Sky-Kaiser reporting in...

Alright, I really don't have anything on my mind going into me writing this chapter, except that I really hope this COVID-19 crap gets done quick, and my laptop can get fixed.

Now, for comments...

Midnite93, I can assure you, Yamcha will not stay unhappy at all. And actually... your answer on what Yamcha will do next is... actually pretty accurate! Stay tuned.

Dragonballaca, I agree with you. I feel like the last chapter's ending was a bit half-assed. I might go back and fix that part of the story, but for now, I gotta work on the upcoming chapters.

Johncorn, I'm glad you're enjoying things! Stick around!

Shisoukengo... I agree with you. I just feel like Goku as a whole would be trying to argue why they need Trunks. Wasn't necessarily trying to have him come off as a jerk, but rather not completely thinking of how everyone feels about the situation. I was trying to have Gohan be symphathetic though... but maybe it didn't work. Like I said, I may very well take a step back and just change the ending to that chapter to just Yamcha returning to Capsule Corp and thinking things over, deciding on his own what he must do next. Or maybe I'll modify the scene a little to come off as more genuine.

And TheGodfather93, I'm glad I piqued your curiosity with this fic, and I agree. Vegebul is sone of the most forced and unoriginal BS in the series, and really, it shouldn't have happened. I like it a little better now, but not by much considering it was just another way to shaft my boy Yamcha. And I'm sorry if the "overly-descriptive" parts aren't to your liking, but I kinda like telling the story as if, up to that point, we never saw them before, so I have to describe them, as if I'm writing them. Hopefully this won't perturb you too much.

Right, then... I've wasted enough time. Let's get going.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Z Kai, Dragon Ball Super, or Dragon Ball GT. That is the property of Funimation, Toei Animation, Fuji TV, Shueisha, and Akira Toriyama.

Chapter 9: Seperate Focuses


It was sunset when Yamcha came back home. Bulma, as predicted, was furious with Yamcha for leaving so prematurely at the Northern Wastelands. She yelled at Yamcha for a whole 10 minutes for leaving her to be carried by 'that Saiyan bastard.' Yamcha let her vent, then went back to his bedroom.

Puar was fast asleep, curled into a furry, pale blue ball on his bed, so he dared not wake her. Instead he stroked her mildly, and the cat purred, her tail twitching as she smiled in her sleep.

Yamcha grinned for the first time since he'd spoken to Goku about... that. Then he sat down on the bedside, attempting to puzzle out how he should deal with this.

A boy from the future named Trunks has said he was the son of Vegeta and Bulma. Then when he told Goku that he knew, his oldest friend went ahead and told him that he (Yamcha) couldn't interfere between the two. If he did, Trunks would fade from existence.

And now here he was. He was still trying to wrap his head around how anyone could fall for Vegeta of all people.

It didn't help that, after he asked himself that, he had a very disturbing image of Bulma under the covers of her bed with the very same Saiyan Prince.

It was like watching a terrifying movie about a real life event to Yamcha, and it still racked his brain. He couldn't accept it. He didn't want to, and yet because of it, he had a very cold feeling in his chest at all times, like his insides had been in a freezer.

Contrary to what Bulma sometimes thought about him, Yamcha would never betray her. She was the first - and only - girlfriend he'd ever had. And he wanted her to be the only one. He was too scared of heartbreak.

From Day One, Yamcha had dreamed of having a family. A life where he had found the woman of his dreams and settled down with her. And for the longest time, that seemed to be Bulma Briefs. She even invited him to live at her place shortly after they ended up together. He got to move out of that hole in the desert, and live life like he never had. But he could care less about living conditions. He was happier with simply being near such a lovely lady.

But love, it seemed, wasn't all it cracked out to be. The threat of cheating always presented itself, but Bulma had weaponized that accusation against him.

And true, there was the threat of other women. But Yamcha would never succumb to another lady. He might freeze up and be unable to run away because he was just bad at talking to women he didn't know, but he'd never cheat.

Then of course, the threat of other men...

...like Vegeta.

Why would she betray him for that monster of a man? What had he ever done to deserve his girlfriend cheating on her for... for someone like him?

