[CHICHI] Sometimes it's better to stay at home. Maybe. (2)

Bulma greeted me with a big grin which vanished as soon as she saw my attire – a comfortable tight and high waisted jeans and a nice blouse in my favorite color blue. I had wanted to wear my most elegant cheongsam but decided that this would be too much. It was still a birthday party, not a wedding.

But now, looking at the cocktail dress Bulma was wearing (with a very low cut at the front) I regretted my decision. Was it…that big of a party? Oh boy. The cake I had packed in a nice light pink package felt as underdressed as I.

"No good?" I questioned her unsurely as she eyed me with her head slightly tilted, deciding what to think.

"No…it's alright. You look cute in that outfit." She nodded now, finally smiling again as she grabbed me by my wrist and yanked me inside. "And it's my fault for not telling you how to dress. Mothers' birthday normally is a very formal occasion, but it's your first time. So, you're forgiven!"

I breathed out audibly, happy that I at least decided to wear heels and not sneakers. So, my look wasn't that formal, but it wasn't that bad either – according to Bulma's explanation. While following the bluenette through the wide corridor of her even bigger house I wondered just how big this party was going to be. "Are there many people congratulating your mom?"

"Oh you know…" Bulma shrugged with her shoulders as she led me to their even bigger conservatory, opening the double winged frosted glass door to reveal the extent of this so called party. My chin fell down as I was welcomed by a cacophony of voices, music, laughter and so on. I felt my palms starting to sweat. "Just a few…" Bulma grinned apologetically while pushing me inside.

You call that a few? Holy cow! There are at least 200 people?!

"And my mom's over there!" she pointed with her finger towards a group, the unmistaken familiar hairstyle of her mom right in the center of said group. Her cat-like eyes spotted me instantly and her red lips formed a pleased "Oh!" as she saw me stand beside her daughter. It took her a few seconds to reach me with petite little steps and crushing me into a motherly embrace.

"Chichi, sweety! I am so happy you could make it!"

I smiled as I hugged her back, relishing in the scent she emitted, her perfume a light mixture of flowers, vanilla and something I couldn't name. It was pleasing and reminded me of home. Now that I thought about it, Bulma had a similar perfume, but only faint and not as rich as her mother's. I honestly loved both their scents.

"Happy birthday, Mrs. Brief!" I laughed as she pecked my cheeks repeatedly. "Thank you for the invitation."

"Oh dear, oh dear! How could I ever not? Consider yourself part of the family, ne?" She placed my face in between her palms and turned it to look at me more closely. Just like a mom would checking on her kids. I felt awfully loved, it made me all teary and happy at the same time. Once she was pleased examining me, she grabbed a glass of champagne and shoved it into my hands. "Now, go enjoy yourself and talk to some other guests, yeah? Just have fun!"

I laughed heartly. "But it is your birthday party, why ever should I converse with your guests if it is you who should enjoy herself?"

"Hush now! Just go and do as you're told!" she smiled and made a little gesture with her hands as if to shoo me away. "And that…" she took my present from my fingers. "…is coming with me. I just knew you would bake me a cake. I so love your sweets!" she whispered before laughing lightly and turning to Bulma. "Introduce her to the others, will you? You can't stay her only friend. She needs more company!" And with that she left again, returning to her husband who greeted me from afar by lifting his own glass of champagne.

"Your mother is as juvenile as ever. How come you have nothing of her?" I questioned Bulma teasingly who punched my shoulder as answer.

"Hey! Just because I am a little older than you, does not mean I am less juvenile! I am just as young looking as any other, got that?"

I shook my head at her antics and grinned widely before taking a small sip of the expensive drink in my hands. The bubbly feeling of it tickling my palate was strange but not unpleasant. I had to admit, this tasted really good. Although I wasn't supposed to drink any alcohol after my slight cold, I didn't want to miss it either. What could one glass possibly do, right?

Once I turned my head to watch the other guests the next sip almost went down the wrong pipe. I coughed lightly as I turned to my blue haired friend. "What the heck is he doing here?!" I hissed to Bulma who followed my gaze and sighed as response as soon as she saw the same spiky head as I did. "They are friends of the family…"

"You mean…Vegeta's family is friends of yours?"

"It's more like…his entire clan is…" Bulma crossed her arms in front of her chest. I felt how uncomfortable it was for her explaining it to me. Maybe these family ties things for rich families were a real pain…

"I know you don't feel comfortable around Vegeta's cousin, but I didn't want to tell you because it might have disappointed my mother if you wouldn't be here today. So…."

"I am not so shallow as to ignore her wish just because I don't like to be near that guy…" I said but I knew I was lying. Bulma did too. And as if on cue the head of said guy turned around and immediately fell on my shivering figure.

"I had hoped he wouldn't approach you today because of the people…guess I was wrong." Bulma clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "Might as well smack him if he doesn't learn his lesson…I have no idea what he's thinking. If he ever does think…."

"Is the reason you're after Vegeta because of your families then…?" I questioned her, turning my head away, ignoring Goku and pretending to not notice him approaching. I tried to search for an escape route while I waited for Bulma to answer.

