Chapter 3 – The Shapeshifter

The night sky loomed dark and silent, save for the relentless sounds of destruction coming from the wasteland below. "Kame… hame…." Kakarot stood at the center of it all, his chest heaving, his armor stained with mud and blood, the ground torn apart, he had been training relentlessly ever since he woke up from his fight, if you can even call it that.

"Ha!" With a final shout, Kakarot unleashed the energy beam, its destructive force ripping through the landscape, the blast tore straight through a massive tree, shattering it into splinters before carving a gaping path of devastation through the forest.

Kakarot panted, exhausted but still, it wasn't enough "Not even close to what Roshi unleashed on me, pathetic! That blast… it felt like it could blow up a mountain, or even the moon." He clenched his fists, the memory of Roshi's Kamehameha still fresh in his mind, despite his relentless training and the destruction around him, it only served to remind him how far behind he truly was. "I need more... I need to be stronger."

But as he reflected on the event now, something else also tugged at him. Not the fight, but the way Bulma looked at him afterward, when he woke up, she had taken care of him, and her face, it was full of… worry. It was strange to him, unsettling even. He wasn't used to anyone caring for him, not since his master, Bulma's fiery attitude had made him expect toughness, maybe even indifference, yet in that moment, she had shown him a gentleness he hadn't anticipated, it lingered in his mind.

As he looked back to their house, Kakarot saw Bulma through the window, bathed in the soft glow of a lantern, as she read some weird magazine, it was already late, and he felt a pang of hunger gnaw at him, maybe he should go hunt something fresh to eat, something for her, too. Though he remembered with a frown how she had refused that cub he'd saved for her last time, humans could be so picky, but he figured he'd find something else.

Bulma tried to focus on her fashion magazine, but her mind kept wandering. She sat by the window, glancing at Kakarot as he trained. The destruction around them was unnerving, but what really scared her was his relentless determination and fury.

Roshi's lesson hadn't sunk in, at least, not the way the old man had hoped, his rage, his obsession with getting stronger, was overwhelming everything else. She sighed, glancing back at him again, maybe she should step in, try to help in some way. But how? What could she possibly say or do to make him listen?

He had, from the moment he woke up, been training non-stop, he hadn't even stopped to sleep, now that she thinks about it, had she ever even seen him get a proper night's rest? They had been traveling together for days, but in all that time, he hadn't taken a shower or allowed himself a moment to truly rest. He just hunted, ate, and trained, as if nothing else mattered. It wasn't normal, it wasn't healthy, that was no way to live.

But as she watched him fire yet another Kamehameha, she suddenly realized he was looking at her, flustered, she quickly averted her gaze, pretending to focus on the magazine in her lap. But when she glanced back a moment later, he was already walking into the remnants of the forest, likely off to hunt again.

As Bulma continued to flip through the pages of her magazine, her mind wandered back to Kakarot, she couldn't shake the feeling of unease about how tirelessly he trained, driven by something deep within him. Just then, the sound of rustling branches snapped her attention back to the window.

Moments later, Kakarot reappeared, his silhouette framed by the moonlight, as he walked into view, she could now see that he was dragging a massive T-rex's tail behind him, the sheer size of it making her eyes widen in surprise.

"Look what I brought back for us!" he exclaimed, a grin breaking through his exhaustion. "I tried to get the whole thing, but the Kamehameha is not really good for hunting, only the tail remained."

Bulma's mouth dropped open, both impressed and horrified. "You really brought that back for us?" She couldn't decide whether to be grateful, since she was getting hungry, or slightly repulsed by the sheer size of the tail. "I guess it's better than the last thing you tried to cook," she added, trying to maintain her composure.

As Kakarot dropped the massive T-rex tail onto the ground, he rubbed his hands together, excitement dancing in his eyes. "Well, come out here, I can roast it and leave some for you" he suggested, grinning widely at the thought of cooking it right there.

Bulma raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "No, no, no! You always do that! You cook it over the dirt there, eat it all up, and then leave just a little bit for me! It's gross! It doesn't taste good! And I'm tired of it! Cut it up so that I can try to cook it for us properly."

Kakarot blinked, a bit taken aback by her passionate outburst. "But it's just meat! It's still good, right?"

"Not when it's covered in dirt and cooked over an open fire! Look, I appreciate your hunting skills, but I want to eat something that doesn't taste like badly cooked meat and looks dirty!" she exclaimed, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "If you let me prepare it, I promise it'll taste way better!"

He was puzzled by her anger, quite frustrated too, seems like it's very hard to please this woman, at least she accepted his gift this time around, but with a simple shrug, he just accepted her demands, not quite sure how she could even start a fire inside their home, but if she said she could cook it, he was curious to see it.

As he finished slicing all the pieces of the tail, he brought them over to their house, but as he stood at the door, Bulma started looking at him up and down, her face turning into one of complete disgust, her nose scrunching up

"What?" Kakarot asked, puzzled by her reaction.

