Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Smoke and Mirrors ❯ Can't Help Falling in Love ( Chapter 8 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

" You saw someone with them? " Jiara gasped when Goten told her what they had witnessed.

" Yeah, " replied Trunks walking over with a plate of food in each hand, " but it looked like he was fighting against them. "

Goten slipped an arm around the girl and hugged her gently, " Jiara, I know you're just starting to get your memories back, but can you think of anyone who might be looking for you? "

" Not that I can recall, " she said hesitantly.

" Are you sure? " There was an insistant note to the question, as though her answer meant the world to him.

" Did you see what he looks like? " Jiara asked quietly laying her head against Goten's shoulder.

Trunks watched them curiously as he ate. Goten had never acted this way around a girl, and it was odd to see it happening in such a short time. He knew why Goten was so worried. It was possible that she had someone in her life that she couldn't remember due to the amnesia, and this person could very well be the one they had seen. Trunks couldn't begin to imagine how Goten would react if that was the case.

" No, " Goten answered, " he was too far away to see. Do you think it might have been your father? "

" My...father? No. I do not think so. "

Goten only nodded and pulled her closer. For the first time since Jiara arrived, he felt threatened by her veiled past. When she regained her memories...what secrets would come to light? There was so much that he didn't know, and, though it seemed selfish, he didn't want to find out.

He knew that her mother had been killed, but what about her father? The man obviously had something to do with the reason this psycho was after Jiara. Did she have other family? Brothers? Sisters? Were there friends that she had left behind, or perhaps a man that she loved.

Goten cringed internally at the thought that he may eventually lose her to her past. When this was all over, would her feelings for him remain true, or would they prove to be a temporary means to fill a void that her memory loss created?

He was scared of his emotions, scared of feeling so much for a girl of whom he knew so little. 'But it's already too late' he thought entwining his fingers with hers.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Jiara woke, but her eyes remained closed. There was someone in the room; she could feel it. The eerie sensation of being watched made her shiver involuntarily. She peeked out from under the blanket, and sure enough, there was someone standing there. Jiara threw back her blanket and bolted up; one fist was drawn back ready to strike.

" I'm sorry! " Pan cringed back against the wall with her arms raised over her face.

" What are you doing in here? " Jiara immediately dropped her stance placing her hands on her hips and glaring at the little demi-Saiya-jin.

" I just...well...you..." the words were jumbled, and her voice shook slightly.

" Yes? "

" I just wanted to talk to you. "

Jiara sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, " Well, you scared the life out of me, Pan. Next time wait until I am awake. "

" I'm sorry. Please don't tell my mom and dad. "

" Only if you promise not to do that again, " the older girl said sternly.

" Of course! " agreed Pan straightening up and smiling confidently. She was kind of embarrassed at the way she'd reacted in front of the teen. Pan could sense that her own power level was higher than Jiara's. She was just caught off guard. " So, is it true that you don't remember anything? "

" More or less, " Jiara replied toying with the hem of her nightgown.

" What do you mean? "

" I have recalled a few things but not nearly everything. "

" That's gotta be tough, " Pan inched a little closer but stopped when Jiara lifted her gaze for a brief second. " But you don't have anything to worry about because my grandpa is the strongest fighter in the whole universe. He'll take care of everything. "

Jiara looked up again, a hint of a smile on her lips. She was impressed by the girl's confidence in Goku, and it made her wonder how realistic the assessment was. Was Goku really that strong? Could he really "take care of everything" as Pan had put it?

" Are you going to be my aunt? "

Jiara's jaw dropped at the blunt and unexpected question. Her dark eyes grew wide as she stared speechlessly at the little girl, " Whatever would make you ask that question?"

Pan giggled, not at all thrown by Jiara's reaction, " Just wondering. Bra heard Trunks talking to Bulma about you and Goten last night after they went home. She called me this morning and asked if you were going to be my aunt. I told her I didn't know. "

" I really do not know what to say about that. "

" But it could happen, right? "

" I suppose anything is possible, Pan. " With that she stood, " You should probably get going so that I can shower and change. "

" Sure. Talk to you later! "

Jiara watched the girl stroll out of the room. 'That was strange' she thought gathering the clothing and towels that Videl had given her the night before. She wondered what Trunks had been telling his mother that Bra had overheard. It was apparently something good, or Pan never would have asked her such a thing.

Smiling to herself, Jiara wandered down the hallway to the bathroom. It was going to be an interesting day.

~*~*~*~*~*~

" Could we go somewhere today, Goten? Like the park or the mall maybe? "

" I don't know. I really should help them finish cleaning up the house. They want to start rebuilding as soon as possible. "

" I am just really scared. I do not know if it is safe for me to be here...with Pan and Videl. If they come looking for me while you were gone.... "

Goten looked down into her worried black eyes and smiled gently, " I'll talk to my dad. I'm sure he'll understand. "

" Thank you, " she tossed her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

He reciprocated, resting his hands at the small of her back beneath the silky locks of hair. Her scent was intoxicating, delicate and touched with a hint of freesia, and her small body felt warm and inviting against his.

One of his hands moved slowly up her back until it tangled in her hair, and she leaned her head back pressing closer to him. His mouth caught hers in a heated kiss as the hand at her back slipped, without hesitation, beneath the edge of her shirt.

Fingertips lightly caressed the velveteen flesh there as she, in turn, trailed her nails through his hair and along his neck. His tounge darted out to tenatively brush her lips which parted willingly at their prompt.

Her hands slipped down to rest against his broad chest. She could feel his racing heartbeat and his breath that quickened with every movement of her slender fingers as they moved deftly over well developed muscles.

They parted, dazed and breathless; both deeply flushed from the intensity of the moment. Neither one spoke, nor did they move...so lost was each in the other. Several minutes passed before Goten reluctantly released her, immediately missing the feel of her body as they seperated.

" We should probably find my dad and make sure it's okay if we go out, " he said with a nervous smile.

Jiara nodded, an unusual light in her eyes as she watched him turn to go.

*~*~*~*~*~*

" Not hungry? " Goten asked glancing at Jiara's untouched plate.

They'd passed their time walking through the park, hand in hand, sharing intimate looks and shy touches throughout the day. After a leisurely visit to the lake they stopped at a small patio cafe for a light dinner.

Since their food had arrived Jiara had fallen quiet, and he'd have thought nothing of it except that she wasn't eating.

" Not really, " she said softly pushing the meal away.

" Do you want something else? We could go somewhere else if you want. "

" No, Goten, " she shook her head and smiled a bit. " it is not the food or the place. I am just not hungry. "

" Maybe we should head home after this. It's been a long day. I've had you running all over the place. "

" I have had a wonderful time today. The best that I can remember, " she paused frowning, " well, I mean..."

There was an uneasy moment of silence before she continued, " I do not want it to end so soon. Is there somewhere we could go for a while? "

Goten was thoughtful for a minute, " I think I have an idea, if you're sure that you feel up to it. "

" Oh, I am certain. Absolutely certain. "

~*~*~*~*~*~