Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Lost Love ❯ Before the Androids ( Chapter 4 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

A/N: This chapter gets a little limey near the end… Just a heads up.


To the two warriors, it didn't seem like it was that long, but it had been more than a year since they were wished back, and now they once again had to prepare for another epic battle, after narrowly avoiding one before that from Freeza. Six months ago, Tien and Chaozu were forced to put aside their world travel to investigate not one, but two mysterious and powerful kis that had entered the Earth. Apparently, this was the evil tyrant that destroyed planet Namek whom they had kept tabs on while they were training with King Kai. And now this evil tyrant was on Earth.
However, before anything could be done, everything was taken care of... A mysterious young man had arrived out of nowhere, and while Goku gave his entire all just to bring the changeling down to his final speck of power, this boy hardly gave any effort into destroying him into nothingness, as well as his father and the entire crew that they had brought with them. As if things weren't strange enough, the mystery boy had even announced that Goku would be arriving soon, and sure enough, he was correct. However, before any welcoming and reacquainting could be done, the two had engaged into some sort of conversation, and as quickly as he came, the boy had left, and Goku announced the new threat coming...
Apparently, the boy prophesized that in three years, two powerful androids would come and devastate the world. Tien wasn't sure if it was possible how he could have known that, but then again, he was right about Goku coming back. It was better to be safe than sorry. So he and Chaozu started up their training once again.
Without the Crane Hermit to hold them down, they were free to train wherever they wish at their own pace. Chaozu had always willingly followed Tien where he preferred, which mainly consisted the Northern Hemisphere in the cold mountains. He worked better in the cold than he did in heat since it would perk him up, as heat always wore him out. But on that cold February evening, Tien was not aware that it was more than just the climate preference that had him desire to head near North Capitol to train.
The two friends soared over the snowy mountains with the intention of basic exercise training. They had been sparring all day and a change of area helped hold up their pace. As they flew over the busy city below them, Tien suddenly froze in his tracks, as he felt some sort of presence. "Wha...?"
Chaozu slowed to a stop once he noticed his friend had halted. "Tien? What is it?"
The three-eyed warrior glanced around himself. "Chaozu... don't you feel that?"
The eternal child concentrated to sense some sort of ki. "I... don't feel anything. Other than the really small kis from those people below."
"Yeah, but one of them stands out.... You sure you can't feel it?"
"I'm sure..."
Tien turned away, thinking he was probably just training too hard. "Okay, forget about it then... Let's go." He took off with the mime-like fighter, and landed near by a flat snowy area that they felt was good enough to train on until it got dark and began sparring. Halfway into their battle, Chaozu noticed Tien wasn't giving it his all, as if his mind was somewhere else.
"Tien, you okay? Why're you holding back?"
Tien smiled lightly, "Just... don't wanna hurt you that’s all." Of course, he knew Chaozu knew the truth. Their minds were so close that even though Chaozu promised not to read his mind without his permission, he could still hear his thoughts even if he tried not to. He sighed, "All right, you got me. I want to go check it out. I mean, it's not a huge ki, and I sense no malice... but I can feel it greatly, and I don't know why."
"Well, once we find out what it is, we can go back to training again, right?"
"Good thinking. Let's go." Tien led the way as he followed the feeling towards North Capital. They flew over the city, being careful not to be sighted by any pedestrians below and freaking anybody out. Luckily, whatever Tien was feeling, it was leading them further from civilization and over a mountainous road. They weren't sure where they were going, but that's what they were finding out.
Finally, something came into full view down below. Floating down lower, they could make out the backside of a building where its docking center was. There was a blue truck backed-up by one of the garages. "So what is it about this place, Tien?" asked Chaozu, "What do you feel?"
"I'm not sure," said Tien, "But I know it's right here... What could possibly grab my attention like this?" He floated around to find anything suspicious and glared around the parked truck... and then froze as he found it. Or rather, found her.
"Another on-time delivery!" the gentleman commended as he signed a delivery form, "Thanks very much, Miss Itadaki."
The blue-haired woman smiled as she took back the signed delivery form. "Thank you for choosing Express Deliveries! Have a nice day!"
"You too!" the man turned and headed back inside as the woman closed the hatch of her truck. Another successful run with everything the clients asked for. Time to head back and do it all over again. Once the hatch was closed and locked, she turned and headed towards the helm... but stopped once she locked eyes with him.
The man for so long she had thought dead.
He had finally found the woman that he couldn't stop thinking about.
