In Search of Oceans
Period 6: Preparation is essential.
What was meant to be a brief visit, turned into a three hour stay at the Son house. Trunks and Goten had come to an agreement over their double dating plan. Chichi invited Trunks to use the house phone to call Olivia, not surprisingly Olivia agreed to the idea.
Goten calls his date Virginia from his cell phone, she also agrees. Prompting it is a good opportunity for them to all get to know one another.
"Great Gina, we will meet you in the corner cafe after the tournament is over, ok... great, see ya then!" Goten finishes his call and turns to Trunks, who is leaning up against the doorframe waiting for him to finish.
"Well? ..." Trunks asks, uncrossing his arms. Goten places his closed fists upon his hips and inhales a long breath.
"She loves the idea she will meet us at the corner cafe'. So its all settled man, were gonna double" Goten declares cheerfully. Trunks nods enthusiastically. Looking down at the Stone Age phone he used to all Olivia.
"Man, your parents really need to update. That thing looks like it belongs in an antique store." Trunks comments, his nose wrinkling. With all the technology available, he found it odd to see such a thing still being used. Then again, this is the Son house, far away from anything; you have to expect to find old stuff lying around. Goten shrugs.
"Well, it still works. Mom keeps saying if it aint broke don't fix it, so guess it wont be going anywhere fast." He chuckles. Trunks tone then becomes serious.
"Listen man, I don't mean to be rude but I need to jet. Have to get back home for Mom." Trunks explains.
"Oh, sure. Come say goodbye to everyone. They will be in the living room by now" Goten explains, leading Trunks in that direction.
Everyone is relaxing with either tea or coffee, and of course for more talking. Gohan is sitting on one couch with Videl and Chichi is on another with OX king. Pan is on the floor, playing with a miniature version of Goku's power pole. The little girl tries twirling it around her fingers, but can't quite manage it, yet she doesn't frustrate from her failure. Goku sits opposite her, watching with great interest. The great patients in his little granddaughter makes him proud, it's a great virtue for a fighter.
"Gohan, Videl, Pan is going to be one heck of a fighter when she grows. I mean look at her, I have never seen a kid her age with so much interest in a power pole." Goku states as Pan swings the pole around like a sword, almost knocking the coffee table.
"Pan be careful sweet heart!" Videl calls, reaching out to try and take the poll from her. Gohan reaches out gently pulling her hand back.
"Its ok Videl, the stuff in this house is practically indestructible." Gohan assures with a grin. Videl nods.
"I wish I could say the same for our coffee table at home." She sighs regretfully.
Everyone is distracted from their drinks and conversation as Goten and Trunks enter the room.
"Well, did you get everything organized?" Chichi asks taking a sip of her jasmine tea Goten nods to her.
"Yeah everything is organized, but Trunks has to get going. He stayed longer than he meant to." He explains, stepping aside for Trunks to come into view. Trunks steppes, putting his hands in his pockets.
"Moms gonna have a fit if I don't make up for taking a day off. Sorry to leave suddenly, wish I could stay longer." He says, taking one hand out he rubs the back of his skull, feeling regretful. Everyone sighs out load, looking at one another with disappointment of his departure.
"Well you take care of yourself and train hard Trunks; we need a good challenge at the tournament." Goku says. Standing up from his seat he walks to him, taking the boys hand in his, shaking it firmly.
"Thanks for having me Goku. You guys train too and we will have a great fight when the day comes." Trunks returned the firm handshake.
"Say hello to your mother and father for me Trunks, tell Bulma I will come and see her soon" Gohan notifies him, standing to shake his hand, Trunks reciprocates.
"I promise, it would make her so happy Gohan. I'm so glad I got to see you too." He replies.
Trunks says his goodbyes to everyone else in the room.
"Thank you for the lunch Chichi, it was the best." he tells her from across the room. Chichi smiles a 'your welcome' in return. As he and Goten walk through the corridor to the front door, a rumbling of light feet follows them.
"Trunks... can I fight you at the tournament?" Pan calls up to him. Grasping his cargo pants she looks up into his face enthusiastically.
Trunks blinks a few times, did he hear her right?
"Uh, sure Pan but lets just see if you get that far first ok." Trunks advises with a worried expression on his face, trying to pry Pan from his leg. Shaking his leg he knees down and uncoils her fingers gently. Pan looks at him and pouts, then the tears start. Trunks cringes.
