EPIC Side Story: Dragon Ball

Curious to see how much Goku could fit into his remarkably small body, Vahn cooked up a feast fit for at least fifteen people. In spite of this, the young Saiyan kept gorging down food as if he were a garbage chute, his body metabolizing it almost instantly before converting it into trace amounts of Ki...Though Vahn was amused by Goku's ability to put down food, the only thing preventing Bulma from losing her appetite was the phantasmal quality of even the most casual dishes he prepared."This is really good, Vahn. You should come back with me when I return to West City. I can help Sarina and Goku enroll in school while you work off their tuition as my personal chef."Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn skillfully flipped a line of thinly cut Tyrannosaurus Tail Steak as he replied, "There are some things money can't buy, Ms. Briefs. I believe your journey to discover the Dragon Balls is proof enough of that..."Adopting an annoyed expression, Bulma huffed before scarfing down half her plate and saying, "If I wanted to, I could easily purchase what I'm looking for. It's just, even if I did, I wouldn't be happy..."Asking in Vahn's stead, Sarina chimed in to inquire, "What, exactly, are you planning to wish for? I'm curious."Blushing in embarrassment, Bulma began to fiddle around with the food on her plate as she meekly replied, "I want to wish for the perfect boyfriend..."Though she already knew about Bulma's wish after watching Dragon Ball, Sarina couldn't restrain an awkward smile. After all, there were innumerable flaws with such a wish. After all, the definition of a perfect boyfriend would vary from person to person, and, unless they constantly adapted to match your wants and needs in any given situation, could they be called perfect?Realizing that Vahn could probably do exactly that, a soft chuckle escaped Sarina's throat. Bulma, assuming Sarina was laughing at her, immediately began to flare up. Fortunately, just as she was about to shout and ask what Sarina would wish for, Vahn joined them at the table, asking, "What are the two of you whispering about?"Redirecting her ire towards Vahn, Bulma shouted, "It's none of your business, Buster! Didn't anyone ever teach you not to butt in when girls are having a private discussion!?"Showing little regard for Bulma's words, Vahn maintained a relaxed smile as he looked down at Goku and asked, "Are you enjoying the food?"Unable to talk due to the amount of food he had stuffed into his mouth, Goku just smiled up at Vahn with an expression reminiscent of a chipmunk.Amused by the young Saiyan's antics, Vahn habitually extended his hand to pat the top of Goku's head before meeting Bulma's gaze out of the corner of his eye."There is no such thing as perfection. Even if there was, it could only exist for a single moment in time. The moment it becomes bound by the Laws of the World, it is no longer perfect. After all, the definition of perfection, much like life itself, is constantly shifting from one state to another. Unless it exists in a form that cannot be observed, perfection is a transient concept that simply can't exist in any meaningful capacity..."Furrowing her brows, Bulma took a moment to reflect on Vahn's words. Not because she was in any way impacted by them but because she wanted to refute them. Before she could, Sarina interrupted her train of thought, saying, "You shouldn't get in the habit of arguing with Vahn. His Wisdom is far beyond your ability to comprehend. I'm not saying you can't question him. Just don't go into things assuming you're right. Trust me, when it comes to knowledge, there is little Vahn doesn't know and nothing he can't know..."Undaunted by Sarina's words, a challenging look flashed across Bulma's face as she remarked, "Oh, is that so? Sounds to me like this guy might have brainwashed you with his handsome appearance and delicious food..."Leaning forward, Vahn supported his head with the knuckles of his left hand as he mused, "Thanks for the compliments..."Snorting through her nose, Bulma pursed her lips before mirroring Vahn's actions. Instead of one hand, however, she framed her face with both palms as she asked, "So? How does this work? Are you some kind of Psychic or..."Seeing Vahn casually levitate a few trays with a simple raise of his right index finger, the words at the tip of Bulma's tongue promptly faded into the void.Dismissing the possibility magnets were at play, largely due to the fact the plates were ceramic and there were several other metal objects present, Bulma's intrigue was piqued as she asked, "What am I thinking right this instant?"Disguising his annoyance with a light chuckle, Vahn manifested a cup of coffee for himself before saying, "I have a policy against prying into other people's thoughts. Can I? Certainly. Do you truly want me to? No. After all, even if they find it entertaining in the beginning, the novelty wears off quite quickly. Ask yourself this, Ms. Briefs. Would you ever be able to sleep comfortably if you knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, there