Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Satan Video ❯ Unlikely Insight ( Chapter 22 )

No pointless rambling this time. Oh wait, I do have some. I'm probably going back to work soon, so updates will inevitably slow down. I'll let everyone know for sure once it happens, though. I'm the queen of procrastination, so I'll drag out my sitting on my ass time as long as I possibly can. Also wanted to note that the drinking age is 21 where I live. Yeah, I think most of the world has it set at 18. Anyway, here it is.

Last time: Vegeta managed to inflict some serious structural damage to the store, and Bulma decided to go out with Krillin and Goku.

Chapter 21: Unlikely Insight

Yamcha was escorted to the table where Jenny was already seated and put on his best fake smile. "You look great," he said to her delight.

"Why thank you. You're looking pretty good yourself." Yamcha just smiled as he sat down across from her.

"What can I get you to drink?" the waiter asked.

"Bottle of wine, please," Yamcha answered. "So, anything look good?" he asked her once the waiter had left.

"Yes. I'm actually having a hard time deciding," Jenny answered. He flipped through the menu not really looking at it. He was peeking over the top of it watching her.

'What's with you? Are you just playing along or do you really think I'm happy to be here?' he wondered before casting his gaze downward to actually look at the menu in front of him. 'Why did she go to all this trouble? Is she just that obsessed? If so, I guess that could be why she didn't question my sudden change of heart.' He smiled at that thought.

"Yamcha? Haven't you been listening?" Jenny asked with irritation obvious in her voice.

"Oh uh sorry." He was thankful for the dim lighting because he felt his cheeks heat up in embarrassment. "What were you saying?"

"I just said that I'm glad you decided to give us a try," she said with a soft smile which he had to force himself to return.

"Well, I'd be a fool to do otherwise." Yamcha was very thankful when the waiter returned with the wine, thus interrupting their conversation. 'This is harder than I thought it would be.'

The two chatted throughout dinner. Yamcha was slowly sipping his wine, but kept encouraging Jenny to finish hers. Each time she did, he'd refill her glass again. The initial reasoning behind it was that she'd be more likely to believe his acting if she were a little buzzed, but he then had another idea. 'Maybe if I get her completely drunk, I can get some information out of her. It's unlikely, but worth a shot,' he decided. Of course none of it would work if he allowed the alcohol to take hold of him, so occasionally he'd dump all or part of his drink in the potted plant next to him just so she wouldn't get suspicious.

"Look at this. We still have half a bottle left. You better get to work over there. We wouldn't want to waste it," he said playfully, and she giggled.

"I don't know if I should."

"Oh come on. I'll make sure you get home safely." He took her hand in his and rubbed his thumb gently over the top of her hand. "Maybe I could stay a while and get you tucked into bed," he said suggestively. Well Jenny may have been tipsy, but that statement sent the alarms off in her head.

"Yamcha?" she whispered as she pulled her hand away. He had to fight to keep from grinning.

"Did I say something wrong?" he asked with the best concerned voice a person could contrive. 'She's uncomfortable about things moving so quickly. It won't be as hard as I thought to get her to admit it.'

"No, I just don't think it'd be a good idea for you to come home with me," she said, and Yamcha pretended to have his feelings hurt.

"I see," he stated with a nod. "You're embarrassed by me. You don't think your roommates will approve."

"What?" she asked in disbelief. "No, that's not it."

"Then what?" he pleaded.

"I just don't want to bring someone home when my parents are there," she said as she found the wall next to them very interesting. Yamcha paled beyond white.

'Holy fucking shit! I'm going to jail, and I didn't even do anything! Her stupid pictures are all the proof they need,' his mind screamed. "I..I… H..how old are you?" he finally ground out. Jenny threw her head back in laughter, and the color began to return to the baseball player's face as anger festered inside of him.

"Don't worry. I'm nineteen. I just haven't moved out yet," she replied much to his relief. He filled up his wine glass and slammed it as he composed himself.

"You are a very naughty girl scaring me like that," Yamcha said noticing that his heart rate still hadn't quite returned to normal.

