Dragon Ball © Akira Toriyama, Shuheisha, Inc.

Chapter 40: How To Love

Her eyes slowly fluttered open, blinking several times as she realized she was once again in the white space she had been in before. The strangest thing about this place was that she never felt threatened to be there, as if she belonged in that place.

For a moment she felt like it was a dream, but then, the next instant, it felt all too real.

The glow of fireflies surrounded her, their light dancing around her invitingly. She smiled, following their playful movements as she searched for any clue about where she was. Before long, she stood before the crystal she had seen previously. Curiosity drew her hand forward, and she touched the cool surface with her finger, watching as it emitted a glowing ripple. When she pressed her whole palm against it, a blaring light forced her to squeeze her eyes shut.

Warmth spread through her hand to her head, making her feel almost weightless.

Cracking her eyes open, she found herself no longer in that strange white space. She blinked several times until she recognised the familiar surroundings of Bulma's house. Everything looked the same as in the future counterpart of the building, just newer. As she pushed herself up, she realized someone was holding her hand. Craning her head to her right, she chuckled at the sight of Trunks, sleeping in a sitting position with his head dangling forward.

She caressed his hair, smiling as she remembered their reconciliation the previous day. They spent hours flying around the world, enjoying the beauty of each city. Returning home, they ended up in the room Bulma had provided for them, sharing stories about their days in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber until they fell asleep. Though she was fine with Trunks sleeping beside her, she appreciated his decision to sit and avoid 'temptation', as he put it.

Leaning in, she kissed his cheek and whispered, "Good morning, Tiger."

He groaned awake, rubbing his weary neck due to the bad sleeping position. "Good morning, my lady…" He pulled her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"Why didn't you go back to your room last night, silly? At least sleep on the couch instead."

"Maybe I just wanted to watch you sleep," he said, caressing her cheek.

Tenten chuckled and shifted to give him space on the bed, not expecting him to jump and pin her down to the bed with a playful grin crossed over his masculine face. She yelped at the contact and then slapped his arm.

"Who asked you to lay on me!?" she said, giggling.

"I thought you invited me to."

She got out of the bed and tucked him in. "Sleep. You're going to enter the chamber in a few hours."

"Aren't you going to accompany me here?" His chin knotted and lips slightly pursed.

"I want to help Bulma-san a little bit before going home." She pecked him on the lips. "Sweet dream, Tiger. See you later."

"See you, my lady." He gave her one last peck on her forehead before settling comfortably on the bed.

Tenten left the room with a smile. However, she couldn't shake the memory of the white room. It was the second time she had been there, and she still couldn't figure out its meaning. As long as it wasn't something vile, she shouldn't worry but her curiosity remained.

"Earth to Tenten…?"

"Uh, yes?" Tenten almost jumped in her seat, nearly knocking over the coffee cup she expeditiously caught. "May I help you, Bulma-san?"

"You're musing a lot lately. Is something wrong?" Bulma absent-mindedly stabbed her poor sunny-side-up egg, breaking the yolk until it streamed like lava—the little occurrence that attracted baby Trunks so much that he made an 'o' with his mouth like it was magic.

Mrs. Brief called her husband from the kitchen, telling him to have breakfast. The said scientist almost stumbled over the horde of cats that followed him when he entered the room. He laughed and gently shooed them back into the garden. Bulma yelped when baby Trunks took her fork and almost stabbed his face, reprimanding the baby by telling how dangerous it was, earning a protest babble.

Tenten lived in Bulma's house for years and it was the scene she had grown used to, though it was never as lively as at that moment.

"Nothing's wrong, Bulma-san. It's just… everything feels so unreal…" Bulma raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue. "Living normally like this, with everyone here, and nobody dying… Sometimes I wish I'd wake up as my current self in this timeline." She chuckled. "I know it's silly, but I can't help thinking that way…"

Bulma's forehead creased as she caressed baby Trunks's back. "Both of you can stay here if you want. I mean, you could even bring my future self here."

Tenten shook her head. "We don't belong in this timeline, Bulma-san…" She extended her hand and held baby Trunks's hand. "Our existence here wouldn't be good for our present timeline selves. Right now it's fine because we're still babies but it wouldn't be good once they grew up. I mean… they would end up comparing themselves and what they do to us, just because we're their future selves…"

Bulma nodded thoughtfully. "I see."

"That's why I want to enjoy this timeline as much as I can." Tenten took her dirty plate and tidied the table. "It's not every day you get to experience the past and I'm grateful for this chance, Bulma-san."

