author's note... :: represents thought, (*"") represents a Japanese-to-English translation and <> represents Goten's inner self.
She lay naked in his arms, her chest rising and falling with each slumbered breath. He was awake and starting to feel the empty burning grow from the pit of his stomach. He always felt it right before he left her.
"How do you know, Bra-chan?" Goten marveled as he gently tucked wisps of her silky hair behind her ears. "How do you know that no matter what happens, I'll be back with you again the next night?" Bra hummed in her sleep as if in some kind of an answer. Goten smiled and watched her rest for a few more minutes until the burning had spread and flames were licking at his heart. He got a feeling inside him after they made love, as if someone or some higher being had entered his body. It was an intense, powerful feeling that scared him, so he always pushed it out. And after that came the pain. He let her go and dressed quickly in the haze of the silver moon. Goten raised her window and gazed back at her motionless form as the warm summer breeze, tired and weary from traveling across time and space, sighed into him and settled. His hair waved slightly as he steadied a foot on the sill.
"*Oyasumi, koishii," Goten whispered and took off for home in the early hours of the morning. (*"Good night, beloved.")
As he laid back on his own bed, pain shot through his chest and Goten cringed. He was alone, he was without her, and his lungs heaved threateningly. Never did he know such pain as when he left Bra each night. His stomach was numb now and he knew the violent throbbing in his heart would ebb slowly to a regular pace within his waking hour. But Goten also knew that each time he was ripped away from Bra, his heart was ripped away with her. His only comfort of knowing it still beat was the subtle but constant ache that could be forgotten only for a moment's time. And it would never leave him. ::Keep it together, Goten. She's not everything, you know.:: But she was everything. No matter how he'd try to resist her, to get on with life, she always burned in the recesses of his mind until it almost drove him mad. Then Goten would find himself in her comfort without really knowing how he managed to find her. His heart overrode his mind, clouding it with her presence so that all common sense was gone. She was his drug, his disease... But at the same time, she was his cure.
* * * * *
I'm a fountain of blood
In the shape of a girl
You're the bird on the brim
Hypnotized by the whirl
* * * * *
"Your mother and I are worried about you, Goten," Goku said as he dodged a punch. He aimed a kick that was deflected and barely avoided a shot to the gut. Goten said nothing, just continued the fight while he had the offensive. Goku was proud of how his son was improving, but deep inside he was concerned. Goten had such potential, and ever since a few months ago, his increases in power had come in drastically smaller amounts. Goku frowned as he got caught up in his thinking and was jarred back to reality as his younger son's fist connected with his jaw.
"Not bad," Goku grinned as he rubbed his tender face with a fist. He was perspiring and Goten looked somewhat ragged, so he called it a day.
"I'm going off to Trunks'. He should be off work soon, okay, Tou-san?" Goten said as he dusted himself off. His dulled eyes met with his father's and he saw a slight twinge of worry etch across Goku's face. Goten immediately smiled and waved.
"Tell Kaa-san I'll be home for dinner. I'm just going to hang with Trunks for a while," he reported. Goku nodded and turned to go inside. Halfway through the door, Goten stopped him.
"Oh, and Dad," he said as he hovered in the air, "I'm fine. Really. You guys don't have to worry about a thing." He shot off in the air and was streaking his way to the Briefs house as his parents sat for a talk.
"He assures me nothing's wrong, Chi Chi," Goku sighed as he tilted back in a kitchen chair. Chi Chi was standing by the window, hands clasped and tears brimming in her eyes.
"I hope so, Goku. I don't know what I'd do if anything bad happened to my boy!" Goku stood and put an arm around his wife.
"It's summer. He's just tired from staying out late. Once school starts again, I'm sure he'll be back to normal."
* * * * *
"Can't you stay any longer?" Bra pouted, full lips drawing in as her eyebrows arched in question. Goten smiled down at her and kissed her mouth, basking in every aspect of her. The sparkle had returned to his eyes long since, but the everlasting fire of pain was rekindling inside him once more. He had squashed that certain feeling again.
"You know I would. But I promised Mom I'd be home for dinner. And besides," Goten paused a moment to regain control as Bra nipped at his neck, "your parents will be home soon. Not to mention Trunks."
"Why can't we just tell them? What could they do?" Bra demanded as she sat up and wrapped the sheet around her. Goten sighed and gave her space. He ran a hand through his hair and leaned back against the headboard.