"Hey, you did it to yourself. I never said I was in high school or anything. You just assumed," she rebuffed as she took another sip of wine.

"Hey, you shouldn't be drinking. Man, they didn't even ID you," he complained.

"You can't be serious. You were telling me to drink up not 10 minutes ago!"

"Yeah, well that was before I found out how old you are," he said as began to feel completely ridiculous.

"Jeez, you sound like my father. It's not like you're much older than me anyway," Jenny pointed out.

"That may be so, but haven't you heard of contributing to the delinquency of a minor?" he said as he snatched the wine away from her.

"I am not a minor," she huffed.

"You know what I meant. Are you done eating?" Yamcha asked, suddenly feeling the need to get away from her and the restaurant.

"Yeah, let's go."

***

Vegeta cursed so many things in every language he could think of as Piccolo walked over to him.

"What the hell did you do?" The only response the green alien received was a wave of a hand and a few more curses. "The customers have already called EMS. They're on the way along with whoever else usually shows up for stuff like this. They're going to want to know what happened." Vegeta sat down on a parking block inspecting a scrape on his arm courtesy of the collision with the store and seemingly ignored the statement.

"When I kicked that dip shit, he crashed into the pole, and then it fell over," he finally answered after several moments of silence. Piccolo nodded and sat down beside him.

"I didn't see anything," he said casually before leaning in closer to Vegeta. "I doubt any of them were able see anything if you kicked him hard enough to bend the pole." The prince looked up at his companion.

"So," he answered. Piccolo shook his head before responding.

"So, what are we going to tell them?" the Namekseijin asked. The two turned to the fallen sign and thought.

"Well, if that damned concrete base wasn't so tall, we could say someone backed their car into it and drove off," Vegeta offered. Piccolo considered it for a moment.

"That might work."

"No one would believe that. Look at that thing."

"It's not too tall for a jacked up 4 x 4," Piccolo said.

"4 by what?"

"Haven't you seen those trucks that are several feet off the ground with tires almost as big as a person?"

"Oh," Vegeta said as he realized what he was talking about. "Wait, wouldn't the people inside the store have noticed, though, if some huge truck was tearing up the parking lot?"

"Yeah," Piccolo groaned in defeat as he leaned back resting his hands on the ground. "We could just claim it was some sort of freak accident. As long as they don't talk to your friend over there, no one would be able to prove otherwise."

"Heh, that guy was unconscious before I ever sent him crashing into it," Vegeta commented with a devious smile on face.

***

The trio entered the club and was bombarded by the persistent beat of the techno music. It was a nice place, infinitely better than the last one Chi Chi worked at that was really nothing but a bar masquerading as a club. It even had a pool table for crying out loud! There's nothing wrong with that of course, if that's what you were expecting when you got there. It's just that the word 'club' is a bit misleading, so people would check it out expecting one thing and finding a dance floor that was nothing more than a 20 ft x 20 ft square of half rotten wood. Bulma smiled to herself. 'Yeah, this place is a whole lot better.'

"First things first," Krillin decided as he drug his friends over to the bar.

"Chi Chi," Bulma yelled with a smile.

"Hey girl. Glad you finally made it. What can I fix you?" Bulma thought about it for a moment.

"Surprise me," she decided. "Just don't give me a shot of Everclear or something," she corrected. Chi Chi laughed.

"Now, you did say surprise you. You take all the fun out of it if you limit my options." She finally noticed her friend's companions. "Are you going to introduce your friends or what?"

"Oh sorry. This is Goku and Krillin. Guys, this is Chi Chi. We had some classes together before I switched to internet courses."

"Nice to meet you," Goku said with a smile as he took in the sight of the black haired woman in her very revealing red halter top and low cut jeans.

"Likewise. What'll you have?" She fixed drinks for the three of them before other people at the bar demanded her attention. The group migrated over to a table to finish their drinks. Krillin was eyeing a group of women at the bar.

