Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Neapolitan Sky. ❯ 002 ( Chapter 2 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Milku 
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 06.07.2012 | Pages: 2 | Words: 5.5K | Visits: 212 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 06.07.2012 | Pages: 2 | Words: 5.5K | Visits: 212 | Status: Work In Progress
Neapolitan Sky.
Disclaimer: I hold no rights to the concept, or characters of this story and it is strictly non-profit casual enjoyment only.
Listening to Cee Lo Green ‘Fuck you’ because…Cee Lo just does the mood for me :D
Bulma had started the day with a happy spring in her step, that was until she had descended the stairs and greeted her grandmother for breakfast. The elder woman had been relentless while they ate and their poor maid Ellia tried her best to scurry around getting everything in place and cleaning finished plates, the poor woman had been charged with silver polishing that day and had a lot to get through. Again and again the topic of Bulmas single status had bobbed to the surface, each time a little more blunt and a little more persistent. The same words rolled over the table again and again ‘old’ ‘money’ ‘children’ ‘support’. Bulma had snorted at the many times her grandmother had referred to her as old; that was rich coming from a 69 year old.
Why was it so damn important for her to have a husband, besides the traditional obvious reasons? She was rich, by a matter of family true, but she would soon make it on her own without ever having to touch a penny her parents scored. So such a word as financial support was invalid to her. Unless her Grandmother had been referring to emotional support and in that case Bulma considered herself a women of pure independence, of iron will and as strong as the earth she stood upon, pah to emotional support from that of a man when she had friends and family. Children? That was another matter. Why were people always so quick to pawn you off into the endless title of mother? She had seen Juu and a few other friends, complaining about marks and sagging, stress and money, plus none of them seemed to actually mother their children anyway, always relying on maids. If Bulma was to spawn something, she would make sure she was actually involved in the child’s life, not just some photo on a nightstand. And for goodness graces, she was only 26 years old, she still had viability left in her, it wasn’t like she was a carton of milk with a fast exasperation date looming over her. It had been proven that it was possible to procreate later on in life. All this was only relevant if Bulma actually wanted children. She did not.
That wasn’t the only thing she had been hounded about by the grandmother. “why are you constantly talking to them, they have nothing important to say. for the goodness of god if I see you pat him on the shoulder one more time I’ll have to cut those fingers off, they will be so dirty. That girl can move the dishes, it’s her job, I don’t pay her to get help!” “don’t help her, I don’t want you spending too much time with her you might get some kind of illness, you know where those things live” “It’s your place in life to be served my dear, as it was your mothers and mine and my mother before me and hers before her, stop rattling on about it” “they are just not smart enough to be put in the same level as us dear, they are below you and I”. It had felt like forever sitting at that table with glazed over eyes in her morning robe.
As of right now Bulma was driving around in her latest edition Capsule Corp. car. It was a soft cream with egg shell blue trim. Daddy had it coloured for her. The long hood and bonnet sticking out from its heavy build, truly beautiful, and so far economical.
She had needed to get out. Out from under her Grandmothers snotty nose, and just be free for a few hours. She knew she should have been tending to her every whim… but her every whim included Bulma getting married to the first man who showed interest and the literally popping out children like one might peas from a pod! Bulma had the feeling she would look like a used pod after they had decided she’s produced enough continuing blood lines.
She pushed her cat eye red crystal encrusted glasses further up her nose as she turned a corner. She didn’t know where she was going only that she was looking for somewhere to go really. She had put on a lovely white sundress and wore a creamy yellow short cardigan over her shoulder, paired up with some glistening red heels, she felt the very essence of style… in the 60’s of cause. She had her hair slicked into a tight pony tail with her hair falling town in a neat flip at the end and her makeup clean and simple, it really did compliment her, even if she felt her face was a little chubby looking with her hair up.
She pulled up in front of a happening milk bar as it seemed to be. People were flowing in and out and cars were pulling in, so she guessed this was the place to be.
Stepping out she ruffled out her dress and sashayed with her red hand bag swung over her shoulder. Pushing through the doors she lifted her glasses above her brow to rest on her head as she looked around. There didn’t seem to be anyone she knew in there, thank heavens.
Quickly parking he butt on a stool by the bar she beckoned what looked like a bus boy to her place. He was overbearingly tall with a cheeky turn in his eyes. He was a Saiyan, and like all Saiyans he had that over tanned bronzed skin, pitch ebony eyes and untamable wild black hair, and as common with any Saiyan that lived near humans, his tail was missing. Docking ones tail was considered cleaner, a way to fit in better and an elimination of weakness as the tails were overly sensitive. Many Saiyans docked their tails very young, the humans already had enough ammunition to barrel at the Saiyans without their tails being attacked. Only a handful kept them, a single act of defiance, Bulma wished more Saiyans kept their tails.
The Saiyan boy slid on over to her resting his elbow on the counter and grinned at her “what can I get you ma’am” he said with a boyish tone as he wiped his remaining hand down his apron.
Bulma couldn’t help but smile back. He was such a lark looking guy, although, as disgusted as she was in herself for sounding like juu, he didn’t look so bright. “Weeeeeell” she dragged out and looked behind him at the chalked in script that told of the menu. “ I think a double chocolate fudge brownie Sundae with the pecan nut and maple syrup topping will hit the spot, and side that with a groovy mint banana milkshake” she chirped, his mood was contagious, and as far as Bulma was concerned, that was the only thing she would catch from him. The Saiyan worker laughed loud and heart-fully “wow, you sure you’ll fit all that?” he asked to which her response was a rapid nodding of her head.
“Of cause, don’t sweat it, I’m up for it, my breakfast was somewhat…. ruined this morning” she explained as she lolled her head to one side while he turned his back to her to prepare her order. He was such a funny thing the way he bumbled about, dropping thing on himself and the floor. He was total coconut that was for sure, but he was sweet she deemed. When he turned around with that ridicules grin on his face Bulma broke out in to a fit of giggles.
