Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Everything Happens For A Reason ❯ Three Wishes ( Chapter 19 )

Everything Happens For A Reason

Chapter Eighteen

Three Wishes

Disclaimer: It's sad but true… DBZ isn't mine.

********************************

Yamcha hadn't dreamed last night. He hadn't seen Capsule Corporation or Bulma, but that didn't matter. Today was the most eagerly anticipated day of his life. Today he was going to be wished back - today he was going home and he was going there a living, breathing, human being. Once again he would be on his beloved planet, free from the crushing gravity and the vision of his desert home, free from both mental and physical exhaustion, and free to see his girl any time he wanted. There was only one thing that concerned him as the vision of his bandit hideout dissolved around him and he returned to his body in Other World -- Shuma. The demon would go with him to Earth, and he would stay with Yamcha until King Yemma saw fit to bring him back. It was the only black spot in an otherwise perfect day.

He hadn't told Shuma about the night with Bulma, and he wasn't about to either. It was his secret. Shuma had asked why he was so cheerful the next day, but he had the excuse of his impending revival to make any change in temperament believable.

Yamcha did, at this moment, feel incredibly optimistic, and his good mood shined in the only outlet it needed. Pissing Shuma off. "What's up your arse today?" he laughed, as he experimentally stretched out his body from its weeks of suspended animation. "Grumpy about finally having the chance to have some fun in your otherwise sad and lonely little existence?"

"Don't even go there."

"Oh, but I will. Have you ever been to Earth before?"

"No," he sneered. "And if I 'ad it my way I never would, especially not if all the inhabitants are as pathetic as you."

"Oh cheer up, it's not that bad. You know I'm something of a superstar back home. There's a lot of beautiful young women I know who I'm sure won't mind shacking up with a freak like you for the night, just to get closer to me."

The demon eyed him warily. "Well ain't that a delicious thought."

Yamcha was spared replying. The welcome wagon was in full swing and heading his way. Never had he been so glad to see familiar faces.

"Yamcha!" Chaotzu shouted, as he and Tien come rushing out. "It's good to see you're okay!"

He stretched against the oppressive light. "It's good to be back, I couldn't have stuck another day there."

"We were worried about you," Tien added. "King Kai told us that Yemma-sama was punishing you for leaving this planet. Is that right?"

He scratched the back of his head and laughed. "Yeah, that's right. I never was one to play by the rules, but hey, it was no big deal."

"What happened?"

"You mean, besides having to put up with this annoying little ogre barking orders at me all day and listening to him snore all night?"

"Demon!" Shuma seethed. "Annoying little DEMON!"

"Whatever," Yamcha sniffed. "But I guess I did learn some useful stuff too." He patted the demon's back so hard he had to take a couple of stumbling steps forward to catch his balance. "Isn't that right, Shuma?"

"Yeah right," Shuma scoffed. "The only things he learnt to do in there were swear at me little better and pass out without puking first. What a waste of time!"

"Perhaps with a better teacher I would have learnt more," Yamcha offered. "Where's King Kai?"

"Indoors," Tien said. "He's preparing a farewell meal for us. Though he's still not sure if we will actually be wished back today, but he wants to be organized anyway."

Yamcha's face fell and his stomach did sickening twists. The thought of having to stay a day longer in Other World was abhorrent to him. "What do you mean, we might not be wished back today?"

"It all depends on the wishes Bulma makes. Think about it - they'll be using the Porunga dragon it's true - but that's still only three wishes."

"Yeah… and there are three of us."

"Don't forget about Goku, Krillin, and relocating the Nameks? That's six wishes in total."

"I hadn't thought about it," Yamcha admitted, and it was true. He'd spent so much time focusing on this day, knowing that it would be the first opportunity they would have to get wished back, that he hadn't even doubted the event.

"Hey, don't look sad, Yamcha," Chaotzu said. "At the worst it means three more months before we get wished back. That's more Other World training for us, right? I don't know about you guys but I've never felt faster or stronger in my life. I wouldn't mind staying here a little longer."

