Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball.
Betaed by: Zim'sMostLoyalServant and a friend.
Last time:
The battles three years in the making began at last with the preliminaries having drawn a record number of contestants. And this Budokai would be new a breed, with sixteen slots for the taking and the tournament extends over a course of days.
Some newcomers like Upa and Princess Misa would discover how far they had yet to go, to contend on this level of competition. But experience would not always be enough, with Nam being knocked out of the competition; and even legends like King Chappa not making the cut.
At last the Preliminaries reached their conclusion with sixteen warriors having earned the right to compete for the title Strongest under the Heavens. But before the tournament proper can kick off comes night; to rest, reflect, and prepare for the battles to come.
What shall occur between sunset and sunrise for these warriors?
Find out now, on Dragon Ball: Intended Journey!
Chapter Three
Revels and Plots
Bulma's Sleepover of Doom Part I
The halls and public spaces of the Grand Papaya Hotel were well-adorned with a classic flavor, but not overly done. An elegance that made it both appealing to the upper crust customers while still accessible to middle class tourists. A serene elegance, currently experiencing a disturbance before a somewhat fancy set of double doors.
"What do you mean I'm not on the list?" Roshi demanded, while standing outside the hotel's private dining room with the other men of the Turtle School.
"Just that," the uniformed server said, waving their clipboard casually, "For the duration of the tournament, there's a dinner plan for the guests on this list, and you're not on it, sir. Please leave or I'll have to call the bouncer."
"Roshi, you're invited to the post-tournament feast, be grateful," Bulma called through the open double doors.
"Bah, typical Crane School, raza frazin'..." Roshi steamed, stomping off and kicking a bit at the green and gold carpet.
"Does this mean we can eat now?" Goku asked Krillin, while Yamcha looked off awkwardly.
"Yes, but also we should try and not get on a rich friend's bad side," the former monk told him.
"Goku, get in here! Or I'll eat your share!" Bulma called.
"Oh no you don't!" Goku yelled, running in.
X X X
Atop an abandoned apartment building, a lean-to stood illuminated partially by the city lights and the waning moon above. A figure sat before it on a mat, lifting the lid off a pot with one hand and holding chop sticks at the ready with the other.
Tenron took a piece of tofu from the small pot on the hot plate, and tested it with his tongue. Nodding, he opened a pack of spices and sprinkled them into the broth.
He didn't blink as a plastic-wrapped sandwich was tossed next to him.
"If you were hoping for a reaction, I heard you arrive. The flying was a bit surprising, I'll grant," Tenron said, turning his head. Master Shen smiled, stepping forward.
"Trust me boy, if I really wanted to get the drop on you, I would have."
"...I believe you. What business does the legendary Crane Hermit have with me?"
"Guess," Shen smirked.
X X X
"I hope you don't feel bad about your loss," Bora said to Upa as he chewed on dried meat. They had set up a temporary shelter in the park, not all the comforts of home, but a respectable place for the duration of their stay.
Bora had been informed by a police officer that bonfires were not permitted in the park presently due to dryness. And apparently you needed a permit, and Bora was not sure how you got one. But a responsible adult was never without ready-to-eat rations.
"No, but I wish I could have looked more impressive for the girls," the young teen sighed.
"Well, there are worse motivations," Bora admitted.
"Father, you said that out loud."
"I intended to. Eat well and rest well Upa, there is still much you can learn from this journey" Bora stated.
X X X
"So, Tien, what do you think?" Chiaotzu asked. The two sat across from one another at a table in their suite, under a fancy crystal chandelier. Tien selected a bite with his chopsticks and chewed thoroughly before swallowing.
"The Kame School is our main target. But that Vendetta seems to be strong as well. Along with the barbarian," Tien mused.
"You think master will succeed in recruiting that Tenron?" Chiaotzu asked.
"Hard to say; Master Shen is very persuasive, but that Tenron ran his own school for a while. When a warrior goes without a master, it can be difficult to get him to see the benefits of letting his knees fall so he can rise better than he was before," Tien mused.
"You should have been the one to approach him. You're the living embodiment of the glory of our school, Tien," Chiaotzu said, pointing with his chopsticks.
"Don't be absurd, Chiaotzu; that can only describe Master Shen," Tien said, putting his bowl down harder than needed.