"I told you, Bra. They wouldn't go for it, not your family. And to be honest, I don't think I want someone as dangerous as your father after my head! I'd lose my best friend and your mother's trust and favor... We just can't," he said, laying his hands flat on his knees. Bra rested her head on his shoulder and played absentmindedly with the ends of her hair.
"But Goten, I love you. They would never interfere with that and--" Bra was interrupted as Goten bolted to his feet.
"What did you say?" Bra looked at him curiously.
"I... I said I love you," she stammered. Goten stood, frozen from speech. His body shook and he felt something dive through him. It was hard to tell what it was, but it still frightened him. He had never felt this way before, it was nothing like what he felt before, and this new feeling actually took the place of the searing flames.
"I have to go," Goten blurted out as he commanded himself to move. He stepped quickly into his pants and grabbed his shirt and shoes. "I'm sorry, Bra." But as he went to leave, something inside him snapped. Goten stopped. Each muscle was tensed and he found it difficult to breathe.
"W-what is? What are you talking about?" Bra went to him, still covered. She placed a hand on his sweating arm and searched his eyes pleadingly.
"Goten, what's wrong? Who are you talking to?" Goten stared at her blankly, then pulled away and jumped through the opening. Instantly, the aching returned a hundred fold and Goten cried out as he raced away from Bra. She was watching after him and a tear rolled down her cheek. It landed on the sill in perfect time with the pounding in his heart. As she cried more, his chest tightened more. Goten barely made it back before he collapsed on his bed, doubled over and gasping. His mother had knocked on his door and called him down for dinner, but his appetite was gone. He didn't even have the strength to move, nor the will.
* * * * *
Drink me, make me feel real
Wet your beak in the stream
Game we're playing is life
Love is a two way dream
* * * * *
"Thank you for coming on such short notice, Sensei," Chi Chi fretted. "Goten is right upstairs, I checked on him after breakfast this morning. He just won't eat anything! And he's been tired and lazy... well, he's always lazy, but in a good way, you know? And he's my little boy and I'm so worried!!!" Chi Chi burst into tears as the doctor entered Goten's room.
"Excuse me, ma'am," he cleared his throat, "but your son is not here. Perhaps we have the wrong room?"
"What?!" It was true; Goten was nowhere to be found. Only his open window and swaying curtains provided Chi Chi with an answer.
"*Ashikarazu, mother," Goten thought silently to her as he touched down in front of the Capsule Corps building in the city. "I just need some company right now, company that won't try to check my temperature every three minutes!" (*"I'm sorry")
"May I help you, sir?" a pretty receptionist smiled up at him from her desk. Her smile drooped, however, when she noted his wrinkled clothes, mussed hair, unshaved face and baggy eyes. "I'm sorry, sir, this is a private building. I'm going to have to ask you to leave."
"Iie, miss, I apologize for my appearance. I just need--" Goten stared in disbelief as the woman dug through her purse and produced a couple bills of money.
"Here," she said, closing it in his fist, "It's not a lot, but it should be enough to buy yourself a warm meal with. And don't spend it on booze!"
"But miss, all I want is to--"
"Now beat it!" the woman shrieked. "That's all I have!"
"I don't want your money!" Goten yelled, throwing the crumpled currency on her desk. "I want to speak with Trunks!"
"Oh, no you don't! You're not going to swindle money off my boss! Get out!" After a few slaps and shoves, Goten reluctantly headed out the door. He'd have to take the scenic route and hope no one saw. He flew up in the air, checking windows for his best friend. A man and his secretary were heating things up on a desk and Goten gasped. The woman screamed as she saw him and the man ran to shut the blinds, all the while tripping over his unzipped pants. Goten stifled a dry heave and continued on. He finally spotted the back of a purple head. He knocked on the window and Trunks turned around.
"Hey!" Trunks brightened and motioned for Goten to enter. The distraught Saiyan obliged and slumped heavily in one of Trunks' chairs. "Goten, no offense, but you look like s**t. What's the matter?"
"Arigatou," Goten chuckled. "It's a girl." Trunks nearly choked.
"A girl? You, Son Goten, are depressed over a girl?"
"Hai, is there something wrong with that?" Goten became defensive. He didn't really know why; it was just Bra after all.
"Gomen, no," Trunks waved his hand. "Go ahead. Tell me." Goten leaned back and closed his eyes.
