Chapter 7: Got Your Back

Goten sat still in Rei's place at the charm stand since the priestess was getting ready for her first day back at school. Rei stepped out in her TA Girls School uniform with her bag in hand. Grandpa followed behind her, looking frantic.

"Now don't forget to be careful walking to school, Rei." Grandpa warned.

"Don't worry, Grandpa. I can handle myself just fine." Rei said dismissively before giving him a kiss goodbye. She turned to look at Goten and pointed at him in warning. "You better do a good job holding the fort."

"Aye, Captain" Goten saluted her in response, withholding the urge to jokingly ask for a kiss goodbye too. But it looks like the only thing she'd ever let him kiss is her shoe when she kicks him in the face. "Have a good first day of school, Rei." He smiled and waved.

Rei gave a wave back for the sake of being polite. Having him bid her farewell and greet her in the afternoons was going to be pretty awkward. Especially considering how heartfelt he was about it. There was something about that which made her wary, him acting like he cared about how her day went. She quietly began to go down the steps by herself, then taking her usual route.

"Something wrong, Gramps?" Goten asked as he watched the old man bite his nails.

During breakfast, Grandpa had told them about the shootings that occurred the night before. Apparently the Typhoon Gang wasn't going anywhere and was still trying to stir up trouble. Fortunately, no one was harmed. It was mostly a scare tactic to boost their reputation.

"They said it happened on the way to Rei's school." He frowned, having left that detail out when he told them.

"Well, I'm sure they're not stupid enough to try that again during the day. Besides, Rei's a sharp girl with a tough kick. She'll be fine." Goten tried to ease the old man's worries.

"As long as those ruffians are still out there, I can't take any risks with my only granddaughter." Grandpa shook his head. "Especially after their threats..!"

Goten blinked in confusion. "Threats, what do you mean threats?" He asked and leaned in over the counter.

"The day you appeared those hooligans threatened to harm Rei or take her for ransom unless I cooperated." He said with great disdain.

"Those slimy bastards," Goten growled and clenched his fists. How low of them to threaten Rei's safety in order to terrorize the old man! They'd be beaten to a bloody pulp before they could even try to act on it. Obligation or not, Goten would protect the Hino family regardless.

The priest nodded in response. "That's why I need you, son. I can't have them swarming her like they did me. Rei's a pistol but she's still just one girl." He said sadly.

"You don't need to fret, Gramps. I'll look after her." Goten beamed confidently.

"Why don't you get a move on then?" Grandpa motioned for him to leave the stand.

"Uh, where to..?" Goten blinked in confusion.

"Following Rei to her school, I don't want you to let her out of your sight until she's back home safe!" The old man instructed.

"Right," Goten said and paused. "What about the shrine?"

"I've been working here long before you were born. I can manage alone for a couple of hours." Grandpa grinned. "Now, hurry if you want to keep up with her."

Goten dashed off, waving from behind. "Okay! Bye, Grandpa."

Goten darted off the first few steps and looked to the sides to see if anyone was around. Seeing nobody watching he glided off the rest of the steps before touching down on the sidewalk. He spotted Rei's long flowing hair down the street and shadowed her. He decided to be sneaky and try not to alert her that he was around. After all, he should be working at the shrine as far as she was concerned. He certainly didn't want to get nagged by her over that. She probably wouldn't be too fond of him tagging alongside her either.

'Stealth mode, activate!' He thought and began hiding behind things while he'd move to keep up with her.

Rei waited at a crosswalk red light patiently, unaware of two police officers staring at her intently from behind. Goten narrowed his eyes at them. They could be criminals in disguise with the way they were leering at her. He slowly stepped out of hiding with his hand balled as a fist, ready to pounce. When the light turned green, Rei walked across the street and the men stayed behind.

"Did you see the legs on her?" One of the cops nudged the other.

"Hot damn," The other laughed.

Goten slumped from his fighting stance. So they weren't looking to kidnap her at all. They were merely lechers that were checking her out. Well in that case he couldn't go on and punch them out, even if he still wanted to. This must be what Minako must have been talking about.