With a smile, Bulma rounded the table and pulled Tenten into her embrace. "I can't really say I'm the one building the time machine but I think the future me would agree that a parent would do anything for their children, Tenten. I see you and your brothers as my own, even if you weren't born from me. Remember that."

She slowly put her arms around Bulma, inhaling the sweet, comforting scent of ambrosia Bulma naturally had. It was the motherly hug she had relied on since her own mother passed, helping her through tough times.

"Uh, did I miss anything?" Trunks was drying his hair after a shower when he saw them holding each other.

"Just asking Tenten if she wants to stay here and be my daughter, letting you go back to the future alone." Bulma smirked at the down in Trunks' expression. "She said she wanted to! Now she's my daughter!" Bulma put her arm around Tenten.

Trunks sniggered. "I'm not surprised, Kā-san. I automatically became 'adopted son' when Tenten started living with us." Both Bulma and Tenten laughed at this. "She will become your daughter for real but only if you allow her to go home with me."

Tenten rolled her eyes—slightly dejected on how he was so clever to use the chance to tease her.

"Oh, my! Is that the wedding bell I hear?" Bulma put her hands at the back of her ears.

"I quit this conversation," Tenten said as she walked away.

"Technically speaking, who else would I marry, Tenten? You're my partner and it's not like we have many choices with the ten-thousandish total world population."

"I quit this conversation!" Tenten repeated, quickening her phase.

Bulma widened her eyes, gazing at her future son and said, "My, my. You're so blunt, son. I'm so glad that you inherited that from me."

Trunks chuckled. "Do I have your blessing though?"

"Of course! 120% go for it!" Bulma patted him on the back. "Go after her! Don't lose her!"

"Got it, Kā-san." He kissed Bulma on the cheek. "I'm going to send Tenten home and I won't be home until tomorrow. See you, Kā-san!."

"Bye, son!" Bulma waved her hand, laughing as she heard them bickering—probably Tenten scolding Trunks about the 'marriage' thing. She sauntered towards baby Trunks, pinching his cheek and earned a giggle from the baby. "I just gave birth to you eighteen months ago and you're already asking for my blessings? Time does fly so fast…"

The thing she loved the most about her village was the refreshing scent of water and grass, the coolness of the air, and how it smelt so much like home—a haven of tranquillity. The village was a stark contrast to Western City, where sophisticated technologies and towering skyscrapers surrounded them. Her grandfather had made a conscious decision to restrict technologies and ban pollutant vehicles to preserve nature, especially the pristine lake she adored. He even planted thousands of pine trees around the lake to celebrate her and Goten's birth.

What had she done in her previous life to be born in such a beautiful place? And especially, such a beautiful family.

However, it made her ponder if all those facts affected how she felt so giddy about knocking on the door to her own house.

Tenten's palm fumbled in various positions, hesitant to knock on the door—the very sight Trunks found highly amusing. He covered her hand with his and said, "Don't be nervous. They're your family. Even if you slam the door open and break it, they will still be your family."

She chuckled. "My mother would shout at me if I did." She took a deep breath and deeply exhaled. "Okay. I'll go now. Good luck with your practice, Tiger!" She kissed his cheek, to which he responded with a kiss on her forehead.

"Have fun, my lady."

They were holding each other's hand, eyes never leaving the other as if they found it so hard to part. Slowly, Trunks walked away until their arms could no longer reach, then he flew towards the sky. Finally, she knocked on the door and was startled by a loud pop.

"Happy birthday, Gohan and Tenten!"

Strands of confetti fell on her hair as her parents hugged her simultaneously before pulling her inside. Her grandfather laughed at her surprised face, and Gohan walked over with a birthday hat, placing it on her head. Tenten blinked twice, thrice, and more, overwhelmed by the contrast to her usual deafening silence in her timeline.

Was she dreaming?

Tenten touched her chest as something warm surged from her centre, spreading throughout her body and tingling her with a strange yet comforting feeling at the same time. She was presented with a birthday cake with 'Happeee Bird Day Gohan & Tenten' written on it—a misspelling courtesy of her father's order. Despite her mother's grumbling about the error, it was the most beautiful cake she had ever seen.

Because it was the only cake she had shared with her whole family…

The only birthday celebration she ever had with her father…

Sitting near the lake, Tenten couldn't stop looking at the family picture they had taken yesterday. Her face and Gohan were full of cream because the twins grabbed the cake and smeared it on everyone's face. With a smile, she placed the photo on her chest as if doing that would help embed the memory into her heart.