For a long time, they just stared at each other, not believing that the other was really standing there. Finally, Tien broke the awkward silence and smiled. "Lunch... it's been a long time, hasn't it?"
Lunch responded by continuing staring at him while tears formed in her eyes. Finally, she got her bearings straight, and screamed as she happily raced at the triclops, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck and hugging him close as she sobbed in his shoulder. Tien blinked, surprised at her sudden action, but slowly wrapped his arms around her back and held her closely. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this comfortable.
Finally, the woman pulled back and looked up at Tien with tear-stained eyes. "I thought you were dead!!"
"I thought YOU were dead!" said Tien, "I had no idea what happened to you."
"Well, I didn't think to leave a note... I mean, you DIED! But now... how?"
"It's a long story, but I'm back now..." Tien smiled, "And so is everyone else."
"You mean...?" Lunch glanced over at Chaozu, who was hopefully peering over Tien's shoulder. Lunch smiled at the sight. "Chaozu! I could never forget you!" Chaozu chimed as he flew into Lunch's arms and hugged her tightly.
"Obviously, I have a lot of explaining to do..." Tien looked up at the Express truck, resting his hand on it. "And apparently... so do you."



Lunch was at the wheel as they drove in the truck down the mountain road, heading towards the nearest motel. During the trip, Tien explained the details of what happened to him and the others from the Saiyan battle, the training with King Kai, getting wished back with the Namekian dragonballs, and finally the deal about the mysterious youth who warned everyone about killer androids coming in three years. Lunch became uneased after hearing the foretelling threat, but Tien assured that things would be all right since the warriors have three years to prepare.
"Let's take our minds off this, okay?" he said trying to relax her, "How about you telling me what happened to you? Once we got wished back, we tried looking for you, but you were gone..."
Lunch glared downwards. "Yes... Well, a few years back when you... y'know... I found myself in some Indian village trying to rob them. I figured I must have sneezed and headed back home, hoping you weren't angry... But you were already gone. I couldn't figure out what happened to you, but I decided to stay around and wait for you to come home, and apologize for sneezing and robbing some innocent Indians. But you never came back... I waited for a few more months, but when I saw no sign, I called Master Roshi, and he said that you were away training and that it was probably best not to give anymore information."
Tien sighed, remembering giving the message to the turtle hermit not to tell any form of Lunch where he was. Of course, this was back in the time that he thought he was better off without her.
"So I kept waiting, telling Roshi that I was going to stay home and wait for you to come back when you were finished when he offered to let me stay with him. It sounds unholy desperate, but I was too much in--” She suddenly stopped herself before she could utter another word.
"Too much... what?"
Lunch looked away to hide her blushing face. "Uh... nothing..."
"I didn't expect you of all people to actually become a truck driver!" spoke Chaozu, "When and how did that happen?"
"I was getting to that, actually," Lunch explained, "One day in November, I was watching this Breaking News about this fierce battle with those alien-Saiyan thingies... and..." She paused a moment to catch herself before she could sob, "I... saw your... your dead body...” She quickly wiped her eye with her finger. "Anyway... I got so distraught, I didn't know what to do with myself... And I found myself at a bar, drinking more than the town drunk would touch. I didn't care how much I was drinking, or what it would do.... I just didn't care about anything anymore..."
"I... I'm sorry..." Tien spoke.
"I passed out eventually," Lunch continued, "And I woke up in some trash dumpster, all my money and my capsules stolen... I felt terrible. Not only did I have this massive hangover, but also I felt I reached a new low. I felt that my life was spiraling downwards and there was nothing left in the world to live for..."
"So you were... suicidal?" Tien asked.
"I might've been... had Mr. Kabura not find me in that dumpster. He was a sweet old man who took me in and helped me back to my feet. He assured me things would turn for the better, and I could start by working for him at his trucking company. He got me into the training and preparation of truck driving. Let me tell you, this was one of the greatest successes of my life! I don't find myself robbing anything after I sneeze and I can really support myself! For once, I actually feel like I've truly accomplished something!"
Tien smiled. "Good for you. You should keep at it if it makes you feel this great."
Lunch's hands tightened around the steering wheel slightly, as if she was trying to hold back tears. "Well... yes. That... and... well..." She turned away again, not wanting to face the man with her thoughts, "I mean, the way I've been following you... my dedication... To the others, it seemed foolish of me. If they heard that I've waited around home for you to come back for eight months, and then get myself boozed up and sleeping in the dumpster after learning of your death, well... I'd be more pathetic that before."
