Dragon Ball Yugure Z
A Dragon Ball Z fanfiction
by Son Goharotto (son_goharotto@hotmail.com)
Welcome to Dragon Ball Yugure Z, my personal pet project. This is what I like to call a "multi-generational alternaverse epic." Expect a complex story spanning several volumes that are littered with cliff-hangers and titanic battles. DBYZ has been revised in its entirety. While some episodes have merely been ridden of typos, others have been rewritten completely. I'll be starting from the beginning at one episode a day so new readers can join in, undaunted by DBYZ's length, and old readers can review past events. All this is leading up to the new Episode 37, from which I'll try to keep a normal updating pace instead of letting this be forgotten as it once was.
DISCLAIMER: As much as I mgiht wish it not to be, DBZ does not belong to me. It's the property of Akira Toriyama-sama and many others who (unfortunately) aren't me. I'm not trying to make any money off of this and it's just a way for me to show my love of all things Dragon Ball. Well, except maybe GT. Bleah. I is teh poor, so don't sue me.
WARNINGS: As a whole, this series contains mature language (usually in Japanese), graphic violence, brutality, mature situations (non-lemon), and a touch of angst.
NOTES: A liberal amount of Japanese vocabulary is sprinkled throughout, though nothing extremely important is ever said in another language that isn't translated. Mostly just basic Otaku Japanese. I've compiled a list of phrases I use on my homepage here: www.enpitsudo-dojo.com/libjapanese.html.
"dialogue"
""layered voice"" (Fusion, for example)
{alien language}
[thoughts, telepathy, memories]
_stressed words_
*sounds*
~scene change~
Volume I -- The Nagareboshi Saga
Episode 05 -- Someone Help Me!! A Shocking Revelation!!
Mr. Popo swept the floor with a simple broom. For so long, he had taken to cleaning the Tenkai on a regular basis. He never forgot, though there was no one to clean for but himself. Kami might never return, but Popo refused to leave. He didn't want to believe his long-time friend would never come back, so he stayed to wait.
Popo sighed. The cleaning was done and now he had nothing to do. Popo contemplated the past day's events. Two large ki's flared up earlier, but they were gone. Suddenly, another shot up. [Hm? Ah, Son Goku,] he said, recognizing the signature.]
Popo put away the broom in a small storage room. He had nothing to do now but relax. He stepped out into the courtyard, enjoying the breeze, the trees swaying slightly. Mr. Popo smiled, despite himself. He had planted those trees himself many years ago and he was glad to see how they prospered in the pleasant climate so far above Chikyuu.
Mr. Popo stood there for quite a while longer, savoring the sweet smell of the upper winds, untainted by the death and suffering below. He was at peace here, a place far removed from pain and misery.
Mr. Popo turned to face Goku as the Saiyajin touched down in the courtyard and greeted him cordially. "Konbon wa, Son Goku! How can Popo be of service to you?"
Goku forced a smile through his sour mood, "Ohayo, Popo. I really need your help. I... don't know what to do anymore..." His shoudlers dropped slightly.
Popo placed a comforting hand on the man's arm. "Guidence is what you seek?"
"Hai..."
"Hmm... Please follow Popo." Not even looking to see if Goku followed, Mr. Popo turned and proceeded to enter a secondary compound. They entered a small room which was warm and sort of cozy. There was only one table and a few chairs in it. "Please, sit." Popo motioned to a chair. "I'll be right back," he said before exiting through a two-way door. Goku sat, slightly slumped, in a wooden chair that was surprisingly comfortable. Moments later, Popo returned carrying a huge plate loaded with food. "Eat," he offered, placing it on the table in front of Goku.
"Ah, arigato, Popo." After a pause, he began to dig in, eating in ravenous Saiyajin fashion.
"Do itashimashite." Popo waited until Goku was well into his meal before he resumed speaking. "Son-san, Popo may seem apathetic at times, but I am aware of your... predicament. No advice I could give you would ever be enough, but I can make an educated suggestion. Go see Enma Daiou-sama."
