Goku coasted above the outskirts of the city. The frost laced fields and forests of the country side had not long since made way for the ordered rows of buildings. The long ranks of contrivances stood to attention along the sides of perfectly straight roads, watching intently over the activities of the various vehicles that buzzed hither and thither along the stretches of tarmac.
Goku scanned the busy cityscape for the familiar accumulation of domed buildings that comprised the Capsule Corp. compound. It wasn't long before he spotted the contrivances, rearing up above surrounding urban constructions. Changing his pitch, Goku began to make his way across and down to the home and workplace of the Briefs family.
In moments, Goku was above the neatly mowed lawn of the compound. Easing off his ki, the Saiyan dropped gently onto the green brush-cut at the front of the main building. The surrounding gardens were quite different from those he had just seen at Kami's lookout. Where the lookout gardens had been free flowing and subtle in their order, the Capsule Corp. gardens had a distinctly professional feel to them. It was stunted, and minimalistic, making the most efficient use of the space allowed, rather than the most aesthetically pleasing.
Goku made his way across the garden to the arched door. Instinctively, he reached for the button located to the right of the portal, as he had done so many times before. Upon depressing the button, Goku was regaled by the dull chiming of the doorbell.
A few seconds passed, and Goku waited patiently. It was entirely normal for there to be some delay before being allowed onto the Briefs' premises, as this was quite an industrious family. Who could say what strange, marvellous, and impenetrably complex projects were being carried forward behind the doors of Capsule Corp.
"I'll be right there!" A female voice came, muffled by the metal fibre door.
A few more seconds elapsed before Goku's wait was punctuated by the loud thump of an indoor lock being released. The door then slowly opened inwards, allowing a narrow shaft of artificial light to spill into the outside world. The door then stopped in an ajar position, shackled to the door post by a narrow, steel chain. Two large, blue eyes peered around the edge of the door.
"Hi there." Goku greeted the obscured individual.
The eyes brows, that had rested idly above the eyes of the occupant, raised as their owner beheld Goku's toothily grinning visage. The door then closed almost all the way. A faint rattling could be heard as the chain was released, shortly after the door swung open.
"Hi, Goku." Bulma finally returned Goku's greeting, and stepped onto the doorstep, "I wasn't expecting to see you today."
"Neither was I... expecting to see you, I mean." Goku echoed Bulma's sentiment, "I thought it would be nice just to, y'know, stop by for a chat."
"Sure, c'mon in." Bulma said, clearing the way for Goku to enter her home, "You must be freezing out there. Why aren't you wearing a jacket?"
"It's a long story," Goku sighed, as he passed Bulma, "and it started in Toys 'R' Us." Goku paused, "Wow, something smells great."
"That's lunch." Bulma replied, closing the door behind her house guest, "I'd ask you to stay, but I'm sure Chi Chi's got something cooking for you right now."
"I bet she has." Goku mumbled, worriedly, "So, you're taking the day off?"
"Not by choice." Bulma replied, manoeuvring past Goku, "My dad wouldn't let me work today. Normally I'd argue the point, but I wasn't in much of a mood for a fist fight. So, now I'm making by with helping my mom cook lunch."
"Hey, I didn't know you could cook." Goku stated.
"Didn't say I could." Bulma corrected Goku, "I'm just there for moral support, mostly. C'mon through to the kitchen."
Bulma began to make her way down the brightly wallpapered hallway. Goku followed suit. They went on through the house passing several doorways, some open, others not. From one particular doorway, the sound of loud snoring was emanating.
Overcome with curiosity, Goku broke off from Bulma, and peered into the room. There he saw a man, in his early sixties, slumped in an arm chair. Before the snoozing gentleman stood a large television. The set was tuned to some Christmas movie or other, and seemed quite content to continue telling its story, regardless of whether or not its audience was conscious.
"Hi, Dr. Briefs." Goku whispered, so as not to wake the snoring scientist.
"Hey, Goku!" Bulma called back down the hall, "Are you still with me?"