"Watch out, Krillin's on the prowl. So I take it you and Marron aren't exclusive," Bulma stated. Krillin laughed as he shook his head.

"Not exactly. I'm more like someone to scratch her itch when it should arise, not that I mind doing the favor," he said with a devious grin.

"Krillin!" she shrieked and slapped his arm. He turned his attention back to the bar where he made eye contact with one of them. She smiled.

"Well, you two behave. I'll be back later," he laughed as he got up and meandered his way back over to the bar.

The two friends watched as Krillin convinced the green haired woman to dance with him. Bulma turned her gaze back to Goku as he took a big gulp from his drink.

"You know, I distinctly remember you saying not too long ago that you were never going to drink again," she pointed out. He shrugged.

"Yeah, well, how many times have you said that when you were hung over?"

"Good point," she laughed.

"So how are things with you and Vegeta?" She looked up at him in shock.

"How did you know?" Goku took another sip from his drink before answering.

"Well, I do live with the guy, and he hasn't been home much lately," he said with a laugh. "Funny thing is Piccolo tried to tell us, but we didn't believe him. My neighbor was the one that convinced me."

"Neighbor?" she asked slightly confused.

"Yeah, the one that you bummed a cigarette from."

"What would he know about us, other than the fact that I was over there?" she asked, and Goku sighed.

"He overheard the two of you while you were….together," he finished as he raised both of his eyebrows. She got it that time.

"Oh," she softly replied wide-eyed and more than a little unnerved by that. Goku chuckled at her uneasiness. "I should have told you," she said feeling bad about keeping it from her best friend.

"Hey, don't worry about it. I understand why you didn't, but I'm your friend. You ought to know that you can tell me anything." She sighed.

"I know. I know. I just..I can't believe all this. It's surreal. I don't know what I'm doing," she admitted as she propped her head up on her hand and rested her elbow on the table.

"What about Yamcha?" he asked.

"We broke up. It was really weird, too. It turns out that he cheated on me the same night Vegeta and I started our…whatever you want to call it. I was so pissed at him." She chuckled before taking a sip of her drink. "As if I have anything to be angry about. Kami, I am such a bitch," she groaned as Goku put his arm around her.

"Don't sweat it. What's done is done. You and I both know that you and Yamcha never would've lasted anyway." She gave him a weak smile.

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

"You and Vegeta getting pretty close?" he asked. Bulma just laughed.

"I don't even know if you could call what we have a relationship. I mean things are great until one of us acknowledges that they are. Then it turns to shit. Hell, earlier today he got all weird over something I said as a joke."

"What was it?"

"We were just talking and I said something about 'that's why he loved me.' I didn't even mean it like that, though. I figured that was why he was acting so weird, so I told him it was just a saying." Goku looked at her curiously.

"What did he do after you said that?"

"Absolutely nothing. He went back to watching the water and didn't say anything until he was ready to leave," she sighed and slammed the last of her drink. "The worst part about it was that the whole thing had me upset all day." Goku sat back and watched her as he considered what she just told him as well as what little bit he'd been able to get out of his roommate. He started laughing. Bulma turned to him with narrowed eyes. "I'm glad you find my failed attempts at love to be so entertaining. Ugh men, maybe I should just become a lesbian!" Goku laughed even more.

"I don't think that'll solve your problem," he choked out between giggles. "I can't believe I'm the only one who sees it."

"What?"

"Well, I guess it makes perfect sense though. I mean it's not like Vegeta confides in anyone."

"Damn it! What are you babbling about?!"

"Bulma, I think you've misunderstood Vegeta's actions, not that it would be a hard thing to do. I've never seen him as mad as I have lately. Something's bothering him, and it has to do with you, because every time I ask about you, he goes nuts. I think he wants more from this 'arrangement', and judging by what you just told me, I'd guess he's probably got some feelings for you."

"What?" she asked skeptically. "What on Earth would make you think that?"

"Tell me something, did he know about Yamcha?"

"Yeah."

"Well, did he ever say anything about that?"

