Dragon Ball SS: Chapter 6

Chapter 6

 

Bulma quickly strode down the hall carrying the bundle of clothing. She peeked her head into the sitting room on her way by. “Bra's in the shower; she'll be out indirectly,” she said. “I'm going to throw a load of laundry in the washing machine quick.” Before Vegeta could object, she continued on down the hall to the laundry room.

 

She tossed Goten's clothes into the washing machine and started it running, then turned to look around the laundry room. She knew there was a recently-dried load still waiting to be put away, and after a moment, she found the basket containing it. She sorted through the clothes for a moment and found what she was hoping to find – a set of Trunks's clothes with the Capsule Corp name and logo emblazoned on them. She quickly carried them back to Bra's room and set them on the bed, then turned off the CD player and returned to the sitting room.

 

“Isn't that girl ready, yet?” Vegeta demanded in annoyance. “It's one thing for her to be stubborn; it's another thing for her to be outright belligerent like she has been.”

 

“Can't say who she would have inherited that from,” Bulma said pointedly. She sat down to join the others. “I'm sure she'll be out in a minute; I turned her shower over to cold to encourage her to finish quickly.”

 

Vegeta smirked slightly. “I thought I heard her shriek back there; it was next to impossible to tell over that noise she had coming out of her room.”

 

“I expect that's not the last we'll hear out of her,” Bulma said. “The shower was off just now; I would say that she'll probably have an additional complaint, right about...” She looked at the watch on her wrist and was about to continue, when Bra's shout of dismay cut her off.

 

“MOTHER, HOW COULD YOU?”

 

Vegeta raised an eyebrow. “Do I want to know what the problem is?” he asked.

 

“No,” Bulma replied truthfully. “But now you can't accuse me of always aiding and abetting her antics.”

 

Goku let his attention wander back toward Bra's bedroom, curious as to what it was that Bulma was being evasive about. He suddenly realized the presence of Goten's ki signature with Bra's and his brow furrowed. The others noticed the look and turned their attention there as well, just as Bra and Goten walked into the room.

 

Bra had a furious scowl on her face, and Goten was red to the tips of his hair. He shifted his weight awkwardly, well aware of the word “Capsule” emblazoned across his chest and the nested double-C on his leg.

 

The room was silent for a moment as everyone stared at the pair. Bra continued to scowl at her mother, and Goten waited uneasily for someone to make the first move; he certainly didn't want to dig himself in any deeper than he already was.

 

Trunks was the first to break the silence. “Aren't those my clothes?”

 

“Mother apparently thought it would be funny to swap his clothes for yours,” Bra retorted.

 

“You know my rule about dirty clothes on the floor, Bra,” Bulma said. She pointed back down the hall. “Goten can have his back as soon as the wash is done.”

 

Trunks stared incredulously at Bulma. “Are you saying Goten's clothes were on her floor?” he asked. He quickly turned his attention back to the youngest Son. “Goten, what gives?” he demanded. “Have you been seeing my little sister without telling me?”

 

Chichi's irate voice broke in just then. “I thought I told you about getting into trouble, Goten!” she shouted. “You're just as impulsive and unthinking as your father, and look where it's gotten you now!”

 

Goten cringed and raised his hands defensively. “It's...not like that,” he said. “Really...there is an explanation for this...”

 

Vegeta had been silent up until that point, though the vein in his forehead had become increasingly prominent. “Then explain,” he said. “I'll be sure to have it engraved on your grave marker.”

 

“Vegeta-san...” Goten began weakly. “It's...well, I did come over to see Trunks originally,” he said quickly. “But when I arrived, there was Bra at her window...and she was really cute just sitting there without a shirt on...and...shit, this isn't helping.” He winced and brought his hands up nervously to his face.

 

Vegeta closed his eyes, and he clenched and unclenched his hands several times.

 

Bra stepped forward then and put her hands on her hips. “Daddy, don't be an ass about this,” she complained. “You've scared off every boy who's so much as looked at me, and I'm getting tired of it!”

 

Vegeta raised his hand and fired a blast of ki at Bra in response. Everyone in the room gasped in shock. Before the blast reached Bra, however, Goten suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and spun around with her; he wrapped his arms around Bra and took the blast square in his back.

 

Terse silence filled the room for a moment. Goten's chest heaved as he struggled with the pain from the blast, then he caught his breath and looked down at Bra, who was trembling inside his grip. “Are you all right?” he asked her.

 

“Y-yes...just shaken, I think,” she replied. Her eyes watered as she peered around Goten's shoulder at her father.

 

“Come on,” Goten said. He looked over his shoulder and glared at Vegeta. “I think when your own parent tries to kill you, it's time to find somewhere safer to stay.” He straightened up and nudged her forward ahead of him, still keeping himself between her and Vegeta.

 

“Idiot,” Vegeta spat. “I hit what I aim at; don't think that my aim or my strength is so weak.”

 

“Dad, if Goten hadn't gotten between your blast and Bra-” Trunks began.

 

“Then I would have caught the blast myself and killed Goten in the same motion,” Vegeta finished. “Anyone who can't at least protect my daughter from something as weak as that has no business even seeking to sire a child with her.”

 

Goten and Bra stopped short and stared at him. “Vegeta-san, does...does that mean that you're okay with this?” Goten asked.

 

Vegeta walked up to him and slapped him on the back of the head. “You're still a moron, just like your father, and you're still spawn of a third-class warrior,” he said. “But there is, unfortunately, none better on this planet for her.”

 

“Y-yes, Vegeta-san,” Goten replied meekly. He quickly sat down on the sofa next to Trunks, only to have Bra leap onto his lap and wrap her arms possessively around his neck. She stuck her tongue out at Vegeta, then turned away from him.

 

Bulma breathed a sigh of relief and sank back into the cushions of the armchair. “God, Vegeta, the things you do sometimes,” she began. “I'm getting too old for scares like that.”

 

Vegeta frowned at that statement. “Hn,” he replied.

 

“Goten, this still doesn't excuse your behavior!” Chichi shouted. “You need to start acting more responsibly. You're thirty years old, for God's sake!”

 

Just then, Gohan's cell phone rang. He glanced at the screen, then quickly flipped it open and answered. “Videl!” he said. “Are you back already?”

 

Gohan's face was largely unreadable as he listened for a moment. Then, his gaze sank toward the floor. “I know, I'm sorry,” he said. “I'm at Capsule Corp right now. I have some things I need to discuss with Vegeta.”

 

The others watched Gohan's end of the conversation with some trepidation; Gohan seemed to be becoming anxious about something. When he spoke again, there was a slight note of alarm in his voice.

 

“Oh, no, she doesn't have to...I won't be gone for too much longer, I'm sure-” he began. “You two can-” He paused, then sighed. “All right,” he said. “I'll see you then. I love you too. Bye.” He flipped the phone closed.

 

Gohan turned to the others. “Videl and Pan are home,” he said. “Pan's on her way over; Videl said that she's hyperactive and doesn't want to wait at home for me.” He frowned and sat back in his chair. “Videl's going to head over in the hovercar when she's done unpacking.”