Haha! Son Goten & Trunks! Babidi Saga (Chapter 19)
Gohan
The sun had set and the final bell rang signalling winter break. Gohan and Videl dismissed everything and just watched from the orange star as swarms of school kids rushed to the front doors. Their legs dangled over the edge of the rooftop as their rhythmic breaths caused vapours to clash in the cold. They looked at each other and laughed before gazing over at the somewhat low sun. The couple didn't move an inch for hours, hand in hand as they watched the sun set behind the tube tunnel reconstruction of Orange Star City.
"..."
Videl's vibrant blue eyes scanned Gohan's thin cheeks as he lost himself in the sunsetting city in front of him. She smiled.
"Gohan?"
"..."
She scooted over closer to him.
"Gohan?"
"What?"
"Do you know what you're gonna do?"
"... I think I need to… learn more about Ki."
"Ki?"
"Yeah. It's what lets guys like that use…" He mimed with his hands. "-energy. I never really learned it. I understand what it is… kinda."
"Hmm?"
"But… I don't know where I'd start other than by just asking dad or something."
"..."
"What are you gonna do when the school year ends?"
"... I think." She drew her hand back.
"..."
"I think I'm gonna take a look at medical school or something like that. That'd bring in a lot of money."
"I mean… I asked this before but are you okay with that? Just because it's good money doesn't mean you'll like it by default."
"I suppose but me and my dad never really had so much." She responded, cradling her knees together as vapour crawled out of her frosty lips. "So it'd be nice to be rolling in it when I'm older."
"... Well. I think if what my dad says is correct, Ki does have a certain healing property to it. If you learned more about it maybe that would help you."
"... You know. I always thought in the back of my mind opening up a patient was gonna be gross anyway. Maybe I learn about that Ki thing you were talking about and I relocate to phys therapy or something."
"That'd be nice."
"Yeah."
The pair sat there for a long time before Videl covered her legs with her shirt, cradled together and leaned against him. Gohan held on as his legs swung over the high school.
Musuka
The suave man flapped his black jacket once, chomping deep into his cigar before pulling it and his shades aside as he saw something pop into smoke down the street. Among all the little nuances of Orange Star City's strange populace the man saw something in the pink pig wearing a suit and tie.
"Crampin' my fuckin' undies, I tell ya. I ain't get no respect up in these joints it's just ridiculous."
"Ho there, young man!"
Oolong didn't stop, trudging along until he stood face to face with the seedy plump man in the black and red fedora.
"Hey! Name's Musuka, how are ya?" The man asked, crunching down hard on the brown cigar in his maw and extending his hand.
"Not so good, so if you could do me a favour and buzz off that'd be just peachy." The Pig remarked as he declined, stepping right out of the way.
"Did I see that right?" Musuka commented as he jogged up behind Oolong's somewhat quick pace. "Ain't you was the one who turned to smoke? You do pyrotechnics?"
"Yes, but no."
"Yes, but no? Come on, gimme an angle here."
"Angle?" Oolong remarked, his big pink ears raising to match his piqued eyebrows. "What angle? You're soundin' a little too bougie for me."
"I'm on tha level, young man. How'd you like to make some money?"
"Boy would I." The Pig remarked, letting out a sigh and wiping his brow, the sweat from a hard days work, clinging to his handkerchief.
"Thas tha spirit, tell ya what. I can get you some money today, in a show we got goin' on at 11 P.M. you interested?"
"Today..?"
Oolong and Musuka made 'eye contact' as he and The Pig stopped on a dime, the flow of human traffic not stopping for them however, bodies shifting and pushing into them on the sidewalk as they stared each other down.
"Yup. You get paid… Today."
"Huh. Yanno~ that don't sound half bad."
"It don't, don't it?"
"Nah. But there's gotta be a catch."
"Nope. No catch. You read through the contract and if everything is copacetic then you get on stage and you get your money."
"Really?"
"Mmhmm."
"Shoot. This don't sound like a bad idea. I had a terrible time finding work out in West City, had to come bust my ass all the way down here in my beater everyday."
Bwerp-Bwerp!
The sound of a car unlocking barely pierced the veil of passersby and streetwise chatter.
"Tell ya what, you wait there in your car, I'll come back in about 20, then you follow me and I'll show you tha gig."
The Pig nodded and before he could even blink, Oolong lost sight of the well dressed man's shades, suede shoes, and cigar in the litany of footsteps on pavement, big buildings, tube tunnels, and cars, sky or otherwise.
"Heh, I better not have gotten myself into another one of those jobs where they don't tell me about the pepper spray until after I take it in the face."
Oolong fixed the rear view mirror and waited as directed. Soon enough, as the man said, he came back in a cruiser of a skycar.
"Come on, young man. We got places to be!"
"Lead tha way."
The cars lunged out of the parking lot and into the city streets of Orange Star, fading into obscurity behind all the walking townsfolk.
Oolong
The inside of the facility was massive, huge draping cloth of a white and red traditional circus persuasion hung on every corner of the room as they marched in.
"A circus? Guess I shoulda' known, momma always said I was gonna end up hea'. Looks like she was right after all." The Pig snorted out as he shook his head.
"So whaddoya say?"
"I haven't said anything. You said I needed to sign a contract, right?"
"Yeahyeah, of course. Ayy! Fryer! We need a contract, pronto!"
"Wha-ha-hat do ya~" The giant panda with a bold strap and an equally sized magnum turned around only to stall out. "Of course. I'll go get the papers." Fryer answered as he snuffed out the cigar in the ashtray and marched out of dodge, going over to a back room also covered in circus drapery.
Oolong looked out at all the interesting individuals, some with piercings down to their feet, some with parts missing, all manner of exotic animals and practically all adorned with body suits and expensive looking jewelry.
"Like whatcha see, kid?"
"I get the feelin' I ain't seen nothin' yet."
"Course ya haven't. Why don't I get you a drink? Whiskey?"
"I promised myself I wouldn't get too crunk after that bender in Aru Village. What a time that was, sheesh."
"So no drink then?"
"I don't drink no more, so… no."
"Alright, what can I settle you for?"
"Apple juice?"
"I'll get right on that. Ayy!"
Snapp!
"We need some drinks, my usual, and do we got apple juice around hea'!?"
The woman across the way, filing through coolers, ice chests, and mini fridges shook her head no.
"Well alright then. What else?"
"Just water's fine. Don't make a big deal outta this."
"Ayy! Get our boy here some water! And make it quick, capische!? Jeez, these fuckin' people can you believe that?"
Oolong just let out a nervous chuckle as he shrugged his shoulders. Right after Oolong got his tall plastic throwaway cup of water, the ground shook with heavy stomps and the giant panda bear waltzed back out of the hut, making a steady march towards Oolong, worrying The Pig ever so slightly more with each encroaching step.
"Here's the contract, Boss."
"Boss? What the fuck do you mean, Fryer? I ain't signin' the contract."
"My mistake, here you go… sir." The panda bear bowed as he handed off the thin piece of paper that truly just looked tiny in his massive paw.
Oolong set the sheet down and read through as he took steady sips from the drink.
"Three years?"
"What?"
"I'm doing this gig for three years?"
"You got a problem with that?"
"What if I come back later, I just don' know if I I'm in the right position to be committin' to this right now."
Musuka and The Panda shot a glance toward each other before busting out in some goofy gaffs and laughs.