were people in this world who knew the inner workings of your mind even better than yourself...?"Paling at the thought, Bulma found herself swallowing a knot that had formed in her throat. Then, just as she was thinking about asking Vahn for something to drink, the cogs in her mind ground to a stop when he manifested a cup of tea for her. If it was any normal tea, she would have thought he had primed her by pulling out a cup of coffee. Instead, the tea in the cup was her favorite..."Now, how about we move on to the questions you really want answers to? So long as it doesn't invade the privacy of another, I don't mind sharing..."Feeling far more nervous than before, Bulma attempted to calm herself by positing that Vahn had simply investigated her. This was a terrifying notion in and of itself, but, compared to the possibility that there were people who knew her every thought, it was significantly less scary...Thinking he may have pushed her a little too hard, Vahn attempted to allay Bulma's concerns by saying, "Relax. As I stated previously, I have a policy against prying into a person's thoughts and memories. I also don't share private information about people without their consent, so, even if I were aware of your secrets, there is no chance of them getting out."Though she did calm down a little, Bulma wasn't particularly comforted by Vahn's words. She was now firmly convinced that there was at least a possibility that there were people in this world that 'could' read her thoughts. At the same time, however, she was fascinated by the notion that there were still forces in the Universe she had yet to fully comprehend...Organizing her thoughts, Bulma decided to put Vahn's knowledge to the test, asking, "If you're so knowledgeable, why did you need to inspect my Dragon Radar before being able to sense them? Shouldn't you just know the location of the Dragon Balls?"Surprised by the remarkably to the point question, the corners of Vahn's smile curled upward as he answered, "There is a significant difference between knowing the location of something and being able to sense it. For example, you undoubtedly know the location of your own house, correct? Can you sense it...?"Realizing the flaw in her question, a frown developed across Bulma's face as she quickly rephrased things, asking, "Where are the rest of the Dragon Balls located? Is there anything I need to be wary of when searching for them?"Stroking his non-existent beard, Vahn took a moment to organize his thoughts before musing, "This is dangerously close to invading the privacy of others. Fortunately for you, three of the Dragon Balls are currently regarded as little more than trinkets. Their owners could also use some help so there is a decently high probability you will be able to obtain them after rendering your assistance..."Though he was half-tempted to just steal Emperor Pilaf's Dragon Ball, Vahn knew the petite, imp-like man wasn't truly as evil as he appeared. He had always been more of a comic relief character than an actual villain, and, depending on the timeline, he even redeemed himself by sacrificing his life to protect his vassals/friends/caretakers, Mai and Shu."Let's see...the three-star Dragon Ball is in the possession of the Turtle Hermit, Master Roshi. As for the six and seven-star balls, the first is located in a village being terrorized by a pig demon with the ability to shapeshift. The second is located within the treasury of the Ox-King on Mount Frypan. So long as you can save the Village of Aru and extinguish the inextinguishable flames of Mount Frypan, the six and seven-star Dragon Balls are as good as yours. As for the one-star Dragon Ball...well, that depends on your fate..."Shivering at the mention of fate, Bulma decided to skip asking about the specifics of the first three Dragon Balls and instead asked the question at the forefront of her mind, specifically, "Are you able to teleport or summon the other Dragon Balls?"As the Dragon Balls basically became resurrection fodder after the events of the Red Ribbon Army, a soft chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat before he went on to answer, "Indeed."Demonstrating his point, Vahn briefly borrowed the seven-star Dragon Ball from Mount Frypan. The Ox-King and his daughter were currently trapped outside their palace so it wasn't like he was going to miss it.Seeing the six-star Dragon Ball in Vahn's hand, the pupils of Bulma's sapphirine eyes contracted to points as she asked, "Are...are you the Guardian God of this planet...?"Unable to contain himself, a guffaw-like laugh emanated from Vahn's throat before he promptly got it under control. Then, with a remarkably amused smile on his face, he answered, "No. That is a title that belongs to Kami. If you travel to the Sacred Grounds guarded by the Karinga Tribe, you'll find a tower that appears to extend to the Heavens. Those who climb said Tower without the aid of tools will have the opportunity to meet the Immortal Sage, Korin the Wise. From there, you need a special key to be able to ascend to Kami's Lookout, a special platform that