Chapter 25

Bulma, 18, and Chi-Chi were halfway finished decorating the ballroom when suddenly, the one of the windows flew wide open and two teenagers with long, black hair came flying into the room.

"Hide us!" the taller one screamed.

"What's going on here?" Chi-Chi yelled, grabbing at her hair.

"Bulma, our father's looking for us!" the shorter one said urgently.

Bulma realized it was Marikia! And that meant that he taller one had to be Broly.

"Broly! Marikia! What are you guys doing here?" Chi-Chi asked after she calmed down.

"Our father was ready to leave this planet, but we knew we had to stay here", Broly explained.

"Kakarot, Vegeta, Tarble, Turles, Raditz, and their families are the only other Saiyans left in existance", Marikia added. "We had to see them. Dad's gone crazy. He's actually trying to control Broly and soon he'll start on me".

At that moment, Bulma, Chi-Chi, and 18 noticed that Broly now wore what looked like a golden headband on his head and Marikia wore thick, gold bracelets on her wrists.

"He had some scientist on the planet he's heading to make these so he could control us", Broly said.

"Why would he do that?" 18 asked, forgetting her grudge against Broly.

"So he can have Broly's awesome power at his disposal", Marikia answered.

"That's horrible", Chi-Chi said."Tell us about it", Broly said, sitting down.

"Why can't you guys just take those things off?" 18 asked, looking from Marikia's bracelets to Broly's headband.

"Because, Dad also made sure that if we try to take them off, it feels like my arms or his head are on fire", Marikia said.

"So, you couldn't take her bracelets off?" Bulma asked Broly, pointing at Marikia's wrists.

"And you couldn't take his headband off?" Chi-Chi questioned, nodding toward Broly's headband as she glanced over to Marikia.

Both Saiyan siblings shook their heads.

"He made sure of that too", Marikia sighed.

At that moment, Broly groaned and started rubbing his head.

"What's wrong, Broly?" Bulma asked, looking concerned."I get headaches from time to time because of this stupid headband", the sixteen-year-old Saiyan answered, wincing.

"It hurts?" Chi-Chi questioned.

"Well, it doesn't feel good", Broly growled.

"I was just asking", Chi-Chi said, looking insulted.

Broly rolled his eyes.

"Does your dad know where you guys are?" Bulma asked.

"Last he knew we were on an island out in the very middle of the ocean", Marikia said. The fourteen-year-old sister of Broly grinned sneakily. "You see, he had tracker devices installed into each of my bracelets and Broy's headband".

"So, he can find you?" Chi-Chi screeched. "WHAT IF HE FINDS OUT YOU'RE HERE?"

"He won't", Broly chuckled.

"How?" 18 asked.

"We managed to hack into the trackers and disabled them", Broly explained.

"How did you manage to do that?" Bulma quetioned, looking impressed.

"No idea", Broly answered.

"It may have had something to with the time you headbutted that rock when the thing made your head hurt a few days ago", Marikia said.

"Yeah", Broly nodded thoughtfully.

"And when I punched that tree when I got mad", his sister added.

Broly nodded again.

"So, you're dad has no idea where you guys are?" Bulma asked.

Both siblings nodded.

"You're sure?" the blue-haired heiress inquired.

Broly and Marikia nodded again.

At this, Bulma let out a sigh of relief.

"Good", she said. "At least we know your psycho father isn't on his way here right now".

"Yeah", Broly said.

"Well, you guys can stay here for a while", Bulma said. "We've got plenty of room".

"Are you sure?" Broly asked.

Bulma nodded.

Broly and Marikia looked at each other.

"If it's all right with you", Marikia said.

"It's all right with me", Bulma said. "And we all know my mom'll be all for the idea of more kids here".

"Okay", Broly said.

"Chi-Chi, 18, I'll be right back, just let me get Mom", Bulma said.

Chi-Chi and Bulma nodded in agreement.

Bulma then turned to Broly and Marikia.

"Well, let's go see Mom", she said.

The two nodded and followed the blue-haired heirss through the door.

"I'm still mad at that guy for attacking my brother", 18 grumbled to Chi-Chi when they left.

"Oh yeah, I remember that", Chi-Chi said. "How's 17 doing anyway?"

"They'll let him out of the hospital in time for Bulma's party", 18 answered. "Which reminds me, I have to go. Mom, Dad, and I are going to the hospital to pick him up".

"Okay, I'll finish up here and I'll tell Bulma you had to go", Chi-Chi said.

