Let's delve into it, shall we?

Chapter 1: Take Me To Heaven

Bra Briefs was not an impulsive person, regardless of what anyone else might have thought. She had a considerable temper, yes, but she wasn't prone to doing things blindly and without at least contemplating the possible outcomes. Her father was a tactical genius as long as he kept his own temper and pride in check, something which had been acknowledged several times in the past battles. Her mother was a genius scientist who had had a lot of experience with executing various experiments and achieving expected results, all due to a careful planning and being able to anticipate the reactions of the variables in said experiments. Bra was their daughter and she had inherited those abilities in full. And finally, she had something to try them on.

The moment Bra decided to pursue Goten romantically, she knew she had a long battle ahead of her. They knew each other fairly well and it was their familiarity with each other that would work against her in this case. Bra knew that she was labeled somewhere in Goten's mind as a young girl who was almost a sister to him, because she was a sister to his best friend. She realized that the first step was to get Goten to see her as Bra - the young woman, not Bra - the Trunks' sister. And the most sure way to achieve that was to spend as much time together as possible.

Unfortunately, there wasn't that much they had in common. Bra was still a high school student, attending the school for the sake of socializing with people her age, not because she needed the education. Goten worked as a martial arts instructor at the dojo that Yamcha had opened up after retiring from baseball completely, occasionally doing stunt work in action movies and last Bra heard, he was thinking of opening his own agency to provide either stunt men or martial arts training for the actors. Their social circles didn't overlap, the only interaction between them happened when one or the other visited the other's family and even then their respective friends occupied the majority of their time. An action had to be taken to change the status quo.

It was the contemplation of which of her jetcopters to take to visit Marron that gave Bra an idea. She could fly on her own but she was far from profficient, preferring a mechanical transport to the organic one. She could do with a refresher course on flying and who better to teach her than Goten, right? She smirked to herself. She knew he would wonder why she was asking him and not her father or brother and she quickly came up with several good reasons, her pride being in the first place among them.

And maybe she could take up her training a notch, too, claiming Goten's tutelage revived her interest in it. Stroking his ego would definitely help and a prolonged physical contact was always useful. Saiyan men were just men in the end and Goten wasn't an exception to the rule.

Bra smiled to herself. The first step was planned out and the execution could begin.

The opportunity to talk with Goten came less than two weeks later. Pan had turned seventeen, being four months younger than Bra and the Son and Briefs family, along with the other Z-Warriors and their families had all gathered to celebrate their youngest fighter's big day.

After the official part which included gift-giving and a large feast, all those attending split into several groups, catching up on their friends' lives. Bra meandered from one group to the next, waiting for the inevitable moment when Goten would seek out a temporary solitude away from all the noise. She had learned a long time ago that Goten had remained the nature-loving boy deep inside and that he liked to have his moments of peace now and then. She should probably feel sorry for intruding on his alone time but she didn't want anyone to overhear their talk, innocent as it was.

Seeing him heading behind the house, Bra excused herself and grabbed a plate of grilled chicken wings from the table, knowing they were Goten's favourite. Munching on one to keep up appearances, she went around the corner and spotted him lying on the grass, watching the sky. She didn't try to mask her approach and saw him turn his head in her direction, tensing imperceptibly before relaxing again when he recognized her.

"Hey," she greeted, stopping at his side and looking down at him. "Am I intruding?"

"Not really," he replied and sat up, his eyes landing on the plate in her hand. Bra moved it closer to him.

"Want some?" she asked and plopped down next to him without waiting for his response.

"They're yours," he said but took one anyway.

"I have to watch my perfect figure," Bra said with a wink. Goten snorted at that.

"A couple of them wouldn't hurt you, Princess," he teased and Bra nodded.

"I know, but this is my second plate," she fibbed.

"In that case, I'd better help out."

Bra laughed and handed the plate over.

"Please, do so," she said and watched as he ate, content with how the things were going so far. "I had to get away from all the people there," she spoke after a few moments, seeing him nod in agreement. "I hope you don't mind I'm here."

"No, I don't," Goten said. "Since you brought the food," he added jokingly.

"Saiyans!" Bra huffed, perfectly imitating her mother when complaining about her father. Both of them laughed at that but Bra got serious quickly after.

"How have you been recently?" she asked, picking at the grass. Her body language spoke of uncertainty and hesitation and she knew Goten would notice. One didn't become one of the best martial artists in the world if one was unable to read other people.

"Good, I guess," he replied, watching her curiously now. The bait was cast and Bra moved on with her plan.

"Your work going good?"

"Yeah. I'm a bit busy, not much time left for social life but I'm not complaining."

"Oh," Bra intoned, letting a dejected tone be clearly heard in the single syllable. "Good for you."

"What's the matter, Bra?" he was openly frowning, trying to figure out why she would react this way to his answers.

"Nothing," she denied, fidgeting a bit. "It's just..." she trailed off, baiting him further.

"Just what?"

She stood up suddenly, shaking her head.

"Never mind."

She moved to leave but just like she had expected, Goten reached out and caught her wrist, tugging her back down.

