Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Their Assignment ❯ Chapter 13

"Why didn't you call me back?!" Bulma hissed as she met Chichi in front of the school, as was their habit.

"Oh, Bulma! I'm so sorry, well I'm not really sorry since it was so wonderful but I really hate to disappoint you like this!"

"Disappoint me like what?" Bulma asked with a feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach.

"Well, you see the thing is," she began, blushing and avoiding her friend's eye.

"Hey Chi! Hey Bulma!" Goku grinned as he swung a possessive arm around Chichi's shoulders. "You'll never guess what!"

"Oh shit! You mated with a demon!" Bulma growled through clenched teeth.

"Don't you dare talk about my mate in that tone of voice!" Chichi snapped pulling herself up.

"Don't…? Chichi, he's a demon. You can't mate with a demon when he's on the Earth to destroy it! With the way things stand that was not only incredibly stupid but it's dangerous as well!"

"What's the matter woman? Jealous because she had the guts to do something you were too afraid to do?" Vegeta taunted, walking up with a strange man. Bulma took in at a glance that he looked liked Goku only more mature and with spiked hair that was combed back from his forehead and reached his ankles, but she was too angry to grasp the significance of his presence.

"Sensible, you jerk! What's the matter with you male? Upset because I was too intelligent to let you bite me?"

"Too frigid is more like it," he muttered crossing his arms.

"Bulma this is Goku you're talking about! I can grasp that you're upset that we're mated when we're supposed to be on opposing sides but you have to understand-"

"No, you have to understand," Bulma cut in quietly, viciously. "Under any other circumstances I'd be thrilled for you. Believe it or not I actually like Goku and think he's perfect for you. But we're not strong fighters Chi! We have to be realistic and entertain the notion that we might not be able to keep them from carrying out their assignment."

"I can't believe you just said that. But let's operate on the theory that they do. Goku still won't let anything happen to me, so your concern is misplaced," Chichi coolly informed her friend.

"She's right Bulma. She's my mate! I'm not going to let anything happen to her, even if I do agree to help destroy the planet. Although I'm still not sure why I would," he frowned. The stranger was silent, his head turning back and forth as he followed the volley of conversation with interest. He couldn't keep the grin off his face at Goku's observation, but it faded at Bulma's next statement.

"You're assuming you can protect her!" Bulma snapped stomping her foot in frustration.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Chichi realized her friend's agitation went a bit beyond the whole conflict of interest thing. She could see fear behind the temper in the blue eyes staring at her.

"Have you ever heard of Persephone, Chi?" Bulma asked tiredly.

"Chick that married Hades and lived with him in the Underworld, but only stayed there for half the year because she ate some seeds and spent the rest of the time with her mother, right? What does that have to do with anything?" Vegeta asked confused.

"Actually she was an angel who was mated to a demon. Persephone wasn't allowed back into Heaven as a result of her choice so she stayed on Earth. She and her mate only stayed in Hell for so many months a year because if she stayed any longer she would have transmutated into one of those horrible creatures you always see in normal humans' interpretation of demons. Then she would have died. That's why Hades stepped down from his position as Lord of Hell, because his mate couldn't handle it. Chichi, if they destroy the Earth you won't have even that option. Don't you get it? Angels simply can't survive in Hell!"

"Hey guys! What's up?" 18 asked strolling up, concerned at the oppressive silence that was hanging over the group. Bulma had been saying something, but she had been too far away to catch it and no else had said anything since she had finished speaking so she couldn't guess what had everyone else so upset.

"Huh? Oh hey 18. I'm just having slight issues with the fact that Goku and Chichi got married this weekend."

"WHAT?!" she demanded, rounding on the couple in question.

"Well it's more of a married by Goku's culture. We haven't had a regular marriage ceremony yet," Chichi began only to get cut off by 18.

"I don't care if it was traditional or not! You got married without telling me about it first?!"

"Well it was kind of a spur of the moment thing. But don't worry we'll have a regular wedding later, won't we Goku?"

Bulma looked like she was about to say something, but Chichi turned her head toward Bulma right at that instant and she closed her mouth. Then her lips quirked up in a reluctant smile at Chichi's grateful look and she said instead, "Poor Goku though."

"What do you mean by that?!" Chichi demanded her grateful look replaced by a suspicious look that was fully prepared to slide into an angry one if she didn't like the answer.

