“Isn’t she cute, Goten?” Bra asked, holding up Chibi Azami. “She looks just like Marron.”
 “But she has a nose,” Goten pointed out. “And she’s only two.  Quite an accomplishment, considering she’s Krillin’s granddaughter.”
 Bra laughed, then clapped her hand over her mouth. “You be quiet.  That’s mean.”
 “I can’t help it if he’s noseless!” Goten protested.
 “Okay, time to change the subject.  What do you think about going to see a movie later?”
 “You, me, a movie?  I’m there.”
 “Good, ’cause you’re paying.”
 “You’re the daughter of the richest woman in the world.  Why do I always have to pay for everything?” Goten complained.
 “Oh, all right.  I’ll pay for the movie.  Let me go get some money from Kaasan.” Bra deposited Chibi Azami in Goten’s lap and left the room.

 The two stared at each other. “Okay,” Goten said carefully. “Don’t start crying or anything.  I’m not that great with kids.”
 Chibi Azami just looked at him with big blue eyes that really reminded him more of Bra than Marron.  Not that he’d ever mention that little fact to her proud parents.  One doesn’t stick one’s foot in one’s mouth for years without learning something. “Gota,” she said.
 Goten almost dropped her.  Chibi Azami was only a year old.  He hadn’t ever heard her attempt to talk before. “Bra-chan?” he called.
 “What, Goten?”
 “Does Chibi Azami…talk?”
 “Talk?  She makes noises, but she’s never—”
 “Gota,” Chibi Azami repeated.
 Bra’s mouth dropped. “Oh my—she tried to say your name!”
 “That’s what I thought, but I wasn’t sure.”
 Bra whirled on him. “Don’t tell Trunks and Marron,” she ordered.
 “Don’t tell us what?” Trunks asked as they walked in.
 “Niichan!  Uh, don’t tell them that Chibi Azami made a mess of herself and stained her shirt!”
 Marron picked up her daughter. “Huh.  I don’t see any stains.”
 “Oh.  I guess it was vanishing ink or something.  How weird.  Well, Goten and I are going to a movie now.  ’Bye.”
 “Thanks for watching Chibi Azami for us!” Marron called.
 “Uh-huh!”

 “What’s wrong, Bra?” Goten asked when he finally caught his breath.  Bra had practically dragged him all the way to the city.
 “We don’t tell them that Chibi Azami tried to say your name,” Bra instructed.
 “Why not?”
 Bra sighed. “Would you want your first child’s first word to be ‘Trunks’?  Or even ‘Trun’?”
 “Oh, I see.”
 “So, we’ll keep this to ourselves, all right?”
 “Okay, no problem. What movie are we seeing?  How about that one?” he suggested.
 Bra sighed. “Why not?  I can always use a little gore to help settle in my popcorn.”
 “Hey…hey…Son Goten!” someone called.
 They both turned. “Hey, Leiko!” Goten exclaimed in delight. “How’re you?”
 “Oh, good, good,” the very pretty girl said, holding her arms open for a hug.  Bra reluctantly released her hold on Goten’s arm. “Hey, what happened to you?  You look…younger.”
 “Oh, long story,” Goten said airily.  He put his arm around Bra and pulled her forward. “This is Bra Briefs.”
 Leiko’s mouth dropped. “Capsule Corp?” she asked.
 Bra attempted a smile. “Yes, my mother founded it, and my brother runs it.  But he’s busy with his family right now.”
 “Oh, he got married?” Leiko asked. “Who?”
 “A family friend,” Bra said.
 “Must have been a very private affair,” Leiko mused.
 “Yes, well, everyone Niichan goes, girls tend to drop their phone numbers, and I think that would have been a bit tacky at his wedding, don’t you?”
 “Yes, yes.” Leiko turned back to Goten. “So, I was thinking that we might get lunch one of these days.”
 Goten began blushing. “Oh…no, see, no…’cause this is my girlfriend…”
 Leiko raised an eyebrow. “I see.”
 “So, um, sorry, but no.”
 “Well, that’s okay.  I can definitely understand going in for money.  Call me if you break up, all right?” Leiko turned with a small wave.
 “Bra, Bra, are you okay?” Goten asked.
 “She thinks you’re going out with me for the money,” Bra stated.  She turned towards him. “You aren’t, are you?” she asked in a small voice.
 “Hey!  Hey, no way!  Absolutely no way!  You are the reason I am going out with you.”
 “Really?”
 “Definitely.”
 She forced a small smile. “Okay, then.  Um, do we want to go see that movie now?”
 “Are you sure you’re okay?”
 “Hey, why wouldn’t I be?  I got you, don’t I?” Bra grinned.
 “Yeah, you got me, totally wrapped around your little finger,” Goten said ruefully.  He put one arm around her shoulder.
 “Why, what a nice thing to say,” she told him.
 “Yeah?  Was that pretty good?”
 Bra laughed. “Definitely.  I see why that Leiko girl was trying to get you.”
 Goten sensed this was a test. “Well, she’ll just have to find someone else, then, won’t she?”
 She grinned at him. “Right answer.”
 He put his arm around her. “Hey, it’s only the truth.”
 “And Niichan says you’re stupid,” Bra scoffed. “He’s not half as good at this as you are.”
 “Trunks calls me stupid?”
 “I didn’t say that.”
 “Yes you did.”
 “No I didn’t.  You must be hearing things again.  Two tickets for that gorefest that’s going on in there, please.”
 The attendant grinned. “Yes, ma’am.  $10.00.”
 “Thank you.” Bra took the tickets. “Do you want popcorn?” she asked as they stepped inside. “But I’ll only buy one thing of it.”
 Goten considered it. “Yeah, might as well get one.  If you don’t mind.”
 “Nope, no problem.  A drink, too, then?”
 “Yeah.  You know me too well.”
 “Well, your eating is the only predictable thing about you,” Bra told him.
 “Oh, that’s not true.”
 “Yes it is!  I never know where you’re gonna be or what you’re gonna be doing.  Until you get hungry.”
 Goten considered it. “Well…maybe, but it’s not very nice to just come out and say it.”
 Bra laughed. “So sorry.  Come on, let’s go.”
 Goten took the popcorn and drink as Bra gave the ticket taker the tickets. “Okay, third on the right,” he said.
 “Thank you,” Bra said.

