Chapter Eight.


Tien hadn't planned on being persuaded by his blond colleague to come to a club/bar, as she liked to call it, at night with a bunch of her old friends who lived in the city. He had thought he would be able to lay in his apartment bedroom and wallow in his self pity until he had to get up the next morning. After the Q and A, he had drove awhile a bit and was starting to head home when his cell phone rung. Much to his surprise, it was Eighteen and after a long 15 minutes, she had talked him into changing and meeting them at the club/bar.

Not only that, but she had also talked Bulma into coming along and he knew how hard a feat that must have been. Their boss was a no-nonsense type woman when it came to outside activities. She had been buried in her work from the moment they met and had remained that way.

He was shocked however, when he realized that he was enjoying himself.

The Bar/Club was a bit conservative and retro at the same time. All together, it was a nice place to go and hang around. Eighteen's friends were all very kind and cool, in their own little weird ways. Tien didn't know if he had every one of their names down but that was beside the point.

"Having a nice time, Tien?" Someone asked, coming up behind the bald male who was leaning against one of the many couches. Tien smiled politely when he realized it was on of Eighteen's friends, trying desperately to remember the man's name.

"Yes, I'm simply wonderful." He replied back, squinting his eyes a bit, searching his mind. "Seventeen! Yeah, I'm having a wonderful time, Seventeen." He was caught off guard when the black haired, pretty boy slapped him on the back, almost causing him to spill his drink.

"Haha, well that's good! I was worried you were over here all alone because you hated us." There was twinkle of mischief in the man's eye and Tien couldn't hold back his grin.

"Nah." Tien shook his head. "I'm just a bit tired. You and your friends are great, though. I wouldn't mind hanging out with you all more."

"You're welcomed to." Seventeen nodded. He leaned back on the couch beside Tien and kept grinning. "You must be insane however, if you want to. My friends...are peculiar. Every last one."

"I'm sure you're exaggerating." Tien chuckled, taking a swig of his drink. "They all seemed normal to me."

Seventeen made a face. "Normal? Did you meet them all?" Tien laughed again. "Seriously, they all have some troublesome past about them. I think I'm the only normal one."

"Troublesome past?" Tien's interest perked up considerably.

"Yeah," Seventeen lazily rolled his eyes around the dark club, the bass of the music bumping through the ground and into their ears. His eyes settled on the small figure of Krillin, his dark short hair sprouting from his once shaven head. "Take Krillin for example, "He started. "The man has had all of his dreams flushed right down the toilet. Along with a marriage and..." Seventeen stopped himself, realizing that he was talking to a complete stranger. Krillin's business had no right to be exposed.

"A marriage?" Tien raised an eyebrow, pretending to ignore the way Seventeen's eyes bazed in his tanned face.

"You don't know?" Genuine surprised. "After all, he was married to your partner, Eighteen."

To say the news shocked him was under exaggerating. Tien nearly had a heart attack! Eighteen was once married? And it had failed? He knew that she liked to keep her personal life under keeps but wow, he never would have thought.

Tien sensed Seventeen's eyes on him and and shrugged, masking his recent expression with one of indifference. "Oh yeah. She told me about that. Real shame." He lied. Seventeen nodded. It seemed to all make sense to Tien at once. No wonder Eighteen and the man had been so distant to one another. He thought he was the only one to notice the awkward exchange on both their parts.

"Shame indeed. I haven't saw him truly happy in a while." Seventeen's voice was solenm and gravely and all Tien could do was nod, not knowing what else to say or do. The dark haired male suddenly brightened up however and he smiled. "Sorry. I didn't mean to get on such a despairing topic. I'm sure you didn't come here for a pity story." He turned his eyes and they lit up, catching site of a certain blue haired woman.

With Yamcha close at her heels, seeming to be talking up a storm and already making the first move.

Tien noticed his gaze on his boss and raised an eyebrow. "It's alright. I didn't mind hearing about it." The bald headed man spoke up, interupting Seventeen's daze.

"Huh? Oh yes, yes." Seventeen waved it off and turned a grinning face on Tien. "Hey, how long have you worked for Mrs.Briefs?" His random question caught Tien off guard.

"A few years. Why?"

Seventeen turned back to the woman, narrowing his eyes as Yamcha leaned down to whisper in her ear. "She's a beautiful woman. And very intelligent. A prize gem."