exists between the fabric of reality and the Heavenly Realm. It is there you will find the Guardian God of this world..."Though she was left with even more questions after Vahn's explanation, Bulma decided to focus on the most important matter at hand, asking, "I'm guessing you're not going to just hand that Dragon Ball over, are you?"Returning the aforementioned ball to its previous position, another chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as he teased, "You're a fast learner. It's no wonder you were able to create something as truly extraordinary as a radar designed to track a specific form of magical energy. I'm looking forward to seeing how you use that remarkable intelligence of yours to solve the problems of people in need."Clicking her tongue, Bulma had to take a deep breath to suppress the urge to lambast Vahn for his blatant teasing. If he would just bring the Dragon Balls directly to her, she could make her wish and be home by sunrise. Instead, he was insisting she go on a perilous journey that spanned days, if not weeks. Sure, she may have been the one to set out on this journey, but, as a man, shouldn't he feel some form of obligation towards her, a beautiful woman?("Chivalry really is dead...")With that thought now firmly cemented in her mind, Bulma began picking at her food like an ill-tempered child. The only difference was that she would take a bite every now and again, as, despite being on a diet, she simply couldn't resist the food Vahn had prepared.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'There are few things more terrifying than a delusional genius...','Vahn is like a ninehead...','Shenron is going to be sweating when he meets Vahn for the first time xD...')

With the sun gradually setting toward the horizon, Vahn looked toward the darkening sky and said, "It's getting late. We should probably make camp before it gets too dark."On that note, Vahn rose to his feet with the intention of pulling out a decently sized cottage from his Inventory. Bulma seemed to have something else in mind, however, as she immediately seized the opportunity to jump up and declare, "Leave it to me!" with a notably haughty smile on her face.Pulling out a bulletproof container filled with color-coded and differently sized capsules, Bulma selected one of the larger ones before saying, "Get a load of this."Clicking the button at the top of the capsule, Bulma tossed it towards a clearing a few meters away from the group's position. Seconds later, the capsule exploded with a force comparable to an anti-tank mine. There was also a bright flash of light and a large plume of peculiar orange smoke. When the smoke cleared, a hemispherical cottage with three compartments now occupied the previously empty space.With her arms akimbo and a cheeky smile on her face, Bulma was practically beaming as she asked, "Well, whaddya think? Pretty neat, huh?"Contrasting Bulma's expectations, Vahn and Sarina had relaxed smiles on their faces while Goku, thinking the capsule house was some kind of monster, whipped out the red pole on his back and shouted, "Everyone, stay behind me! I'll protect you from this beast...!"Though she was mildly annoyed by the indifferent expressions of Vahn and Sarina, an amused smile developed across Bulma's face when she heard Goku's words.("At least one of them is surprised...")"This isn't a beast, silly. It's one of the Capsule Homes my father developed. It's a fully furnished portable home with water, electricity, satellite television, a walk-in closet, and a fully stocked fridge. Pretty much everything a young girl needs when adventuring outside the city."Without waiting for Goku's response, Bulma made her way over to the reinforced metal door that served as the entrance to the Capsule Home. She hadn't mentioned it, but, other than the amenities she had pointed out, the Capsule Home also served as a miniature fortress. The inside resembled a normal house, complete with square rooms, while the outside was shaped like a dome. Said dome was almost entirely comprised of armored plating, and, more importantly, there was a transmitter in the roof that generated an EM field that deterred dinosaurs and other dangerous creatures.With a quick palm scan, a low mechanical hiss could be heard as the numerous locks on the door were promptly deactivated. Then, like a hostess trying to lure in customers, Bulma half-turned, a beaming smile on her face as she gestured towards the interior of the Capsule Home and said, "It might be a bit cramped for four people but there's a bath inside and plenty of space on the floor. I'm sure I have a futon or two stowed away in the closet."Amused by Bulma's 'thoughtfulness', a low chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as he said, "Thank you, Ms. Briefs, but I actually had something else in mind."Surprising even Sarina, Vahn snapped his fingers to produce an inn-sized cottage with three floors, a storage room, a workshop, and an annexed, open-air bath. It was a bit overkill, but, when it came to showing off, Vahn was no slouch.Since Bulma had so graciously offered