Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Breathe Today, Tomorrow Unknown ❯ Mannequin ( Chapter 20 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

After my shower, we made our way out of the hotel building. I didn't look around much since I was too excited to actually see the city without having to think about my time on Planet Vegeta or go into local Hot Spots to get money. Instead, I got to look at my surroundings. As soon as we got outside, I was once again in awe at the tall buildings in front of me. It was hard to believe that I was only moments ago above all of them. When my sights made their way back to normal, I could feel myself unintentionally frown. I was still being looked at.

"So, where do we go to get clothes?" I asked as I followed Goku around the crowd of people as we weaved around them. He was pretty much making a path just for me; one of the many benefits of having a Saiyan as a mate.

"It's just around the corner. That's why I like this hotel, it's close to everything." He looked back and smiled at me before returning his eyes back in front of him to continue clearing a path for me.

Experiencing this felt weird, yet exciting. As I weaved around everyone as well, I tried to focus on just one thing, but I couldn't. The mixed chatter of all of the different conversations alongside of the vehicles cruising around us left me completely lost. Even when I tried to concentrate on just one conversation, we'd quickly walk by and then I'd focus on a completely different one. It was mentally exhausting, I hardly realized when Goku had stopped until I walked partially into him.

"Are you okay?" He turned around to look at me as he held open a door for me to walk through.

"Yeah, there is just a lot going on. I'm not used to it." I spoke honestly, but I wasn't disheartened at not adapting yet. It would take a moment before I would be able to tune it all out. I knew it would come in time.

"It's all relatively pointless." I could hear the reassuring in his voice, just validating how I already felt.

"So, where are we?" I asked as I walked through the door, noticing a ton of brightly colored clothes in different styles all around the huge building. I couldn't wrap my head around this either; I had never seen anything like it, nor had I ever imagined a place like this to exist. As my eyes scanned the venue, they halted when they came across a person with very pale skin, just standing there. "What is she doing? She doesn't look right." I slowly turned my eyes upward to look at the Saiyan standing next to me.

"Where?" He asked, confused.

"That one, in the blue shirt and multi-colored skirt. The one with the floppy black hat." I tried not to point, keeping my secrecy from the ill-like person.

"Bulma," I felt his hand on my shoulder, "That's a mannequin. It isn't real; she's there to display outfits." He started laughing silently to himself.

"Why would they do that?" I felt dumb, but it wasn't my fault. Hell, I didn't even know what a spider was until we had landed here. This whole thing felt like a cultural shock.

"Some people have no style." He tried to get out as he continued to laugh.

"And if I have no style? I don't know the Human customs." I looked with furrowed brows at him as he continued to laugh at me.

"You'll do fine." He took his hand off of my shoulder to then place it on the side of his neck, rubbing it as if it were sore. "I need to go buy me some items as well. The men's section is across the store that way." He pointed to the left of the store. "Here is some money, we'll meet back here in an hour."

"You're ditching me?!" my eyes grew wide as I took the foreign money out of his hands and held it in mine. "I don't know what I am doing! I don't even know this currency!" I felt like I was about to panic.

"Bulma, you'll be fine. Nothing will happen to you. As I look around, I am going to keep a close eye on you. If you find something you like, you go to that lady by the counter and ask her if you can try it on. She'll let you know where the dressing room is, and if you like it you can buy it from her, or leave it in that room and repeat the process." He hugged me tightly after he spoke. I couldn't hold him back since I was holding the money.

"Goku, I don't know if I can do this." I mumbled into his chest.

"You survived 15 years with Prince Vegeta, this is nothing." He gave me a squeeze before letting go, placing a kiss on my forehead. He was right, though. I needed to do this on my own, and he would be right there with me if I needed anything. He was right, I had lived a long time on Planet Vegeta, that I could do anything on this planet, it was just foreign since this was something I wasn't used to at all.

Nodding, I watched as he walked away, noticing what direction he went in just in case I needed to run that way. Turning around to face the feminine part of the clothes, I began my shopping while continuing to hold the money in my hand. It was weird not knowing exactly how much worth was in my hand. Did I have a lot? Did I have a little? I guess when it would come time to buy them, I'd just hand it all over and let her decide what I got back.