“What?” he asked innocently as he placed the order down in front of her. She was giving him a complex right about now, although a pretty human being, who was somewhat civil to him. It was a nice change he had to say.
“Nothing really, I guess I’m just being a spaz” she admitted as she fetched the spoon and dug it deep into the sundae. She really didn’t know what had come over her, but he was such a sweetie she couldn’t help it. She looked at the name tag pinned to his chest and frowned. “Sorry, but your name is kaka-what?” she asked and looked up at him through her lashes.
He scratched the back of his head and gave a faraway look to the ceiling and then back down at his own badge as if he didn’t really understand what she was talking about. “OH yeah” he said suddenly like a man walking out of the mist. “Kakarotto is my given Christian name. I hear it so rarely I forgot. Everyone calls me Goku” he said looking innocently at her.
Bulma nodded her head with her mouthful of brownie and ice-cream, she wasn’t even going to attempt to speak before she swallowed that first bite at least. She gasped for air once she had pounded it down her throat and patted herself on the chest “well Goku is much easier to say I’ll give you that. I’m Bulma” she beamed and offered her hand in a greeting shake.
Goku looked at her like she had just offered him the biting end of a viper and then looked around himself to see what was happening before him. He was drawn away by angry customers demanding his attention and he gave Bulma an apologetic glance before he scurried off.
Bulma scowled at his back. How dare he turn down her hand, but then again, as she took scan of the room, it felt like 40 sets of eyes suddenly went back to minding their own business, maybe he did have valid reasons. It agitated her to no limit how she had to act so…so unlike her here.
“Oh-oh Bulma!” a voice called from her left, causing Bulma to spin around with her spoon in her mouth. “Ever friendly with those saiyaaans I see” Juu muttered as she and Launch walked towards Bulma. Both wore neat form touched dresses, Juu’s admittedly looking more put together the Launch’s, what with the navy blue a-line and slight cleavage followed with a white silk scarf around her neck. Launch wore a deep emerald tweed hour glass clenching dress with a small matching mid blazer.
Bulma pulled up a strawberry sweet smile as she regarded her friends pleasantly “Well look what the cat dragged in” she laughed good naturedly, earning a tight smile from Juu and a chuckle of humor from Launch. Bulma dug back into her sundae as the pair joined her on either side.
“So, what are you doing today” Juu asked as she swept imaginary dust off the counter and looked at some of the Saiyans with distaste. Bulma for once didn’t notice Juu’s snootiness and continue eating. When she had managed to get it down she shrugged her shoulders. “Getting out of the cave that house has become, you would think the old bat was a vampire the way she battened down that place” Bulma snickered as Launch and Juu joined in the chorus.
“Well it’s good that you got out then before she sucked you dry right, this place is rather cool so Juu and I come here a lot; I guess that means you have taste Bulma” Launch said merrily as she went to swipe a taste of Bulmas milk shake.
“Hey hey… hook your own girl” Bulma laughed as she slid it out of Launch’s reach, she received a defeated puppy look from her friend as Bulma and Juu only laughed at her more. In the end Bulma slid it back to her to let her taste it. “ahw… Bulma… you have some strange dealings going on here” launch mentioned as she pushed it back to Bulma. “If you don’t like, get your own” Bulma piped as she sipped from it readily.
“Yes lets” Juu agreed and waved her hand in Goku’s direction with a stern look upon her face.
Goku excused himself from talking to a young Saiyan boy on the customer side and moved on down to the three ladies. “Any more miss Bulma? He asked with a polite grin on his face, the corners almost splitting his face in half.
Juu just stared indifferently at him before listing of her demands “I’ll have a vanilla shake, make sure there is cream and a cherry” she said before primping her flipped hair.
Goku nodded but Bulma could see the bored sigh in his eyes and couldn’t restrain herself ”don’t worry Goku, Juu is still wearing her old woman’s shoes today, that’s what she’s so vanilla” Bulma joked and patted Juu playfully.
Juu was willing to take Bulmas playfulness, Bulma had always been like this, but when Goku smiled gleefully at the pitiful joke she snapped her neck around like a rubber band and pinned him to the spot. “You’re ChiChi’s husband right? I have seen you pick her up in front of our house a number of times. She really should mind herself you know. I trust her with my darling baby Maron and all, most of the time” she added “but that smart mouth of her… hmmmmhm, some days I don’t know what to do with her or if I should at all” she hummed and tapped her chin thoughtfully, never taking her piercing gaze off of Goku.
He was visibly nervous to start with but then drew a saddened look upon his face. “Well you see ma’am, our little boy, he’s not been right this last week. He has a cough thats thunderous and been kept rather tired. I’d bet she just be freaten about him is all. She really does need more time to tend him” Goku admitted as he picked up some finished glasses by the girl from other patrons.
“Yes well, children are always dear to us are they not ladies?” Juu questioned and Bulma found herself nodding along with Launch like a bobble head. “ But you know, if you don’t have the time for them, you really shouldn’t be having any. Children take lots of work and effort you know, it’s not a task for everyone, but mistakes happen” she chimed as she picked up the milkshake Goku freshly placed before her, his gaze glued down to the counter.
“Right you are ma’am” he uttered defeated before walking off to tend to other customers, his shoulder sagged just like ChiChi’s had been not only the other day.
Bulma had it in her right mind to pound Juu in the fact at that last statement. Telling that poor boy, yes boy he was clearly very young, that his child was a mistake, that his SICK child was a mistake and on the other side Juu barely, if THAT, even saw her own daughter. In fact it was Goku’s wife that mothered that poor girl while her own child was home sick! Bulma felt a white hot rage at that moment and was about to give Juu a good tongue lashing when suddenly Launch spoke in a trill voice.
“Speaking of babies…. I’m pregnant!” she sung out and clasped her hand on Bulmas shoulders happily.
