Disclaimer: Me no own…probably good that I don't…
Tomas……………
'Wow, a whole week since we got here. Man a lot has happened. I made new friends, found someone who can cook better than Grandma (didn't know that was POSSIBLE), and Layla finally learned to chill, I think. Suppose I should go back to when Nappa left, huh? Hmmm…..where exactly to start….'
"Great, just great," shouted Layla. "First I get dumped in this world where people have abilities that break the laws of physics, now I'm stuck in the middle of a strange city with an even stranger kid. I hope your happy, Khadi, because I am certainly NOT!"
"You yell a lot, whispered Tomas. "It's a good thing people here aren't very nosy, or we'd be in big trouble." He looked a bit frightened.
"How do you know that? Maybe they all think we're demons, and that we just need a reason to attack, and if they talk to us, that would be a good enough reason." By now people were starting to stare, which was only making Layla more uncomfortable with the situation.
"They don't have demons; don't need 'em. So stop worrying." Suddenly Tomas brightened. "Come on, there's someone you need to meet." With that, the boy took off running, dogging through the crowds with disturbing ease, leaving Layla to struggle after him. 'He's dead when I catch him…'
Layla……………
'Butt head! I almost lost him! He may know his way around this world, but I don't! That and he's the only proof I have that I didn't totally dream up my life that day. He did eventually admit to not being from here, but I had guessed long before then. Also, his endless knowledge of this place is, unfortunately, pricelessly useful, especially since he knows who we can trust, and I don't.'
The two kids stopped in front of a small house, panting like wild dogs. Tomas had lead them out of the city and up into the surrounding mountains. He had claimed there was someone who lived up there that Layla needed to meet, and that they needed to warn him that Nappa had returned. The mountain had turned out to be much steeper than originally thought, and Tomas' insists that they keep running did nothing to better Layla's increasingly bad mood. Finally, she had seen a small house, and demanded that they stop and ask for directions. Upon entering the clearing, Tomas announced that this was the house they had been looking for, then collapsed on the ground. Layla followed suit.
After about fifteen minutes Tomas stood up and approached the front door. He appeared calm as he knocked. 'He looks like he might try to sell this person something. I can't think of anyone else who looks that calm when they knock on a stranger's door,' thought Layla, still out of breath. A few minutes later a yo9ung woman opened the door. Her coal black hair was pulled back into a tight bun on top of her head. She was wearing a light blue, floor-length dress, a white apron, and black slip-on shoes. She seemed surprised to have a visitor.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Um, Ms. Chi-chi?" The lady looked surprised that this strange boy knew her name, but recovered quickly.
"Yes?" she repeated, blinking back her still shocked features into her normal, pleasant face.
"Um, we're looking for your husband, Mr. Goku. Is he around?" Tomas tried to appear as if he was only bringing a message, not meeting a celebrity. 'Failing miserably,' thought Layla, standing up slowly.
"He's not here right now,' said the lady named Chi-chi. "Perhaps I could help you with something?"
"Well, it's just that Nappa has returned, and I thought we should warn you." At this, Tomas turned around and beckoned to Layla to come meet this woman. Layla started up the walk, but froze as the lady began to shout.
"Why? It's always MY husband. Can't they go after someone else?" 'Looks like she's talking to God,' Layla laughed softly, afraid of angering the lady any further. Her face suddenly relaxed as they heard a small cry from inside the house. "Well, come in. I will be with you in a moment." With that, Chi-chi disappeared into the house. Tomas and Layla followed, the later closing the quietly once they were both inside.
Once inside, Layla began to examine the part of the house she could see from where she was standing. To the right was a kitchen with a table and chairs. To the left was a sitting room with two sofas and a fireplace, with a large window seat using up the remaining wall. A few toys were scattered on the ground, with a half-finished sweater laid out carefully on the window seat. 'Simple, yet elegant,' thought Layla, 'my type of house.' Her thoughts drifted back to the present as Chi-chi reappeared, descending the oak stairs with a small boy in tow.
