"Madame Lavender's Tea Shop"

North City, Sucrose Lane

Caulifla's POV

{Caulifla tossed and turned underneath her bedsheets.}

She'll go on a rampage, and everything will crumble. Oh, and it will be all your fault… fault… fault…

RRRGGH!

"Kale, no! I'M SORRY!"

I sat up, sweat beading on my forehead and chest pounding. Damn, had that same dream again. My mind kept repeating the Berserker sequence. Ugh, I can feel my temples throbbing and stomach tightening. After all the things I've tried to recover our friendship, I feel like that scenario will happen. If the slightest annoyance ticked Kale off, it's game over. For me, Cabba, and everyone.

The clock wasn't on, so sunlight became my go-to alarm. It has been a week since I announced the spa resort trip, but my frequent pains postponed it. When I delayed the trip, Kale wasn't upset. She shrugged her shoulders. "We have time, Caulifla. Please, relax." I think selling that tent was the right decision. Despite the arrangements, I couldn't relax.

Olive and Kale managed the hideout, while I attempted to find something to do. I'm an active person, so reading, watching shows, and laying on my messy bed weren't helping. My lower back region, as what the doctors—the same bastard Olive and the girls forced me to visit—stated was strained. He recommended I quit vigorous training for four weeks. F-Four weeks!? I quit training for Kale's sake and that was hard. Now, I have to wait four weeks for my back to heal?

Seven days in and my back still hurts. Frequent rubs didn't work. Sitting in any chair didn't work. Hell, even laying on my bed didn't work! I need help and I knew who to call. Quickly, I grabbed the communicator and dialed Janet's number. Within fifteen seconds, her voice blared. "Hello, Caulifla." I explained what happened to my back while thanking her for mailing the tent to that orphanage. "No need, Young Caulifla. Those orphans love the jungle gym the owners converted. You did a genuine deed." Janet asked why I was calling her and I recapped the horrific dreams and how long my back ached.

"Oh. Your back suffered from too much movement."

"Wait, what? The doctor said I moved too much!"

"It's the same, Caulifla. I told you not to go hard on the training tent. Did you read the manual and safety precautions? It said the gravity setting will affect one's back, if used daily."

"..."

"From the pause, that's a no?"

"Yeah. Reading hasn't been my greatest attribute."

"Okay, okay."

"I'm calling you for one reason: medicine. Are there pharmacies or counseling centers in North City?"

"Well, besides the North City Hospital and June's Therapy Center, I can't think of any pharmacies."

"So… what's the best alternative?"

"June mentioned a tea shop that sells beneficial blends. Maybe visit Madame Lavender's Tea Shop."

"Lavender's Tea Shop?"

"Correction: Madame Lavender's Tea Shop."

"Right, I'll check it out."

After hanging up, my back cracked, and I yowled. Damn this pain! I can't act second fiddle to Kale, who's probably training outside this hideout. My goal is to defeat Goku and until that tournament gets announced, I'll work out harder. I walked out of my room, downstairs, and neared the entrance. Before grabbing the doorknob, my neck snapped.

"Gah, goddammit!" Now my neck hurts!? Screw it, I left anyway and flew to where the shop was. I found the shop, five miles near SDF headquarters. I landed on the pavement, leaned forward, which increased the backaches, and squinted my eyes to see a front counter. "Hm, looks like a normal shop with carved wooden desks." I stepped inside, let the door shut, and analyzed the area. Three shelves with boxes of tea bags covered each wall. Coffee tables, in different shapes and sizes, must be the hang-out sessions. As I approached the desk, a chill ran down my spine.

I hope it wasn't the neck pain. My fingers tapped the bell and a rotund figure appeared behind the counter. "Hi there, missy. How can I help you?" The figure leaned out of the shadows, revealing a gross image. Wrinkles, silver gray hair, saggy eye bags, and pale skin. Those showed this woman's age, and it disturbed me. "Eh, hi. Excuse me, I'm looking for the owner of this place, old hag?" I could've sworn I saw a vein pop under the woman's temple, as she grinned. "I am the owner, Madame Lavender."

Upon hearing the woman's identity, I backed away. Then my back ached harder, and I doubled forward. "Oh, dear. I sense your lower back is in great agony." Since when did this old hag have empathy powers? I tried standing straight, yet the pain escalated, and I gave up. "Yeah and I'm here for that reason. Is there a medicine that patches backaches?" Lavender's soft chin looked fat and flabby, as she rubbed it. Her hums sounded soothing, but her teeth were yellow and crooked. How can she talk with crooked teeth?

She walked around the counter, touched my forehead, and her eyes rolled back. A trail of inner sensation traveled through my skin. Lavender's eyes glowed white, as she muttered something ancient. I couldn't tell what she was saying, because I blacked out for thirty seconds. Once her hand left my forehead, I gained consciousness. "What the hell, old hag!?" Lavender's grin twitched, and she folded her arms behind her back. "I went through your memory and found what caused your backache."

She stood behind the counter again and I rolled my eyes over the obvious. "I know, Janet said I trained too hard. B-But there's a reason." She extended a dried up hand towards me. I paused and let her talk in that raspy voice. "You and your friends were in a tournament. After surviving a deadly game, you vowed to defeat a powerful opponent. However, the dedication cost you a meaningful friendship. Is all of this correct?"