"Well said," Master Shen said, latching the window behind him.
"Master-" Tien said, getting to his feet.
"I will settle with that upstart from Ottpott tomorrow. Tien, you will beat down the wolf-turned-turtle. We will grant the rich girl's wish to face monkey boy. Chiaotzu, fight someone other than the Kame School to avoid suspicion. But not that Vendetta, I want to observe him further before we cross paths with him. Now, order me a meal of my own," Shen ordered, before crossing the room and leaving them again.
X X X
"Go fish!" Krillin grinned. Goku frowned and drew a card.
"Heh, good to see you're not a winner at everything you do, Goku," Yamcha said.
"Buck up lad, failing in some aspects of life lets us keep perspective and appreciate the things we are good at," Roshi said.
They were in a large hotel room. Not the suite Bulma had invited the girls to, but with futons laid out, quite enough for them and more luxury frankly than some of them were used to. Currently, they sat on the floor playing cards with drinks and bottles arrayed around them.
"It's not that... it's just..." Goku muttered.
"So, even you get tournament nerves, huh?" Krillin said, a bit surprised.
'I was starting to think he wasn't capable of being nervous about a fight,' Krillin thought.
'Goku might be odd and extraordinary, but he's still human. Well, I think?" Yamcha thought, eyes moving to the boy's tail.
'Blasted Bulma! She should show me more respect. I may not be her teacher. And may have only given her a Dragon Ball in a trade. And honestly haven't done much for her directly... Okay, maybe there isn't much reason personally to respect me, but as a venerable elder... no, wait, I kind of ditched the venerable elder image when we first met for a panty shot? Well, anyway, there must be some reason she should treat me as well as the others with her super rich daddy's money,' Roshi thought.
"It's just, saying fish so much is making me hungry again," Goku admitted.
Krillin and Yamcha fell back onto the floor.
"Huh, what's that? Is it my turn?" Roshi asked.
"I think breathing makes you hungry, Goku. You're the only one I know who can eat more than Chichi, and she's much bigger than you," Krillin groused.
"Yeah, never thought I'd see a girl eat like that. Mai may eat a lot from training, but she's still very neat. Chichi's sloppier than Launch," Yamcha chuckled. Krillin glared at him.
"Hey now, she's usually a lot neater. She's excited to have made the real tournament this time. Better watch out, Goku, she might be the one to beat this year," Krillin said to them.
"Heheh! I can't wait," Goku grinned in excitement.
X X X
'Don't panic Bulma, you have guests. Chichi, Mai, Lunch, maybe Launch later, and Yurin. You have a fully stocked suite. There is no reason to not have the best slumber party ever!' Bulma told herself, pacing her overly plush bedroom in the suite, having already changed into a personalized set of pajamas.
"So, board games to start?" Yurin asked, standing by the door in her own personalized pjs, holding up a copy of the Game of Death, showing cute little people flailing amidst fire as King Enma laughed, looming in the background.
"Too obvious, this needs to be memorable. I knew I should have hired a party planner," Bulma cursed.
"There are party planners for sleepovers?"
"For enough money, there are party planners for everything, kid," Bulma waved.
Meanwhile, in the Other Room:
"Wow Chichi, you really have grown up. Just look at the size," Lunch said.
"Oh, come on, it's not that impressive," Chichi waved off.
"Good heft too. Not that I'm an expert or anything," Lunch said.
"I'd think you and Launch would have some experience," Mai said, sipping her tea.
"Well, I can't be sure with her, but I've never been into it. But I can still appreciate something so nice. You're very lucky, Chichi. I mean, so smooth, almost silky to the touch."
"Well, it's not like I can take credit," Chichi said, blushing and rubbing the back of her neck.
"What about you, Mai?" Lunch asked. Mai spat a little out of her cup.
"W-what? Don't be silly, I'm not that kind of girl."
"She really isn't. I tried to get her to take a feel and she always wimps out," Chichi audibly whispered to Lunch, who giggled.
"Maybe she's worried she'll like it?"
"Okay, ladies-!" Bulma burst in, Yurin popping a cracker, sending confetti flying. The blunette stopped, taking in the scene of the three sitting on the floor in pajamas, with Lunch holding a white and gray war hammer.
"Hi Bulma, want to feel Chichi's hammer? It's very nice," Lunch said.
