A/N: Hello! I know it has been a long time since I last posted anything, but I have been bouncing between overworked at work and struggling at home with an over 100 degree fever. Just barely getting this update in this morning, but I think you all will enjoy it, even if chapter 11 wasn't appreciated that much. Without further ado though, a new arc has finally begun, it is time that the rest of the Z Fighters finally meet Gohan's new bodyguard. Last time, on Gohan's Blonde Future, in an attempt to cool herself down, Eighteen only managed to heat things up more than she could ever imagine! Her latent feelings for her protectee and the man she used to battle against in the future reaching a breaking point, perhaps she was lucky that Bulma arrived when she did. The Capsule Corp. heiress letting her blonde guest know exactly how she felt about her overflowing endowments; all ended well with the return of Eighteen's clothes with the added bonus that now they can self repair as well. Redressed and with her stress levels at an all time low, what could possibly happen as Eighteen makes her way to Gohan and the other Z Fighters, find out today on the latest installment of, Gohan's Blonde Future!
Capsule Corp.:
Pearl necklace shaking around her neck as she made her way down the many interconnecting hallways of the main Capsule Corp. building, Eighteen was yet to see anyone since Bulma had left her to get dressed, but that didn't mean she couldn't tell where they all were, "Hmmm, so I guess everyone's gone outside..." She said to herself as her black high heeled shoes with their matching orange socks stepped from the pink carpet of Bulma's residential area to the main super structure's plain tile again, "...Funny, they all seemed much more powerful while I was fighting Seventeen earlier..." Checking through her memory banks, the blonde was surprised to see that indeed she was correct, evidently all of the so called Z Warriors were able to lower their power signatures at will to avoid being found or just to blend in with regular animals.
"...Interesting...that must have been how Gohan and that brat, Trunks managed to evade us for so long..." Keeping on her way along the narrow corridors, the further along she went it seemed that the more she seemed to smell the outdoors, but then that couldn't have been the case, she was heading towards the center of the complex, "...Well, wherever I'm heading that is where Gohan is, so that's where I need to be..." Checking her internal radar there were seven unique signatures popping up for her, two of them she knew for sure, the smallest was Bulma since she was not actually a fighter, and then Gohan's stood out as special so she could find him right away, "...And then the others...Goku, Krillin, Yamcha, and then the two he brought along with him..."
That had to be it, because there were no other ones that she could detect nearby, perhaps a faint echo of one, but it was likely just an asteroid or something similar burning up in orbit, "...So six men and one woman...sounds like Seventeen's worst nightmare..." Smirking inwardly at her own little joke, it was annoying, just as she had gotten the upper hand once again her brother had fled, not that it mattered much to her though, chasing after him with her clothes falling apart was not an option, "...Besides, Gohan was safe...and unless he's about to die I am not fighting buck naked..." The golden bracelet on her left wrist jingling with her every step, the power signatures were getting larger, she knew before long she'd be back with them, and then they could figure out what to do next.
"...Fighting naked...though that's probably the last thing I want to do around here..." That thought sticking in her head, perhaps if the whole gang was like Gohan such a problem wouldn't be so bad, she had it on good authority the kid would duck and cover his eyes if he so much as got the impression he would see a girl in an indecent way, "...Although it seems to bounce between two extremes around here..." On one side there was Gohan, and if genes was any sort of indicator likely his father in their almost complete disregard to the female anatomy, and then on the opposite was Yamcha, Krillin, and the Demon King Roshi, if that file name was anything to go by, "...Blind or Pervert sound about right..."
Mulling everyone over in her mind, there was no doubting the fact that all of them were good, apart from the Demon King whom lived on a small island off the coast of West City, as bad as they were, Yamcha and Krillin seemed like decent enough men, "...I can't exactly blame Baldy for trying to look down my shirt...although the other one..." If she had killed a man for how many cheesy pick up lines the blonde had heard in her life, she would have to add Seventeen's kill count onto hers. Even repeating the ones the short haired martial artist had used made her want to bash his head through the table like Bulma had, "...An Eighteen out of ten...hmmm, I probably would have given him credit for that one if he hadn't followed it up with a joke about my breasts..." Scanning through her files on the man, if a few bad pick up lines were all she had to put up with from him she could handle his company.
