" Kindred Spirits "

Written By: Debs-dragon

Disclaimer: I don't own the DBZ crew, they belong to a rich Japanese man.

Rating: ? Not sure yet

Notes: This is a spin off story from the Trunk's & Marron fic "Could you Love Me?" This is the first attempt I have made to write Goten and Bra so if they appear OOC then that's my fault, live with it.

"Kindred Spirits "

June 2002 Debs-dragon

AN: For those hard core DBZ fans out there yes I know Pan is older in this fic than she is in the series. I wanted her that way in order to make the plot line work. Don't like it then deal with it.

Chapter 3.

Chi chi was only too happy to let the boys go off camping. It would give her and Goku some much needed time alone together. Although she loved both her boy's dearly it was nice to be just the two of them again, even if it was only for a week. Goku wished he was going too but Chi chi put her foot down, insisting that the last thing the youngsters needed was Goku tagging along. As much as he was a big kid at heart they also needed to be able to discover life for themselves.

Gohan was against the idea at first but gradually Pan wore him down. Finally he relented but only after making her agree to certain conditions. Knowing that Goten was going along only made him more nervous about the trip, the fact that Goten's friend would also be there made him positively paranoid.

Videl did her best to make him more comfortable about the whole thing by pointing out that when he had been Pan's age he had also been off running around enjoying life. "She is a sensible girl Gohan and with Goten there as well as Bra they will be fine. Kauli sounds like a reasonable person so I don't see what all the fuss is about."

Gohan sighed. "I know your right but I still can't help but worry. I am her father and she is my little girl after all."

"Yes she is your daughter and therefore carries saiya-jin blood in her veins. She knows how to behave and she is stronger than you give her credit for. Just trust her for once... let her go, she will be fine." said Videl.

"Just who's side are you on here?" Gohan asked, "I know I can trust her, its Goten and this Kauli fellow Im not sure about."

Videl laughed and sat on Gohan's lap. "You know you are really beginning to turn into a fussy old man." she teased.

Gohan cocked his head, "Fussy maybe, man definitely, but old? I beg to differ." and wrapping his arms around his wife's waist he pulled her close for a gentle kiss. "I'll show you just how old I am.." he growled.

"My, my, aren't you just the forceful one."

"You had better believe it." and Gohan stood. Still cradling Videl in his arms he made his way from the kitchen through the house and into the bedroom firmly closing the door behind him.

"NO!"

"But Daddy.... All the others are going and it's only for a week."

"NO!"

"But why not? Goten will be there to look after us and protect us from any dangers... not that there will be any. " Bra added hastily.

"Goten himself is a danger." growled Vegeta.

"Please Daddy, I really want to go and Pan is going too..."

"No!"

"We will only be gone a week and it's not that far away." Wheedled Bra.

"No." Vegeta could feel his resolve beginning to weaken a little.

Sensing her father's will beginning to dissolve a little she pressed on. "I will have my cell phone with me and I can call you each night, I will leave you a map with our precise location on it and the rangers check every couple of days... Please...."

"But what if anything happens?"

"Daddy I'm a big girl now. I can take care of myself, besides nothing is going to happen. Pan, Goten and Kauli will be there as well so theres no reason to worry." she continued in her best pleading voice.

"I'm still not sure, I don't know anything about this Kauli fellow... he could be a demented murderer for all we know."

"Do you honestly think that Chi chi would let Goten associate with someone like that?"

Vegeta had to think about that one. If anything Chi chi was overly fussy about who's company her son's kept. "I don't like the idea. What are you going to eat?"

"Daddy its just a camping trip, we will take our own food and hike into the village when wee need more supplies. We are only going for a week, it's not as if it's forever."

"And sleeping?"

"Pan and I will share a tent and Goten and Kauli will share the other one. Come on daddy, mom was younger than me and she was off exploring the wilds."

"What was I doing?" said Bulma as she entered the room.

"I was just trying to explain to daddy that you were younger than me when you first went off exploring."

"Thats right Vegeta."

Vegeta folded his arms across his chest. "I still have a bad feeling about this."

"It's just a weeks camping trip daddy, something to do.. one last fling if you like before I have to settle down and start working."

"Well I can't see any harm in it." offered Bulma. "In fact it will probably do them good to rough it for a while. Make them appreciate what they have even more." she said and winked at Vegeta.