Well, as he'd told Maron earlier today... Bulma had a fetish for bad boys. And Yamcha used to be that bad boy. But maybe he'd changed too much and become too nice.

Or maybe, he wasn't as much a "bad boy" as Vegeta.

'That sounds about right...' Yamcha thought to himself. 'Even after the longest time being with me, she still can't take her eyes off other guys. And they're always villains... like I used to be when I stole from people in the desert.'

Though... she wouldn't actually ditch him? Usually whenever there was a bad guy that Bulma drooled for, they'd either die or they'd just never run into them again.

But Vegeta was staying in the same house... and he would be here for 3 years until they took care of the Androids. Then Vegeta would try and kill Goku one last time, only to be inevitably killed himself. Yamcha knew that was the only way it would go down.

A lot could happen in three years, however. And that was what scared Yamcha the most.

But Yamcha believed that if he truly loved Bulma, then he would trust her not to go anywhere near Vegeta. Or at least not consent if he tried anything with her.

That was why he'd ultimately made a decision.

He was going to leave Capsule Corp. At least for a while.

"I'll just leave it to fate, I guess..." Yamcha told himself aloud. "If Bulma still wants me, that'll be that. I can't do anything about what Goku said, but... maybe if these three years go by and... Bulma hasn't gone after Vegeta... maybe it'll all work out."

Nodding on this premise, he sat back up. And he walked into the closet of his room, pulling out a travel bag. He started to take things off his shelf and place them in...

'Sorry, Bulma...' Yamcha thought to himself as he trimmed his room of his valuables and such. 'I need to get ready for these Androids. And maybe after that's done... if you're still there for me... we'll see.'

20 minutes later, all of his belongings - not much - had been packed into his bag. But he was just picking up Puar when the door opened, and there was Bulma.

Yamcha tensed at the sight of her in that tight, red dress with orange stripes... and that adorable afro... she was so beautiful, and yet... he couldn't.

"Yamcha, look," said Bulma, taking a breath. "I'm sorry I yelled at you earlier, you didn't deserve that. You had baseball practice, and I need to get over the fact that you can't be here all the time. So I wanted to make up... for..."

She trailed off as she noticed how void Yamcha's room was, and how he was standing there with Puar and a duffel bag over his shoulder. Her expression changed to confusion.

"What is...? Are you leaving?" Bulma asked, eyes wide with disbelief. "Why?!"

"Bulma," Yamcha spoke up at last, deciding to tell her the truth. "I need to start training for the Androids. No offense, but I can't do that here... so I'm going to Kame House. At least for now."

"What?!" Bulma was beside herself. "This isn't about earlier, is it?! Are you mad at me for some reason?" Her expression changed again, this time to irritation. "Or is it something else? This looks suspicious, Yamcha!"

"Bulma, I can't get ready for the Androids and spend time with you," Yamcha replied, raising his voice a bit. "I'm sorry, but I need to get prepared. Like, now."

"Wait, you don't have to go now!" Bulma told him. "Look, I came here to make up for that day when Vegeta... ruined the mood a week ago..."

"Huh?"

"C'mon, Yamcha," Bulma soothed, advancing on Yamcha. She placed her slender hands on the duffel bag to make him lower it before continuing. "I'll at least... let you take charge before you go..."

Yamcha felt his body going rigid as Bulma moved her face towards his, looking for a kiss... but Yamcha grasped the hand on his duffel bag and lowered it.

"I'm sorry, Bulma..."

No more words after that. He ran, duffel bag and cat in hand, towards the window. He quickly lifted it open, bounding out the window and taking flight before Bulma could react!

"What the-?! No! Don't go! Yamcha, come back!"

Bulma ran to the open window, watching as Yamcha soared off into the sunset, across the outlying West City. The turquoise-haired woman stared with confusion and worry as her boyfriend disappeared. She was so shocked that she completely forgot to have any measure of rage directed towards the man who'd just left.

"Why are you leaving...?" she whispered as he vanished from her sight over the horizon.


Kame House...

The setting sun spread its color upon the ocean, casting a captivating orange glow across the wavy, deep blue as the day looked to come to an end. And within the orange line of light was the small island where the home of Master Roshi stood upon its small island in the middle of the ocean.

