Chapter 001 – Reunion at Kame House
Age 761.
The view below them was beautiful. The jet was surrounded by blue; the sky and the large bulk of water below them. A flock of gulls passed the jet heading in the opposite direction. Corset gazed out of the window, mouth ajar as she took in the scenery around her amazed by what she saw. She'd never been this high above the sea before.
"Corset, can you see that small island on the horizon?" Bulma asked.
"Um..." Large blue eyes scanned the mass if the ocean below, "…Yeah."
"That's where we're headed for," Bulma spoke softly. "That small island is Master Roshi's island."
"Who's he?" Corset asked.
"He's a martial arts expert, or at least he used to be long ago."
Corset's eyes fixated on the small island before them until it disappeared behind the plane. "... Mama, are other friends there?"
"Yep, lots of mama's old friends are going to be there," Bulma nodded, "There's Krillin, Master Roshi, Turtle, Launch and of course Goku!"
"Is Turtle a turtle?" Corset asked.
"That's right, Turtle is a turtle!" Bulma smiled.
"That's a funny name for a turtle… I like it." Corset giggled.
The plane stopped in mid-air and began its final descent vertically, kicking up sand from the beach below. The shudder of the plane told both passengers it had successfully landed and Bulma shut off the engines. She unstrapped herself and stepped out onto the sand. Corset undid her own seatbelt but hesitated, unsure about whether she wanted to get out of the jet or not...
Bulma made her way around to the other side of the craft, realising her daughter hadn't even opened her door yet. '... She's getting shy again,' Bulma realised; her daughter was always shy around new people.
Bulma glanced through the window briefly before opening the passenger door. Almost as if she knew what was coming, Corset slipped herself off from the passenger seat and stayed close to her mother as she was led towards the pink house's door. What an odd place this was for a house, she thought to herself.
"Yoo-hoo! Hello in there?" Bulma called. "Is anyone home?" Without really waiting for an answer she opened the front door to the house, Corset sticking close behind her mother's leg and clinging to her sock. Cautiously she glanced into the house.
"Bulma!"
A short bald-headed man beamed, walking towards the two females as they walked in.
"It's been too long!"
Another man was inside the house; his sunglasses almost hiding his aged face along with his white brushy moustache and beard. He looked ancient to the four-year-old! "You're pretty cold aren't you? We haven't seen you in five years now!"
"Well I'm here now, isn't that good enough?" Bulma smiled eagerly for one of them to spot the small child behind her. It didn't take too long.
The younger bald man spotted Corset and their glance met for the briefest of moments before Corset, who was overcome by her bashfulness, fled behind her mother's leg. The bald man's eyes widened and he glanced at her for a further few seconds before finally finding the words.
"Hey Bulma... Who's the small kid behind you?"
The older man also noticed Corset behind Bulma as he diverted his eyes down from Bulma's face to her legs. "... Don't tell me..." He gasped.
Bulma grinned anticipating the two's reaction.
"So you and Yamcha finally got married and had a kid!" Krillin grinned excited.
Bulma faltered but quickly regained herself. They would have to mention Yamcha. "Well… You're half right in thinking she's mine but she's not Yamcha's. Don't even remind me of that idiot!"
"She's not Yamcha's?" Master Roshi repeated shocked as if he were suggesting the child being Yamcha's was the only possible explanation and no other possibilities existed! "So you found someone else instead then?" This was throwing up more questions than answers.
"This is pretty big news whatever way you look at it!" Krillin spluttered seeming equally as stunned as his master. "So she's your kid? Really, you're not pulling my leg are you?"
"Krillin I saw her pop out from between my legs, she's my daughter," Bulma grumbled.
Corset wasn't sure what the adults were talking about but she knew she was at the centre of it. She continued to hide behind her mother, unsure of whether these strange men were safe or not. Just because her mother was speaking with them didn't make them safe. Unless she was actually given the all-clear, she was determined to stay unnoticed as much as possible.
"Corset say hello, don't be shy," Bulma cooed, ushering her daughter in front of her.
The little girl eyed the men timidly, assuming she was safe if her mother was telling her to say hello to them.
"... Hello..." She mumbled averting her eyes down to the wooden floor.
"Hey there, I'm Krillin," the younger bald man stepped forward, "It's nice to meet you Corset."
There was something rather funny about this guy's head; it was so shiny! Corset tried to stop herself from giggling as the sun reflected off of it, almost blinding her. Etiquette meant she shouldn't laugh at people she'd just met; her mother'd taught her better than that!
"How old are you, Corset?" Master Roshi asked.
"... Um..." Corset counted her fingers relieved the attention had been taken away from the bald man before her. It took a couple of seconds before she answered, "... I'm four years old."
"Good girl," Bulma patted her on the head.