Although if he ever got the balls to try beyond that...doing a quick simulation in her head there was indeed, like Krillin, no combat blocker in place for the former bandit, "...I guess there's no sympathy for ex boyfriends with Bulma..." Smiling the further in she looked, the blonde decided to dig a little further into Krillin's bio section to see just what it was that was keeping him from having a mental shield in place for her not to kill him, and after a few minutes she found both reasons, "...Mmm...so apart from the likelihood that he'll probably die no matter what I do..." Rolling her eyes at that slightly callous summary of the small man's combat experiences in the past, her eyebrows went up when she read over the second reason, "...And then...when they were younger he pulled Bulma's tube top down exposing her bare breasts to the...Demon King..."
Arching one brow at the continued reference to this third pervert by that name she couldn't figure out why he was called that, the character now known as Piccolo formerly having such a title, that being said though, "...Heh...Suddenly I don't blame you for it one bit, Bulma..." The android smirked to herself as she continued towards the exit doors, the rather detailed description of that one of the many of Bulma's embarrassing situations scrolling through her mind, "...If that twerp showed everyone my boobs I would take that glowing disc of his and shove it right up his—Hmm?" Stopping without warning, she could feel it again, that strange echo, it was affecting her radar, but wasn't on it, not by a long shot. Looking up towards the ceiling, there was not even the humming of lights to disrupt her systems.
"...Strange...I'll have to keep an eye on that...along with the DKR..." Looking straight ahead again, she was off, walking towards the final end of the hallway while she continued her train of thought, "...So womanizing ex boyfriends and handsy tiny dudes aside..." That left the other main group, led by none other than her protectee, Gohan Son. Admittedly it had been a while since she'd last laid eyes on him, the blonde girl having spent the majority of the afternoon away from him, it was amazing that she hadn't gotten a shock just for that, "...Gohan...the shy...and the...brave..." Her pale cheeks lighting up once more at the one utterance of that word, she still didn't know what exactly had set her off back there in the shower, although it all likelihood Bulma was right, just a mix of stress, female hormones, and then having a picture of a handsome heroic...naked man programmed into her head.
Frowning at just for what purpose the future scientist had decided to imbue her with a full frontal of her protectee when he grows up, or if it was even on purpose was inconsequential now though, all that mattered was the boy in the present, "...Still...I've never seen a man like that...even if he is still a kid..." Re-watching again the scene of Gohan bashing her brother's face in to keep him from abusing Bulma, no matter what had gone on earlier now all she could feel was how impressed she was with him, "...I guess there might be a reason I'm protecting him after all..." That smile of hers staying on her lips, at least for the time being until she was back facing off against a group evidently for warned of killer androids appearing.
The son of a saiyan warrior, son of the most powerful, kindest man she had ever met...or that Bulma had ever met that is, "...For my original target he doesn't seem like such a bad guy..." Indeed while the blonde woman's original mission of killing Goku was erased from her systems she still actually had a fair amount of data on him, perhaps because Bulma doubted she could kill...or maybe… "...But being good doesn't stop someone from becoming a threat..." Checking back through her files again, it was becoming harder and harder each time she searched to figure out what was new and what she just never had a reason to look over. A clip of a young Goku fighting against a tall, dark haired android with plugs in his neck and covered in scars, she certainly hadn't expected that, "...So he fought an android before...as a boy..." Watching it play out, the pair fighting throughout some icy tower in the middle of no where, she shut it off.
"...Well that explains Gero's hatred of him at least..." She said as the sensation of a cool breeze whipped across her face, the blonde's white pearl necklace shaking slightly over her collarbone, "...The guy fights for what he wants...and if there was ever something the old bastard hated it was free will..." Recalling the scene as Seventeen murdered the annoying old man right before he stepped through the time gate to the present day, it was fitting, Gero had altered them, enslaved them, tried to bend them to his will...and in the end it was the one thing he feared most that killed him, "...Although now that he's dead killing Goku wouldn't matter anyway..." A miniature smile forming in the side of her mouth while the android reached out to turn the doorknob to go outside, it really was nice, truly...to think of doing something to someone without being shocked for it. Wrapping her hand around the bronze knob, she turned it, the door opening up to reveal…
Capsule Corp. Dome Lawn:
Silence… Everything going quiet the moment Eighteen opened the door to the massive space inside the signature Capsule Corp. dome, the blonde stood there, looking out at everyone while they stared backat her. Perhaps it really was true, aside from Krillin in that memory of Bulma's...maybe none of them had ever seen a girl before. A cool breeze flowing across everyone, it blew the girl's soft golden hair over half of her face like some of the beauties on the front of Roshi's dirty mags. The whole gang staring at her in a mixture of awe from the guys that had only just met her, or joy from Bulma and Gohan at seeing her back, the android's grand entrance ended with the predictable comment from yours' truly, Yamcha, "Damn...and I thought that before she looked like she was designed for a bouncy roll in the hay—AGH!" A certain much beloved bluenette walking away from where she had only just nailed her ex-boyfriend into the lawn again, Bulma smiled when she reached her guest.
