Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball.
Betaed by: Zim'sMostLoyalServant and a friend.
Last Time:
The semifinals arrived, and the final four clashed before an excited crowd for the right to advance to the finals.
Launch faced off against Tien, eyes on a doubleheader as champion, while Tien as the last Crane School member in the tournament sought to take home the glory for his school. The fierce battle pushed both fighters hard, but in the end it was Tien who emerged triumphant, yet troubled.
Ranfan and Chichi faced each other next; friends outside the ring, but opponents within. At first it seemed Chichi's greater power would bring a swift victory, but Ranfan was no stranger to facing foes at a disadvantage, and managed to not only weather the early fight with clever tactics, but get some good hits on Chichi. But in the end, Ranfan was sent flying, unable to overcome Chichi's overwhelming force.
With Roshi receiving a strange K.O. after Chichi's wardrobe malfunction, our heroes turn their attention to their plans for tonight.
What madness and chaos awaits before the Budokai reaches its finale? Find out now, on Dragon Ball: Intended Journey!
Chapter 13
Mission: Date Night
Spy and Meddle Because you Care!
"Well, I guess she can't win 'em all," Hasky remarked, tearing up her wager ticket and putting the paper in the ash tray on the counter. She sat in a Papaya diner, a beer next to her unopened and waiting for her meal. She had gotten here just before the post-tournament rush; she might be retired, but she could still outmaneuver some normals through city streets, she thought with a smile. Which slipped, recalling there was no one to brag to.
A downside of her peaceful life was that the lack of rush meant more time to contemplate being alone, with only employees and casual acquaintances in your life.
"Kind of envy that kid, the people she's found," the former master thief mused. She recalled that Goku kid and the magical girl tenderly helping Launch from the ring. No one was going to care that much if she was beaten down.
"What, study the martial arts in Ottpott?!" a man cried out. Hasky glanced over, and vaguely recognized the big guy with the weird head from the Budokai crowd. He was crammed in a booth with some old people and redheaded preteen.
"I need to get out there and see the world while I'm still young. And I want to be able to look after myself like Lunch can."
"And impress a certain boy?" an old man with glasses asked. The girl blushed and muttered denials, while the elders laughed.
"Romance, huh? Should I try dating? Do I have a type?" Hasky wondered, opening her beer as her steak, salad and rice arrived.
The words Red Ribbon made her look to the TV as she took her first bite. Sure enough, she recognized the mustached mug next to the anchorman with the bad toupee.
"...among the prisoners missing after the raid on the prisoner convoy. The Royal Ministry of Corrections has declined to comment at this time, but speculation runs rampant that this was a terrorist act by the Red Ribbon Army. As it is a matter of public record that Black exchanged insider intelligence to His Majesty's government for a lighter sentence, one can only assume they seek revenge on this traitor to their evil cause."
"And that's why when you opt out on the bad guys, you disappear all the way," Hasky remarked, before returning to her dinner. She decided to stick around for the championship, and place a bet on that tall explodey girl.
X X X
Krillin had expected his evening would be taken up by the drama around the date. He could blame that on the company he kept, but he was curious himself.
He had not expected the hotel desk to tell him King Chappa, of all people, wanted to see him. He had not even realized the triple crown holder was also staying at the Grand Papaya, though in a normal room, not a suite like Bulma and the girls.
He hesitated to knock. What was this about? He had not taken the time to tell anyone else about it. Was the former champion holding a grudge over his defeat?
"Just knock, Krillin," he told himself. Why did cowardice still rear up at times like this? He and Chichi had faced things far scarier than a fighter Krillin had already defeated once! He hated to think his courage was tied only to Chichi being around. After all, he had been alone when facing Orin Temple.
Perhaps it was the memory of overthrowing the temple that spurred him to finally reach out and knock on the varnished wood door.
There was no call in answer, and he wasn't sure if he heard anything or it was just his imagination. But the door swung in, and there was King Chappa, expression unreadable, dressed much the same as he had been for the Budokai preliminaries.
"I am glad you have come, young Krillin," he said, nodding and stepping aside. Krillin took the unspoken invitation to enter. The room was smaller than the one he'd been sharing with the other guys. Proper single's room, save for the tea set laid out; it struck him as a bit, lonely. The stay had been short, but the crammed nature of his quarters with luggage left out of drawer and closest by necessity gave it a feel of the people gathered. Save for that tea set, company was a foreign thing with no seeming tie to the well-kept big city respectability here.