"Do you even realize how filthy you are?" she exclaimed, gesturing dramatically. "You're covered in mud, blood, and who knows what else! Don't expect I will let you come in here and eat looking like that!"

Kakarot looked down at himself, frowning. "But I was hunting! It's normal, right?"

"Normal for a caveman, maybe!" Bulma shot back, crossing her arms. "You need to clean yourself up first. I'm gonna take this meat, thank you" atleast he hadn't gotten dirt over the meat, but she would still wash it… just to be safe "As for you, when I say clean up, I mean go take a proper bath! Don't just go over to some waterfall again, you always come back smelling horrible still!"

Kakarot couldn't understand her, he brought something for her but here she was, shouting again, he was slowly becoming used to her fiery nature, but the two were constantly bickering "And what is this bath you keep talking about? If you want me to be clean, I can just go to the river near here"

Bulma threw her hands up in exasperation. "It's not just about being clean, Kakarot! A bath is…" She paused, struggling to find the words that could convey the concept of a bath to someone who had spent most of his life in the wild. "It's a proper way to wash yourself! You get to relax in warm water, not just splash around in a river."

Kakarot tilted his head, still puzzled. "But why does that matter? I feel fine."

Bulma sighed, trying to rein in her frustration. "Because, Kakarot, you need to smell good and look tidy! You can't just go around smelling like a wild animal, especially if we're going to be traveling together."

"Smell good?" he echoed, his confusion evident. "But I like my smell! It's the smell of a Warrior!"

"It's the smell of a filthy animal!" Bulma shot back, crossing her arms. "You keep your house tidy and clean, don't you? Why wouldn't you treat your body the same way?"

He blinked, not fully grasping her logic but starting to see her point. "I guess… that makes sense, then, take me to this bath!"

She looked at him, shocked "What do you mean? Go yourself! You can't possibly expect that I will… that I will…" She couldn't properly finish her sentence, the idea of taking a shower with someone else, she knew, for as ruthless as he was, he was still just such a naive child, but, even if it was just to teach him how to do it, it just felt so embarrassing "Alright, come, but you will keep your towel on! And don't try anything you hear!"

"But aren't I supposed to try to take a bath?" She could only facepalm at his naivete, but still, he followed her into the house, remaining oblivious to her hesitation. Once they reached the shower, Bulma stepped aside, allowing him to experience the water for himself. He stood under the stream, eyes wide with wonder as the warm water cascaded over him.

"See? Isn't this better than splashing around in a river?" she asked, trying to redirect her focus.

He nodded, still amazed. "I guess… this is… really relaxing." Kakarot could feel his muscles relax, his body which was always sore felt so relaxed, he had never experienced such a blissful thing.

Bulma found the scene amusing, he really had just completely exhausted his body, this must feel like heaven to him, but he had to actually start cleaning himself, with a sigh, she held out a bottle of shampoo. "Okay, now we use this stuff to wash your hair. Just a little bit"

Kakarot looked at the bottle with confusion. "My hair? What is that?! It looks so weird! Are you gonna make it fall? Make it white just like master's?" He was quite alarmed by the shampoo, not quite understanding that his hair also needed to be washed.

Bulma rolled her eyes, exasperated. "No! This is just gonna clean it. Calm down, just hold still!"

Kakarot jerked back, causing water to splash everywhere. "No! I can do it myself!" He flailed his arms, nearly losing his balance under the spray.

"Stop moving! You're making this harder than it has to be!" Bulma exclaimed, trying to keep a grip on him.

Kakarot shook his head vigorously, water and bubbles flying everywhere. "But my eyes! Are you trying to blind me?"

"No! I told you to stand still! Just keep them closed!" Bulma shouted as she wrestled with his hair, trying to tame the wild mane.

It was a fierce battle, but in the end, she managed to rinse his hair and clean it properly. "See? That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Kakarot blinked, looking more bewildered than ever. "I still don't understand why we did that."

"Just wait until you smell yourself later," Bulma said, grinning as she dried her hands, feeling accomplished.

Kakarot tilted his head, genuinely confused, but he shrugged it off. "Okay, what's next?"

"Now, I'll take care of your armor while you finish up in here." She turned to grab some soap. "Just wash your body with this. You will thank me later, trust me. You'll smell just like me."

"But I hate your smell! It's so strong!" He sniffed the soap, the scent so strong to him, but it did have the familiar odor of Bulma.

"Just do it already!" she insisted, crossing her arms and tapping her foot impatiently.

He eyed the soap warily but finally sighed in resignation. "Fine" and with that, he turned back to the showerhead and squeezed a grotesque amount of soap into his hands, still unsure of what to do exactly.