"Yeah, she is." Tien nodded in agreement. "It seems as though your friend has taking a liking to her."

"It'd be hard not to." Seventeen replied back with more anger then he thought he'd have. Shit, Yamcha is damn near smothering her! How the hell am I going to make my move now?

"I haven't really saw her date much." Tien drawled out, noticing the tone of Seventeen's voice. "Actually, for as long as I've known her, she's been single. Too caught up in her work. If your friend really does get her out of that phase, I'd be happy for her."

He didn't realize how wrong his words were.


Bulma took the drink Yamcha offered her with a polite smile and turned a bit towards the circle she stood in with Chichi and Eighteen. After arriving, they had introduced her face to face to everyone who she hadn't already met except for Chichi's brother, who hadn't been anywhere in sight at the time. Bulma wasn't too disappointed though, she hadn't been excited to meet the man again and suffer his sarcastic cynicism as she had before.

Unlike Chichi's brother, Yamcha had been an exceptional gentlemen. He had greeted her with a kiss on the hand, bowed slightly and called her lovely, things Bulma guessed that Vegeta would never have been caught dead doing. Yamcha's undivided attention however, annoyed her a bit. He was a nice man yeah, but she was sure he was hitting on her.

"So how long have you been here?" Yamcha asked casually refering to their topic, taking a sip from his wine. The blue haired woman stared into her cup and shrugged.

"Not long. No more then a day or so." She looked up to see that Chichi and Eighteen had drifted into their own conversation and felt a little nervous.

"Do you like it here?" Yamcha was giving her a gorgeous smile.

"Yes. It's wonderful here but very hot."

He laughed whole heartily. "Why yes, I can't disagree with you there. But you'll get used to it."

"Just like you'll get used to Yamcha here hitting on you." Came the monotone Eighteen's voice. "Haven't you ogled her enough?" This question was directed at him and, all credit due, his smile never wavered.

"Please Eighteen, couldn't I ogle a little more?" His voice was a mocking plead as he glanced at Bulma with a smirk. She felt her face burn and turned away.

Eighteen rolled her eyes and Chichi scoffed. "Mr.Charming huh?" The raven haired girl laughed then turned to Bulma. "Come on, lets go to the back away where the pool table is, away from these men."

"Sure." Bulma nodded with a smile and started to follow as they walked away before Yamcha gently grabbed her elbow.

"Sorry if I made you uncomfortable but here." He turned her palm over and scribbled numbers down on her hand. "I know the way I gave it was a little high school but please, call me anytime." That said, he gave her one last smile and walked away. Bulma frowned a little and looked at the number.

"B, you coming!?" Called her blond haired colleague.

"Oh uh, yes here I come!" She called back, pacing after them through the crowds.


Vegeta splashed more water on his face and grabbed the sides of the sink, looking up at himself. Damn, I was wasted. He though irritably, splashing more water on his face. He was in the club's bathroom, trying to wash away all the booze he had engorged earlier on. Most of the night had been a blur to him so he was more then surprised when his memory returned to one event.

"I bet you I could get her in bed before either of you."

His eyes widened. Had he really just made a bet about that? Oh shit. He splashed more water on his face and hoped his memories weren't correct.

"You're kidding." Seventeen smirked.

"Dead serious."

Fuck! Vegeta drowned his face in the sink as the water poured out.

"I'm in. Whoever gets in bed with her first, and gets proof that they did, wins."Yamcha was grinning

"Ya know what? I'm in, just because I want to see the look on your face when you lose." Seventeen laughed.

"Deal." Vegeta smirked.

He started to laugh with his head still dunked into the water and started to choke, pulling his head back out. He smirked devilishly at himself in the mirror and laughed some more until he thought his lungs must burst. Oh jeez, he had really made a bet about getting Bulma into bed with Yamcha and Seventeen when he was drunk hadn't he?

And the fools had taken it.

Another laugh erupted from Vegeta as he turned off the faucet. If they really expected to best him in this area, they were sadly mistaken. He didn't know if they had been drunken or not, but there was no way he'd let them out of this.

"Oh this is going to be good." Vegeta chuckled.

"Dream on." Yamcha countered. "So when are we starting?"

Vegeta grabbed a towel that was left abandoned next to the sink and wiped his hands and face on it.

"Right now."

His eyes widened again and he threw the towel on the ground and rushed out of the bathroom. Damn, they had already started?


