Megumi sighed and ran her fingers through her messy pink hair. It was seven o'clock and most of the other employees had left the office two hours ago. But not Tereda Megumi, dedicated employee of Capsule Corp. Actually, it was the "side project" that she was helping Trunks and Goten with that had kept her late at the office. Her oak desk was littered with applications, some of which were stained with coffee rings, others with sticky chocolate fingerprints. Trunks and Goten both had managed to squeeze onto her lap. The boys were studying the applications, searching for "the one."
"What about this one?" asked Goten, holding up a paper. A picture of a girl with lime-green hair was paper-clipped to it.
"Nah. She's ugly," replied Trunks, barely glancing up as he shuffled through another stack.
"Trunks!" chided Megumi.
The lavender-haired boy winced. "Sorry, Megumi-san."
Goten shrugged and tossed the application aside. He picked up one and read over it. This one says she has her own pair of handcuffs. Does that mean she's a police officer?" he asked, a puzzled look on his face.
Megumi snatched the paper away from him. "That one goes in the trash," she murmured, tossing it away.
"What about her?" asked Trunks, holding out an application for Megumi's inspection.
She froze when she saw the attached picture of a perky redhead. "Oh. Her," Megumi muttered, her eyes narrowing.
Trunks frowned. "Do you not like her?"
"Oh, no!" replied the woman, laughing nervously. 'Not like' is too weak of a phrase, she added mentally. Taking a deep breath, Megumi took the paper from the boy, valiantly fighting the urge to rip it to shreds. "Is this the one you choose this time?" she asked the two children. This was their endeavor; ultimately, it was their choice.
Trunks and Goten studied the photo for a moment. The redhead had sparkling blue eyes and she was smiling sweetly.
"I think she's pretty," stated the spiky-haired boy.
"And it says that she likes baseball. She used to play softball herself," commented the older boy, pointing to the application.
Megumi nodded slowly, surrendering to the inevitable. "Fuseikoui Akane it is."
Yamcha sat patiently on the edge of his bed. Trunk and Goten were crouched on either side of him. They were busy trying to style his hair using extra-hold gel and a comb. Yamcha had been concerned at first that he would end up looking like on of their father's twins, but the boys had stayed away from copying Vegeta or Goku's hairstyle.
Megumi stood across from the trio. She was leaning against the bedroom wall, chewing her bottom lip thoughtfully. She couldn't understand how Yamcha could stay still with the two boys ripping out tuffs of hair as they "styled" his hair. The man seemed to have an incredible tolerance for pain.
Pu'ar hovered next to the pink-haired woman. She had been watching Megumi closely since the woman had arrived with the boys in tow. She could tell something was bothering her. "Are you okay, Megumi-san?" squeaked the floating cat.
Megumi jumped, jolted out of her reverie. She smiled half-heartedly and shrugged. "Yeah. Thanks Pu'ar-san."
"I noticed you aren't sneezing tonight," pointed out Yamcha.
"She took a handful of allergy pills before we left," explained Trunks as he sat back and surveyed his handiwork. "I think we're finished."
Yamcha silently prepared himself as he turned and looked in the mirror that was attached to his closet door. He was surprised by what he saw. The boys had messily spiked his hair, but somehow had made it look rugged instead of sloppy.
"What do you think?" asked Goten eagerly.
"I like it!" replied Yamcha. He reached out and ruffled the boys' hair. "Thanks, kiddos."
Megumi stepped forward, holding out a dark blue dress shirt and a pair of jeans. "Pu'ar and I picked out this outfit."
Yamcha took the clothes from her and stood up, sauntering over towards the bathroom. "What's the agenda for tonight?" he called over his shoulder. He disappeared into the bathroom to change.
"Dinner at a restaurant before heading over to that new night club that opened last week. I hope you can dance," called Megumi.
"I think I can manage," commented Yamcha as he reappeared. He rolled the sleeves of the shirt up to his elbows and glanced in the mirror. "How do I look?" he asked.