As Bulma stepped out to clean his armor, she couldn't help but chuckle at the ridiculousness of the situation. Who would have thought that teaching a Saiyan how to take a bath would be such an adventure? This wild boy, with his untamed spirit and unique outlook on life, was starting to grow on her, such a strange one, brutal beyond belief and yet so naive, she couldn't help but smile at his antics.

After taking his first proper bath, Kakarot emerged looking like a completely different person, his wild, unruly hair was damp but somehow still managed to maintain its characteristic spikiness, glistening under the light, the mud and grime that had once bathed his skin had washed away.

The most notable change, however, was the scent that surrounded him. Gone was the earthy, musty odor of sweat and blood; instead, he now smelled faintly of the floral soap Bulma had insisted he use, the smell actually grew on him, and he felt quite relaxed, even if a bit uncomfortable after the whole experience.

As he stepped inside the kitchen, Bulma glanced up from her preparations, and her eyes widened in surprise before bursting into laughter.

"Look at you! You actually took a bath! You look adorable!" she exclaimed, unable to contain her amusement, her laughter rang through the kitchen, and Kakarot's cheeks flushed slightly, his facade of anger cracking.

"I'm not cute! I'm—" he began, trying to sound fierce, but the words came out a little too flustered, and he crossed his arms defensively.

Bulma smirked, leaning against the counter. "Oh, come on! Just admit it. You're starting to look like a real person instead of a wild animal!"

Kakarot huffed, turning his head away to hide his embarrassment, but he started to feel, a really strong scent coming from the fire machine Bulma was cooking on.

"What are you doing? What is that thing?" he asked, tilting his head as he watched her chop vegetables and stir the meat in the skillet. "Is all this really necessary just to cook a piece of a tail?"

Bulma glanced over, rolling her eyes playfully. "It's a stove, and yes, Kakarot! You can't just shove every piece of meat over a fire and call it a day!"

He furrowed his brow, genuinely confused. "But that's how I always did it. Isn't it enough?"

"Not at all!" she replied with a light laugh, the annoyance in her voice softened by the warmth of their earlier banter. "Cooking is an art, and you need the right flavors! Now, can you hand me the salt and pepper?"

Kakarot dug through the cabinet, finally pulling out the containers with a proud grin. "Salt and pepper? What are those for?"

She took the spices from him, a smile plastered on her face, eager to teach something to her wild companion "You sprinkle these on the meat to enhance the flavor, it's not just about cooking, it's about making it taste good!"

As she finished preparing the meal, Kakarot watched in fascination, leaning against the counter, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere, it felt nice to share this space with her, he had grown quite comfortable around Bulma, he always had a rough time even being near humans, since all of them were either too scared of him or trying to kill him, not that he really made an effort, he was also trying to kill them all, it just felt… nice to be near her. Once she plated the food, she handed him a steaming piece. "Here, try this."

He took a cautious bite, his eyes widening in surprise. "Wow! This tastes amazing! How did you do that?"

Bulma smirked, pleased with his reaction. "That's the magic of cooking, Kakarot. There's more to it than just fire and meat."

He grinned, savoring every bite. "Wow! You never told me you were a magician Bumly!"

"I already… Oh forget it" Bulma gave up on correcting him, the look on his face as he was eating, she had never seen him smile like that, maybe that rough exterior of his was just accumulated stress from the constant training "Glad you're enjoying it, I told you I had many skills!" a playful smirk flashed across her face as she winked at him "After this just go and try to sleep a little, the next Dragon Ball is very close by here, we can probably get to it tomorrow!"

Kakarot hesitated, a reluctant look crossing his face. "Thanks, but I need to go train. I can't rest now, not until I can beat him!"

Bulma's smile faded as she watched him, she felt a knot of worry tighten in her stomach, memories of his ferocity during the battle with Roshi flashing through her mind. The way he had pushed himself to the brink, his relentless drive to improve, it was both impressive and concerning, she couldn't just let him wander off again. "Kakarot, wait," she said softly, concern edging her voice. "You can't keep pushing yourself like this, you need rest, it's not healthy."

"I have to go train," Kakarot declared, his voice firm. "I can't let someone like Roshi beat me again, I'll kill him next time!"

Bulma's eyes widened in shock. "You can't be serious! You really think you can just train non-stop and take down someone like him?" She stepped closer, anger flaring in her chest. "You'll end up killing yourself instead of him! You're already pushing yourself way too hard!"

Kakarot scowled, his brow furrowing. "I'm not going to back down! If I don't keep training, I'll never get stronger!"

"You didn't get anything from what Roshi said, did you?" she shot back, exasperation lacing her voice. "It's not just about strength, it's about control! You can't let your anger take over and make you a slave to your training! You need to find balance!"

His fists clenched at his sides, the heat of her words stinging him. "Don't bring up that old bastard's lessons like that! It feels like an insult!"

Bulma crossed her arms defiantly. "It's not an insult, Kakarot! It's the truth! You can't just grind away at your body like this, you need rest, you need to think!"