Bulma was left popping her mouth like a fish. Unable to bounce between wanting to beat Juu and wanting to congratulate Launch. She ended up gritting and grinding her teeth while she whipped out that ever charming grin and hugging Launch. “Ohh honey good for you” she said happily, trying to push Juu to the back of her thoughts.
“ I know, me and Tein have been trying for so long now, I didn’t think it was ever going to happen! I’m just so glad I’m not broken or something” she beamed and placed two hands over her flat stomach.
“Launch, you marvin, you have been married for 4 months, you were probably pregnant on the first night” Juu said as she sipped her drink, causing Launch to blush slightly, but not dampen her spirits. “Either way ladies, I say we move this party up a notch. The bar, this baby needs a toast to it!” Juu said, finally joining in the feeling of happiness for Launch .
Alcohol. Yep, Bulma couldn’t agree more.
What had started off as a few glasses of bubbly, turned into a few bottles, and by 8pm in the afternoon Bulma found herself sporting a fuzzy buzz as she drove home. She had actually enjoyed herself as they gossiped about what other women had named their babies and what Launch might. It was all a flurry of laughing and joking, smoking and drinking and at some point Bulma thought she might have been dancing. It was when Launch had started vomiting in the bathroom that they decided to call it a night and all went their separate ways.
Bulma looked up into her rear vision mirror at her tipsy reflection. During her playful chat about the coming trends in makeup Juu had made mention that the Bandits son was named Yamcha, and that he did have an eye for pretty and slim girls, so Bulma might want to watch what she was putting in her mouth and maybe catch up with the makeup fads. Luckily for Juu, Bulma was right sloshed at the time and had dumbly nodded her head and added an eager agreement that she would go shopping before she meet him.
Now that she was coming down from her alcohol high she was preening over herself in her mirror, rolling Juu’s words around in her head. She couldn’t even believe that she had agreed that night to meet him, but now that she had, she was growing quiet excited admittedly. She drove into the drive of her grandmother’s home and the car rocked down the dirt road. Bulma was running her tongue over her teeth and checking of anything stuck when she felt a bump much bigger than normal and a hard jarring of her car causing her it to bounce her up high in her seat. In her panic she swerve to the right and skidded to a halt before the stairs of her homes wooden veranda. Her hands strained in a death grip around the steering wheel as she puffed frantically, trying to steady her racing heart. In the chilled air of the coming evening the stillness was broken as she became aware of a frantic yelling and hollering. What had she done….?
She fumbled to grasp the door handle and hurled herself out and looked back upon her path. Sprawled on their side was a tall older man, gasping and crying out in pain. It was their grizzled older gardener. He had been with their family for years. His receding increasingly towered back hair and his gruff beard was patchy at best, he was tanned to a crisp from working the garden day in and day out, and now he was struggling to move around in his scuffed blue workers jeans and white shirt.
Ellia came bursting out of the house screaming for Bulma to call for help, but she was so transfixed on the event she heard nothing, only saw the things happening before her. Bulma could faintly register her grandmother yelling in the back ground of her mind as Ellia dashed inside again. By the time Bulma had come about from her shock there was raggedy truck pulling up and some young guys were hopping out and bundling old Mr. Ouji into the back of it. Bulma didn’t miss the stares she received from any of the Saiyans there to rescue Mr. Ouji.
Bulma suddenly registered that someone was tugging on her arm, beckoning her towards the house. She blinked and snapped her head to the side to see Ellia and her narrow face staring at her. “Come in miss Bulma please” she said a little desperately and tugged again with new vigor.
“Ye-s... yes of cause” Bulma muttered as if she was just coming out of a fog and allowed Ellia to lead her into the family home. Once inside she was seated in the living room while her grandmother sat with her back to all and her withered face peering out the window. Ellia draped Bulma in a knitted blanket and fetched her a drink of lemon water.
“What have I done?” Bulma mumbled as she stared into her clasped hands
“Pah, you ran over my gardener is what you did young lady” Bulmas grandmother replied dryly as she finally turned to face the company she held in her home with a grey and old expression as she brushed out her blouse.
Bulma looked up at her, startled ultramarine eyes begging for some kind of comfort… no... it wasn’t comfort that she wanted, she was actually waiting to be reprimanded. She had just hit a man with her car. Everyone should have been freaking out right about now, but the eerie calmness of the living room was chilling Bulma to the bone. How could everyone be so… indifferent, she had just hit an old man with her CAR!
“Well… I guess it couldn’t be helped. What was that man doing walking about in the drive at this hour… with that… skin colour, however could you have seen him is beyond me, he’s lucky you didn’t run him flat dead I tell you” Grandmother muttered as she beckoned Ellia with her withered hand to bring her a drink, to which Ellia did without complaint.
“Grandmother!” Bulma gasped as she looked up at the woman. “ I just hit a man with my car, I had been drinking, you can smell it… I wasn’t even looking at the road, its my fault! I only hope he’s going to be ok, and see if there is anything I can do to help” Bulma clarified as she wrapped the blanket around herself snuggly, bowing her head down in self loathing.
“You’ll do no such thing” Her grandmother snorted and then primped her white hair that was pulled back into a soft bun. “Although you did pick one hell of a time to damage my staff. My party is in the coming weeks and I have had him committed to preparing the landscape for it all week. He’s so slow, but good at it. How am I going to find another to fill his place at this time who actually knows what they are doing for goodness sakes” Her grandmother droned as if she was talking about replacing the coffee maker in time for breakfast.
It struck Bulma at that very second. She had not only injured a man… she had cost him his job. As far as she knew the man… this was his only income, she didn’t know him to work anywhere else. “We can’t fire him… I was the one who hit him” Bulma protested as she snapped her gaze up.
“Well… from what I saw, I don’t think he’ll be back anytime soon. I’ll have to find someone to take his place now wont I” her grandmother sighed as she went to walk towards the kitchen.
“No-no wait ma’am” Ellia spoke up.