Goku stopped right then and there. "Dare ga? Enma?"
"Hai, I believe you met him after you died fighting Radditz."
"That's right. Um, he's in Anoyo, isn't he?"
"Tadashii. You can still use the Shunkan Idou technique, can you not?"
"Hai, I think so." Goku's mood suddenly brightened. He thumped a hand down on Popo's shoulder, not noticing as the smaller being winced slightly."Arigato Popo, for the food and the advice."
"My pleasure, Son-san."
Goku put two fingers to his head and searched for Enma's ki signature. Locking on, Goku turned one last time to the short man next to him. "Bai-bai!" And an instant later, he was gone.
[Gonbatte, Son-san.] Popo stood and brought the now empty plate into the kitchen in the next room to be washed. [I can only hope you have the strength to endure...]
Goku suddenly found himself outside a huge, ornate palace. It was of traditional architecture, save two particularly untraditional horns of gigantic size protrudiing from the roof. [Ara! Subarashiiiii! Now I remember!] On his left, a line of cloud-like spirits were floating towards the entrance. He took off at an eager jog along side the line. Approaching the golden entrance, he was stopped by two burly oni.
"Oi! Enma's in there, right?" Goku asked. The oni looked nervously at each other. "Waaaiiit, I know you guys!" He pointed to the one on the left, who was red and had one horn. Then he pointed to the other, who was blue and had two stubby horns and glasses. "You're the guys that tried to stop me from getting back to Snake Way all those years back!"
The red one nodded. "Hai, I guess we made a mistake, huh?" Goz admitted.
The blue one agreed. "Had we known who you were, we wouldn't have given you such a hard time," said Mez. He pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose with his finger.
"Forget about it," Goku said, waving it off. "We all make mistakes. Can I see Enma now?"
"Go right ahead, Goku-san," Mez said. As Goku walked passed them, Mez added, "How'd you get that scar?"
"Like I said, we _all_ make mistakes," Goku muttered darkly.
While the outside of the palace projected an air of serenity, the inside was a madhouse. Oni and souls rushed around and it very much resembled the floor of the stock market. To the right was an ornate, pearl and silver gate was labeled 'Tengoku'. To the left, other souls were being herded by armed oni through onyx and iron gates. Above was the sign 'Jigoku'. Goku could see the giant red oni known as Enma sitting behind his equally large desk opposite the entrance. Behind him were the doors that led to Snake Way and ultimately the Kaiou-sei. The Saiyajin carefully danced his way around, trying not to get in the way of the onis' administrative duties. Cutting in front of the line of souls, Goku cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, "Oi! Enma!!"
The master oni looked up from a form he was filling out, trying to find out where the voice had come from. Finally, he peered down over the edge of his desk and saw Goku. "Oh! Son-san! How are you?"
"Could be better," he responded, floating up to eye level with the humongous red oni. "I need your help."
"Honto ni? Well, I need a brake anyway." The secretarial oni froze in their tracks and all activity stopped as they all turned to stare wide-eyed at their employer. Such a break in pace always made for a back-up of paperwork and soon they hurried back to their tasks, on the brink of panic. Enma merely wiped his brow with a handkerchief. "How can I help you?" he offered.
"You know 'bout Nagareboshi?"
Enma looked very mad. "Hai! It's giving us a lot to do!" he exclaimed, gesturing to the mound of paperwork on his desk, that even as they spoke was still building. "Why don't you take care of It?"
"...I tried, believe me."
"And...?"
"...I lost. He killed my family and friends."
"Nani!!!! That's... that's _horrible_. I'm very sorry for your loss, Goku-san..."
"Arigato... I asked Popo what I should do. He told me I needed guidance and sent me to you."
"Ah, Popo-san is a good man. Mysterious, but very wise. So he said you needed guidance, huh?"