Her family gifted her purple jade earrings with golden rims that matched her bracelets. Her father himself was the one who harvested the jade from planet Yardrat, which was believed to enhance healing abilities. Her grandfather had then commissioned a local jeweller to turn it into earrings so she could wear them.

When given the fishing rod, her brother was so ecstatic that he immediately tested out the rod with both her father and grandfather and they had caught twelve fish since that morning so Tenten acted as the deliverer who brought the fish to be cooked by her mother.

They kept causing a ruckus every time a giant bass took the bait. At one point, Goku dove into the water and Krillin, being a concerned friend, peeked in when Goku didn't resurface for a long time. Goku then pretended to be the fish, saying, "I ate your friend, so it's now your turn," frightening Krillin so much that he almost fainted. Though Krillin acted normally that day, he still wasn't his usual self. After the argument they had the other day, Tenten didn't talk much to him, until he did.

"Tenten…"

"Hello, Krillin-san." She nodded respectfully.

"Uh, I… how to say this…" Krillin scratched the back of his head. "I'm sorry for what I've done the other day. I really didn't see it from your perspective, especially with the situation of your timeline. But…" he cleared his throat and straightened up his posture, "…I won't apologise for my feelings towards #18. I love her and that's a fact." His determination and seriousness were clearly reflected in his eyes—the very same eyes Trunks had every time he declared his intentions.

"I envy you, Krillin-san…" She pulled her legs and rested her chin on top of her knees.

"Huh? Me?" He chortled when she nodded. "What's to be envied?"

"You're able to look past the fact that she's our enemy and love her nonetheless. I hope I'm able to love like that…"

"But you and Trunks…"

"I'm not sure I'll ever be together with him if he's my enemy. Even with all the support he has given to me, I still…" she clutched her chest, "…I can't love him. I can't feel it…"

"I see…" Krillin sat beside her, lowering his head in thinking while stealing glanced at her. "Are you… afraid, Tenten?"

"Afraid of what?"

"To love. I meant I would be lying if I wasn't afraid to love someone who was supposed to be my enemy. I'm scared, to be honest."

Tenten cracked her fingers as she drowned in her train of thought. "I am scared, Krillin-san. Everyone I loved left me alone in the future and I'm scared to think what I would do if I lose Trunks… Maybe you did feel it when #18 was…" She trailed off because she felt like continuing her words would hurt Krillin.

"Yes, Tenten. I was afraid and it hurt me to lose her, but even after I lost her, my feelings remained because my heart told me to." Krillin looked up to the sky and Tenten followed his gaze. "It gave me the power to overcome that fear and accepted that I love her…"

"Overcome the fear and accept that love…"

"It wasn't easy but I believe that you'll be able to love someday." He patted her shoulder.

"You're a good man, Krillin-san," she said with a smile. "It's really a privilege to be able to meet my father's best friend."

Krillin laughed. "What are you saying? You embarrass me!"

"If #18 in this timeline is truly good and she's alive, I hope things work out between you two…"

Krillin scratched the side of his face with a blush. "Thank you, Tenten…"

When it was time for lunch, Tenten excused herself to go back to the castle to bring the lunches her mother had prepared with the help from the castle servants. Krillin went with her to assist. Due to the large quantity of food they had to bring, Krillin opted to use a plane instead of flying, and Tenten insisted on driving the plane even though Trunks forbade her to.

"Why did he forbid you to drive?" Krillin put his seat belt around his belly.

"I don't know. I drive well but Trunks always vomited afterwards."

Krillin soon understood why.

Who else would turn off the plane mid-air just to cool it down a bit?

She drove the plane too fast and suddenly braked when she saw bird flocks. Krillin was shaken—up and won, left to right—believing he would vomit the moment he opened his mouth, which he did upon landing.

"You're driving so badly, Tenten! I can't even sugarcoat it!"

Tenten apologetically rubbed his back. "Sorry, Krillin-san. I thought Trunks was exaggerating it."

"Let me teach you, how to do it!" Krillin was confident that he could at least 'fix' her for this part, but he regretted it when she crashed his only plane capsule into a mountain on a small uninhabited island, triggering an eruption that drowned the poor island.

"Don't worry! We can always ask Shen Long to revive the island again!" Goku couldn't hold his laughter while patting Tenten's back who guiltily looked down to the ground while holding her right arm.

"That is a bad education, Goku-sa! You can't justify her actions just because you can wish upon Shen Long to fix it!" Chichi hollered. "Tenten! I hope you've learned your lesson! You didn't even have your license and were underage! My goodness!"