Both of the human women snapped their head to look at the young Saiyan girl, who for all her worth was trying not to run and hide. Ellia was such a shy creature. Bulma guessed that was why her grandmother liked to have her, she never resisted anything.
Ellia rung her hands behind her back, and to her credit held herself firmly as she stood before the other women. “Ma’am Mr. Ouji has done wonders here for your garden and well… I fear for what might become of him if he was to lose his job here with you. He lives for this garden. Please…ah...um. I’m sure that we can make some arrangements for you, if you just give me some time, and –“ she never got to finish her bold request before Bulmas grandmother silenced her with a swish of her hand.
“Enough of that, I get the picture Ellia” the older woman said blandly as she walked over to rest her hand upon the old velvet chair that Bulma rested in. “I guess nothing will become of the situation right now. I’m tired, we’ll deal with the issue in the morning, maybe then things will be easier” she said casually as she started to make her way to the stairs. Before she reached the first step she turned to regard Ellia and Bulma with a stern eye. Ellia never missed a beat as she quickly walked over and started to assist the woman up the stairs.
“Good night darling, I’ll see you tomorrow” her grandmother called, leaving Bulma to sit and come to terms with what had happened that late evening.
Things were in chaos. That was the simple statement as ChiChi returned home to see half the neighborhood mulling around in the streets of their squalor living area. They were not allowed to live within the Human community, it was forbidden. So every day they would in mass wait for busses that ferried them to and from work and home. ChiChi had finished work over an hour ago and was eager to be home, but the long ride home had given her time to replenish her energy so that she could start the task of the upkeep of her family. Apparently that wasn’t going to be happening tonight as she looked around at all the curious faces and heard all the hushed whispers. “Old Vegeta Ouji” “see, them human, thinking they can do what they like, just had him off in a truck” “probably done in for life I tell ya”. Chichi paled as she headed for her home, she could see her husband standing in the threshold with a mournful look on his face.
“What-what is happening” she asked as she rushed towards him, looking next door to where she knew the Ouji family resided.
Goku grimaced and awkwardly scratched the back of his head as he leant in the door frame before leaning to one side to make way for ChiChi. “Ah well… Mr. Ouji …..got hit by a car” he said slowly as he waited for ChiChi’s reaction.
“WHAT!” she gasped and spun around as she was about to enter the bed room. She had been mid-way from taking down the high bun her hair had been wrapped in when the bombshell struck her. “A car, who?! Who hit him?” she spat, now showing her true fire.
Goku looked pained as he fidgeted by her. “T’was that Briefs girl… um.. Bul..ehhhh…BULMA, yeah that was it. You know her grandma lives down on the cotton fields, Brassiere Manor where he worked. She ran him down in the eve. Ellia called his place, me and his sons went and picked him, dropped him at the hospital. He’s got a broken leg and a shattered pelvis. Nobody knows if he will ever walk right again let alone work” Goku finished as he rested his weight on his forearm on the door frame, right over the head of his wife.
ChiChi bit into her lower lip as she scrunched up her face “Gah, just what they need I’m sure. What is this world coming to! Blasted woman, cutting old men down. The stupid ragged thing should have watched where she was going!” ChiChi snarled as she looked up into her husband’s coal black eyes and lightly thumped her hand against the door frame behind her, shaking her head all the while. “What are they going to do…?” she suddenly asked as her face dropped a little.
Goku sighed as he frowned, he was going to try and answer her, but before he could form a coherent sentence in his mind their attention was brought forth to the thunderous coughing of their son.
ChiChi didn’t even wait for Goku to say anything; she rushed in and dropped to her ailing boys side, fretting over him in the dim yellow light of the table side lamp. She dragged him to her lap and cradled him against her breasts. Her father, old Ox took watch over the poor lad during the day while ChiChi and Goku tried to make ends meet, but nothing stopped ChiChis stomach from churning while she nursed Juu’s daughter whenever she so much as sneezed while her poor baby was at home suffering.
The poor two year old coughed violently against his mother’s body while she patted his back and clutched him closely. “Goku go fetch me a glass of water and a warm cloth” ChiChi ordered, her face buried in her sons wild raven hair an grasped at his off white bed gown.
Goku didn’t need to be told twice as he moved out of the door back into the kitchen. The kitchen was in shambles, it needed so much repaid. The peeling yellow pain and the torn linoleum, but bless ChiChi, even with her long hours as Juu’s Saiyan slave, she managed to keep it as clean as possible and as welcoming as she could. Often the family had hosted small gatherings of friends here, some of the only merry times that life permitted. But not in the last week. Since their young son Gohan fell ill, nothing had been celebrated, barely even a smile had been lifted out of that household. They didn’t the money to take him to see a doctor, but heaven helping; they were trying to save the money they would need to do so, they just hoped it wouldn’t be too late.
Goku returned to his wife and offered her up the things she requested. He watched his wife ministrations over their child and he stood there looking defeated. Goku was 21 now and ChiChi would be 20 in the next autumn. He had never felt ready for a child at 19, but it had happened and they had married. He didn’t regret a thing; he just wished he could have given them more, more then what a Saiyan life decreed.
“You never finished the story Goku” ChiChi whispered as she looked up at him through Gohans hair. She was laying down in the bed, holding a warm cloth to her child’s head while she soothed her hand down his back as his cough subsided.
Goku nodded thoughtfully as he sat at the foot of the bed and brushed his hand over her bare leg. “Tarble could go to work, he’s 14, but you know his brother will never hear of it. I guess Vegeta will drop from school and take the mantle” Goku said as he watched Gohans labored breathing.
ChiChi nodded her head slowly. “It will kill him” she uttered.
Goku could only sadly smile back her “I know.”
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DERA GOD! I lost my note book that I had written the whole bloody plot in! While I remember all the major events… the small details are lost to me, I just hope I find it soon. Anyway, hope you are enjoying so far. I don’t expect anyone to be reading this yet, I wouldn’t be I never read anything under 40’000 words, so I don’t think much will be happening here either, but this is a nice way to pass time between clients at work.
lets see what happens next shall we. I hope to pump these chapters out pretty fast, I’m on a roll lately.
