Shadows of the Heart: A Love Reborn

A Lingering Mark

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The morning sun crept over the horizon, casting warm light across the peaceful valley. Karia sat at the dining table inside Goku's house, staring into the untouched bowl of food before her. Chi-Chi had prepared breakfast for everyone, and the scent of freshly steamed rice and grilled fish filled the air. Yet, Karia felt too distracted to eat.

Her fingers absently grazed her neck, where Broly had bitten her in the dream-or what she thought was a dream. The sensation had been so vivid that she found herself checking for marks the moment she woke. Nothing was visible, but the memory haunted her like a shadow she couldn't escape.

"Karia, are you okay?" Gohan asked, his voice gentle as he studied her with concern.

Karia snapped out of her thoughts, quickly plastering a faint smile on her face. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just didn't sleep well," she replied.

"Are you sure?" Goku chimed in between bites of his meal. "You've been quiet all morning. Not like you at all!"

Vegeta, who leaned against the wall with his arms crossed, snorted in response. "Maybe she's realizing how dangerous this Broly situation is," he said, his tone clipped.

Karia shot Vegeta a sharp glare, her instincts urging her to push back against his comment, but she restrained herself. Vegeta's words hit too close to the truth.

"Broly's not just dangerous," Vegeta continued, his dark eyes narrowing. "He's unpredictable. Whatever connection he thinks he has with you, it's going to be a problem if we don't figure out how to deal with it."

Goku frowned, setting down his chopsticks. "What connection are you talking about, Vegeta?"

Vegeta hesitated, his usual confident demeanour faltering for a brief moment. "It's complicated," he muttered. "But Broly didn't bite her for no reason. Saiyans don't do things like that casually. It's... a claim."

"A claim?" Goku asked, tilting his head in confusion.

Vegeta sighed, clearly annoyed at having to explain. "It's a primal instinct. Saiyans have a deep-rooted drive to mark their territory-whether it's a rival, a mate, or an enemy. That bite wasn't just random. He's marked her as his, whether she wanted it or not."

The room fell silent as Goku, Gohan, and even Chi-Chi absorbed Vegeta's words. Karia's stomach twisted uncomfortably. She hadn't wanted to believe it, but hearing Vegeta confirm her fears made it impossible to deny.

"That's ridiculous," Karia finally said, her voice trembling with frustration. "I don't belong to anyone. If Broly thinks otherwise, he's going to regret it."

Vegeta smirked faintly, though his expression carried a hint of respect. "Good. You'll need that attitude if you're going to face him again. Because trust me, he's not done with you."

The conversation was interrupted by a sudden spike in energy outside. The air grew heavy, and a familiar, oppressive power washed over the area. Everyone froze, their senses locking onto the unmistakable presence of Broly.

Karia shot to her feet, her pulse quickening. She bolted for the door, ignoring Goku's call to wait. Stepping outside, she found herself face-to-face with Broly, his imposing figure standing at the edge of the clearing.

"Karia," he said simply, his deep voice carrying an unspoken command.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, her tone sharp as she tried to mask her nerves.

Broly's gaze softened for a brief moment before his usual intensity returned. "You've been running from me," he said. "But you can't run forever."

Karia's fists clenched. "I'm not running. I just don't want anything to do with you."