"Hey now, I decide who gets to hold my hammer," Chichi griped.
"Why do you have that?" Bulma asked, tilting her head, frowning a bit.
"What? Is there a reason I can't have nice things?" Chichi asked, taking the hammer back protectively.
"Well, they don't allow weapons in the tournament," Bulma pointed out, taking a seat in an open spot in their little circle as Yurin scurried off to do her bidding.
"It's not for the tournament, it's for fighting evil. I've been training hard with her," Chichi huffed, pointing at Bulma with the hammer. She held it with one hand steadily, but with this crowd that was not a stand out fact.
"What, you and Krillin moonlighting as superheroes?" Bulma laughed.
"More like adventurers. We even rescued a princess," Chichi said.
"Wait, that was true? I thought you were just trying to impress Goku," Bulma blinked.
"Hey, I'm an honest gal!" Chichi snapped, accent in full force.
"I wasn't there for the princess part, but I did help on the quest to get the hammer forged. It was very... strange," Mai recalled.
"Mai, we agreed never to talk about that," Chichi reminded the other Turtle student.
"Ohhh, I smell something spicy," Bulma grinned. Then Yurin returned, dumping the supplies into the center of the circle, burying the pile of empty chip bags.
"Ah! Yes, let's get this slumber party started. Step one, we braid each other's hair. Then nails, and then-"
The phone rang on the nearby fancy table, and Bulma felt a chill go up her spine. It couldn't be.
"I'll get it," Chichi said, swiftly reaching the communication device.
"Wait! Don't-" But it was too late. Chichi answered, nodded, and put it on speaker.
"Hi girls! It's Bulma's mom!" a perky voice crossed the lands and sea to intrude on her party.
"Hi, Bulma's Mom," Yurin and Mai said together. They glanced at each other, then shrugged.
"Oh, this is so exciting, my baby gets her first slumber party. And she didn't even have to buy guests. Mommy hasn't been this proud of you since you tased your first pervert," the woman's wiggling was audible, Bulma swore it.
"Aren't you excited about her getting into the tournament?" Chichi asked.
"Oh, she got in? Why didn't you call and tell us, Bulma? I knew we should have come; your father even made a giant holographic banner. It switches between waving your name and a highlight reel from the family album showing how far you've come. The potty training graduation one never fails to bring a smile to my eyes. Who knew children setting things on fire could be so adorable?"
"What?" Mai asked. Lunch blinked, Chichi tilted her head, and Yurin just nodded, unsurprised.
"Goodbye, mother! Dodon Ray Mini!" Bulma shouted and fired off a ki blast that struck the phone mounting, blowing it up and leaving Chichi holding the receiver, the cord dangling to the floor.
And part of the lights went out in the suite, likely something to do with the new hole in the wall.
"Okay, moving on, Chichi, may I see your hair?" Bulma asked, eyes practically aglow as her hands reached out.
"I call Lunch!" Mai said.
"I get you!" Yurin said.
"I'll just watch," Lunch said, sweatdropping, blue eyes closed to a smile.
"Time to unbun, missy," Bulma said, rising up behind Chichi eyes aglow. Bulma tugged at the hair band and frowned.
"Hey, did you glue this thing on? I can crush rocks in my grip," Bulma growled, fiddling with the tight band.
"Maybe I should get it, it's a little-"
BWOMPF
The band came clear and Bulma was knocked on her back as Chichi's hair burst forth.
"Wow," Lunch said in awe. Unleashed from its bun, not only was Chichi's hair still curling spikes, but it was a mane that reached down to her ankles, somehow making her forehead more prominent.
"Yeah, my hair is a bit hard to cut, so Krillin suggested I grow it out. I asked him to tell me when it was too long, and, well, guess he likes long hair. But I had straight hair when I met Goku, so I straightened it out for the tournament, and well, it took some extreme measures."
"Woman, you almost gave me a black eye with your hair! After Crane training! What conditioner do you use!?"
"...a bar of soap and cold water? I use store-brand conditioner when not training in the field. A princess should set a good example with frugal spending on beauty products," Chichi said self-consciously, her tail wrapping around her left leg.
"Ya know what, never mind," Bulma said, her own tail bristling as she rolled up her sleeves, "Gimme that hair! It's time for girly fun time!"