Disclaimer: I hold no rights to the concept, or characters of this story and it is strictly non-profit casual enjoyment only.
Listening to Cee Lo Green ‘Fuck you’ because…Cee Lo just does the mood for me :D
Bulma had started the day with a happy spring in her step, that was until she had descended the stairs and greeted her grandmother for breakfast. The elder woman had been relentless while they ate and their poor maid Ellia tried her best to scurry around getting everything in place and cleaning finished plates, the poor woman had been charged with silver polishing that day and had a lot to get through. Again and again the topic of Bulmas single status had bobbed to the surface, each time a little more blunt and a little more persistent. The same words rolled over the table again and again ‘old’ ‘money’ ‘children’ ‘support’. Bulma had snorted at the many times her grandmother had referred to her as old; that was rich coming from a 69 year old.
Why was it so damn important for her to have a husband, besides the traditional obvious reasons? She was rich, by a matter of family true, but she would soon make it on her own without ever having to touch a penny her parents scored. So such a word as financial support was invalid to her. Unless her Grandmother had been referring to emotional support and in that case Bulma considered herself a women of pure independence, of iron will and as strong as the earth she stood upon, pah to emotional support from that of a man when she had friends and family. Children? That was another matter. Why were people always so quick to pawn you off into the endless title of mother? She had seen Juu and a few other friends, complaining about marks and sagging, stress and money, plus none of them seemed to actually mother their children anyway, always relying on maids. If Bulma was to spawn something, she would make sure she was actually involved in the child’s life, not just some photo on a nightstand. And for goodness graces, she was only 26 years old, she still had viability left in her, it wasn’t like she was a carton of milk with a fast exasperation date looming over her. It had been proven that it was possible to procreate later on in life. All this was only relevant if Bulma actually wanted children. She did not.
That wasn’t the only thing she had been hounded about by the grandmother. “why are you constantly talking to them, they have nothing important to say. for the goodness of god if I see you pat him on the shoulder one more time I’ll have to cut those fingers off, they will be so dirty. That girl can move the dishes, it’s her job, I don’t pay her to get help!” “don’t help her, I don’t want you spending too much time with her you might get some kind of illness, you know where those things live” “It’s your place in life to be served my dear, as it was your mothers and mine and my mother before me and hers before her, stop rattling on about it” “they are just not smart enough to be put in the same level as us dear, they are below you and I”. It had felt like forever sitting at that table with glazed over eyes in her morning robe.
As of right now Bulma was driving around in her latest edition Capsule Corp. car. It was a soft cream with egg shell blue trim. Daddy had it coloured for her. The long hood and bonnet sticking out from its heavy build, truly beautiful, and so far economical.
She had needed to get out. Out from under her Grandmothers snotty nose, and just be free for a few hours. She knew she should have been tending to her every whim… but her every whim included Bulma getting married to the first man who showed interest and the literally popping out children like one might peas from a pod! Bulma had the feeling she would look like a used pod after they had decided she’s produced enough continuing blood lines.
She pushed her cat eye red crystal encrusted glasses further up her nose as she turned a corner. She didn’t know where she was going only that she was looking for somewhere to go really. She had put on a lovely white sundress and wore a creamy yellow short cardigan over her shoulder, paired up with some glistening red heels, she felt the very essence of style… in the 60’s of cause. She had her hair slicked into a tight pony tail with her hair falling town in a neat flip at the end and her makeup clean and simple, it really did compliment her, even if she felt her face was a little chubby looking with her hair up.
She pulled up in front of a happening milk bar as it seemed to be. People were flowing in and out and cars were pulling in, so she guessed this was the place to be.
Stepping out she ruffled out her dress and sashayed with her red hand bag swung over her shoulder. Pushing through the doors she lifted her glasses above her brow to rest on her head as she looked around. There didn’t seem to be anyone she knew in there, thank heavens.
Quickly parking he butt on a stool by the bar she beckoned what looked like a bus boy to her place. He was overbearingly tall with a cheeky turn in his eyes. He was a Saiyan, and like all Saiyans he had that over tanned bronzed skin, pitch ebony eyes and untamable wild black hair, and as common with any Saiyan that lived near humans, his tail was missing. Docking ones tail was considered cleaner, a way to fit in better and an elimination of weakness as the tails were overly sensitive. Many Saiyans docked their tails very young, the humans already had enough ammunition to barrel at the Saiyans without their tails being attacked. Only a handful kept them, a single act of defiance, Bulma wished more Saiyans kept their tails.
The Saiyan boy slid on over to her resting his elbow on the counter and grinned at her “what can I get you ma’am” he said with a boyish tone as he wiped his remaining hand down his apron.
Bulma couldn’t help but smile back. He was such a lark looking guy, although, as disgusted as she was in herself for sounding like juu, he didn’t look so bright. “Weeeeeell” she dragged out and looked behind him at the chalked in script that told of the menu. “ I think a double chocolate fudge brownie Sundae with the pecan nut and maple syrup topping will hit the spot, and side that with a groovy mint banana milkshake” she chirped, his mood was contagious, and as far as Bulma was concerned, that was the only thing she would catch from him. The Saiyan worker laughed loud and heart-fully “wow, you sure you’ll fit all that?” he asked to which her response was a rapid nodding of her head.
“Of cause, don’t sweat it, I’m up for it, my breakfast was somewhat…. ruined this morning” she explained as she lolled her head to one side while he turned his back to her to prepare her order. He was such a funny thing the way he bumbled about, dropping thing on himself and the floor. He was total coconut that was for sure, but he was sweet she deemed. When he turned around with that ridicules grin on his face Bulma broke out in to a fit of giggles.
“What?” he asked innocently as he placed the order down in front of her. She was giving him a complex right about now, although a pretty human being, who was somewhat civil to him. It was a nice change he had to say.