Yamcha shook his head. "I know it sounds disrespectful, after being allowed to keep my body and getting special training and all, but I'm really homesick. I swear I'll go insane if I can't go home today."

"Then we'll eat and hope for the best." Tien said, walking back to the house. "Come on. I want to hear more about this useful stuff, Shuma says you haven't learnt."

Yamcha smiled. "That's classified," he said, in his best Tom Cruise voice.

"Classified?"

"Yeah," he said, laughing as they strolled towards their breakfast. "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you."

Tien shrugged. "I'm already dead."

"Smart arse!"

**************************************

Bulma sat at the patio table. The Nameks were hanging around in little groups and talking energetically between themselves, obviously animated and excited at the prospect of getting a new planet to call home. The last dragonball had been collected a month ago. All seven were now gathered together under the shade of a cherry tree, guarded by both Piccolo and Morley and glowing in anticipation for the impending wishes. She sipped on a long, cool glass of lemonade. Oolong, Puar, Dende and her parents were all nearby looking incredibly relaxed and partaking in light-hearted conversation. All they needed now were Chi Chi and Gohan to arrive, and even though Bulma kept looking over her shoulder every five seconds, it wasn't for the benefit of the Son family.

Vegeta. Where was he?

She had seen him earlier that morning at breakfast, but with both her parents and the Nameks fussing around, there was no chance for conversation. She had looked hopefully over the table to him, but he either hadn't seen her attempts to gain his attention, or was deliberately ignoring them. To be truthful there wasn't really anything else that needed to be said between them, but Bulma had hoped - hoped at least that he would say goodbye to her properly rather than leaving her with nothing more solid than threats on her friends, planet, and her own life.

Despite her assertions the previous day, she still wasn't one hundred percent sure that he would spare even her - if indeed he did manage to defeat Goku - and even though she wasn't that scared of dying, she would feel extremely hurt, cheated and angry if she were to meet her ultimate fate at Vegeta's hand.

"So," Oolong said. "Do you know what wishes you're gonna make?"

"Yeah, just about."

Bulma nervously used her fingers to comb through her hair, knowing Puar wasn't going to like what she had to say.

"I'm going to wish Goku back first. Chi Chi and Gohan need him here. The others haven't got any family so it's only logical that Goku gets precedence. Both Goku and Krillin's wishes are going to be tricky though, so Krillin will probably be next. You see, in order to save wishes I'm going to see if I can wish both he and Goku back to Earth's check in station in the same wish as bringing them back to life. You know, like two for one. That'll leave us with one more wish."

"And you'll use that wish to bring Yamcha back?" Puar asked.

Bulma shook her head, unable to make eye contact with her friend. "I'm going to give the third wish to the Nameks. They want to go home and it's only fair that we let them have one of the wishes when we're using their dragonballs, don't you think?"

Bulma looked up, only to see what she had been dreading all morning. Tears were building in her friend's eyes, soaking into the fur underneath. "You mean… no Yamcha?"

She hung her head and shifted her bottom on the wooden garden bench. What did she say to Puar? I'm sorry but I'm really pissed at Yamcha right now and am actually quite glad that he won't be wished back just yet. Yeah right! That would go down well. Bulma couldn't deny that having an extra three months to sort out how she felt about her desert bandit boyfriend was appealing. Everything was so fresh in her mind - Vegeta's words - so truthful and yet so painful. Her mind was still in turmoil. She did love Yamcha, but he had abused her body and that was a hard pill to swallow, as was the thought that Yamcha had caught her being unfaithful with Vegeta of all people. She needed a cooling off period. It was horrible to admit, but it would be better for everyone concerned if Yamcha were to stay dead a little while longer.

There was only one thing she could realistically say without lying. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Bulma," Puar sniffled. "It's not your fault. I understand. I just miss him, that's all."

"We all do," she replied. That at least was the truth. She looked to Dende. He had been quiet throughout the conversation and she wondered if he still had the same hang-ups as he'd told her about the other night. "How about you, Kiddo? Are you okay with those wishes?"