"But I'm technically eighteen after the training in the chamber…" Tenten pouted.

"That's in Western City! It's twenty in our village!"

Tenten knew that. She just wanted to experience being scolded and defended by her parents like this. She hid behind her father who became her lawyer against her mother's fury, secretly enjoying the brio belonged to 'a family'. For other children, it might be a boring sight but not for her.

It was the moment she had been dreaming of…

"Goten… how I wish you could be here with me…" Tenten murmured, her voice tinged with longing as she gazed out over the tranquil lake.

"Nothing could break the bond we have…"

"Da?" Baby Goten raised his hand, making her chuckle.

"Oh yeah. I forgot that you are here with me." Tenten kissed his forehead. "But you had me in this present timeline while I…"

"Daba!" Baby Tenten jumped onto her lap, pushing baby Goten until he toppled over. Tenten quickly caught the back of his head. "Daaa!"

"Oh, my! That's dangerous. You shouldn't do that!" she scolded gently, feeling odd reprimanding her younger self. But still, her catch didn't stop Goten from crying out loud. "There, there, Goten. What's wrong? You're not even falling." Then baby Tenten soon followed him crying. "What's wrong with you two?!"

"Twins. They always resonance to each other's feelings." Chichi came over, patting the two babies. It didn't take long until the babies stopped crying the moment they saw their mother. Tenten lowered her head slightly due to her mother's recent holler, but when her mother smiled, she smiled back. "Your baby self thought Goten distressed you so she pushed Goten, but every time Goten cried, you followed, and it works the other way around. Did you forget that?"

"Now that you mention it, Okā-san…" Tenten looked at Goten, who seemed to sense her distress. "I can't hide my feelings even from your counterpart, right Goten?"

"Da!"

"Because you're always a part of another. Just like you're my daughter no matter from which timeline you're coming from…" Chichi pulled her head and allowed Tenten to rest on her chest. Tenten positioned herself so that she could hear her mother's heartbeat, the lullaby that always made her feel like she was in the safest place in the world. She took a deep breath just so she could deeply imprint the lotus scent that belonged only to her mother.

"Okā-san…"

"Hmm?"

"Can you sing the lullaby that you always sang for us?" Chichi warmly smiled, stroking Tenten's hair and she started singing.

The moment you came into my life,
my world had never been so clear before…
When I see your smile, it makes my world so bright
Even in the stillness of the night

O may the winds of fortune find you
May the rivers guide your way
Through the mountains and the valleys
May you never go astray

In the temple of the heaven
I wish for your happiness
I pray for the world to be kind to you
For I see the world in your eyes

The twins' eyes fluttered and it didn't take long until they fell asleep in her arms. The melody brought Tenten back to when she was cradled by her mother. How she missed the moment so much, to still be in her parents' protection, loved, and pampered.

"I missed you so much, Okā-san… If I can't be with you for long, I wish you could stay with my counterpart longer than I do…" Tenten tightened her fists.

"What are you saying, little bird? Me and my father will always be with you. Even if our bodies are no longer here, our love will always be with you. Can you feel it here?" Her mother tapped her chest.

"I can't love, Okā-san…" She bit her bottom lip, overwhelmed by guilt every time she thought of Trunks. "I tried to but I can't…"

"You can, little bird. If not, you wouldn't have gone this far to save everyone. It is love that enables you to break through your limits."

"But I—" Tenten widened her eyes the moment she craned her head up, seeing not her mother from the past timeline but her mother—exactly the way she looked before she passed away years ago. "Okā-san…"

"Don't be afraid to love, my little bird… Live to love yourself and the people around you." Her mother then covered the right arm she had been hiding because of the bruises from the plane's explosion. "And the first step to do that is to heal this arm and never harm yourself. I gave birth to you, Tenten. It hurt me to see you treating yourself like this."

"Okā-san… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Okā-san! I won't do this anymore!" Something warm was pooling in her eyes as she healed her arm.

"That's my little bird…" Her mother kissed her on the forehead. "Live and love, Tenten… Don't forget…" Suddenly Chichi was surrounded by blinding light that made her cover her eyes.

"Okā-san…" Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around, noticing that she had fallen asleep along with the twins in her arms under the tree. Her right arm was healed and she looked towards the picnic spot, seeing her mother chatting with Krillin. Tenten touched her cheeks and only now realised that it had been wet by something she hadn't seen for years…

Her tears.

AN: The lullaby is something I made myself. Honestly, I'm so bad at making song lyrics so please spare me! XD