"Pathetic..?"
"Let's face it. I'm not apart of the group... I was just there because I needed to hide because my alter ego was a wanted fugitive." She tried, but a tear managed to slip through and roll down her cheek. "I've been gone for so long, I couldn't go back now, I'd be out of place. I couldn't crawl back to the Kame House... I'm already big enough of a hopeless case."
She jumped slightly as she felt a hand touch hers. She looked down at the wheel to see Tien carefully but closely holding her hand. "Lunch, listen to me," he said, "You are not a hopeless case, you hear me? They don't think that either. Bulma talks about you all the time and Goku came up to me one day wondering if you were still around. In fact, I'm sure that they would love to see you again, sweet or evil. We're your friends, and we love you... no matter what."
Lunch looked over at Tien, eyes filled with tears, "Really..?"
Tien nodded. "Yes... but you've gotta lend them a hand too. Once your schedule is clear of deliveries, try calling them and letting them you that you're still thinking of them. You'll be welcomed back in no time."
Lunch smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Tien..."



Chaozu was fast asleep in the motel that the group found along the way. It had been a long time since he slept in a comfortable bed. Next to him, Tien was sitting upright against the bedpost as he read a medieval novel. From the bathroom, Lunch walked out, wearing her nightwear. Tien glanced up and his cheeks immediately went pink. Lunch's nightwear consisted of a long buttoned shirt down to her hips and nothing below, other than panties that were slightly shown from the bottom of the shirt.
"You all right?" she asked curiously. Tien nodded quickly and buried his face back into his novel. She hasn't changed one bit... always so naive, and unknowingly seductive.
Lunch climbed into the other bed besides them and crawled under the covers, lying on her side, facing Tien. After a moment, the triclops noticed he was being stared at and looked over. "What is it?"
Lunch blinked and looked away. "Er, sorry, I was just... um..."
"You're always trailing off," said Tien, "Whatever you have to say, just say it."
Lunch slowly sat up. "It's just that... I'd never thought I'd see you again, so I wanted to look at you as much as possible."
Tien smirked slightly. "Cute."
"Good night," Lunch turned over and laid back down. Tien couldn't concentrate on his book as he looked over at the back of the woman's head. Here she was again... he had wanted so badly to see her again, but now he was just keeping her on the side. What was wrong with him?"Tien...?"
"Yea?" Tien asked, glad to finally grab the chance to talk with her.
The blue-haired woman turned back over to face him. "Did you... try to talk to me while you were dead?"
"Talk to you?" Tien blinked, "What do you mean?"
"Well, about two years ago, I thought I heard your voice... But I was sound asleep and thought it was a dream. When I woke up, I wasn't sure that it was real or not, but... I figured I'd just go on with my life before I dubbed myself insane..."
Tien just stared at her for a moment.... So she did hear him! He just called at a bad time. He pulled the covers off himself and came over to Lunch's bed, sitting on the edge. Lunch pulled herself up and sat herself next to him. "I..." he started, "I did. But I thought you ignored me, and I didn't want to bother you..."
"What makes you think you'd actually be bothering me?"
"I..." Tien looked down at his lap, "I don't know... I don't know what to think when I'm near you."
"Oh..." Lunch looked away sadly.
"No, no! It's not like that!" Tien waved his hands frantically, "I mean... I don't know if I... well, when it comes to you, I think that... well, I... I want to be with you, but then... I'm afraid to..."
"Afraid? Why?"
"If I knew, I'd gladly tell you."
Lunch snickered slightly. "I remember you saying that all the time... It's good to know that you haven't changed."
"Yeah, but I don't know if that's good or bad."
"Of course it's good...!" Lunch quickly turned her head, but Tien already noticed the tears stroll down her cheek.
"Lunch... What's the matter?"
"It's just.... just..." Lunch choked, "I've... waited for you all these years! Even though you've been dead, no matter what, I somehow knew you'd come back! I know it sounds ridiculous and I know people would think of me as desperate, but... that's what happens when you're in love!"
Tien's eyes widened. "Love..??"
"Oh god, I'm sorry..." Lunch quickly covered her mouth.
"No, it's okay," Tien assured, softly rubbing her back. Suddenly, Lunch clung to Tien and sobbed into his chest as he held her close. "Lunch...?"