He continued pursuing his target while staying out of her sight. He couldn't help but glance at her legs more after those cops brought them to his attention. They weren't kidding about them at all. In fact, she did look stunning in her school uniform. It was pretty hard to tear his eyes away from her when she came out of the house earlier. The teen then wondered if he'd get to see Rei in shorts or more skirts like this. He mentally slapped himself in order to stay focused.

'Bad thoughts…Bad,' He thought to himself while trying to clear his mind.

Rei entered the gates of the school grounds and Goten came out from behind the mailbox he was crouching behind. "It looks like she's in the clear now." He mumbled to himself.

He then remembered Grandpa's exact words. 'Don't let her out of your sight until she's back home safe.' Goten knew Grandpa may have been overreacting but the fact that there were threats made him feel overprotective of Rei. As her grandfather said, she was still just one girl. Tough kick or not, she wasn't as fast or strong as he was. It was probably best if he stuck around campus just to be sure there wasn't any danger lurking around. He glanced at the sign with the school name engraved on it, TA Academy for Girls. It looked like he couldn't just walk around a girl's school and not be noticed. He'd have to be his sneakiest for this little reconnaissance mission.

Rei felt eyes on her since she reached school but couldn't place who it could be, or if it was friend or foe. The paranoia almost slipped through the cracks of the usual pleasant façade she'd wear to school. At school she was the model student, a prim and proper lady. She greeted everyone and handled everything with poise and grace. But that wasn't who she really was, only her friends knew the real her. Goten also had the privilege of seeing her true colors as well. Here in school is where she'd play pretend, be the ideal upper-class young woman society expects her to be. As much as she hated it, this saved her plenty of trouble with the nuns over the years.

First period Literature class began and her amethyst eyes rested on her book. She already had gotten ahead of her reading because of Goten lightening up her work load. She then reminded herself to order take out for dinner since she forgot to move the meats from the freezer to the fridge this morning. Lucky for her, Goten wasn't a picky eater. Food was food, and he would gobble it right up. She remembered the dopey look on his face whenever he noticed there was food left on her plate that she wasn't eating. A little stream of drool would roll down his chin and his pleading eyes made him look identical to a begging dog. She felt a smile tug at her lips but caught herself and shook her head to clear her mind. She should be focusing on her studies, not thinking about that goofball!

She felt eyes on her once more and slowly glanced out the window and froze in shock as a certain dopey face stared back.

Goten's eyes widened as he scrambled to hide behind the tree trunk, removing the bird nest off of his head. 'Crap, she spotted me!' He thought.

"Miss Hino!" The nun raised her voice and brought down her thick ruler on the desk with a loud smack.

Rei's head snapped back toward her educator with a startled look on her face.

"It's very unlike you to be daydreaming in class. If it happens again, you'll get detention." She warned. "Do I make myself clear?"

Rei bowed her head. "Yes, Sister Angela."

Under the desk her hands clutched the fabric of her skirt. What was that moron doing spying on her at school?! He was going to get an earful for getting her in trouble in the middle of class.

When the lunch bell sounded Rei entered the cafeteria while scanning the room for anything suspicious. Nothing was out of the ordinary, aside from an open window. Rei got her tray of food and decided to take a seat at a table alone.

"Ms. Rei, would you like to sit with us?" A classmate called out her attention from a nearby table with only one seat available.

"No thank you, I'd rather escape the glare from the windows." Rei politely declined.

Rei began to slowly eat her food and wondered if she really saw Goten earlier or was she starting to see things. She paused while sipping her water when she noticed her crescent roll was missing from her plate. She placed her water down and leaned forward, blinking in surprise. She was sure she had one. And nobody had walked by her table to take it.