'My view's probably just weird from the company I keep. It's just a hotel room,' Krillin remarked internally. Being the normal one of the Kame School was quite relative, after all.
"Sit, I will prepare tea," King Chappa said, picking up the pot and moving to the kitchenette.
"Thank you, but I can't stay too long. I have... school business I am expected for tonight," Krillin settled on describing the strange night to come.
"Time enough for one cup, I hope. But yes, in that case, we will begin while the tea is being prepared," Chappa said. Stepping away from the beginning of his work, he faced Krillin and gave the seal of reconciliation. Surprised, Krillin stood more by reflex than recognition and returned the gesture.
"A pair of apologies are owed. Firstly, I failed to congratulate you on your victory against me, even after I regained consciousness. Such courtesy may be in the minority among the younger generations of martial artists, but failing to live up to my own standards is inexcusable. A fine victory, well fought," Chappa said, bowing his head. Krillin returned the gesture. Roshi's teaching never demanded so much formality, but the basics were the same and the old master had been insistent about them.
"Well fought, King Chappa."
Now Chappa stood more naturally.
"Secondly, I was overly disrespectful of you during and before the fight. Your age and unimpressive appearance did not change the fact you had fought in the Budokai before. I was out of line. My apologies."
"Uh, no problem. Honestly, when it comes to disrespect, that wasn't even worth remembering," Krillin said with an awkward smile, rubbing the back of his head.
He took a seat as King Chappa resumed preparing the tea. He supposed this was an honor, but the guy's stern tone and manner made this hardly feel like a friendly chat.
'Maybe he's just naturally serious? Like Goku's a natural goof, and Launch can't help being a bit like a thug even when she's being nice?'
Chappa pouring the tea into Krillin's cup brought him back to reality. After Chappa sat and poured his own, they drank together.
"A good tea," Krillin said sincerely. Chappa nodded.
"I brought it with me. I have few true material attachments remaining, but an acceptable cup of tea is one of them."
His expression darkened, and Krillin guessed that was it for the small talk.
"When I awoke from my defeat, my first inclination was to simply leave for the south, and resolve to train harder to avenge my humiliation in three years' time. But I felt I'd wait for master Tai Chin, to witness his return to the tournament. He and I are of the same generation of fighters, after all. These last three days of matches have been a revelation to me, young Krillin. I see now it was not merely arrogance and luck that undid me. For all my laurels won, the height of power reaches higher than I ever imagined. Metaphors from legends become literal even as a legend falls to youth."
"Yeah, it's been quite the tournament, I guess?" Krillin tried to inject some humor in his toe. It dried up at the stern expression from Chappa, who sipped his tea.
"I am not ready to simply accept obsolescence. And I realize I must push myself harder than ever imagined to once again be hailed as the Strongest Under the Heavens. Once I have set my affairs in the temple in order, I will depart on a training journey of my own. It is my desire that the King Chappa that enters the next Budokai will be one worthy of the title King of Martial Arts."
"...Sounds good," Krillin said, giving him a thumbs up.
"It is also my desire that you will return in three years, a proper rematch being possible."
"Oh, that's nice," Krillin said, "Honestly though, at this point I'm not really thinking about the title; just getting past the first round would be nice."
Chappa's slap on the table made Krillin jump and the table crack.
"Absurd, disgraceful," the older martial artist said, glaring at Krillin.
"What?" Krilln asked defensively, holding his teacup protectively, the set on the table having toppled. Chappa set his down with a clack.
"Those who study martial arts pursue excellence of self. Has your revered master failed to teach you that?"
"NO! Master Roshi is an excellent teacher," Krillin snapped.
"Then you are a poor student beyond the trading of blows, it would seem. To pursue excellence is to seek to do your best. Not simply better, not good enough, certainly not merely sufficient. I was not born with great natural talent, and I had to take a part-time job to afford lessons. Greatness was not handed to me or easily obtained. Every spar and match, no matter how great my opponent, every tournament no matter how distinguished, I always fought to win. I never let myself believe victory was out of reach; if I did not believe in myself, why should anyone else? If you enter the tournament with no belief in your ability to win, why even bother?