X X X
"Pigtails, huh?" Lunch asked, feeling the braids her hair was in.
"It fits your purity," Mai said, her own hair done up in a mimicry of Yurin's bow style.
Yurin herself, somewhat against the spirit of the event, had her hair styled into an updue that left her bangs framing her forehead.
Bulma's hair remained in the same limp spiky style it had been in. And Chichi's, unconquered.
"I warned you, Bulma, this hair of mine has been hard to handle since that castle fell on me. And I guess it's gotten tougher," Chichi said, still sitting as Bulma tried to jam handfuls of the spiky hair into a braid of any kind.
"You guess?" Bulma grit her teeth.
"Well, if it got harder, it happened bit by bit for me. Like your shell getting heavier bit by bit instead of Master Roshi doubling the weight," the princess mused.
"...Well, forget it then! Next, we paint our nails! Or does someone have unpaintable claws?"
No one did; so they did.
Later:
"Okay, we painted toenails, had a snack, then painted finger nails, so now we have just enough time left... IT'S ONLY BEEN 48 MINUTES?!" Bulma yelled, checking her watch.
"Sorry Bulma, I think we all have such good hand-eye coordination we paint nails pretty quick?" Lunch said.
"Or she just has a poor sense of time," Chichi deadpanned.
"...Well, it doesn't matter, it's time for boardgames, I have seven here, so there's sure to be one we can agree on," Bulma said, holding up a box of The Game of Death.
16 Minutes Later, With Pieces Missing From Every Box:
"Mai, stop it, we're on the eighth floor! You might not survive!" Chichi insisted, pulling on Mai's legs as the other woman tried to flee out the window.
"Better that than spin the bottle because Bulma's bored!" Mai cried out.
"I'm pretty sure Bulma was just joking," Lunch said, standing nearby making calming gestures with her hand.
"Uh, right," Bulma said, tossing the coke bottle she was holding over her shoulder. After the glass shattered, she suggested something else, "Truth or dare?"
Mai's distressed cries increased.
"Oh dear, I think we need someone else to take charge," Lunch sighed. Reaching into the shirt pocket of her pjs, she pulled out a pepper pack.
"Achoo! Sleepover, is it?" Launch asked. Stepping over next to Chichi and the struggling Mai, she chopped Mai in the neck, making her go limp, letting Chichi haul her back in.
"Okay, clearly you girls have no idea what to do, so let's get drunk."
X X X
"This is more wholesome than booze?" Launch asked as they climbed down the side of the hotel.
"I refuse to live up to parents' expectations. Besides, what says young and free girls like peeping on the boys? Check those bindings Chichi, we can't have Mai wimping out on us," Bulma ordered.
"I've peeped on boys in the hot springs back at school. It was weird," Yurin commented.
"Well sure, with ol' three eyes. Who knows what he's got in the hanger. Besides, none of them are going to be prancing about in the nude, it's the thrill of watching them in their boxers without them knowing."
Mai mumbled angrily through her gag, red in the face.
"Trust me Mai, this will be good for you. You're as repressed as my parents think I am," Bulma said.
"I'm starting to wonder if my dad had this in mind when he said I should follow your lead as the party host," Chichi wondered.
"Ahaha," Bulma said, ceasing her descent while the others rappelled on ropes next to her.
"Stealth mode now ladies, according to my floor plan this is the room," she said, pulling out the paper and checking it again.
"Did you pick the room for this?" Launch asked.
"Yes, I kind of miss underdressed Yamcha," Bulma admitted.
"What if they closed the blinds?"
"Men never close the blinds, it's a guy thing," Bulma waved off.
They were greeted by the sight of a dark room, a number of shapes laid out on the bed and futons.
"Why are they already in bed?" Bulma demanded of no one.
"The tournament?" Chichi suggested.
"That doesn't start until noon. Where's the guy talk, the poker, the fishing stories that aren't about fishing?" Bulma demanded.
"Can we go to a bar now?" Launch asked.
"No way. Behold, a light from under yon door. And I selected a suite which has a non-frosted window for the bathroom."
"Oh my!" Chichi said.
"Don't wimp out on me now, ladies, we've come too far and sacrificed too much. There must be a prize at the end of this vertical road, even if we have to put it there ourselves," Bulma declared.
As Bulma hovered over to the next window, everyone else, including the gagged Mai, exchanged looks.