"Go ahead and dance, lil' piggy." The Panda remarked as he pulled out his piece and aimed it right between Oolong's big eyes.
"You ehh~ you gonna show us those pyrotechnics or are you gonna dance the six-foot boogie?"
"We can talk about this." The Pig protested, his small pink hands wavering ever so slightly before he shot a glance towards the exit of the tent.
"Yeah, you right. We can talk about this so what are your-"
Bom!
"Ayy! He's one of them uhh~ them uhh~ transforming shits! Get his ass!"
The Pig turned into a pink bat and dipped around the arena, flying over the stadium, the tigers, the giant purple boar with antlers and wings as well as the other acrobats.
"You morons! He's getting away! Get that fuckin' bat!"
High wire performers lunged at Oolong from every which way and he dodged with weaving arcs of his pig headed face stuck strangely on his pink bat body.
"Stand back." Musuka called out to the crowd, waving his arms.. "Watch this." Musuka wound back his arms and then sent it.
Pah-POKK!
A blistering bolt of wind carved through the air and missed Oolong by a hair.
Fwushhhp!
Tearing the circus dome's ceiling drapery in its sheer force.
"Sunavuh. What are you cats doin'? Get him!"
Thwum~Whapp!
"Moron!" Musuka cried as he slapped The Panda's gigantic piece out of the air as he drew.
"Then what do you want me ta do, Boss? How the hell am I gonna get a guy that small all the way up there?"
Bom!
Oolong made a break for it, transforming back and landing on the ground somewhat sloppily.
"Sheesh! I didn't think I was gonna hafta' do cardio today." The Pig huffed out as he stared out into the lot, people already breaking into his car from outside. "You've gotta be-"
"Ayy! Good thinkin'!" Musuka shouted from the tent flaps, flailing them to the wind as he watched his subordinates take ownership over Oolong's beater of a vehicle and point weapons at his location.
Musuka grinned deep and lit up a cigar.
"Now whaddoya gonna do?" He asked, chuffing it back as the legion of circus performers aimed their sights down at The Pig.
"If I'm goin' out, screw it! I'm goin' out on my terms! Besides, the boys'll jus' wish me back with the Dragon Balls!"
Bom!
Another gigantic gout of white mist exploded into existence and a rocket appeared in Oolong's stead.
"Lata suckas!"
ZOOOOOOooooooo~
"Damn! Can he just spam that move?" Musuka asked as he gazed skyward.
The air above the stadium filled with smoke and revving sounds of a jet engine, Oolong was zooming with his torpedo of a metal body propelling him higher and higher into the air.
"Dragon Balls? What the hell is that dude on about?"
"Boss." The Panda put a paw on Musuka's shoulder. "Did he just say wish?"
"I think he did. Wishes? Who the hell grants wishes?"
Musuka shoved his hands in his pockets, his deep black sunglasses enough to shield him from the heavenly rays of the sun as the once pig man turned rocketman blazed off into the clouds above.
"We just lost a big one, boys! And I won't stand for it!" Musuka howled at the rest of his entourage.
The crew visibly lost a bit of luster, sighs were commonplace and the man hobbled back into the circus tent with something to prove.
"Here we go again, another scouting crew no doubt." One of the acrobats let out in an exasperated breath as she got a hula hoop from the bottom of the pit and started getting to work.
Goten VS Trunks
Objective: You know what time it is!
"I'm gonna fade you!" Goten declared from across the front lawn of Capsule Corporation.
"As if! You don't even know what fade means!" Trunks shot right back, the two little toddlers pointing at each other with declarative index fingers.
Mrs. and Mr. Brief sat silently near the front entrance on lawn chairs, content to sip on wine and cigarettes as they watched the little kids beef it out.
"Nu-uh! I do know!"
"Oh yeah!? Tell me!"
"It's uhh… it's the same as a mollywhop!"
"Touché."
"I bet you don't know what that one means!"
"Do too!"
"Then spell it!"
"Uhh~"
"Caught you slippin'! Hyahahahahaha~" Goten hollered, sprinting across the grass with reckless abandon.
WHAMM!
"Ooof!" Trunks let out as the youngest son of Son Goku hit Trunks with a full field goal punt across the yard. "Whoa!"
Whapp!
"Ayy! I almost went through the glass, numbnuts!" Trunks shouted from the balcony, catching himself on the railing in a skillful semi-backflip on the also glass fencing.
Mr. Brief whistled a tune at Trunks' athleticism and Mrs. Brief just clapped at the little boys' play session.
"Here I come! Five star frog splash! Ha-Haa~"
"Whoa~ I can't dodge it~" Goten said 'worriedly', looking around to all the open space in front of him, not a single obstacle blocking his movement path until his best friend absolutely divebombed him, landing smack dab on his nose from afar.
"He's Going For The Count." Trunks relayed as he got on his knees, chest up high to the sunlight, getting as deep a voice as he could from his little kid vocal chords.
He hiked Goten's leg up and went for the cover.
"Ayy! Start counting!" Trunks yipped back at his grandparents.
"Owh~ my bayd, dahlin'." Mrs. Brief hooted from the back between laughs. "Whunn~ tyoo~ three! Yaaaaayy~"
ClapClappClapp!
"And Trillion Trunks strikes again!" Trunks showed off, flexing for a camera that didn't exist.
"HaHaHa~" The pair giggled out on the grass before Goten sat up and tapped on his friend's shoulder.
"Trunks?"
"What?"
"When are you gonna let me win?"
"Uhh, never, because Trillion Trunks doesn't lose. That's like… his whole gimmick."
"Well that's not fair."
"I don't know what to say, do you want me to play another character or something so that you can win?"
"No. I want to win against Trillion Trunks." Goten almost shouted as he got up pouty, closed fists on his hips.
"Well that's too bad then, isn't it?" He shot back a killer grin from in between his hollywood blue eyes and child actor black bangs.
"Why don't we fight for real and then if I win I get to beat Trillion Trunks?"
"What? Our dads said we're not allowed to fight until we get older."
"Well my dad already started teaching Me." He declared with a smug air, pointing his left thumb deep into the middle of his chest.
"What!? No fair!" Trunks shouted as he shot up quick after that.
"Scared of Trillion Trunks' record on the line?"
"No~ because Trillion Trunks doesn't lose!" The son of Bulma challenged with a pointer finger aimed right at Goten's forehead.
"You're on!"
"I'll let you have that lead, Goten, because I'm just so crazy goated that it doesn't matter. I don't even Need any training to wipe the floor with your candy ass!"
"Just try it!"
"You two going at it again?" Mr. Brief asked from across the grassy lawn, lighting up his next cigarette with his left hand.
"Yeah!" They yelled in unison, gearing up for their next bout.
"Gramma!"
"Yes, dea'?"
"Could you ring the bell?"
"What bell, dahlin'?"
"Uhh… could you count us down?"
"Oh, sua'. Three… tyoo… whun!" She laughed out, sipping from her wine before falling back into her white lawn chair.
Goten VS Trunks
Objective: Find out who's the strongest for real!
Goten looked at his shaky stance and took the effort required to see if his hands were up.
"Charge!" Trunks hollered as he dashed along the vast lawnscape in front of the giant yellow capsule mansion adorned with the chrome rectangular skyscraper shoved right in the middle of it all.
Goten shifted his gaze to Trunks only to be met with a hasty right hand, bopping him right on the nose.