"It's just that I've waited for you..." she cried, "And now that you're back, I don't want to lose you anymore!" She continued sobbing uncontrollable, until she felt something small and wet land on her head. She looked up and was surprised to see the three-eyed man in tears himself. "Tien...?"
"Lunch..." he wiped away his tears, "There's just something about you that makes me go insane with feelings. I want to be with you, but at the same time, I'm afraid to be near you. I pass it off as being the loner type, but after being away from you all this time, longing to be with you... I now know that there was just no other woman for me, other than you. I love you."
Lunch smiled brightly and hugged him tightly. "Tien...!"
Tien hugged her back tightly, and the two stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, embracing in their warmth, not wanting the moment to end. Lunch held him closely as she lightly kissed his neck. Tien caressed her back and then gently laid her down on her back as he began kissing on her lips. She hungrily returned the kisses as her hands ran all over his body. The two explored each other's bodies as clothes started coming off.
"T... Tien..." Lunch breathed, "We, we can't do this, in front of Chaozu..."
"Don't worry," he soothed, "That kid sleeps through a hurricane."
And for the rest of the night, they made passionate love.



Tien woke up the next morning, unsure of where he was or what was happening. He couldn’t remember where he and Chaozu crashed the night, but after rubbing his eyes, he got a better look at his surroundings… and suddenly remembered everything.
Reuniting with Lunch, riding with her in her truck, and spending the night with her… in the same bed. He glanced down at the naked sleeping form next to him, who had probably sneezed over night, as she was now blonde. He jumped out of bed, threw some clothes on, and gathered his things.
“Chaozu… wake up!” he quietly called as he shook his small friend awake, “Come on, it’s time to go.”
The small warrior rubbed his eyes of sleep. “Now…?”
“Yes, now!” Tien snapped, “Get your things together and let’s go!”
Chaozu climbed out of bed and did what he was told. Once he was ready, Tien led him outside. “Hey, wait!” he cried, “What about Lunch? We didn’t even say goodbye to her!”
“We’ll pay for the room. Come on, we have training to cover.”
“But what about-- “
“Let’s go!”
Chaozu didn’t press the issue further and followed Tien into the lobby as he paid for the room and then the two took off into the sky.
Halfway from the outskirts of the capital, Chaozu flew up alongside his friend. “I don’t get it, Tien,” he said, “You seemed so happy to see her again. Why are you just leaving her like she’s nothing??”
Tien knitted his eyebrows. “Now isn’t the time to worry about that. We have three years to train as much as possible if we’re going to defeat these androids.”
Chaozu was silent for a moment, but then finally asked, “What if she gets pregnant?”
Tien did a double take as his face turned bright red. “Y-you HEARD us!? But you’re such a sound sleeper!”
“Well, yeah, but you guys were so loud, Mars could probably hear you…”
Tien glared down, trying to hide his embarrassed face.
“Tien, please,” said Chaozu, “Don’t forget about Lunch. She obviously cares about you very much and you definitely her…”
“Just forget about it already!”
“But why??”
“You wouldn’t understand!”
Chaozu glared at Tien, as if he was offended. “What makes you think I wouldn’t??” he snapped, “Just because I’m an eternal child doesn’t mean I’m clueless! You love her!!”
Tien scowled. He did not want to deal with this. “Look, even if I did, this isn’t the time to be thinking of this. We won’t be able to live anymore let alone get girlfriends if we’re not ready to fight the androids.”
Chaozu sighed. “Whatever you think is best…”



Lunch rubbed her eyes as she woke up. “Ah, what cheesy motel is this? Did I finish that delivery…?” As she pulled off the blankets, she shrieked at the sight of her naked body. “What the hell?! Why am I nude?! I don’t sleep in the hay!!”
She glanced around herself and saw her nightwear and panties strewn across the room. “Aw crap, I didn’t… she didn’t!” She felt her body, and it indeed felt as if it had been fondled with. “SHE DID!!!!” Out of anger, she grabbed her pillow and slammed it across the room into the mirror. That wasn’t enough however, so she whipped out a machine gun and shot the pillow into speckles of feathers. “STUPID BLUE-HAIRED BIMBO!!!!” she screamed, “I knew you were naïve, but to have an overnight fling?! STUPID STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!!!!”
Finally, she calmed down and breathed heavily. “Damn it…. At least ya could’ve sneezed halfway and let ME have some of th'action.” She sighed and carelessly threw the machine gun to the side. “So much fer savin' myself fer Tien…”