• 1-PT 1 - Longing
• 2-PT 2 - Discovery
• 3-PT 3 - The First Step
• 4-PT 4 - Questions Answered?
• 5-PT 5 - Guilt
• 6-PT 6 - Take Action
• 7-PT 7 - This is what I wanted...isn't it?
• 8-PT 8 - The Price to Pay
• 9-PT 9 - Solution Sweet
• 10-PT 10 - Bittersweet Aftertaste
• 11-PT 11 - Choice
• 12-PT 12 - Epiphany
• 13-PT 13 - Scar Tissue
• 14-PT 14 - Betrayer
• 15-PT 15 - Fireworks
• 16-Pt 16 - Finale

===

Maybe some time and space is the best medicine.

After a few hours I no longer hear the T.V. on in her room. I decide to peak in and see if she finally relaxed enough to fall asleep. Luckily she had. I walk over quietly as to not wake her from her hard earned slumber. I move to pick up the dirty dishes, and plates and things to bring them to the kitchen. As I come closer I realize she's only finished half of her sandwich. She still slept with Dad's pinstripe suit clutched in one hand, and to my hr, hr, had carved the words "just a kiss" in her skin with the knife she'd used to cut the fruit.

A lump forms in my throat.

I thought she was getting better...

===

Part 14

"Let’s go somewhere nice tonight... just you and me..." Bejiita says in a deliciously sexy voice.

| The dream always starts out the same. |

I stare at him hungrily. His sculpted body filling out his tailored pinstripe suit perfectly.

"How fast can you get ready?" he asks. The base in his voice raising the hairs on the back of my neck.

I steal one last glance before I bolt out of the door to get dressed. His chuckling at my eagerness wafts past my ears as I dash to my room. I put on my white dress; the one with the soft lace, the one Bejiita loves me in.

| I dream of the day that started out so well. I have it every night. |

The restaurant he suggests is beautiful, dark and romantic. More of a high class lounge really. But of course that hardly matters. What matters is hi>. i>. Heads turn as we walk by. He leads me by the arm to our table, smiling and devastating everyone around him with his gruff charm, and handsome looks. I can't help but feel proud to call him my own.

I keep dinner conversation light and airy, and for the first time in a while, he actually seemed to be listening. He actually seems interested. He laughs at my jokes, and smiles at my wit. Other than when we make love, I can honestly say this is the best time I've ever had with him! But my near euphoric mood shatters like glass when Bejiita drops his on the floor, shocked by the unexpected visitor.

| The dream always spirals down into a nightmare. |

He's here. That betrayer... that thief I used to call a friend.

The images begin to spin out of control; and I am no longer the master of my dream. The sequence of events are out of order. One scene jumps back to earlier that day when Bejiita first sauntered into the lab and suggested we go out. Then jumps to when that betrayer wraps his arms around Bejiita's waist. The dream plays out normally until their lips meet. Then it pauses as if all time had stopped. I yell, trying to get their attention, get them to stop, get the image out of my head. But I can't. Just them kissing, forgetting I'm even there, or that they're being watched. The kiss plays itself over and over again from every conceivable angle. Then the last, wrenching scene: my husband moaning and going boneless in Gokuu's arms.

| Bejiita how could you?... |

I wake screaming. Hot tears streaming down my face. It's morning. The beginning of another pain filled day. I look around wildly until I spot Trunks at my bedside holding me down through all my thrashing.

"Mama calm down!! It's just a dream!"

But in a way, it wasn't. It was a testament to how fragile my mind had gotten. It showed how completely incapable I was of letting go.

| Just let him go... |

I thought he would always be mine.

Maybe I didn't tell him I loved him enough. Maybe I should have taken up martial arts, cooked more, bought him nicer things, just been whatever he wanted. But I couldn't. Not that it mattered. In the end, all he cared about was that thief... Gokuu.

I come out of my thoughts to find Trunks watching me sadly. Then something just snaps. It's the pity and sadness in my son'ss ths that really lets me see how pathetic I've become. With my hair everywhere, eyes red from endless crying and poor sleep, still clinging to all I have left of Bejiita months after his departure. Pathetic.

Trunks says nothing when he leaves and returns with bandages from where I cut myself repeatedly, and a glass of water. It's so good to have someone to rely on. Even if it is my son. Even if it should be the other way around. I lost a husband, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't have been there for Trunks. He had a hard time with this once too.

He begins to wrap my arm and the tears fall again.