Walking by the creepy mannequin, I made sure to not look directly at the dead face. It was unreal that this was the normal here. Looking around, I didn't know what color I liked more. I was very used to just being in black, that the only time I ever saw myself in color was when Goku got me the blue dress. I knew I looked good in blue, but what about the rest of the colors?

"Hi, were you looking for anything in particular today?" I heard a chipper voice behind me. I turned around to look at her, noticing it was the girl from the counter. Being socially awkward, I began to sound like a moron.

"I don't know what I am doing. I have all of this and I need to buy new clothes, but I have never been in a store like this before so I don't know what to do. If you ask me what I like, I won't be able to tell you because I am used to being in black clothes or this that I am wearing now and nothing else. So I am at a loss and I am lost." I managed to get out in one breathe. The girl just looked at me and smiled.

"That's perfectly fine, I can definitely help you out. Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking? I can hear an accent in your voice." She remained chipper as she spoke. I began to freak out, what should I tell her? Do I say 'no, I am from here but I was kidnapped and relocated on a different planet where I lived as a slave for 15 years which would explain my accent'? I had to fit in.

"No, I am not from around here." I was in the clear.

"Oh yeah, where are you from?" She was some sort of master mind with these follow up questions.

"I'm sure you've never heard of it." I felt witty as I was passing as a normal human, making small human talk.

"Try me." She smiled as she led me around the store. Was it a wicked smile, did she know?

"I am from Vegeta." I paused as I walked behind her, wondering if she'd know the place and report me on the spot. I wasn't good at this.

"You're right, I haven't heard of it. What is it like there?" She spoke as she began pulling some clothes. "You're as size 6, right?"

"It sucks, so I moved with my-"I didn't know what to call him. I moved with my Goku? I moved with my Saiyan? I moved with my mate? I moved with my man? I moved with my savior?

"Boyfriend? Was that that gentleman who walked in with you? He is quite tall!" I didn't know how she was so social, making my awkwardness feel not so awkward.

"Yes, my boyfriend. That is what he is to me." I smiled as I thought of Goku being my boyfriend. I guess that was the social term used here, but I liked the sound of it already. That would make me his girlfriend? I'd have to ask him later.

"Okay, I picked these out for you, would you like to try them on?" She turned around to look at me as she opened the dressing room door. I must have looked like a sight, just standing there holding money in my hand, obvious that I was totally lost.

"Uhm, yeah, sure." I walked in the room and looked at the clothes that she hung on the wall. "Can I bring this in here with me?" I gestured at the money.

"Of course! You must have some weird customs in Vegeta." She giggled as she backed away a few steps. "If you need me, just press that button on the wall and I will head over myself." She smiled. I could tell she knew I was weird, but I felt it nice of her to try her best to make me feel less ridiculous.

Closing the door behind me, I placed the money on a bench before turning to look at the clothes. 'Looks like I just start with the first one.' I began to take off my clothes until I was naked. Looking in the mirror on the back of the door, I knew it was going to be weird seeing myself in anything other than the slave clothes I was permitted. Grabbing the pink and white floral pattered dress I unzipped the back to slip it on. Bringing it all the way up to meet my shoulders, I awkwardly reached behind my back to zip it all the way up. When I was finished, I turned to look into the mirror.

I never thought I'd ever feel the same way that I did when I was in the blue dress that Goku had given me, but I did. Looking at myself in the mirror, I felt wonderful! How could such an item make me feel this way about myself? It was like I was looking at someone who had never been through any sort of hardships. Anyone on the street who looked at me would never in their life be able to guess what I had gone through just by looking at me. I looked wonderful, I looked normal, I looked human.

I couldn't stop smiling at myself. Turning to look at the clothes that the lady had set behind me, I knew I didn't even need to try them on to love them. Grabbing all of them except for a black dress, since I didn't want to be in that color anymore, I rang the bell and waited for the lady to come.

"Hey, how are you doing?" She spoke from the other side of the door.

"Great! Can you let me out? I am ready to pay." I stood there, clothes in one hand and money in the other.

"Are you sure?" She asked, a little confusion in her voice.