"Very handsome," replied Megumi. She blushed slightly after saying this. Trunks noticed this reaction, but didn't say anything.
"Thanks," replied Yamcha as he grinned roguishly. "Do you know anything about Fuseikoui-san, Megumi?"
The young woman paled. "We worked together once," she stated in a small voice.
"Oh?"
Megumi paused, looking uncertain whether or not to elaborate. Before she could say any more, Pu'ar spoke up. "It's seven-thirty. You only have a half-hour before you're supposed to pick up Fuseikoui-san," she commented.
"Right," stated Yamcha, snatching the car keys from his dresser.
"Good luck!" called Trunks and Goten in unison.
Megumi only muttered darkly under her breath. Yamcha raised an eyebrow and was about to comment when the two boys ushered him out towards the door. He glanced over his shoulder as he headed towards the car. He wondered what was wrong with Megumi. But whatever dark mood had plagued her before seemed to have disappeared. She was waving along with the boys, smiling radiantly. Yamcha shrugged off her strange behavior and slid behind the steering wheel. He had his own problems to worry about.
Megumi felt as if her arms were going to be ripped off. Goten and Trunks walked on either side of her, each holding a hand. They were currently swinging their arms merrily, ignorant of the pain they were causing her. Megumi endured silently; the entrance to the restaurant was only a few feet away. Beside her, Pu'ar was giving her a pitying look.
They blinked as their eyes readjusted when they stepped inside. The hostess, a young girl with dark blue hair, looked up and grinned. "Megumi-chan!"
"Hello, Tomoyo-chan," greeted Megumi, smiling at her life-long best friend.
The other woman leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially. "They've already arrived," she stated, nodding towards the corner of the restaurant. "You didn't tell me she was going to be his date."
Megumi shrugged casually. "Is our table ready?"
"Follow me," commented Tomoyo perkily, grabbing four menus and setting off to the opposite side of the table.
As they walked through the restaurant, Trunks studied Yamcha's latest date. Akane's red hair was tied back in a braid that fell down to her mid-back. She wore a white tank top and a pair of black jeans. She and Yamcha were animatedly discussing something, and from the gestures they were making, it was most likely baseball. Trunks grinned, feeling satisfied that Yamcha seemed to be enjoying himself.
Tomoyo showed them to their table and then left to go seat the next group of people who had just walked in. Megumi rubbed her temples as she shifted against the hard wooden bench. She was surprised that even now just seeing Fuseikoui Akane still made her sick to her stomach.
Pu'ar noticed that Megumi seemed to be ill. She placed a fuzzy paw on the other woman's arm. "Megumi-san, something's wrong. What is it?"
"It's nothing. Really," stated Megumi in a strained voice.
Pu'ar sighed. The pink-haired woman seemed to have a stubborn streak to her. However, the curiosity was beginning to get to her.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the restaurant, Yamcha found himself falling head over heels for Akane. She was smart, funny, sexy…the perfect woman. She listened avidly when he spoke, as if everything he said was the most important thing in the world to her. She laughed at his jokes, even the lame ones. Yamcha was beginning to hope for a happier ending to this date.
He took a sip of his beer and glanced across the restaurant to where Megumi and the others were sitting. Trunks and Goten must have had some sort of disagreement because she was currently trying to keep them from throwing wadded napkins at each other. Yamcha chortled at the sight.
"What's so funny?" asked Akane sweetly, looking up at him with a puzzled grin.
"Oh, nothing," muttered Yamcha, turning back to her.
However, Akane glanced around, looking for what had caused him to laugh. Her eyes fell on Megumi and her mouth dropped open. "Oh my goodness!" she gasped. "Will you excuse me?" she asked politely.
"Um…sure," he replied.
Akane stood up and strode over to the table where Megumi and the others were sitting. The pink-haired woman had just managed to separate the two bickering boys. She glanced up, expecting to see the waitress. She froze when she realized it was Akane.