A familiar and masculine looking hand reached up from under the tablecloth and felt around for any morsels left on her plate. Rei jolted back and flailed as she felt her chair rock backwards with her, about to tip over. Said hand's twin grabbed onto the chair's leg and caught her in time before tugging forward, bringing her and her chair back into place. An exhale of relief escaped her lips now that she wasn't falling anymore. She lifted the tablecloth and bent down to look, coal black eyes stared right back at her.

"Hi, Rei…" Goten grinned nervously.

"I swear, Goten. You better have a good reason for being here before I call security and get you arrested!" She hissed.

"No, don't!" He pleaded with those eyes again. "I was only trying to-"

"Miss Hino!" Sister Angela shouted.

Rei hit her head under the table from jerking upwards and sat up with a hand on her fresh bump, visibly wincing.

"That pain ought to teach you not to display such barbaric posture during meals." The nun waved her finger while scolding her.

"Yes, Sister Angela." Rei said through her teeth, trying her hardest to hide her anger.

As the teacher walked away Rei felt around for Goten under the table with her feet, unable to find him. She blinked in surprise upon realizing he wasn't there anymore. Just where could he have gone now?

Goten sighed as he was crawling away outside the building near the open cafeteria window. He just kept getting Rei into trouble. He was definitely going to get it when school was out. The shaggy-haired teen decided to stay hidden afar to avoid being spotted so easily the rest of the day. The only highlight he got after that was getting to see her run laps in her gym uniform from behind the bleachers. He desperately wished this school was coed so he could enroll, him graduating high school already be damned. He missed high school, if only for the few social circles he had made when he was there. Things were just so much simpler back then. Maybe he was being selfish. Rei clearly didn't want him around her outside of the shrine. Yet there he was, tailing her like a stray puppy. He beat himself up inwardly for becoming a nuisance when he should have just been looking out for her.

Once Rei was let out of her last period class, she was on the warpath. Without fail, Goten was standing outside the entrance gates waiting for her.

"Well, what do you have to say for yourself?!" She crossed her arms and scowled at him.

"I'm sorry. I won't do it again." Goten frowned and glanced at his feet.

Rei tried to keep her tough front, deep down she was caught off guard with the sudden heartfelt apology. "You won't do what again, exactly?" She asked while her lips pressed together in a pout.

"Follow you around, get you in trouble like I did, and yeah I guess I shouldn't have taken your bread either." He mumbled the last part and lifted up a roll of bread wrapped in plastic that he bought at a convenience store nearby. "Here, this is for you. I know it's not the same exact bread but it's tasty." He said gently as he took her hand and set it on her palm.

Rei's cheeks turned red from the contact and could feel her heartbeat hasten. Why was he being so damn thoughtful all of the sudden? Dammit, she should be chewing him out and tearing him a new one! It was getting hard to stay angry by the second.

A couple of underclassmen girls giggled as they walked past them, whispering among each other about how this strange young man must've been her boyfriend. Rei then growled and grabbed Goten by the collar, dragging him down the block.

"Whoa, where are we going?" Goten inquired.

"Away from my school before the nuns see and suspect you're the devil's influence or something." Rei answered hotly.

After a walk and a couple of sharp turns, the two housemates stopped in front of a book store. "I didn't think your teachers could be so strict." Goten was the first to break the silence.

"Yeah, well, they are. But we're getting off the subject. What were you doing following me? I told you specifically to stay home and watch the charm stand." Rei placed her hand on her hips, demanding an explanation.

"It was Grandpa. He wanted me to follow you and make sure those thugs didn't try anything." Goten admitted.

"And why would Grandpa want you watching me all throughout the school day?" Rei cocked a brow, clearly not convinced he was telling the truth.

"Because the shootings that happened last night, he said they happened on the way to your academy." Goten said.

Rei still didn't look satisfied with that answer. "But why follow me?"

Goten frowned. "You really don't know?"

Rei narrowed her eyes at him. "I think I'd like to find out."

"Gramps said the day those scumbags attacked him they threatened to hurt or kidnap you unless he did what they asked. So he's been really worried about you going out by yourself." The half-Saiyan explained, mentally adding he was worried too.