"I don't need to rest!" he snapped, frustration boiling over. "I don't need any of that! I just need to get stronger!"

"You're being reckless!" she yelled back, her voice rising. "You think training harder will solve everything, but it won't! You're not invincible, and you can't just brute force your way through every problem!"

Kakarot's anger surged, but deep down, he felt a flicker of doubt at himself after hearing her words. "I... I'll do what I want!" he retorted, but the defiance in his voice felt more fragile now.

Bulma could see a way to get to him, she calmed herself down slightly, maybe she had to speak his language. "Look, I know about this sort of stuff too okay, your muscles need to rest, if you want to grow, you have to balance your training with resting, because that is when you truly grow more, got it?"

Kakarot looked at her, his resolve wavering. "Fine," he muttered reluctantly. "I'll… I'll try to sleep."

A small smile spread across Bulma's face. "Good. Just promise me you won't jump into training the moment you wake up, okay?"

"Can't make that promise, what I can make, is a promise to never hear you again if this doesn't make me grow! You don't really understand me, I'm a saiyan, I need to win against Roshi one day." As he finished his sentence he entered the bedroom, closing the door behind him without another word.

Bulma lingered for a moment, a sense of unease creeping back in as she turned back to the kitchen, she couldn't shake the worry that clung to her like a shadow, hoping he would finally understand the importance of resting, and not end up destroying himself again, but for now, at least, he was resting, that felt like a win for her.

It was then she realized something, Kakarot was sleeping in the bedroom… the only bedroom they had, Bulma felt her cheeks flush a deep crimson as she realized the implications of that. "No, no, no," she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. "The sofa is pretty comfortable, and I'm not about to risk disturbing his sleep." She plopped herself down on the sofa, pulling a blanket over her as she tried to get comfortable, but the worry for Kakarot kept nagging at her mind.

The next day, Kakarot and Bulma were driving around their motorcycle, their car having been forgotten somewhere due to Kakarot's antics, but she didn't care much about that, the air between them had been very light ever since yesterday. he atmosphere between them felt lighter and more relaxed since yesterday. The wind whipped through their hair as they sped along the road, the atmosphere now felt like a true adventure, a sense of camaraderie had been developed between them.

That was mostly because their day started so well, her idea of resting to grow had worked better than she expected actually, Kakarot woke her up screaming with joy and pride, something about how she was right, he called her a genius and everything, apparently, his power level had risen by 5 up to a total of 40.

What really made her flustered and oddly happy was when he finally called her by her name instead of mispronouncing it. "Thank you, Bulma! If I continue like this, I'm gonna be unstoppable!" he shouted, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. Hearing her name roll off his tongue felt like a victory, and it warmed her heart in a way she hadn't expected.

But as they continued riding, she spotted a village nearby, from her calculations, the dragon ball had to be in it or near it "Hey that village! That has to be where our next dragon ball is! Let's go and ask the villagers about it."

As they rode into the village, Bulma's confusion deepened. The streets were eerily silent, with no villagers in sight. "Where is everyone?" she muttered, scanning the surroundings for any signs of life. Had they stumbled into a ghost town?

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when Kakarot spoke up. "Nope, they're all here, hiding in their homes," he tapped his scouter, sensing quite a few power levels, none higher than 5, a hint of amusement in his voice. "All with pretty pathetic power levels."

Bulma frowned at his comments "Why would they be hiding?" she wondered aloud, a mix of concern and curiosity flooding her mind.

That was when Kakarot, growing impatient, let out a thunderous shout, "Get out of your houses before I blow this whole place up, you cowards! We're here for the Dragon Ball!" His voice echoed through the deserted streets.

Bulma looked at him in complete shock, she grabbed his arms trying to rein him in. "Kakarot, wait! You can't just threaten them like that!"

But as she spoke, the creaking of a door echoed through the stillness, and a farmer with a shotgun appeared, his expression a mix of fear and defiance. "Get out of our village!" he shouted, eyes darting between them, "You're with that shapeshifting monster, aren't you? We won't let you take our daughters!"

Kakarot stepped in front of Bulma, a grin spreading across his face as he cracked his knuckles. "Oh look, another bug for me to squash! It's been a while since I've had to kill your kind!" He radiated such a menacing aura, the farmer started trembling from it, but behind him came a little girl.

With wide eyes filled with innocence and fear. "Please don't hurt my daddy!" she whimpered, clutching a ragged teddy bear to her chest. The sight of her sent a jolt of realization through Bulma, making her heart clench.

"Kakarot stop! Just look at her… they're clearly going trough something here maybe we can help instead of attacking them." Bulma then tried to approach the farmer, with hands raised in a gesture of peace "Please mister, forgive my friend here, he's got a screw loose from living in a forest, we aren't a threat, I swear."