"Reflect upon your desires, young Krillin. On who you are and wish to be as a fighter, as a martial artist, and as a man. I would not have it said I lost to someone who was willing to just coast through his career rather than push himself. Now, you said you had business to attend too."
Chappa rose and started gathering the tea set. Krillin stood and made his way to the door. Hand almost touching the knob, he stopped and frowned.
"Thank you for the tea. But remember, in three years I will be much stronger too," Krillin said, before leaving. He wasn't there to see a small but bright smile appear on Chappa's face.
X X X
"Can't I just wear what I have already?" Launch called from the changing room. They were in one of the posher stores in the city, armed with Bulma's credit cards. "They" being Bulma, Chichi, and Launch. Ranfan was resting, having deferred her healing to Launch for the date night, and Yurin had gone to the hotel room to pass out after Bulma had the healer get Launch in her own words "all nice and shiny" for the evening.
"No. It's your first date with someone. You can't just go standard issue," Bulma said firmly.
"Please, Miss Launch, we care about you, and we can't let you start what might be the epic romance of your life so casually," Chichi said pleadingly.
"Is that why you trapped me in here by taking my clothes?"
"Yes. Your taste in dressing is unacceptable for romance."
"I'm sorry Launch, but she's right. It's a date, not a Mad Marty movie."
"Not to worry, this is why you have friends, Launch. Just don't sneeze, the clock is ticking and Lunch would want an update even before the whole date bomb dropped," Bulma added. Then looked around, puzzled at Chichi's sudden absence. Then the tall woman stepped back into sight, holding up a dress on a hangar.
"We may have time for Lunch after all, girls, I have found the perfect dress for the date!" Chichi squeed, holding her prize up high.
Bulma stared flatly at the green and gold Chinese dress.
"It's pretty, Chichi, but she's going on a date, not to the ball."
"Well, she needs to make a good impression, show Yamcha there's more to her than hitting stuff, foul language, barely concealed body odor, and poor table manners."
"I can hear ya," Launch reminded them.
"I'm honest because I love you both like a sister," Chichi called through the door, holding the hanger up so Launch could grab it over the door.
Then Bulma returned and waggled her eyebrows, holding up her pick.
"No way!" Chichi shouted, getting a glare from a passing employee.
"What? There's no disguising her personality, and that could scare Yamcha off. Men will put up with a lot for sexy, and this will show off everything but keep him thirsty for the full disclosure," Bulma said waggling her eyebrows, holding up the outfit to herself.
"No man would respect a woman who dressed like that on the first date! Are you trying to sabotage her chances because you're still carrying a torch for Yamcha?!"
"What?! Where do you get the nerve, you giant hick?! I pay for everything, and you accuse me!?"
"Well, would you wear that on the first date!?"
"No, of course not, I'm so close to perfection I don't need this outfit's help, but Launch needs all the help she can get."
As the shouting match degenerated into fisticuffs, Launch peeked out the door and snuck past the battle in the green and gold Chinese dress. Stopping to cringe a bit at the outfit, she tiptoed out as the employees tried in vain to save the store before deciding they weren't paid enough and started looting under the cover of the unfolding calamity.
X X X
"Boy, you're making a mistake," Roshi declared, standing between Yamcha and the door. The young man was casually dressed in a white collared shirt, unbuttoned at the neck with short sleeves and khaki pants with brown shoes, "Lad, dating is like animals courting. The man has to impress the lady, or she losses interest and starts sniffing after the next likely lad. You can't impress her with strength, since she's better than you. Now, nothing impresses the ladies like a hovercraft, but I left mine at home and you don't have a car. So, looking good is your last refuge against the typhoon of women's judgement."
"Master, I'm just taking her out for udon."
"Another error. Go big, lad. BIG! You'll be sorry if you don't. A famous amazon like that doesn't have to settle, and she knows it. There's a whole class of men out there eager to get kicked around and tossed into bed by a woman like that. Don't get cocky. Just humor your master and put this suit on!" Roshi pleaded, holding up a three-piece pinstripe suit of orange and gold, with a matching hat and black shoes with gold buckles on the chair nearby.
"Uh, I'm a bit worried I'd get arrested dressed like that," Yamcha sweatdropped, eyes lingering on the shades Roshi said completed the look with glittering golden frames.