"Hai, but I don't know what he meant."
"Hmm... if he sent you to me... maybe he thought... you should speak with them," the giant oni though aloud. "Hai! Hai, that must be it!"
"I-I don't understand. What do you mean?"
"I mean that you must talk to your deceased family. I can arrange that; that's why he sent you to me."
"Honto!? Arigato, Enma! Onegai, will you do that for me?"
"Mochiron! Anything for you, my friend!" Enma turned to one of his assistants. "You there!" Enma rumbled, "Find out where this man's family and friends are!" The oni started their research immediately without even asking who Goku was. "It should only be a few minutes now."
So they waited. And waited. And waited. Goku stood on Enma's desk looking forlorn, while the Lord of the Afterlife tried to remain calm.
Finally, one of the oni stepped forward hesitantly. "Uh... Enma-sama, sir. We, uh --"
"Speak up!!" Enma roared.
"Yes sir! We couldn't find them, sir!"
"...nani?" Goku's voice was a hoarse whisper.
"I'm sorry, but we couldn't find them. According to our records, they are still alive. Well, exce --"
Now Goku sprung to life. "But that's not possible!! How --"
Enma interrupted, "Do you even know _who_ you are looking for?" he asked calmly, turning again to his subordinate.
The oni looked rather upset at that. "Of course we do, sir! We never make a mistake!"
"Hmm, this is going to be a problem." He thought for a minute. "Well, there is _one_ way, but..."
"Nani!? Do yatte!?"
"Are you sure? It can be very dangerous."
"Hai, I'll do whatever it takes," he declared vehemently.
"So be it. There is a room, long disused, that can act as a mediator of sorts between the living and the...otherwise... no matter where the target individual is. It has been used only a few times, many sessions have turned out, ah, regrettable."
The secretary cleared his throat. "Excuse me--"
"What's this place?"
"The Kaigisho no Maigo Tamashii. The Chamber of Lost Souls. Follow me." Enma rose from his seat and lumbered across the room, Goku hot on his heels. Enma pulled a file cabinet twice his size away from the wall. Many oni covered their ears at the screeching noise of metal dragging over tiles.
This revealed a wide set of ornate stone arches. Ominous symbols from languages long forgotten were carved into the giant columns on either side.
"Is this it?" Goku asked.
"Iie, this is merely the path. At the end of this hallway is the door to the Kaigisho. Please be warned, Goku-san: the trials you must face in the Kaigisho may be more than even you can handle and there is no escape. You must complete what you start. That is the only way out."
"Arigato, Enma." Goku turned toward the passage and took off at a run.
"B-but, sir!" the secretary began, "We did find --"
"Gonbatte, Goku-san!" Enma called at the Saiyajin's back, cutting off his subordinate. He sighed heavily and pushed the cabinet back into place, closing off the hallway. The smaller oni sighed and flipped the papers he held into the air, returning to work.
~~~~~
Mr. Popo was in a rather good mood as he cleaned the dishes. He'd been scrubbing for several hours now; it always took forever to clean. As he worked, he hummed softly one of his favorite songs, a simple tune that has long since been forgotten by modern folk.
Suddenly, he stopped. A cold, horrible feeling ran down his spine. [N-nande yo!? I've never felt anything like it!] Popo ran outside, stopping at the edge of the floating palace. He scanned the ground with his ki. There were a couple he recognized. Vegeta and the boys. Goku was understandable absent. There were a few others of some significance, but Popo's attention was caught by one even stronger in the distance. [It felt... evil. What... is this!? Such raw evil! Who could... Iie!! Nagareboshi!!]
Popo staggered in fear and panic. Nagareboshi might as well have disappeared off the face of the planet, considering all the trouble It went through to stay inconspicuous. But now, the beast stirred. [It's... awakening...] In his alarm, Popo called out to Enma. [Enma-sama! Are you there!?]
After a pause, [Hai, Popo-san. I am here. What do you need?]