Rei's expression softened as she looked up at him with uncertain eyes. She was a little hurt by this new information and wondering if Goten dared to lie over something serious like this. His eyes gave no hint of untruth. "I'm going to have a talk with Grandpa when we get back." She said firmly.

Goten gave a nod in understanding. No doubt she was having trouble believing him since Grandpa kept such an important detail secret from her. Frankly, he couldn't blame her.

"Oh my god, Goten..!" A familiar female voice called out behind them. "Look girls, its Goten-kun!"

Rei and Goten's head snapped to the direction of the giddy voice and Rei groaned as she saw Usagi and her 3 other best friends hurrying towards them from across the street, all wearing the same high school uniform from a different school.

"Hi there, girls," Goten smiled at Rei's friends from before. Their uniforms explained why he hadn't seen them at TA Academy all day. They went somewhere else.

"We missed you." Usagi hugged his arm affectionately.

"Aw, shucks…really?" Goten put his free hand behind his head and laughed.

"Yeah, it's good to see you out and about." Minako beamed at the young man.

"What am I, chopped liver?" Rei grumbled and crossed her arms. Her friends sure were favoring Goten even though they only met once. Just what was it about this guy that made him everyone's golden boy?

"Don't worry you get one too." Usagi giggled and hugged the miko afterwards.

"Yeah, let's shower Rei with love!" Minako exclaimed and joined in.

"Group hug," Ami smiled and participated, then Makoto.

Goten grinned and wrapped his arms around all of them, making the girls laugh.

"Feel the love, Rei!" Usagi chirped.

"I hate all of you." Rei rolled her eyes, making the group laugh.

They all released each other from the hug and Makoto looked at the black-haired couple. "We were just on our way to Crown's. You two want to come with?"

Usagi put on her best pleading face in front of Rei. "Please..?"

Goten turned to the shrine maiden and smiled. "You're the boss, Rei." If she allowed him to go, he would. And he really wanted to go; she could see it in his eyes.

"All work and no play makes Goten a dull boy." Minako winked and nudged Rei.

Rei shot a glare at Minako before giving in. "Okay, we'll go to Crown's."

The girls cheered as they all walked together toward the café, Usagi leading the way. She was rambling on about all the games Goten should play at the Arcade before they order their milkshakes. Goten's stomach rumbled loudly as if on cue. He blushed sheepishly as the girls suggested they get him fed first.

After a frenzy of cleaning out dozens of plates of food, sundaes, and milkshakes, the gang settled for more talking since they were short on change for the arcade. Goten however made up for the lack of entertainment with regaling them with funny stories from his life.

"So Trunks's parents were out of town and he was home alone. My big brother and I decided to pay him a visit one morning. When we got there, he was still in his room sound asleep. My brother decided we should let him sleep and make ourselves cozy in the kitchen. We sit down, I'm eating my cereal and my brother is drinking his coffee. Then, out of nowhere Wannabe by the Spice Girls comes on and Trunks waltzes in his underwear singing at the top of his lungs, just jamming out. He's dancing, rocking his socks off while getting a carton of milk. And just as he's pouring it, he finally notices we're in the room and freezes. My brother and I were just too surprised to make any noise. We just sat there and stared with our jaws open. Trunks freaks out, drops the carton of milk, lets out a high-pitched scream, and runs out of the kitchen. My brother and I broke into tears from laughing." Goten recounted one of the stories of his best friend's most embarrassing moments.

The whole table erupted with laughter and giggles. Usagi was the one laughing the loudest.

"The Spice Girls, really..?" Minako wheezed and leaned on Makoto for support, not believing a guy would be so silly.

"Yes, honest to god! I didn't even know he could dance like he could either." Goten grinned. "He had these moves where he was really shaking it, a lot in the hips." He added and gave a mild demonstration.

"Stop, stop! I'm gonna pee!" Usagi cried out between cackles.