"This girl... she's so... *utsukushii," Goten said. It was as if the mere thought of Bra itself created a warm blanket to mask his pain. "I never really noticed her until a few months ago, right before school was out for the summer. But then something happened, something unexpected..." Trunks was on the edge of his seat. (*"beautiful")
"Well?! Hanashite!" he breathed. (*"Tell me!")
"Ano... details aren't important."
"*Onegai, Goten. Please?" Trunks begged. (*"Come on")
"I'm sorry, Trunks. I think I'd better leave. Please don't say anything to anyone," Goten stumbled to his feet and back out the window. He suddenly didn't feel like being there anymore. He didn't want to have to answer Trunks' questions.
"Goten! *Matte yo!" Trunks called. Goten paused. "I'm your best friend, you know that. You can tell me anything." (*"Wait!")
"*Wakatta," he replied as he left. "But some things are better left alone." something inside his head hissed. Goten let if roll off and decided to walk home. (*"It's understood.")
* * * * *
"Please, Goten, I need to see you," Bra pleaded with him over the phone. Goten was extremely weak and whispered into the phone.
"You mustn't, Bra. I'm not well."
"You think you're the only one? Listen to me, Son Goten: I feel what you're feeling. I know too well the aches and pains of love, and what you're doing to me isn't fair. Why can't you accept it?"
"Bra, you're talking nonsense. Now I have to go--"
"No! It's not nonsense! You know how it feels. That ceaseless burning in the bottom of your stomach, the wild beating of your heart, the shooting pains in your lungs that feels like someone's stabbing you through with a knife... I feel that now, Goten. And you do, too," Bra said, her voice beginning to waver.
"Iie. You're wrong," Goten said quietly. His bottom lip trembled. He heard Bra sniff and it brought fresh wounds to his brain. Each whimper, each sob bled him more and more as time went on. He was being destroyed from the inside out, starting with his mind.
"Goten, come to me. Come to me now, we can just hold each other, it doesn't have to be like that," Bra purred desperately. "I just have to see your face again, feel your touch."
"I'm sorry," Goten barely managed. "I can't see you anymore, Bra." There was silence on the other side, then a click and a dial tone. Goten shook as he laid the phone back into the cradle and curled himself into a ball. He wanted so badly to cry, but didn't for a few reasons, one being he was too exhausted to cry and the other being he was a male warrior. He was supposed to be strong, but at that moment he felt like a little helpless baby.
"Oh, Bra, what have I done?" Goten whimpered on the floor. Inside, he fell deeper into the empty abyss that kept him from feeling.
* * * * *
Leave me now, return tonight
Tide will show you the way
If you forget my name
You will go astray
Like a killer whale
Trapped in a bay
* * * * *
Bra's tears had since dried, but it was still early in the evening and she felt like dying. This was the first time ever that Goten had refused her and she was starting to share his illness. Her fingers traced the empty air blindly as she pretended he was standing right in front of her, arms wide open. How she longed to be with him. A sharp knock on her door pulled her to attention.
"Come in," she sang, wiping the cobwebs of grief from her head. She smiled brightly as her father entered, scowling.
"Kakarot's brat is here to see you," he snorted, obviously disgusted. Bra brightened.
"Goten?"
"How should I know?!" Vegeta gruffed as Bra jumped and threw her arms around his neck.
"Arigatou, Tou-chan!" she giggled and kissed him on the cheek. Outside he bristled, but inside he secretly leaped. Bra practically fell down the stairs in her rush to see Goten. She smoothed her hair and pinched her cheeks to give them some color.
"Go--" her smile fell as she opened the front door. "--han! What a pleasant surprise!" she recovered. Gohan stood shyly on the front step and he pushed his glasses up with a finger.
"*Ossu, Bra," Gohan said. "I was wondering if Trunks is home?" Bra shook her head. (*"Hi")
"No, I'm sorry, he's working late again tonight. Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Well," he sighed, "I don't know if you've noticed, but Goten has been acting really strange lately, even for him. I just thought Trunks might be able to talk him through whatever is going on, they being pretty close."
"Goten and I are friends," Bra's heart beat quickened and she licked her dry lips. "Maybe I could talk to him instead?" Gohan smiled and bowed.
"Would you, Bra? I know it'd mean a lot to my family, especially to Mother."
"Sure!" Bra beamed. "Just let me get my coat and I'll be right with you!" ::I'm on my way, Goten. I'm coming to see you.::
* * * * *
"What is this?" Goten cried as his father, mother and brother confronted him.