[Is Son-san still there?]
[Iie, he just left.]
[Can you call him back?]
[Impossible. Doshite, is something the matter?]
[Popo thinks... Nagareboshi... is awakening...]
[Oh my, are you sure?]
[Hai, I'm afraid so. That's why Popo must speak to Son-san.]
[Sumimasen, Popo-san. There is nothing I can do.]
[Domo arigato gozaimasu, Enma-sama. Sayonara,] Mr. Popo thought dejectedly. He broke off the connection. He though for a minute and came to a decision. Steeling himself, Popo reached out with his mind, following a familiar ki until he came to a mental barrier. Popo poked around a bit, hoping to get the person's attention. [Vegeta-san... Vegeta-san... Vege --]
[Nande kuso!? Who the hell --!?]
Instantly, a wall went up, pushing Popo's mind away to the point that he had to struggle to sustain contact. Working fast, he attempted to placate the prince. [Please, calm down Vegeta-san. It is I, Mr. Popo.]
[...You're that guy who helped out Kami, aren't you?]
[Hai, correct --]
[Then what in hell are you doing in my head!?]
[Popo is not in your head, per say. I am speaking to you telepathically.]
[Whatever! What do you want!?]
[Did you fell a chill earlier, like a ki signature?]
[......Hai. What are you getting at?]
[Popo thinks the monster Nagareboshi is awakening... Vegeta-san? Vegeta-san!]
[Relax! I'm just checking the Scouter! ...Kuso! You're right. The memory system recorded a ki signature just a few minutes ago. About the time I felt it.]
[...Then Popo was right.]
[...] After a moment of silence, Vegeta 'spoke up' again. [Crap! I'm going to tell the boys.]
[Is that wise?]
[If that monster wakes up, we'll have to fight It. There's no reason not to tell them.]
[Whatever you feel is best. Sayonara.] Mr. Popo sat down, lost in thought. The dirty dishes sat, ignored and forgotten, in the soapy water.
A Dragon Ball Z fanfiction
by Son Goharotto (son_goharotto@hotmail.com)
Welcome to Dragon Ball Yugure Z, my personal pet project. This is what I like to call a "multi-generational alternaverse epic." Expect a complex story spanning several volumes that are littered with cliff-hangers and titanic battles. DBYZ has been revised in its entirety. While some episodes have merely been ridden of typos, others have been rewritten completely. I'll be starting from the beginning at one episode a day so new readers can join in, undaunted by DBYZ's length, and old readers can review past events. All this is leading up to the new Episode 37, from which I'll try to keep a normal updating pace instead of letting this be forgotten as it once was.
DISCLAIMER: As much as I mgiht wish it not to be, DBZ does not belong to me. It's the property of Akira Toriyama-sama and many others who (unfortunately) aren't me. I'm not trying to make any money off of this and it's just a way for me to show my love of all things Dragon Ball. Well, except maybe GT. Bleah. I is teh poor, so don't sue me.
WARNINGS: As a whole, this series contains mature language (usually in Japanese), graphic violence, brutality, mature situations (non-lemon), and a touch of angst.
NOTES: A liberal amount of Japanese vocabulary is sprinkled throughout, though nothing extremely important is ever said in another language that isn't translated. Mostly just basic Otaku Japanese. I've compiled a list of phrases I use on my homepage here: www.enpitsudo-dojo.com/libjapanese.html.
"dialogue"
""layered voice"" (Fusion, for example)
{alien language}
[thoughts, telepathy, memories]
_stressed words_
*sounds*
~scene change~
Volume I -- The Nagareboshi Saga
Episode 05 -- Someone Help Me!! A Shocking Revelation!!
Mr. Popo swept the floor with a simple broom. For so long, he had taken to cleaning the Tenkai on a regular basis. He never forgot, though there was no one to clean for but himself. Kami might never return, but Popo refused to leave. He didn't want to believe his long-time friend would never come back, so he stayed to wait.
