Bulma was completely overwhelmed by the reality of his return. She buried her face in Karnel's chest, her tears soaking through his shirt as years of suppressed emotions finally broke free.
Holding her trembling form, Karnel felt his own carefully maintained composure crumble. His arms tightened around her protectively, just as they had when she was a child.
"Brother Karnel," Bulma's muffled voice came through her tears. "You're really back? You liar... you said if I ever called out to Shenron, you'd find a way to appear before me." Her small fists weakly pounded against his chest between sobs.
Guilt washed over Karnel's features as he gently lifted her chin to meet her eyes. "I'm sorry, Bulma. I wanted to come back so much sooner. Something unexpected happened, I was pulled outside this universe entirely, lost in time itself. If I hadn't found a way back..."
"Shenron told me," Bulma interrupted, her voice barely a whisper. "He said you weren't even in this universe anymore. Where did you go? Even the Eternal Dragon couldn't bring you back."
Karnel gently wiped the tears from her cheeks, his voice softer than she'd ever heard it. "Since my little sister wants to know, I'll tell you everything. It started with a battle against a terrible enemy in the North Galaxy..."
He spoke carefully, editing out the most frightening details to spare her worry. He told her about being pulled back millions of years, about ancient battles and cosmic threats, about the Supreme Kai's sacrifice and his long journey home.
When he finished, Bulma pressed her hand to her chest dramatically. "Millions of years? No wonder you look so much older! The Supreme Kai sounds like he was a good person. I'm sorry he didn't make it."
"I avenged him," Karnel said simply, stroking her hair. "That chapter is closed now. I'm back, and I'm not going anywhere. Maybe someday I'll take you to meet some of the friends I made in that ancient time."
His eyes wandered around her room, taking in the changes. In the corner, he noticed an impressive arsenal of firearms and ammunition boxes. A chill ran down his spine as he remembered certain violent women from other timelines.
"Bulma..." he said slowly, "why do you have enough weapons to outfit a small army in your bedroom?"
A mischievous smile crossed her face as she followed his gaze. "Well, when I couldn't find my big brother, I got a little... frustrated. These helped me work through those feelings." She gestured casually at the guns.
"That's... concerning," Karnel managed, trying to keep his voice light.
Bulma's laughter tinkled like bells. "Relax! It's your fault anyway. Do you know how dangerous it is for a 'helpless' girl to hunt Dragon Balls alone? These saved my life more than once."
Karnel's expression grew serious as he cupped her face in his hands. "I'm sorry. If I'd been here, you never would have had to face that danger. I failed you."
"No," Bulma shook her head firmly. "It was all worth it. You came back to me, just like you promised."
"I have the power to protect you now," Karnel said, gently tapping her nose with his finger. "And I'll never leave you again. That's a promise I intend to keep."
The immediate threats to Earth were still years away, and his current strength was more than sufficient for any challenges they might face. For now, the most important thing was being here for the family he'd found.
"Come on," he said, taking her hand and pulling her toward the bed. "I haven't sat in your room for years. We have so much catching up to do."
Bulma's face turned crimson as she jumped back like a startled cat. "W-wait! That's... I'm not ready for... I mean, we haven't even..."
Karnel burst out laughing, ruffling her hair affectionately. "What's going on in that genius brain of yours? I just want to sit and talk with my little sister. I've missed our conversations."
"You jerk!" Bulma's face turned an even deeper shade of red as she pummeled his arm with her fists. "Don't tease me like that!" Her punches felt more like a gentle massage than actual attacks.
Several hours later, the sound of the front door announced Dr. and Mrs. Briefs' return. Mrs. Briefs was laden with shopping bags and chattering excitedly.
"I wonder if those two are still holed up in there," she mused to her husband. "Ah, young love! Reminds me of us at that age..."
"Dear, please," Dr. Briefs chuckled, though he couldn't hide his own curiosity. Like a cat, he crept to Bulma's door and pressed his ear against it.
Inside, Karnel's enhanced hearing easily picked up the approaching footsteps. He glanced at Bulma, who was still curled up against him, her eyes heavy with contentment.
"We should probably go out," he whispered. "Your parents are back, and your father is currently eavesdropping at the door."
"What?!" Bulma's drowsy expression instantly transformed into indignation.
The door flew open just as Dr. and Mrs. Briefs pressed closer to listen. Both parents tumbled forward, landing in an undignified heap on the floor.
"MOM! DAD!" Bulma's voice could probably be heard three blocks away. "What do you think you're doing?!"
Karnel watched in fascination as Bulma's personality did a complete one-eighty from gentle to fierce in seconds. He made a mental note that Bulma's mood swings were apparently a constant across all timelines.
"Nothing, nothing at all!" Dr. Briefs scrambled to his feet, laughing nervously. "Just... be careful, you two. Don't want any accidents!" He fled the scene before either young person could respond.
Mrs. Briefs picked herself up with significantly more dignity. "Take it easy, handsome," she winked at Karnel before sauntering toward the kitchen with her shopping bags. "Dinner will be ready soon!"
Karnel shook his head in amazement. Some things, it seemed, were universal constants. The Briefs family's eccentricity was apparently one of them.
"Your parents haven't changed a bit," he observed with a grin.
"Unfortunately," Bulma muttered, but there was affection in her voice. "Come on, let's go help with dinner. I want to hear more about your adventures, the parts you didn't tell me because you thought I couldn't handle them."
Karnel raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think I left anything out?"
"Please," Bulma smirked, "I've known you since I was five. You've always tried to protect me from the scary stuff. But I'm not a little girl anymore, big brother. I can handle the truth."
Looking at her, confident, capable, and undeniably grown up, Karnel realized she was right. His little sister had become a remarkable young woman in his absence.
"Alright," he conceded with a smile. "But let's save the really terrifying parts for after dinner. I don't want to ruin your mother's cooking with nightmares about cosmic horrors."
"Deal," Bulma grinned, taking his arm as they headed toward the kitchen. "But I'm holding you to that promise."
As they walked together toward the warmth of the family kitchen, Karnel's mind drifted to his past life, a lonely existence where he'd known only training and isolation from a young age. In that world, he'd had no family, no one who cared whether he came home or not. Perhaps that's why he'd grown so attached to the Briefs family during those early years when he'd needed their technology for his gravity chamber. They had been the first people to treat him like family rather than just a means to an end.
The age gap between him and Bulma would always make romantic feelings impossible and inappropriate, she had been a child when they first met, and in his mind, she would always be his precious little sister who needed protecting. But this familial bond they shared was something far more valuable than romance could ever be.