"Yes." I awaited.

Opening the door slowly, she popped her head in to see if I was decent before opening it fully. "You look great! I can see why you needed me to open the door for you, your hands are quite full! Are you getting all of those?" Her smile returned to her face.

It was then I realized that I had waited for her to open the door when I could have opened it myself. I still wasn't used to the concept that I was free to do whatever I wanted. Feeling kind of sad at that fact, I brushed it off and nodded at her question. I needed to start reminding myself that I was free and I no longer needed to wait for someone to let me out like I had been used to on Planet Vegeta.

Making the way to the counter, she took the clothes from me before looking at my feet. "Would you like some shoes today, too?"

Looking down at my feet, I noticed that they didn't live up to the quality of dress I was wearing. "Yeah, I should get some of those too, huh." I began to follow her to their shoe selection.

"Now what do you like? We have: Wedges, heels, flats, sandals, fancy, casual-" She turned to look at me, but stopped talking when she could clearly see how lost I was. "We'll just try stuff on and see what you like." I didn't know how she smiled so much.

After measuring my foot, she enlightened me that I was apparently a size 8 to an 8 ½ depending on the shoe brand. Bringing over many different ones, I decided that the white flats made me feel most comfortable. But, I also grabbed all of the shoes she had brought to me so I could buy them, too. She seemed to know what she was talking about, so I trusted her judgement. I have never trusted a human before, but man was this one convincing.

As she began to ring me up, I saw the numbers on the screen increase and increase, but I had no idea what any of it even meant. How was I going to know what to give this friendly woman?

"Alright, so your total today comes to $1,398.98."

Not knowing what to give her, I placed all of the money on the counter and slowly slid it her way.

"I'll help you out." She happily took all of the money, flipping through it until she got the total she needed, organizing and handing me the rest back, including two coins. I don't know what I would have done without this woman since Goku had ditched me. Folding the items and then placing them in bags, including my slave outfit, I didn't know how I would carry them all. It was then I felt a familiar presence behind me. Turning my head back, I looked up and smiled at the Saiyan towering above me.

"Did you find everything alright?" His voice was smooth and refreshing.

"Nope, but she did and I decided I liked it all so, here we go." I pointed to all of the bags in front of me.

"Thank you for helping her out, I really appreciate it." He sounded genuine.

"Oh, it was my pleasure! She's quite the catch." She continued to be friendly.

Turning around to hand Goku the rest of the money, I noticed that he was dressed very differently than I had ever seen him. He was in multiple layers: A black button-up shirt with a red thing hanging from his neck that tucked down into a black jacket and matching pants. His shoes were even new. "Well look at you!" I was amazed, human clothes and fashion was so weird, but I was heavily attracted to him in what he was wearing.

"It's a suit." He knew I had no idea what I was looking at, so he helped add a word to my syntax.

"Ah, a suit." I repeated as I would have to remember this term. "Just one?" I noticed no bags.

"The rest will be sent to our room." He smiled down at me, as his eyes drifted from my feet to my head. "You look beautiful." I began to blush.

"She really does." I heard the lady chime in behind me.

"Thank you for your help!" I was sincere, since without her I would have still been avoiding the mannequin.

"Would you be able to send these to the Pent House in the Oasis Hotel?" Goku handed the lady a card, not knowing what was on it, I would have to ask him later.

"Why yes, of course Mr. Shenron!" She joyfully answered as she collected the bags in her arms, placing them on a cart behind her to wave down another worker there. "Is there anything else I could help you with?"

"No, that will be it." Goku smiled back at her before grabbing me by my waist to lead me outside.

"Bye!" I cheerfully hollered behind me at the nice lady. "Mr. Shenron, where did you come up with that?" That was the second time I had heard someone call him that, the first being in the hotel yesterday morning by the counter lady, Shayna.

"Oh, it's the name of a mythical dragon around here." He spoke casually as he led me around back in the crowd. This time instead of having to make our own path, people seemed to just get out of our way. It was weird how differently everything was while being dressed differently.

"What kind of dragon?" I wasn't too familiar with the term, only briefly remembering the mythical creature from my short childhood here.