"OK ladies," Goku said, picking up a pool stick and circling the table with a wide grin. "I think it's time for the master to show you how it's done." He twirled the stick too fast and it hit him in the face. "Ow!" He exclaimed, rubbing the side of his face.

Eighteen laughed and grabbed a pool stick as well, using it to prod Goku out of the way. "OK, Master, whatever you say. We get stripes?"

"Sure." Goku shrugged. Chichi grabbed her stick as well while Bulma sat back.

"Uh..guys, I-."The blue haired girl spoke up with a frown but was cut off.

"Playing pool?" Came a deep, smooth taunting voice from behind her. "Heh, just the game I was in the mood for." None other then Vegeta came walking up, brushing past the blue haired woman and taking a pool stick from the rack, walking to stand beside Goku. Bulma rolled her eyes and put hands on hips.

"Alright! I get Vegeta!" Goku exclaimed happily.

"That's exactly what we need." Eighteen said dully. "Oh mighty Vegeta, head of arrogance." She shot the widow peaked man a smirk and recieved a glare.

"Oh ha ha." He laughed sarcastically. "Keep talking blondie."

"Here B, "Chichi handed Bulma a pool stick who looked at it strangely. "Don't worry, we'll teach you how to play." Then turning to Vegeta and Goku she said, "That's the three of us versus you two. Find another player."

Goku opened his mouth to respond to her but was painfully cut off by Vegeta's pool stick slamming into his chest. "We don't need another player. Me and Kakarot can beat you three easily."

"We can?" Goku furrowed his eyebrows. Vegeta sent him a glare.

"We can." The fire haired man said through clenched teeth. Goku smiled and laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. Vegeta then turned to Bulma and smirked. "I'm sure she's an amateur am I right? It'll be more like two on two with her here." His tone made Bulma narrow her eyes and she growled lowly.

Not only was this guy as arrogant as before but it seemed as though he had somehow, gotten better at pissing people off. It should have been his profession. Well, fine, he wanted to play tough guy? Whatever.

"Yeah, I've never played before." Bulma sighed dramatically and fluttered her eyelashes. "Oh, could you show me how since you're so obviously, the best at everything and nobody can surpass you?" Eighteen and Chichi snickered at her display and Vegeta nearly narrowed his eyebrows.

"I think you've been hanging around my sister and Blondie too much. You're starting to pick up their annoying vibes." He smirked and pushed past her to the table, aligning all the balls in the triangle box. "What are we? Stripes or Solids?"

"Solid." Goku informed, leaning back on another pool table.

Vegeta smirked again and lifted up the triangle piece, all 15 balls perfectly in a triangle shape. "I'll break." He said, leaning over and postioning up his shot.

Bulma watched as he took it, the balls scattering and heading different ways and two solid colored balls landing in pockets.

"Nice one V!" Goku cheered as Vegeta gave the girls a satisfied smirk and stepped back. Eighteen, Chichi and Bulma were all looking none too thrilled as Goku stepped up to make his shot.

The overzelous, goofy haired male got none in on his however.

"Hahahaha!" Chichi taunted, sticking out her tongue as Eighteen and Bulma laughed. Vegeta's smirk vanished instantly and he glowered at Goku who gave him an apologetic glance and shrugged.

"Why don't you let the rookie go now?" Vegeta spoke up, glancing at Bulma who sent him a cool look. "I'd like to see her try to make a shot. You have to get in a striped ball, dear." He mocked with a chuckle, Goku snickering.

"Go ahead B." Eighteen said, patting her on the shoulder. "Show Mr.Stick up his ass how it's done."

"Mr.Stick up his ass? How original." Vegeta muttered. Bulma took her pool stick and stomped over to the table, bending down to look at every angle. "Haha, oh look Kakarot, she's trying to determine the difference between stripes and solids!" Vegeta suddenly exclaimed and the two guys erupted in laughter.

"Put a sock in it, would ya?" Chichi snapped. Bulma seemingly ignored them or didn't noticed as she aligned the pool stick with the table and took her shot. Every body's mouths dropped when they saw 5 of the striped balls fall in pockets. Bulma turned to Vegeta, with a glorious smirk on her lovely face.

"Beginner's luck?" She gave him a innocent look and a shrug and Vegeta clenched his teeth so hard, she thought they would shatter.

"Oh dude, she's good." Goku whispered to him, watching the girls congratulate Bulma.