"Well hello there, glad you could finally join us..." She said closing her eyes in a happy greeting, Gohan looking on with the rest of the group while the two women met up, "...You're looking very refreshed, and really that outfit suits you to the bone..." Standing back to look the blonde up and down, Bulma simply nodded, crossing her arms over her chest when she looked at her. Everything from the long blue jeans to the small white shirt and matching black vest was perfect, everything just seemed to accentuate the android's looks in all the right ways, the way her untucked shirt exposed a scant few inches of her belly button as hot as it was fashionable, "...I guess whoever picked it out has great taste after all!..." Giggling to herself the others rolled their eyes, as if she hadn't gone around bragging to everyone how she had invented self repairing clothes before the blonde had shown up.
Although if any of them had known just how much those clothes of hers had fallen apart following her fight with her brother they would probably grow to hate Bulma more than the wonderful woman ever deserved, "Hmm, I guess she does..." Eighteen replied, offering her fellow lady a little smile as much to placate her as the fact that truly for a girl in combat, self repairing clothes was revolutionary. The sheer amount of damage the men had done to their outfits during fights was unbelievable, almost as much as the fact that it only ever seemed to be their upper halves that were left completely bare. Still though, even that would be understandably too much of a problem for female fighters, let alone ones built like Eighteen was, "...Maybe next time I'm out with her I can repay the favor..."
Giving Bulma a kind touch on the arm as she walked past her now, the blonde made a beeline for Gohan, all of the guys watching her the entire time before she stopped right in front of him, "...Speaking of repaying favors..." That tiny smile on her lips growing a bit larger when she came to a halt by the boy, he met her gaze with a beaming smile of his own, happy to see her back, "...I think Bulma owes you one, Gohan..." Turning to glance over her shoulder at her host, Eighteen grinned inwardly when she saw the shocked reaction coming from the other woman, "...You did save her from Seventeen after all..." Watching while Bulma nearly fell backwards at her mentioning it in front of everyone, it was nice to be able to tease the genius about something, even if it was nothing compared to what she had on her.
"...Wha...that...there's no reason to bring that up, I..." Stuttering a little before composing herself again, Bulma was already blushing as she saw all the weird smirks being directed right at her, "...I was fine...I had that...you know I wasn't going to let him..." Gritting her teeth as she bent over in defeat for the time being, the others at the table having a good laugh, though it was more over the mother's reaction than the actual incident in question, "...Ugh...whatever, just don't come crying to me when you need another massage..." Bulma marching over to the drinks counter to pour herself a south island iced tea, all attention turned back to the blonde now, said girl's face having turned a darker shade of pink for some reason at what the bluenette had said.
Completely ignoring the confused looks from the other guys, Gohan kept on smiling, the boy reaching up and grabbing his android bodyguard's hand, "Heheh! Welcome back, Eighteen!..." He grinned, tugging on her hand to follow him over to the others, the men snapping out of their earlier thoughts to greet her when Gohan arrived, "...Hey Dad, this is Eighteen...she's the one that has been fighting the bad android this whole time!..." Leading the blonde right to him, they stopped in front of Goku right when he stood up, the man easily a foot taller than Eighteen was was, not that she was ever one to be intimidated by size at this point, still though, Goku was a...big man... "...She's really nice, and made friends with Mom too!..." Stepping to the size while his father approached the woman, he should have expected what was coming; first impressions were important and after the powerful one the saiyan had gotten of her earlier during her battle with her brother, everyone should have predicted it.
"Oh, wow! So you're an android, huh?..." Bending forward so that he was more or less eye to eye with her, Goku tilted his head first to the right and then to the left, examining her as best as he could visually, "...Well cyborg thing, right?...I guess I can see that...you look just like a girl though..." The man moving over to the side to check out around her, Eighteen simply stayed perfectly still, allowing him to inspect her to his heart's desire. She already knew from his files that the man didn't have a perverted bone in his body, not that he didn't understand it, but just that he was not a danger like...the DKR, "...Yeah...on second thought you're definitely a robot, I'm not even getting a power level from you..." He said, stepping completely around her, nothing at all about her more curvaceous body standing out to him as feminine, let alone human.