On the shore, Krillin was resting on a foldable, reclining chair reading a magazine he borrowed from Master Roshi. Since his breakup with Maron, he had returned to simply gazing at other women in fine print. He was very much resigned to it by this point, the seperation had taken a heavy toll on him.

The sound of ki in the air made Krillin look up... which was a mistake because that necessitated him looking directly into the sun. Grunting in agitation, Krillin closed his eyes and shook his head, then shaded them with his hands so he could look again. He now recognized Yamcha, carrying a duffel bag on his shoulder, and a sleeping Puar in his free arm.

"Huh? Yamcha?" Krillin spoke up. He quickly sat up on the reclining chair to get a better look, confirming that it was him. "Yamcha, is that you?"

"Hey, Krillin," replied Yamcha, sighing heavily. "Master Roshi's here, right?"

"Well, yeah, but..." Krillin was more focused on why Yamcha was carrying all his stuff with him, like he had been ejected from his home or had moved out. "Yamcha, I'm a little lost! Why are you here with all your luggage, I mean, did you and Bulma-?"

But Yamcha wasn't necessarily focused on Krillin anymore... he was focused on the whereabouts of his old master. Surprisingly, as Krillin followed him up the shore to the door, he was greeted instantly by the old Turtle Hermit himself. Elderly, bone-thin, bald, a large white beard, and beach shades with red rims, much like the ones Yamcha had seen Goku with earlier.

"Well, Yamcha!" said Master Roshi. "I guess ya already know Goku's back? Just popped outta nowhere earlier today, and stole mah glasses! I thought I'd seen a ghost for a split sec!"

"Yeah, I saw him today," Yamcha replied without much emotion, not even taking the time to wonder how or why Roshi's shades were stolen; he hadn't been there to see it. "Master, can I come in?"

"Hm? Oh, sure..."

Master Roshi sidestepped to allow Yamcha into the front door. The bandit made a beeline for the couch, where he plopped down on it and took a deep sigh.

"Yamcha, what's going on?" asked Krillin, coming back inside and looking distressed. "Did something happen between you and Bulma? She kicked you out, I'll bet!"

Yamcha decided to lie.

"Well..." Yamcha began to start up slowly, before continuing. "...we did fight, but I left on my own accord. Said I had to get ready for the Androids. So, yeah... we're kinda having a time out on our relationship..."

"Breaking up is hard to do, Yamcha," replied Master Roshi in a sage tone. "Maybe it's for the best that ya move on."

"Like you would know what that's like," murmured a snarky Krillin under his breath. Yamcha caught that and noticed the snide sarcasm in his voice that Roshi either failed to notice, or simply chose to ignore. It seemed Krillin was still dealing with the backlash of his own break-up with Maron, one that he initiated.

"Well, no, I never said I was breaking up with Bulma," Yamcha told Roshi. "I've just decided that maybe I need to be a little more focused on these Androids. I mean, you don't mind me crashing here for a while, do you?"

"Not at all, I just tend to find it sudden," the old master replied. "If you're really stayin', you can have the guest room upstairs."

"Thanks, Master," Yamcha told him in thanks. "My guess is I'll be here for a while... at least until we beat these Androids..."

But again, as Yamcha got up off the couch to head upstairs (Krillin and Roshi still looked very much confused), he doubted even that. The whole situation between him and his girlfriend had left him so uneasy and insecure that he hadn't thought about how he was going to prepare.

'I'll get there when I get there,' Yamcha reprimanded himself in his mind. 'I'll brainstorm later... I'm just too tired for that.'

Yamcha reached the guest bedroom shortly after, putting down his bag and setting the still sleeping Puar on the edge of the bed. He really needed to lay down after today.

This bad news about Bulma cheating on her for Vegeta was going to haunt him for a while, that was for certain. And after having talked all about it to outside parties, he began to consider... was he truly going to move on so quickly? Yamcha had never found it much his style to just jump into a relationship... mostly because he never had. Bulma was his only relationship, and she was the one who started it... Yamcha only went along because she wanted that "perfect boyfriend."

Was he really Bulma's perfect boyfriend, though, if Vegeta was going to take her some time in the next three years?