"I think I know that Kakarot!"


"I think that's..." Chichi started, after standing up from making her shot. "game and...POINT!" She cheered, watching the last of the balls fall into a pocket.

"And the girls win!" Bulma laughed, highfiving each other. Vegeta sat on an adjacent pool table next to Goku, the fire haired male looking exceptionally ticked and Goku looking bored and defeated.

"We don't need another player. We can beat you three easily." Goku said in a mocking tone, referring to what Vegeta had said earlier on. "Oh yeah, we beat them easily alright!"

"Shut up!" Vegeta roared at him. "Maybe if you weren't so dimwitted, we would have won?"

"Dimwitted? You missed like 3 shots!"

"And you missed 5!" Vegeta countered.

"Now now," Chichi said, walking in front of them with a grin. "you both still lost, like it or not." She giggled at her brother's red face.

"Whatever! It was a handicap. We totally let you win." Vegeta shrugged indifferently, putting back his pool stick. Bulma's eyes flashed angrily. What? He wasn't seriously calling their win a fluke was he?

"Excuse me?" Bulma asked, walking up infron of him. "You let us win?"

"Isn't that what I said?" Vegeta sneered at her. "Besides, you conned us. If I had knew you were so good, I'd have chosen another player."

"Oh no, no, no, you assumed I was an amateur remember?Just like you assumed I didn't know my stripes from my solids right?"

"Bulma, don't waste your breath." Eighteen told her.

"Oh no. I'm sick of his attitude and he's a sore loser." Bulma stated hotly. Vegeta's eyebrows shot up.

"Sore loser?" He growled.

"Yes. Sore. Loser." The blue haired woman drawled out angrily. "Just admit we kicked your ass all up and down this pool hall."

Vgeeta snorted. "You did no such thing."

Bulma let out a frustrated growl. "You have got to be the most arrogant man I've ever seen in my life!"

"Why thank you." He smirked down at her and she rolled her eyes, shaking her head and stormed away.

"Nice going Vegeta." Chichi shot him a frown. "Could you at least be partially nice?"

"No." Vegeta told her bluntly, watching as she sighed and turned around with Eighteen to go after Bulma. Goku laughed as he came to stand beside his partner who gave him a raised eyebrow. "What's funny?"

"Oh nothing. Just noticing that she's like the only person who ever beat you in pool." Goku stated with a goofy smile.

"I don't find that funny." The widow peaked man said dryly.


Seventeen was pleasantly surprised when he ran into Bulma on his way towards the back of the club. She nearly made him spill his drink and he sighed heavily when it some of it splashed against his dress shirt.

"Oh I am so sorry!" She exclaimed instantly, a sympathetic expression crumbling into her face. "Oh jeez! I'm so clumsy! Sorry, sorry, sorry! I wasn't paying much attention. I-"

"You're sorry, I get it." Seventeen laughed. "It's okay. Not much spilled." Bulma grimaced and looked about ready to apologize again until her eyes flickered with recognition.

"Oh, you're Seventeen." She said with a small grin. "Eighteen's twin brother." She could tell by the structure of his face.

"That is me." Seventeen smiled back. "And you are Bulma, Eighteen's boss. I've believed we've already met before."

"Oh yeah, of course. I was just surprised to run into you." Her eyes trailed back to the stain on his shirt and grimaced again. "And run into you, I did."

"Haha, about that, were you in a rush or something? You stormed past me like a hurricane."

"Sorry...I was just um, a little mad and I wasn't paying attention." She waved it away with a small blush.

"Hmm." Seventeen nodded. "So, how are you enjoying yourself?"

"Oh fine." Bulma replied, grinning. "You're sister and Chichi have been so kind to me and the others have too. It's been rather fun." Her thoughts traveled back to Vegeta and she frowned.

"Good, good. Hey, would you like a drink? It's on me." Seventeen offered casually. Better not push too hard. She seemed to ponder on that for a moment and then shrugged, seeing no harm done coming from it.

"Sure. Why not?" She followed Seventeen across the club to the counter at the bar.


XD Look at that! They're all getting a chance at her! Oo Who here thinks Vegeta isn't coming at her so good? But, hey, that's our Veggie and you know his technique! Kinda ironic that the one who's suppose to win is starting out lousy huh? xDDD Review please? If you do, I'll give you candy! :D

-D4