"It's a tall-tale that humans told each other from a long time ago. The great dragon Shenron is supposed to grant any human a wish if they gather 7 Dragonballs." He seemed to know a lot about this story, he must have really liked it.

"Wouldn't that be nice." I imagined such a world where that would be true. "So, where are we heading now?" I was lost in the maze of the city. He seemed to know where he was going, but I was completely lost, as was the usual lately.

"Are you hungry?" I could feel him look down at me while we continued to walk.

"Yeah, I am starving." I hadn't thought about food for a while. "I wouldn't be so hungry if you would have made breakfast right." I poked him in the side as I began to laugh at how funny I found myself.

"If you were daring, you would have eaten it anyway." He looked back up ahead while we walked. It had seemed like a long time since we had jokingly bantered with each other. The past week had been full of so many emotions, we didn't have time to really be the odd people that we were.

"If I weren't daring, then I wouldn't have seduced a high ranking Saiyan warrior." A devilish smile crept on my face as I could feel the sarcasm flow back into my veins. Oh the feeling that I had missed so much. It used to be a method of defense, but now it was just a level of my own comfort.

"That is true, you did trick me." He laughed as he opened a door for me again.

"You should have listened to the others; humans are a tricky bunch." I look around and was again uncertain of what to make of the place. It had tables all around the room with random people eating at each. Up front was a counter and a list of what they had with pictures. "Where are we?" I spoke as I instinctively headed towards a table. I stopped in my tracks when I felt his hand on my arm, holding me back from going much further. I turned to give him a confusing look.

"You can order whatever you'd like up at the counter." He smiled sweetly at me.

Without wanting to, I could feel my eyes start to well up a little. For the first time in my life, I was able to order whatever I wanted. I was able to stand in a line for myself and get what I wanted and not have to wait for someone to bring me whatever was getting served that day to me. The place we were in was definitely not the most appealing, but the meaning behind the whole experience meant so much more. Walking shyly towards the front, I stood in the back of the line and moved whenever someone would finish their order in front of me. The pace was slow, but it gave me a chance to look at their menu. I wasn't sure what a burger was, but the picture sure looked nice. When it came time to order, the guy behind the counter seemed friendly enough.

"What would you like today?" He asked in a monotone voice. Maybe he wasn't a friendly person.

Nervously, I looked up at Goku. I wasn't used to this, but when he gave me a reassuring nod, I turned back at the man in front of me. "I would like that one in the picture." I pointed, not really knowing which name the picture belonged to.

The young man turned around and looked at what I was pointing to. Punching it into the machine, he asked if I wanted anything else. I wasn't so sure, so I looked back at the Saiyan behind me with confused eyes.

"I'll have the same and can we get two waters please?" His questioned seemed more like a statement in how he had spoken. I could tell he was not happy with the boy behind the counter and how he had talked to me.

"Yes sir." The boy changed his tone as he typed everything in and presented a total. "It'll be out shortly." He replied as he took money from Goku, giving him more paper and coins.

"Let's go pick a table." Goku began to walk towards the tables; I followed. This was the action I was very comfortable with since I always picked our table on Planet Vegeta.

"Thank you." I spoke as we sat down, looking across the table at the man that I loved so dearly.

"For what?" He placed his arms on the table, crossing them on top.

"You know why." I gestured to the line. "It means a lot that you really take in every detail." I would never be able to find anyone like this man ever again and I never wanted to have to.

"Everyone deserves a chance to get their own food." He laughed, making light of the situation. He was still a Saiyan, not too expressive of his feelings, but I knew that was his way of genuinely saying 'you're welcome'.

"Order 49!" I heard a shout from the other side of the room.

"That's us!" I was excited to eat.

"Well, go get it." He smiled as he sat in the back of his chair. "Finally, I get to be the one to get served." He joked.

"Ah, yes, your majesty." I sarcastically spoke as I walked to the counter to grab the tray of food. One shouldn't have been so excited to do such a thing, but I was on cloud nine. This was the coolest feeling.