"C'mon, you know you can tell me anything," he cajoled her and she turned to him, her eyes big and trusting, covertly cataloguing all of his reactions.

"I meant to ask you a favour but since you are so busy, I don't want to impose," she explained and watched as his concerned face smoothed out and he smiled.

"That's all?" he laughed. "I thought something serious was going on."

Bra frowned and tugged her wrist free from his grasp, turning away and pretending to be insulted.

"It's serious to me but if you're just going to make fun of me, I won't tell you a thing."

"Sorry, Bra," he apologized and she waited just long enough to make him uncertain of her next action before she nodded.

"Apology accepted," she said and turned to face him again.

"Now, tell me what's this favour you wanted to ask me."

"Well," Bra looked down at her hands, folding them primly in her lap. "I was wondering if you could help me with my flying."

"Your flying?" Goten repeated after her disbelievingly. "But you already know how to fly."

"Not well enough," she said. "I'm not fast and it takes too much energy and I haven't practiced in ages, anyway. I want to change that."

Goten nodded thoughtfully, his gaze sweeping over her and she knew he was judging her ki level.

"It shouldn't be a problem to get you better. Your natural ki reserves are quite high, but Bra, why are you asking me? Why not Trunks or your Dad? They would be happy to help out."

Bra smiled and shook her head.

"Trunks is too busy working and keeping up with his own training to keep Dad off his back. Trying to fit me into his schedule would only give him more stress. And as for my Dad, well," she looked away. "He would only be disappointed in the end."

"Bra," Goten spoke up. "You are ridiculous. Nothing you do would ever disappoint Vegeta. Expressing interest in training least of all."

"But I'm not expressing interest in training, see?" Bra implored, quite sure she had him almost convinced. "I just want to improve my flying. I have no intention of doing more and Dad wouldn't get that. He would think that me wanting to fly better is just the first step but it's the only step I want to take."

"I get it now," Goten nodded to himself. "Well, in that case, sure, I'll help you," he grinned at her. "When do you want to start?"

"How about you check your schedule first and let me know when you are free?" Bra suggested, inwardly cheering at how easily it all fell into place.

"All right then," he agreed. "But I have to warn you, I'm a strict teacher," he frowned, pretending to be cross with her. Bra snorted at that and Goten didn't keep the serious face for long, either. They both chuckled at the siliness of it all before Bra got serious once again. Leaning over, she put a hand on Goten's arm, her face honest and full of emotion.

"Thank you, Goten. You have no idea how much this means to me."

And she meant every word she spoke, the genuinity of her words beyond any doubt. Goten smiled and then ruffled her hair.

"Anytime, Bra. You know that."

She batted his hand away, annoyed at this familiar gesture of his. She was no longer a child and hopefully, very soon he would come to realize the same. And she would start reminding him right away.

"I'll be looking forward to the lessons," Bra spoke and then dropped her voice to make it sound more intimate. "I am going to enjoy it very much, when you take me to heaven," she enunciated, the innuendo clear enough to pick up. Goten pulled away, staring at her in surprise before he got an understanding look in his eyes.

"Are you flirting with me?" he sounded half-amused, half-shocked and just for that amusement, Bra would show some claws.

"Yup," she dropped the single word without offering any other explanation.

"Why?"

"Because I need practice," Bra explained sweetly before delivering the punch line. "On old guys."

"Old?" Goten shouted, immensely insulted. "I'm not old."

"Please," Bra waved her hand around carelessly. "You must be pushing forty by now," she pressed on, taking an inordinate amount of glee from his reaction.

"I'm going to be just thirty-one," he defended himself before noticing the twitching at the corners of her mouth and the understanding dawned. "Which you know and you've just been pulling my leg," he concluded and Bra nodded, laughing again.

"Serves you right," she told him. "I can flirt with you if I want. I'm old enough for that. And so are you," she couldn't resist adding at which Goten pulled a face.

"Okay, Princess. Just tone it down. I wouldn't want your Dad out for my blood."

"Don't worry, I don't want to lose my instructor before he can teach me anything useful."

"Good. I'm safe for now. What a relief," Goten didn't bother to mask the sarcasm in his voice but he was suppressing a smile and Bra noticed. It worked out even better than she had expected. She had secured herself a private time with him and she had also made him aware of the fact that she planned to flirt with him. Best of all, he didn't seem too opposed to the idea. All was going well.

"Give me a call when you check your schedule so we can start on those lessons. I can't wait to be taken to heaven," she tossed out again and this time he was ready for that.

"It will be a trip to remember," he volleyed back at her.

"I'm sure of that," standing up, Bra gathered the empty plate and looked down at Goten. "I'll be seeing you later, then."

"Yeah, see you later, Princess."

She left him to enjoy the rest of the afternoon in peace, her own goals met and her mind already swirling with the ideas on how she would proceed from there on. The first step was a success, now to make sure the rest of them were as well.

TBC

A/N: Yeah, not very angsty for now but the angst will come in due time. Tricks should be updated tommorrow, even though it's Friday 13th. Yuck.