"I'm still not happy with the idea." Vegeta huffed.

Bra turned her large puppy dog eyes to her father. "Aww come on daddy, you always said that roughing it and being outdoors was good for character building, that it made a person stronger."

"But I was talking to Trunks then." Vegeta protested.

Bra decided to pull out all the stops. She stared at her father willing the tears to form. "Please daddy, I promise we wont do anything silly or rash and Goten will be there to look after us and Pan's always sensible so there isn't any reason for you to not let me go." The tears began to fall as he bottom lip quivered.

Bulma watched the scene before her with wry amusement. Bra always knew how to get her father to cave in.

The tears were the final straw for Vegeta. With a sigh he lowered his eyes. "All right, you can go then....But.... You will call us every day and let me know exactly where you will be camping."

Bra flung herself at her fathers body and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you daddy, I knew you would let me go." and planting a kiss on his cheek she ran out of the room to call Pan and Goten with the news.

Vegeta sighed loudly and sat wearily on the chair. Running his hands through his stiff hair he couldn't help but feel he had been played for a sucker.

Bulma smiled at him. "She will be okay. In fact it will do her the world of good to get away for a bit. She really misses Trunks and Marron."

"I know... but why do I feel as if I have been played for a fool?"

"No not a fool. You have concerns for your daughter's well being, thats normal. She just knows your weaknesses and plays on them."

"I have no weakness!"

"I beg to differ. You do Vegeta and its called your daughter, but you need to realise she's growing up. She has her own life and friends and you need to let her go."

Vegeta contemplated the patterns in the carpet for a moment before looking into Bulma's eyes. "I don't need your stupid philosophy woman!" he snarled and then stood up. "I'm going to train." and with that he left the room.

Bulma watched his retreating form, a small smile on her lips. "Vegeta.... If only you would admit to yourself that you do have feelings. That you aren't as cold and calculating as you would have people believe." she whispered to no one.

Bra raced into her room and grabbed the phone. Quickly she dialled Pans number.

"Hello." came the response.

"Hi Pan, its me Bra. Guess what?"

"Ummm.... Your dad blew up the capsule corp?"

"No idiot, dad said I can go on the camping trip."

A low whistle came down the line. "Thats great Bra, how did you do it?"

"Well it wasn't easy but after I promised not to go nude sunbathing and take my chastity belt with me he finally agreed." giggled Bra.

"You did what!?"

"I'm only joking Pan. I have to tell him exactly where we are camping and call him each day to let him know I haven't been carted off by wild beasts."

"Or wild cave men..." laughed pan. "Thats great Bra, I'm so glad your going. I wouldn't want to go if you weren't going to come too."

"Thanks Pan. I'm going to give Goten a call now so lets all meet up tomorrow and get the stuff packed and ready to go. Then we can leave first thing Saturday morning."

"Okay. I'll come over about eleven with all my stuff and we can sort out from there."

"Sounds good. I'll see you tomorrow then... bye."

"Bye"

Bra replaced the receiver and thought for a moment before picking it up again and dialling Gotens number.

"Hello this is the son home."

"Hi Goten, it's me Bra."

"Well, well. Fancy hearing from you. Tell me do they still allow you one phone call from jail then?" he teased.

"Yeah they do, and the food isn't bread and water either." Bra quipped.

"So what's up?"

"My dad said I can go."

"........"

"Goten?... Goten?... Are you still there?"

"Yeah I'm here... I just had to pick myself up off the floor."

"Idiot!"

"So the old man said you're allowed to disappear into the wilds with two fantastically gorgeous men then?"

"Yes, he did, but I can't seem to find any gorgeous men so I suppose I will have to settle for you and Kauli."

"Ohh I'm just soooo offended." Goten replied.

Bra giggled. "Pan is coming over about eleven tomorrow so we can sort out and pack up all the gear we will need. Also we can get anything we don't have so how about you and Kauli do the same?"

"Okay. We'll get all the stuff together and see you at eleven."

"Right."

"Bra..."

"Yes Goten?"

"I'm glad you suggested this."

Bra barely had time to recognise the soft voice as being Goten's before the line went dead. Cradling the receiver Bra felt her heart jump and a tingle pass through her body. "I'm glad too Goten." she whispered.

 

Chapter 4
Back to Goten and Bra fics