43.0

Present Day Earth - Paozu Mountains - Son Home

Days Until Universe Tournament - 5

Rhuda watched Trunks and Vegeta leave, and Goku told them he'd be back later, after visiting with Gohan.

Her current orange eyes lowered, already missing the son of the prince of saiyans. She let out a little wistful sigh. Beside her was Chichi, her new mom. Chichi pat her shoulder and smiled kindly. "You'll see him later, sweetie."

"Y-Yes."

They began hanging up the laundry on the line, pin by pin, until it was all finished. Once done Chichi wiped her forehead, grabbed the empty basket, and beckoned for her daughter to follow. Rhuda was led into the home, and saw Goten sitting at the circular wooden kitchen table, typing away on his cell phone. He looked up as she entered. "Hey, sis."

There was no ulterior motive behind the greeting. It was a though Goten truly accepted her, and Rhuda couldn't help but bow and reply, "Y-Yes! H-Hi, Goten!"

"Pfft."

He pulled out the chair beside him. "You don't have to be so shy."

She sat down at the seat next to Goten, trying not to look at his phone, but curious anyway. He held it up to her face, "See that? What do you think? Pretty cute, right?"

The phone displayed a girl, with short blonde hair and blue eyes. Indeed, she appeared to be cute. "She's very pretty. Is that your girlfriend?"

"Nah...." Goten appeared to be flustered, and rubbed his head. "She's a girl in my class. Super nice. But, well..."

"Hmm?"

"I'm kinda scared to talk to her. Like, what if she knew I was part alien and totally freaked out?" Goten sighed. "You're lucky. Trunks is half saiyan, so it's not like you have to worry about that at all. I'm already known for being a little too strong."

Rhudas chest grew warm. She had never before had someone confide in her, and relished the experience. "Ano...may I say something, Goten?"

"It's bro. Call me bro, but yeah."

"W-Well...I-I'm only speaking f-from my own..life, before this place, but uhm...if you like someone, don't...wait. The chance may pass by, and you'll live with regret."

Gotens dark eyes grew a little sad. He looked at his phone and nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right. But still...I dunno."

He then looked back to her. "Did you like someone, then? Dad said you died and came here. Must have been pretty freaky."

Yes. Very freaky indeed.

Shiroui Yuusuke, president of the student council, floated through her mind. She envisioned his kindness despite his rough words, and it brought a warmth to her chest, as did the memory of his sharp dark eyes and easy going smile.

"..I once knew a guy. He was popular, and well liked by everyone. At that time, we had only spoken once or twice. But...we both died, you see. Ano...but he did tell me once, that he thought a lot of me."

"Huh? You mean, he came back from Other Side, like Dad?" Goten was confused.

"N-No. Ano...he's here, too."

"Wha? Both of you came here? Wow. Talk about crazy. So who is he? Do I know him?"

"Shallot."

For some reason her heart began pattering away, as if confiding some deep dark secret. Goten jumped up from his chair, which fell backward and clattered. "Wow! You mean, the new Leader guy from Conton? That Shallot?"

"Y-Yes."

"..." The teen leaned quite close to her face and scrunched his nose. "So uh, does Trunks know about that?"

"Y-Yes!"

Goten righted his chair and sat back down. He whistled. "Man. I'd hate to be Trunks right about now."

"Eh? W-Why is that?" Rhuda placed her hands to her cheeks, which had grown red, and shook her head.

"Think about it, sis. Trunks is the new guy, right? Meanwhile here you have Shallot, an old flame."

Rhuda dipped her head. She'd not thought about that, really, until it had been spoken. Perhaps that was why Trunks was so protective. "...I see...I-I had no idea...he felt that way..."

"Cheer up. It's not like you love Shallot, right?" Goten poked her dipped head.

"..."

Did she...?

Could she...?

Rhuda tightened her hands into her thighs and sprung up. "N-No way! I-I'd never!"

"Jeez, chill. I was just saying. Ah, anyway--"

His words dropped off. The reason was Chichi, whom had stepped in the kitchen with a list in her hand. "Goten, Rhuda. Just the two I need. Here, go pick these up for me. Won't you?"

Goten grabbed the list and looked it over with a jutted lip of boredom. "Aw man. Food? And what's this....?" His face turned bright red and he sputtered, "I-I'm not getting that! SHE can do it!"