her home to them, Vahn figured he might as well do the same, stating, "You're welcome to take a look inside. The bottom floor is structured similarly to a tavern but there are seven bedrooms located up the stairs. They might lack satellite TV, but, once you feel how comfortable the beds are, I doubt you'll mind."On that note, Vahn turned towards Goku, his expression softening as he said, "Come along, Goku. I'll show you how to use the bath and then we'll get you outfitted with some new clothes. While I'm certain that dark blue gi has some sentimental value, it could do with a good cleaning..."Though he had been ignoring it, Vahn was well aware of the foul odor emanating from Goku. The youth probably hadn't taken a bath since his Grandfather died. His body smelled like a fish market, and, unless he was mistaken, Vahn was pretty sure the original color of his gi was grey-blue. Now, however, it was a dark and grimy shade of blue that was quickly approaching black in the areas that accumulated sweat..."Sure thing, Uncle Vahn! Just let me say goodnight to my Grandpa real quick!"Without waiting for permission, Goku scampered over to the small hut that had once served as his Grandfather's home. This afforded Bulma the opportunity to tentatively inquire, "How...how did you produce a house out of thin air...?"Answering in Vahn's stead, Sarina stated, "I told you before. Vahn can do just about anything. The sooner you accept that the easier things will become."Smiling wryly in response to Sarina's words, Vahn extended his hand to caress the raven-haired teen's head as he appended, "The Universe is a truly vast, mysterious, and terrifying place, Bulma. Even Earth possesses countless secrets just waiting to be uncovered. The real question is, are you truly prepared to receive the answers you're looking for? Most people are a lot happier remaining completely ignorant of the world abroad...only those with the greatest of wills are qualified to peel back the veil and uncover the truth that lies beneath...""..."Staring into Vahn's abnormally deep yet vibrant eyes, Bulma had the uncanny impression she was staring into an endless well of knowledge. It was, if she were being completely honest, a little scary. At the same time, however, an excitement reminiscent of the first time she had built something was swelling from the depths of Bulma's psyche. She hadn't earned the distinction of being the smartest girl in the world by fearing the unknown, so, after a moment of consideration, she crossed her arms and adopted a confident smile as she retorted, "Who do you think you're talking to? I'm not some little girl you can frighten with scary stories. Everything has an explanation, and, so long as I live and breathe, I won't stop until I expose all the Universe's secrets!"Nodding his head in approval, Vahn's expression noticeably softened as he muttered, "Good. That's the correct way to live..."Hearing Vahn's deep yet velvety tone, a shiver ran through Bulma's body as her heart promptly skipped a beat. She was the type of girl that would mentally insert herself into romance flicks and dramas, so, having a handsome man staring at her with a 'smoldering' look on his face was a bit too much for Bulma to handle. Her knees felt wobbly, and, though it was quite warm outside, she felt a slight chill as the gentle summer breeze passed through her thighs and beneath her skirt.Unfortunately, just as Bulma's thoughts were beginning to take a rosy hue, her mind was brought crashing back to reality as Vahn softly teased, "When you're finished staring off into space, come inside. You'll need to rest your body and mind if you're serious about continuing your journey to find the Dragon Balls."Though her mind nearly fell into the gutter when she heard the phrase 'come inside', Bulma was able to conceal her slightly perverse nature behind a veil of fury as she groaned, "Uuuuugh...why'd you have to remind me? I'm still pissed off that you're making me go and search for the balls when you can just bring them here whenever you want. I know you want me to learn some kind of lesson but can't you make an exception, just this once? If you do, I promise to make it worth your while..."Unable to completely suppress her true nature, a lewd and somewhat silly smile developed across Bulma's face as she grabbed the hem of her pleated pink skirt and flared it provocatively. She didn't actually reveal the skirt's contents, but, against most men, even a flash of her milky white thighs was more than enough to get them drooling like dogs.As Bulma was rather infamous for taking advantage of and being exploited for her sexuality, Vahn wasn't particularly surprised by her behavior. Her original had even tried to convince Goku to part with his Dragon Ball by promising a flash of her panties. Less than three episodes later, she used a similar method to convince Master Roshi, but, due to a bit of mischief wrought by Goku, she ended up flashing a lot more than her panties...Surprising the precocious blunette quite a bit, Vahn adopted a teasing smile as he stated, "Trust me, Ms. Briefs, if something were to happen between us, it wouldn't be me receiving their while's worth. Now, unless you have something substantial to discuss, I have a little nephew to attend. Feel free to stop by my room if your curiosity gets the better of you."Punctuating his words with a playful wink, Vahn grabbed Sarina's hand before surprising the bright red blunette by promptly teleporting away. This left Bulma without an outlet, or, more accurately, a scapegoat to direct her embarrassment and frustration towards. As a result, she ended up burying her beet-red face into her hands, illusory steam rising from her head as she muttered, "What have I gotten myself into...?"