Flicking those icy blue eyes of hers up at the much taller man when he made his declaration, not that she had a sore spot for what she was, but there was a certain pain that came with being called a machine, "...I'm not a robot, Goku...I am a girl..." She said sternly enough to cause even Bulma to turn around from her delicious drink, the other guys at the table quickly taking sides in the debate, "...I was altered and given cybernetic upgrades, but I still have my original human body..." Her eyebrows beginning to furrow at the man the longer he kept staring at her for, even with her explanation he still didn't seem convinced. A large amount of 'hmms' and 'hahs' coming from him the longer he walked around her scratching his chin in confusion, Goku just was not seeing what the other guys were talking about her being all girl.
"...Listen, Goku...I know you're you all all..." Yamcha piping up again from the center of the gang, Bulma turning to look at him with a straw still in her mouth, the others staring at him expecting what was coming, and put the worst possible way, "...But trust me, if that isn't a girl then I don't know what is..." Leaning back in his chair while he confidently wiped one finger underneath his nose several times, he seemed to be about as cool as he always was before saying something to damn himself, "...And hey, if that doesn't do it for ya, then just drop your eyes down a little bit..." Tien and Piccolo suddenly looking over in fear at the android as she slowly rose her open palm up in front of her, a small pink orb appearing in the center of it, the blank, unappreciative expression plastered across her face was warning enough for what was coming, "...You and I both know only a real girl could have such big—PWAAAAAAAHHH!"
Both Tien, and Piccolo diving out of the way at the last second, they only just managed to evade the blast Eighteen fired at them in the nick of time! The pink orb turning into an energy wave when she shot it at the overconfident idiot, Bulma just stood there watching while he was blown across the dome before landing face first into the pool at the far side of it with a resounding SPLASH!, "...He should of seen that one coming..." The bluenette said taking several sips from her fruity drink before going over to see if he was okay or not, the one, weak smoking hand dragging his freshly doused body out of the pool answering that question, "...You ever thought of harassing girls that can't kick your ass?..." Bulma asked tilting her head to the side before reaching in and grabbing her former boyfriend by the ear and hauling him back over to the rest of the group, the others just laughing at his feeble pleas for her to let him go.
Krillin chuckling along with the others, he stopped a few moments before they did, his gaze turning back towards the blonde android standing a few yards away from him, her hand still held out with the same look of death in her eyes, 'Damn...that was just like with me...no hesitation in trying to kill him...' Beady little dots moving up and down the girl's frame while she lowered her hand again, he still couldn't shake it though, she was simply too amazing to not check her out, '...Still, Yamcha's certainly right about one thing...that is hands down the most beautiful girl I've ever seen...' Making sure to not be too obvious about his interest in her for the time being, as Yamcha's example of being too forward with her had already shown to be nearly fatal, he took a long sip from his stirred, not shaken drink.
Watching her from the sidelines, a small breeze blowing her short, silky blonde hair around her delicate pale features, if he hadn't seen her power first hand he'd never believe she was any stronger than Maron was, '...That's one hell of a temper she's got though...even worse than Bulma's if that's a thing...or maybe it's just because Bulma can't blast us...' Smirking at the thought of that, considering how often she was bonking someone on the head or years ago how she would shoot at them with submachine guns the woman probably would have if she could, '...But there's no getting around it...she's hot with a capital H...' Running his eyes all over her stunning figure, the bald martial artist guessed he was the only one between himself, Tien, and Yamcha who were looking at her that way that even noticed the blonde's clothes seemed much more fitting this time around.
They didn't look nearly as tight, but not baggy...they suited her figure perfectly now, which for a guy checking out a girl like her, that was just fine,'...And Kami, even Maron's weren't nearly as perky as Eighteen's big...' A light red blush spreading across the man's cheeks before a hint of blue appeared beneath it, he hadn't known whether to be terrified or in awe when the android girl had bent over in front of him. At this point though perhaps not looking down her shirt at every opportunity was a good idea, at the very least to not make her think he was a...well, Yamcha. Sitting back in his seat a little more to not seem to be openly looking at her, Krillin smiled, the man diverting his gaze when he saw her icy glare landing on him, '...Oh man, she's cute when she's pissed too!...'