"What, you think looking good is a crime?"
"Master, I'm going."
"Well, at least wear the hat!"
X X X
"Uh, nice hat?" Launch said, eyes firmly on the top of Yamcha's head.
"Umm, you're welcome," Yamcha said, taking her in. Were the glittering stars and aura around her just in his head? Regardless, she was a vision. Like some princess from the kung-fu movies he used to watch, if said princess was quite capable of snapping her opponent's neck, he supposed. Even dolled up with her hair in an elegantly simple bun, she radiated power.
'Crap, she took the trouble to get dressed up so nice, I can't just take her to some sidewalk booth for short-order food. But where wouldn't be full already with the tournament!?' Yamcha thought frantically.
"I need to go, be back quick!" Yamcha said suddenly, startling Launch from contemplating the hat. He ran through a hedge, impressively leaving no hole in it.
"Huh, well, I respect a man who isn't shy about peeing in the shrubbery," she noted.
X X X
"Stupid, stupid, stupid!" Yamcha said, flipping through the phonebook in the phonebooth.
"Okay, there must be some place that doesn't need reservations during the biggest sporting event and tourist attraction of three years on this island... I'm doomed. I'm going to set a new record for losing the girl."
"Put your heart back in your chest, Lord Yamcha!" Puar said cheerfully, opening the booth door.
"Puar! Where have you been?" Yamcha asked his old friend.
"The audience, and being very ignored lately, it feels like," Puar huffed.
"Sorry. And what do you mean?" Yamcha apologized
"Once I heard you had a date, I knew this might happen. So, I got you seats for two at Sishka Bobby's Castle."
"Puar, you have saved my life!" Yamcha said, hugging the floating cat.
"Wow, Lord Yamcha, we had a pact to never get romantic. Besides, you have a pretty blonde waiting."
Neither noticed the palm trees stirring as two pairs of eyes watched them.
"He hasn't blown it yet," Krillin noted. Roshi snorted.
"Only because Puar bailed him out."
"Friends are a valid asset."
"Don't push it kid, we got 20,000 zeni riding on whether he succeeds or fails."
Meanwhile, stalking Launch:
"It's been a while, your overdressed idea scared him off," Bulma declared, peeking out of the mailbox. Above her, perched atop the streetlight dressed in all black, Chichi crouched and shook her head.
"No, he's swooning in private in awe of her beauty. Though now it occurs to me he may be too enamored. What if he proposes tonight?! I don't even have a video camera for that."
"Miss, I'm fairly sure you're not allowed up there," a passing policewoman said, scratching the gray hair under her cap.
"True love's jurisdiction trumps all," Chichi hushed them.
'What are those two doing?' Launch wondered, sweatdropping across the street while waiting for Yamcha, 'And where did Yamcha get that sweet hat?'
Meanwhile with Goku and Mai:
In they boys otherwise vacant room Mai and Goku set next to each other on the couch focused on the task at hand.
"Are you sure this is possible?" Goku frowned. He tugged on the thin metal, pulling the three rings tight. Mai nodded, doing the same with her own set.
"You saw Krillin, it can come apart without breaking. And to motivate us, we're not going down to dinner with the others until we get it done," Mai reminded the younger yet senior student.
At the private dining room:
"So, your people call it a date?" Bora asked Ox King at the mostly empty table with the big meal laid out.
"So, you want to date my father?" Upa asked Ranfan.
"No, I want to get hitched with him," Ranfan clarified.
Upa looked to his father, then leaned over and whispered in her ear.
"What? Really?
Upa nodded and gave her a thumbs up.
"Huh, guess it's fate. Anything else?"
"Oh yes," Upa grinned, leaning in to whisper some more.
X X X
"So, you like this island?" Yamcha asked. They were walking to the restaurant down the lively sidewalks of Papaya. Yamcha had not planned for big spending tonight, and it was too late to get any money from the bank. So, he literally could not afford a cab, but spun it as enjoying the walk.
It wasn't like either of them would be bothered by a walk, with all their training.
"It's different. Goku and I mostly stick to more backwoods or rural areas. Just seems better for our kind of extreme training. And you can find weird strong creatures out in the margins," Launch grinned.
"Well, me, I can go either way," Yamcha said.