"Oww!"
"Ha-Haa~ too slow!" Trunks taunted, leaning into the blow and windmilling his arms at an impressive speed that simply worked more than it should have.
Trunks' stubby limbs caused a minor piercing of the winds, pulling loose gales from all around as he smacked strange overhand after strange overhand. Goten put up his short arms to block, barely covering his messy mop of Goku-like hair. Trunks saw the angle and looked to boot upwards with his left leg only to whiff big time and slip onto his butt in the process as his best friend hit an epic leap backwards almost onto the street.
"Ayy! No fair! You weren't supposed to get out of the way!"
"Why not!? I'm not just gonna stand there!"
"Why you!" Trunks grumbled as he got back up to his feet, Goten already sprinting back across the lawn.
THLAMM!
"Whoa~" Trunks yelled as he got absolutely sent by a full commit body check that sent him in an arc.
Goten jumped after him and looked to land on him with a body slam from up top but Trunks got out of the way at the last moment, causing the youngest son to slam his face and his tummy right on the grass.
"Oof!" Goten let out dumbly as Trunks rolled around in the dirt.
"Gotcha!" Trunks laughed out, looking to jump on his back.
He did it, but his best friend bucked and kicked like a bull, taking the son of Bulma for a ride.
"Ayy~Yoo~" The little Capsule Corp. kid hooted and hollered as Goten ran along the grass. "You can stop anytime you want, Goten! You're not gonna beat me." He claimed defiantly, crossing his arms, closing his eyes, and pushing his chest high.
"Nu-uh! Hyahahaha~" Goten chortled as he ran full speed ahead to the chrome training room, slamming both his and Trunks' face against the metal.
TWANGG!
"Oww!" Trunks shouted as he fell on his butt, face pooled red with both embarrassment and strain.
"Hyahahaha~" Goten shot out jubilantly as he rubbed his finger along the metal divot that now existed just inches above the ground.
"Alright, fine, you win, whatever. What the heck?" Trunks said as he stood up dizzy, almost falling back over and grabbing the top of his head.
"That means Trillion Trunks just lost!"
"No!" Trunks vehemently protested as he practically fell over, saving himself by landing on a knee. "You just got a title shot, but we actually haven't done the match!"
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"..."
The two just stared at each other, and then the lawn, and then Trunks' grandparents, and then back at the chrome building, and then the other passersby on the street until Goten spoke back up.
"So when are we gonna do the title match?"
"Some other time. I don't really Feel like it."
Groawull~
"I'm hungry."
Groll~
"Me too." Trunks agreed, putting his hand on his belly.
"Let's ask your mom for grilled cheese."
"Grilled cheese would hit like crazy."
"Fax."
And so the little kids walked right away from the severe denting of the metal chrome aberration, joyously skipping and waddling into the big Capsule Corp. building.
Yamcha
"Dad!" Trunks yelled from across the lounge as he clanged up the metal stairs rapidly.
"Hmm?"
"Goten's dad already started teaching him how to fight!"
"What?" Yamcha questioned, lowering the volume on the TV and raising a brow.
"Uh-huh!" Trunks practically yelled as he played with his loose yellow hoodie strings. "So when are you gonna teach me?"
"..." Yamcha leaned back into the green soft form of the couch and gazed up at the metal ceiling fan quietly dusting the room.
"Dad~ He beat me~" Trunks murmured, tugging at his father's loose orange sweatpants with his whole body weight.
"Goten beat you?"
"Yeah. I'm gonna challenge him to another fight but I need to be able to stomp him into the ground."
"Hagh-Hagh-Hagh!"
"Daaad~ it's not funny."
"Hagh-Hagh-Hagh!"
"This is serious. My wrestling career is on the line if I don't challenge him back for it."
"Your wrestling career?"
"Mmhmm."
"Bruh." Is all Yamcha said before he raised the volume on the TV.
"Dad!"
"You don't learn martial arts to win fights. I'm gonna teach you, and you're allowed to challenge Goten, but remember that winning isn't everything."
"But you win!"
"Yeah, I did, didn't I?" Yamcha shot back with his tongue out.
Goten
The door swung wide open, off its hinges, and crashed into the wall, startling Chi-Chi with all the manner of abruptness a toddler could manage, almost spilling her stew all over the counter and the stove.
"Goten!"
"Uh-oh. Sorry mom, I'll clean it up later."
"You smashed out The Wall, Goten." Chi-Chi stated, wide eyed as the little Goku that could ran right by her, arms out wide on each side.
"I didn't mean to, I gotta go talk to dad."
"Goten, get right back here this instant."
Goten seized up like stone, as if he glared right into the eyes of Medusa.
"Yes mom." He lamented, turning down and slogging back towards his mother.
"You're going down to the store with me to get this fixed, and if you don't, no dinner for you."
"Yes mom."
The pair walked out the door, called The Nimbus and got back by sunset, the high orange orb no longer high, in fact quite low if one could believe it. Chi-Chi watched dutifully, arms crossed as the youngest screwed back in the nails with the device on hand as light as he could. The pair checked the door as Chi-Chi opened it, walked through, scanned the other side, closed it, then opened it again and walked back outside. The mother of two and wife to Son Goku put her hand on the door and ran her fingertips along it and weighed its stability.
"Good job, Goten. This is why I say no running in the house."
"Yes, mom." The youngest son replied with a bowed head as he picked up the remainder of the tools.
"I'm going to get dinner fired back up again, could you put those tools back in Great Grandfather's shed?"
"Yes mom." Goten said before turning around and heading out to the small little house with the blue roof right next to theirs.
The younger brother to Son Gohan waddled into what was effectively one vanity and a bed inside a cramped closet and opened the drawers under the mirror. He sharpened his brow at the red weapon sheathed above the embroidered blue pillow and reached his hand out, placing his toolbox on the ground to do so.
"..."
But the little boy relented at the last moment.
"I did just kind of fade the door. So maybe I shouldn't." Goten said out loud to himself as he picked up the tools and put them in the cubby of the miscellaneous items.
Shuup!
He closed the drawer back in, fixed the mirror straight, having to lean up to do so despite the fact that the vanity wasn't very tall and then ran out the door, stopping himself at the doorframe and then taking it slow as he closed the door to Grandpa Gohan's house.
Goten took a deep breath through his nose and made his way back to the front door, carefully opening it and then closing it again.
"See? We don't make mistakes when we take it slow. That's what the tortoise and the hare is all about."
"Yes mom."
"Now what did you want to talk abou-"
"Hon, I'm home!"
SMASHH!
The door was turned to smithereens as Goku haphazardly flung the door open, past the threshold and then right into the wall, turning everything into sawdust and woodchips, a now gigantic hole in the front of their capsule home.
"Oop~"
"Goku…"
"Huh-Hah! Sorry, Hon."
"Goten?"
The little kid leaned back wide to stare up at his mother.
"Go get the toolbox."
"Yes mom."
After the sun finally settled and the four of the Son Goku residence had their dinner, Goten shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Dad! I forgot!"
"What is it, son?" Goku asked as he made eye contact with the little tyke, dishes in both of their hands as Chi-Chi finally took off her apron and walked over into the living room.
"Dad, can I go out with some friends?" Gohan interjected as he finished the last of his cleaning, flinging out the remainders of the water from his hands as he picked up a towel from the outside of the sink.
"Sure! Always! Just stay safe."