"No, Panny please don't do that" He begs. Pan clutches her fists tightly and bravely steps closer to him.
"Grandfather says I am stronger than most fighters at the tournament. I'm gonna make it that far. You'll see!" She announced defiantly. A determined gaze from her large, onyx eyes. Trunks nods slowly, hoping she won't start crying again.
"Well, ill meet you in the ring kid, gotta go now, see ya!" He says quickly, walking out of the house quickly. Goten follows close behind, closing the door so Pan couldn't follow. They walk to the end of the driveway.
"Phew your brothers kid is one heck of a chatterbox Goten, I didn't't think id get away alive!" Trunks utters as he prepares to take off
"Ha-ha yeah she can be like that, she's always worse when your around though I noticed." Goten teases. Trunks shakes his head and walks to the path, gathering his ki.
"Well ill see you at the tournament bud, have a safe journey home!" Goten calls. Trunks waves to him and his ki flares beneath his boots. Propelling him into the sky, leaving a blazing trail of ki behind. Goten continued to wave him off until all signs of Trunk's ki fade into the distance. Goten relaxes his hand back to his side, with a last brief smile he exhales the air in his chest, turning he walks back inside, locking the door behind him.
On the beach of a small island in a large sea, a father daughter debate is taking place.
"Please Dad I must go or I won't be able to show my face in school again!" Cries Marron, stamping her white shoes against the deck of the Kame house. Krillin is in over his head, he does not want his only daughter, his little firefly to hang out with an older crowd. At a party where she only knew one person.
"I'm not telling you again Marron; you aren't going to that party. The crowd isn't right for you. You should be hanging around with people your own age not with 13 and 14 year olds" Krillin states firmly to his seven year old. Pacing back and forth along the deck upset.
"Krillin, the parents will be there. I called and made sure of that, so there won't be any trouble." #18 reveals, coming out of the house dressed in a suit. Krillin turns to his wife just as the screen door of the house slams shut behind her.
"Are you sure? Because if I find out that some kind of funny business is going on!" Krillin exclaims, looking back at Marron with a skeptical look on his face. Marron frowns, crossing her arms against her chest, at her father. She turns to her mother with an innocent expression.
"I spoke to Georgette's mother myself Krillin; I can guarantee that there will not be any funny business." #18 replies in her cool, calm manner. Tucking her chin length hair behind her right ear. She will never admit it, but Marron knew how to put a smile on her face. Krillin exhales through his nostrils, scratching his head through his thick black hair.
Rubbing his chin he ponders, before turning back to Marron who waits patiently.
"Ok princess you can go, but I want you home by 10 and not a moment later!" He emphasizes, pointing his finger at Marron. She runs up, hugging him tightly around his neck, leaving a kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you daddy, I promise I will, c'mon mom lets go!" Marron shouts, releasing her fathers' neck. Running toward the flying machine parked on the grass. Krillin is helpless to protest, after such a display of love and gratefulness.
#18 prepares to take Marron to the party; it starts at 6:30 pm, a half hour from now. Marron insists on getting there earlier, # 18 re-enters the house, returning with her bag and keys in hand. She stopped beside Krillin.
"You are a very fair person for letting her go. I'm proud of you." She says emotionlessly. Krillin doesn't say a word, only smiles as # 18 plants a gentle kiss on his forehead, then walks elegantly down the stairs toward the flying machine.
"Bye Master Roshi!" Marron calls out from the window, waving up to Master Roshi sitting in his rocking chair on the second floor. Roshi swiftly disposes of the ever present men's magazine is his hands, waving back guiltily.
"Bye bye Marron, you have a swell time now!" he calls back. #18 sits in the pilot seat, closing the door. She glances back at Krillin momentarily, giving him a quick wink.
Krillin smiles back, waving vividly at Marron who is still mouthing thank you through the glass. Krillin sits down on the deck, watching the ships engines start up, then the landing gear lifts and the ship ascends into the sky. With a burst of speed it takes off in the direction of Georgette's home. Krillin sigh as the screen door of the house opens; he turns to find Master Roshi in the doorway. He walks across the deck slowly, taking a seat beside Krillin.
"Krillin, you might as well lift the long face. She is growing up and it isn't going to stop for anyone, including you!" Roshi asserts, aware that Krillin fears loosing his daughter to the world.