Eighteen keeping her attention on Krillin for a few more seconds, the man seemingly whistling a song to himself now, out of the corner of her eye she noticed a change in the saiyan standing in front of her, "...I can't believe you just did that..." The look on Goku's face having changed when Eighteen nearly wiped away one of his oldest friends, the man scanned over where Tien and even Piccolo were still breathing heavily on the ground, both happy to have gotten out of the line of fire of that one in time, "...Wow, you really are strong then..." He said turning to face her again, this time finally standing back up to his full height again, "...I'll take your word on you being mostly human, but that energy was intense!..." Pumping both of his fists together in front of him as he bent his knees forward in excitement, what he was about to say next was about as eyerollingly predictable as Yamcha's shut down, "...You got a minute to spar with me real quick..."
Everyone else almost falling over at his request, the lighthearted moment nearly fell apart when, while being dragged passed the others, Yamcha made one more attempt on the feminine android by holding his fingers up to his face like a phone. Eighteen instantly turning and holding her palm out towards him, that familiar ki blast appearing again, the guys were only just starting to panic when suddenly Goku grabbed her wrist, "...Hey...that's enough of that...you've already hit him hard enough for one day..." The full blooded saiyan keeping hold her like that, his much larger hand wrapped around her dainty fist, she merely looked up at him while he held her there, the stern scowl spread across his face a far cry from the jubilant one that had just been there.
Easily yanking her hand out of his grip, Eighteen rotated her body to fully face the full blooded saiyan again, her hand moving up to brush her hair back once it was free, "...Excuse me, but last time I checked you don't get to decide things for me..." The blonde returning his intense gaze with her signature icy cold stare, the air quickly calmed down across the group, the two strongest people there staring each other down, "...I'll dish out as much as I want to...the same as I did with Baldy over there earlier..." Flicking a few strands of her beautiful silky hair towards where Krillin was sitting, the martial artist still yet to forget the earlier explosive reaction the girl had towards him, "...But if you want to tell me off...you're welcome to try..."
His dark eyes never once leaving hers the whole time she made her not so idle threat, the pair centering their gaze on one another, one confident and the other intense, finally, Goku's started to break, a smile quickly sprouting to replace the angry look he'd had, "...Urr...heheh! Dang, you're serious, aren't you?..." Gently rubbing the back of his head in anticipation, the saiyan man grinned, his eyebrows going up once he saw that she meant business, "...Well okay then, let's do it..." Taking one step back as he got into his typical Turtle School style fighting stance, Goku couldn't hold back the joy in his voice at already getting to fight one of the androids before the bad ones even appeared, "...I've been waiting three years for this fight so let's go! Show me what you're made of!..."
A soaking wet, burned hand slowly snaking up into the air a couple dozen yards off from the pair about to fight, Yamcha may as well have been the referee starting off the battle when he reiterated Goku's statement, "...Yeah...ugh...Eighteen...please...show us what you're made—AGH!" The resulting blow from Bulma planting him in the Earth for the foreseeable future, at that very moment she struck, so did Eighteen, the blonde moving to fire off another ki wave at the stupid man, instead his fellow martial artist intercepted it! Goku managing to grab hold of her wrist again right at the last second, he forced it up when the attack fired, the blast instead shooting through the open roof of the dome and into the sky instead of finishing off the most persistent ladies man they knew! A bright pink explosion illuminating the fighters even in the bright light of the day, Goku grinned confidently; that was one point for him.
Directing her gaze from the man who once again had just managed to cheat death to the saiyan warrior holding her wrist up in the air, Eighteen grinned, "...Heheh, now that's a surprise...I didn't think you could catch me in time..." Slowly moving her hand back down again, each of them shaking from the effort it was taking them to resist the other's strength. The blonde grimacing for a moment she yanked her hand free before bringing a knee up into Goku's ribcage, knocking the wind right out of him, "...But now that I know you can...we can really get this party started..." Floating upwards a little bit to get above him, just as he looked up she slammed both of her fists into the top of his head, sending the man crashing back into the ground! And there, after only a few moments of fighting, the score was all tied up again.
The others instantly reacting in shock at the surprising first volley, before even a hint of worry began to set in though Goku was back up and going at her! Prying his head out of the dirt and grass scattered across the lawn before leaping into the after the android, within moments of his face meeting sunlight he was trading blows with Eighteen, their fists moving too fast for half the party to even catch their moves in any kind of detail, "Geez, can you believe that?...That girl's keeping up with Goku like it's nothing..." Tien said just as much in awe as much as fear for what he was seeing. Blonde hair flailing to the side as she tipped her head out of the way to dodge one of Son's punches before returning a kick of her own to his side, that being caught at the last second with both of his hands, "...If this is a taste of how powerful the androids are I don't think I want to meet the others..."