"Thanks, dad." Gohan replied as he hugged the man's neck from behind and headed out the door, sending a wave Goten and his way.
WashSwishWash~
"Dad!"
"Oh! Sorry, Goten. What were you talking about? Huh-Hah!"
"Me and Trunks fought today!"
"Oh yeah? You did a little wrestling?"
"Mmhmm~ and we also fought for real!"
"You did, huh?"
"Mmhmm~ and I totally kicked Trunks' butt."
"..."
"And I'm pretty sure I'm gonna kick his butt every time from now on."
"Goten?"
"Yeauh?" He enunciated kind of weirdly.
"That's great that you took my training seriously but do you not remember what I said to you after Gohan's first day at school?"
"Mm-mm."
"Martial arts is not to win fights, it is to defeat those who would wish to do harm unto others. I miss the way I used to fight more back in the day but you can't just pick fights because you want to. Did you?"
"... Uhh… no?"
"Did you?" He asked again, leaning his head over to the side, giving him an earnest stare.
Goten stopped scrubbing his dishes from the step stool and just stared back.
"We… agreed."
"..." Goku relinquished his fatherly stance, turning his focus back to the dishes. "Okay."
"..."
Trunks VS Goten
Objective: Mollywhop!
"Okay, Goten! Now I'm gonna fade You!" The Capsule Corp. boy shouted to the heavens as he pointed across the lawn once more.
The morning sun cast a yellow sheen over everything and the boys stared down without an audience this time. The chrome training box was a real bitch during the early hours, reflecting and refracting killer light all over West City
"Hey! I want my title match!"
"Nu-uh! I challenge you to another for real fight!"
"Huh?"
"Yeah, and if I win, I negate your win against Trillion Trunks!" The boy responded as he crossed his arms in the air, as if dispelling an attack.
"What!?" Goten just about fell onto his ass from such a claim. "No fair!" He pointed back.
"Them's the breaks!" The moviestar child actor looking boy remarked as he rubbed his index finger under his nose like a brat, rat bastard smile to go with it too.
"What do I get if I win!?"
"You uhh… I mean you just get two wins against Trillion Trunks. I mean I just thought that was what we were getting at."
"Okaybet."
"Nice! I'm coming for your head, Goten! And you ain't gonna stop me!"
"That's what you think!"
"..."
The boys just stood there on the grass, the light from the sun and the chrome training room bathing them in their glory. The two stood there for a while in little kid fighting posture only to realise:
"Uhh… we usually have grandma to count us down."
"I'm just pushing!" Goten yelled as he zipped along the dirt and green grass.
"Ayy!" Trunks shouted back as he got low, ducking under Goten's rampant rush and leapfrog.
The youngest son hit the ground rolling, getting right back up to his feet as he pivoted, turning the sneaker shoe ball of his foot and scuffing up the lawn as he did it, propelling him with impressive force across to his opponent.
The lawn was now littered with the marks of their for real battles, Yamcha walked out onto the balcony and wore duck lips as the two kids really duked it out for real, shockwaves coming off their tiny bodies despite the fact that they threw trashy telegraphed, full weight, full commit, stubby-limbed blows.
"Damn." The Ex-Titan-Now-Budokai-Champion remarked as he scratched the back of his head. "They kinda goin' at it."
WHAMM! DOOOMM! Skffffff~
"Hagh-Hagh-Hagh." Yamcha laughed as he took a sip of the water bottle in his hand. "Maybe I should do something about this."
"Take this! Hyah!" Trunks hollered as he leaped at Goten and smacked him with a big right hand, sending him crashing into an oncoming car, caving in the metal. "Oh crap!" He laughed out, almost losing it as Goten fell out of the metal and onto the grass.
"Uh-oh."
"You boys know how much I paid for this fuckin' car!? What the… how'd you~" The man stuttered and stammered as he winded around the other side to see just how mangled his right side doors were. "How'd you survive that kid? What in the world?"
"Ahh jeez, can't let these little boys alone for two minutes. Shoulda just hopped the balcony." Yamcha ruminated as he took the last sip of his water, threw the plastic in the bin and walked through the double doors in the front of Capsule Corp. "What's the problem, sir!?" He questioned from across the lawn, jogging up to the uneasy man.
"Your damn kids ruined my ride! I'm lucky I didn't get hurt and it's a miracle that little fucker isn't dead. What the hell are you feedin' them, dude!?"
"Look-"
Foosh!
The dude almost fell over from the wind impacting his frame as The Wolf dashed back into the house and then right back less than three seconds later, a pouch of full of Zeni in his hand.
"That's more than enough to buy our latest model of skycar. Sorry about this, these boys are going to have a stern talking to." Yamcha reassured as he handed off the money, patted the man on the shoulder, and palmed the boys, one on each side of him.
"Shit, really? How much is this?"
"Probably like a mil. I didn't check but we're not gonna miss that."
"What the..?" The guy let out, exasperated, believing the claim that Yamcha presented as he weighed just how heavy it sunk in his hand. "Well I mean shoot, you sure you wouldn't miss another mil?"
"Get your goofy ass outta here." Yamcha replied, pressing his hand on the man's chest as light as he could.
"I didn't mean to, dad. Goten just sucks at blocking." Trunks almost yelled as he broke away from his father's grasp, looking up at him wide eyed.
"Bruh."
"I'm sorry I dented your car, sir." Goten said back as the man filed into his vehicle.
"Don't worry about it, kid."
Vrnnnnnnn~
"Alright boys, no more fighting, no more wrestling and no more games."
"WHAT!?"
"It was One car, dad. And that dude didn't even get faded. If anything that bum got off lucky, he came away from today with Capsule Corp. money. That's a dub for no names like him."
"Trunks?"
"What?"
"You're super grounded."
Trunks' eyes almost flew out of their sockets and he stood there slack jawed as Goten pointed and laughed.
"Hyahahahahaha~"
"Goten?"
"Eh~huh?"
"I'm gonna call your parents and I'm gonna ground you too."
"What? You can't do that! You're not my parents!"
"Watch me." Yamcha replied as he grabbed both kids, kicking and screaming over his left shoulder.
"Do_You_Need_Assistance_Lord_Yamcha?" One of the blue animatronics at the front desk asked as he walked back into the building.
"Yes I do, actually. I need to make a phone call to the Son Goku residence. Chi-Chi should be there to take the call."
"No!" Goten cried, kicking his feet and covering his eyes. "I already Got in trouble~"
"Of_Course_Please_Hold."
"Thank you." Yamcha replied with a wide smile, leaning against the counter with his back, the two kids pouting up a storm.
"This is a top 10 bruhs." Trunks said as he put his hands on his cheeks, defeated, no longer struggling.
"We_Have_Chi_Chi_On_Line-1."
"Thank you. Hello, Chi-Chi."
"Oh, Yamcha, are you taking Goten back early?"
"No. I was actually gonna ask if I could keep him for a little bit."
"Why is that? Does Goten want to sleep over?"
"Nope. Do I have your permission to ground him?"
"... Ahemn~ Whyever for?"
"Goten and Trunks totalled some guys car play fighting."
"Play fighting? You don't- I can't- Play Fighting?"
"Yeup."
"..."
"So can I ground him?"
"Hand the phone to Goten please."
"Yes ma'am."
"LookmomI'msorryI-"
"Goten?"
The boy froze up, stalling his fast-moving mouth effective immediately.