The farmer's eyes flicked between Bulma and Kakarot, his grip on the shotgun wavering, he hesitated, caught off guard by Bulma's unexpected compassion. "You… you're not with that shapeshifting monster?" he asked, his voice trembling as he glanced down at the little girl, who was still clinging to him tightly.

As the commotion was happening, some of the other villagers came out of their houses as well, looking at the scene unfolding before them.

Kakarot, felt confused by the sudden shift and was left disappointed by the fun that was taken from him, he crossed his arms and watched Bulma with irritation. "What is this shapeshifting monster you keep talking about? Is he strong?"

The farmer glanced at Kakarot, becoming alert again, as he still perceived him as a threat. "Stronger than anyone you've likely faced," he replied, his voice low. "His name is Oolong, he can change into anything he wants, instead of just one nightmare, we have to face many! And every time he comes here, he takes one of our daughters!" The farmer then looked at his daughter, he started tearing up "Just yesterday my worst fears came true, he came and demanded my daughter's hand in marriage! He said he would come pick her up today!"

Kakarot scoffed, crossing his arms defiantly. "You're all just being cowards! Just face that monster and kill him!"

An older lady approached them "It's not that easy boy, Oolong is terrible, he is even bigger than these houses, you would just get trampled by him, he's stronger than anything you've ever seen before"

Kakarot started to get annoyed by that "None of you even know half of what I've seen before! I will wait here and challenge him when he comes, then I will prove how much of a coward you all are."

"Wait Kakarot, I don't doubt you can just evaporate that guy, but remember, he took these people's daughters, we have to save them!" Bulma pleaded with her companion, feeling moved by these villager's plight.

Kakarot shrugged, his irritation evident. "Why should I care? I'm here for the dragon ball not to go on a rescue mission."

Before Bulma could respond, the old lady stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly out of fear as she produced a gleaming orange sphere. "The Dragon Ball? Could it be this?" She held it up, the sun reflecting off its surface and casting a warm glow around them. "I might be willing to give you that, if you help us find our daughters, boy."

Kakarot's eyes widened in surprise, but anger at her demands. "I could also just take it from you, none of you can stop me anyway!"

Worry flickered in Bulma's chest, their day had been going so well, and for a moment, she had almost forgotten about the beast, the relentless fighter he could be, desperate to diffuse the tension, she quickly thought of a bargaining chip. "Do that, and I won't be cooking anything else for you!" she exclaimed, raising her voice just enough to capture his attention.

Kakarot paused, his expression faltering as he processed her words. "What? Never again?" Sure he could easily just go back to roasting meat on the campfire, but… her cooking from yesterday was so heavenly… "I guess… I guess I can help then…"

Bulma smiled, relief washing over her as she saw a flicker of cooperation in his eyes. "Thank you, Kakarot! We'll save those girls and get that Dragon Ball!"

"Fine," he grumbled, crossing his arms. "But if that shapeshifter shows up, I'm taking him down, no questions asked."

"That's the spirit!" Bulma encouraged, feeling a mix of pride on her skills to rein him in, but now, they had to come up with a plan, she looked over at Kakarot, and then to the farmer's daughter, they were of a similar height maybe she could… "Wait a second!" Her eyes lighting up with inspiration. "What if we use Kakarot as bait?"

"Use me? As bait? How?" Kakarot spoke, confusion etched across his face.

"It's simple really, you and his daughter are the same height, if you just dress like her, when oolong comes you can act like her and try to go with him to where he takes all the girls, then you kill him and rescue all of them!"

Kakarot recoiled, his eyes wide with disbelief. "What?! You want me to dress like a girl? No way! I'm not doing that!"

"Come on, Kakarot! It's the perfect plan!" Bulma insisted, her tone persuasive. "You're strong enough to take him on, but we need to lure him out first. This is our best shot at getting the Dragon Ball and saving those girls!"

Kakarot crossed his arms defiantly, shaking his head. "That's ridiculous! I'm not some pretty princess!"

"Well then… I hope the taste of my food yesterday was good, since you're never going to taste anything like it again." She said in a teasing tone, a smirk plastered across her face, the knowledge that food could rein in Kakarot was amazing, she could now have power here.

"You wouldn't dare!" Kakarot tried to act threatening, but he was so desperate to not lose her cooking.

"Try me" She challenge smugly, her eyes beaming with mischief.

Kakarot couldn't risk it, he had to take this humiliating deal "Fine then…" He said defeatedly.

Bulma's grin widened. "Glad we could come to an understanding, now come, I will make you look like the most beautiful princess in the land!" she grabbed the reluctant Kakarot by his hand, leading him into the farmer's house. That whole interaction left the village speechless, such a wild beast tamed by that girl.

After several minutes of frantic searching and dressing, Kakarot emerged from the farmer's house, fully decked out in an extravagant, pink dress that went past his feet, adorned with a shiny tiara perched awkwardly atop his head, somehow managing to stay in place despite his scowl. His expression radiated anger as he barely contained himself.