"Be right there." Goku replied.
The Saiyan then trotted off down the corridor after his hostess, heading for the doorway from around which her head peering.
"Wow, that really does smell good." Goku restated, as he arrived at the door.
"Well, my mom's quite the chef." Bulma replied, making her way amid the steamy jungle of lustrous steel implements.
"Where is your mom right now?" Asked Goku.
"Oh, she just stepped out to get some seasoning." Bulma replied, "She'll be back to finish up soon."
"Oh. Say Bulma, are you sure I'm not going to be in your way?" Goku enquired, taking his first tentative steps into the kitchen.
"Not at all." Bulma assured him as she peered into a pot that was stood, simmering on a stove beneath a cracked window, "It's almost done, anyway."
"Looks like that's not the only thing that's done." Goku observed, a cheeky grin developing on his face.
"Huh? Oh, you mean this little guy." Bulma replied, looking down to the sizeable bulge over which her apron was draped, "Yeah, could come at any time now. You never know, we could have a late Christmas present."
"Wow, that'd be great. Have you thought of name yet?" Goku queried, his question belying the inside information that had had bestowed upon him.
"Well, I've decided that, if it's a boy, he'll be called Trunks. And if it's a girl, she'll be Bra." Bulma told Goku.
"Uh, did Vegeta have any say in that?" Goku enquired, puzzled by the fact the decision seemed to have been taken by Bulma alone.
"I'm sure he would have, had he been around." Bulma complained.
"So, he's not here?" Goku said, seeking confirmation.
"No, I'm afraid not." Bulma replied, "He's disappeared again. Um... last Tuesday I think it was."
"Oh, that's too bad." Goku responded, sounding genuinely disappointed. He had been quite looking forward to seeing how his tempestuous compatriot was dealing with this unusual time of year.
"Yes, it is." Bulma agreed, turning to look out of the window.
"Do you have any idea where he went?" Goku asked, hoping he could yet make contact with the Saiyan prince.
"No, I don't." Bulma informed Goku, "But it wasn't for lack of asking. Where are you going? When will you be back? Are you taking a lunch? He didn't listen to any of it, of course. You know how he is. It's like talking to a brick wall that's hiding behind another even bigger brick wall."
There was then an ebb in the flow of conversation, as Bulma stared wistfully out of the window. Her eyes seemed focused on a distant, unnamed place, even though the glass was totally opaque with a thick layer of condensation.
As Goku looked at Bulma, he realised that the vibrant young girl he once knew was gone. The woman that stood before him now, her hair wrapped in a misshapen bun, her face weighed down with the worries of a world, and heavily pregnant, was a far cry from the girl he had known. Indeed, this woman was far more beautiful. What was more, her troubled expression and child bearing condition were reminiscent of another such woman. Though he had not seen this woman in some ten years, Goku now realised that she had always been there, and was likely waiting for him now. But before he could put pay to his abandonment of this woman, he would first have to abandon another.
"Uh, Bulma, I've gotta go." Goku stated, awkwardly, "I'm kinda late home, and Chi Chi will be getting sorta worried and..."
"It's okay, Goku." Bulma smiled, sensing the Saiyan's guilt, "I'm not totally on my own here. I've got my dad, comatose though he may be, and my mom will be back soon. Besides, it's not like you'll be the first Saiyan to run out on me this Christmas."
Though Goku realised Bulma's last few words were intended as a jest, they didn't exactly serve to make him feel any better. Rubbing the back of his head, Goku looked down at his feet with an expression of remorse.
"C'mon, I'll see you to the door." Bulma chuckled, quite amused by her friend's naïve show of guilt.
Taking the Saiyan by the left arm, she gently lead him out of the Kitchen. Back down the hall they went, passing by each the doorways they had on the way in.
"Bye Dr. Briefs." Goku whispered as he passed by the TV room once more, where the eminent inventor was still draped haphazardly over an easy chair.
The pair reached the front door, and turned to face each other.
"Thanks for stopping by Goku." Bulma smiled.