But that was actually part of the reason why he was staying away from Capsule Corp right about now... if he really was Bulma's perfect boyfriend, she'd stay loyal, right?

In theory...

And what if it didn't work out? Did he just allow himself to have a one-night stand with Hasky? It sounded nice, but Yamcha didn't want a soulless relationship that was just sex. Those were the thoughts of a man who only thought about pleasure...

Then Maron came to mind.

He'd been speaking with her for the past week... what of her? She was suffering from bad boyfriends herself, much like he was possibly dealing with a bad girlfriend... she was obviously looking for love, unlike the last time they'd seen her, in which she was mostly an air-headed bimbo. Apparently having bad flings with other men after losing her "best boyfriend" made her wiser...

What if Maron and him...?

No... he had more important things to worry about than his love life. If Bulma didn't fool around, they'd get back to where they were before. If not... whatever. Androids were now. Girls, later.

Puar was still snoozing soundly, which caught Yamcha's endearment. Stroking her soft blue fur one last time, Yamcha bid her goodnight under his breath, and pulled the covers over his head, eager to get some rest.

Whilst he drifted off to sleep, the desert bandit idly wondered... where was Maron, anyways?


West City, a local diner...

Maron, by the contrary, had just pulled up at her favorite place to eat in the city: a small restaurant not far from the store she worked as cashier for. It wasn't the fanciest eating place, but Maron was particularly fond of their sundaes. And tonight, she'd been called by two friends of hers.

She was met by the first one at the door: a girl with pale skin, bushy blue hair, big eyes of the same color, and a red ribbon in her hair. She wore rather revealing clothes, consisting of a green midriff tank-top, yellow short shorts, red gloves, and matching shoes with green socks.

"Oh, Maron..." the girl said in a soft, kindly tone.

"Hey, Launch!" chirped Maron. "How's the mailman job?"

"Well... good!" replied Launch, smiling almost bashfully. "I get around, get to meet lots of people... it's quite fun. And you?"

"Still stuck at the general store," Maron complained. "Nowhere close to fulfilling my lifelong dream as a supermodel..."

"Oh, don't worry, Maron," replied Launch softly. "You don't have to be famous to have friends..."

Maron cocked her eyebrow.

"What I mean is," Launch amended, "at least you have friends here!"

"I know, Launch," sighed Maron, deciding she wanted to switch the topic. "Hungry?"

"Yes, very!"

Maron and her friend walked inside, the blunette with lighter-colored hair having a skip in her step, and the darker-haired girl walking normally. Business was in full-swing tonight, with many seats having been taken. Maron noticed an empty table, which she led Launch to.

Just as they were sitting down, one of the waitresses took notice and, after having served the grub she currently had on her to a waiting customer, walked over to the countertop.

The woman in question was quite beautiful, with pale complexion, flowing, brownish-red hair and narrow - though large - onyx-colored eyes.

"Becca," the redhead told a black-haired girl at the register. "Tell the boss I'll be taking a break soon. My friends are here."

The girl named Becca nodded and walked away from the register, while the unidentified waitress removed her apron and hat, and walked over to the table.

"Ladies," she purred in an almost flirtatious tone that caused Launch to go red in an unnerved manner.

"Glad you could make it to the party, Raven!" Maron chirped. "Hopefully you weren't keeping us waiting?"

"Maron's n-not trying to be r-rude or anything," explained Launch defensively. "It's just..."

"I know," Raven scoffed dismissively as she seated herself next to Launch. "Good to see you two."

"I'm happy that we're finally getting a chance to hang out here again," Maron told them. "Launch with her new job, and me trying to cope with the first solid job I've had in a year."

"Because you keep depending on the rich guys you date to keep you supported..." Raven said under her breath.

"Hey!" Maron complained. "I haven't dated anyone for 6 whole months! I told you, I'm having a dry spell."

"Really?" Raven shook her head. "Maron, I figured you'd have met someone new. Better than Devin or Tommie or Mack. You need to cast your line out again. Not every man you catch is gonna bite you."

"The fish metaphor again?" Maron drawled.

"I could come up with a horse metaphor," Raven suggested. "But it'd just sound dirty."

