(Author's Note): Okay, okay, I'm updating already! Jeez….. Sorry about the wait but with Homework, a job, and my family…….Oh, boy! Thanks for the reviews and all those non-reviewers, REVIEW NOW!!!!!! Okay, on with the story!

Chapter 3

The World Martial Arts Tournament

"So, Pan. What are you doing tomorrow?" Bra said as they sat in the shade of a tree not far from Son house.

"Oh, I'm going with Grandpa to participate in the World Martial Arts Tournament. What about you, Bra?"

"I'm going, too. Dad wants to participate this year and is making Trunks do the same. What about Goten and Gohan? Aren't they participating this year?" Pan smiled and scratched the back of her head in the famous Son innocence look.

"I'm not quite sure. Grandma is making Goten participate for the money to help him through college, but Dad…. Mom is trying to convince him to."

"What about Krillin and his family?" Bra asked.

"All I know is that Marron is coming, Android #18 is participating, and Kirllin is still debating on it." Pan said as popped her neck. "We haven't been able contact Piccolo, but Tien, Chiotzu, Yamcha and Puar are coming to at least observe." Bra sighed.

"Well, since we don't have anything to do right now, why don't we go ask him?" Bra suggest as she stood, followed by Pan.

"Sure, I'll ask mom." Bra ran after Pan as she dashed to the Son house. "Mom, Bra and I are going to go tell Piccolo about the tournament. We'll meet you at the tournament, okay?" Pan yelled into the house as she ran to her bedroom.

Bra stood in the doorway and looked around as Videl yelled to Pan that it would be fine. Bra saw the endless books strewn on the table and the floor. She shook her head and looked at a picture on the table and picked it up, glancing at it.

The picture was taken a summer ago when the Z Gang had gathered for the anniversary of the defeat of Evil Kid Buu. Vegeta sat cross-legged on the ground with a slight smirk with Piccolo on the opposite side of the picture doing the same. Bulma and Chi-chi stood back to back between them with a full smile. Next to Chi-chi was Gohan hugging Videl's shoulders with Pan on Goku's shoulder laughing. Goten and Trunks sat at their mother's feet, back-to-back to each other, giving victory/peace signs as Hercule knelt by Bee by Chi-chi. On Bulma's side, Bra, herself, stood by Krillin, Marron, and Android #18, with her and Marron's shoulder's intertwined and Android #18 smiling at them while Krillin sat next to Piccolo. Finally, Dende sat on the other side of Piccolo with Yamacha, Puar, Tien, and Chiotzu. Bra smiled and placed her fingertips on the picture of her father.

"Bra!" Bra looked up at Pan with a start. "What are you looking at?" Pan took the picture from her.

"Oh, T-The picture from last Summer. I hadn't ever seen it." Bra answered as she saw Pan put the picture down. "So you ready?"

"Yeah." She said, placing a bag on her back. "Let's go!" With that, they flew into the air towards Kami's place.

~~~~~Meanwhile, in Goten's room……~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh, come on, Trunks! Why do you have to go?" Goten asked as Trunks stopped at the door.

"My mom hired some new employees today and I have to do some papers." Trunks said, grimly, dreading the task.

"Hey, I'll come. There are strength in numbers, after all."

"Will your mom let you come?" Trunks snickered.

"Sure, I need to get out of the house anyway." He stepped out the door. "Mom, I'm going over to Trunk's for a while. I'll meet you at the tournament!"

"Wait a minute, young man!"

Even though the young men were used to Chi-chi's 'attention-grabber' voice, Trunks and Goten froze in their tracks and turned to Chi-chi. Chi-chi, hands on her hips, approached Goten and brushed imaginary dust from his shirt.

"Bulma dropped this by yesterday." She said and handed him a car capsule. "And don't forget to give those papers to her for me." She said as she handed him his bag.

"Okay, mom. See ya!" Goten said as he ran out the door with Trunks close behind.

"Be careful!" He heard her snap as they stopped outside the door.

Goten pressed the capsule's button and threw it. In a cloud of smoke, a blue Camero appeared. He opened the door and threw his bag in the back and sat in the driver's seat while Trunk's got in the passenger side.

"Sweat ride, Goten." Trunks commented as they buckled up.

"Yeah, sweet." With the twist of the ignition key, they were off in the air towards Capsule Corp.

