"Hey Chi! How'd it go today?" Bulma asked while cradling her pink phone between her shoulder and ear.
"Good. Goku won his match."
"Of course."
"Yeah. So he's got one more match tomorrow and if he wins that he'll be in the next stage of the tournament which is in a couple weeks." ChiChi's voice sounded on the other end.
"Awesome." Bulma replied.
"Yeah, but hey Goku just got back to the room so I'll call you later."
"Sure no problem. Tell him good luck for me!"
"I will. Bye!"
"Bye."
Bulma clicked the end button on her cell phone and set it down on her bed. Sighing, she walked to her bedroom window and stared over at Vegeta's house. She really wanted to talk to him, but couldn't muster up the courage to go over there.
"I don't know why I'm so afraid." she said to herself. "I was only trying to be a good friend. Is it my fault he's too stubborn to realize that?" Frowning, she decided that if anyone should apologize it should be him. He was the one who freaked out on her.
"Vegeta!"
The loud voice echoed through the house, causing the young teen who had been watching T.V to jump, before racing up the stairs to his father's room.
"What is it?" He asked his father.
"Sit down. I have to talk to you." His father commanded.
Vegeta obeyed and sat himself down on a chair closest to the large bed. His heart began racing as he felt his father's eyes scan over his features and narrow in what he could only conclude was disappointment.
"Look at you. Shaking like a little girl. What the hell is wrong with you?" His father spat.
Vegeta remained silent but lowered his gaze to the floor.
"You going to answer me boy? No, of course not. You lack the courage to do so, don't you boy. Disgusting. How I ever raised such a coward is a mystery to me. Your pathetic. A sore to my eyes." He father sneered. "Look at me!" He yelled.
Vegeta snapped his head up to look at the man he called father. His comments had hurt, but he refused to show his pain.
"You gonna say anything?"
He looked into his father's eyes. They showed malice and hate. Not one ounce of love or pride for his only son. The anger began to build. He had done everything he could to make his father proud. He spent countless hours training, got straight A's in school, anything he thought would make his father proud. He couldn't take it anymore. Why couldn't his father love him? Even in the old man's last days he continued to hate his son. The son who had despite it all, had stayed by his side.
"As a matter of fact I do have something to say." Vegeta whispered.
"Well, do go on."
"I hate you!" Vegeta yelled. He stood up and all but ran from the room, away from the pain.
Krillin sat watching as the last rays of sunlight faded behind the hills. It had been a long time since he watched the sunset. He had spent the majority of the day fishing. It was so peaceful, just laying in the grass watching the clouds pass by. Funny, he thought, how such a beautiful world could contain so much ugliness. He shook his head. He wasn't going to think about the past. Instead he decided to think once again about the new girl called 18. Maybe if he threw a party he could invite her and, wait…him throw a party?! He didn't know the first thing about throwing a party, and besides, it wasn't like he had a lot of friends that would actually come if he did know how in the first place. In truth Goku was his only friend. Yeah he hung out with Vegeta and Yamcha at school, but that was only because of Goku. Outside of school he never hung out with them. Bulma was nice. Every once in a while she would call him and see if he wanted to hang out, but that was about it. So why did he think he even had a chance with a girl like 18? He sighed and pulled his fishing pole from the water.
"Ladies and gentleman! Welcome to the second day of stage one for the Dragon Tournament!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd, which was significantly smaller than the previous day.
"Today the top ten competitors from each section will be announced. These fighters will then continue on to the second stage. Let's get started!"
ChiChi sighed and rested her chin in her hands as she sat in the bleachers that overlooked the fighting arena. She had gotten less than two hours of sleep. Master Roshi had gotten one room for the three of them to share with two beds. He had slept in one and ChiChi had slept in the other, while Goku ended up on the floor. She had protested and had offered to sleep on the floor herself, but Goku wouldn't allow it. Master Roshi had snored all night long with intermittent intervals of singing Buffalo Gals in his sleep. She couldn't believe that Goku had been able to sleep through it. She certainly hadn't been able too.
"You look tired Chi." Goku said, interrupting her thoughts.
"That's cause I am tired."
"Really? I slept great!" Master Roshi chimed in.
"I'll bet you did!" ChiChi grumbled in response. "I'm going to go get some coffee."
The two men watched as the fiery girl started to walk away. Goku suddenly clasped his hands together and looked towards the ceiling.
"What are you doing?" Master Roshi asked.
"Praying."
"For what?"
"That ChiChi finds some coffee."
"Why? You thirsty too?"
"No, but if she doesn't find some it, well let's just say it won't be good for anyone who crosses her path." Goku said.
"Would you WATCH IT!" ChiChi yelled as a young man bumped into her.
"S-s-sorry miss."
"See?" Goku said to his master.
"One coffee, black." ChiChi ordered.
"That'll be ten zeni." The young woman across the counter said.
ChiChi paid the woman and accepted that cup that contained the life stirring liquid. She inhaled deeply the rich and bitter scent. Suddenly someone bumped into her from behind, nearly causing the raven-haired beauty to spill the precious drink. She turned around, ready to give the offender a piece of her mind but stopped as she recognized the young blonde girl.
"18?" ChiChi asked.
"Oh its you, ChiChi right? Sorry I bumped into you." 18 replied.
"Don't worry about it. What are you doing here?" ChiChi asked as she and 18 sat down at a nearby table.
"Oh, my uh brother is competing. What about you? Why are you here?"
"Goku is competing here today too. I'm here to cheer him on, although I highly suspect he just wants to keep an eye on me." ChiChi replied, taking a sip from her drink.
"Why do you say that?" 18 asked with curiosity. She hadn't known the dark-haired girl long, but for some reason found talking to her very easy.
"It's kinda a long story."
"I see. So… are your other friends here too?"
"You mean like Bulma and them? No. Plus I wouldn't actually call her my friend. I mean, we get along and all, and she's really nice, but, I dunno. It's kinda hard to be friends with someone who lives a totally different life from yours. You know?"
"Actually yeah I do. I mean, my life certainly hasn't been all roses, and it's hard to hang out with someone who hasn't experienced some of the things I have." 18 said, lowering her eyes to the table top. She couldn't believe she actually told ChiChi that.
ChiChi eyed the pretty girl in front of her. So, 18 had a painful past too. Without knowing why she reached her hand across the table and gently touched 18's arm.
"I understand."
18 looked up at ChiChi. Bulma had said that ChiChi had a rough past. Perhaps the two of them could actually become friends.
"Hey 18, who's this?" A voice sounded from near the table. It was a voice that 18 wished she hadn't heard.
He didn't know how long he had been gone, but he knew it was a long time because the sun was shining once again. After his confrontation with his father Vegeta took off running. He didn't care where, nor did he have a place in mind. He just continued to run through the dark streets. He was nearing his home once again, his feet somehow bringing him back. As he rounded the final corner to his street an odd feeling started to form. That was when he saw it, the police cars and ambulance in front of his home. He started running as fast as his tired legs would let him. Bulma was standing at the end of his driveway, tears streaming down her face.
"Vegeta!" Bulma cried out as she saw him approach.
She threw her arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder.
"What's going on?" Vegeta asked, afraid to hear the answer.
Bulma raised tear filled eyes to meet his.
"Oh I'm so sorry Vegeta, but your dad, he's…." she couldn't continue.
Vegeta was in shock. His father was gone? Suddenly images of last night flooded his mind.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"As a matter of fact I do…..I hate you!"
Those had been his final words to his father. I hate you.
A/N: Thoughts, comments? Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far and offered me suggestions for improvement, it means a lot that you read my stories!