"Gohan has brought Bra here to talk to you, Goten. We are all very, very concerned about you. And I'm tired of you running away from us, so I sent for Trunks. Unfortunately, he's working late, so Bra volunteered. I figured it might be easier to talk to a friend about what's going on," Chi Chi said sternly. Goten looked at Bra with glassy eyes and instantly felt his heart fuse back into one piece. He stood and looked nowhere but in her eyes. She held out her hand and he took it.
"All right, Mother. I'll go with Bra."
"Just go on a walk. It's so nice out tonight, maybe it'll relax you," Chi Chi fussed over him and he shrank away. Gohan took his mother by the shoulders and led her away.
"Come on, Mother. We'll wait for them in the kitchen. Father?" Goku motioned them to go on and turned to Bra.
"I want you to ask him questions, okay? Get him to talk. And Goten," Goku urged, "open up. Your brother already told Bra she didn't have to repeat anything back to us unless she felt absolutely necessary. So don't be ashamed."
"Bra, will you wait for me outside please?" Goten asked. Bra nodded and stepped out into the chilly night. Goten approached his father.
"Tou-san, you can read minds. You must know what's going on by now." Goku smiled lopsidedly and shook his head.
"Iie, Goten. What's your business is your business only. Got it?" Goten hugged him and waved good-bye, then joined Bra outside. She slipped her hand into his and intertwined their fingers. Goten squeezed her hand subtly, but she felt it and snuggled into his shoulder.
"Bra, I told you I can't see you anymore. Why did you come?"
"I'm worried about you," Bra confessed as she bit her bottom lip. "I haven't been feeling well either, but you seem to be so much worse than I. Why is that?"
Goten shrugged. "I don't know," he lied.
"Yes you do," Bra said bitterly. "You know exactly why. It's because you're resisting what's right, what's destiny, and you can't change destiny. You and I are meant to be together, but you don't want to see that and I don't know why." Goten jerked his hand away from her and shoved his fists deep in his pockets. They entered a heavy, dark wood, far enough away from his house to raise his voice.
"No, Bra," he growled, "You're seeing what you want to see. You aren't being realistic! Our ages are far between, your social status is above mine, our families wouldn't approve..."
"Don't you hear what you're saying?!" Bra shouted as she whirled on him, hands balled and knees shaking. "You're making up a bunch of excuses that don't cover anything! You can't make an excuse to get out of love. We're supposed to be together, you're just scared of the truth."
"I am scared of nothing!" Goten shoved her and she stumbled backwards. He blinked in disbelief and shock. He was pushing her away... and for what? Bra was right, but he didn't want to believe it. Her knees buckled and she fell, but Goten didn't wait to see it. He ran away from her, away from home, away from civilization. He ran deeper into loneliness, anger, confusion. ::How could love be this way?:: he cried inside. ::Why is it painful, why does it hurt?::
"I said I am scared of nothing," Goten muttered angrily as he slowed to a walk. He was much to weak to run anymore. The further from Bra he got, the more tired he became. But he found he could not stop walking, for when he did, it was as if his feet were burning. So he kept moving on, doing his best to think of anything but Bra.
* * * * *
I'm a path of cinders
Burning under your feet
You're the one who walks me
I'm your one way street
* * * * *
"Goten, help me. I can't move," Bra sobbed as she lay motionless on the ground. "I can't move without you... I need you now." Inside, her heart splintered. She knew he was breaking away from her and her heart broke with him. Every step he took in the opposite direction send shooting pains through her chest all the way up to her brain. "Don't break it, Goten. Please, I beg you, don't break the bond..."
* * * * *
Weary, Goten found himself stumbling toward a stream. His feet still burned and he decided to rest in the cool water. He stripped down and climbed in easily, the cold current rushing around his thin frame and massaging his sore muscles. Goten leaned against a steep bank and closed his eyes, the music of the crickets flooding his uneasy mind.
(...Goten...) He sat up.
"Who's there?"
(...Goten, I need you...) His hands began to tremble and he searched around him frantically.
"Speak up! Show yourself!"
(...I can't move without you. Don't break the bond, Goten... Don't break it, please...)
"Bra? Bra! Where are you?!" Goten cried, springing to life. He threw his clothes on and took off sprinting. He willed himself to forget his troubles as he sped back to his love. ::Yes, I love you, Bra. I know now what you were talking about. I understand, I feel it too! Just please, hold on. Wait for me, Bra!::
"Let's go home, Bra," Vegeta whispered as he scooped up his near-hysteric daughter and flew off with her. ::I swear to you, Kakarot... your son will not go unpunished!:: Vegeta's jaw clenched tight and an anger rose deep inside.