"Are you gonna be okay with putting up the rest of the decorations by yourself?" 18 asked.

"Yeah, don't worry about me", Chi-Chi said. "Besides, you need to get your brother. Tell him I said hi".

18 nodded and headed out the door.

Chi-Chi set back to fixing the decorations.

...

Meanwhile, Vegeta was in the park with Hisana, lying on the ground, looking up at the stars.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Hisana asked, gazing up at the star-filled sky.

Vegeta said nothing.

"Do you think your father'll like me?" Hisana asked.

Vegeta didn't answer. However, he was confident that his father would like Hisana. Vegeta was harder to please than his father and if he liked her, so there was almost a guarantee that his father would like her.

"I have a feeling he will", Vegeta said.

Hisana smiled.

At that moment, Vegeta realized why he had hooked up with Hisana in the first place.

Hisana acted the way Vegeta had heard his father say his mother had acted.

As he realized this, Vegeta couldn't help but miss his mother. He felt bad that she had died when he was really little. He felt even worse that he had never even known her.

'Why did you have to go, Mom?' the teenage Saiyan prince asked himself.

"Are you all right, Vegeta?" Hisana asked, pulling Vegeta out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" Vegeta asked, looking to Hisana.

"Are you all right?" Hisana repeated.

"Oh...yeah", Vegeta answered, looking up at the stars.

"Vegeta, what is it?" Hisana asked, her silver eyes meeting Vegeta's onyx eyes. "You can tell me".

"It's nothing", Vegeta said.

"Okay, if you don't want to talk about it, it's okay", Hisana replied as she and Vegeta turned back to the starry sky.

For the next few minutes, the two lay on the grass, staring up at the stars as they twinkled in the midnight blue sky.

...

"So, is it okay for them to stay here for a while?" Bulma asked her parents after she, Broly, and Marikia had finished telling the Briefs everything that had happened.

"Well, I don't see any problem with it", Dr. Brief said. "After all, we certainly have room for them".

"What do you think, Dear?" he asked, turning to his wife.

"Oh, it'll be nice to have some company here!" Mrs. Brief chirped. "They can stay as long as they need to".

"Thanks, Mom! Thanks, Dad!" Bulma squealed. "Come on, Broly! Let me show you and Marikia to your rooms".

"I just love when Bulma's friends come over!" Mrs. Brief said to her husband.

"It definately is never dull when they come over", Dr. Brief agreed. "Especially the Saiyans".

"Speaking of which, did you hear Vegeta has a new girlfriend?" Mrs. Brief asked.

"He has another girlfriend?" Dr. Brief asked, nearly dropping his cigarette.

Mrs. Brief nodded.

"Bulma was telling me about it the other day", she answered. "She said they had been at the mall. She said we'll see her at the party in a few days".

Dr. Brief nodded thoughtfully as he scratched Scratch's head.

"You have a point there", he said.

"From what Bulma told me, this new girl's very pretty", Mrs. Brief added with a smile.

"Well, we all know that Vegeta knows how to pick them", Dr. Brief said.

"He sure does", Mrs. Brief agreed.

...The next day...

"Goku, please don't tell me you're wearing THAT to Bulma's party", Chi-Chi groaned, pointing at Goku's typical orange gi.

"But, Chi-Chi, this is my look", Goku whined.

"Well, then you need a new look", Chi-Chi insisted. "You should have put that on the top of your New Year's Resolution".

"But, Chi-Chi", Goku protested.

"No 'buts', Goku", Chi-Chi said firmly. "We're going shopping right now to get you some new clothes".

"Okay sure", Goku said. "But can we eat first? I'm starving!"

(Chi-Chi falls over anime style)

"Chi-Chi, are you okay?" Goku asked, kneeling down beside his girlfriend.

His only response was a groan of exasperation from Chi-Chi.

...

A few minutes later, Goku and Chi-Chi were at the West City mall.

"All right, where to start?" Chi-Chi asked, scanning the shops.

"Let's try the nearest restaurant we see", Goku answered.

"Oh, Goku", Chi-Chi grumbled, placing a hand on her forehead and shaking her head.

"Chi-Chi, you promised", Goku said.

"I did not", Chi-Chi sighed.

"Well, can we anyway?" Goku was practically begging now.

"Fine, but then we shop for clothes for you", Chi-Chi said reluctantly.

"All right!" Goku said, his normal grin returning.

Chi-Chi sighed. Why did this always have to happen to her?