"What is this?!" He said, his voice full of hatred. "I look-"

He was cutoff by Bulma "Now, now, remember what I said, make the voice higher, you speak all gruff and tough like that and he will catch on in a moment."

Kakarot sighed, his cheeks flushing red at this humiliation "I look ridiculous" He now finished, in a significantly higher tone, making the villagers have to stifle their laughter at the absurdity of this situation. "If any of you dare to laugh at me I will blow you all up, you hear me!" that was enough to shut all of them up.

Bulma stood nearby, barely containing her amusement. She clapped her hands together, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Oh stop that, you look absolutely adorable!" She took a step back, admiring her handiwork. "The perfect bait for that monster!"

"Yeah, right!" Kakarot snapped back, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'll be the perfect laughingstock! Not even a saiyan princess dresses like this… probably" He took a deep breath, trying to calm the raging storm of humiliation within him. "This better work, Bulma. If it doesn't, I swear-"

Bulma waved a dismissive hand, still grinning. "Oh, it will! Just trust me! Now, go stand over there where Oolong can see you! Just remember, keep up the act until he can get you to where the girls are, then, you can deal with him whatever way you want."

Kakarot's eyes sparkled with a mix of mischief and rage. "Oh, I will deal with him alright!" A vicious grin spread across his face, and his fists clenched at his sides. The thought of unleashing his pent-up anger on this shapeshifting monster was exhilarating. He might be dressed as a girl, but once he got his hands on Oolong, there would be no mercy.

"Just make sure to keep that pretty little smile on your face, princess!" Bulma teased, giving him a playful nudge before stepping back to observe the unfolding drama.

Kakarot shot her a glare, but as the door closed, he went to the meeting spot and planted his feet firmly, just waiting for the opportunity to meet the monster.

Suddenly, he could hear the monster's loud footsteps, then a shadow loomed over him, and Kakarot peered up to see Oolong in his giant red oni form, the sight was ridiculous, the monster wore a pristine white tuxedo and held a lavish bouquet of flowers, he just couldn't believe that this was the pathetic being they were fearing.

"Ah, there you are, my beautiful bride!" Oolong exclaimed, a toothy grin spreading across his face. "You look absolutely stunning! Though you do look a little different, did you cut your hair maybe?"

Kakarot's stomach turned, his mind racing to suppress the urge to lash out, instead, he forced himself to play along. "T-Thank you, I did cut my hair, maybe I gained a little bit of weight too… I hope you don't comment too much on my appearance…" he stuttered, trying his best to mimic the shy demeanor Bulma had suggested.

Bulma was pumped up, that was so smart from Kakarot, maybe her plan would work out after all.

Oolong chuckled, his eyes gleaming with delight. "Oh no, no, I'm sorry, you look beautiful, I'm so glad you're here. I've been waiting for this moment! I'll take you away to my lair, and then we can have the most magnificent wedding!"

As the giant oni took a step closer, Kakarot gritted his teeth, the rage simmering just below the surface, Bulma's words echoed in his mind: Keep up the act until he can get you to where the girls are.

"Lead the way, Oolong," he said, forcing a sweet smile that felt foreign on his face. "I can't wait to see where you live!"

Oolong beamed, clearly pleased by Kakarot's compliance. "Oh, you're going to love it! It's filled with treasures and delights beyond your wildest dreams!" He gestured as he turned, leading Kakarot away from the villagers' watchful eyes.

As they walked, Kakarot felt anticipation rising on him, but he steeled himself. He was a Saiyan warrior, and soon enough, he would unleash his true power on this pathetic shapeshifter, just a little further, he told himself, just wait until the moment is right.

As Kakarot followed Oolong into the lair, he was struck by what he saw, all the girls instantly swarmed them, each one demanding something different from oolong, the monster was quickly cornered as he had to take in all of their demands, this almost felt like he was the one being taken captive instead of the other way around, Kakarot couldn't believe this was the big threat, but the biggest surprise was yet to come.

As oolong was hearing all the girls, there was suddenly a cloud of smoke, and from it, appeared a pig, this was oolong's true form, a small, pathetic pig, this actually angered Kakarot even more, this wasn't even gonna be a challenge, this guy was a fraud to the very end, kakarot's rage was boiling over.

He couldn't remove his disguise, he would have to fight like this, as his tail ripped his dress and his muscles bulged, resulting in his tiara falling, all attention was drawn to him, realization dawning on Oolong, but it was too late.

