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Chapter 10
After searching nearly all day without much
success, Trunks and the gang head back to Trunks apartment where Trunks give MajUub
an offer he can’t refuse.
“Thanks Trunks,” MajUub smiles looking about the
room. “Man you don’t know how much I’d appreciate this!”
“Actually I do,” Trunks grins
from the doorway. Beside him,
Goten, Bulla and Pan are standing, smiling at MajUub’s reaction. Instead
of taking MajUub looking for apartments, Trunks offered MajUub his.
“I left home because things were getting too
crowded for me. But since Bulla and I are moving back into the Capsule
Compound, I was going to have to sell this place anyways. Then I figured,
why sell it when I could give it to a friend!”
“Man,” MajUub laughs. “Dude, I wish that
you’ll let me do something to pay for this!”
“Nah,” Trunks raises his hands and shakes his
head. “After all the mess that we all have gone through together, this is
the least I could do to help a friend.”
“That’s true,” Pan remarks.
“After all, didn’t Trunks help fund uncle Goten’s diner?”
“What’s that got to do with me giving MajUub my
apartment,” Trunks asks the raven haired girl.
“I’m just saying that you love to help out your
friend’s, that’s all,” Pan retorts as she crosses her arms in front of her
chest, right underneath her breast, giving them a small push upward. The
act was done unconsciously on her part, but Trunks had seen the movement
plainly.
Whoa…, I never really realize that Pan has…
grown over the past year. Gulp! Who would have thought that hat 14
year old tomboy that hopped a ride into space with Goku and I, in Goten’s
place, would become such a knockout. This only shows what a beautiful woman Pan
will turn out to be.
Trunks averts his attention elsewhere as Goten and the other’s enter the
apartment. It has been Trunks home for the past two years, but with all that
has happened it would be better for Trunks to return to the old Capsule
Compound. But they all agree on the same thing, it sure was nice for
Trunks to offer his apartment to MajUub, whenever they move out in two
weeks. Construction on the Capsule Compound is yet to be finished, but
they will have the living quarters up and running within the next week.
Valese whistles. “Wow, I never knew this
place was so large.”
“Yeah. Almost too big. Can
get kind of lonely,” Marron adds.
“It did for a while,” Trunks replies as he leans
against the wall, his arms crossed. “But I spend more time at the office
than I do here, so it really doesn’t matter.”
“It doesn’t matter,” MajUub replies.
“Outside our little group, I’m not really that social anyways. But I
still insist Trunks; let me pay for this house. After working alongside
Mister Satan for the past two years I have saved up quite a lot…”
Trunks shakes his head. “No, don’t worry about it MajUub.
Think of it as a gift! Really!”
MajUub sighs, but smiles nonetheless.
“Thanks Trunks. When do you think that I can move in?”
“Bulla and I are moving back in the Capsule
Compound in two weeks. During that time we will be moving our stuff out
and you can be moving your stuff in, so this place will be all yours in a
matter of two weeks.”
MajUub grins. “Cool.”
“We’re going to have to throw you a housewarming
party,” Goten grins wildly. “I’ll bring the food!”
The group laughs at Goten’s silly antics.
Whenever the word party is mentioned around Goten or by Goten, one can expect
more food than even a Saiyan can handle.
“So, since everybody is here, let’s say we get to stripping this place of all of Trunks junk and place them in
boxes so we can make room for MajUub’s!”
“Sure.”
“Why not?”
“Hey, my stuff isn’t junk!”
“Alright!”
“Really, it isn’t any trouble, we can wait until
Trunks and you move out!”
“I’m hungry…”
“Let’s start with the walls!”
“Nah, let’s do the kitchen first! It’s not
like he uses the pots and pans in there anyways.”
“Hey, Goten watch it! That vase was
expensive and RARE!”
“Opps! Sorry! Hey, how come your refrigerator is
empty Trunks?
“Really, shouldn’t we wait?”
“I’m glad I left the majority of my stuff back at
Capsule.”
“Eww,
Trunks are those your smiley face boxers?”
“…”
“This wallpaper is got to go. It completely
contrasts with MajUub’s personality.”
“This carpet too. I mean come on, purple
carpet Trunks?
“What’s wrong with purple? Look at my hair!”
“Your hair is lavender boxer-boy.”
“Thanks for stating the obvious, Pan!”
…grumble…
“Whose stomach was that?”
“Do you need to ask?”