"Trunks.... I need help..." the words come out of my throat like a series of croaks, still scratchy and thick with sleep.

He finishes the wrapping and looks at me resolutely.

"Then that's what you'll get."

===

"Jiita!! Dinner's ready!!!" Kakarotto yells from the kitchen. His cooking has much improved in the past few weeks. I sit at the table as he sets plate after plate of piping hot food in front of me, regaling me with a tale about his and Goten's time together not too long ago, and something funny his son had said without realizing it.

Kakarotto is finally back to his old self now. His reunion with his son, and mine with Trunks has done wonders. Granted the problem with his friends has yet to be resolved. But at the same time, I feel as if a major obstacle has been overcome. I feel like finally our relationship can truly move forward. We've hit rock bottom before. We can only move up from here.

===

"Goten let's go!! I wanna get there and back before we miss too much of the fun!" I yell, brushing the lavender locks out of my eyes and taking off for Papa and Gokuu's house.

"Hey wait up!"

"Slow poke!"

"Mou...”

"Race you there!!!" We take off like a shot, tearing up earth and parting water as we speed away. With the wind in my hair and the sun on my back, I breathe in deep. Today is gonna be an awesome day! Papa and Gokuu have been cooped up in their secludouseouse for too long. It's about time for them to I guess 'rejoin the group.' Though I can understand them being wary. Especially Gokuu. Everyone was a bit uncomfortable with the whole situation. But frankly, I think it's about time they got over it.

I talked to some of them earlier about Papa and Gokuu being together. I was worried at first but it turns out there weren't nearly as bothered by it as they let on. But I think Gokuu and Papa should hear it from them more than me. So we're gonna go get them, and they're coming with us whether they want to or not.

I fly a bit slower, so busy mulling over my own thoughts and smiling to myself, that I didn't notice Goten passing me.

"Oh no you don't!!" I yell going full speed for the last leg of the race, beating Goten by no more than a hair.

"Papa! Gokuu!" We arrive and rush into the house to find them.

Shit! I forgot to knock again! I gotta learn to calm down! We tiptoe around, almost afraid of what we'll see. If we're not careful there will be a repeat of last time. Luckily that isn't the case as I spot them hauling in bag after bag of fresh groceries into the kitchen.

"Trunks! Goten! What brings you two here today?" Gokuu san asks as if we ever really needed a reason to visit. He waves us over as he and Papa unpack the food and put it away. Surprisingly, Gokuu san doesn't eat too much of it in the process.

"Kakarotto stop it or we'll have to go shopping all over again!"

Goten snickers at his father's pout after Papa yelled at him, only to take a few pieces of fruit for himself as well.

"Yea, don't eat too much! You'll have no room for the barbecue!"

Papa stops unpacking. "What barbecue?"

"They're throwing another one over at the KAME house. You know, kind of like a 'last days of summer' celebration! I know how yike ike the heat Papa. I figured no one would miss summer more than you."

"Hnn..." is all Papa says, looking none too enthused.

"Aww come on Bejiita san. Do you really hate parties that much?" Goten pipes up. We decide to work on getting Papa to come. Even though Gokuu would be the most wary of going back to see them again, Dad was still tougher to convince.

"It's not that" Gokuu answers for him.

"Kakarotto got less than a warm welcome when he last saw them" Dad said right after him, not even missing a beat. "They're become rather standoff-ish since our... new living arrangement."

"Aa sou. But I talked with them about that! They're cool now. They just needed more time. In fact, they said it'd be great if you guys came and sent us to come get you."

"Hn. They might be fine, or so you say, but what about your mother? Or yours?" Dad asks looking at me then Goten.

"Well mom's got a doctor's appointment today." I tactfully left out exactly what kind of doctor. No need to bring that up right now. We all turn to Goten expecting an answer.

"Kaasan shouldn't be there either. She's gotten so moody, and picky about what she eats. I think all the rich food would just give her another tummy ache." Goten says wide eyed, scratching the back of his head, suddenly looking years younger than he was.

"Then it's decided!" I yell, rushing behind Papa and pushing him out the door before he can protest any further.

"Ah! Matte!" Apparently not fast enough though.

"I haven't agreed to--!!"

"Oh yes you have!" Gokuu says laughing, grabbing Papa by the waist and hauling him out the door like a sack of potatoes. Gokuu takes off for the KAME house with Papa tucked under his arm, kicking and screaming before eventually, and begrudgingly, giving in and letting Gokuu carry him.