"No, thank you." Goku corrected her, "You've really helped me out."
"How so?" Bulma replied, her face adopting a puzzled expression.
"Well, you... I mean, I... it's kinda hard to explain." Goku explained, "But you really have helped."
"Well, okay then." Bulma reluctantly accepted Goku's thanks, then paused to look at Goku's smiling face, "Chi Chi sure is lucky to have a guy like you, Goku." She side.
"You think so?" Goku replied, blushing a little with embarrassment.
"Uh huh." Bulma nodded, "I just wish I could get mine to stay in one place for five minutes."
"Vegeta's just used to being independent." Goku reassured frowning woman before him, "He's not such a bad guy."
"I know," Bulma conceded, "But would it kill him just to listen to me? I'm sorry Goku, I'm holding you up with all my complaining."
"Don't sweat it, Bulma." Goku laughed, "What are friends for."
Bulma smiled widely for the first time since Goku had arrived.
"Well, I guess I'll be letting you go then." She told Goku, "Now, you take care on your way home. Don't catch a cold, and don't forget to apologise to Chi Chi."
Goku looked at Bulma, utterly aghast.
"H-how did you..." He stammered, before Bulma interrupted.
"How did I know?" she finished for the dumbfounded Saiyan, "I can tell when I guy's in the dog house. I've put a couple of them there myself, you know?"
"You are somethin' else Bulma." Goku grinned, "Anyway, I'd best be off."
"Oh, here. Let me get the door for you." Bulma offered, reaching for the catch.
"Don't worry, I'll let myself out." Goku declined the offer.
As he had that morning, Goku placed two fingers of his right hand against his brow, and began to focus his mind on his intended destination. This time, it was home. The sunburst yellow walls of the hallway began to flicker and jump, anxious to escape the Saiyan's line of sight. Bulma's face also flitted in and out of sight. As Goku made the final mental preparations for translocation, a voice came to him from the rapidly vanishing world.
"Goodbye Goku." Bulma's voice came, and then faded away.
The world, flickered one more time, before finally slipping from view, taking the warmth of the indoors, and the watching Bulma with it.
****
Stay tooned for the last chapter :)
Goku scanned the busy cityscape for the familiar accumulation of domed buildings that comprised the Capsule Corp. compound. It wasn't long before he spotted the contrivances, rearing up above surrounding urban constructions. Changing his pitch, Goku began to make his way across and down to the home and workplace of the Briefs family.
In moments, Goku was above the neatly mowed lawn of the compound. Easing off his ki, the Saiyan dropped gently onto the green brush-cut at the front of the main building. The surrounding gardens were quite different from those he had just seen at Kami's lookout. Where the lookout gardens had been free flowing and subtle in their order, the Capsule Corp. gardens had a distinctly professional feel to them. It was stunted, and minimalistic, making the most efficient use of the space allowed, rather than the most aesthetically pleasing.
Goku made his way across the garden to the arched door. Instinctively, he reached for the button located to the right of the portal, as he had done so many times before. Upon depressing the button, Goku was regaled by the dull chiming of the doorbell.
A few seconds passed, and Goku waited patiently. It was entirely normal for there to be some delay before being allowed onto the Briefs' premises, as this was quite an industrious family. Who could say what strange, marvellous, and impenetrably complex projects were being carried forward behind the doors of Capsule Corp.
"I'll be right there!" A female voice came, muffled by the metal fibre door.
A few more seconds elapsed before Goku's wait was punctuated by the loud thump of an indoor lock being released. The door then slowly opened inwards, allowing a narrow shaft of artificial light to spill into the outside world. The door then stopped in an ajar position, shackled to the door post by a narrow, steel chain. Two large, blue eyes peered around the edge of the door.
"Hi there." Goku greeted the obscured individual.
The eyes brows, that had rested idly above the eyes of the occupant, raised as their owner beheld Goku's toothily grinning visage. The door then closed almost all the way. A faint rattling could be heard as the chain was released, shortly after the door swung open.