He nodded, his young and still not fully developed antennae, bobbing up and down.

"Our talk the other night?" she asked. "Did it help?"

"Yes, Bulma-san, very much. It was silly of me to be so selfish."

"It wasn't silly or selfish, Dende," she reassured. "It was perfectly acceptable. How do you feel now?"

"I'm still sad to be leaving, but I know that we'll all meet again real soon, and knowing that makes leaving easier."

"You're a good kid, Dende." She smiled and ruffled his antennae, giving him a goodbye squeeze. "It's been a pleasure having you. Did mum give you those physics books I found up?"

With a wide smile Dende reached inside his robes and pulled out a capsule. "I have everything in here. Everyone has been very kind. I have lots of presents to take with me. Gohan made me a carving in maple wood of Higher Dragon. Your mum packed a whole case of Evian - Mr Piccolo gave me a cape like his, only in my size, and the best of all - Your dad gave me an intergalactic transmitter so we can say hi anytime we want. Oolong did give me magazines, but Morley said I wasn't allowed to keep them. "

Bulma glared at Oolong. "Good job too!"

Oolong backed slowly away, knowing he was in deep trouble if Bulma got her hands on him.

"Well," she continued, choosing to ignore Oolong for the present. "I hope you get good use of the books I selected," she winked. "I'll test you on them when I see you next."

"I look forward to it," he said, but the words sounded distant. "I just hope you get the chance to."

"What are you talking about?"

He pointed to the top of the house and everyone looked up to see what had caught his attention.

To be honest, Bulma wasn't surprised to see Vegeta standing haughtily on the domed roof of her home. What she was surprised to see was that he was wearing his old armour - grotty, torn and with the hole in the chest plate from his battle on Namek. She thought he'd thrown it away weeks ago. That it hadn't disintegrated on being put on was a miracle in itself. Not that Bulma would mind much if that were to happen.

"Is he still going to fight with Goku-san?" asked Dende.

She sighed. "Yes. I'm afraid that's inevitable."

Vegeta had seen they were watching and smirked evilly. Leaping from the roof, he descended slowly to stand as far away from the others as possible while keeping one eye on the dragonballs.

"Don't worry," Puar said, hovering over her right shoulder. "Goku will beat him for sure."

Bulma looked at Vegeta one last time and when he didn't meet her gaze, she turned away. "I don't want to think about it."

Dende nodded. For such a young child he was incredibly perceptive, and as if to confirm that he knew it was a subject Bulma didn't want to dwell on, he stood. "Chi Chi and Gohan just arrived," he said. "Is it time now?"

Bulma nodded. "Lets bring our friends back."

*************************************

Vegeta leaned against the outside wall of Bulma's home with great anticipation. Kakarrot would be wished back any second now. His half-breed child was running up to the others, his mother hot on his heals and apologising for being late. He had waited until he could sense the brat's ki energy before making an appearance. There was no way he was subjecting himself to more enquiring looks from those piercing blue eyes. It was bad enough at breakfast, seeing them plead with him to acknowledge her presence and then cloud when he didn't.

Ignoring her wasn't especially easy, but it was absolutely necessary. They'd had their confrontation, and for now, Kakarrot was the only person left for Vegeta to worry about. Not that he was worried, of course. It was the eagerness and expectancy of finally getting the chance to attain his ultimate fate that made his insides spin. He could feel the adrenaline stirring up inside, mixing with anticipation, and it gave his whole body a lift as it succeeded in trampling every other emotion.

The sight of the dragon, spiralling to the heavens amidst a rapidly darkening sky, was something worthy to behold. The power of the dragon was exceptional for a contrived manifestation and he admitted that it stimulated his senses in a way not experienced before.