* * * * *
I'm a whisper in water
Secret for you to hear
You are the one who grows distant
When I beckon you near
* * * * *
"What do you mean, she's gone?!" Goten shrieked. Gohan did his best to calm his little brother.
"Vegeta-san found her. Why did you leave her alone, Goten? What's going on?" Gohan demanded. Goten went towards the door, but Gohan clapped a hand around his upper arm. "That's not wise, little brother. Vegeta is furious and I'm sure Trunks knows by now."
"I don't care anymore, Gohan," Goten said confidently as he shook his hand off. "I'm in love with Bra, and I'm not going to let her go."
Goten realized his new self as he raced to Bra's house. He was energized, at ease, painless.
"Son Goten!" Goten stopped and turned slowly. Trunks hovered not too far away from him. His face was twisted in a frown and deep lines creased his forehead.
"Trunks."
"You stay away from her!" Trunks shouted. "I know what you did to her! I know who you were talking about that day in my office! STAY AWAY!" Trunks lunged angrily for Goten, his hand taut in a fist, but Goten brushed it aside as if it were nothing.
"You mustn't do that," Goten said calmly. "I'm in love with your sister, Trunks. I know now that I am, and it would be suicide for you to stand in the way of that. Please, you're my best friend... step aside."
"Never! I'll kill you first before I let you hurt her again!" Trunks raged as he attacked once more. Goten ducked his kick and raised an elbow into Trunks' stomach. He backed off and watched as he doubled over.
"*Shimasen. Please, Trunks. Please," Goten begged with his eyes. Trunks snarled at him and fired a blast. It exploded all around Goten and all was still. When the dust cleared, all that was left was Trunks. He straightened in pride, but fell quickly as Goten, hiding behind him the whole time, struck him at the base of his neck. He slipped unconsious and Goten grabbed him before he slipped into the churning waters of the sea. Goten sped on, toting Trunks along with him. (*"Don't do this.")
* * * * *
Leave me now, return tonight
The tide will show you the way
If you forget my name
You will go astray
Like a killer whale
Trapped in a bay
* * * * *
"Well," Vegeta growled as Goten approached the house with Trunks under his arm. He laid his best friend gently to the ground. "You are very *orokashii, you *chikushome! I never expected you to show your face here again." Goten cleared his throat. Suddenly, he wasn't as afraid of Vegeta as he had always been. (*"foolish", *"son of a b***h")
"Vegeta-sama," he said, bowing slightly, "I am in love with your daughter, Bra. I wish for us to be together."
"What would you know about love?" Vegeta spat, ki rising dangerously. "What you did to my daughter was NOT love!" He shot forward and caught Goten under the chin with an iron fist. Goten spiraled backwards and busted through a large tree. Bulma was at the door, gripping the phone nervously.
"Please, Chi Chi, get here now!" she cried. Vegeta stalked up to Goten. He was on his side, coughing up blood and wheezing. Vegeta scowled and kicked him sharply in the ribs. Goten grunted and rolled over, his side throbbing.
"Vegeta-sama," he breathed again, "I love her."
"No you don't!!!" Goten received a boot to the face. A powerful hand curled around his neck and lifted him off the ground. Vegeta stalked over to a boulder and slammed Goten up against it. Bra heard the commotion and bolted to her window.
"Daddy! Stop!" Bra pleaded. She screamed as Vegeta's fists pounded again and again into Goten's stomach. The boy did nothing to stop him, just allowed Vegeta to beat his frustration out. He cried out only when Vegeta connected with a bone and snapped it.
"Bra," Goten choked out between punches. His speaking only made Vegeta more furious and the hits became harder. Goten hacked up blood as his lungs crushed under him. "Bra, I love you!" he wheezed. "I know you're meant to be my mate, I know that now! Each time we made love--" Goten broke off as Vegeta socked him in the jaw.
"--we bonded physically... and afterwards, we had a chance to bond mentally as well. I didn't know what was happening, I was too blind to see it... I didn't know what was wrong with me, I thought it was something bad. So I forced it out."
"SHUT UP, BRAT!" Vegeta yelled and kicked him violently to the ground. Goten shouted in pain as his broken body hit the hard ground. He dug his fingers in the dirt and pulled himself along towards Bra. She watched, horrified, and unable to move.