“Goten!”
“What, I’m hungry!”
**********
“Lord Enma can see you now,” a blue skinned female
Oni, or troll, with red hair smiles at the Namekian. Dende nods his head
and returns the smile as he heads toward the large room where Lord Enma is
seated at all times, where he judges the souls of everyone who enters his
courtroom.
“Ah Dende, back so soon? What is it this time?”
“As you know, I was here recently learning about
why Earth was attacked by that creature named Malice.
“That is correct,” Lord Enma bellows. “But
what does that have to do with you here now?”
“I was spoken to last night upon returning to
Earth by Piccolo,” Dende remarks.
“Piccolo,” Lord Enma yells in
rage as he stands, causing the courtroom to tremble. The trolls under his service all yelp in surprise
and the spirits in line awaiting to be judged tremble in fear. “How is
that possible? He is in the Home for Internal Losers, hell!
All privileges to contact the outside would were revoked when he went to hell!”
Dende chuckles. “That’s Piccolo for you, all Mister Mysterious!”
Dende then grows serious. “He spoke with me
about a Saiyan that he ran into that can see into the future. This Saiyan
knows the location of Goku. He wishes to trade the location of Goku with
us for a safe passage from hell into heaven with his loved ones.”
“I can’t do that Dende,” Lord Enma sighs. “If
I let one soul out of hell, others will want that privilege to.”
“This is a matter of life and death Lord Enma,”
Dende argues. “If we can find Goku, then we’ll have a better shot at
defending the Earth against this Malice creature if Vegeta is unsuccessful in
finding him and destroy the threat!
“Besides, there is a good chance that the Dragon
Balls of Earth might return as well.”
Lord Enma sits back in his large office chair and
strokes his beard. He continues to do so for several minutes until he
finally speaks. “Oh fine! Just don’t make this a habit! Now
which souls do you want me to bring here?”
“Piccolo and the Saiyan’s
known as Bardock, Serpia and Raditz.”
“Raditz, now why does that name sound familiar,”
Lord Enma ponders. “Oh well.”
With the snap of his large fingers, the souls of
Piccolo, Bardock, Serpia and Raditz appear before Dende and Lord Enma in the
courtroom. The four spirits look around in surprise at their
surroundings.
“Well, I’ll be damned it worked!” Bardock cheers.
Lord Enma gives the Saiyan a glare. “Such
language is not permitted in this courtroom! Do you want me to send you
back to hell?”
“Forgive my mate your honor,” Serpia bows to the
large deity. “It’s just simply a relief being away from that ghastly
place.”
“A Saiyan with manners, I’ve seen it all now.”
Lord Enma shakes his head. “Okay, I have released you four from
hell. Now that I have kept my end of the bargain, tell us the location of
Goku.”
“Kakarrot, my son, is being held in Shenron’s
lair. The only way to get to Shenron’s lair is to travel to the core of
the Earth and enter a portal. Through that portal we will enter the
“We?”
“Yes, my family and Piccolo shall find Kakarrot,
and afterwards we shall then take our leave into heaven.”
“May I ask why?”
“It has been well over fifty years since I have
last seen my son; I wish to see him again.”
“The same goes for me,” Serpia adds. “All
Saiyan children are removed from the mother’s womb and placed in
incubators. Having a natural birth only drains the mother her
energy. I too, only saw Kakarrot for a few minutes before I was sent on
that mission before I lost my life.”
“Okay, okay,” Lord Enma sighs. “How do I et
myself into these messes? Dende, I am leaving this four in your
hands. Keep them in line.”
“As you wish Lord Enma,” Dende bows.
“Overgrown oaf,” Piccolo mutters before Dende,
Bardock, Raditz, Serpia and himself vanish, only to appear back on Earth in a
matter of moments.
**********
Gohan was in the middle of tossing Icarus in the
air when he is suddenly struck with a feeling. The purple dinosaur gleefully
lands on top of Gohan’s head before bringing Gohan back to the present.
Videl jogs over to where Gohan and Icarus are.
“Gohan, what’s wrong?”
“I… I don’t know. Nothing I think… but I had
a feeling a moment ago… but it disappeared the moment it appeared. It was
nothing I suppose.”
“I hope not. The surprises that we have been
having here lately have been nothing but bad news.”
“Well, not all of them,” Gohan smirks at his wife,
reminding her of the process that restored her youth.