"Please no," Launch implored quietly.

"What?" Raven asked, smiling.

"So!" Maron spoke up in a chipper tone. "What's been going on in your neck of the woods, Rae?"

"Nothing much," Raven admitted. "One of my co-workers got sacked a week ago, but that's hardly world-shattering. You hardly know the other girls. Then again, you're just here for the food... and me."

"Because you're our friend, Raven!" replied Maron sweetly.

"Really?" Raven grinned. "You make me feel so special..."

Unaware of how her friend seemed to be eyeing her up, Maron decided to let her account of the day out.

"Well as for me," Maron told her and Launch. "I am starting to get a raise in pay by 10 dollars! I think the boss really likes me! He never gives anyone else that big a pay. And a week ago, I ran into an old friend..."

"Who?" Launch inquired.

"Oh, you wouldn't know him, I'm sure," Maron laughed, waving her hand dismissively. "I'm not dating him, but God... he's such a hunk! Long messy hair, tan skin, handsome face, chiseled, scars... and he's a martial artist, if I remember correctly! He looks like something out of a kung-fu movie, you know?"

"Wow, that does sound hot!" Raven commented, leaning across the table, eyes sparkling with interest. "How long have you known him?"

"I met him almost a year ago," giggled Maron. "I was dating his friend, who wasn't nearly as attractive... but I liked that guy because he was nice. This other guy I've been speaking to, he's nice too... but he's kinda shy when we talk. He's always blushing, see..."

"Hmm..." Launch seemed to be in thought. "Handsome... martial artist... scars... shy... that sounds familiar, but I can't put my finger on it."

"Heh, I met a guy kinda like what you're telling us," Raven told Maron. "Almost a decade ago. We were having a... debate, and he grabbed my boob by mistake. He didn't know I was a woman until he did that... then he got all red and shy. He was absolutely adorable. What was his name? I can't even remember."

"Well, I doubt it was someone we all knew," Maron laughed. "I mean, it's not like all these guys could've been called 'Yamcha', and be the same person..."

"Maron?!" Launch gaped!

"Hold up, that's right! The man I met was named Yamcha!" Raven started up, standing on the table! "Maron, you knew this guy and you didn't tell us?"

A silence followed, where Maron stared blankly at her redhead friend like a child trying to learn basic words.

"Oh, come on," said Maron. "I really doubt it could've been the same person! I mean, I bet there are plenty of guys named Yamcha out there."

"Maron?"

"Yeah, Launch?"

"I... knew a guy named Yamcha, too."

There was a very long silence at the table, where Maron, Launch and Raven were very quiet and very dumbfounded.

"You can't know him!" Maron objected loudly, standing up suddenly. "If you knew him, you'd have to know his girlfriend is-!"

"Bulma Briefs," Launch replied.

"Wait, that was Bulma?!" Raven shouted. "I remember a girl with turquoise hair with the guy I met! But that was Bulma Briefs, the boss girl at Capsule Corp?!"

"HOW DO WE ALL KNOW YAMCHA?!" shrieked Maron in a fit of surprise!

"Hey, quiet down! We're trying to eat here!"

Maron went deep red and looked in the seat behind her, swapping gazes with a large, burly man with blonde hair, a thick mustache, and brown eyes sternly staring back at her. He was with a small, slender woman with flowing, platinum hair and cerulean blue eyes. And next to her, a 6-year-old girl with short hair matching her father's, and the eyes of her mother's.

"S... Sorry..." Maron peeped, sitting back down and looking mortified.

"Who was that, Daddy?" Maron heard the little girl behind her say.

"No one we know, Erasa," the woman told the child. "They won't be loud anymore, OK?"

There was a silence at the table that the three beautiful women sat at, all of them looking quite thrown off.

The silence was broken when Maron cleared her throat and pointed at Launch.

"Launch. Answers. Now."

"You mean, how I know Yamcha?" the navy blue-haired girl squeaked. "I-I... well, I... you see..."

"She's not gonna bite your head off, sweetheart," Raven told her. "We just wanna know some stuff. I kinda wanna know myself, given how I didn't know you knew this man, either."