Master Roshi put one hand to his beard, "Quite a shy one isn't she? Are you sure she's your child Bulma; they didn't get them mixed up at the hospital or anything did they?"
Bulma flared up, "No they didn't!" She yelled. It was bad enough her parents were constantly reminding her of how little the child seemed to resemble her mother; she didn't need it from her friends as well!
"So, if Yamcha's not the father then who is?" Krillin enquired.
Bulma glared at the small monk and folded her arms, closing her eyes as she pouted. "We don't talk about him," she answered quietly.
"You mean you split up then?" Krillin mumbled.
"... I don't have one," Corset frowned, eyes still fixated on the floor in embarrassment. "... Did daddy not like me?"
Awkwardness filled the tiny house, Krillin wishing he hadn't asked. How was he supposed to know she wasn't Yamcha's kid and didn't know her dad? Bulma should have announced it sooner rather than allowing them all to step on the proverbial land mine. "...Of course he did," Krillin tried to console her, "Sometimes mummies and daddies stop loving one another and so they move away from each other; I'm sure your daddy will come and see you one day." He looked up at Bulma and grew concerned when he noticed she was shaking her head. 'Give me a break.'
Master Roshi stepped forwards and took Bulma to the side, "Krillin, see to the child for a moment," he ordered as he took Bulma towards the door.
"Yeah, sure thing," Krillin nodded worried, feeling a little bit left out and curious as to what the conversation was about. He'd rather be involved in the private conversation now having brought the mood down, instead of momentarily monitoring a child he'd just met.
Corset felt a little threatened by the old man and tried to follow them in fear he was taking her mother away from her. Krillin noticed the girl's movement and caught onto Corset's arm, "Hey it's alright, your mum will be back in a minute; Master Roshi just has to talk to her about something."
Corset anxiously watched as Master Roshi and her mother disappeared outside. She was left with the shiny-headed man. She didn't feel too safe without her mother being with her, even if this man was one of her mother's friends. Corset didn't know him, how did she know she was out of harm's way?
They were gone for too long. Corset was growing increasingly anxious, her tail flickered around from impatience and anxiety.
"So how are your grandparents, Corset?" Krillin was trying to make small-talk but he wasn't really sure what to say, in case he opened another can of worms or made her cry.
"Nana and grandpa are at home," Corset wearily replied growing ever restless, tail waving in front of Krillin's neck. "... I wanna go to see Mama!" She took one step forward; Krillin gently grabbed her shoulder.
"Wait, your mum will be back in a minute Corset," he explained.
"No, I want mama now!" Corset struggled more, tail waving around wildly. The monk saw it from the corner of his eye, eyes widening in shock as a cold chill ran down his spine. It was enough to make him lose his grip and Corset dashed for the door. "Mama!" She ran out the door and grasped to her mother's leg, interrupting her and Master Roshi's conversation.
"Sorry," Krillin apologised walking out to the doorway, "She slipped outta my grip."
"Not to worry m' boy, we were pretty much done," Master Roshi nodded.
"B-Bulma, how long has she had a tail for?" Krillin asked nervously and with the slightest hint of surprise.
"W-What?" Master Roshi gasped, eyes falling to Corset and spotting the extra limb. "...You're right!"
"She had it when she was born," Bulma replied.
Corset felt rather embarrassed; they were still talking about her. She'd always been used to the attention from her tail though. Everyone everywhere always seemed to find it interesting. She knew she was different. She'd never seen any other children or adults with tails. She'd seen pictures of people in books – none of them had tails...
"You have been keeping her away from the full moon, right?" Master Roshi asked quietly.
"Of course I have," Bulma nodded indignantly. "How could I forget?"
The moon? Why could she not see the full moon? Corset'd always wondered that. She'd seen pictures of a full moon but she'd never seen one with her own eyes. She'd always been sent to bed early so she'd never had the chance. Whenever she'd asked, her mother had told her no. Whenever she told other children her age, they laughed at her. She didn't understand or like their reaction, why was it such a funny thing not to see? She wished her mother would let her see the moon so people would stop laughing at her.
Before she knew it the adults were walking back into the house; Corset gasped and closely followed her mother.
"So who else is coming today?" Bulma asked. "You can go sit down Corset."
Corset did as her mother told and sat behind the small table, eagerly observing the interior of the house. She could see a turtle in the corner of the room and smiled. It was a big turtle, its shell hard but shiny.
"Haven't heard anything from Tenshinhan and Chaozu," Krillin replied. "I take it Yamcha won't be here?"
"Of course not; you think I'd tell him after what he did?" Bulma hissed. "Let's get off the subject, where's Launch?"
"She went chasing Tenshinhan five years ago, we haven't seen or heard from her since!" Krillin replied.
Turtle noticed the small girl was looking over at him and smiled. The response from him startled Corset and she looked away embarrassed.