"Has Bulma gone nuts?" Launch asked.
"Well, Puar said she's always been evil, so maybe we just didn't notice."
"She gets like this when things don't go her way. She'll either win somehow or lose and then act like nothing happened after pouting a bit. You can try and run, but it's quite hard to escape her current," Yurin sighed.
"Eh, we'd better follow-"
"Shower! Someone's in the shower!" Bulma loudly whispered at them.
"For the guys' safety, at least."
They joined her looking into a fairly nice bathroom, the curtains drawn on the shower and the window barely big enough for all of them to look in.
"What if it's Goku? Bulma, it wouldn't be proper for you to see him naked at your age," Chichi pointed out.
"Oh, there's nothing wrong with an older woman seeing... wait a minute, I'm not old by any description, shut up," Bulma snapped.
Mai mumbled something.
"Fair point, but I'm kind of just train wreck fascinated at this point," Launch answered.
"You can understand her?"
"I've gagged a lot of hostages in my time," Launch said.
"Cool," Yurin grinned.
"The shower's off. Come on, Yamcha. Show me the goods, Yamcha! I earned this with that crazy training and Tien being a jerk."
"What if it's Krillin? Hey, none of you look if it's Krillin, he's easily embarrassed," Chichi said.
"Well, I've seen Goku plenty kid, doesn't really-" Launch said, before the curtain was pulled aside and Master Roshi stepped forth in all his steamed wrinkly glory.
He was still wearing sunglasses for some reason, but no one noticed.
"Huh, wuzzat?" Roshi said, looking to the window; the moon looked down, and he felt an odd sensation.
"Maybe the lady in the moon is peeping on me? ...Nah!" he waved it off, and grabbed a towel. Meanwhile, all the ladies reached the ground while still screaming.
At a Nearby Bar That Doesn't Card:
"Ladies, you really shouldn't have a kid here," the mermaid behind the bar said, making a small splash in the tank behind the bar with her tail fin.
"She's just drinking chocolate milk, ain't she? She needs a drink, we all do," Bulma groused, before refilling her wineglass and then taking a swig from the bottle.
"I can't believe I saw that! And to think, I was questioning if Goku was a good choice as husband. And here I am, sullied by seeing an old man naked. He's too good for me," Chichi lamented, before draining another pint of ale.
"Well, that was bad, but gotta hand it to Roshi. He packs more than you'd think downstairs," a frazzled Launch said, sipping a finger of whiskey. Bulma leaned over on her barstool, grabbed Launch's whiskey bottle and shoved it into the blonde's mouth, making her chug the liquid.
"No memories, we drink it away into oblivion!"
"Well, I'm not getting drunk. So how am I supposed to forget?" Chichi whined, as Launch punched Bulma off her stool.
"Gahgh, hey bartender, a jug of the stuff you're not supposed to have," Launch said, snapping her fingers.
"Sure, why not? I'm getting shut down tomorrow, anyway. Mom was right, I never should have left the ocean," the barmaid muttered, ducking down into her tank.
"There's a story there," Yurin stated, standing up to try and look into the water tank on the other side of the bar.
"Well, we're not hearing it, our own story's got too many moving parts anyway. And this wine ain't good enough; bring me the kind of sake you can peel paint with, mix it with kusmiss, then put in some zucchini juice," Bulma demanded, red in the face.
"What the heck is that called?" Launch asked.
"No idea, but it'll make me forget the last hour. Maybe," Bulma said.
"I'm a dirty girl!" Mai wept, sipping her Irish coffee, red in the face.
Later:
"Hic-achoo!" Lunch went.
"Huh?" the bluenette looked around at the trashed bar, with water leaking from behind the bar and everyone snoring around the carnage.
"What happened here?" she asked Yurin. The girl, whose updo was quite ruined, was kneeling beside a muttering Bulma, who was seated in what had once been a booth.
"You guys should never go drinking," Yurin said.
"Oh," Lunch said.
"And the worst part is, I'm not even drunk," Bulma declared, before punching herself in the face and slumping down on the rubble.
"...I think it's bedtime," Launch said, standing up and rolling up her sleeves.
End of the first night!
Author's Note:
Merry Christmas!
And if you don't celebrate Christmas, or celebrate it on a different date; Merry December 25th!