“Hentai,” Videl mutters
as picks her youngest off her husbands head and turns back to the house.
She smiles over her shoulder. “Food will be ready soon, and then afterwards,
does a dive in the Hot spring sound good?”
“Sounds wonderful,” Gohan smiles at his retreating
wife. He then turns and looks in the direction of the Lookout, Icarus
still lying across his shoulders. “I swear, for a brief second, I felt
Piccolo’s chi.”
**********
Later on in the night…
Yamcha enters his personal access code to Capsule
Corps. His password has been the same over the years since Bulma had
first given it to him right after they had begun dating many years ago.
Yamcha nods at the security guard on the opposite side as he makes his way to
the elevator that will lead him up to Trunks’ office.
Yamcha looks out of the glass of the
elevator. It was one of those real fancy ones that allowed whomever on
the inside the elevator to look out, but not in. Yamcha looks up at the
sky, where the Planet Tuffle shines down on the planet, acting as
Earth’s new moon.
Yamcha’s attention is then drawn back to his task
at hand when a little bell sounds, letting him know that he has reached his
desired floor. Yamcha exits and walks down the hall to Trunks
office. After knocking on the door, Trunks, on the opposite side, tells
him to enter.
Trunks smiles as he stands from his desk. He
walks around and shakes Yamcha’s hand. “Yamcha, how are you? I
wasn’t expecting you.”
“Sorry to show up, unexpected, but I’ve wanted to
talk to you for a while now. We really haven’t had a chance since… since
the funeral.”
“That is true,” Trunks motions toward the man he
has always seen as another father to sit. Trunks walks back
around and sits in his leather office chair, opposite side of
Yamcha. “So, what can I do for you?”
“How are you and Bulla holding up,” Yamcha
asks. “I heard from Chi-Chi about your father…”
Trunks raises his hand, cutting Yamcha off, his eyes in an intense
glare. “I have no father.”
“Oh. What I had meant…”
“No, its okay Yamcha. I’m sorry for being rude, but I rather not talk
about Vegeta.”
“Okay,” Yamcha smiles sadly. “Listen, I just
wanted to come by and see you and Bulla. I know that I am not your real
father, but I have always seen you as a son to me. If there is anything I
can do for you or Bulla, let me know.”
Trunks smiles. “Thank you Yamcha. No matter what anybody may
think, you have been a real father to me over the years. I still remember
all the times you took me to the park, ball games and to see movies when I was
young. I’ll never forget those times. But since you offered, there is one thing you can do for me.”
“Name it,” Yamcha smiles.
“Can you be a father figure to Bulla,” Trunks
asks. “I mean, I know that you and Mai may want to try to begin a family
now, now that you both have your youth, but can you try to take Vegeta’s place…
if just for a little while.”
Yamcha frowns slightly. “Bulla has always
loved Vegeta. I don’t want to make her forget about him, but I will do
what I can to be a father figure to her. It would be an honor.”
Trunks removes his glasses and sighs happily as he leans back into his
chair. “Thank you Yamcha. Hey, want to go catch a few drinks?”
Yamcha returns the smile, standing. “Sure.”
********
Pan, Marron and Bulla sit in chairs on the patio
of Trunks, now MajUub’s, apartment. Marron and
Bulla are looking through the latest fashion magazines, talking about their
current favorites and such. Pan is resting her head against her palm and
is quietly looking up in the sky.
Pan sighs softly, gaining the attention of Bulla
and Marron.
“Pan,” Marron asks. “What’s wrong? You
look upset.”
“Oh,” startled, Pan glances
back at Marron and Bulla before turning her attention back to the night
sky. “Just lost in my thoughts, that’s all.”
“Care to share,” Bulla asks, propping her elbows
up on the glass table. Her red, gothic type outfit shines brightly off
the moonlight that the Tuffle planet gives off.
“Just thinking back on the grand
tour. Grandpa, Trunks and I sure
had some adventures up there,” Pan nods upward, drawing Bulla and Marron’s
attention to the night sky. “I had the time of my life traveling around
in space, looking for the Black Star balls. Lots of
memories, both good and bad.”
“Really,” Marron asks as she lays down one of the
fashion books to give Pan her attention. “Tell us one of your good
memories about space.”
A small blush graces Pan’s lips as one particular
memory takes form in her mind. “My first kiss.”
“Your first kiss,” Bulla grins, her lips making a
cat like appearance. “Let me guess, my brother?”