......Though Bulma never came to his room, Vahn could sense that she was awake deep into the night. There was even a moment where she went around to every other room but his own, ostensibly in search of Sarina. When she failed to find her, Bulma ended up standing in the hallway connecting to his room for the better part of half an hour before ultimately returning to the 'comfort' of her own. There, she remained awake until around 2 AM before finally passing out thanks to a combination of mental fatigue and physical exhaustion.........With the dawn of a new day, Vahn took the time to help Sarina perform her morning routine before heading downstairs to prepare breakfast. The aroma of the food promptly roused Goku, who, after a thorough cleaning and a change of apparel, now resembled a bubbly youth with large, hazel eyes and a carefree smile limited only by the bounds of his face."Good morning, Uncle Vahn! Wow, something sure smells great!"Unable to restrain his curiosity, Goku leaped up to the counter to get a better look at the food Vahn was preparing. Under normal circumstances, Vahn wouldn't particularly mind this. In Goku's case, he understood the young Saiyan needed a guiding hand and a parental figure, so, with the shadow of a frown on his face, he said, "You shouldn't stand on the counter, Goku. We use such surfaces to cut and prepare ingredients. If they get dirty, there's a small chance that the food we prepare will make people sick. Have you ever had a stomach ache or experience diarrhea...?"Paling at the mention of the word, Goku promptly hopped from the counter before answering, "I used to get it a lot when I ate fish from the lake. There were even worms in my poop one time so I usually go fishing in the river or catch bears and rabbits in the woods"Raising his brows, Vahn set the stove to simmer before reaching out to place his palm on Goku's head. He hadn't noticed anything amiss the day before, but, hearing mention of worms, he couldn't help feeling slightly concerned. Fortunately, while there were signs of microscopic tearing in Goku's intestines, there were no parasites anywhere in his body.Though he didn't understand why Vahn had suddenly started to caress his head, Goku just smiled innocently as the tip of his monkey-like tail curled in contentedness. Vahn's actions reminded him of his Grandpa, so, while there were no guarantees they were related, the notion they were family was already firmly cemented in his mind.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Bulma be like, *smug cat*','Vahn be like, *himself*','Not all families are forged through blood relations...')

"That...that's impossible! How did you steal my balls!? Give them back right this instant...!"Completely forgetting that Vahn had also returned her radar, Bulma's anxiety shot up to an eleven the moment she saw the two and five-star Dragon Balls appear in his hand. She even attempted to snatch them back, but, the moment she moved forward, Vahn casually sidestepped her charge with the same relaxed smile he had been wearing from the start."Relax. If I needed something like wish-granting balls to make my dreams come true, I would never find fulfillment. Besides, you're mistaken if you believe the Dragon Balls belong to you. You neither created them nor have you collected them all. In fact, one such ball belongs to Goku. Depending on how things play out, the other balls may very well belong to others. Are you just going to take them for yourself...?"In spite of his words, Vahn returned the Dragon Balls to Bulma once he had finished analyzing their physical and spiritual structure. He didn't really need something like Dragon Balls to have his wishes granted, but, if he wanted to, he could produce a functionally infinite number of them so long as he was within the Actualized World. After all, the balls in Bulma's hands were, quite literally a very small part of his existence. It would be strange if he couldn't replicate something he had created...Seizing the glistening orange balls, Bulma took a moment to confirm the number of ruby-red stars floating in the center before exhaling a sigh of relief. Then, with an expression that was equal parts charming and ferocious, she glared towards Vahn and retorted, "What do you know? According to my research, no one has been able to make use of the Dragon Balls for nearly three hundred years. I'm the first person to develop the technology to locate them