Here's chapter 108! Thanks to Uub God of Destruction, Zailz-101, Harper loves Alex , DatFaker, Dovahklin Qahnaarin, CrackDown10109 and Diosa dela muerte for all the reviews on Chapter 107.

A/N: I do not own DBZ or any of its characters, they belong to Akira Toriyama!

...

An exhausted Chi-Chi glared at the cause of her weariness. Three layers of feather-light nut-brown Krilla cake lay nestled beneath tufts of sweet cinnamon scented Nagiri icing. Small wedges of golden Daradi fruits were gleaming between each layer. It had taken THREE HOURS to peel the noisome apple-like fruit as a layer of sharp spines protected the delectable flesh beneath its leathery exterior. At the last the confection demanded by the Saiyan from Hell was fully prepared and plated.

The Ox-King's daughter muttered under her breath as she placed the offending dessert on a tray and she set off to deliver it to the bridge area.

Turles took the tray without uttering a single word. Chi-Chi quickly pursed her lips when he raised his hand and gave a wave of dismissal. Of all the nerve! Not a single word of appreciation! The brunette clenched her fists in anger as she whipped around to leave the room.

"WAIT!" the Saiyan bellowed.

Chi-Chi turned to face the pirate commander fully expecting to hear some obnoxious complaint...

The mother of Gohan's jaw dropped as she took in the sight of the completely empty tray! Not so much as a single crumb remained.

"That was utterly delectable! Feel free to prepare another!" Turles declared.

"A-a- another?" Goku's widow sputtered.

"It took THREE hours to make that sugary waste of time! THREE HOURS!"

"And HOW is that my concern?" Turles asked.

Chi-Chi could feel her face literally blister with rage. She was so utterly livid that she couldn't utter a single syllable.

"On second thought, prepare some of the Kanis deer that's in the freezing unit," the dark-skinned Saiyan ordered.

The tired female gave a sigh of relief as she nodded in willing consent to the far easier task.

"And then you can prepare my dessert!"

...

Bulma nervously walked about Turles's ship wondering what she could do about the perilous situation she now found herself in. Passing a lit room the bluenette stepped back and peered into the door. The young scientist instantly recognized the training room she had shared with Daiz when he had instructed her on self-defense basics. Using that particular room was probably the routine for the Kabochan pirate as he was inside the room at that very moment.

The heavy door slid open silently as Bulma entered the room. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of the former royal. Muscles bunched and rippled across the desert-born warrior's powerful form as he executed each movement of the elaborate kata he had chosen. Bulma had never seen Daiz bare to the waist and she couldn't help but notice what was usually concealed beneath armor.

"Like what you see?" Daiz teased as he turned about to face her.

A red-faced Bulma whipped around and started for the exit but she only managed a few steps before she burst into tears.

The Kabochan was completely taken aback by the usually fiery female being in such a state.

Bulma whimpered as a strong arm encircled her waist. It was followed by another and she buried her face into a steely shoulder as she allowed a flood of tears to ensue.

"C'mon, surely it can't be that bad can it?" Daiz whispered in her ear.

One hand gently patted her back as the other pushed her hair from her face.

"Don't let Turles get to you. He…."

"It isn't Turles…" the former heiress sniffed.

"Then what is it?" the Saiyan pirate's second in command queried.

"I…I can't tell you….." the bluenette erupted into gasping sobs.

"Maybe I can help," Daiz pressed.

"NO ONE CAN HELP ME!"

"At least let me try, okay?"

Daiz swallowed hard as a tear-stained face lifted up just inches away. Even with puffy eyes and rivulets of tears streaming down her cheeks the Earth woman was still breathtakingly beautiful. He never could stand to see a woman suffer it went against everything his upbringing had instilled in him.

Bulma could only gape at the handsome desert warrior. Those eyes and that smile were going to get her into trouble if she let down her guard. The dark green-haired pirate pressed his forehead gently against hers desperately wanting to comfort her somehow….

Bulma's eyes went wide with disbelief as she felt the Kabochan's lips on hers. She couldn't even truthfully say which of them had initiated the kiss that ensued. A second embrace followed.