"Oh... well... ahem." Launch shook her head. "Me and Yamcha... well, we go way back. But... I was more associated with his friend, Goku. It's been... how long since we saw each other? 10... no, 11 years! Since the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament. It's been so long."

"I can't believe this!" scoffed Maron. "You knew Yamcha, and you didn't say anything?"

"It never came up until now!" Launch replied in defense.

"Hey, now," said Raven calmly. "I think we can say we're all surprised now that we all know the truth. Weird enough how we all happen to know a really handsome guy, but maybe more so that it never came up until now."

"This is eerie..." Launch whispered. "So... Yamcha is... is still with Bulma, hopefully?"

Maron gulped down the wad of saliva in her throat before reconsisting herself.

"Y-Yeah..." Maron replied. She was still processing the fact that her two friends knew this guy she was friends with. "But he's... having trouble..."

"Trouble?" Raven purred. "As in trouble in paradise? Maybe you should reintroduce us to him, and I could help him out?"

"I doubt he'll learn anything from someone so straightforward as you," said Maron sassily.

"I bet I could teach him more than you think," Raven replied back. "Maybe I could teach you if you'd let me."

"Raven, I love you, but not that way," said Maron dismissively.

"Hey, don't get the wrong idea... yet," Raven trilled.

"So..." Launch piped up, curious. "How well do you know Yamcha?"

"I mean," Maron went red as she spoke, "I mean, when we first met, I teased him a little about how cute he was. I even said we should go out some time. But... I wasn't really serious. I was dating his friend at the time. Launch, I'm guessing you know Krillin?"

"Oh, yes!" chirped Launch. Then the big eyes of the bushy-haired blunette went wide. "You...? You dated Krillin?"

"Yeah, for about a month or so," answered Maron. "Best month of my life... but then he just broke it off..."

"Maron, why didn't you tell me about it?" Launch inquired.

"I didn't know you knew him, too!" Maron defended. "I didn't know either of you actually met anyone who knew Yamcha!" she added, pointing at Raven. "I mean, you knew him!"

"Hey, I only met the man like... once," Raven told her. "And back then, I only heard his name said like once or twice. I didn't think that I'd be hearing about him again until I heard he'd become a baseball player for the West City Titans. And now I hear my friends knew him personally? Shock to hear your two besties are friends with a celebrity..."

"I don't think I know Yamcha as much as Launch..." Maron told them. "In fact, I bet she's known Krillin longer than me... maybe even been with him..."

"No, nothing like that." Launch waved her hand. "But you're right, I have know Krillin a long time... I met him and Goku the same day, you see." She then looked back and forth in a suspicious manner before lowering the volume of her voice dramatically. "This was when... when 'Bad Me' was on one of her outings."

That caught their notice. Maron and Raven had known Launch a few years now, long enough to know what happened whenever she sneezed.

"Anyways," Launch continued, "they brought me to live with their old master, Roshi. Kind man, but he really likes women. As in a lot."

"That old man?! Launch, don't tell me he grabbed your rack!"

"Why, he grabbed your rack?!"

"Wow," commented Raven on the side.

"Not on purpose!" Maron explained, though now flustered. "He was reaching his hand out, and..."

"Changing subject!" Launch squeaked. "OK, maybe this is out of nowhere, but... Maron, you and Yamcha... how exactly... ahem... close are you two? As in now?"

"If you're asking if we're dating, no!" Maron replied with a laugh. "Like I said, I'm taking a break from all that!"

But then the possibility of her strolling down the street with a confident, strong Yamcha carrying all her many accessories from the mall came to mind. And then she started daydreaming of her walking down the beach with the man, imagining his chiseled features and sturdy frame...

"Maron?" Raven snapped her fingers. "Hey, Blu. Sweetie. Wake up. We get that it's fun dreaming about Yamcha, but there are two girls talking to ya."

"I wasn't imagining me strolling down the beach with Yamcha and thinking about his muscles!"

The rather pronounced emphasization of Maron's denial, combined with her nervous attitude, gave her absolutely no help in masking her secret.

"Hey, I don't blame ya," said Raven. "Cute guy like that, dames should be breaking his door down. I'd be one of them, but you seem pretty lovesick."