Popo sighed. The cleaning was done and now he had nothing to do. Popo contemplated the past day's events. Two large ki's flared up earlier, but they were gone. Suddenly, another shot up. [Hm? Ah, Son Goku,] he said, recognizing the signature.]
Popo put away the broom in a small storage room. He had nothing to do now but relax. He stepped out into the courtyard, enjoying the breeze, the trees swaying slightly. Mr. Popo smiled, despite himself. He had planted those trees himself many years ago and he was glad to see how they prospered in the pleasant climate so far above Chikyuu.
Mr. Popo stood there for quite a while longer, savoring the sweet smell of the upper winds, untainted by the death and suffering below. He was at peace here, a place far removed from pain and misery.
Mr. Popo turned to face Goku as the Saiyajin touched down in the courtyard and greeted him cordially. "Konbon wa, Son Goku! How can Popo be of service to you?"
Goku forced a smile through his sour mood, "Ohayo, Popo. I really need your help. I... don't know what to do anymore..." His shoudlers dropped slightly.
Popo placed a comforting hand on the man's arm. "Guidence is what you seek?"
"Hai..."
"Hmm... Please follow Popo." Not even looking to see if Goku followed, Mr. Popo turned and proceeded to enter a secondary compound. They entered a small room which was warm and sort of cozy. There was only one table and a few chairs in it. "Please, sit." Popo motioned to a chair. "I'll be right back," he said before exiting through a two-way door. Goku sat, slightly slumped, in a wooden chair that was surprisingly comfortable. Moments later, Popo returned carrying a huge plate loaded with food. "Eat," he offered, placing it on the table in front of Goku.
"Ah, arigato, Popo." After a pause, he began to dig in, eating in ravenous Saiyajin fashion.
"Do itashimashite." Popo waited until Goku was well into his meal before he resumed speaking. "Son-san, Popo may seem apathetic at times, but I am aware of your... predicament. No advice I could give you would ever be enough, but I can make an educated suggestion. Go see Enma Daiou-sama."
Goku stopped right then and there. "Dare ga? Enma?"
"Hai, I believe you met him after you died fighting Radditz."
"That's right. Um, he's in Anoyo, isn't he?"
"Tadashii. You can still use the Shunkan Idou technique, can you not?"
"Hai, I think so." Goku's mood suddenly brightened. He thumped a hand down on Popo's shoulder, not noticing as the smaller being winced slightly."Arigato Popo, for the food and the advice."
"My pleasure, Son-san."
Goku put two fingers to his head and searched for Enma's ki signature. Locking on, Goku turned one last time to the short man next to him. "Bai-bai!" And an instant later, he was gone.
[Gonbatte, Son-san.] Popo stood and brought the now empty plate into the kitchen in the next room to be washed. [I can only hope you have the strength to endure...]
Goku suddenly found himself outside a huge, ornate palace. It was of traditional architecture, save two particularly untraditional horns of gigantic size protrudiing from the roof. [Ara! Subarashiiiii! Now I remember!] On his left, a line of cloud-like spirits were floating towards the entrance. He took off at an eager jog along side the line. Approaching the golden entrance, he was stopped by two burly oni.
"Oi! Enma's in there, right?" Goku asked. The oni looked nervously at each other. "Waaaiiit, I know you guys!" He pointed to the one on the left, who was red and had one horn. Then he pointed to the other, who was blue and had two stubby horns and glasses. "You're the guys that tried to stop me from getting back to Snake Way all those years back!"
The red one nodded. "Hai, I guess we made a mistake, huh?" Goz admitted.
The blue one agreed. "Had we known who you were, we wouldn't have given you such a hard time," said Mez. He pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose with his finger.
"Forget about it," Goku said, waving it off. "We all make mistakes. Can I see Enma now?"
"Go right ahead, Goku-san," Mez said. As Goku walked passed them, Mez added, "How'd you get that scar?"