"Yes mom?"
"I'll let Yamcha say it."
"You're grounded, little dude."
Goten dropped the receiver on the counter, mouth so wide a fly could buzz in at any moment.
"You didn't think I had that power did you, huh?"
"..."
"HaHaa~" Trunks laughed back, pointing down at his best friend in a stunned state on the Capsule Corp. floor.
Yamcha picked up the phone and spoke back with an assuredness in his voice.
"Do you mind if I take Goten for a little while? I want to make sure these boys are disciplined effectively and learn the meaning of respect."
"Are you sure? Shouldn't We be doing the disciplining for Goten?"
"That makes total sense but I feel while they are good friends, they are bad influences on each other. It'd be best to break them out of their habits together."
"Hmm… I guess that makes sense."
"I've got something in mind."
"I'll have to ask Goku about this."
"No problem." Yamcha replied as he leaned his right arm over the counter and spun the cord with his index. "Man I'm glad we still got one of these." He remarked, laughing a bit as he twirled the cord once more. "It ain't the same on smartphones."
"Hey, Yamcha!"
"Hey, Goku, listen~ I gotta proposition for you."
"Shoot."
"I was thinking of taking the boys on a little training camp. I figure if now's the time, now's the time. They both want to learn and I'll get em' away from all the technology and it'll just be me and them. No more wrecked cars."
"Wrecked cars?"
"Yeah."
"..."
"So can I hold onto Goten for a little while? Maybe like a week?"
"Sounds great! You know I trust you, but where are you going?"
"I got a little something in mind."
Yamcha
Stony grey mushroom-like formations stuck out but also somehow fit in to the brown dirt of the wasteland, dotting and colouring the landscape in all manner of weird and simultaneously beautiful constructions. There were dips, flats, alcoves, caves, and simple overhangs to walk under, shielding the crew from the hot sun. Yamcha, Goten, Trunks, and Puar trekked along the desert sands for a long while, the boys' much worse for wear than the other two, clearly suited to this habitat. The boys' sweat it out terribly, hot sticky streams drenched them to the core before they took off their clothes in the process, forcing a laugh from Yamcha.
"Might not wanna do that, boys. Sure, logic says it's hot, but you'll catch a Baaad burn if you go without a shirt on."
"It's burning me alive, dad. What am I suppose to do? You didn't even drive us, or fly us, or nothing…" The boy got out drearily as he started to slump and hunch over.
"Hagh-Hagh-Hagh!"
"It really is hot, Uncle." Goten let out as he tied his blue and green garb around his waist, hiking up his loose kung fu pants as well, dragging his feet across the desert.
The brown and red clayish formations were eroded by the brisk wind and scratchy sand as the boys and Yamcha threw their items down in the khaki coloured, eroded to all hell clay building. There were several more holes in the hut since last time. Puar cheered excitedly, zooming all around the dusty, dirty, and cobwebbed abode. Trunks stuck out his hand, and while he was upset, he didn't have the strength to react with the rest of his body.
"No air conditioning?" His eyebrows were the only thing else that made a comment on his situation. "Well if it doesn't have that then I know this dump doesn't have wifi... Bruh." Trunks remarked as he plodded along the packed dirt of the ground, sandy minerals laid all about the floor.
"It's not like you'd get to use it anyway, Trunks." Yamcha shot back as his son made his way to the other side of the room.
"I know." The boy lamented, tossing his bag of clothes onto a sand-ridden bedspread. "What even is this place? This sucks."
"This is my old hideout."
"Hideout? What, like you used to run operations in here, dad? That's whack." The boy asked as he wiped himself down with his hoodie.
"Yeah. I'd scout the sand for targets and then… I'd make sure their phones got turned off."
Snatch!
"Hey!"
The Wolf crushed Trunks' little touchscreen watch, the last vestiges of a mobile game startup screen sounding off.
"You think you're slick, huh?"
"Hmm~" He grumbled, crossing his arms and sitting his butt down on the bed.
Goten waddled around the cylindrical design of the dusty abode and ooed and awed at all the neat little items, trinkets, and things around the room. He picked up the sword on the table only to have Yamcha place it right back down.
"I guess this bed's not too bad, even if it is… sandy." The stranded Capsule Corp. kid said as he let his palm fill up and then drain with the minerals he picked up from the sheets.
There was a blue dresser in the back and one of the few things in the room not all that beaten down or broken up was a ladder that climbed up high to what looked like the only intentional hole in the hut's structure. There was a fireplace next to the ladder and a table on the left side, a pack of weathered playing cards and dice in the middle. Odd little items packed the abode like bullets, wrapped snacks, and pots full of this, that, and the other. Yamcha frowned a bit, putting his hands on his hips solemnly as he finally locked eyes with a scroll on the far left wall, faded maroon scripture written all along the fuzzy edges of its parchment.
"I did get lazy, huh." He stated to no one in particular as he rubbed his hand along the scroll.
"But you won, Yamcha!" Puar chimed in, circling around the scroll with his flight.
"Nah. The reason Trunks is this way is because he sees me do nothing all day. I haven't been keeping up with my training ever since the tournament. I can't be left alone, I'll waste the day away watching TV way too eagerly. That's why I put this scroll up in the first place."
Puar put his cat eyes on the worn paper as Yamcha ran his index along it.
"The fact that this thing is dirty means that I Have gotten lazy, despite not being lazy six months ago."
"Has it really been that long?"
"Time flies when you're too busy not doing anything. I bet it's felt like ages for Gohan. He started in August and now it's November."
"..." Trunks just bounced his butt on the bed, the springy buoyancy bouncing off piles of sand onto the floor.
Whapp!
The sheer volume caused by Yamcha's palm meeting his fist forced the two boys' attention to him.
"Okay, boys! First order of business!"
"..?"
"What is it, Uncle Yamcha?"
"That was pretty rad of you guys when you hit that car."
"What?"
"I thought you were mad."
"Oh, I was. Like… don't do that shit. But I'm also proud that you guys are so strong off the rip. I couldn't even do that until I started training for The 21st Budokai and I was 16, not 7."
"Oh."
"So you weren't very strong, were you?" Goten asked with that level earnestly only a child can possess, which kind of dug the pain deeper than it would have otherwise.
"No… not really."
"Dang."
"I'm using this as an excuse. Trunks, you are grounded, but that doesn't mean that you don't get to have fun. Me, you, Goten, we're all going to train in some real martial arts these next couple of months."
"Really?"
"Yeup. I was holding back on you in fear of exactly what happened. We live in the city, it's too easy to cause accidents. I don't really like that mechanical room Bulma built either, it's good and all, but I've always liked the outdoors more anyway. You guys are gonna learn some killer techniques from yours truly." The Wolf stated with a high chest, pointing his thumb deeply into himself, a wide hollywood smirk.
"Awesome!"
"You're even gonna learn how to control Ki." The Wolf added on, flaring up a bolt of blue light in his hand.
"Whoaaa~" They both leaned in close, almost touching their noses onto the sphere of energy.
"Are you boys ready to learn some martial arts?"
"YEAH!" They shouted, bouncing up and down, the previous drain they felt from walking all day in the desert fading away under the new reality.
"Good."
"..."
"Now take these brooms and sweep the place."
"What!?"
"You expect us to be able to learn martial arts in this dusty ass place? Hell no. A clean pad is a clean mind, and a clean mind means you win tournaments. Heheh~" He stated, tongue out like a rat.