 The movie was predictably gore-filled and bloody. “Pretty good, isn’t it?” Goten whispered.
 Bra gave him an incredulous look. “Don’t you get enough of this in your personal life?” she asked.
 “What do you mean?”
 “Well, with all the fights you’ve been in…”
 Goten considered that. “Well, those people are always friends or relatives.  This is all fake.”
 Bra nodded.  She could understand that.  She still really didn’t like the movie.  She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes.
 “Do you really want to go?” Goten asked.
 “Yes,” Bra said honestly, “but it’s not that bad.”
 “Nah, if you want to go, let’s go.”
 “Are you sure?”
 “Yeah, I’ll just get Trunks to come see this with me if I decide I want to see it again.  Not a problem.”
 Bra smiled at him as they left. “You’re a very kind fellow.”
 “Well, a guy wants to show a girl a good time.” He paused. “Do you have any idea how very pretty you are?”
 Bra was totally taken aback. “Huh?”
 “Well, I was just thinking about it.  You’re very pretty.” Goten traced her jaw with one finger. “Then, I was thinking that I’d really like to kiss you.”
 Bra looked around nervously. “But…people could pass by…”
 “So?” He grinned at her. “Do you really care?”
 “Yes!” she blurted. “We can’t make out in front of the theater.” She pulled him across the street to the park.
 He was staring down at her, dark eyes unreadable.  It suddenly struck her how like her father he was.  Sure, Vegeta was a lot colder than Goten, but they both had a strange intensity about them that both attracted and scared her, and Goten was radiating that intensity.  She looked into his eyes and didn’t look away. “Well?” she asked.
 “Do you feel better now?” he asked.
 “Much.  I’m sorry that I’m such a coward.”
 “No, you’re not.” Goten put his arms around her. “You’re smart.  If either of our parents happened to pass by…”
 She grinned at him. “So, care to try it now?”
 He stared at her for a minute, then chuckled. “Hey, I’m game.”
 “Good.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.  He bent his head and kissed her.  Bra felt all rational thought stop when their lips met.  This kiss was not one of a casual boyfriend or girlfriend, but one of a lover.

 Goten looked down at her as they broke apart.  Her eyes were dazed and unfocused.  He felt a bit nonplussed himself.  They had been going out for a while, but this situation felt new.  He started to talk, but his voice was shaky. “Bra,” he said.
 “Y—yes?”
 “I—I think that we sh—should probably go home.”
 “Yeah, probably,” she agreed, and laid her head against his chest.
 “We haven’t moved,” he observed.
 “No,” she agreed.
 He kissed her again.
 They broke apart.
 “We should go.”
 “Yes.”
 “Okay, this is me going.”
 She kissed him.
 “Going.  Really.”
 “Okay.”
 “No, really.”
 “I believe you.”
 “I really should…”
 “Absolutely.”
 Somehow, through all her agreements, she managed to keep him right where he was.  And there wasn’t much more talking.
 

[NEXT]