs a short time later. "Smells good." Trunks said, sitting down.
"Maybe, but it's cold." Responded ChiChi, sipping her tea. Bulma looked at the two.
"Yeah, what's with you guys? It's nearly impossible for two people to come downstairs at the same time, unless..."
The doorbell rang as Bulma was finishing her sentence. She rose from the table to answer the door.
A young man with bright, striking blue eyes and dark hair stood on her doorstep. He pulled his black hat off of his head. But Bulma didn't even need to see past his eyes to know who he was.
"Hi Grams." Toshiro whispered, giving the genius a hug.
"It must be really bad if both of my grandchildren are here." She smiled. "Come on in. Your sister is in the dining room." Toshiro nodded as he was lead through Capsule Corp. It had been so long since the place had been in such good of shape; he had almost forgotten the layout. Bulma chose that moment to realize his clothes were littered with twigs and leaves. "Why are your clothes all dirtied?"
"I've been hiding in trees." He stated simply. Earning a shocked look from the older Briefs.
The women -and Trunks- heard the footsteps as Videl asked who it was. Feeling Toshiro had nothing to hide; he raised his ki back to its normal resting place. The twenty-three year old woman he called sister dropped her jaw, and widened her eyes in absolute shock.
'What the crap is he doing here?' Her conscious mind screamed. This could not be happening, could it?
Instead of going all Sayianess on his ass, Mai stayed perfectly calm as Toshiro displayed his best manners. 'Mom would've killed him if he didn't.' She reminded herself.
"My name is Toshiro." He bowed kindly.
A bell or two rang in Trunks and Pans minds. 'So, this is Mai's brother.'
'He looks so much like him.'
"Nice to meet you." ChiChi said as Videl nodded in agreement.
"Likewise." 'Grandmother. Aunt.'
Mai's chair scratched across the floor rather noisily as she got up. "Want some pancakes Shiro-Chan?"
He smiled sweetly at his sister as she whipped them up. "Being in the trees for four days really works up an appetite."
Pan began choking on her drink. "Four days!?" She coughed as he nodded.
Trunks noticed Mai angrily flipping the pancakes. 'Which means that idiot snuck into my time machine.'
Videl, ChiChi and Bulma looked back and forth at the impending argument between the two Briefs. Goten and Bra walked in at the right moment.
"Hey, we make our pancakes the same way." Trunks looked astonished. He genuinely thought he was the only who made pancakes that way. Three stacked, with whipped cream in between and on top, topped with sprinkles.
"Who taught you how to make those?" He asked.
Toshiro smiled, "you did. You'd make these every day if m-" he was cut off by a colossal crash of pots and pans. Mai walked to the table and picked the teen by his shirt collar, dragging him from the dining room. Much to the confusion of others.
xXxXxXx
Her dark aurora expanded around her, along with her growing anger. The young demi-Sayian was thrown into the white walls of the lab. "What are you thinking? Better yet, why are you here?" her voice echoing.
"Because I had to know, to know what it's like to be in a time where our family is alive!"
"Dammit Toshiro, it's not safe here! Who's going to protect what's left of our home?" once again, her anger began to rise.
The young man stared blankly at his sister, not knowing what to say. Soon though, words finally grasped him as he quipped, "So, it's not safe for you to be here, yet here you are."
Moments like these were was separated one child from the other. Mai had an outlandish temper that seemed to escalate, while Toshiro simmered just below the surface. "At least I still have a chance!" She screeched, throwing a book at her brother's head… and missing by mere inches. The raven haired, blue eyed woman finally caught her breath and said, "I couldn't bring you here, because your existence depends on it. You need to trust me Shiro-Chan, we're almost there." Calling him the nickname their mother made when he was little.
"So you're saying I won't be born at all?" he asked curiously.
Mai giggled, sitting cross legged in front of him. "You're not due for another six years kiddo."
Toshi finally looked away from his sister, putting his head in his hands. He understood now. "Well since I'm here, what do we do?"
Little did the two know, their rather noisy altercation drew an unwelcome listener. One who just put all of the pieces together.
Thank you so very much for reading this chapter. And if you have the time, the authors note to. I really dont think I write very long ANs, but today, I will... sorta.
Today, October 24, is my first fanfiction birthday. xD yep, thats right. One year ago today, I posted the first chapter of Unexpected. At first I thought, 'I really suck at this, nobody is gonna wanna read this... thing.' But then, I kept getting reviews, and people Pm-ing me, telling me how much they liked it. So, I kept going. And boy am I glad I did. I've learned a few things about writing, and met some very wonderful friends.
To my friends, I think I owe you lots, for keeping my sanity together lol. And I want to thank everyone, for when I hit a rough patch earlier this year... thanks to you, I still kept writing, even when I was gone. :) I'm very thankful that you guys and gals stayed on this boat ride, even a month or two later.
Here's to another year writing, reading, and meeting new friends! (wow, I said thank you a lot, didn't I?)
And I also just realized, thanks A Beautiful KaitApostrophe... you're my 50th review! LUV YA KAITLYN =)