Rhuda peered over his shoulder, seeing food, until reading, 'tampons' and at that point her face turned as red as his. "E-Eh?"

Chichi huffed a little. "Oh come on! It's a normal, womanly thing! Since you have a sister now, get used to it!"

Goten and Rhuda looked at one another and hung their heads. It would seem they'd both have some 'things' to get used to.

***

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***

Gohan was typing away at his laptop when a 'tap tap skreeetch' made him jump. He looked, seeing Piccolo there, holding Pan. Hurriedly he spun from his chair and opened the window, "Hey there, Piccolo. Thanks for getting Pan for me...again."

Piccolo scowled and set Pan down. "Isn't it about time you take another break?"

"I-I will! I promise. But right now, I'm doing research on some very interesting butterflies. They can talk to one another at a microscopic decibel rate! I couldn't believe it when I heard it for myself, but thanks to Bulmas sound wave invention, I can monitor their group activity and--"

Piccolo grunted. "Whatever. You need to hire a 'real' babysitter for this. I have important training to do, and you should be training, too. That new form isn't going to perfect itself." He turned, white cape billowing, and patted Pans' dark head. "...See ya, kid."

"I'll come by tomorrow!" Pan said, waving.

Right after Piccolo had gone, Goku IT there, startling Gohan again. The papers in his hand, his butterfly research, flew everywhere. "D-Dad!"

"Heya, Gohan! And little Pan!" Goku beamed and lifted Pan, snuggling her. "You're getting stronger, little missy. Training with your Dad?"

"Yep!" Pan grinned. "I can fly now! Watch me, Grandpa!"

Goku watched proudly as his granddaughter focused, closing her eyes, and lifted from the ground. She flew around his head a moment before settling down. "See?"

"Wow, Pan! Color me impressed! Maybe I should be training 'you' next!"

Gohan noticed his Dads choice of words. "What do you mean, next? Are you done training Broly?"

"Yup! I've got a new student. She's an Earthling, and a full blooded saiyan!"

At that point Gohan jumped from his window and grabbed his Dad by the orange Gi he wore. "What! A female saiyan?! That's impossible!"

"Well, you remember Future Trunks, right? The one from Conton, who came here a few years ago?"

Gohan nodded eagerly. Goku said, "It's his girlfriend. She's from a whole differently reality, and somehow became a saiyan. That's uh, all I can really tell you, though...eh heh! I have to keep it secret, or the Kai of Time will skin me alive."

"I do seem to remember a saiyan who came here not too long ago. What was her name again? Rhuda?"

"Yup!"

"That makes it easy for me, then. Ya see, I kinda, maaaaybe adopted her?"

"..."

"..."

"..." Gohan picked himself up off the ground and grabbed his aching head. "I...I'm going crazy. That's it. All this work has made me hear and see things."

Goku laughed and patted his sons shoulder. "I think you'll really like her. She reminds me of you."

"I have a saiyan sister now, huh. If you need me, I'll be in bed. Forever." Gohan turned to leave when Goku shouted, "Hey! Wait, Gohan! I wanna see that new form you have!"

"N-Not now, Dad. It's still...in progress."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Gohan sighed and said, "Well to be honest, I'm not sure I can get it again. It's unlike anything I've ever tried before."

Goku watched how his sons shoulders drooped a little, as if defeated. It must be a very powerful form then, and one that Gohan can use only if the Earth is in great peril. "I heard you fought Freeza."

"Yeah. I did...but only because he wasn't here to fight you or Vegeta. I'm not sure he's completely gone. I've got this hunch that he'll be back even stronger eventually." Gohan frowned and looked to the sky, "But with how I work and everything, it's hard to find time to train. And now I have to find a babysitter on top of all that."

Goku had an idea. "Make time to come over tomorrow. You've got a new sister, after all, and I have a hunch she'll come in handy. Bring Videl and Pan, too."

"Alright. I can try."

***

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***

[System: Orange City]

Goten and Rhuda flew to Orange City, taking a shortcut through [Yamchas' Hideout], and arrived in the small city in under thirty minutes.

"We should land now!" Goten shouted over.