Nodding along with their three eyed friend, the others had the same sentiment, none of them diverting their gaze from the sparring match going on above them, except for Gohan. The young man standing beside Bulma, who was at this point up to her third iced tea, he was catching every move the two made with a wide smile on his face, his Dad and new friend clearly enjoying themselves, "...Don't worry, Tien...we've got my Dad and Eighteen for when they show up..." Grinning even more when the rest of the table turned to look at him in shock, he moved his head back to watch the fight, a more intense gaze appearing to set in, "...I know if anyone can stop them...it's them..." Goku twisting himself around to deliver a hard kick, Eighteen shifted herself out of the way only for it to be a feint, the saiyan's fist then slamming into her gut and knocking her into the air!
Following the movements of the two top tier fighters better than he let on, Piccolo found himself shocked about one thing more than anything else. Dark pupils following the android girl's movements, each of them perfectly timed to avoid Goku's attacks, only to catch his next blow and punish it by swinging him around and tossing the man clear across the dome, his body crashing into the ground with a BANG! "Hmmm...in all my time on Earth I have never seen a female even a tenth as powerful as she is..."The Namek said aloud as Goku dragged himself out of the hole he'd made, that same overly enthusiastic look painted across his face when he shot back into the air again, instantly trading blows with her once more, "...She may be an android, but that doesn't make it any less out of the ordinary to watch though..."
His words drawing the ears of the rest of the group even while they remained focused on the fighting going on, a bright pink glow lighting up the sky as Eighteen fired several ki blasts at the saiyan, Goku catching them in both hands, it was tough, but after a few moments he flung them back into the sky again where they exploded. Unfortunately for Piccolo though, despite the others nodding in agreement, there was one person who didn't take too kindly to his impression, "...Hey! Don't say it like there's no strong girls on this planet, Piccolo!..." Bulma said butting in, the woman returning from her bar with another new drink, her eyes centering on the green man with a glare, "...You guys have seen plenty of strong girls at the World Martial Arts Tournament..."
Sitting there listening to her for a few moments, Gohan's former teacher slowly shook his head, "...No, and even if we're not going by what I've seen personally it's still a no..." That trademark angry, but not particularly upset frown spread across his face while he turned back to watching the proceed into its third act, the Namek knew he was right, "...Apart from Chi-Chi the only other notable female fighter any of us have seen was that purple haired woman, Ranfan..." Keeping his arms stoically crossed the entire time he spoke, it was interesting how he was the only one at the table not blushing at the mere mention of the rather unique martial artist, not that he didn't notice that as well, "...And I'm sure the only reason any of these guys remember was because her fighting style consisted of stripping her clothes off..."
The others going ramrod straight the moment they felt Bulma and his eyes on them, the blushes on their cheeks already said more than they wanted to, "...But as you see, Eighteen is different...Chi-Chi couldn't take a burst of air from Goku and Ranfan was more or less a stripper..." A shock wave passing over everyone at the table, they looked up with Piccolo, the blonde and saiyan locking fists before each jumping back again, charging in for another round before anyone had a chance to blink, "...Eighteen is matching everything he puts out without so much as breaking a sweat..." Closing his eyes only to let out another one of his trademark grunts of thought, he shook his head before looking back up at the two going at it again, "...That's impressive for anyone, but even more so considering how few female fighters are around...and if you ask me she's holding back more than he is..."
Everyone's eyes popping wide open at him saying that, they were nearly startled when Bulma dropped her drink, the bluenette pumping her fists out in front of her in shock, "...Wait! So you're saying you can't sense any energy from her either?!..." She shouted, standing there just as much involved in the shop talk going on as the others were, they all looked just as surprised at what she'd said as how right she was about it, "...Huh?… Why are you guys all staring at my like that?..." Blinking a few times while she looked around the group, if there was ever a way to distract them from one of the most interesting fights they'd ever seen it was Bulma saying she could sense ki. But just in case they hadn't gotten it the first time...Bulma...said she could sense...ki...