"Hi, Goku." Bulma finally returned Goku's greeting, and stepped onto the doorstep, "I wasn't expecting to see you today."
"Neither was I... expecting to see you, I mean." Goku echoed Bulma's sentiment, "I thought it would be nice just to, y'know, stop by for a chat."
"Sure, c'mon in." Bulma said, clearing the way for Goku to enter her home, "You must be freezing out there. Why aren't you wearing a jacket?"
"It's a long story," Goku sighed, as he passed Bulma, "and it started in Toys 'R' Us." Goku paused, "Wow, something smells great."
"That's lunch." Bulma replied, closing the door behind her house guest, "I'd ask you to stay, but I'm sure Chi Chi's got something cooking for you right now."
"I bet she has." Goku mumbled, worriedly, "So, you're taking the day off?"
"Not by choice." Bulma replied, manoeuvring past Goku, "My dad wouldn't let me work today. Normally I'd argue the point, but I wasn't in much of a mood for a fist fight. So, now I'm making by with helping my mom cook lunch."
"Hey, I didn't know you could cook." Goku stated.
"Didn't say I could." Bulma corrected Goku, "I'm just there for moral support, mostly. C'mon through to the kitchen."
Bulma began to make her way down the brightly wallpapered hallway. Goku followed suit. They went on through the house passing several doorways, some open, others not. From one particular doorway, the sound of loud snoring was emanating.
Overcome with curiosity, Goku broke off from Bulma, and peered into the room. There he saw a man, in his early sixties, slumped in an arm chair. Before the snoozing gentleman stood a large television. The set was tuned to some Christmas movie or other, and seemed quite content to continue telling its story, regardless of whether or not its audience was conscious.
"Hi, Dr. Briefs." Goku whispered, so as not to wake the snoring scientist.
"Hey, Goku!" Bulma called back down the hall, "Are you still with me?"
"Be right there." Goku replied.
The Saiyan then trotted off down the corridor after his hostess, heading for the doorway from around which her head peering.
"Wow, that really does smell good." Goku restated, as he arrived at the door.
"Well, my mom's quite the chef." Bulma replied, making her way amid the steamy jungle of lustrous steel implements.
"Where is your mom right now?" Asked Goku.
"Oh, she just stepped out to get some seasoning." Bulma replied, "She'll be back to finish up soon."
"Oh. Say Bulma, are you sure I'm not going to be in your way?" Goku enquired, taking his first tentative steps into the kitchen.
"Not at all." Bulma assured him as she peered into a pot that was stood, simmering on a stove beneath a cracked window, "It's almost done, anyway."
"Looks like that's not the only thing that's done." Goku observed, a cheeky grin developing on his face.
"Huh? Oh, you mean this little guy." Bulma replied, looking down to the sizeable bulge over which her apron was draped, "Yeah, could come at any time now. You never know, we could have a late Christmas present."
"Wow, that'd be great. Have you thought of name yet?" Goku queried, his question belying the inside information that had had bestowed upon him.
"Well, I've decided that, if it's a boy, he'll be called Trunks. And if it's a girl, she'll be Bra." Bulma told Goku.
"Uh, did Vegeta have any say in that?" Goku enquired, puzzled by the fact the decision seemed to have been taken by Bulma alone.
"I'm sure he would have, had he been around." Bulma complained.
"So, he's not here?" Goku said, seeking confirmation.
"No, I'm afraid not." Bulma replied, "He's disappeared again. Um... last Tuesday I think it was."
"Oh, that's too bad." Goku responded, sounding genuinely disappointed. He had been quite looking forward to seeing how his tempestuous compatriot was dealing with this unusual time of year.
"Yes, it is." Bulma agreed, turning to look out of the window.
"Do you have any idea where he went?" Goku asked, hoping he could yet make contact with the Saiyan prince.
"No, I don't." Bulma informed Goku, "But it wasn't for lack of asking. Where are you going? When will you be back? Are you taking a lunch? He didn't listen to any of it, of course. You know how he is. It's like talking to a brick wall that's hiding behind another even bigger brick wall."