Both tapped down on the sidewalk leading out of the city. Rhuda looked to herself, recalling her current transformation, and with a 'fuu' she de-transformed to her base level.

"I'll get half the food and you take the other half," Goten said. He pointed to the slip of paper in his hand, signalling which ingredients he'd be getting, and Rhuda nodded. "Sounds good, G--b-brother."

"Bro. Little Bro." He chuckled. "Let's make it a race. Whoever wins can uh...hmm...have the cake mom makes tomorrow. Deal?"

He stuck out his hand. With a smile Rhuda shook it, nodding. "Y-Yes. Ano, I'm going to beat you, however."

"We'll see about that! You're forgetting I know this place like the back of my hand." He pointed to her tan face, "And no cheating! Flying isn't allowed!"

"Mhm." Rhuda pulled up her [MAP] and studied the Icons indicating a Shop.

"3..2..1..Go!"

***

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Real World -- Tokyo-- Fu's LAB

[Fu crossed his arms behind his head and leaned back into his chair, swiveling around a moment. He wore a pleased expression. From the monitors in front of him, he could see both the real world and the game world, and had been keeping track of Trunks, Rhuda and Shallots choices.

He pushed his glasses up. "So she's Gokus' daughter, now. Quite powerful..."

The redness of his eyes gleamed with devious intentions. He smirked, "I wonder if Trunks will manage to finish that barrier in time."

At that moment Fu detected the familiar energy of Shallot. He was close, quite close. A knock came at the door. It opened, revealing Matsuri. "Fu---ha ha, I managed to make it back here. But--"

Fu, now angered at having been interrupted, rose from his chair and glared red eyes to the half American woman. He tilted his head, "You led him right to the LAB. He knows your energy."

"N-No, that can't be!"

With a sigh of annoyance Fu drew his sword and walked nearer to the woman. She back away, screaming, but couldn't avoid the brutal slice to her neck. Blood spurted out and she fell forward, limp. Fu flicked the blood off and sheathed his blade, turning back to the monitors.

"Now then. We'll see what Shallot will do. Maybe I can play with him again."

Fu smiled, before laughing, his mind running with delicious pleasure at the thought of his experiment coming to a close. The Universe Tournament would be very interesting, indeed.]

***

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--Capsule LAB--

Trunks entered the LAB beneath Capsule, the automatic door shutting behind him. He looked around, seeing all the scattered parts and blueprints and gave a little sigh. He was growing more concerned by the minute, seeing as nothing had yet to happen. It left him with the notion that the upcoming Universe Tournament would be even more crucial, and probably filled with new and strange enemies.

I can't even enter, though.

He grit his teeth and walked through the LAB until seeing his mothers Vault. After punching in the complex password it opened and he pulled the notebook out, reading over it again. There had been one section he'd saved for later, and he took great care in reading over it.

[Soul - Mate]

That's what his future self had named the blood sharing between Chisato and him. The information he'd managed to gather seemed to indicate that it was a part of saiyan mating ritual. The next section of that was even more strange, and his body grew warm reading it.

I--I can't do that to her!

Yet it stared up at him. At one point, he'd indeed lost control, and had even done --that-- to his tiny girlfriend. Trunks hung his head, wondering just what the hell he was doing, worrying over that when there were more pressing things at hand. Yet... he knew why. It's because he wanted things to happen, as if in one big rush, before the ending of the game came. When the ending did come, what would he do? Of course, Chisato had already made her choice and even found a family to be with. It shouldn't be so complicated, then.

He'd just have to marry her first.

Asking his father about those things apparently hadn't turned out well, because his father had been too young then to know of those things. There was also the fact that he'd chosen a human, his mother, and so didn't face the same urges.

With aggravation he placed the notebook back and locked the Vault. "Argh...I'm so selfish."

Trunks really wished he didn't know that his girlfriend had liked Shallot. The girl didn't even realize it herself, and that was worse. It was all the more apparent anytime Shallot came near, and Trunks could see the connection those two shared. A connection he'd never have with her, being a character.

The last line he'd read on that particular section had driven the point home. He'd circled it, several times, as though angered. The fact that it was at the [Soul - Mate] section probably meant it was vital.

Those words had been: Don't let Rhuda go to the Real World!!!

Trunks left the LAB. He had to go get a present for his girlfriend. One that beat the power pole.