"Hi!" said the boy. He looked to be a bit younger than Tomas, and wore a strange uniform. It consisted of a long-sleeved navy blue shirt, a strange orange jumpsuit, a blue belt, and black boots. His long hair was as black as Chi-chi's, but instead of lying flat, stuck out in all directions. 'Looks like he stuck his finger in a light socket,' thought Layla. Mentally she scolded herself for thinking such rude things of these people. 'After all, they must think I look weird. I'm the only person here with blonde hair.'
This is my son, Goten,' Chi-chi seemed to have adopted the attitude of a hostess, as though this were and expected visit, long time planned. "Please make yourselves at home and I'll go make some snacks." With that said, she disappeared into the kitchen. They could hear the faint clatter of pans banging together. 'Hope it's nothing too extravagant…'
The three kids walked into the sitting room, where Tomas and Goten told each other their names and any things they dubbed important enough for anyone to care about, (My Dad beat Frieza!) (My Dad can't beat a dead fish…), then set about playing as if they had known each other for years. 'Tomas probably has known gotten for that long.' Suddenly, Layla felt alone. The kind of alone where you think nobody in the WORLD knows you exist, and in this case, it was almost true. Sitting on the couch, Layla tried to look calm, but she was starting to worry about what would happen after they left. They didn't know anyone, and she was sure nobody here was just going to let two strange kids live in their house until they turned eighteen. Shivering, Layla turned to watch the two boys play, enjoying how much noise they were making. It is difficult to feel depressed when you can't hear yourself think, unless that is your normal state of mind, in which case it would be hard to feel happy.
Chi-chi chose this moment to enter the room. She was carrying a tray with a teapot, four cups, and a HUGE tray of cookies. Immediately Tomas and Goten left their game and began a new one; attack the cookies.
"These are great, Ms. Chi-chi. Better than my grandma's," said Tomas, his mouth full of cookie.
"Yup, nobody can cook better than my mommy," said Goten proudly. The effect was only slightly ruined by the cookies he had stuffed into his mouth. Layla waited until the boys had had their fill, then got a cookie for herself. 'They were right, these are great! Wonder who taught her, more likely just a natural skill.' After all the cookies were gone, Tomas and gotten returned to their game, acting as if there had never been an interruption. Chi-chi and Layla sat on one of the couches and watched the two boys play for a little while. Eventually Chi-chi's curiosity got the better of her.
"This person, what's his name?"
"Huh? Oh, um, Nap, I think. Something like that…"
"Nappa?"
"Yeah! How'd you know?"
"My husband fought him fifteen years ago, with Vegeta, and helped in the bringing about of his death. Vegeta was the one who actually killed him." Chi-chi continued to sip her tea, oblivious to the look of shock on Layla's face.
"But, but, if Nappa's dead, then how come we met his? I mean, people can't just come back to life!"
"No, but someone could have used the Dragonballs, which is not so unlikely."
"The what?"
"Dragonballs. There are seven mystical balls that summon a dragon, who has the power to grant almost any wish. Bring people back from the dead is one wish that is particularly over used. Of course, the dragon can only grant each wish once, so you only get two tries at life, unless you can trick the dragon into brining you back twice, which has never happened to my knowledge." Layla continued to stare, letting the explanation sink in. 'Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. After all, that Nappa guy could fly. But still, Dad would be way ticked if I ever told him about this.' Upon hearing a knock on the door, the two girls looked up. The boys continued to ignore everything and play their game.
"Wonder who that could be," mused Chi-chi as she stood to answer the door. "Oh, hello Bulma, I forgot you were coming."
"Well don't I feel wanted," came the joking reply. A lady not much taller than Chi-chi walked into the sitting room. She wore a knee length emerald colored dress with matching boots. Her teal-colored hair was brushed over to one side of her face. She looked to be a bit older than chi-chi, but not by more than a few years. Behind her was a small boy, who looked to be a bit older than Goten. Upon seeing the later, the former ran over to the two boys, exchanged his name (Trunks), and began to play too. Nobody seemed to mind, Layla too much in shock by the boys purple hair to care that he had joined the game with the ease with which it had been created. Aside from his hair, which was also brushed to one side of his face, he wore a green jacket and dark blue pants.