"Like I said, we _all_ make mistakes," Goku muttered darkly.
While the outside of the palace projected an air of serenity, the inside was a madhouse. Oni and souls rushed around and it very much resembled the floor of the stock market. To the right was an ornate, pearl and silver gate was labeled 'Tengoku'. To the left, other souls were being herded by armed oni through onyx and iron gates. Above was the sign 'Jigoku'. Goku could see the giant red oni known as Enma sitting behind his equally large desk opposite the entrance. Behind him were the doors that led to Snake Way and ultimately the Kaiou-sei. The Saiyajin carefully danced his way around, trying not to get in the way of the onis' administrative duties. Cutting in front of the line of souls, Goku cupped his hands around his mouth and called out, "Oi! Enma!!"
The master oni looked up from a form he was filling out, trying to find out where the voice had come from. Finally, he peered down over the edge of his desk and saw Goku. "Oh! Son-san! How are you?"
"Could be better," he responded, floating up to eye level with the humongous red oni. "I need your help."
"Honto ni? Well, I need a brake anyway." The secretarial oni froze in their tracks and all activity stopped as they all turned to stare wide-eyed at their employer. Such a break in pace always made for a back-up of paperwork and soon they hurried back to their tasks, on the brink of panic. Enma merely wiped his brow with a handkerchief. "How can I help you?" he offered.
"You know 'bout Nagareboshi?"
Enma looked very mad. "Hai! It's giving us a lot to do!" he exclaimed, gesturing to the mound of paperwork on his desk, that even as they spoke was still building. "Why don't you take care of It?"
"...I tried, believe me."
"And...?"
"...I lost. He killed my family and friends."
"Nani!!!! That's... that's _horrible_. I'm very sorry for your loss, Goku-san..."
"Arigato... I asked Popo what I should do. He told me I needed guidance and sent me to you."
"Ah, Popo-san is a good man. Mysterious, but very wise. So he said you needed guidance, huh?"
"Hai, but I don't know what he meant."
"Hmm... if he sent you to me... maybe he thought... you should speak with them," the giant oni though aloud. "Hai! Hai, that must be it!"
"I-I don't understand. What do you mean?"
"I mean that you must talk to your deceased family. I can arrange that; that's why he sent you to me."
"Honto!? Arigato, Enma! Onegai, will you do that for me?"
"Mochiron! Anything for you, my friend!" Enma turned to one of his assistants. "You there!" Enma rumbled, "Find out where this man's family and friends are!" The oni started their research immediately without even asking who Goku was. "It should only be a few minutes now."
So they waited. And waited. And waited. Goku stood on Enma's desk looking forlorn, while the Lord of the Afterlife tried to remain calm.
Finally, one of the oni stepped forward hesitantly. "Uh... Enma-sama, sir. We, uh --"
"Speak up!!" Enma roared.
"Yes sir! We couldn't find them, sir!"
"...nani?" Goku's voice was a hoarse whisper.
"I'm sorry, but we couldn't find them. According to our records, they are still alive. Well, exce --"
Now Goku sprung to life. "But that's not possible!! How --"
Enma interrupted, "Do you even know _who_ you are looking for?" he asked calmly, turning again to his subordinate.
The oni looked rather upset at that. "Of course we do, sir! We never make a mistake!"
"Hmm, this is going to be a problem." He thought for a minute. "Well, there is _one_ way, but..."
"Nani!? Do yatte!?"
"Are you sure? It can be very dangerous."
"Hai, I'll do whatever it takes," he declared vehemently.
"So be it. There is a room, long disused, that can act as a mediator of sorts between the living and the...otherwise... no matter where the target individual is. It has been used only a few times, many sessions have turned out, ah, regrettable."
The secretary cleared his throat. "Excuse me--"
"What's this place?"