"We did get into an argument over it right before I broke up with him, but it just seemed like some possessive male thing." Goku rolled his eyes.

"Okay, what about that conversation you two had on the phone the other day. He was pissed, because he thought you were using him. He looked like he was going to kill someone before he took off."

"That was when we argued about Yamcha. It's probably nothing more than his damnable ego," she dismissed.

"I don't think so. If it were just wounded pride, I doubt he'd bother with trying to keep things going between you two. If it were me, I'd get the hell out of there."

"If it was you, you'd milk the situation for all it's worth," she rebuffed. Goku thought about it a moment and shrugged.

"Maybe so," he laughed, "But you know Vegeta would never put up with that, regardless of what he was getting out of it. His pride would never allow it, and the fact that he's willing to fight with you over this, says a lot more than you think."

Bulma groaned as she laid her head on her crossed arms that were resting on the table. "Shit, I can't believe I was so blind," she said and paused for a moment. "But this still doesn't explain something. If by some bizarre chance he actually cares about me, why was he so irritated by that little comment I made earlier today?"

"This is Vegeta we're talking about," Goku chuckled. "Do you really think he'd just admit something like that? I mean, he's not exactly the type to be in touch with his feelings," he said sarcastically. Bulma wanted to slap herself.

"Ugh, he probably hates me. So what are we going to do?"

"We?"

"Of course. You know more about him than anyone, and you're his roommate. You have to help me."

"He is not going to talk to me about his issues with you; I can promise you that."

"Well, what should I do?" The two sat there in silence for a while, neither coming up with a decent idea. "You know what? I've wasted enough of your fun tonight. I'm sitting here whining about my problems while you came here to have a good time," she said with a smile. He shrugged.

"Yeah, well, I still have plenty of time for that. Besides, it'd be pretty shitty if I ditched a friend in need."

"That's right!" She picked up her glass and realized it was empty. "I guess we need refills." Goku nodded. "So how did you get so insightful all of a sudden?"

"No cable. I've watched a lot of soaps," he offered.

"Oh," she responded with wide eyes, a little disturbed by the thought of her friend watching that. "Uh anyway, let's go get some more drinks, shall we?"

"So is the bartender pretty cool?"

"Goku, are you planning on hitting on one of my friends?" she asked with mock surprise. He shrugged innocently. "Well of course she's cool. She's my friend isn't she," she answered.

"And you say Vegeta has an inflated ego." Bulma only laughed at his playful insult.

"Okay Goku, come dance with me once before you go chasing women," she said not leaving any opportunity for him to decline as she drug him onto the multilevel dance floor.

***

Mr. Satan had just gotten out of the shower when the phone rang. He wrapped the towel around his waist without actually drying off and went to answer the phone. He didn't get very far, though, as his wet feet flew out from under him and he landed on his back on the bathroom floor. With a few curses, the huge man slowly got up and made his way to the phone.

"Hello."

"Yes, I need to speak with a…Mr. Satan," the man on the other end said.

"Speaking."

"Yes, I'm Officer Davis, and there has been an accident at your video store." The martial artist went pale as his only thoughts were, 'I'm going to be sued.' "The sign actually fell into the store. There is quite a bit of structural damage. Luckily there was only one person injured. He suffered only minor injuries and is being treated at the hospital as we speak."

"How could something like this have happened?" Mr. Satan asked.

"Apparently the thing just fell over. A store employee was the only witness, and going from his statement, our only deduction is that the metal of the support pole was defective. Probably an imperfection that made it weak, but that cannot be determined without further investigation." The store owner just sat down as it all sank in.

"Thank you Officer," he replied numbly before hanging up.

~cue overly dramatic ending music~

Will Goku's theory be proved or disproved? Will Bulma confront Vegeta about his feelings for her and if so, how will he react? Find out on the next installment of Satan Video!! hack…cough. Damn cheesy announcer voice really kills my throat!

I had a long rant about this bar claiming to be a club that I used to live near, but you guys don't want to hear about that so never mind. Thanks for reading. Reviews greatly appreciated.