Jay-chan and I caught the bus just before it took off down the street. The bus stank of sweaty bodies and the ripped pleather chairs were anything but comfortable. I lucked out and grabbed the window seat before Jay-chan could protest.
"So," Jay-chan sighed, "What's up with you and your boyfriend?"
"Eh, I think things are okay. He came back last night and we made up."
Jay-chan was silent for a while, "I don't see why you keep taking him back. The things he does to you are horrible."
I snorted and looked out the window.
"Really, Tif," she persisted, "You've changed a lot since you've been with him; you're not the independent, take-no-crap-from-no-one girl I used to know. This guy walks all over you, takes you for granted, and hurts you so badly, but you're so quick to forgive him. Have you looked in the mirror lately? You looked depressed 24/7."
"I do not."
"Yes, you do, and I think you know it too. You just won't admit it."
I crossed my arms across my chest and continued to stare out the window. Jay-chan shifted in her seat and ran her fingers through her waist-long hair. "If you thought I was wrong, you'd be telling me about all of the wonderful things your man did last night to win you back or you'd be telling me why I'm supposedly wrong. Now you're just defensive, like you've got something or someone to hide."
"Dammit Jay-chan! Is this the freakin' Spanish Inquisition?!" My cheeks were burning and I could feel the blood pumping in my veins.
"What did he do last night, Tiffy?! Huh?! What did he do?! Did he write you a love letter? Did he make specific promises as what he'd do to change? Did he feel bad for leaving you behind? For hurting you? Did he apologize to you sincerely? Or did he just want you back cuz he can't stand the thought of being alone? Is the only reason you're still in his life because you make him happy? Does he even love you? Think about it, TA! Who was there for you last night, huh? Who really gave a hell about your feelings?"
Who? Piccolo? No way...
Jay-chan sighed and lowered her head and her voice, "Piccolo came to see me again last night, as I'm sure you know. He was really upset with something you said to him; of course, he didn't tell me anything. What did you say?"
"I dunno... Something about him only being pissed at me because now he has to stay in our world a little longer."
"That's not true."
I watched as my reflection's lips curled into a smirk, "Right."
"I think you really hurt him last night, Tiffy."
The smirk on my face died and I felt the guilt in the pit of my stomach begin to rise. "I guess I should tell him I'm sorry... He was really nice to me, even after that crap was said between us. He even complimented me."
"Really?" Jay-chan's eyes were as big as saucers.
"Yeah. He said I have a lot to offer."
"Wow, I'm impressed. Go Piccolo."
My eyes snapped open and I almost fell out of my seat. "What the heck?!"
"What? I just thought that was cool of Pic to do, that's all."
The bus came to a screeching halt downtown; Jay-chan and I hopped off and began walking around. We passed Borders and an idea came to mind.
"Hold up, Jay. I wanna get something for Piccolo." I raced into the bookstore and stopped in front of the large bookcases full of manga. "Dragon... ball... Z..." I muttered to myself as I scanned the contents of each shelf. Finally, I spotted the continuing series of "Dragonball" and "Dragonball Z." I grabbed up the latest volume from each series and flipped through the pages. The "Dragonball" volume I held had already introduced Piccolo's character as Demon Junior in the Tenkaichi Budoukia, where he had beaten the living crap out of Krillin, and the "Dragonball Z" volume featured the showdown of Piccolo and Cell. Excellent! He'll love these and maybe I can do a little inquisitioning of my own as well. Just how much of the actual TV series "Dragonball Z" is true?
I stood in line to be rung up and then headed out the door with my purchases. Jay-chan gave me a puzzled look. "Just got some manga for Piccolo."
"What the heck?!"
"Dragonball Z!"
Jay-chan burst out laughing, "That is gunna mess with his head so badly! I thought you were gunna be nice to him after last night and after breaking his nose!"
"I am! He'll like them; there's a lot of fighting and action in these volumes. Plus, I wanna know just how much of the manga and the TV series is true." I winked with a giggle.
"Let's go look at the pretty dresses at Savvy!" Jay-chan grabbed my wrist and dragged me off.
Jay-chan and I were perusing the unbelievably expensive selections at Savvy when something caught my eye. I looked out the window and a flash of light bouncing off of someone's watch blinded me momentarily. When I stopped blinking uncontrollably, I saw the backs of a tall, young man with spiky hair and a woman with short black hair disappear down a long alleyway. I frowned and ran over to Jay-chan.
"Hey, I think I just saw my boyfriend."
Jay-chan raised her eyebrow at me, "It's only noon, you think that boy is up at this hour?"
"Hm... I really thought I saw him... with another girl."
"You're either really paranoid and obsessive or he's doing us a big favor. Give him a call on his cell."
I fumbled with my purse until I pulled out my silver cell phone. Motorola. I scrolled down the long list of phone numbers I had stored in my address book until I found his. The phone rang for what seemed like hours before he finally picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hey Sweetie, it's me."