Rei covered her mouth as she laughed and then laughed a little harder at Usagi's laughter. Goten decided to stop telling jokes and wait for the women to settle down and regain their breath. The ladies were holding their sides, which were most likely sore after laughing so much in the past half hour. His eyes fell upon Rei appreciatively, feeling overwhelming glee that he could finally get her to really laugh for once. He couldn't help but admire the flush on her face and the creases on her cheeks that could only appear from laughter or a large candid smile. It didn't seem possible but she managed to look lovelier to him more than usual.

He came out of his stupor when Ami gasped as she glanced at her wristwatch. "Look at the time! I better get home if I want to get any studying done."

"What time is it? I hope I didn't miss my show!" Usagi grabbed Ami's arm to sneak a peek at her watch. "Good, I still got time if I hurry." The blonde grinned.

"Be sure to record it for me. I don't have cable, remember?" Minako reminded Usagi.

Usagi nodded. "I'll invite you and Mako-chan over to watch it this weekend."

Ami sighed and hung her head, once again lamenting being the only one concerned with her studies.

"Oh you're all invited too, if you want to come and watch it!" Usagi smiled, clearly missing the point of Ami's frustration.

"Yeah, feel free to hang out with us more, Goten-kun." Makoto smiled, Minako and Usagi nodding in agreement.

"Thanks." Goten chuckled, feeling flattered by the invitation and collected approval.

The girls settled the bill, picked up their things, and exited the café while bidding each other farewell. Rei and Goten walked side by side towards the shrine. Goten couldn't keep the smirk off of his face.

Rei's eye twitched lightly in annoyance. "You look awfully proud of yourself. What, is it because you finally made me laugh?"

"Yes. Well, that and another thing…" Goten answered vaguely.

"What other thing?" Rei pried, eyes narrowing in warning.

"I was just happy being able to make some new friends." He answered simply.

Rei's face softened at hearing him say that. Clearly it was the last thing she expected him to say.

Goten blushed at the look she was giving him and averted his gaze, ruffling his hair with his hand. "You're real lucky. You have a lot of great friends you can always talk to. They seem like ones you can count on when things get tough. I kind of miss having that sort of thing…" He said, looking a little sad.

Rei frowned as she looked at the young man in a new light. Goten mentioned earlier that his lifelong best friend Trunks was studying abroad. He only seemed to talk about him and occasionally his brother. Now living with her, he hardly goes out and gets to spend time with other people his own age. He's just stayed put and worked, helping her with every task. This must've been the first real friendly outing he's had in a long time. Besides that, he had been isolated in a town he's still getting to know, a long way from home or anything familiar. She could feel her heartstrings tug with sympathy for him. He must feel no different than what she did before she met Usagi and the rest of the girls, alone and lonely.

"H-Hey, Goten..?" Rei spoke softly, placing a hand on his arm to get his attention.

He glanced back and blinked, getting lost in the tender look her violet eyes were giving him.

"Look, you can't go around following me in school anymore. But that doesn't mean we can't hang out afterwards or in the weekends, when we're done working that is…" She said delicately.

"Really..?" Goten's face lit up.

"Only if you behave yourself," Rei glanced away, trying to be her usual cynical self in order to save face.

The miko let out a startled squeak when Goten pulled her into a tight warm hug, lifting her up so effortlessly her feet weren't touching the ground.

"Thanks, Rei." He whispered.

Rei could feel her heart pounding in her chest and the skin on her face heat up with the sensation of her body pressed against his. Her stomach was in knots and she was too stunned to return it.

"You're the best, you know that?" Goten grinned.

Rei snapped out of it and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I know. So can you put me down now, blockhead?"

"Sure…Sorry about that." He said sheepishly and gently set her back on her feet. He was a little embarrassed with that display of affection but was relieved she didn't scream or shove him away.

"Whatever, I've got homework to do." The raven-haired woman mumbled and kept on walking.

AN: Aw...their first hug! What a milestone! :'D So my updates are going to be a little on the slow side since I'm currently still writing chapter 8 but don't worry this is nowhere near the end!