"Megumi-chan!" cried Akane, her voice syrupy sweet.
"Hello, Akane-san," replied Megumi, her voice flat and cold.
"I hadn't realized you'd gotten married," commented the redhead, glancing at the two boys.
"Oh, they aren't mine," Megumi corrected quickly.
"Still looking for 'Mister Right' then?" asked Akane with a smirk.
Megumi shrugged and turned away. Trunks and Goten glanced at each other. They had never seen Megumi at so stand-offish. Something was definitely wrong.
"Well, I'm glad I've had better luck," laughed Akane, gesturing towards Yamcha. "Well, I gotta run. Can't leave a man waiting. Ja ne!"
"Ja ne," spat Megumi, glaring as she watched the redhead leave.
"Oh," murmured Pu'ar softly.
"What?" asked Megumi, turning to her.
"I think I just realized what was wrong."
Akane and Yamcha laughed as they walked up to the door of Akane's apartment. They had spent the last three hours dancing, laughing, and talking. Yamcha hated that the night was already over. As they stopped in front of her door, he steeled his courage.
"What are you doing next weekend, Akane-san?"
The redhead blushed and ducked her head. "Nothing. Why?"
Yamcha shrugged. "The team I coach has a game next Saturday. I thought if you wanted, you could come watch and then we could go out afterwards. Hopefully to celebrate our victory."
"I would love to," breathed Akane softly.
"Well…um…great!" he replied, laughing nervously.
"I had a great time tonight," commented the redhead.
"Yeah, me too," whispered Yamcha.
He leaned forward slightly, mesmerized by Akane's strawberry pink lips. She responded by shifting to her tiptoes. They paused for a minute and then for one wonderful, brief moment, their lips met. Yamcha broke the kiss and pulled away, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"I guess I'll call you later about next weekend."
"I can't wait," replied Akane. She smiled and then went inside.
Yamcha calmly walked down the sidewalk and back out to his car. He got in and sat staring at the steering wheel for a moment. Then he cried "yes!," waving his fist in triumph.
Megumi pulled into Capsule Corp. She had spent the past three hours in the arcade across the street from the nightclub that Yamcha and Akane had gone to. She and Pu'ar had tried to spy on the couple while keeping tabs on the boys at the same time. Megumi was completely exhausted; she was tempted to ask Bulma for tomorrow off.
Megumi was surprised when a young teenager stepped outside and approached the car. He grinned and waved at them as he walked up.
"Oniichan!" cried Goten.
Both Trunks and Goten leapt out of the car and ran to the teen. He laughed and hugged them. The boys were both talking simultaneously, each trying to share their version of the night's events. Megumi stepped out of the car.
"Good evening, Tereda-san," greeted the teenager politely. "I'm Son Gohan."
"He's my big brother," piped up Goten, grinning up at the older boy with admiration.
Gohan and Megumi shook hands. "Bulma-san and Vegeta-san went out tonight. They asked that I stay over so someone would be home when the boys got in," explained the teenager.
"Well, then they're all yours," stated Megumi. "Tell Bulma-san that I'll see her tomorrow. 'Night boys."
"Night, Megumi-san!" they replied in unison.
Megumi watched Gohan try to steer the boys inside as she pulled away. They must have just gotten their second wind because they were running around the grounds yelling while the teenager was chasing after them. Megumi chuckled to herself and silently thanked kami that those two weren't her children. She didn't think she had what it took to handle those two.
Yamcha marched purposefully through the complex maze of corridors inside Capsule Corp. In his right hand he clasped a bouquet of cream-colored roses. He had been on his way to practice when he was struck with the brilliant idea to surprise Akane with flowers. The receptionist had informed him that Akane worked in the customer service office on the third floor. He was grateful for his years spent at Capsule Corp.; otherwise, he would have had to ask the receptionist for a map.