"...Bulma...how...how do you even know how to do that?..." Krillin piped up from the sidelines, the man leaning back in his seat with perplexed look on his face, his arms crossed behind his head more to keep it upright than out of any relaxation as he asked the bluenette the last question he ever thought he would, "...You're not even a fighter; how would you know what to look for?..." Raising one eyebrow while the rest of the Z Warriors leaned in towards her waiting for a valid response, they suddenly shot up to look into the sky again when another shock wave passed over them. Goku spinning around at the last second to avoid one of the blonde's kicks, the man had the happiest grin on his face as she blocked his returning punch, each of them not letting a thing through.
The attention of the group once again back on the strongest woman they had ever seen, Bulma breathed a sigh of relief, after all the way she'd found out how to sense energy wasn't exactly traditional by any means. Vegeta had learned the ability after his first fight with Goku on Earth and then honed in while fighting Freeza's men on Namek while she… '...How about I not tell the guys how it rubbed off...' She thought to herself, already she had the shame, although she was thankful to have friends too understanding and loving to treat her that way, of having a child out of wedlock with a former foe, but still she didn't think she'd earn any points by telling them this story. It was bad enough admitting she'd had sex with Vegeta of all people without explaining she learned to sense energy during a particularly intense bout of naked...
"...AAAGGGGHHHH!..." Her attention drawn back up to the goings on above them when she heard Goku yell, Bulma was just starting to get worried for him when she saw that he was in fact the one delivering the next blow, "...YEEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!..." Catching the blonde in a pretty devastating uppercut, he sent her flying up through the open top to the dome before zooming off after her, everyone else quickly getting up from their seats at the table to follow them before they got too far away to see what was happening. The fight may not have been for the fate of the world like the many ahead would, but at the same time they'd be damned if they missed watching Goku doing what he does best!
Gohan taking off before the rest could even stand, he was in the air and out through the roof in no time, Piccolo, Krillin, and Tien taking off after him, Bulma was left to look around her at everyone flying away. Cerulean eyes turning this way and that for a convenient way to pursue them, thankfully for her she still had one person to help her along, "...Don't worry, Bulma, I gotcha..." Smiling at the woman as he darted over to her, before the blue haired scientist could react they were off, Yamcha taking advantage of the opportunity to wrap his arms around her. He was just pulling Bulma close to him so that she didn't fall...nope, no other reasons besides that at all, "...You know, I've been thinking...it's pretty cool you became a mom..." He said as they flew through the top of the dome, following not too far behind the others who were setting down on the back lawn to continue watching the match. Bulma turning her head to thank the man, she suddenly felt a little less comfortable with him holding her once he opened his mouth, "...I mean, you really did get bigger in all the right places, eh, Bulma—AGH!"
No one paying any mind to the crash landing behind them at this point, it was clear things were finally winding down. "Ha! Ha! Agh! HAAAAH!..." Ducking into a back flip to avoid one of Eighteen's punches, Goku was having the time of his life, but even he was getting the picture, no matter how many times he swung at her, or how often she dodged him she never slowed down for a moment, "...You really are something else, aren't you?..." Grinning at the girl as they smashed their forearms together, muscles shaking at the sheer intensity of the forces behind them, their eyes locking in a true test of wills, "...I'm getting worn out, but you're not even sweating!..." The two of them abruptly breaking it off now, they floated a few feet apart, Eighteen merely crossing her arms over her chest while he panted in front of her.
"...So you've noticed that? Yeah, thanks to the two reactors in my body I never get tired..." Looking at him with a smirk, even she had to admit that this had been pretty amusing, and a great way to burn off some of her excess stress after once again being hit on, "...We could go on like this all day and I'll never stop...and you'll never win..." Tilting her head to the side when she said that last sentence, the blonde watched him, waiting for an angry retort or something, but instead of any of that she was met with something surprising, the man simply laughed. "...Hmmm?..." Goku laughing away, his saiyan body aching from their sparring match, all the same he just couldn't stop laughing even if he had wanted to!
Descending from the sky holding his chest the entire time, Eighteen followed him, the pair landing directly above where they had been floating earlier, "...HAHAHAHAAAAA! You could fight me all day!?..." Finally breaking out of his fit of hysterics to talk to her again, this time it was everyone, but the blonde that wasn't in the least bit surprised, Goku was just being Goku now, "...That is AWESOME! We'll have to spar again then! I can't wait to see how long you can really last!..." The look of shock on Eighteen's face slowly going away, the android girl nodded back at him, uncrossing her arms as she took a few steps towards him before offering out her hand.