With a roar of anger, Kakarot lunged forward, his fist connecting with Oolong's jaw in a sickening crunch. Oolong screamed, blood spraying from his mouth as his head snapped back. Kakarot didn't let up, he rained down punch after punch, each one more powerful than the last. "You're nothing but a coward! Do you know the humiliation I had to face!" Kakarot continued to unleash his anger, the girls stared at this brutality in shock and fear, Oolong being more resilient than expected, unfortunately for him, as he could only scream in pain "I… I lost, I lost that fight, I trained so much everyday and yet I still lost! Do you know how that feels! To have your pride completely shattered!" But there was no answer anymore, the pig was already dead, a lifeless body now left unrecognizable, Kakarot's dress stained red, he was unleashing all the pent-up anger, not from this humiliation, from his defeat.

Kakarot stood over the remnants of Oolong, adrenaline coursing through his veins, but there was no rush of victory, he just felt a hollow emptiness inside, an insatiable rage bubbling just beneath the surface, the thrill of the fight, of unleashing his anger, it didn't bring him satisfaction, instead, it only magnified his anger, anger at Roshi, and a deeper, more profound anger… at himself.

The girls now looked at him with wide, terrified eyes, their expressions a mix of shock and sorrow. They had witnessed the fall of their captor, but instead of feeling relief, all they felt was dread, they began to step back, instinctively distancing themselves from him. "You killed him," one girl said, her voice shaking. "You just killed him so brutally."

Kakarot barely acknowledged their fear, annoyed at their ungratefulness. "He was a coward!" he snapped, his voice edged with frustration. "He took you captive, he terrorized your village! You should be grateful!"

But their faces remained pale, filled with dread rather than gratitude, they whispered among themselves, casting glances at him, as if he was the monster. Kakarot clenched his fists, feeling the heat of their judgment wash over him, he had just saved them, yet all they could do was recoil at his display of power, humans really were pathetic.

Or maybe, he did do too much, he had killed many before, many who threatened him, but Oolong, he wasn't a real threat, he was a coward, hiding behind his transformations to terrorize the people of that village, people who Kakarot himself would've terrorized in order to get that Dragon Ball, as he looked over at Oolong, his body a pile of blood on the floor, unrecognizable, Kakarot felt confused, he did what was right, he killed a weak coward and got the Dragon Ball for him and Bulma, but, why did it feel wrong then?

Ignoring the tremors of unease, Kakarot's focus shifted to the girls, who stood huddled together, wide-eyed and trembling, their expressions were a mix of fear and disbelief, and for a moment, he felt a flicker of hesitation, but the annoyance bubbled back up within him, he couldn't afford to dwell on their fear or his own doubts. they had to return to the village he had a mission to complete.

With a grunt, he marched toward them, muscles tense and ready for confrontation. "You're coming with me," he declared, his tone brooking no argument, without waiting for a response, he reached out, grabbing the nearest girl by the arm and hoisting her up effortlessly, she yelped in surprise, her eyes wide with terror.

"Wait! What are you doing?" she cried, panic rising in her voice as Kakarot proceeded to gather the rest, snatching them up one by one, the girls struggled against his grip, but their protests fell on deaf ears, Kakarot's patience was wearing thin, he didn't have time for their resistance.

"Stop squirming! I'm not gonna kill you too!" he snapped. He didn't care about their safety right now, he wanted to be done with this and return to Bulma to get the Dragon Ball.

When he finally approached the village, he saw Bulma, she was waiting for him at the entrance of the village, her smile bright and welcoming. "You're back! I was getting worried-" Her voice faltered as she took in the sight of him, his hands and clothes were stained with blood, remnants of his brutal encounter with Oolong, but more alarming was the look in Kakarot's eyes, a mix of anger, confusion, and something darker.

The villagers, having noticed Kakarot's grim arrival, rushed towards him, their expressions shifting from curiosity to alarm, they quickly surrounded the girls, separating them from Kakarot as they began to question him.

"What happened?" one villager shouted, eyes darting between Kakarot and the frightened girls. "Did he hurt you?" the farmer with a shotgun rushed to Kakarot "What did you do to them you monster!"

Bulma's heart sank as she noticed the girls' traumatized expressions. Their faces were pale, eyes wide with fear, and they trembled as the villagers tried to comfort them. the contrast between Kakarot's fierce demeanor and the girls' vulnerability sent a chill down her spine, but she had to step in to defend Kakarot, he had to kill that Oolong, right?

She stepped forward, raising her hands in a manner to try and calm them down. "Wait! Everyone, just calm down!" Bulma's voice was steady, but her heart raced. "Kakarot didn't hurt them, he saved them from Oolong! Remember he was a beast, he probably had to fight him!"

"Not really." Kakarot said coldly, earning him a shocked glare from Bulma. "He was weak, and a coward, just a small pig that hid behind his transformations, I unleashed all the anger I had on him… I still feel angry… But I did what you asked, the girls are here, now hand over the ball so we can just leave already."

Bulma felt a mix of shock and confusion wash over her, she understood Kakarot's nature, she knew how angry he was, not just about having to wear that ridiculous dress, but at himself for his defeat against Roshi, the weight of his rage and frustration hung heavily in the air, and she could sense his pent-up anger, the darkness simmering beneath the surface.