“Nothing really, I guess I’m just being a spaz” she admitted as she fetched the spoon and dug it deep into the sundae. She really didn’t know what had come over her, but he was such a sweetie she couldn’t help it. She looked at the name tag pinned to his chest and frowned. “Sorry, but your name is kaka-what?” she asked and looked up at him through her lashes.
He scratched the back of his head and gave a faraway look to the ceiling and then back down at his own badge as if he didn’t really understand what she was talking about. “OH yeah” he said suddenly like a man walking out of the mist. “Kakarotto is my given Christian name. I hear it so rarely I forgot. Everyone calls me Goku” he said looking innocently at her.
Bulma nodded her head with her mouthful of brownie and ice-cream, she wasn’t even going to attempt to speak before she swallowed that first bite at least. She gasped for air once she had pounded it down her throat and patted herself on the chest “well Goku is much easier to say I’ll give you that. I’m Bulma” she beamed and offered her hand in a greeting shake.
Goku looked at her like she had just offered him the biting end of a viper and then looked around himself to see what was happening before him. He was drawn away by angry customers demanding his attention and he gave Bulma an apologetic glance before he scurried off.
Bulma scowled at his back. How dare he turn down her hand, but then again, as she took scan of the room, it felt like 40 sets of eyes suddenly went back to minding their own business, maybe he did have valid reasons. It agitated her to no limit how she had to act so…so unlike her here.
“Oh-oh Bulma!” a voice called from her left, causing Bulma to spin around with her spoon in her mouth. “Ever friendly with those saiyaaans I see” Juu muttered as she and Launch walked towards Bulma. Both wore neat form touched dresses, Juu’s admittedly looking more put together the Launch’s, what with the navy blue a-line and slight cleavage followed with a white silk scarf around her neck. Launch wore a deep emerald tweed hour glass clenching dress with a small matching mid blazer.
Bulma pulled up a strawberry sweet smile as she regarded her friends pleasantly “Well look what the cat dragged in” she laughed good naturedly, earning a tight smile from Juu and a chuckle of humor from Launch. Bulma dug back into her sundae as the pair joined her on either side.
“So, what are you doing today” Juu asked as she swept imaginary dust off the counter and looked at some of the Saiyans with distaste. Bulma for once didn’t notice Juu’s snootiness and continue eating. When she had managed to get it down she shrugged her shoulders. “Getting out of the cave that house has become, you would think the old bat was a vampire the way she battened down that place” Bulma snickered as Launch and Juu joined in the chorus.
“Well it’s good that you got out then before she sucked you dry right, this place is rather cool so Juu and I come here a lot; I guess that means you have taste Bulma” Launch said merrily as she went to swipe a taste of Bulmas milk shake.
“Hey hey… hook your own girl” Bulma laughed as she slid it out of Launch’s reach, she received a defeated puppy look from her friend as Bulma and Juu only laughed at her more. In the end Bulma slid it back to her to let her taste it. “ahw… Bulma… you have some strange dealings going on here” launch mentioned as she pushed it back to Bulma. “If you don’t like, get your own” Bulma piped as she sipped from it readily.
“Yes lets” Juu agreed and waved her hand in Goku’s direction with a stern look upon her face.
Goku excused himself from talking to a young Saiyan boy on the customer side and moved on down to the three ladies. “Any more miss Bulma? He asked with a polite grin on his face, the corners almost splitting his face in half.
Juu just stared indifferently at him before listing of her demands “I’ll have a vanilla shake, make sure there is cream and a cherry” she said before primping her flipped hair.
Goku nodded but Bulma could see the bored sigh in his eyes and couldn’t restrain herself ”don’t worry Goku, Juu is still wearing her old woman’s shoes today, that’s what she’s so vanilla” Bulma joked and patted Juu playfully.
Juu was willing to take Bulmas playfulness, Bulma had always been like this, but when Goku smiled gleefully at the pitiful joke she snapped her neck around like a rubber band and pinned him to the spot. “You’re ChiChi’s husband right? I have seen you pick her up in front of our house a number of times. She really should mind herself you know. I trust her with my darling baby Maron and all, most of the time” she added “but that smart mouth of her… hmmmmhm, some days I don’t know what to do with her or if I should at all” she hummed and tapped her chin thoughtfully, never taking her piercing gaze off of Goku.
He was visibly nervous to start with but then drew a saddened look upon his face. “Well you see ma’am, our little boy, he’s not been right this last week. He has a cough thats thunderous and been kept rather tired. I’d bet she just be freaten about him is all. She really does need more time to tend him” Goku admitted as he picked up some finished glasses by the girl from other patrons.
“Yes well, children are always dear to us are they not ladies?” Juu questioned and Bulma found herself nodding along with Launch like a bobble head. “ But you know, if you don’t have the time for them, you really shouldn’t be having any. Children take lots of work and effort you know, it’s not a task for everyone, but mistakes happen” she chimed as she picked up the milkshake Goku freshly placed before her, his gaze glued down to the counter.
“Right you are ma’am” he uttered defeated before walking off to tend to other customers, his shoulder sagged just like ChiChi’s had been not only the other day.
Bulma had it in her right mind to pound Juu in the fact at that last statement. Telling that poor boy, yes boy he was clearly very young, that his child was a mistake, that his SICK child was a mistake and on the other side Juu barely, if THAT, even saw her own daughter. In fact it was Goku’s wife that mothered that poor girl while her own child was home sick! Bulma felt a white hot rage at that moment and was about to give Juu a good tongue lashing when suddenly Launch spoke in a trill voice.
“Speaking of babies…. I’m pregnant!” she sung out and clasped her hand on Bulmas shoulders happily.
Bulma was left popping her mouth like a fish. Unable to bounce between wanting to beat Juu and wanting to congratulate Launch. She ended up gritting and grinding her teeth while she whipped out that ever charming grin and hugging Launch. “Ohh honey good for you” she said happily, trying to push Juu to the back of her thoughts.
