Part 37: Trunks and Marron revealed?

        Everyone under the Sakura tree greeted Goten happily, except for his mother.  "Where have you been?" and
"Why was he late?" and "Did you lock the house?" were all she asked him.  Goten just shrugged and laughed.  He was determined to enjoy the night as if nothing was wrong.
        But something was.
        He could tell Bra wasn't comfortable with him there.  He guessed she was just too shy to come over and talk to him.  Every time he looked at her, she abruptly looked away and talked to someone else as if she didn't know he was looking at her.  But she was obviously blushing.  Goten smiled to himself knowingly.  But he had to admit that he couldn't just talk to her like he'd used to, either.  He just didn't know what to say.  For the moment.  But he was sure he'd think of something.  For now, thought, he'd just enjoy the night.
        Eventually, the guys and girls separated into two crowds.  The ladies were on one side, chit-chatting about their favorite topics: Husbands, shopping sprees, husbands, kids, husbands, households, husbands, a grown up daughter who's still single…
        Nani?
        Marron was having fun talking with the teens.  She and Bra were teasing Pan and Ubuu about how cute they were together.  Pan would blush and laugh every time they mentioned it, hitting Marron playfully on the shoulder.  Marron was about to say something else when her mother called her over.
        "You got off this time," she told Pan, then walked over to her mother. "You called?"
        "Yes." Juuhachi-gou nodded as she pulled Marron over next to her. "Marron is 24 years old and lives by herself in Satan City."
        Marron stared at her mother in confusion.
        "Krillin and I are so worried about her remaining single!" Juuhachi laughed. "And we really want some
grandkids!  It's not fair that ChiChi's the only one with 'em!"
        Marron gaped at her mother, flushing and paling alternately as all the married women started to laugh. She lowered her head in embarrassment.  But there was nothing she could do to stop them from talking about
their new favorite topic: "Adaughterwhois24yearsoldandstillsingle."
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        Just a couple of feet away were Trunks, Goten, and Yamcha.  They were talking, too, about guys' stuff.  At first it was fun, but Trunks grew bored when they started talking about girls.
        "See that chick over there?" Yamcha pointed awkwardly while holding a bottle of Sake in his hand. "Her sister…" He hiccuped and continued. "Her sister was my ex-girlfriend."
        "Oh really?" Goten asked.
        "What number was she?" Trunks teased.
        Yamcha considered it. "The 30th?  Maybe the 40th."
        Both Trunks and Goten raised their eyebrows in disbelief.
        "Oh, well." Goten shrugged, then smirked at Trunks. "And which one of us hasn't ever been dumped before?"
        "Shut up."
        "Hey, Goten," Yamcha whispered. "I dare you to flirt with that girl and get her number."
        Oh, no, Yamcha-ojisan. That's too easy. Ask him to flirt with her mother instead. Trunks thought to himself.
        "What?  Me?  Oh, no!" Goten laughed. "What for?"
        Trunks stared at his friend in shock, trying to make sure he really heard what he thought he did.  Did Goten just refuse to get a girl's number?  This was not the Goten he knew.   The Goten he knew would always walk up to any girl, introduce himself, and, within a second, have their phone number.  But this time, he just stood there smiling to himself.  Trunks just shrugged and sipped his drink.
        Suddenly he heard the group of ladies laugh out loud.  Trunks turned around and saw Marron in the middle of their mothers, obviously uneasy and blushing furiously.  He wondered why.
        "Excuse me, please," he said to Goten and Yamcha.  He carefully walked past the group and ladies and found a pass to hide where they couldn't see him.  He grinned and settled down to listen.
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        "Are you seeing anyone, Marron?"
        Both Trunks and Marron started at Videl's question
        "I—I—well, I'm seeing all you, aren't I?" Marron laughed weakly.
        "I mean, are you going out with anyone, of course," Videl clarified.
        "Um, no, I guess."
        Marron felt trapped.  And dead.  She was sitting beside Videl and ChiChi on her right and her mother and Bulma on her left.  As she knelt on her mat, she locked her fingers in her hair and began wishing and hoping they would change the topic so she could go away.
        "I can't believe it!" Juuhachi cut in. "You've been in the city for a month and STILL haven't met someone?"
        "Well…I…"
        "Of course not!  The only friends she has here are my kids!" Bulma interrupted.