"Alright~"
"Yes, sir." Goten remarked as he saluted Yamcha and gripped his bigger-than-him broom like a soldier's rifle.
And so the cleanup began, first with the sweeping, then the dusting, then the removal of the sand. Tirelessly, the two boys worked while Yamcha supervised with a big grin on his face.
"You aren't gonna help!?"
"I Am helping. It's called adult supervision."
"You're just using us for child labour! Mom said that's illegal now!"
"Child labour is only illegal in professions and the job market. I'm not paying you guys to do this stuff so it's not illegal."
"Bruh." The little kid rolled his eyes as he got together the clay mix and plastered the holes of the hideout with stoney grey clay, sculpting it back to its former glory.
Yamcha paraded around the two kids with a brimming smile on his face as did Puar. Goten looked fine but Trunks was livid, smearing and shaping the walls with the malleable solid before he turned over to his friend knocking out the last bit of extra sand.
"How are you okay with this right now? This sucks."
"Because we're gonna get training, duh."
"But we have to do all of this work, and then we're gonna have to do some more work when we train. This sucks." He said again, putting the putty into place and stamping it into the wall.
Yamcha checked the outside, marching around as the previous morning sun turned into midday lighting. The stone structure stood tall, a bit of loose green grass shimmering under the bright light pervading the sands. He hopped on the top and ran his hand along its soft edges. There was another little ladder carved right into the stone and what could only be considered a stone 'branch' leading down to the dirt. There was one last string of kanji carved into the outside, but it was filled with sand, forcing the man to scrape it out with his long fingernails. Yamcha prowled the outside and then perused the inside once more.
"Good work, boys. We still got a ways to go but I'll give you a break for now. Go get your water."
"Finally. I was bout to dry up."
"Fax." Goten responded as they waddled over to the cooler in the back.
"We're not going home any time soon so you have to get used to what the environment is like out here in Diablo."
"..?" Goten stared back earnestly, lips full with the large container as he downed its sweaty contents. "Gahhh~" He let out with satisfaction, wiping his lips.
"Deserts are hot as hell during the daytime but especially now, in the fall, the desert night gets colder than you could ever imagine. It's why I told you boys to bring a huge stockpile of coats and jackets and blankets."
Goten zipped around the hideout and bent down, zipping open his bag and brandishing a big blue coat like it was a matador's flag.
"Well, you don't need it Now."
Goten complied, nodding and putting it back down in the bag.
"This place Is in need of a makeover. Having the sand just come in from an open door and windows is a bit of a bruh moment."
"See? That's unreasonable. You can't expect us to just live out here with no air conditioning!"
"But your dad was kind of a savage back in the day, so… just because you said that we're not going to. You're just gonna have to tank it."
"..." Trunks curled his lips inward and blinked blankly.
The Wolf smacked his hands in satisfaction, checking out everything he could in the hideout, the cracks, the mirror, the dresser drawer in the back, the table, the bed, the latter, the windows, the scroll, the snacks, and the various pots strewn about the dusty space.
"Great! We're all set! Okay. You boys get the bed but we're not done just yet."
"Good! I wanted to learn today!" Goten blurted out with open arms, smile at the ready.
"I like the enthusiasm, lil' Goku."
The sun started to hide behind the stone grey mushroom caps of Diablo Desert and soon enough the cold chill crept in. Goten and Trunks jittered with cold feet and teeth, chattering up a storm as they got dressed in their many jackets and coats.
"W~w~w~what!? Aren't you c~cuh~cuh~colddd?" Trunks barely got out as Yamcha laughed, taking off his sweats in favour of an orange parachute pair of pants. He took off the shirt too, replacing it with a white tank top, grabbing some old boots off the top of the blue shelf.
"Nah. I'm cracked. Unlike you."
"You're cuh~c~cuh~capping!"
Yamcha just let out a loose breath from his nose and guided the boys out onto the sand. A minute sound rang into Yamcha's ears and he double took, shooting a stern glare at the yellow orb in the sky and breathing out a sigh of relief.
"Whew~"
"What's wrong, Uncle Yamcha?"
"That's your tail, right?"
"Yup!"
"I was just making sure."
"Making sure of what?"
"It doesn't matter, the full moon isn't out."
"Oh yeah! Mom, dad, and Gohan told me not to look at that."
"You ready boys?"
"I don't care!" Trunks shouted to the bright stars shining brilliantly in the desert nightlife. He threw his coat onto the ground and stood firm, chest out, shaking like a newborn animal. "I'm finna tank it! No kizzie!"
"Uhhh… are you sure, Trunks?" Goten asked as his friend's teeth started to rattle again.
"I'm not a quitter, who said I'm a quitter?"
"No one did, Trunks." Yamcha relayed, putting his hands on his hips as a smile formed in his mouth.
"Well get on with it! Let's get t-t-tuh the training!"
"Listen up!"
Yamcha's zero to 100 almost knocked both kids on their asses as he postured up and glared down at the brats.
"We're gonna go stupid, we're gonna go crazy!"
"..?" Goten raised a brow and shot a look Trunks' way.
"But we're gonna do it with a purpose! No fighting outside Diablo Desert, no Ki training outside Diablo Desert, and no talk of anything other than this discipline sucking! Got it!?"
The kids glanced back at one another again.
"Uhh… sure dad."
"Good. Let's have some fun." The Wolf howled as he clapped his hands and walked forward toward both toddlers. "Just know." He pointed. "That I'm barely gonna hold back."
They trained till sun up, not even all that tired all things considered. They slept in till 2 P.M, they ran around the desert sand, they shot energy blasts all about the place, Yamcha would hit them, Hard, and they'd just laugh it off after caving in a stone wall.
"Whoa~ look at how much damage I did to this thing." Trunks chuckled as he took out a bit of stone from his arm and pushed over the rocky mushroom.
Sprints, full sprints, long dashes along the entirety of the desert until they got to the other side.
"I'm nerfing myself so hard right now and you little goblins can't even keep up!"
"I'm trying! You're just too fast!"
Goten started to gain on The Wolf only for Yamcha to smile and absolutely dart forward.
"I don't know if I'm too fast or if you're too slow!"
"I can't do it!" Trunks yelled from the back of the pack as the sun hung low in the sky.
"You sure? Look at Goten!"
The youngest son of Son Goku tore across the desert, gritting his teeth as far as they would go, trying and succeeding at making headway.
"Ayy! I'm Not losing!"
Dashh~
"There we go!" Yamcha shouted as the stranded Capsule Corp. boy ran parallel with the youngest son from Mount Paozu. "You're older, Trunks, but Goten's got a leg up! He lives in the mountains!"
"Errp!" He eked out.
"If you want to beat Goten you'll have to push yourself! You don't get to sit on your ass and be better! That's not how it works!"
"I thought winning wasn't everythin-"
"Ayy!"
The boys quieted down, focusing on Yamcha's shrill voice as it pierced their ears, quelled away the sand, and the hot solar winds.
"I'm not a guru and I know I'm not! I'm not gonna pretend I know all the answers either because I don't! But there's one thing I Do know! And that's that most people who think winning doesn't matter are fucking liars!"
"..."
"We're not robots! We're human beings, damn it! If you never win a day in your life you're not going to get the confidence you need to push you to improve! You shouldn't beat yourself up if you lose, but aiming low and not even Trying to find your potential is what Real losers do!"