so I have every right to collect them. I mean, that's kind of the reason they exist."Rather than refute the emboldened teen's claims, Vahn nodded his head in affirmation. This came as a slight surprise to Bulma until he promptly replied, "You're not wrong. However, that isn't where your misunderstanding lies. You see, the purpose of the Dragon Balls is to pit the people who wish to claim them against one another. In other words, the moment you set out on your journey, you're bound to encounter others who wish to make use of them. Without the power to protect and make use of them, you are merely holding them for someone else..."Demonstrating his point, Vahn extended his hands to reveal the Dragon Balls Bulma had just put away. When she saw them, the incensed look on her face shifted from disbelief to helplessness as she extended her hands to grab the pair of gleaming orange orbs.Seizing the opportunity, Goku decided to chime in, answering, "Hey, Uncle Vahn. I have seen one of those balls. My Grandpa gave one to me before he died."Intending to teach Bulma a lesson, Vahn feigned surprise as he remarked, "Ah, I see. I imagine that makes the ball pretty important to you, isn't it?"Increasing Bulma's ever-growing exasperation, Goku adopted a remarkably wholesome smile as he answered, "That's right! Other than my Power Pole, it's the only thing my Grandpa left to me before he died. It's super, duper important~!"Hearing Goku's words, Bulma's mind kicked into overdrive. Unfortunately, Vahn had no intention of giving her time to think, asking, "Ms. Briefs, do you have any idea what happens to the Dragon Balls once their power has been expended?""Uh...I..."Without letting up, Vahn immediately followed his question by asking, "Better yet, do you think you would be able to 'steal' the ball from someone like Goku? How about from me...?"Dangling the two orbs yet again, Vahn was somewhat surprised when Bulma suddenly collapsed to the ground, tears welling in her eyes before she started crying full force.("I may have pushed her a little too far...")(*Well, she kind of deserved it.*)Unable to argue with that, Vahn teleported the two balls into Bulma's pouch before reaching up to grab Goku from his head. This earned him a confused look from the young Saiyan, but, borrowing a page from Grandpa Gohan's book, Vahn pinched the youth's cheek before whispering, "Girls can be pretty sentimental at times. Though you'll need to watch out for the ones that try to trick you, times like this require a gentle hand and some soothing words..."Demonstrating this 'wisdom', Vahn released Goku's cheek before kneeling in front of Bulma and placing his hand atop her head. Her crying didn't immediately cease, but, rather than bawling her eyes out, the two sapphirine orbs immediately turned to meet Vahn's gaze as he whispered, "It's going to be okay..."Though she felt compelled to argue, Bulma just sniffled a few times as Vahn continued to caress her head. By the time a minute had passed, the tears on her cheeks had started to dry up. In their place, a faint red hue began to spread as she averted her eyes and huffed, "Stop treating me like a child..."Maintaining his smile, Vahn fixed the bow atop Bulma's head before rising to his feet and extending a hand to help her up. This elicited an upturned glower from the embarrassed blunette, but, instead of refusing his assistance, she accepted his hand and grumbled, "At least he's not a complete jerk..." under her breath.........After a short journey through a small forest, Vahn and Co found themselves in a clearing housing a small hut. Though it was clearly the place Goku lived, the hut resembled an ancient Chinese Shrine rather than an abode. The foundation was a mere 4x4 meters, and, while there was a well located a short distance from the entrance, there were no visible electric or telephone lines.Voicing Vahn's thoughts, Bulma remarked, "Oh, wow. I never expected we'd come across a shrine in the middle of the mountains. I wonder which God it's dedicated to?"Confused by Bulma's words, Goku tilted his head to the side, asking, "God? What God? This place is my home."Though it should have been obvious from the start, Bulma was both surprised and taken aback by Goku's words. She had grown up in the most populous city on the entire planet. She couldn't even imagine anyone living without access to what she considered to be basic amenities. After all, even the Capsule Homes her father's company produced had wireless electricity and satellite TV. Living in a refurbished Shrine just seemed so...uncivilized...Seeing Bulma staring with her mouth agape, Goku just shrugged his shoulders before scampering forward to push open the turquoise double doors granting access to the hut. The interior, much like the outside, appeared old and worn down. As for the furnishings, the only things inside were an old, canopy-style bed, a low-lying red table, a large and dilapidated chest, and a broken jar that smelled of urea, feces, and mulch."Welcome to my home, everyone! Come on in."Without waiting for the others to respond, Goku entered the, for