"That night you told me... you told me you l-loved me, I--ah!" Goten grabbed his side as Vegeta yanked him up and kneed him in the groin. He was unable to speak for a few minutes as the onslaught continued. "I-I just panicked. That night was the st-strongest the potential bond had ever been, and I feared it once again. But I also r-realized that night that I loved you, t-too." Tears sprang to Bra's eyes and she jolted forward. She flew at her father and knocked him aside. Caught off guard, he tumbled through the air and hit the ground, skidding. Fingers trembling, she wrapped Goten in her arms and let her tears fall onto his face. Something surged inside her and into Goten. Her vision went black.
* * * * *
I'm a tree that grows hearts
One for each that you take
You're the intruder hand
I'm the branch that you break
* * * * *
"G-Goten," Bra stammered. "What's going on?" Goten was healthy as ever, not a scratch on him. He was dressed in an amazing, silver metal suit.
"You look amazing, Bra," he breathed, taking her in his arms. She looked down at herself. She was wearing a matching silver gown woven of the finest satin, her hair hanging long and wavy. She looked up at Goten and he smiled at her.
"We're bonding," she realized. He nodded and she leaned against him. "Do you really want this, Goten?" Goten rested his lips against her warm forehead.
"More than anything. I love you, Bra." A tear of happiness rolled down her cheek as she grabbed his face and pulled it to hers, their lips consecrating the pact.
* * * * *
"Stay out of the way, Bra!" Vegeta snapped harshly. She and Goten came to. Vegeta grabbed her and tossed her gently away. She hit the ground next to her waking brother. Trunks groaned and grabbed his head. Bra shook him frantically.
"Trunks, you have to help Goten! Daddy's gonna kill him!" Trunks snapped up and his mouth dropped open in shock as he surveyed his friend.
"Goten, no!" he stumbled to his feet and charged. Vegeta smacked him away and grabbed Goten by his short hair. The second son of Goku refused his body the request to cry out and beg for mercy. He wasn't giving in for anything.
"You're sneaky, brat. You and my daughter just bonded mentally. You finished it. If I kill you, I've just killed Bra as well. So listen up," he purred threateningly. "Treat her right, or you'll suffer this every day of the rest of your life." He threw Goten to the floor and stalked off inside to vent. Bra ran to him once more and cradled his head in her lap.
"Oh, Goten," she sobbed. "Are you going to be all right?" Goten smiled weakly.
"Of course." Goku and Chi Chi arrived. Chi Chi began to weep at the sight of her baby boy and Bulma ran out to comfort her. Goku stepped up to his son.
"Here, Goten," Goku said softly. "A gift from Corrin." Goku slipped the senzu bean in Goten's mouth and heaved a sigh of relief when he stood. Goten pulled Bra to him and hugged her tightly, tighter than he ever had before. Trunks opened his mouth, but Goten silenced him with a wink.
"*Shimpai janai," he mouthed and Trunks nodded. He went inside the house to help control his father. (*"Don't worry about it.")
"Kaa-san," Goten grinned as his mother cried and kissed him all over his face, "I'm all right."
"Are you sure, honey?!" Chi Chi sniffed. Goku picked up his wife. She struggled and cursed him, but he ignored it and carried her back home. Goten and Bra laughed, snuggling faces. Their tears mingled and lips touched gently. They went back to the stream in the woods and Bra helped bathe Goten. The blood from his body swirled in the water and tinted it slightly pink. The waves that lapped at the shore urged him out and he obeyed. Bra joined him in bareness and they loved each other through the night. It was the most sensual experience either ever had. Slow and sweet, nothing surpassed the love they felt for each other that night.
* * * * *
Bra kissed the tip of Goten's nose gently. The sun was just coming up and birds warbled drowsily in their nests. The crickets ended their ballads for the day and crawled back to rest underground. The woods stirred slowly back to life. Goten slept hard in Bra's arms. She dared not wake him; he'd been through a lot. The sun's first rays smiled at her and she smiled back. Bra ran a hand through her blue locks, brushing the leaves and blades of grass from them. She looked back down at her soul mate, her one reason for being and her heart bulged with happiness. She ran her hands down to his flat stomach and wrapped them around his waist.
"Life is a necklace of fears, your uncried tears on a string. Our love will untie them... come here. Loving me is the easiest thing..." ::I've been telling you all along, Goten-kun,:: Bra thought sleepily. She slipped back into her dreams, dreams filled with a future with Goten.
THE END