"I guess Trunks is too impatient to wait for introductions," said the teal haired woman, turning to Layla. "I'm Bulma Briefs, the current owner of Capsule Corporations."
"Please to meet-" began Layla, but Tomas interrupted.
"Cool! I always wanted to meet one of you Briefs. You're supposed to be the smartest people EVER! And being able to fit so much stuff into something so small is way too cool for words! Do you think we could go see your company someday? That would rock! My name's Tomas, by the way." With that said, Tomas returned to the game, oblivious to the three women now staring. Chi-chi recovered first.
"I had been wondering what his name was. He just showed up this morning claiming that Nappa was back."
"Oh, yes, him." Bulma scowled. He came by this morning and demanded he be allowed to fight my husband, arrogant fool. But Vegeta put him in his place. Then your husband showed up and dragged Vegeta off someplace to train for a few days, so he will be home Sunday, Prince's Promise. And what is your name?" The last part was directed at Layla.
"Huh? Oh, it's Layla." 'Gotta keep better track of my thoughts, people are gonna start calling me space girl again, like when I couldn't focus in elementary school.'
"What an interesting name. Well, Chi-chi and I have some things we need to discuss. If you need us, we'll be in the kitchen." With that the two women left the room, leaving Layla to watch the boys, and eventually join in their fun.
Tomas……………
'I don't think people give Chi-chi enough credit. Sure, she yelled at Goku for, like, twenty minutes when he got home, but he deserved it. He didn't give prior warning before he left, and that's not exactly a new habit. But she loves him and puts up with him, so fairs fair, at least in my book.
'Anyways, Layla eventually played with us, but she wasn't as good at the game as the rest of us. Maybe it's because she tends to depend on logic, which is one of many things are game didn't have, some of which included a plot and something resembling sanity. Think she was glad when Bulma called her to the kitchen. After all, she was the one who had to convince them we really weren't from here, which couldn't have been easy. She's really not so bad, Layla, when you get to know her. And her brother sounds as bad as Chrissy. Wow, never thought I'd say a girl wasn't bad…'
Layla……………
'Currently we are the guest of Ms. Chi-chi Son, who has to be one of the coolest mothers I've ever met. And so young! Two kids at her age, she got started young. Guess that's okay here. And her husband, Goku, just running off like that. Not sure I could deal with that as well as she did. I mean, she yelled at him when he got back, but it was just for not giving prior notice, not for leaving. I'd have been mad he left.
'Bulma's cool too. She's really smart, and did give us a tour of her company, which is HUGE, to say the least. I can't believe something that big is legal, but the company's rich, so I guess what they say goes. And she's in charge of EVETRYTHING, which is totally wicked! In every sense of the word. It's cool because everybody has to listen to her, but bad because everybody is, like 300 people. Man, I can't manage ten, this woman kicks serious butt. Her husband doesn't really help, but she says he keeps her from blowing her top at work, whatever that means. Maybe he's abusive. Not likely. I swear she said "I love that guy" 70 times in one day, which is a LOT!
'Well, I should get to bed. Tomorrow the adults are going out, and I think somebody (or maybe three of them) volunteered me to be the babysitter. I seriously doubt I'll get any sleep with those three, they're not exactly angels, you know, so I'm gonna turn in early tonight. Maybe if I pray real hard, I won't end up with shaving cream on my face again. Or honey. Or shampoo. Or whatever they think of putting on me tonight. That's the only bad thing about this house, it has no LOCKS. But I can jam that door with a chair…'
A/N: First off, I'm NOT making this a love story. Tomas just doesn't like girls. Second, I think all the thoughts belonged to Layla, incase you got confused. And thirdly, I know the ending was bad, but I think chapter four makes up for that. Do let me know. Also, I changed the direction the plot is flowing. Please, review,flame, wahtever takes your fancy. And I'm sorry it took so long to update, my school play happened, and I got to help out.