"Yes and no." was her cryptic response which I did not give any attention to, and she bit her lip as she saw me stiffen as soon as that now rather familiar scent of him wrapped itself around me. He was near, I could tell.

"Buls, where's the restroom? He can't follow me there, right?"

"It's on the left side of the conservatory. You have to follow that corridor over there. Go straight ahead, I'll try to distract him in the meantime." Bulma instructed me, and I just nodded thankfully as I shoved my glass into her hands and basically fled with hurried steps. I felt my fever rise again and I wondered if I shouldn't have drunk that expensive glass of champagne. Maybe I was still sick all along and coming here was a mistake.

I tried to make it past some people blocking my way as I felt my fever spiking up a few more degrees. Where was that restroom? Just where was it…? That corridor seemed way too long. Why was their home so big?!

Found it! I inwardly sighed in relief as I finally saw the door of my salvation. That was, until I felt a rather painful struck going through my chest, making my hand slap my sternum automatically as if I could stop the agony. My vision blurred instantly, and my breathing accelerated. I suddenly collapsed and had to lean against the wall to stabilize myself. Just a mere meters away from my destination!

What in the world….!

"Miss, are you okay?" a woman approached me after maybe a minute of me not being able to move. I couldn't see her clearly, but I could feel her standing beside me. And I smelled her perfume which engulfed me like a heavy cloak. It was way too sweet, and I had to cover my mouth with my hand as I gagged. When I slid down the wall, getting into a crouch, a hand landed on my shoulder while another person flocked to where I was sitting, and another, and another. The sudden wave of different kinds of scents was way to overwhelming for me. I made me want to flee even more so than before.

"What's with her?" I heard a young female voice ask before she added. "Is she one of us? Who does she belong to?"

"I don't know her. She seems unfamiliar."

"Tsk. How irresponsible inviting someone like her to such a gathering. She reeks."

"I have never smelled anything like that before – is she for real?"

"It is rather exquisite…hm…she could be a…you know?"

"Nah, don't think so…"

"But she is not marked, is she?"

"Why don't you check her?"

"Could someone… just…please…" I tried to interrupt their weird conversations with a weak voice as I had the feeling the more people came the lesser oxygen I could get into my lungs. I could not really grasp what they were talking about, but I was in need of help down here! I didn't really care what they were discussing.

But nobody seemed to notice I was trying to get help from them. Nobody seemed to give me any attention! They were too busy discussing strange things instead of helping me! And I was sitting there, afraid I would either faint or puke. Or do both. How humiliating…

"Leave." a now familiar voice suddenly ordered before a cold hand covered half of my face, turning the world dark. I was half happy and half irritated at myself for thinking so. How had he found me this quickly? Didn't Bulma wanted to distract him? I heard said female friend gasp "What the fu – Chichi?! What happened?"

The unknown people stopped talking immediately as Bulma shooed them away. I felt her kneel beside me and her trembling fingertips touching my heated cheek. I dismissed the fact that I did not want to associate with Goku for now as Bulma was nearby. Finally, someone who wanted to help!

"I….cannot….breathe!" I wheezed out while I automatically clutched Goku's hand which was still covering my eyes. I, for whatever reason, welcomed the strange mixture of his odor as it magically helped my lungs to work again. Or maybe it was Bulma's?

"What's happening here? What is it with her?!" Bulma demanded to know but Goku would not answer her and I had no idea what she was talking about. "She is not of our kind but why does it seem as if she is?"

Of whose kind? I tried to get any sense into her words but was unable to. My hands intensified their grip on him as I was absolutely confused. And still in pain. I simply heard him cuss under his breath, as if he was annoyed that something he had foreseen and wanted to avoid had happened. That fever made me interpret pretty much into details it seemed…. I was not in my right mind.

"Don't worry, Bulma. She's fine. I'll take care of her." Goku simply said before turning my limp body around to face him, gently pushing my head towards his shoulder to lean on him. I felt his thumb brush away some loose hair which had come undone form my messy bun. His fingertips as light as a feather and oh so pleasantly soft…

"You? Why would you – ?"

"Because I am the only one who can."

That had Bulma utter a rather sarcastic snort. "Why you of all people there are?"

"Because this is meant to be. And if you had not invited her today this wouldn't have happened at all." He sighed.

"Are you saying this is my fault now?!"

"All I'm saying is, that she will be okay. Just don't…follow us." And with that he turned his entire attention to me, ignoring all of Bulma's next words which I couldn't comprehend anymore. But I was pretty sure she was insulting him. Rudely.

I had no idea what Bulma wanted to know, or what these two were talking about, but I honestly couldn't care less. Without another thought I just pressed my nose into the crook of Goku's neck, inhaling deeply while my arms encircled his back, pulling him towards me. At that point, anything else was beyond me. I smelled him and the world around me vanished.

"You smell so good…" I whispered unconsciously as I slung my arms around his muscular body. His big warm hands patted my back and drew calming circles. And just like that, he just wordlessly let me hug him while he effortlessly picked me up. My legs automatically encircled his hips, and I pressed my entire body against his, feeling his muscles move as he carried me away.


A/N: I was wondering...should I switch POV?