        "Yes, but—" Marron tried to say, but was interrupted by Videl.
        "That's right!  Pan, too.  Marron, you should stop hanging around with the kids."
        "But we're—"
        "Marron, honey, a girl like you shouldn't stay single."
        "Huh?"  Why are they doing this to me? Marron yelled angrily in her mind.  The women started to talk about something else and Marron breathed a sigh of relief until ChiChi suddenly shouted out what she thought was
a great idea.
        "What about Goten?"
        Everyone fell silent, then looked at ChiChi.  Marron's eyes flew open and she gaped at ChiChi's wrinkled face in dismay.
        From behind the bushes, Trunks' eyes widened and sweat drops fell all over his pale face.  GOTEN?  NO WAY!
        Just then, Goten spotted him behind the shrubbery and walked over. "Hey Trunks!  What are you doing here?"
        Trunks looked up. "YOU?  NO WAY!"
        "No way what?" Goten asked in confusion. "If you don't want me here, I'll go, but ask nicely, at least."
        "No, no, no, no.  Not that." Trunks pulled him down next to him and explained the situation. "Our mothers are playing matchmakers."
        "AGAIN?  Well, who are the victims this time?"
        "Just listen."
        Marron listened in disgust.  She tried to picture herself and Goten having a romantic candlelight dinner
with a long walk by the beach while Goten held her hand…
        She shuddered and forced herself not to scream.
        "We've talked about it, ChiChi, but my daughteralways says she's not quite ready." Juuhachi sighed,
looking straight at Marron.
        "Huh?  Well, th—that's right.  I mean, maybe when I have a job and—"
        "But Juuhachi, just imagine it!  Goten and Marron—aren't they adorable?" 
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        "NANI?" Goten demanded.
        Trunks pulled Goten back down and covered his mouth.
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        "You're right, ChiChi.  Krillin and I have been talking about it, since Goku and Krillin are such good friends."
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        "Me…and Marron?" Goten whispered loudly and in confusion. "But—I already told them—Geez!  This is too weird!"
        Trunks stayed quiet.  He was imagining what would happen if Goten and Marron really got together.  He saw Goten and Marron by a fireplace, drinking champagne, then slowly leaning closer and closer until their lips met…
        "Oh, no, NO!" Trunks shook his head to get rid of the images.
        "What was that all about?" Goten asked, frowning.
        "Er…nothing."
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        "No offence, Okasan," Videl said. "I agree that Goten and Marron are cute, but he's too wild.  I wouldn't recommend this relationship until he's more serious about it."
        "Yeah, you're right.  A good girl like Marron deserves a loyal man, neh?"
        "ChiChi-obachan…" Marron said uneasily.
        Bulma leaned back. "Goten reminds me Yamcha when he was young," she reminisced.
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        "WHAT?"
        "Shh!  Shut up Goten!"
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        "Talking about kids, Bulma.  How's Trunks doing?" Juuhachi asked.  Hearing this, Marron jerked her head
up and felt her hears begin to burn.
        "Trunks?  MY Trunks?" Bulma laughed with a cigarette between her fingers. "I dunno what will happen to him.  I've been thinking about setting him up with a girl…she's the daughter of the world's second largest business."
***********************************
        Trunks' jaw dropped.
        "Uh, buddy?  What's the world's second largest business?"
        "Huh?  Well it's Geta—Gita—oh, I can't remember.  But they make some sort of special rubber."
        "Oh." Goten looked back at the group. "You mean…condoms?"
        "Shut up."
***********************************
        "Oh, really?  Who's this girl?" ChiChi asked.
        "Well, she's pretty, tall, very sophisticated, 25 years old…"
        "But what's her name?"
        Bulma lit another cigarette. "Gourira."
        Everyone stared at her.  Especially Marron.
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        Trunks' face turned purple.  Purpler than his hair.  "Kuso!  Why is Kaasan doing this to me?  I can't go out with her!  She's mean!  She's stronger than a normal human!  She's—she's—she's SCARY!"
        "I know." Goten looked at Trunks; his face turning purple as well. "I can tell by her name!  Why is your mom setting you up with a gorilla?"
***********************************
        After a what seemed an eternity but was really just a few more minutes, ChiChi said calmly, "Well, they're
adults now, so I guess they know what they're doing."