There was then an ebb in the flow of conversation, as Bulma stared wistfully out of the window. Her eyes seemed focused on a distant, unnamed place, even though the glass was totally opaque with a thick layer of condensation.
As Goku looked at Bulma, he realised that the vibrant young girl he once knew was gone. The woman that stood before him now, her hair wrapped in a misshapen bun, her face weighed down with the worries of a world, and heavily pregnant, was a far cry from the girl he had known. Indeed, this woman was far more beautiful. What was more, her troubled expression and child bearing condition were reminiscent of another such woman. Though he had not seen this woman in some ten years, Goku now realised that she had always been there, and was likely waiting for him now. But before he could put pay to his abandonment of this woman, he would first have to abandon another.
"Uh, Bulma, I've gotta go." Goku stated, awkwardly, "I'm kinda late home, and Chi Chi will be getting sorta worried and..."
"It's okay, Goku." Bulma smiled, sensing the Saiyan's guilt, "I'm not totally on my own here. I've got my dad, comatose though he may be, and my mom will be back soon. Besides, it's not like you'll be the first Saiyan to run out on me this Christmas."
Though Goku realised Bulma's last few words were intended as a jest, they didn't exactly serve to make him feel any better. Rubbing the back of his head, Goku looked down at his feet with an expression of remorse.
"C'mon, I'll see you to the door." Bulma chuckled, quite amused by her friend's naïve show of guilt.
Taking the Saiyan by the left arm, she gently lead him out of the Kitchen. Back down the hall they went, passing by each the doorways they had on the way in.
"Bye Dr. Briefs." Goku whispered as he passed by the TV room once more, where the eminent inventor was still draped haphazardly over an easy chair.
The pair reached the front door, and turned to face each other.
"Thanks for stopping by Goku." Bulma smiled.
"No, thank you." Goku corrected her, "You've really helped me out."
"How so?" Bulma replied, her face adopting a puzzled expression.
"Well, you... I mean, I... it's kinda hard to explain." Goku explained, "But you really have helped."
"Well, okay then." Bulma reluctantly accepted Goku's thanks, then paused to look at Goku's smiling face, "Chi Chi sure is lucky to have a guy like you, Goku." She side.
"You think so?" Goku replied, blushing a little with embarrassment.
"Uh huh." Bulma nodded, "I just wish I could get mine to stay in one place for five minutes."
"Vegeta's just used to being independent." Goku reassured frowning woman before him, "He's not such a bad guy."
"I know," Bulma conceded, "But would it kill him just to listen to me? I'm sorry Goku, I'm holding you up with all my complaining."
"Don't sweat it, Bulma." Goku laughed, "What are friends for."
Bulma smiled widely for the first time since Goku had arrived.
"Well, I guess I'll be letting you go then." She told Goku, "Now, you take care on your way home. Don't catch a cold, and don't forget to apologise to Chi Chi."
Goku looked at Bulma, utterly aghast.
"H-how did you..." He stammered, before Bulma interrupted.
"How did I know?" she finished for the dumbfounded Saiyan, "I can tell when I guy's in the dog house. I've put a couple of them there myself, you know?"
"You are somethin' else Bulma." Goku grinned, "Anyway, I'd best be off."
"Oh, here. Let me get the door for you." Bulma offered, reaching for the catch.
"Don't worry, I'll let myself out." Goku declined the offer.
As he had that morning, Goku placed two fingers of his right hand against his brow, and began to focus his mind on his intended destination. This time, it was home. The sunburst yellow walls of the hallway began to flicker and jump, anxious to escape the Saiyan's line of sight. Bulma's face also flitted in and out of sight. As Goku made the final mental preparations for translocation, a voice came to him from the rapidly vanishing world.
"Goodbye Goku." Bulma's voice came, and then faded away.
The world, flickered one more time, before finally slipping from view, taking the warmth of the indoors, and the watching Bulma with it.
****
Stay tooned for the last chapter :)