The darling of Capsule Corps suddenly pulled away with a shriek and a hand to her lips.

'How could I betray Yamcha like that?'

Bulma bolted from the room completely ignoring the protests from Daiz.

The gray-eyed pirate sighed heavily. Instead of providing comfort he'd obviously just made things worse.

"So, this is what passes for 'training' these days, hmmm?" a cold voice questioned behind him.

Daiz froze for a moment. How the Hell did Turles always manage to be present in the exact place he shouldn't?

"It's NOT like that…" the Kabochan began.

"By all means continue. Bulma may be more amenable to certain actions if she feels an emotional attachment," the Saiyan mused.

"If you expect me to play games with Bulma I am NOT going to do that!" Daiz barked.

"YOU will watch your tone and that was NOT a request!" Turles hissed.

"What would Zailora think if she knew what you're proposing? I seriously wonder what the Hell she ever saw in you!" the former prince growled.

For just a split second the Saiyan seemed to look as if the very breath had been sucked out of him. Then anger replaced the stricken look.

"Forget the damned Earth woman!" Turles snarled as he fairly flew from the room.

"This day just keeps getting better and better," Daiz groaned.

…..

Malako entered the food preparation where Chi-Chi was taking out her frustrations on the meat lying on the table before her.

"Well that deer should certainly be tender when you through here," the Namek remarked.

"Don't even get me started. That heartless, conceited space ape doesn't deserve my cooking skills!" Chi-Chi ranted.

"He doesn't want anything this evening," Malako informed her.

The tenderizing implement fell from the brunette's hand as she straightened and stared at the green complexioned alien before her.

"What do you mean 'He doesn't want anything' ?"

"Turles ordered that a meal be prepared for the crew but he wants nothing for himself."

While she felt relieved that she wasn't subject to the culinary whims of the black-hearted Saiyan for the moment, Chi-Chi couldn't shake the notion that something was amiss.

"Something's wrong. Turles doesn't make a habit of skipping meals," Chi-Chi stated worriedly.

Malako nodded in agreement," We'll have to be on our toes.

…..

Gohan wondered what went on while he'd spent a few hours in his personal quarters. Daiz looked miserable and merely pushed his food about his plate while consuming nothing. Turles had sent word that he would not be present at the evening meal.

'Ain't like Turles 'ta miss ah meal. Wonder if e' n' Daiz been at it? Best Ah don' be stickin muh nose in it. But Ah ne'r did stay outta anythin' Gartoas thought.

…

In the ship's lab Bulma ignored her growling stomach as she put the finishing touches on her latest project. Burying herself in work had always helped her to settle her nerves and there was no way she was going to chance running into Daiz as it was now the customary hour for Turles's crew to take their evening meal.

After completing her task Bulma snatched off her gloves and tossed them into a waste receptacle. Suddenly a horrific thought crossed her mind-what if Daiz bragged to the others about what had occurred between them? She felt her face turn crimson and her stomach lurch. To her utter disgust she missed the waste bin and soiled her clothing with the meager content her stomach had held. Bulma bit back a scream and stomped out of the lab and headed to the nearest cleansing unit.

Taimaz chuckled softly to herself as she slipped unnoticed into the lab the Earth female had just left. An evil smile lit the Kabochan's face as she discovered the discarded pair of gloves. She reached for an implement to retrieve the gloves and tossed them into a specimen container.

"These just might be useful for my plans….."

….

Bulma placed her hands over her ears trying to block out the sound of the pirate's voice she didn't want to hear.

"Bulma, I can over-ride the lock on the entrance to your quarters but I'd rather not do so. Now we have got to talk about.." Daiz started.

"GO AWAY!" Bulma screamed blocking out any further conversation the Kabochan attempted.

"I'm NOT going anywhere until you quit being stubborn and…"

"JUST WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?" a feminine voice demanded.

Daiz turned to face the blazing eyes of Chi-Chi. The bristling brunette had both hands on her hips and her lips were set in a hard line.

"OH! JUST GREAT!" Bulma groaned.

…

Until the next chapter!

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