        Marron exhaled in relief.  Ah, it's over…
        "But I still think her and Goten should get together!"
        Marron's eyes flew open.  And she thought they were letting her go.  Somehow, she couldn't keep quiet. 
She looked at ChiChi in anger, but she spoke sweetly. "ChiChi-obachan, thank you, but I don't think Goten-kun and I can have that kind of relationship!"
        "Oh…why?" ChiChi gasped.
        "Well…I just…"
        "You have someone else in mind?" Juuhachi cut in.
        "Yes I do and he—" She paused, then gasped out loud. "Oh.  I—I mean…"
***********************************
        "That's what I like about Marron.  She's so decisive." Goten sighed while looking at his best friend's pale face. 
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        Bulma, ChiChi, and Juuhachi moved in closer to Marron
and spoke together. "YOU DO?"
        "Er…I…I…I…"
        Bulma grinned at the blushing girl. "Well, whoever the guy is, he's very lucky."
        "Eh?"
        Just then, they heard something explode from the men's side.  Bulma frowned. "What the?"
        "Kakarott!" Vegeta chased Goku around the place.
        "Vegeta!  Stop it right now!" Bulma yelled.  She ran towards them and the other wives followed her.  Like always, Vegeta managed to wreck havoc.
        Marron was still sitting alone under the Sakura tree.  She didn't know Trunks and Goten were just behind the bushes.  She considered Bulma's last statement.  Her cheeks grew pink.  As pink as the cherry blossoms surrounding her.  She smiled to herself. "Oh, Bulma-obachan, that 'lucky guy' is your son," she said softly.
        But not soft enough that the two men behind her couldn't hear.  Trunks blinked and he flushed slightly.  Goten saw this and smiled. "She's all yours," he whispered.  He stood up and patted Trunks' shoulder. "I'm going to get something to drink." He walked away leaving Trunks alone, speechless, behind the bushes.
***********************************
        Goten was on his to get some drinks.  He went to the table, poured some juice in a glass, and finished it in one gulp.  He wiped his lips with the back of his hand and turned around, ready to go back to the party. He wasn't really paying attention to the surroundings and ran into someone.  He looked down in surprise. "B-chan!"  he exclaimed.
        Bra didn't look up.  She nervously said, "Excuse me." She quickly turned away and ran back to her place.  She'd planned on getting some drinks, too, but hadn't counted on Goten being there.
        "B-chan!  Wait!"
        She didn't hear him calling her.
        Goten stood quietly as he watched her disappeared. 
He sighed heavily and got another drink. 
***********************************
        After an hour or so, all the friends and families were back gathering into one group.  Some were drunk.  Unfortunately, Vegeta was still chasing Goku around.  While running, Goku didn't look where he was going and ran into a tree.  He hit it so hard that the whole tree shook.  Everybody looked up in surprise, then awe as thousands and thousands of cherry blossoms fell from the tree.  It was so beautiful that some began applauding and cheering.  It looked like a snow shower of pink and white blossoms.
        Marron smiled to herself as she watched.  Trunks came up and stood behind her. "Beautiful, isn't it?" he asked.
        "What?  Oh, yes.  It is, thanks to Goku-ojisan." Marron giggled.
        Trunks smiled down at her. "A lot of things happened tonight," he said.
        Marron sighed, thinking about Bra and Goten's situation. "Yeah, I guess."
        Trunks put his arm around her waist and pulled her against him.  She leaned back and dropped her head on his shoulder, still watching the falling blossoms. "Trunks," she whispered. "I'm marrying Goten," she joked.
        "That's what I heard.  At least your mother isn't trying to set you up with a monkey."
        Marron looked up at him, surprised. "You heard that?"
        "Everything."
        "Her name's Gourira.  Not a monkey."
        "Gorilla, Gourira.  What's the difference?  Neither's you." He grinned. "Goten was right beside me.  We were behind the bushes."
        "Thought so." She frowned. "Wait.  Goten?"
        "Uh-huh."
        "So…so he heard what—what did he say?"
        "He said I get you.  His loss." 
        Marron laughed and leaned against his shoulder again. She wished they were alone.  But then, she didn't know how long they were going to have to hide their feelings.
        "Trunks, I'm worried."
        "About what?"