...

"Okay, Goku, I think you've had enough", Chi-Chi said as Goku finished his eleventh plate of food.

"Come on, Chi-Chi, just one more plate", Goku said, sitting the plate with the others piled up on the table.

"You said that FIVE PLATES AGO!" Chi-Chi screamed, starting to lose her temper.

"Chi-Chi, please calm down!" Goku exclaimed, nearly dropping his plate.

"NO, I WILL NOT!" Chi-Chi hollered.

"Chi-Chi, people are starting to stare", Goku said.

"THEY'RE STARING AT THE TOWER OF PLATES IN FRONT OF YOU!" Chi-Chi snarled.

"It is kinda neat, huh?" Goku asked, grinning an idiot.

"All right, Goku, you have eaten ENOUGH", Chi-Chi said. "Now let's go find you some new stuff".

"But, I don't want to", Goku said.

"WE ARE GETTING SOME NEW CLOTHES FOR YOU WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!" Chi-Chi raged.

"Okay, okay, I give up", Goku said, waving a white napkin like a flag of surrender.

Shaking her head, Chi-Chi grabbed the teenage Saiyan by the ear and dragged him out of the restaurant.

"But, Chi-Chi, I just remembered something important!" Goku said. "Please, Chi-Chi! It's a matter of life and death!"

"What, Goku?" Chi-Chi growled.

"I didn't get my dessert yet", Goku answered.

"HOW is that a matter of life and death?" Chi-Chi demanded.

"Because I could starve without it in my stomach", Goku answered.

"AS MUCH AS YOU'VE EATEN, YOU SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE ANY ROOM IN THERE!" Chi-Chi snarled.

"That was a whole ten minutes ago!" Goku insisted.

"I DON'T CARE, WE'RE LEAVING NOW!" Chi-Chi screamed, yanking Goku out the door.

However, she fast enough, for Goku managed to grab a chocolate cream pie, a pineapple upsidedown cake, and a plate of brownies as a waiter passed by with a massive dessert cart.

After finishing all three desserts in a matter of seconds, Goku tossed the now empty plates to a stunned waiter as Chi-Chi finally managed to get him through the door.

Chi-Chi placed her hands on her hips, glaring at Goku as he licked the remaining chocolate icing from his fingers.

"Are you done?" she asked.

"You should've asked me before we left", Goku whined.

"GOKU!" Chi-Chi shouted.

"Okay, I'm done", Goku said quickly.

A second later, his look of fear turned to a look of utter satisfaction.

"That pie really hit the spot", the sixteen-year-old Saiyan sighed, patting his belly.

"You had PIE too?" Chi-Chi asked.

"And a little cake, and a couple of brownies", Goku answered, a dreamy look on his face.

"You've got to be kidding me", Chi-Chi groaned.

"Come on, Chi-Chi, there couldn't have been more than a dozen brownies on that plate", Goku said.

Chi-Chi's eyes widened.

"Goku, we are shopping for your clothes now", the daughter of the Ox-King said with quiet fury.

"But-", Goku started, but was cut off by his girlfriend.

"WE ARE SHOPPING FOR YOUR CLOTHES NOW!" Chi-Chi shouted.

"Okay", Goku said in a quiet voice.

"Well, let's go", Chi-Chi said, her anger spent.

...

"Chi-Chi, I don't like this, it's too tight", Goku complained, tugging at the pair of blue jeans that Chi-Chi had picked out for him.

"Then we'll get them in the next size up", Chi-Chi explained as calmly as she could.

"Well, what about this shirt?" Goku asked, tugging at the bright blue t-shirt that he now wore.

"I think that looks good on you", Chi-Chi said, nodding her head in approval. "I wish I could find something that easily".

Goku didn't say anything.

"Well, let's get those jeans in the next size up", Chi-Chi said. "And then, let's see what else we can find for you".

Goku shrugged.

"Okay", he said, willing to go along with whatever Chi-Chi said to keep her from yelling at him again.

...

Meanwhile, 18 was at her house, talking to her brother on the phone. 17 sounded bored, eager to get out of the hospital. The doctors were taking a long time to decide if 17 would be allowed to get out for Bulma's party. The bruises and welts had healed, as had 17's right eye. Luckily, Broly hadn't damaged it bad enough to blind 17 as he had done to his father. However, 17's left arm and right leg were still going to be in casts for another month or so. Also, his fingers that had been broken would remain in their splints for another couple of weeks or so.