"I just don't want her to forget about us when she is out there Master Roshi. I mean, with the way the world is you would think kids wanted to be somewhere safe. Instead, they just want to be out there where all the trouble is." Krillin sighs, his hand pulling blades of grass out of the ground beside his feet, tossing them toward the sea.
Master Roshi heaves a sigh, understanding his former student's pain. Scraping the end of his walking stick along a dry patch of ground, he sigh's.
"It may seem that way. She will always come back here to sleep at night in her own bed. Everything will be aright, I can assure you she will remember it you in all the confusion." Roshi end his speech, utilizing his walking stick he pushes himself up off the deck, walking slowly turtle, he usually came to visit at this time before the heat of the day.
"Krillin, if you see turtle, tell him im upstairs." Roshi calls.
Krillin gave an acknowledging nod as he waits for #18 returns. She didn't't say how long she will be.
"She said something the other day about a visit, something to do with the tournament. Ah well, guess ill just, wait" He verbalizes. The sun glinting on the surface of the water across from him.
Breathing out slowly, feeling the air leaving his lungs Dende returns to reality from his eight our meditation. His body tingles lightly but presently.
The earth is at peace, still and warm. Sitting on his throne with his fingers knitted, he slumps back exhausted against the cold stone. A pair of vividly coloured butterflies enter the building suddenly. He smiles with surprise; he has saved so many in the past to fly another day.
"It's always nice to have your company up here, having your kind visit lets me know that nature is functioning and peaceful." He says, holding his hands out as one of the butterflies' lands on his fingertip. His smile fades as Piccolo enters his thoughts.
"If Piccolo saw you he would probably zap you, he finds says there is no room for you up here. He doesn't see you the way I do, but please don't let that fool you; he's a good person and friend." Dende's says to the tiny creature, its wings waving gently. Piccolo never appreciated the things he found beautiful. Before Dende became guardian, when Piccolo was still a resident upon the lookout, Savarna's bedroom was his meditation room. That room, once dark and uninviting is being transformed into one that a human girl would feel comfortable enough to sleep and live in. Mr. Popo is attending to the task at this very moment.
"I wonder what he is up to, after I started meditating again I haven't seen any sign of him" Dende wonders to himself, the butterflies' launches from its place on his fingertip, joining its partner they both leave the building.
Dende adjusts his ruffled robe, sliding off his throne; he heads for Savarna's room to look for Mr. Popo. Arriving at the door after a slow walk across the lookout, he stops upon hearing voices coming through the door. Curious he leans up against the door to listen.
"Now that looks wonderful, I am certain that you like these wonderful colours now don't you. Yes I can see it in your eyes they are just lovely." he hears Popo say.
Dende frowns in confusion and deciding not to be deceptive any longer, slowly pushes the door open. The door opens; Dende looks on in astonishment, his jaw drops at what surrounds the once dark room. The white walls are still there, but the room has pink everywhere, the old dark green curtains have been replaced by rose pattern covered ones, ruffled at the base. The bed is gone and replaced with a cot, also with rose patterned dressing around it. Looking around and behind the door he finds a new chest of drawers has been added.
"Mr. Popo, its, its Perfect!" Dende utters joyfully. Stepping into the room he wonders, how did it all get here? Popo is in the corner, pushing a large chest to fit nicely between the cot and the wall.
"Dende, I did not hear you come in." Popo calls over his shoulder, stepping back from the chest. Dende walks around in amazement.
"Where did you find all of these things?" He asks. Walking up to the new furniture, he glides his hand along its smooth varnished surface. Popo walks up beside him.
"Everything in this room was already here at the lookout; it was stored away along with many other things that may have had a better purpose. As they say, save it for a rainy day!" Popo declares.
"But it isn't raining Mr. Popo." Dende says with a perplexed look on his face, Popo laughs out load.
"My Dende, 'Save it for a ready day' is an earthling expression." he explains amid his laughter.
"Oh, I see" Dende replies, mildly embarrassed. He looks toward the cot, where Savarna lays, her head turning gently from side to side.
"She must like the new room, she won't stop smiling!" Dende observes, watching the Baby giggle without a care.
"The colours must be right, they have made her happy" He adds, pointing at the various pinks around her cot.
"You did wonderfully Popo, thank you for taking this on. I don't know what I would do without you." Dende credits, placing his hand upon Popo's shoulder rewarding. Feeling relief that he did not have to participate in the task. It looks to difficult for a simple Namekian, who did not know what female humans likes and dislikes are. But he has a feeling he will soon have to find out.