        "About you and me…what we're going to do…"
        Trunks put a hand on each shoulder. "What's the big problem?"
        "Well…I just…I just…" She sighed. "How on Earth are we going to tell them?"
        Trunks looked down at her, then smirked. "What about now?" he asked.
        "Huh?  What do you—"
        Trunks pulled her closer and sealed her mouth with a kiss.  Her eyes widened and she tried to pull away slightly, but something inside her melted and she leaned into him and threw all her cares away.  She didn't care if anyone was watching them.  She didn't care if anyone found out about them.  All she cared about was the fact that they were embracing each other and no one was there to disturb them.  It was just them.  Alone.
        She threw her arms around him and began kissing him back. 
        "Oh, my."
        The voice broke them apart.  They turned and found Bulma staring at them, motionless. "I…I…this is so…surprising!" Bulma exclaimed breathlessly.
        Marron pulled herself away. "Bulma-obachan, I—I…" Marron's stammerings trailed off as she noticed
EVERYONE looking at them.  Trunks just held her hand tightly and refused to let her go.
        Vegeta looked at them, then at Krillin. "Heh," he snorted. "I don't want my family's bloodline mixed with that bunch of cowards!" he fumed.
        Goku grinned. "But Vegeta, one of those cowards broke your arm once!" he teased.
        "Why you—" Vegeta and Goku started chasing each other again.
***********************************
        "Trunks, how long has this been going on?" Bulma asked.
        Trunks looked at his watch. "I don't know…about thirty seconds?"
        Marron was too shy to speak up.  She chanced a quick glance at her parents, but they didn't look angry…they were smiling?
        "Well, well, well, our daughter with a rich man!" Krillin teased.  Juuhachi smiled and looked at her and Trunks, planning for grandkids.
        ChiChi couldn't stop laughing.  After all, who expected Trunks and Marron to get together?  How unexpected!
        Bra went up to them and grabbed Marron's hand. "Tomorrow you've got to call me." She squeezed Marron's hand. "And tell me EVERYTHING…from the very beginning."
        "Uh, sure, Bra." Marron laughed lightly.
        Just then, Pan came up.  She grinned wickedly at Marron. "Who's teasing who now?" she asked.
***********************************
        Goten had missed most of the commotion, sitting under a tree, staring at his cell phone.  He didn't have anyone to call.  How depressing.  He looked through the crowd and saw Trunks holding Marron's hand.  So now Trunks had a girl, and he didn't.  Definitely a role reversal.  Thinking of Trunks reminded him of Bra and he began to look for her.
        She was just talking to Pan, but it was obviously about something serious.  He wondered if they were talking about yesterday.
        Yesterday.
        He remembered what he'd decided to do.  He put his cell phone away and stood up.
***********************************
        It was almost midnight when everyone started packing up for home.  Bra and Pan were helping their mothers put everything away when Marron came up.
        "Um, Bra?"
        "Yeah?"
        "Can I…can I talk to you?  Alone?"
        "But why?"
        "Um…it—uh—it has to do with Trunks," Marron lied. "May I?" She pulled Bra away before either girl could
object and dragged her far away.
        "Marron-chan, what are we doing?"
        "Shh.  Here, look at these!"
        Bra stared at the things in her hand. "Marron, those are earrings!"
        "I know!  Aren't they beautiful?"
        "Well, yes, but—"
        Before she could finish, Marron sneezed and let the earring fall to the ground. "Oh no!  I have to find those or Trunks will be so disappointed!"
        Bra rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, I'll help." She knelt down and began feeling the grass and looking.  It was harder than she thought, with such small object and such little light.
        "Oh, thank you!" Marron cocked her head to the side. "I'll be right back.  My mom just called me."
        "Okay." Bra kept her eyes on the ground.  Marron quickly ran away.
        So Bra was alone.
        "Oh, those things are so small!  How could I ever find it?" she complained.  She looked more carefully but still found nothing.  She sighed and stood up.
        Bra heard someone behind her.  She gulped and turned around, not looking forward to telling Marron she failed.  But it wasn't Marron.  She stood there, stunned.  She bit her lip and ducked her head, trying to hid her red face.  The figure came closer and closer until he stopped about a foot away.
        "B-chan…we need to talk."

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"Atarashii Door" by ZARD