"The Kaigisho no Maigo Tamashii. The Chamber of Lost Souls. Follow me." Enma rose from his seat and lumbered across the room, Goku hot on his heels. Enma pulled a file cabinet twice his size away from the wall. Many oni covered their ears at the screeching noise of metal dragging over tiles.
This revealed a wide set of ornate stone arches. Ominous symbols from languages long forgotten were carved into the giant columns on either side.
"Is this it?" Goku asked.
"Iie, this is merely the path. At the end of this hallway is the door to the Kaigisho. Please be warned, Goku-san: the trials you must face in the Kaigisho may be more than even you can handle and there is no escape. You must complete what you start. That is the only way out."
"Arigato, Enma." Goku turned toward the passage and took off at a run.
"B-but, sir!" the secretary began, "We did find --"
"Gonbatte, Goku-san!" Enma called at the Saiyajin's back, cutting off his subordinate. He sighed heavily and pushed the cabinet back into place, closing off the hallway. The smaller oni sighed and flipped the papers he held into the air, returning to work.
~~~~~
Mr. Popo was in a rather good mood as he cleaned the dishes. He'd been scrubbing for several hours now; it always took forever to clean. As he worked, he hummed softly one of his favorite songs, a simple tune that has long since been forgotten by modern folk.
Suddenly, he stopped. A cold, horrible feeling ran down his spine. [N-nande yo!? I've never felt anything like it!] Popo ran outside, stopping at the edge of the floating palace. He scanned the ground with his ki. There were a couple he recognized. Vegeta and the boys. Goku was understandable absent. There were a few others of some significance, but Popo's attention was caught by one even stronger in the distance. [It felt... evil. What... is this!? Such raw evil! Who could... Iie!! Nagareboshi!!]
Popo staggered in fear and panic. Nagareboshi might as well have disappeared off the face of the planet, considering all the trouble It went through to stay inconspicuous. But now, the beast stirred. [It's... awakening...] In his alarm, Popo called out to Enma. [Enma-sama! Are you there!?]
After a pause, [Hai, Popo-san. I am here. What do you need?]
[Is Son-san still there?]
[Iie, he just left.]
[Can you call him back?]
[Impossible. Doshite, is something the matter?]
[Popo thinks... Nagareboshi... is awakening...]
[Oh my, are you sure?]
[Hai, I'm afraid so. That's why Popo must speak to Son-san.]
[Sumimasen, Popo-san. There is nothing I can do.]
[Domo arigato gozaimasu, Enma-sama. Sayonara,] Mr. Popo thought dejectedly. He broke off the connection. He though for a minute and came to a decision. Steeling himself, Popo reached out with his mind, following a familiar ki until he came to a mental barrier. Popo poked around a bit, hoping to get the person's attention. [Vegeta-san... Vegeta-san... Vege --]
[Nande kuso!? Who the hell --!?]
Instantly, a wall went up, pushing Popo's mind away to the point that he had to struggle to sustain contact. Working fast, he attempted to placate the prince. [Please, calm down Vegeta-san. It is I, Mr. Popo.]
[...You're that guy who helped out Kami, aren't you?]
[Hai, correct --]
[Then what in hell are you doing in my head!?]
[Popo is not in your head, per say. I am speaking to you telepathically.]
[Whatever! What do you want!?]
[Did you fell a chill earlier, like a ki signature?]
[......Hai. What are you getting at?]
[Popo thinks the monster Nagareboshi is awakening... Vegeta-san? Vegeta-san!]
[Relax! I'm just checking the Scouter! ...Kuso! You're right. The memory system recorded a ki signature just a few minutes ago. About the time I felt it.]
[...Then Popo was right.]
[...] After a moment of silence, Vegeta 'spoke up' again. [Crap! I'm going to tell the boys.]
[Is that wise?]
[If that monster wakes up, we'll have to fight It. There's no reason not to tell them.]
[Whatever you feel is best. Sayonara.] Mr. Popo sat down, lost in thought. The dirty dishes sat, ignored and forgotten, in the soapy water.