"..."
"Got it!?"
"Yessir!"
"You set goals, and you aim to complete them! That's how you win! Trunks!?"
"Yessir?" The son of Bulma looked more like Yamcha's kid as he tore through the desert, taking in deep breaths through his nose as his scuffed white, turned brownish sneakers filled up with sand and carved the wavy path in front of him.
"What's your goal!?"
"To always be better than Goten!"
"Hey!"
"Good! Goten!?"
"Uhh… Uhh… to be sick and fade evildoers with one mighty blast!"
"Good! How are we gonna complete those goals!?"
Yamcha left them in the dust as the pair looked at each other for confirmation, stopping in the sand unintentionally.
"Uhh…"
"Oh snap!" Goten said as he noticed the dust cloud leaving them behind.
"Hey! Wait for me, Goten!"
They ran circuits until both boys were dog tired and couldn't even move, on the verge of barfing but unable to do anything but choke on it limply while laying face up on the sand. They lifted the giant boulders and 'mushrooms' littering Diablo Desert like playthings.
"Send it!" Yamcha cried as he squatted low with a chrome bat shining in his hand.
"You got it!" Goten's giggles echoed through the chasm of stone as he absolutely launched a stone monument his way.
THWINKK! KrrrrrrrrOOOMMEE!
Yamcha's red and silver Titans' bat smashed the grey rock into nothing but dust as the kids laughed their butts off from the ledge above.
"Come on, Goten. This stuff's easy." The now wolf club fledgling taunted, pointing the end of his eraser into the youngest son's forehead as he looked down at his answer sheet.
Yamcha did pushups on his fingertips, performing a handstand while doing so.
"Come on, Goten. You're whack if you can't do 2+2."
"I know. I can do 2+2! I just don't know what a Tri-Beam is." The little kid said with confused eyes.
"It's uhh… it's uhh. A beam with three points, dummy."
"Bruh."
They ran ragged during the day, goofed off in the afternoon, practiced sparring, punching and kicking as well as Ki during the night and slept through most of the morning. Goten clung to the phone provided to him by The Wolf to talk to his mom.
"Yeah, everything's going good."
"And you're gonna come back at the first sign of any trouble at Capsule Corp, right?"
Goten looked over his shoulder.
WHAMM! THUNKTHUNKTHUNK!
"Oh~ho shit." Yamcha couldn't help but laugh as he field goaled Trunks through about 10 stone structures off in the distance.
"I'm okay, dad~" His shaky voice wobbled and wavered over the chasm, giving a limp thumbs up, full of scrapes.
"Yeah, I will."
"Love you, baby. Do your homework."
"I will."
Boop!
"Me next! Hit me with the bat! I want to see if I can make it over the hideout!" Goten hollered, sprinting over hill and dale towards Yamcha's location.
TWINKK! FYUUUuuuuuuuuun~
"Alright, Goten!" Trunks shouted at the heavens, thumbs up and shielding his eyes from the sun as the younger brother of Son Gohan soared over the hut and eclipsed the solar orb high in the sky.
The sun soon set and the quartet prowled the outskirts of Diablo, hooting howls reaching far and wide over the night's embrace.
"Diablo Desert is home to many dangerous animals that could kill non-chads in a heartbeat. It's where I developed my signature style of martial arts."
"The Wolf Fang Fist?" Trunks asked as he plodded along with the man that was his father, Yamcha's hands in his pants as he led the pack.
"The very same."
Wsh~Fwush~Wsht!
"Grrrrrowrrr~"
Hounded on all sides, a squadron of grey wolves bared their fangs to the group, Yamcha and Puar just staring back at them plainly as the two kids wondered wide eyed. The wolves' slimy saliva touched the dirt and they sauntered ever forward.
"See how low they are?"
"Yeah."
"Mmhmm."
"Wolves, cats, and other four legged animals like this pounce to get a good hit on unsuspecting enemies. They think they've got us in their jaws. But they don't know the truth. I'm not gonna fight this one for you, kids."
"Huh?"
The Wolf crossed his arms as Puar did the same and landed on his traps, looming down as they stood back to back. The wolf pack edged closer and closer as Trunks and Goten checked their stances. Yamcha smirked as the pair stood back to back without realising it, each taking on their own stubby little version of Wasteland Stance.
"Rrrroughh!" The leader of the pack yodeled, snapping and jumping into the fray.
WHAMM! POPP! SMACKK!
"Arr! Arr!"
"Aruu~"
"Huh?" Goten let out unintentionally as the wolves started to back off just from a few blows.
"Yeah, what?" Trunks added on, returning back to a neutral standing position with raised eyebrows.
"Hnn-hnnhnn~" Yamcha laughed, putting his hand in his face as the moon was covered by the heavy clouds.
"Why'd they just leave?"
"Wolves are kinda some bitches. They Look and Sound cool but usually they'll run when they find out it's not gonna be an easy dub."
"So why are we fighting like them, dad?"
"Nah, you got it twisted. We're now what a wolf represents."
"..."
"We'll set the new precedent and make wolves sick again."
The boys' eyes lit up and Yamcha's hollywood smile twinkled in the darkness.
"Besides. Wolves Can be dangerous when going up against normal people, we're just not normal."
"Yeah, we're sick and nasty, isn't that right, Trunks?"
"Yeah." The Wolf Cub responded with a sly smirk just like his dad's.
"This is just the start. Now I'm not training you guys any more unless you behave yourselves and don't tell your moms."
"WeWon'tWePromise!" The boys' shot out, on the ground praising him with childish incantations.
"Good. We haven't even scratched the surface of what you boys are really capable of."
The stars in the night's sky couldn't hold a candle to the plentiful wanderlust permeating from their irises.
Gohan
"Gohan, you're wild!" Erasa shouted out accompanied by not only her laugh but Sharpner's as they scaled the mountainside to get the soul snatching view of the treetops spread out in all directions. Not only did the other tall pillars of stone stand out amongst the picturesque greenery but the clouds shaped the sky and birds flew south, tearing across the baby blue backdrop. Gohan smiled and plopped down in a criss-cross atop the mossy green misshapen slab. He folded his arms over one another confidently and yelled out just to hear his voice jump off the other mountains. His youthful cry bounded and smashed into the other cliff faces, jumping from one rock to the next until it faded into obscurity. Monkeys and squirrels ran their laps around the tree branches, ushered along by Gohan's yell.
Other woodland critters like deer and doe, sabretooth tigers, some wild hogs, and even some ancient dinosaurs roamed the lands. The trio looked over at the landscape, lucky enough to catch some long necked sauropods.
"Wicked." Sharper couldn't help but let out as he saw the massive green creature's neck extend and then grab onto some leftover winter leaves.
"You really live all the way out here, huh?"
"Yup."
Erasa and Sharpner positioned themselves on either side of Gohan and rubbed their hands together, the icy aroma biting into their flesh but the trio didn't seem to mind.
"This is kinda like where my dad lives." Erasa stated, peering out into the beyond with an earnest smirk turning the sides of her lips up without permission.
"Your dad is out in East District?"
"No no, he's on the outskirts of North City. He just… ya know, lives out in the mountains. There's some scary creatures out in places like this."
"They're not so scary once you get to know them." Gohan replied as he leaned back and let his hands slide against the bristled rock and nibbling moss.
"Once you get to know them. Brah."