Placing the tray on the table, I took off a burger for Goku and myself, along with a water for each of us. Sitting down I began to open up the wrapping before picking up the food and placing my mouth around it. Chomping down, my eyes rolled in the back of my head as I began to chew. "Oh my, this is so amazing." I spoke slowly with a full mouth as I continued to eat the burger. I had never in my life tasted anything so good. Planet Vegeta's food was now complete shit. It wasn't bad when it was the only food I had ever had in my life, not knowing what else was out there. But now, now that I had this burger, just the one bite, I knew that the food I was previously fed was absolute garbage.

"That good huh?" Goku ate normal as I was a savage.

"Is that even a question?" I asked, mouth still full, as I devoured the meat. "And these fries!" I was so happy.

"You know, you have some sort of attention on you in every food place we've ever eaten at. First, it was because you were eating precious Saiyan food and tea. Now, it's because you're disgusting." He couldn't help but laugh as he noticed the people around the restaurant looking at me and the beast I had become.

"They can suck it, I am so happy right now." I didn't even bother looking at them as I finished my food, stealing Goku's fries in the process. He didn't stop me at all, which let me know even more that he cared for me. It was one thing to have him betray his entire race for a human, but a completely different thing to let someone take some of his food.

We both sat there and enjoyed our food together until we were both completely out. "That was delightful. I am going to get so fat here." I placed my hands on my stomach, holding it dearly knowing what amazing food was inside.

"What else would you like to do today?" His eyes were intent on me, wondering what kind of activity I would think of.

"Well, I hope you don't hate me." I paused as I sat up straight, taking my hair in my hand as I started to play with it.

"What is it?" His brow raised as he straightened up, wondering what I was about to say.

"Should I change my hair color? I don't want to be easily recognized here and with the possibility of him coming after us, I want to make sure we're as low key as possible.

"Bulma, I can protect you against anything." I felt like I had offended him.

"Goku, I know you can." I placed my hand across the table to hold his. The last thing I wanted to do was offend him. "But it's different here. I don't want to make a scene and expose everything in front of these humans because someone recognized my hair. I have been looking around and I haven't seen anyone even come close to my hair color. I stick out so much."

He sat there for a moment, thinking about what I had just said. Placing his other hand on top of my own, he smiled and nodded his head. "Have you thought about what color you wanted it?" He became curious.

"Well, I think blonde would be nice." I tried to imagine myself as a blonde, but it was hard since I had only ever seen blue.

"You'll look beautiful no matter what." He stood up, walking to my side of the table to help me stand up as well.

"Thanks. And you'll look beautiful too when you get a haircut." I awaited a reply.

"What?" He looked down at me as we walked out of the building.

"You stick out, too. Not only are you super tall, but your hair is crazy. And since the guys from the Hot Spot know what you look like now, it would be best if you got it cut so no one can recognize you." I was hopeful he would concur.

"Would it honestly make you feel safer if I did?" His tone was soft, I didn't know what to make of it.

"Yes, it would." I was honest. If I had to change my appearance, I wanted him to as well. We were already looking like an odd couple, I wanted to blend in.

"Then I will do it." He placed a kiss on the top of my head.

"Because you're my boyfriend." I tried out the term, seeing if I used it correctly.

"When did you learn that one?" He began to laugh at the term.

"From the overly chipper lady from the clothing store. I didn't know what to call you, so she said 'boyfriend' and I just agreed. Is that what you are to me?" I was curious.

"On Earth, yes. I would be considered your boyfriend and you would be considered my girlfriend." He confirmed the term I had come up with earlier.

"Cool." I smiled as I held his arm with both of mine as we walked. I didn't even notice the chatter around us as we continued to walk. "So, to the hair changing place?" I didn't know what it was called.

"Yes, to the Hair Salon." He laughed as he added another term to my brain. I loved how he didn't think I was stupid for not knowing so much about Earth, and not expecting me to know so much already. He was so patient with me, which I appreciated so much. But, it did start to concern me how he knew so much about this place. He had told me earlier that he had never really experienced Earth, not going to the Hot Spots and just waiting in the ship. He wasn't telling me something. How did he know so much about a place he claimed to have spent so little time on? I was going to have to ask him later, but for now, I was happy.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a comment; good and bad are always welcome :3