"I simply meant that you're getting a nice wedding and everything out of the deal, but since you're already married before you're getting married, he doesn't even get the benefit of a bachelor party!"

"Wow, she has a point. Goku's getting the shaft!" Krillin spoke up for the first time since they made their announcement. The mood lightened after that and everyone hurried into the school so they wouldn't be late.

"Hey when'd you get back in town Radditz?" Krillin asked as they sat down at their table in the cafeteria.

"Last night."

"Uh huh." Krillin looked over at everyone else getting their food. "So when are we going to tell them?"

"We can't tell them. They have to ask."

"Yeah, but… Can't we drop them hints?" Krillin asked plaintively, his eyes following his girlfriend.

"I'm not sure…" Radditz answered doubtfully.

"Hey what's going on over there?" the smaller man asked, craning his neck when he noticed a commotion over at the door.

"New guy. The girls are all trying to get dibs on him before anyone else. I have office third so I caught his schedule. He'll have the same classes as you and the guys."

"Who has the same schedule as us?" Vegeta asked sliding into his accustomed spot. Goku and Chichi joined them, Goku carrying Chi's tray for her.

"The new kid." 18 plopped down gracefully next to Krillin, raising her eyebrow at his statement.

"What new kid?" Bulma asked, sitting down next to Vegeta. She unconsciously shifted closer to him when Yamcha joined them at the table. Vegeta smirked at the annoyed look on Yamcha's face, not even bothering to hide his smugness from the weakling.

"Hey forget the new kid babe," Yamcha advised her, after shooting Vegeta a glare. "You'd do better to try for someone who won't become next weeks fad. Like yours truly."

"No. He's saying you need to date last year's fad!" Vegeta sneered at the presumptuous twit hitting on his woman.

"Um, excuse me, but would you mind if I sat at this table?" a quiet voice asked. They all turned around to see the new guy standing there.

"Sure. Here, move over Yamcha and give the guy some room," Bulma said, scooting even closer to Vegeta to make room for the stranger. No said anything else for a minute until 18 threw up her hands in disgust.

"Argh, why does this job always fall to me? New guy this is Goku, Chichi, Vegeta, Bulma, Yamcha, Radditz, and my boyfriend Krillin. Guys this is the new guy…" she left it hanging.

"…I'm called Mirai," he said finally, shifting a small strand of lavender hair out of his pale blue eyes, only to have it fall back to its original place.

"Called? You mean that's not your real name? Tell us, who are you?" Vegeta ordered imperiously, ignoring the reproving look Bulma shot him.

"I wish I could," he responded softly, studying Vegeta very carefully as he spoke. Before Vegeta could get any ruder, Bulma decided to jump into the conversation with, "Hey! You've got our logo on your jacket. That's my dad's company, are you an employee?"

"No, not exactly. Just a fan," Strangely enough they noticed him look rather desperately at Radditz, who studiously avoided his gaze, before turning toward Krillin who shrugged uncomfortably.

"Oh… I see." Bulma gave a hard look at the two guys as well. Radditz began to plow through his food as though his life depended on it and Krillin discovered a terribly engrossing design on the cafeteria ceiling. "Well, tell me your name and I'll recommend you to dad!"

Mirai placed his tray on the table next to her, before responding in his quiet voice, "I can't do that. Sorry, it must seem strange."

"Ohh, mystery man!" Bulma teased good naturedly before raking her gaze threateningly over hapless Krillin and Radditz once more. Fortunately for them Yamcha was getting sick of the new guy getting all the attention and chose that moment to sarcastically say, "Is his shoe size a secret too?"

"I want to know his shoe size," a suggestive female voice carried to them from a crowd of cheerleaders that had stationed themselves at a nearby table. They all started giggling, and casting glances toward their poor target. Mirai cringed and quickly slipped in between Bulma and Yamcha. He kept his attention on his food and answering any questions directed at him in monosyllables for the rest of the meal.

Well what do you think? Yay! I've finally finished filling out the cast and can now focus more on the V/B part of my story. My apologies to the impatient ones among you… And to any of you who have seen this Trunks episode, I was operating under the theory that if this were the approximate conversation the first time around then something similar would happen given a comparable situation. Therefore I recreated that conversation with slight adjustments for the situation. Besides, I really wanted to slide that last joke in, for personal reasons…