"Whatcha doing, Uncle Yamcha?" asked a voice behind him.
Yamcha turned to see Trunks trailing behind him. He grinned down at the boy. "Listen and learn, Trunks-kun. This is what we call 'earning brownie points.'"
"'Brownie points'?" asked the young boy, a confused look on his face.
"Yup. Stand back and watch the master."
Trunks shrugged and followed after Yamcha. They came to the customer service office. Yamcha paused and wiped his palms on his baseball jersey.
Seize the day, he told himself.
"Are we going to just stand here and look at the door or are we going to go in?" commented Trunks. He crossed his arms over his chest and smirked, looking like a miniature Vegeta.
"Give me a second," snapped Yamcha. He took one more deep breath and stepped inside.
He scanned the office, looking for Akane's flame-red hair. She was no where in sight. He didn't let this deter him, however. Yamcha marched up to the front desk and grinned down at the dark-haired woman.
"Excuse me, is Akane-san here?"
"I'm sorry, she just left for lunch with her boyfriend," replied the woman.
"'Boyfriend'?" asked Yamcha, his stomach churning.
"Yeah…one of them. She has so many that I don't really bother keeping track." The receptionist looked up at him quizzically, eyeing the roses. "Who are you?"
Yamcha laughed weakly. "Just an old friend stopping by to say 'hello'. Too bad I missed her. Thanks."
The woman shrugged indifferently and went back to reading her romance novel. Yamcha turned and sulked out of the office. He leaned against the outside wall, pressing his forehead against the cool brick.
"That didn't go too well, did it?" commented Trunks. He stared up at Yamcha with sympathetic baby-blue eyes.
"No, it didn't." Yamcha held the roses up and glared at them. "I guess I'll just throw these away…"
"You shouldn't waste them," stated Trunks hurriedly. "Why don't you give 'em to Megumi-san. For helping you and everything."
Yamcha glanced down at the lavender-haired boy. "Good idea, squirt." He set off down the hall towards the main offices. "See ya later, kiddo!"
"Bye, Uncle Yamcha!" called Trunks. He frowned slightly as Yamcha disappeared around the corner. So far two dates had failed. Maybe this entire "wife thing" was harder than he thought it would be.
Megumi slammed the phone down in disgust. Her day had started off bad with her alarm clock not going off. She had run into work over an hour late. It had just gotten worse from there. She sighed and began rubbing her temples again.
"Megumi-san?" asked a quiet voice.
The pink-haired woman looked up to see Yamcha standing in front of her desk. He was smiling shyly, a bouquet of roses clasped in his hands. "Oh. Yamcha-san! What are you doing here?"
He shrugged and gestured to the flowers. "I came by to see Akane…but she was out with one of her other boyfriends." He couldn't hide the bitterness in his voice. He was beginning to lose hope in ever finding someone decent.
"Oh. I'm sorry," murmured Megumi. She stared down at her desk. "I should…I should have warned you.
"'Warned' me? About what?" asked Yamcha warily.
"Akane and I used to work in the same office before I was promoted. We were really good friends…until I found out she was cheating with my boyfriend." Megumi shrugged and smiled wryly. "I guess it should make me happy that she left him less than a month later for someone else."
"But it doesn't," whispered Yamcha softly.
"No. It doesn't."
Yamcha held the roses out to her. "Here. I want you to have them."
Megumi blinked. "But…"
"No. I won't let you refuse," replied the young man with a grin. "Please, take them."
She hesitantly reached out and took the bouquet. The roses were cream-colored with the tips of the petals stained pink. Megumi laughed. Those were her favorite. It was almost as if they were meant for her. "Thank you, Yamcha-san."
"You're welcome," he replied softly.
Trunks watched from around the corner as Yamcha and Megumi talked to one another. The young boy smiled. If anyone deserved to receive roses, it was definitely Megumi. As he watched them, another idea crossed his mind. Maybe "the one" was right in front of them.