"...In that case then I'm sure you'll find out..." The man grinning like a maniac while she gave a small smile in return, the blonde then let go of his hand before making her way over to his son, the boy darting over to meet her, "...Hey, Gohan...come here for a sec..." She said as he stopped in front of her, the boy raising an eyebrow at her as much as the others were he still did as she asked and followed her. It was faint, but still Eighteen could detect something strong coming in towards them, it was big, but not too much for her, at the same time though it was good having him close to her just in case. "...I've been thinking...about earlier...what you did..." She said as they stood under the shade of one of Dr. Brief's many apple trees he'd had planted in the area surrounding his company building, the boy's eyes taking on a strange look when she said that, "...When Seventeen was threatening Bulma...you attacked him...even though he was too much for you...why?..."
Keeping her arms crossed over her chest while she asked him that one important question, a question that had been stuck in her head for far too long causing far too much drama for her, still she needed it answered, "...You mean when I kicked him away from her?..." Gohan, still rather perplexed by what she was talking about said, he could only think of that one time so far, Yamcha having carried her to safety the first time Seventeen attacked. The woman nodding at his reply he paused, "...Well...I did it because she's my friend...and that's what friends do for one another..." Spreading his arms out to either side while he spoke, the boy seemed to gather confidence the more he went on, speaking from the heart as much as his mind, "...Bulma does whatever she can to help everyone, she cares about us...and so I care about her..."
Listening to every word to leave the boy's lips, she still wasn't quite convinced though, what he had done was reckless, foolhardy and he had done it without any consideration for his own well being, "...So...you did something so brave just because you care about her?..." Saying it the way she did shocked Gohan a bit, it was as if she were asking why he would protect someone he cared about. Staring up at the golden haired android, a few shining strands falling in front of her eyes while she mulled it all over, it made him wonder. Had she never had someone care enough about her to protect her before?
His dark eyes running across his friend's troubled expression, as much as he didn't want to believe it, that seemed to be more and more the case, "...Yes...I did...and I'll do it again if she ever needs my help..." Gohan, his face growing with concern for the girl he'd only just met, yet seemed to be opening herself up as much as she was closing herself off to him, took a couple steps towards her, the boy gently placing his hand on the back of hers, "...The same goes for you...I doubt you'll ever need my help, but..." A small smile spreading across his face now as he saw her turning to look at him a little differently now, it quickly exploded into a full on grin, "...If that day comes just call my name, Eighteen...and I'll protect you as best I can..."
A cool breeze running between them following the Son boy's profound statement, not many people had heard what he'd said, though those that had could only imagine how proud they'd be if they had. Piccolo standing off from the rest of the group as he watched Bulma stumble over to the duo by the tree, he shook his head, unable to hold back a grin himself, 'Way to go, Gohan...perhaps you have a little more sense with women than your father does after all...' Glancing over at the older Son man, Goku happily chatting about his sparring match to Krillin, Tien, and the pit where Yamcha was, he knew there was no way the warrior had a hand in telling the boy that sentiment as much as he showed it, '...Still...it might be a good idea to not get carried away there...it will be a long time before you'll be able to protect her...'
The Namek closing his eyes one last time as he turned to walk back over to where Goku was bragging about a particularly good kick to the jaw Eighteen had given him, he couldn't help getting a glimpse over his shoulder of the three of them by the tree. Bulma having joined Gohan and his new bodyguard from the future, the trio now started talking, not that they were even half as animated as Goku was despite Bulma being quite clearly intoxicated at this point, '...Although...if you really do understand females better than your father...' A small blush tinting the alien's cheeks only to be shaken off just as quickly, he joined the rest of the guys with his former rival, one thought clinging to his mind above all else, '...Don't think for a second I'm explaining what to do with one...'
A/N: And there we are, the first meeting with most of the Z Fighters has happened, with a few minor exceptions of course. It was fun writing Eighteen a bit calmer than she usually is all things considered, I wasn't thinking of her as being all flowery and friendly, but rather as a little more approachable and not just primed to get aggressive at the slightest comment, Yamcha's aside. Not much to say this time around since enthusiasm is at a long time low and there isn't anything I can think of for a poll for the time being. Honestly though chapter 11 would be better received than it was, but oh well. Please enjoy this update, and if you did I would really appreciate a review or if you're too shy a private message to let me know how things are going. Feedback is always appreciated provided there is actually something I can do to adjust things. Have a good one and I'll see you all next time!