The group laughed until an epic shadow loomed overhead and the ferocious beat of wings lashed out. A giant blue pterodactyl loomed over the trio. Gohan held a smile for a brief moment before concern took over and forced a furrowed brow.
"Hey… settle down, alright." The son of Son Goku's voice rolled out like silk as he stood up and the pair behind them skittered back for safe keeping.
The blue menace arched its big back and giant bat-like wings as if threatening and its long beak cawed out in a low growl.
"Easy, it's not like that."
"ROWW!"
FWUMM!
"Gohan~"
"Get away from that thing, brah! It's gonna eat you for breakfast!"
"But it's afternoon." Gohan replied, completely turning its back to the beast.
"Behind you!"
"Relax. She's not gonna hurt me. Come on." Gohan protested as he looked up with a disgruntled mug. "Why would you think I'd do that, huh?"
"Ruuwww~" The pterodactyl caved as it hunched over and touched its sharp claws down on the green fuzz.
"That's right. You say your baby is missing?"
The creature nodded its head low, much to the disbelief of Sharpner and Erasa.
"Hmm." The son of Son Goku paced around the little space left on the stone slab and stroked his chin as he did it. "That's awful. I'll see what I can do."
The giant bowed its head once again before absolutely blasting Sharpner and Erasa on their asses with another ferocious beat of its draconic wings before ascending into the skyline.
FOOSHH!
"Whoa~"
"Hmm."
"What the heck was that, Gohan?" Erasa questioned as she barely hung on by a thread.
"Oh! Shoot, my bad." He replied, dragging her up to the top. "That was Toh Toh's mate, Tu-Tu. Her newborn has apparently gone missing. I have no idea how that could have happened."
"Brah, it's the animal kingdom. Some greedy rat probably stole the egg or Ate The Child~" Sharpner responded as he wiggled his fingers.
Erasa laughed out but relented that:
"That's fugged ub."
Sharpner let out a few giggles as Gohan postured up and looked out into the wild stretch of Mount Paozu.
"I've Seen Chobi. So I know for a fact that he at least hatched out of his egg. But there's no way that some animal got ahold of him. Toh Toh and Tu-Tu are some of the strongest creatures in this forest. They wouldn't let Chobi go without a fight. Hmm. That and, Tu-Tu definitely sounded like she didn't want to see any more humans in here."
"Gulp~"
"Yeah, she wanted to eat you guys. I was totally safe but I told her not to."
"Geez, animal whisperer moment." Erasa commented as she scratched her head and met Gohan level at the end of the mountaintop.
Snapp!
"So I'm probably looking for humans that took Chobi."
Sharpner and Erasa just shot a kooky look at each other before letting out a laugh and watching as the sun set behind the trees.
Men-Men
"What's the financial investment?" The doughy Lord Jaguar asked as he flicked back his long black braid and crossed his arms with an air of diplomacy.
The pair of well dressed individuals walked the red carpet of the magnificent stone castle once more. Lord Jaguar snapped, barking back at Men-Men, who fixed his tie and wore a solemn expression as he took the brunt of the vocal assault.
"I'm not seeing much payout, Men-Men."
"..."
"Crime for crime's sake is simply a waste of time. There's no money in this empire you want to build, why in the Hell would I fund that, huh? You're my cousin, and I don't hate ya, but you gotta Think about these things!"
Men-Men's hands trembled with malice as Lord Jaguar brandished an apple and bit down hard.
Chumm!
"Nom~ Now… Kochin was doing some shady shit, but you wanna know Why I gave him money?"
"Why… Jaguar?" Men-Men asked with as much politeness as he could stomach.
Little bits of unchewed fruit spilled out of Jaguar's slobbering mouth as he answered and backfisted Men-Men's silver vest decorating his mint green blazer, suit pants, and fedora.
"Because the financial investment had the potential to pay dividends. Other than that one unlucky run with Bulma and her goddamn boyfriend, these Bio-Warriors have done nothing but win."
"They can't even beat me."
"That's besides the point! You don't even look scary! That's half the battle, dumbass! Intimidation!" Jaguar called out, his voice echoing through the stone halls as he shook his fist in victory and stomped his black dress shoes on the carpet.
"Of course, Lord Jaguar."
"You want My money to hire soldiers? For what!? Give me one good reason that you haven't already and Mayyybe I'll consider it."
"I wanted more than anything to run buckwild in the Red Ribbon Army but those fools got crushed by a little fucking kid before I could even join. I've made some powerful connections but I won't be able to get everyone on board unless I can pay off the police."
"HaHaHaHaHaHa~"
Men-Men's brow furrowed and he locked eyes with the man.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA~" Lord Jaguar's voice bounced off the walls, the stone, the chandeliers, the carpet, the flags, the drapes.
Men-Men's fist shook but he smiled and let out a breath.
"... I can see you don't like that idea. Well how bout this?"
Men-Men stopped on a dime, looking out the castle window and fixing his wide brimmed hat before taking a piece of paper out of his pocket.
Fwit.
The paper unfurled and Jaguar looked into its signage. His eyes widened.
"You shouldn't have put me in your will, cousin."
Men-Men quickdrew as fast as could be.
Blamm!
The bullet pierced right through his head and the man's fat body hit the floor with a thud, not a soul in sight in the gigantic castle laid upon the stone, surrounded by miles of beautiful blue sea, glimmering with radiant rays of sunlight. Men-Men took off his fedora and as he did so, put it over his heart, making a bow to all those who came to his funeral.
It was a bright day that day as well, the sun shining with a level of clarity that seemed a bit out of place for a reconnaissance of death. People put flowers up but it looked to be full of people who were more or less apathetic about the whole ordeal, legions of old white men, presumably business partners of something or other. No one cried, and certainly no one really felt very genuine at the speaking portion.
"I just have one thing to say."
Vwerrr~
Men-Men fixed the microphone at the front of the stand and peered out into the swarm of unrecognisable faces that littered the grass of the graveyard.
"My cousin Lord Jaguar certainly was a… charitable… man. I've seen him throw money at investors who didn't have his best… interests in mind just to keep it brief."
"..."
He felt the simple eyes staring up at him as nothing more than accusatory glances, despite the fact that most of them wore empty, solemnly expressions. He folded under the pressure a bit, tightening his already choking tie.
"... Thank you."
Vwernnn~
Men-Men stepped down from the microphone and marched over to the pink skycar parked out on the side of the road, a few heads turning his way. He paid them no mind, revving the engine and flying out of there before the ceremony had wrapped up in its entirety. He flew along the stoic edge of the graveyard, the bustling movement of the major cities, the calm collection of ocean, and landed right back at the castle, a giant yellow dome in the back of the mountainous isle. His car pushed out the water at the docks and he handed the keys to staff members already waiting at his beck and call in butler's attire.
"How was the funeral, Men-Men?"
"The fuck you want me to say? It was a funeral." The man responded as he flapped his mint blazer and left the man to do his job.
"I suppose so, sir." The man responded with a faux english accent.
Men-Men was about to climb the staircase built into the mountainside but turned around last second, his coat flourishing as he looked down at the man rearranging the skycar's parking job.
"Hey!"
"Hmm?" The butler mused, sticking his head out the driver's side window.
"I'm going to make some cuts here in Mei Queen Castle! I don't need a thousand butlers and maids just to go take a shit! Be on your best behaviour and I won't have to get rid of ya!"
"If you insist, sir."