~~~~~~~~~Presently at Capsule Corporation……~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bulma sat silently at her desk in the corner and watched as Mira, the new mechanic, worked on capsule cars. She rarely had to show her where things were. It was as if she had been there before and had arranged it like that.

She had woken up and hour ago and felt refreshed. When she came down, the seventeen cars that had been waiting for service was knocked down to five. She had been observing Mira in action and currently watched as she worked on the last one.

She was glad that she had hired this girl. She was not only fast, precise, and intelligent, but also incredibly nice. One walk in customer had asked her to fix his car in a hurry and had his car fixed in five minutes, earning her a hundred zeni tip.

Suddenly the phone rang.

"I got it." Mira chimed as she pressed a button on her headset. "Hello, Capsule Corp Workshop. Mira speaking. How may I help you?" Mira straightened from being bent over the engine of a capsule car, fingering the microphone closer to her mouth as she wiped the oil from her hands with a cloth. "Uh huh, sure. Well, we'll be closed for the next couple of days for the opening of the World Martial Arts Tournament so how about 3:00 on Thursday?" She smiled and nodded. "Okay, Mrs.? Nigaro? Miasha Nigaro? Okay, Mrs. Nigaro. Bye." She turned off the phone and lowered the mic.

Silently she turned to the computer and opened the appointment book and began to easily type in the appointment. Having entered the appointment, Mira turned, shut the hood, pushed the capsize button, and caught the capsule easily.

"All done." She commented as she placed the capsule on the counter and approached Bulma. "Are there anymore, Dr. Briefs?"

"No. We're all caught up now. Thanks to you." Bulma said as Mira smiled and placed the oil cloth in the waste basket.

"Oh, no problem. I love working on machines." Mira said as she popped her neck. "By the way, Bulma. Would I be able to work on my car in your shop since we're done and all?"

"I don't see why not." Bulma replied as she received a warm smile from the young woman.

"Thanks, Bulma."

Mira turned on her heels and pulled a capsule from her pocket, pressed the button, and threw it. Amidst the smoke appeared a blue Capsule Corp Brand (Laborgini style) car. Before Bulma could even reply, Mira was under the car working away.

"Um, Mira?" Bulma called. "Are you busy tonight?"

"I'm going to the tournament. Why?"

"I was just going to ask if you would like to go to the tournament with us, if you don't have anyone to go with. My husband and son are participating and we get free tickets." Mira scooted out from under the car and smiled.

"I don't see why not, but my little brother and two of my sisters are coming, too."

"Bring 'em! The more the better."

"Okay, then." Mira laughed and scuttled under the car again.

Suddenly a honk came from outside the shop. Bulma turned in time to see Goten's blue car drive into the shop as if on a breeze. It landed and Trunks came out of the passenger side with Goten from the driver's.

"Hi, Trunks. Goten. Ready to go to the tournament?" She asked as she briefly hugged Trunks.

"You bet." Goten replied as he capsized his car and placed it in his pocket. "Where's Vegeta?"

"Oh, he went ahead to sign you guys up."

"Sounds cool." Trunks answered.

"Whoa!" Goten said when he turned and saw the car. "Who's car is this?"

"That's Mira's." Bulma said lightly as she bent down. "Mira, I have some people for you to meet."

"Be right up." With that, Mira scurried out from under the car, stood, and brushed herself off.

"Mira, this is my son, Trunks." Mira smiled and shook Trunk's hand. "And this is a friend of the family, Son Goten."

"Glad to meet you." Mira commented as she shook his hand. "You must be the men participating in the tournament. Good luck to ya." She turned to Bulma. "Ms. Briefs, is it okay if I meet you at the tournament? I have to stop by home."

Consenting, Bulma set up a time and place to meet her and Mira drove off. Soon after Bulma, Goten, and Trunks head off to the World Martial Arts Tournament.