Unlucky, as always, it seemed that he would not be able to avoid looking at the woman. As the others stepped back in awe, she bravely took a pace forward. It was obvious she was adept at dealing with the dragon phenomenon and as such, was nominated by all those around to make the wishes. He had heard a little snippet of the conversation between her and the others before the Namek brat had spotted him, and he was glad that, despite her misgivings and misapplied sensibilities, she was going to go along with his plans and wish Kakarrot back first.

He hoped for nothing less, but fate was always there to fuck with him and deny his will when he saw any glimmer of hope on the horizon. After the first wish was made the dragon spoke words that Vegeta had not even thought about considering before. The anger boiled in his stomach as he listened.

Kakarrot couldn't be wished back. Kakarrot was still alive and he was somewhere in space.

His fists clenched angrily at his sides as he seethed in silence. The others were talking over and over again, trying to fully understand what Porunga was telling them, but Vegeta couldn't care less. He'd been rotting on this disgusting little planet for the past, god knows how long, putting up with all the trite human nonsense around him -suckered by their pliancy, tempered by their ease, and captivated by the disgusting pull of her fire - and it was all for nothing. He had wasted away here, trying to get stronger in an atmosphere that was completely counter-productive to his usual training methods, while Kakarrot was still alive and just waiting to be found.

How dare they! How dare he! How dare Kakarrot be alive?

His fists tightened more, ignorant to the fact that the humans were on the verge of bringing Krillin back. Vegeta had a choice to make. He looked over his shoulder to see the training room behind him. It doubled as a spaceship, didn't it? Did he stay on this planet, stay with Bulma and her tempting but taken body, or did he take matters into his own hands?

The decision was almost instantaneous. Bulma's fire might have caught his fancy, but there was nothing on Earth to hold him down. She had made her choice the previous night. She might have been possessed, but the human idiot wouldn't have won so easily if she were not receptive to his wishes. The Saiyan no Ouji was not a fool. The woman had tried to take him in, tried to tame his wild nature and the instincts he had relied on from birth. The compassion she preached was nonsense. He was no closer to Super Saiyajin for it than he had been at the beginning. It was all one big trick to take him in and keep him onside. He would suffer her temptation no more!

Glad to see the whole party were distracted, he used all the speed his body could muster and made a direct line for the ship. Kakarrot was somewhere in space just waiting for their battle, and damn it all to hell, Vegeta was going to find him or die trying.

Once inside, he sat down at the controls. He switched the main power on, making sure not to initialise the thrusters and thus cause suspicion. The room was well maintained and much to his relief, perfectly ready for space travel. Kami only knew why the tanks were three quarters full, but he wasn't about to complain. Looking over the fuel to thruster ratio he figured he had about four months before he would have to find some other source to replenish them, but that would do nicely.

Without a second thought, he initialised the start up sequence. The engines burst into life and wasting no more time he hit the launch button, jettisoning the pod off the planet Earth and away from all its inhabitants for good.

"I will find you Kakarrot!" he laughed, enjoying the G-forces that thrust against his muscles. "We will have our fight and then we will know once and for all who the strongest in the universe is."

*****************************************

Yamcha stood numbly behind King Kai, waiting nervously for confirmation that he was going to be wished back. He was as shocked as everyone else to learn that Goku was still alive, but all he could think about was how it freed up one more wish. He hoped upon hoped that Bulma used it for him. He was stunned to learn that rather than wish her boyfriend back, she was going to revive Krillin first.

"Why Krillin?" he sulked. "Why Krillin and not me?"

"It's the logical thing to do," King Kai explained. "Krillin's wish is very technical. He has to be brought to Yemma's palace before being wished back to life. Your girlfriend is being very sensible."

"Sensible yes, but it still hurts."

"Don't worry," Tien soothed. "There will be more wishes."

"Yes!" King Kai celebrated, dancing around and whooping, making everyone jump. "It worked, and with only one wish! That girl's a genius."

Yamcha smiled. "That she is." He gave the thumbs up to Shuma who snorted and looked away. Over breakfast King Kai had told them what to expect when Yamcha was revived, and Shuma had been less than impressed.