"What, looking for a threesome?" Launch said, raising an eyebrow.
"I mean, country or city," Yamcha sputtered.
"Ya, I know. It's funny that strong guys like you can't take any teasing. There no training for that?"
"Kind of, I used to be worse," Yamcha admitted.
"Yeah, I heard about that. But not as pathetic as Bulma wanting to wish for a perfect boyfriend. That's just sad," Launch chuckled. The taxi slowly following them braked hard, and Launch smirked, to Yamcha's puzzlement.
Shortly, at Sishka Bobby's Castle:
"Now this is a good choice in restaurant, meat and veggies on a stick," Launch grinned, taking in the low-lit restaurant where waiters seemed to show an array of ingredients to the seated, writing down what they wanted on their kabobs and how much. All while a slow jazz band played on stage nearby.
"Ah yes, the party of two from the tournament. Right this way," the tiger server in a fancy uniform said, gesturing for them to follow.
"Wow, they even have guys with fake accents. Can you afford this? I'd have been fine with udon or something," Launch said.
X X X
"I told you disguising ourselves as staff to spy was a bad idea," Krillin said, standing on a stool and up to his elbows in suds while Roshi, wearing a black pompadour wig, came up with another stack of dirty dishes.
"Oh, pipe down, how was I supposed to know the supervisor was a retired ninja?" the old master grumbled.
"Talk on your own time, rookies!" an apron-wearing bearman with cool shades said, looming over them.
"Yessir!" they answered, overwhelmed by 'boss aura'.
"Hey Lurvy, some woman's trapped in the air vent. Apparently, she can break out but she doesn't want to damage it. Should we just grab her feet or call the fire department?"
"Again?! Well, at least we got a fresh shipment of canola oil. No way am I running begging to the fire department again. Okay, I'm going to need two guys who don't like girls."
X X X
"Heheh, the others have fallen, now only I remain to salvage the inevitable wreck of this evening," Bulma cackled, glancing over her menu at the two on the date, "That idiot, why didn't he pull out the chair for her!?"
"Miss, will you be having an appetizer?"
"Yes, go away," she said, waving the waiter away, "Never eat the breadsticks, Launch! They've probably been out for a week. Besides, the imagery will give him ideas. Dang, this date is sinking like a glass bottom boat at the opera. How can I get close without being seen?"
"Hi Bulma!" Goku said.
"Hi Goku, hi Mai. Maybe the crawlspace, I have a tool box capsule... Why are you two here?! Quick, hide under the table!"
"Oh my!" Mai said, as they followed the instructions.
"Huh," Launch said, watching the two take cover and then Bulma seemingly kick one of them under the table, "You know Yamcha, some people just would never cut it with the criminal life."
"Isn't that a good thing?" he asked.
"Think I can get a kebob that's just different kinds of beef?"
One Hour Later:
"This is your fault, Goku," Bulma groaned, scrubbing a dish while Goku stood next to her, waiting to use the next part of the three-component sink, with Mai after him.
"Huh? But you blew the thing up. I just wanted you to fix the pieces so Mai and I could do our training."
"I did not blow it up, Goku, normal plants are not pintos! This is entrapment!" Bulma yelled accusingly at the supervisor as he walked by.
"Well, I could ask you why you had a pistol in my restaurant. But I don't care. Working the last shift washing dishes is honestly getting off light."
"You wouldn't be so 'misery builds character' if I hadn't lost my credit card in the blast! You may have won this round, Shish Ka Bobby's! But I'll have the last laugh, Bulma will have her revenge! HAHAHAHA!" Bulma cackled while almost crying in anger, breaking yet another plate by scrubbing too hard.
"Sir, she is quite right, maybe you should be worried," Roshi said from where he was sweeping the floor.
"Oh please, I had a blonde guy from the Red Ribbon Army here four years ago vowing he'd return to destroy me, and I'm still here. The food service industry is not for the faint of heart, best stick with your martial arts, gramps," the supervisor said, carrying on his rounds.
X X X
"Launch, you really shouldn't have paid. I mean, I kind of asked you out?" Yamcha said as they walked back toward the hotel.
"Hey, nothing saying the girl can't buy the guy's dinner. Besides, it was on Bulma anyway," Launch grinned, flicking her wrist and producing the credit card from thin air.