“ I know, me and Tein have been trying for so long now, I didn’t think it was ever going to happen! I’m just so glad I’m not broken or something” she beamed and placed two hands over her flat stomach.
“Launch, you marvin, you have been married for 4 months, you were probably pregnant on the first night” Juu said as she sipped her drink, causing Launch to blush slightly, but not dampen her spirits. “Either way ladies, I say we move this party up a notch. The bar, this baby needs a toast to it!” Juu said, finally joining in the feeling of happiness for Launch .
Alcohol. Yep, Bulma couldn’t agree more.
What had started off as a few glasses of bubbly, turned into a few bottles, and by 8pm in the afternoon Bulma found herself sporting a fuzzy buzz as she drove home. She had actually enjoyed herself as they gossiped about what other women had named their babies and what Launch might. It was all a flurry of laughing and joking, smoking and drinking and at some point Bulma thought she might have been dancing. It was when Launch had started vomiting in the bathroom that they decided to call it a night and all went their separate ways.
Bulma looked up into her rear vision mirror at her tipsy reflection. During her playful chat about the coming trends in makeup Juu had made mention that the Bandits son was named Yamcha, and that he did have an eye for pretty and slim girls, so Bulma might want to watch what she was putting in her mouth and maybe catch up with the makeup fads. Luckily for Juu, Bulma was right sloshed at the time and had dumbly nodded her head and added an eager agreement that she would go shopping before she meet him.
Now that she was coming down from her alcohol high she was preening over herself in her mirror, rolling Juu’s words around in her head. She couldn’t even believe that she had agreed that night to meet him, but now that she had, she was growing quiet excited admittedly. She drove into the drive of her grandmother’s home and the car rocked down the dirt road. Bulma was running her tongue over her teeth and checking of anything stuck when she felt a bump much bigger than normal and a hard jarring of her car causing her it to bounce her up high in her seat. In her panic she swerve to the right and skidded to a halt before the stairs of her homes wooden veranda. Her hands strained in a death grip around the steering wheel as she puffed frantically, trying to steady her racing heart. In the chilled air of the coming evening the stillness was broken as she became aware of a frantic yelling and hollering. What had she done….?
She fumbled to grasp the door handle and hurled herself out and looked back upon her path. Sprawled on their side was a tall older man, gasping and crying out in pain. It was their grizzled older gardener. He had been with their family for years. His receding increasingly towered back hair and his gruff beard was patchy at best, he was tanned to a crisp from working the garden day in and day out, and now he was struggling to move around in his scuffed blue workers jeans and white shirt.
Ellia came bursting out of the house screaming for Bulma to call for help, but she was so transfixed on the event she heard nothing, only saw the things happening before her. Bulma could faintly register her grandmother yelling in the back ground of her mind as Ellia dashed inside again. By the time Bulma had come about from her shock there was raggedy truck pulling up and some young guys were hopping out and bundling old Mr. Ouji into the back of it. Bulma didn’t miss the stares she received from any of the Saiyans there to rescue Mr. Ouji.
Bulma suddenly registered that someone was tugging on her arm, beckoning her towards the house. She blinked and snapped her head to the side to see Ellia and her narrow face staring at her. “Come in miss Bulma please” she said a little desperately and tugged again with new vigor.
“Ye-s... yes of cause” Bulma muttered as if she was just coming out of a fog and allowed Ellia to lead her into the family home. Once inside she was seated in the living room while her grandmother sat with her back to all and her withered face peering out the window. Ellia draped Bulma in a knitted blanket and fetched her a drink of lemon water.
“What have I done?” Bulma mumbled as she stared into her clasped hands
“Pah, you ran over my gardener is what you did young lady” Bulmas grandmother replied dryly as she finally turned to face the company she held in her home with a grey and old expression as she brushed out her blouse.
Bulma looked up at her, startled ultramarine eyes begging for some kind of comfort… no... it wasn’t comfort that she wanted, she was actually waiting to be reprimanded. She had just hit a man with her car. Everyone should have been freaking out right about now, but the eerie calmness of the living room was chilling Bulma to the bone. How could everyone be so… indifferent, she had just hit an old man with her CAR!
“Well… I guess it couldn’t be helped. What was that man doing walking about in the drive at this hour… with that… skin colour, however could you have seen him is beyond me, he’s lucky you didn’t run him flat dead I tell you” Grandmother muttered as she beckoned Ellia with her withered hand to bring her a drink, to which Ellia did without complaint.
“Grandmother!” Bulma gasped as she looked up at the woman. “ I just hit a man with my car, I had been drinking, you can smell it… I wasn’t even looking at the road, its my fault! I only hope he’s going to be ok, and see if there is anything I can do to help” Bulma clarified as she wrapped the blanket around herself snuggly, bowing her head down in self loathing.
“You’ll do no such thing” Her grandmother snorted and then primped her white hair that was pulled back into a soft bun. “Although you did pick one hell of a time to damage my staff. My party is in the coming weeks and I have had him committed to preparing the landscape for it all week. He’s so slow, but good at it. How am I going to find another to fill his place at this time who actually knows what they are doing for goodness sakes” Her grandmother droned as if she was talking about replacing the coffee maker in time for breakfast.
It struck Bulma at that very second. She had not only injured a man… she had cost him his job. As far as she knew the man… this was his only income, she didn’t know him to work anywhere else. “We can’t fire him… I was the one who hit him” Bulma protested as she snapped her gaze up.
“Well… from what I saw, I don’t think he’ll be back anytime soon. I’ll have to find someone to take his place now wont I” her grandmother sighed as she went to walk towards the kitchen.
“No-no wait ma’am” Ellia spoke up.
Both of the human women snapped their head to look at the young Saiyan girl, who for all her worth was trying not to run and hide. Ellia was such a shy creature. Bulma guessed that was why her grandmother liked to have her, she never resisted anything.