lack of a better term, cozy abode. Vahn followed close behind, but, due to the smell, even Sarina was somewhat reluctant to enter the poorly ventilated building. As for Bulma, she was in complete and utter disbelief until she noticed Goku bowing in front of the dilapidated chest."A Dragon Ball...!"Seemingly forgetting the events from earlier, Bulma attempted to charge into the hut only for Vahn to block her path. Then, before she could yell, he looked down at her, an easy feat considering the more than twenty-centimeter difference in their respective heights, whispering, "Stop...can't you see he's praying to his dead Grandfather? Show some respect..."Opening her mouth, Bulma wanted to say something, but, much like every other time Vahn had chided her, she simply couldn't find the words. After all, even if she wanted to argue, what could she say that wouldn't make her sound like an insensitive, borderline inhuman monster?Nodding his head in 'approval', Vahn turned away from Bulma to silently observe Goku's praying. His Grandfather, Gohan, was an exceptionally kind and caring man. The impact he had made on the lives of Goku and several others had changed the course of history for generations to come. In fact, were it not for his boundless patience and the unwavering kindness he displayed when adopting an alien child, Earth would have been destroyed the moment Goku matured..."I have good news, Grandpa. I met someone that might be my family. There are also two girls. One of them seems kind of mean but I don't think she's a bad person. Please continue watching over us so we can live happy and healthy lives..."Clapping his hands together, Goku ended his prayer with a happy smile on his face. Then, as if he had just remembered something important, his eyes widened as he shouted, "Oh, no! I forgot my fish!" in a panicked tone.While Bulma was brooding with a thoughtful expression on her face, Vahn couldn't help laughing in response to Goku's sudden outcry. He could tell the next couple of years were going to be very fun, so, in order to celebrate, he manifested a large table and four chairs outside before saying, "Leave that fish to the birds. Today is a special day so allow me to prepare a feast."Punctuating his words, Vahn pulled out a castiron long stove and several other cooking appliances from his Inventory. This earned a surprised yet enthusiastic, "Wow!" from Goku while Bulma, unable to believe her eyes, just stared blankly as Vahn began producing utensils and ingredients from thin air.Taking pity on the befuddled blunette, Sarina approached her with a friendly yet slightly wry smile as she said, "Don't worry, you'll get used to it pretty quickly. You just need to accept that Vahn can do just about anything. Trying to make sense of his powers will only leave you with a headache..."Though Sarina was tempted to state that people exponentially smarter than Bulma had attempted to understand Vahn's powers, she suspected that would only incentivize the blunette to try. While that wasn't exactly a bad thing, she didn't want Bulma to monopolize Vahn's time and interest. He was the type that liked to use his hands and tinker with things, so, unless he violated the rules they had established prior to entering the Actualized World, there was a chance he would spend weeks, months, or even years cooped up inside a workshop.Imagining a scenario where there were Companions running around with power on par with a God of Destruction, a sudden chill ran through Sarina's body. The notion might seem like complete and utter nonsense, but, just as she had informed Bulma, there were no limits to Vahn's ability to shatter expectations. He was, after all, the God of Infinite Possibilities...Noticing the awkwardness in Sarina's expression, countless questions appeared in Bulma's mind. If she were to take Sarina's words at face value, Vahn might as well be the legendary wish dragon she was attempting to summon. It would explain his ability to steal her Dragon Balls and manifest items out of thin air. Heck, it would even explain the advice he had given her about the true nature of the Dragon Balls...Shaking her head, Bulma promptly dismissed such thoughts as nonsense before meeting Sarina's gaze and saying, "I'll believe it when I see it. For now, there's something I wanted to ask you..."Raising her brows, Sarina prompted Bulma to continue with a slight nod. She had already prepared herself for all kinds of questions, so, assuming Bulma wanted to ask about her age and background, Sarina's smile visibly cramped when the petite blunette suddenly asked, "What's your bra size? I've never seen a girl around my age with such big and perky tits. I mean, be honest with me, are those things even real...?"(A/N: Bulma's height is 163cm and her three sizes are 85/58/84cm. Sarina's height is 165cm and her three sizes are 92/58/85cm. Sarina got some dohoonkabhankoloos.)......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn can't keep his hands off of Bulma's balls xD...','Grandpa Gohan raised a good kid','Massive tonhongerekoogers'...)

Chapter 4: Bitter Truths