"I am not lovesick!" Maron shouted, but not so loud that they'd end up ticking off the family in the seat nearby. "That would imply that I daydream about him and imagine him naked and wonder what it'd be like to lose my virginity to him and how nice it'd feel to be next to him after a heartfelt confession and oh my God, I'm lovesick."

"Mm-hmm," Raven purred. "Got you."

Launch, having had the thought of a naked Yamcha put in her mind, had gone so red she looked as though her head would soon turn into an apple!

"No, he's with that mean lady Bulma, I can't do anything about that!" Maron shot back. "Even if I am younger, hotter, and cuter than she is, he's in a relationship, and I can't do anything about that!"

"What if they broke up?" Raven asked. "What would you do then?"

Maron paused, and the gears in her head started to crank as she began to ponder such a situation...

"Won't they just make up and get back together?" Maron asked, failing to see Raven's point. "Yamcha said he'd been going out with her since... since they were teens!"

"Maron," Launch piped up meekly, "I think what Raven means is that you could date Yamcha if he's broken up with Bulma..."

"But..."

But the moment that possibility dipped into Maron's thoughts, she was once again in La-La Land with Yamcha, imagining how... well-built...

"Well, you don't need much motivation, do you?" Raven observed. "My, my, your thoughts magnetize to a hot guy like him so quick... you have great taste."

"I wasn't thinking about Yamcha!" yapped Maron in defense. "I was thinking about-!"

"Climbing on top of him and riding him like a horse?"

"No! Raven, take your mind out of the gutter!"

"Just kidding, darling!" Raven teased. "But in all honesty, if you're really thinking that much about him..."

"...which I wasn't..." Maron interjected.

"You were..." Raven shot back with slight tone. "...then maybe you should think about how long he'll be available when he breaks up with his current girl."

"Why?"

"I think Raven's saying that if they break up again," Launch spoke up, "you'll have a chance to..."

"Drag that handsome sucker into bed and milk him for every ounce of-"

"NO!" Launch squeaked, shoving a laughing Raven. "Ignore her, Maron... the whole point of what Raven's telling you is that if Yamcha happens to break up with Bulma, that could be your opportunity to find love in him." Launch flashed her an encouraging smile. "You do like him, right? I should know, he's a really nice man."

"I... well, this would be saying..."

"I suggest getting straight to the point," Raven interrupted. "Grab him. And take him."

"I'm not some amazon, Rae," said Maron uneasily. "I at least try to get to know the guy before we start dating..."

"Maron, you just aren't doing it right, then," the redhead told her, cutting her off. "I think it's high-time an adorable girl like you finally became a woman. You need to get that man for yourself. Not today. Not tomorrow. Now."

"I..."

"But if you don't like that idea," Raven added casually, "I can just set up a fight between you and Bulma."

"Raven, I can't fight!" Maron complained. "You know I don't fight! I'll get my illustrious blue hair tangled, and I'll get ugly splotchy bruises! And that's not attractive at all!"

"Then I guess you're outta luck, huh?" Raven sighed. "Apparently there's no point in-"

"No!" Maron cried out abruptly.

Launch and Raven jumped a bit, eyes blinking and wide. Maron went red at her outburst... then she peeked over behind her seat, apologized to the family sitting behind them once again, then sat back down.

"I mean..." Maron's index fingers pressed against each other. "I mean, I do kinda sorta wanna... get to know Yamcha better, but not in that way. But... there is something that's kinda sorta maybe... keeping... me..."

"Did no one like you or something?" Launch asked.

"Well, it's not that, it's just..." Maron's eyes darted back and forth. "I'm scared of that Bulma... and this other girl they hung out with... Chi-Chi?"

"Oh, you met Chi-Chi, too?" said Launch. "Well, Chi-Chi... can be a little much... you knew her, too?"

"I think I made them both mad whenever I was around..." Maron explained. "I think they were jealous of me, but I don't really remember. But they're scary, and I think they could beat me up!"

"Can't you just learn self-defense or something, beautiful?" Raven asked. "I doubt a spoiled brat running a megacorp has anything for you other than a slap to the face. One good class, you could flatten her, I'm sure."