Pan’s blush deepens. “How’d you guess?”
“Well, aside from your chibi
grandpa, Trunks was the only one not related to you. Now spill, why did
he kiss you? And how come we haven’t heard any of this until now!”
Bulla squeals. From inside the apartment, Goten, Valese and MajUub
poke their heads out the sliding glass doors, then shrug and return inside the
apartment.
“It nothing really,” Pan begins, only to be
interrupted by Marron.
“That’s bull! Ever girl’s first kiss is like
a landmark that needs to be shared with all her friends!”
“Not turning back now,” Bulla grins. “Now
spill.”
“Okay, it was my birthday and we had stopped on
some random planet. Trunks and Grandpa had Giru distract me by having us
look for the Dragon Ball, which wasn’t even on the planet. The two had
went to the nearby town and bought supplies to throw me a surprise party.
After Giru and I returned, Grandpa, Trunks and
Giru surprised me with cake and balloons. Later after the party Trunks
had given me a pair of flower earrings that he bought from a booth on an
earlier planet that we had stopped on. He then told me to close my eyes
that he had a second gift for me. I did, and he kissed me.”
“He kissed you just like that,” Bulla asks; her
eyes wide. “That’s not real romantic, and I highly doubt that counts as a
first kiss.”
“Shush Bulla, don’t spoil it for Pan,” Marron
glares.
“No its okay. That wasn’t the kiss I was talking about
anyways. I kissed him again.”
“Wha…,” both girls look
at Pan.
Pan nods. “After he had pulled back, I was
frozen still for a few moments. Then I punched him on the arm, telling
him that he had no idea what a first kiss meant and I demanded that he do
again, only properly!”
Bulla and Marron double over with laughter.
“You demanded,” Bulla laughs.
Pan joins the two in laughter. After the
three finishes their fit of giggles, Pan then turns back and looks up at the
stars. “But that kiss sealed it for me. I knew that afterwards,
Trunks was the man that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.”
Marron and Bulla grow quiet, listening to Pan’s
words, both sensing how important this was for Pan. For a few minutes,
all is quiet until Pan breaks her gaze, and looks back at her two
friends. “Do you two think that I might have a chance with Trunks, now
that I am older?”
“I say go for it,” Bulla remarks. “You two
are best of friends, and I don’t see any real reason why it wouldn’t work.”
“What about the age difference,” Marron
asks. “Trunks is fourteen years your senior. Doesn’t that pose a
problem?”
“Not if I show Trunks just how much of a woman I
am. I have grown and matured much over the past three years. I turn
18 in little over a year, legal age for Trunks,” Pan declares as she stands, a
new fire burning brightly in her eyes and her two pigtails blowing in the
wind. “Will you two help me?”
Bulla and Marron look at each other and nod.
The two smile at Pan and nod, letting the youngest of
the three know that they will help.
Be on the look out Briefs Trunks, you are now
being hunted.
**********
Nearly a week passes before Vegeta’s pod nears the
area where the Orion Space Station once stood. Vegeta types a command on
the control panel which slows the pod down to a complete stop.
Vegeta growls as he spots the wreckage of the once
proud space station. It was one of the few stations that Freeza allowed
to operate freely outside his control. Vegeta can recall many times that
Nappa and he had stopped at the station to relax after a mission.
The bodies of both travelers and those that lived
upon the station, both whole and mutilated float amongst the debris.
Once, long ago, the sight wouldn’t have appalled the great Saiyan prince, but
living on Earth, amongst the warriors he came to call family, with Bulma, his
heart has softened.
“This is the work of that bastard… Malice.” Vegeta growls as he raises his chi. He
opens the latch to his pod and exposes himself to the harsh conditions of
space, but his chi protects him from being sucked out. Vegeta raises a
hand and fires a mighty chi blast, erasing the debris and corpses from
existence.
“That is the closest to a decent burial I can
offer,” Vegeta replies as he turns and sits back in the pods cockpit. The
ship acknowledges Vegeta’ command and the pod door closes, returning the ship’s
temperature back to its regular temperature. Vegeta types a command in
and sits back feeling the pods thrusters’ power up. The ship blasts off
in its piloted course, trailing after the homing signal coming from the Grand
Tour ship.
“I’m right behind you Malice. Be prepared.”
Vegeta’s face hardens and an evil looking snarl
graces his lips. “Be prepared.”