Goten and I have an incredibly hard time trying not to laugh our asses off.

===

The party goes much better than I thought it would. There are games, and food, and fun, and fireworks, and my friends seem much more friendly this time around. But before I could really enjoy myself, I have to be sure.

"Kuririn!" I yell giving my brightest smile. No hard feeling from last time.

"Hey Gokuu! Come on over, the burgers are done! You can get the first crack at 'em!"

"Noooo!" Goten whines from across the beach about to take a swing at a brightly colored paper donkey. Probably full of candy. "He'll eat them all, and they'll be none for the rest of us!"

"I will not!" I yell in an equally whiny voice, taking only eight burgers. Half the number I was planning to consume before my son's poorly timed, yet incredibly accurate observation. Everyone comes around and snags a burger before I have a chance to do exactly as Goten predicated. They, say their hellos, eat, and go back to mingling. Some were rather abrupt. Other's didn't say much of anything at all to me. As far as their behavior during my last visit, nothing new there. As they move out of earshot, I see this as an opportunity to talk man to man with my best friend. I wait a few minutes, and watch him grill and finish off a burger of his own. I decide now is as good a time as any.

"Kuririn?"

"Hmm?"

"Now... I want you to be honest with me.." I begin, not really expecting him to lie, or leave anything out but...

"Does it really bother you that I'm with Bejiita now?" I ask keeping my voice low, and our conversation as private as possible without looking suspicious. Bejiita spies my now serious face out of the corner of his eye while talking with Trunks, but he does not come over.

"Well... I mean in a way I almost thought it was bound to happen..."

I look at him quizzically.

"Bejiita was always obsessing over you, and chasing after you, or competing with you. But you were always one step ahead, showing him that he was wrong about you all along, and it dro drove him crazy. Yamcha made a crack once that the whole thing was like some sort of 'passionate romance..." Kuririn says laughing a bit to himself. "We all laughed at that, but at the same time, in the back of my head I wondered if that was really the case, ya know?"

"So... it doesn't bother you then?" He still hadn't really answered my question.

"Naaa.. Gokuu, man, who you love is your own business. If you wanna be with Bejiita that's fine. But..."

"But?"

"I just wish you'd gone about it a little differently... I mean Buruma makes you out to be some sort of home wrecker! And Chichi... she's--"

I wave my hand before he finishes. "I don't really wanna hear about it right now." I want to have a good day today.

"Yea I guess you're right. It's better you hear it from her anyway."

"What d'ya mean by--"

"Gokuu! Hey buddy, what's up?" Yamcha interrupts and slaps me on the back a few times in greeting. His hair is longer than the last time I saw him. Has it been that long? At least he remembers what manners are. "I tried to get here early, don't wanna miss all the fun! Or the food." He says laughing at all the empty plates around me. I grin sheepishly.

===

I decide it's about time I start enjoying this party anyway. I go find Bejiita and make damn sure he does the same. I play some games, but I was never very good at Go or Mahjongg, so I go with apple bobbing. It turned out to be a great way to cool off too. It was an Indian summer day and the sun was particularly strong. Beating down on my back, making my pale skin several shades darker. Bejiita seems right at home.

I have to dunk my head under four times before I finally get one apple. Only one! It's much harder to do than it sounds! I finally come up for air, flicking my wet hair out of my eyes smiling around a huge red apple triumphantly.

"Aah gaah waan!"

Bejiita just smirks at my silliness.

"Baka..." he whispers and pulls the apple from between my te bef before taking a bite, directly over where I had bitten it. I watch him intently as he rolls the chunk around on his tongue before making a show of swallowing it. His Adam's Apple bobbing as he does so. He holds the apple near my mouth and I take another bite, never breaking eye contact as he does the same. Biting right where I had bitten, closing his eyes and breathing deeply as his teeth sink slowly into the flesh of the fruit. Only he could make eating an apple sensual. As if we were kissing through the apple, or that it was somehow more special simply because I have put my mouth on it. He always did have a strange fixation with my mouth. Watching him eat made me ache to kiss him for real, but that would have to wait. They may be tolerant of my new lifestyle, but I don't think they would appreciate me sticking my tongue down Bejiita's throat right now.

Bejiita licks his lips at mbviobviously having the same thought. Or... he wants to devour me like he had that apple.

Probably the later of the two.

My stomach flutters. The heat rushes to my cheeks, and I feel my face burn. The intensity of his gaze searing my skin. I swallow audibly.

| Don't look at me that way... You know what it does to me...|