My jaw dropped from Lavender's description of what me, Cabba, and Kale went through. She was right. I shook my head, growled, and attempted to tug her robe collar, but the pain stopped me. "Damn! Ugh, I don't have time for your wise-cracking crap, old hag! I need that medicine and you're going to-" A wave of her hand and I froze instantly. My bones, muscles, and skin froze like ice. "Listen here, young woman. Oops, I should call you Caulifla, as I searched through your mind. Ahem, I'll help you, but you have to show respect to the elderly. I'm over 80, but my magic hasn't faded."

My mouth was open from the magical freeze trap, but I didn't taunt. "I'll let you go, if you agree to a special program I'm working on. It's a four-week program, and it popped up during a conversation with June, a close companion. You know who June is? Owner of 'June's Therapy Center'?" I could nod, but that hag froze me! She cackled, hovering her palm over her boney chest. "I'll take it as a yes." With a finger snap, I unfroze. Relieved to move again, I stretched a little and snarled at Lavender. "Fine, fine, I agree." Lavender opened a drawer, and pulled out a contract. She slid the paper across the shiny wooden counter and grinned wider. "Sign this contract and I promise you… Your life will be 100% better."

"Yada-yada, my back will heal. Give me a pen, old hag!"

*Twitch*

"Okay, Caulifla. Here you go."

{Caulifla signed the contract; Lavender rolled it up and stuffed it into the drawer.}

"To begin our four-week program, allow me to give you a free tea blend I've been working on."

{Lavender placed a medium-sized tea box.}

"Try it tonight and maybe your backache will lessen."

"..." (I don't like tea, but it's the closest thing to coffee I'll drink.) "Alright, old hag."

{Caulifla grabbed the tea box.}

"Thanks… for nothing."

{Caulifla left the shop; Lavender smirked devilishly.}

(That's what you get for calling me a hag. Hehehehe!)

Sucrose Lane (10 pm)

I stood near the counter, leaned against its edge, and watched the teapot whistle. Kerna found it at a fleabag market, making tonight's tea-testing easy. I poured hot water into a mug and scooped two teaspoons of tea mixture. I can't believe I'm drinking tea before bed. Water's fine, but tea? After stirring the mixture, I waited two minutes for it to cool down. Olive entered the kitchen, sat on an armchair, and noticed my discomfort against the counter.

"Still having those backaches?" I nodded, although I shouldn't. "This old hag gave me some tea bags for it." Olive hummed, stood up, and turned away. "Just don't burn your tongue." Dammit, I wished my back was operational, so I can pound Olive to the ground. Afterward, I gulped down three sips. To be honest, the hag's tea tasted great. My skin felt soothed from the warm water. I climbed upstairs, entered my bedroom, changed clothes, and plopped my body on the bed. Hopefully, that nightmare doesn't return.

Five hours into sleeping and it never surfaced. That was a good sign until I started dreaming of the weirdest image yet. I was in the kitchen, ready to eat breakfast with the girls. When I arrived, their face showed concern, confusion, and somewhere in between. I stared at my hands, finding why they were puzzled. They were puffy and short. Kale walked over with a hand mirror and motioned it to my face. One look at my reflection and I saw a big girl with the fattest cheeks! Once I screamed, the dream ended, and I woke up. My breathing felt pressured, as if an anvil landed on my chest. "Ah, it was only a dream. I'm not growing fat. Olive and Pumpkin were wrong about my diet."

Through some trial and error, I rolled out of bed, slamming the floor. My room rocked from the massive fall, which shouldn't happen. My body felt heavier from last night. Kerna, Olive's 'right-hand woman', opened the door and saw me. "Boss, what was that!?" When she noticed me, her jaw dropped. "I'm fine, Kerna. Be down in a minute." While I rubbed my eyes, Kerna screamed.

I stared at the door, and nothing. All I heard was her running footsteps. Was there something in my teeth? Once I grabbed my washcloth and toothbrush, I walked towards the entrance. Whew! Since when did my stamina diminished? Before leaving, I got stuck in the door frame. Did the door shrink!? I pushed forward, using all my energy to escape. There's something off and I can't put my finger on it!

Kale's POV

"Alright, scrambled eggs are almost done, girls." I occupied the oven, flipping scrambled eggs and sausage links. The smoke filled the kitchen, which satisfied me. Before I took June's eight-week therapy program, cooking breakfast felt irritating. I felt like quitting, but June swooped in and saved me. Now, I appreciated making meals for my sisters and Caulifla. Oh, that's right. She has her backache, so I'll carry breakfast to her room.

Olive, Pumpkin, and the rest arrived in their pajamas. I wore a light pink nightgown. After plating the eggs, sausage, and toast on a silver platter, Kerna's screams echoed across the hideout's interiors. "Kerna! What the hell's going on!?" She ran in, arms waving and eyes trembling. On instant, I turned Super Saiyan and dashed to where Kerna stood. "Are we under attack, Kerna?" Her shivering body and flushed face showed fear, yet I sensed something else. Then, the kitchen rocked slightly.

"Ugh! Back still hurts like a bitch!"

"EEE! That's the monster I saw in Boss' room! Protect me!"

{Kerna and the girls hid behind Olive and Kale.}

"Mmm, sausage and eggs."

"..." (That voice. It sounds deep, but the tone reminds me of-)

THUMP!

"Huh? Why are you all hiding behind Kale?"

"Kerna? Is that the 'monster' you saw?"

"Yes! It was big, round, and scary! I think it ate the boss!"

"A monster? Hm… I don't see one. Are you referring to how I snore?"

"Uh, Caulifla? Have you been to the bathroom?"

"Yes. Why you ask?"

{Kale deactivated her Super Saiyan form, walked to a dresser, and grabbed a hand mirror.}

"It's best that you see why Kerna flipped out."

"Kale, what are you talking about-"

AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!