"Kakarot…" Bulma began, trying to find the right words, he was her friend, her companion, she had to defend him here. "You did what you had to do, Oolong was a threat to everyone here." She turned her gaze to the villagers, who were still watching with a mixture of fear and uncertainty. "Please, just give us the Dragon Ball, and we'll leave."

One villager stepped forward, still clutching his shotgun. "What's to stop him from turning on us next? He killed Oolong right in front those girls and completely traumatized them! And he threatened us earlier! What's to say he won't take more than just the Dragon Balls!"

Bulma grit her teeth, she was so used to Kakarot's antics, that she had already forgotten how he threatened that old lady earlier. "I promise you, he's not a threat to you," She replied, her voice firm. "Kakarot doesn't want to hurt anyone here. He's just—"

"Frustrated," Kakarot interrupted, his voice low and strained. "I'm tired of this, I just want to go back Bulma."

Bulma turned to Kakarot, who stood rigid, his expression unreadable. "We can leave now," she said softly, hoping to ease his frustration. "Just a little cooperation from them, and we're out of here."

With a heavy sigh, the farmer stepped back, glancing around at the villagers, who still looked unsure. "Fine," he said reluctantly. "But leave this village, and never come back."

Those words hit Bulma like a truck, such hatred and vitriol, but really, Kakarot didn't do anything too wrong, Oolong was a pervert, if he had just killed him somewhere else instead of in front of the girls, but she watched as the villagers moved to retrieve the Dragon Ball, Bulma turned to Kakarot, trying to gauge his mood. "I know you're angry, but let's not let it consume you, we can move on from this. You didn't do anything too wrong, you just needed to control yourself a little."

Kakarot's brow furrowed, his eyes darkening with frustration. "Control myself? They should be grateful I got rid of that coward!" His voice was tense, each word punctuated by his lingering rage. "Oolong was weak, he was a pest hiding behind tricks and lies, I did everyone a favor."

"Maybe so," Bulma conceded, "but it's how you did it that's the problem, it scared them, Kakarot, they're not seeing the bigger picture, all they see is the blood and fear."

He scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest, the tension radiating from him like a storm. "I don't care what they think, I did it to get the Dragon Ball and help you, that's all that matters."

Bulma took a step closer, her heart aching for him. She gently reached out and placed her hand on his arm, squeezing it softly. "I know, and I thank you for it." her voice filled with warmth. Simple words, but one that the angry warrior needed to hear, some appreciation and reassurance.

Kakarot's expression softened, the storm within him quieting as her words resonated, he looked down at her hand on his arm, feeling a wave of relief wash over him, the intensity of his earlier rage beginning to fade just a little bit.

Their moment was gently interrupted as the villagers, still cautious but less hostile, approached with the Dragon Ball. The farmer with a shotgun stepped forward, his expression now one of resignation mixed with respect. "Here," he said, handing over the shimmering sphere. "Just take it and leave in peace."

Kakarot accepted the Dragon Ball, his grip firm as he held it in his hand, he felt a sense of accomplishment, the earlier turmoil beginning to feel like a distant memory.

"Thank you," Bulma said to the villagers, her tone sincere. "We appreciate your understanding."

With the Dragon Ball securely in Kakarot's possession, he turned to Bulma. "Let's go," he said, a hint of determination and his usual bravado returning to his voice.

As tense as the situation was, Bulma looked at him, and laughed a little. "Well, I don't believe you will want to keep the fit right?"

Kakarot looked down, he had completely forgotten he was still wearing that dress, without another word, he turned on his heel and rushed back toward the village, his mind set on retrieving his armor, power pole, and scouter. The villagers watched him go, some with a mixture of amusement and bewilderment, but Kakarot didn't care, he was determined to return to his proper attire.

As he returned, Bulma grinned at the sight of him. "There's the Kakarot I know!" she teased, her eyes sparkling with delight.

He shrugged. "It's not like I chose to wear that thing," he replied, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

"True, but you wore it pretty well," Bulma said, her tone playful. "You could have started a new trend!"

Kakarot rolled his eyes, but he couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped him. With the tension from earlier fading into the background, he felt lighter. They hopped back on the motorcycle, ready to move on to the next Dragon Ball.

AN: This chapter and the previous one where supposed to be just one chapter, it got a bit too long however, I tried to get 3 different scenes there, roshis encounter, the small slice of life at the beginning and the encounter with Oolong, but I had to cut and make Roshi separate, for the next chapter I will try to speed it up a little, but I do enjoy making this detailed, the focus on these earlier chapters really is just characterizing Kakarot and Bulma and fleshing out their relation, there will be more action next as they meet the Desert Bandit and the Ox King, unlike Oolong, those two can actually fight.