...

Back at Capsule Corp., Bulma was still showing Broly and Marikia around.

"This place is so big", Marikia said.

"Yeah", Broly agreed. "It seems like it'd be pretty easy to get lost around here".

"It is pretty big", Bulma admitted. "So, that's why I wanted to show you around, so you wouldn't get lost".

"Well, thanks for letting us stay here", Marikia said. "But what if our father finds us?"

"I'm sure Goku and Vegeta can handle him", Bulma assured her friend. "And we all know how well Broly can handle your dad. As evidenced by that scar that now replaces what was once his left eye".

At this, Broly grinned sheepishly.

"I know I shouldn't have wanted to do that, but I did", Broly said quietly.

"You don't like your dad, do you?" Bulma asked him.

Broly shook his head.

"Neither of us do", he said, glaring at the floor. "He thinks he can do and say whatever he wants to us and he treats us like we're just belongings of his".

"He's a heartless monster", Marikia said bitterly.

Broly nodded his agreement to his sister's words.

"You guys had a reason to run away then", Bulma said.

"Well, Dad doesn't know how to sense power levels like us and the others", Marikia said.

"That's why he put those tracking devices in my headband and my sister's bracelets", Broly added.

Now it was Marikia's turn to nod in agreement.

...

Back at the West City mall, Chi-Chi and Goku had found several new clothes for Goku.

"Okay, I guess now we have to find something for the two of us to wear for Bulma's party", Chi-Chi said.

"Sure", Goku agreed, doing his absolute best to keep from ticking Chi-Chi off again.

"Let's go to that place over there", Chi-Chi said, pointing to a store that had bright lights flashing and dance music blaring from inside.

Goku nodded and followed Chi-Chi into the store.

...

"What do you think, Goku?" Chi-Chi asked, holding up an electric purple mini dress with spaghetti straps.

"Uh, it looks nice, Chi-Chi", Goku said sincerely.

"You really like it?" Chi-Chi asked, beaming at Goku.

Goku nodded.

"Okay, I'll get it", she said. "Now, we just need to find you something".

...

Bulma had just fallen asleep when her phone rang.

"Hello?" the blue-haired heiress groaned.

"Is this Bulma?" a voice on the other line asked.

"Yeah", Bulma answered groggily. "Who's this?"

"It's me, Yamcha", the voice answered. "I'm in your History class".

Yamcha...

The name sounded familiar to Bulma.

Then she remembered. Yamcha sat across from her.

Marikia used to sit in that seat, but now Marikia couldn't go to school, that would make it easier for Paragus to find her and her brother.

"What do you want, Yamcha?" Bulma groaned.

"Just wanted to say hey", Yamcha answered.

"That's it?" Bulma asked.

"I also wanted to know if you'd like to go out sometime", Yamcha admitted. "You know, like for a movie or something".

At first, Bulma didn't say anything.

"You still there?" Yamcha asked.

"Yes", Bulma answered him.

"Well, what do you say?" Yamcha questioned.

"I don't know, Yamcha", Bulma answered. "I mean, I'm throwing a party in a couple of days".

"Can I come?" Yamcha asked her eagerly. "We could go to your party together. That could be our first date".

"I don't know", Bulma said again.

"Well, you don't have to answer right away", Yamcha said quickly. "Just think about it and let me know when you've decided".

"Okay", Bulma said.

"Well, I guess I'll talk to you later", Yamcha said.

"Wait a minute, how did you get my phone number?" Bulma demanded, now slightly more awake.

"Oh, that, I called one of the main offices at Capsule Corp. and asked if I could speak to you", Yamcha answered. "So, they said I could reach you at a particular number, and they gave me your number".

'Of course', Bulma thought.

"So, I guess I'll talk to you later", Yamcha continued.

"I guess", Bulma replied.

"Okay, see ya", Yamcha said.

A second later, he hung up.

Bulma sat her phone down on her bedside table.

Should she go out with Yamcha? Or should she wait for someone else to ask her out?

The blue-haired heiress decided to just go out with Yamcha. There was no chance of Vegeta asking her out. Not now that he had a girlfriend.

'I may as well at least give Yamcha a chance', Bulma reasoned. After all, she didn't really know Yamcha too well, even though the two had been classmates since kindergarten. This could be a chance to get to know him.

She decided she would talk to Yamcha tomorrow. Maybe they could go to her party together.

...

Nyc was amazing! I'm glad I'm back to! So how was it?