Ellia rung her hands behind her back, and to her credit held herself firmly as she stood before the other women. “Ma’am Mr. Ouji has done wonders here for your garden and well… I fear for what might become of him if he was to lose his job here with you. He lives for this garden. Please…ah...um. I’m sure that we can make some arrangements for you, if you just give me some time, and –“ she never got to finish her bold request before Bulmas grandmother silenced her with a swish of her hand.
“Enough of that, I get the picture Ellia” the older woman said blandly as she walked over to rest her hand upon the old velvet chair that Bulma rested in. “I guess nothing will become of the situation right now. I’m tired, we’ll deal with the issue in the morning, maybe then things will be easier” she said casually as she started to make her way to the stairs. Before she reached the first step she turned to regard Ellia and Bulma with a stern eye. Ellia never missed a beat as she quickly walked over and started to assist the woman up the stairs.
“Good night darling, I’ll see you tomorrow” her grandmother called, leaving Bulma to sit and come to terms with what had happened that late evening.
Things were in chaos. That was the simple statement as ChiChi returned home to see half the neighborhood mulling around in the streets of their squalor living area. They were not allowed to live within the Human community, it was forbidden. So every day they would in mass wait for busses that ferried them to and from work and home. ChiChi had finished work over an hour ago and was eager to be home, but the long ride home had given her time to replenish her energy so that she could start the task of the upkeep of her family. Apparently that wasn’t going to be happening tonight as she looked around at all the curious faces and heard all the hushed whispers. “Old Vegeta Ouji” “see, them human, thinking they can do what they like, just had him off in a truck” “probably done in for life I tell ya”. Chichi paled as she headed for her home, she could see her husband standing in the threshold with a mournful look on his face.
“What-what is happening” she asked as she rushed towards him, looking next door to where she knew the Ouji family resided.
Goku grimaced and awkwardly scratched the back of his head as he leant in the door frame before leaning to one side to make way for ChiChi. “Ah well… Mr. Ouji …..got hit by a car” he said slowly as he waited for ChiChi’s reaction.
“WHAT!” she gasped and spun around as she was about to enter the bed room. She had been mid-way from taking down the high bun her hair had been wrapped in when the bombshell struck her. “A car, who?! Who hit him?” she spat, now showing her true fire.
Goku looked pained as he fidgeted by her. “T’was that Briefs girl… um.. Bul..ehhhh…BULMA, yeah that was it. You know her grandma lives down on the cotton fields, Brassiere Manor where he worked. She ran him down in the eve. Ellia called his place, me and his sons went and picked him, dropped him at the hospital. He’s got a broken leg and a shattered pelvis. Nobody knows if he will ever walk right again let alone work” Goku finished as he rested his weight on his forearm on the door frame, right over the head of his wife.
ChiChi bit into her lower lip as she scrunched up her face “Gah, just what they need I’m sure. What is this world coming to! Blasted woman, cutting old men down. The stupid ragged thing should have watched where she was going!” ChiChi snarled as she looked up into her husband’s coal black eyes and lightly thumped her hand against the door frame behind her, shaking her head all the while. “What are they going to do…?” she suddenly asked as her face dropped a little.
Goku sighed as he frowned, he was going to try and answer her, but before he could form a coherent sentence in his mind their attention was brought forth to the thunderous coughing of their son.
ChiChi didn’t even wait for Goku to say anything; she rushed in and dropped to her ailing boys side, fretting over him in the dim yellow light of the table side lamp. She dragged him to her lap and cradled him against her breasts. Her father, old Ox took watch over the poor lad during the day while ChiChi and Goku tried to make ends meet, but nothing stopped ChiChis stomach from churning while she nursed Juu’s daughter whenever she so much as sneezed while her poor baby was at home suffering.
The poor two year old coughed violently against his mother’s body while she patted his back and clutched him closely. “Goku go fetch me a glass of water and a warm cloth” ChiChi ordered, her face buried in her sons wild raven hair an grasped at his off white bed gown.
Goku didn’t need to be told twice as he moved out of the door back into the kitchen. The kitchen was in shambles, it needed so much repaid. The peeling yellow pain and the torn linoleum, but bless ChiChi, even with her long hours as Juu’s Saiyan slave, she managed to keep it as clean as possible and as welcoming as she could. Often the family had hosted small gatherings of friends here, some of the only merry times that life permitted. But not in the last week. Since their young son Gohan fell ill, nothing had been celebrated, barely even a smile had been lifted out of that household. They didn’t the money to take him to see a doctor, but heaven helping; they were trying to save the money they would need to do so, they just hoped it wouldn’t be too late.
Goku returned to his wife and offered her up the things she requested. He watched his wife ministrations over their child and he stood there looking defeated. Goku was 21 now and ChiChi would be 20 in the next autumn. He had never felt ready for a child at 19, but it had happened and they had married. He didn’t regret a thing; he just wished he could have given them more, more then what a Saiyan life decreed.
“You never finished the story Goku” ChiChi whispered as she looked up at him through Gohans hair. She was laying down in the bed, holding a warm cloth to her child’s head while she soothed her hand down his back as his cough subsided.
Goku nodded thoughtfully as he sat at the foot of the bed and brushed his hand over her bare leg. “Tarble could go to work, he’s 14, but you know his brother will never hear of it. I guess Vegeta will drop from school and take the mantle” Goku said as he watched Gohans labored breathing.
ChiChi nodded her head slowly. “It will kill him” she uttered.
Goku could only sadly smile back her “I know.”
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DERA GOD! I lost my note book that I had written the whole bloody plot in! While I remember all the major events… the small details are lost to me, I just hope I find it soon. Anyway, hope you are enjoying so far. I don’t expect anyone to be reading this yet, I wouldn’t be I never read anything under 40’000 words, so I don’t think much will be happening here either, but this is a nice way to pass time between clients at work.
lets see what happens next shall we. I hope to pump these chapters out pretty fast, I’m on a roll lately.