"Raven!" Launch blurted out. "We're not gonna get Maron to hit someone! Besides, even if she did, Chi-Chi... you never met her, but she's really strong! She'd lay Maron out with one hit! Maybe she needs a friend to go with her instead!"

"You'd do that?"

"Of course! I think it'd be nice to see everyone again, after all!"

Maron's confidence re-constituted at last, and she sighed in relief. She would then abruptly lean over the table to give Launch a big hug!

"Thank-you-Launch-I-was-so-scared-but-you're-coming-now-so-thank-you!"

"Ooh!" Launch exclaimed. "Oh, OK, hugs..." She promptly returned the embrace before letting go quickly, then turned to Raven. "Hey, maybe you should come with, Raven. I don't think you've met Yamcha's crew. They're all a really nice bunch."

"Do you even have a time as to when you're going to see them, though?" asked Raven. "Or at what event? Because you sound like everything's set when it really isn't."

Maron and Launch traded glances, then turned back to Raven.

And then Raven turned a mischievous grin of her own towards Maron. Launch confusedly looked at Raven's face before acknowledging Maron's puzzlement.

"What?" Maron asked.

"Sweetheart..." Raven purred. "I think you need to set up a date with your man."

"Yamcha's not my man!" whined Maron.

"Not yet," Raven interrupted again, leaning over the table to put her fingers up to Maron's lips. "What do you say, should we doll you up for some rendezvous for a fancy restaurant? Or...?"

"Raven, you think too forward!" squeaked Launch. "Maron, what you do with Yamcha is up to you. But maybe you could talk to him about us?"

"Uh, um... OK," Maron stuttered. "Gimme a minute, I need to think about how I'm gonna talk to him..."

"He's just another person," purred Raven. "Just talk to him like anyone else would."

"But..."

'...he is special...'

Feeling a massive pang of embarrassment in her bowels, Maron shifted around in her seat, trying to find the words to explain why he couldn't. But she ultimately failed because Raven asked, "But what?" Maron knew at that time that she had no way out.

"OK..." Maron conceded. "I'll... I'll talk to him and see-"

"Thank you, Maron!"

Launch immediately hugged her afterwards, leaving Maron looking to the side and feeling very embarrassed. And it wasn't because of the hug. It was because of what she was now about to be pressed into doing. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been as flustered. But now?

'I chose now of all times to suddenly start crushing on another hunky dude?' Maron groaned inwardly. 'How am I gonna talk to Yamcha without dissolving into blushes now?!'

Maron cursed Yamcha in her mind for being so cute. And for good measure, cursed Launch and Raven for bringing her crush to light.

'Let's just hope I don't melt next time I see him...'


OK, I'm so sorry if this took longer to crank out than I wanted, but obviously I had to modify history a little bit in order to add Raven (or as some know her, Pasta) from Curse of the Blood Rubies into the canon, since the events of that movie would completely nix Pilaf, Shu and Mai from existence.

Yes, she's a former treasure hunter, and yes, she's met Yamcha. But the grounds on which they met were completely different. Rather, Raven met Yamcha during the 5-year gap between Goku's marriage to Chi-Chi and Raditz's arrival on Earth. And indeed, the Blood Rubies were involved. I've decided that I'll write a one-shot in the future regarding Yamcha's encounter with Raven about the Blood Rubies. In fact, I might write a whole prequel fanfiction regarding the debacle regarding the Saiyans and Frieza as the prologue of this particular story, but again, that will be much later.

Anyways, I'm so glad to be done, and to be over the writer's block. I promise I'll get the next chapter out much sooner. Might've been crap at writing the women, but... I wanted Maron to maintain her usual ditzy air while not being a complete and utter moron, while Launch was something of the mostly meek and quiet individual as Good Launch, and Raven is the sort of out-going "big sis" type gal, since we never really got more from Raven's persona in the movie other than that she was a treasure hunter.

I'll be getting back to updating soon, hopefully. I really shouldn't have let this something of a hiatus go like this, so that's my bad. But I'll make up for it, I promise.

Thanks to Childhood Enigma for helping me write this!

Until then, I will be seeing you next time.

Sky-Kaiser signing out.