King Yemma had informed his old master that he couldn't risk sending a demon to walk on Earth. It would cause too much suspicion and panic. Unfortunately for Shuma and Yamcha, that didn't change their punishment - rather it changed the situation very much to Shuma's disadvantage. He would not be allowed to retain his demon body. Instead he would have to don the disguise of an Earthling one. Not only would he be transformed into a human, he would lose all the special powers that went along with being a demon. He would have no super strength, no paranormal abilities and more importantly for Yamcha, that meant no psychic skills whatsoever.

"Looking forward to becoming a human?" he bragged.

"Like a bleedin' hole in the head."

"Shhhh!" King Kai interrupted. "I've got to concentrate. Bulma's making the second wish."

Yamcha shuffled from foot to foot. It felt like the wishes were taking forever.

"Well?" asked Chaotzu. "What's happening?"

"The second wish is for the Nameks. It's taking a while because it's a big wish. It is within Porunga's capabilities, no question, but he needs time to do it."

"That means there's only one wish left."

Yamcha was really nervous now. He could see Shuma's grin getting bigger the more he let his anxiety show. Come on, Bulma! he begged. Let me take that smug grin off his face.

As if his prayers had been answered, the Lord of the Worlds stepped around and smiled at all of his students. "There's only one wish left and they want to use it to bring one of you back. Who will it be?"

Yamcha wanted to step forward, but in a moment of selflessness, he refrained. Tien and Chaotzu were both watching him. "May I?"

"Go ahead, Yamcha," Tien smiled. "You have a girl at home waiting for you and Chaotzu and I are perfectly happy staying here a little longer and learning more from our new master."

"Chaotzu?" he asked.

The little emperor floated to his friend's side. Laying a hand on his broad shoulder. "I wouldn't want to leave Tien anyway," he smiled.

"Okay then, that settles it," King Kai confirmed. "Bulma, the others have all agreed. The next wish will be to bring Yamcha back to life."

Yamcah couldn't help but grin wildly. He was going home. Thank the kai's! He was really going home! He turned to look at Shuma, who was muttering a very colourful string of curses.

"Hey, lighten up, Shuma. I know I've taken the piss, but Earth really is a nice place. I'm sure we'll have fun, and I have a hunch, when the time comes, you'll be sorry to come back here."

He smiled genuinely and offered the demon his hand. Shuma took it and shook it firmly. He didn't smile, but Yamcha didn't mind, Shuma just wasn't the smiling type and the handshake was all that was needed for him to know his words were accepted.

"A new beginning," he said. "For both of us."

As he spoke, he could feel a tingling in his feet. It was a little unnerving at first as the planet began to spin around him and made him feel sick, but soon enough the ties of Other World faded and he found himself falling.

The next thing he saw was a brilliant blue sky, framed by the odd white cloud, and then he could see Capsule Corporation, standing against the West Capitol backdrop and bathed in glorious autumn sunshine. His descent was stopped with one almighty splash, and when his senses finally came back to him he realized he'd landed in the pond. Surrounded by frogs he wondered where all his friends were. He couldn't see any of them. Just as he was about to stand and search for them, Bulma came skidding around the corner.

Her eyes were alive and sparkling as she looked him over. A huge smile spread wide across her face. "Yamcha!"

He smiled back, "Hey babe!" and then got up to hug her. She let him, but not before looking warily over her shoulder.

"I'm happy you're back," she said, and then much to his annoyance she stepped away. Her smile instantly transformed to a frown. "But that doesn't mean I'm happy with you. When the others are gone, we have to talk."

He looked into her eyes and wondered what had caused such a battle of confusion to rage within them. Then he saw it, the pain. "Oh god!" he thought, numbly following her to where the others were congregated. "Vegeta told her."

****************************************

A/N - Unlike the last chapter this one was incredibly hard to write. I know the story chopped about a lot, but I felt that all the main character's feelings needed to be explained at such a crucial moment. I hope it works. *Insert a worried smiley here*

If you're wondering what became of Shuma, then look out for the next chapter. ^-^;;