"What's up?"
"Are you up?"
"I am now," I heard him chuckle softly. "I'm actually gunna go to the grocery store and pick up some shit. Stop by later, okay?"
"Alright. See ya!" I grinned.
"I love you."
I paused for a moment; ow, my stomach hurts, what's up with that? "I love you too!"
"Bye."
"Bye."
I threw my cell into the dark recesses of my purse and smiled at Jay-chan. "Guess I am paranoid and obsessive."
Jay-chan winked, "I told you!"
"So now what? Should we go back and check on Piccolo or was there somewhere else you wanted to go?"
"We should get Piccolo something that won't piss him off," she smirked, eyeing the bag of manga I was holding.
"What about a mocha?"
"Tiffy, you know Piccolo doesn't drink that kinda stuff!" Jay-chan squealed, near hysterics.
"It'd sure be funny to see him wired on caffeine or... we could get him drunk!"
"We could. Too bad we're, oh, I dunno... UNDER AGE!!!"
I squeezed my eyes shut, expecting to be beaten with a baka mallet.
"That doesn't matter anyway cuz I'm sure Piccolo knows what alcohol is; coffee, on the other hand, may be a totally different story," she grinned.
Within fifteen minutes, Jay-chan and I were back on the grimy bus, bag of manga in one hand and a mocha in the other.
The bus lurched forward, belching out ominous black clouds of soot, and began the slow trek home. Jay-chan and I raced up the steps to my apartment, when I remembered that I'd told my boyfriend I'd go and see him. "Hey Jay-chan, I'm gunna run over to see my man real quick, okay?"
She rolled her eyes, "Not while I'm here. I don't wanna have to entertain Piccolo while he bounces off the walls. You can see him later."
"Okay," I sighed and turned to the apartment door to let Jay-chan in.
Piccolo was sitting on the couch, looking out the window, and didn't even turn around to see who was coming inside.
"Hey Piccolo," Jay-chan bounced over to the couch and flicked his ear.
I heard him growl and intervened before things got messy. "Yo Piccolo, I got you something... It's kind of a consolation prize for losing our fight and a thank you gift cuz you were really there for me last night."
The demon lord eyed the bag and then glared at me, "Save the sentimental nonsense for your boyfriend. What's in the bag?"
"This!" I grinned as I pulled out the two volumes of "Dragonball" and "Dragonball Z" and handed them to him. I watched him eagerly as he flipped through the pages.
"Is this some kind of joke?" came his reply.
"What?"
"What is all this shit, TA?"
"Manga, you know, Japanese comic books." What's wrong with him?
"Who made this?"
"Akira Toriyama." Helloooo? I think Piccolo's losing his mind.
"Where is this fucker?"
My eyes grew wide, "Japan? I dunno. Hey, what's up, huh? I just spent $20 on manga and all you can say is 'shit' and 'fucker'?"
Piccolo turned to me, his eyes stone cold. "You don't understand, TA. Everything in these books is true."
I smiled, "Yeah, I was gunna ask you how accurate those things were."
"TA... You remember when I first met you and told you that I come from another dimension?"
"Yeah."
"The way I was able access your fanfics and fanart was due to the merging of our separate dimensions' Internet systems... I knew I had access to your dimension's crap, but I never really thought you guys had access to ours. This manga you've given me was made by someone who is possibly living in Japan, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I live in Japan in my dimension... and all of the stuff in this manga has already happened there. I've got a really bad feeling about this; our dimensions could be merging."
I fell on my ass. Hard. "Wait, you mean PHYSICALLY?!"
"Yes."
"What the hell does that mean?!" Jay-chan squeaked.
Piccolo sighed, "I don't know for sure yet, but my best guess is that the goings on in my realm could begin to happen here. And if I know my world like I think I do, it's a lot more dangerous there than it is here. The last thing your dimension needs is someone like Freeza or Cell showing up to take over your world."
"So, what the hell are we supposed to do now?" I sighed.
The Namek frowned, "I'm gunna have to go back to my realm and talk to the guardian of the Earth---"
"Dende-sama?" I beamed up at the tall warrior expecting a cookie or a pat on the head. Bad timing, I know...
He let out a heavy sigh, "You know about him too, I see. Shit. Well, in answer to your question, yes, I am going to go see Dende-sama. He should have some idea as what we can do to fix this mess."
A/N: Hey guys, I just wanted to thank all of you who have continued to read and/or review this story! I really appreciate the support; you guys are awesome! And, just for the accuracy of my story, the following events that will happen between TA and her boyfriend no longer reflect what really happened in my past relationship. Even the little bit of him in this chapter was fiction. So, from now on, any goings on between TA and her boyfriend are entirely fictional. Just so you know. Ja ne, minna-san!