Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Alter Ego ❯ Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

Goten woke to a terrible aching in his head. He sat up slowly, finding that movement increased the pain.

He looked around. Was he still on the bedroom floor where he had passed out last night? He frowned. Hadn't he passed out on the other side of the bed?

He got to his feet, using the bed for support. Just when he was about to sit, he stopped and frowned again. He looked down at his clothes and his eyes widened.

"I wasn't wearing this, was I?" he asked, aloud. He brought his hand to his temple. "Oh my head. I can't think straight."

Something strange was going on, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Then he remembered the strange dream he'd had after passing out. Something about a man dressed in black. The potion! That must have been what made him pass out and hallucinate.

That stupid fortuneteller and she said it didn't have narcotics in it, he thought.

Cold wind blew in through his open window. He didn't remember leaving it open. He got up and went to the window. It was still dark outside. The sun hadn't risen yet. He slammed it shut, but noticed there was soil on the sill. He took a few steps back.

"What's going on?" He looked around the room. "Did someone break in? Nothing seems out of place."

His head was throbbing so much and he was so tired that he opted to figure this out later. All he wanted to do was fall into bed and sleep.

He took off his shoes, crawled into bed, settled his head against the pillow and pulled up the sheets. He snuggled into the warmth of his bed and immediately began to fall asleep.

>>>

Goten woke to the sound of his name being called. He sat up and recognized the voice to be his mother's.

His bedroom door opened. "Goten?"

"Good morning," he said, groggily.

Chi Chi went to his beside and looked down at him. "Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah." He'd gotten about four hours of sleep and felt a little better.

She looked at him, skeptically. "Come here." She examined his face closely. She put her hand on his forehead. "Well, you do look better. Are you sure you're feeling all right?"

"Yeah," he insisted. "I'm fine."

She nodded. "All right. Get ready for school and I'll get your breakfast. You must be hungry."

He grinned. "Yeah, I'm starving! Say, did you hear any strange noises last night?"

She frowned, slightly. "What do you mean?"

"Any noises that you wouldn't expect to hear."

She laughed. "I couldn't hear anything over your father's snoring. Why do you ask?"

He sighed. "Oh, it's nothing. I was just wondering." He looked at her unconvinced face and added, "I thought I heard something. Is dad here?"

She shook her head. "He left early this morning to get some training done in the woods."

"Oh."

She left the room and closed the door softly. He threw the covers back and noticed the clothes again. He knew the clothes were his, but he was sure he wasn't wearing them last night.

He stood began to undress. He noticed something sticking out from under his bed. He knelt and pulled out handfuls of jewelry and his eyes widened.

Where did these come from? he pondered. I've never seen any of this jewelry before.

He put the jewelry on his desk and stepped back, but kept his eyes on it as if he were afraid if he looked away it would disappear.

I don't know where those came from, but I'm going to have to find out and return them because they're certainly not mine.

He glanced at the clock on the wall and knew he was running short on time. He scooped up the jewelry and dropped it into his backpack. Maybe he could find out where they came from by the end of the day and return them to their rightful owner.

>>>

Goten walked into his first period class and saw a group of his classmates huddled around a desk. His curiosity got the best of him and he went to join them.

He was shocked to see that the crowd was gathered around Bra. She was holding a newspaper in her hands and it was open to the front page. The headline read, Jewelry store robbed by a mysterious thief.

Goten gasped.

It was then that Bra noticed him. "Did you hear about this, Goten? They weren't able to catch the guy. The security cameras couldn't give the police a decent picture."

"But we were there," Pan added. "We saw him."

"What did he look like?" one girl asked.

All eyes were on Bra as they waited for her to respond. A small smile crept across her face. "I don't really remember much. I just remember his eyes. They were the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen."

"Is that true, Pan?" another girl asked.

"Well I wasn't exactly checking him out," she replied. "I was concerned about him breaking into the jewelry store." She glanced at Bra. "And she is in too much of a daze to remember anything useful." She sighed and turned to Bra. "Hello? Is anyone in there?" She waved her hand in front of Bra's face.

"Huh?"

"This guy's a thief, remember?"

"A handsome thief…"

A few of the girls giggled and moved closer to Bra trying to get more of a description out of her. Goten stepped away from the crowd and left the room. He leaned against a wall in the hallway.

Did this mysterious jewelry thief have anything to do with what I found under my bed? he wondered. But how would that be possible? Hmm, maybe they were planted in my room. There was dirt on the sill; maybe it was from when he came through my window. But why me? My house isn't near the city. Why would he choose to plant the jewelry there? Maybe he knows me. Or maybe he needed to find a house far away where no one would think to look. He frowned. And maybe he'll be back tonight for the stolen goods. If that's his plan he's going to be in for a big surprise when he arrives. Not only will the jewelry be returned to the store, I'll be waiting for him…

"Hey Goten!"

He turned and saw Trunks making his way down the hall to him.

"What's up?" Goten asked.

"Everyone is talking about that thief," he said. "Bra's been telling everyone that he was handsome and now all the girls are swooning and hoping this guy will strike again. Pan's trying to be modest about it, but I think she thinks he's good looking, too."

"Yeah," he said.

He laughed. "I can't believe Bra is so obsessed with this guy. I mean, he's a criminal and everyone knows it."

The bell sounded, signifying that class was beginning.

Goten frowned, slightly. "Well, I wouldn't worry too much. I'm sure the police will catch him and it'll all blow over before you know it."

"I don't know," Trunks said. "There's something strange about this guy. How do you know?"

He smiled. "Let's just say I have a feeling." He pushed away from the wall. "Later."

He opened the door to his classroom. I wonder what Bra will think of me after I apprehend her beloved thief all by myself. She won't think so highly of him then.

>>>

Dark: (Laughing almost hysterically)

Celestial Princess: (Raises an eyebrow) What's up with you?

Dark: (Between laughter) Goten…he wants to apprehend the thief…when he is the thief! (Continues laughing)

Celestial Princess: (Sighs) Dark, you shouldn't be laughing at poor Goten like that. He doesn't know. If you're going to be mean I'm not going to write the next chapter!

Dark: (Sobers up) No no! I want to see what happens next. I'll be good I promise. (Dons a halo)

Celestial Princess: (Frowns) That's a neat trick, but how can you have a halo and horns?

Dark: Huh? (Reaches up and touches the horns. Growls and the halo disappears) Just write the next chapter, will ya!

Celestial Princess: All right, but only because the fans want me to. (Sticks out her tongue at Dark) Am I right all you readers out there? (Grins) Until next time!