"Huh? When did you-" Yamcha asked, stunned, as they cut through an alley, silently agreeing it was a shortcut.
"I didn't learn everything from Roshi. And it's not stealing, I'm going to give it back tomorrow. Besides, she owed me."
Yamcha decided not to ask about what exactly was owed. He'd worried that random gas explosion would ruin their night, but aside from skipping out on dessert, it had only amounted to Launch putting on the hat he got from Roshi and not giving it back yet; it didn't really go well with her dress.
"Well, aren't you two adorable," a scruffy man in a brown jacket said, stepping out from behind a dumpster.
"Would hate to spoil yer evening. So how about you leave all your money and valuables on the ground and just keep walking?" a scruffy platypusman wearing a felt hat said, stepping up behind them. Both drew stilettos, and the blades sprang into place with clicks.
"Yamcha, you can have this one," Launch said, stretching her arms over her head.
"Are you sure, I wouldn't want to presume. I mean, I know you know your stuff," Yamcha said, rubbing the back of his head.
"Hey! Are you two drunk? Hurry up and-"
"SHUT IT, CLICHE! WE'RE TALKING HERE! I'm guessing you fancied the idea of being the brave ronin saving the damsel from bandits since you were a kid. I don't mind letting ya have that. Besides, if I let you have your fantasy now, I may have mine later," she said with a wink.
"Er, I think that maybe that wine from dinner is going to your head, but I'll take care of this," Yamcha said, stepping up to the scruffy man.
"...Kids, you've been watching too many moGERK!" the thug went, as Yamcha punched him in the gut before he could blink, lifting him clear off his feet.
"Oh my, how dashing and daring. I'm positively giddy with fear and yet so very impressed," Launch giggled into her hand, eyes sparkling a bit.
"Hmph, HAVE NO FEAR, FAIR MAIDEN! THEY SHALL NOT LAY A HAND ON YOU OR YOUR RENT MONEY!"
"I'm no maiden, but go right ahead," she said, gesturing intently to the confused and worried other mugger.
"Uh, I surrender?"
"No, you don't," Launch said, shaking a fist at him. Seeing the look in her eyes, he sweatdropped then gulped, and brandished his knife.
"I shall not give up when clearly beaten, for I am the embodiment of expendable evil in minor characters in all forms of media throughout the ages!" he declared, tears in his eyes, before charging with a battle cry.
X X X
"Thanks for bailing me out of kitchen duty," Krillin said to Chichi. They sat in Bulma's currently empty suite on the floor, bowls of chocolate ice cream in hand.
"I wasn't going to leave you like that. Besides, with how my helping went wrong, it wouldn't be right to leave you hanging, eh?" Chichi remarked, flinching at the cold on her next bite.
"What about Master Roshi?"
"He's an adult, he can take responsibility. Same for Bulma. And Goku didn't seem bothered, while Mai said it was karma for past crimes," Chichi declared, spoon held up and eyes closed, nodding to her own points.
"I guess you're right. Though it's a funny thought, isn't it?"
"What, Master Roshi being held accountable?"
"No… well, odd yes, but I mean with Mai. Can you imagine her committing crimes?"
"She probably forgot to pay a parking ticket or something."
"Ha, or maybe she fell asleep in a no loitering zone!" They both laughed good naturedly at the most neurotic of their fellow Turtle students.
Shishka Bobby's Kitchen:
"Achoo!" Mai sneezed as she closed the cupboard.
"Kami bless you," Goku said, scrubbing a countertop.
"Getting a cold, eh? Well, your master has you covered with an ancient remedy. Tastes so terrible it's guaranteed to kill what ails you, or you'll die trying," Roshi said, filling up a mop bucket from a tiny hose.
"I don't care what foes they've faced in the past! I will have vengeance!" Bulma tearfully declared. She was squatting next to a large grey bucket as the boss watched her clean out the grease trap by hand with an extra-large cup.
Author's Note:
Well there's another one down. This was a chapter to cut loose and have some fun with the characters. I also drew off my own life experience a bit. I too once had to clean out a restaurant grease trap using only an extra large paper cup. Oh, such a stench.
Anyway hope you liked the chapter. The next chapter wraps up the tournament and the season; so an extra long chapter before we go on hiatus. Hope to see you there.
Long days and pleasant nights to you all.