EPIC Side Story: Dragon Ball

"Welcome to the Sage Dragon's Respite, my chelonian friend."Emerging from the kitchen alongside Sarina and Goku, Vahn decided upon a random name as he greeted the weary-looking sea turtle. In response, it returned a friendly smile as it asked, "Pardon me, kind sir, but do you perhaps have any saltwater? I don't have any money-"Holding up his hand, Vahn maintained a relaxed smile as he explained, "The Sage Dragon's Respite exists at the crossroads of fate. For those fated to discover it, everything within is free of charge."Shifting his gaze towards Sarina, Vahn nodded towards the bucket in her hands. In response, she adopted a smile of her own as she went forward, half-tilting the metal pale as she said, "Feel free to drink your fill, little guy."Though he was suddenly seized by the notion that the Sage Dragon's Respite was a mysterious and potentially dangerous place, Turtle was far too exhausted to refuse their kindness. It had been days since he last had something to drink, so, without any hesitation whatsoever, he used his left flipper to support the bucket before drinking half its contents in a single go.Exhaling a contented and relieved sigh, Turtle set the bucket upright before returning his gaze to Vahn and remarking, "That is easily the second-best saltwater I've ever sampled. Thank you very much."Raising his brows, Vahn asked, "Oh? You've actually had something better...?"Nodding his head in affirmation, Turtle explained, "There was a magical wellspring located near the beach I hatched on. While my other brothers and sisters swam out into the sea, I ended up getting swept away by a current and carried to the interior of a small island. The waters there are one of the reasons I'm able to talk like this, so, while the quality of your saltwater might be higher, nothing can compare to the taste of home."Unable to argue with the turtle's logic, Vahn nodded his head in approval before sitting down on the floor and asking, "So, what brings a sea turtle so far inland? You're a long way from any small islands, friend."With the smile promptly fading from his face, a melancholic expression quickly took its place as Turtle explained, "To make a very long story short, I'm lost. I've been trying to find my way back to the sea for more than a year now but the only river I found ended up feeding into a lake instead of the ocean. I was hoping you and your friends might be willing to help."Though he was obviously going to help Turtle find his way to the sea, Vahn looked to Sarina and Goku before answering. He was bound to dictate a lot of events moving forward, but, when it came down to it, this was ultimately their journey. If he started taking proactive action, most of the major threats in the Universe would be dealt with over the course of weeks and months rather than years.Surprised the Vahn had looked towards her, a befuddled, "Hmm...?" emanated from Sarina's throat as she wondered what he wanted. It was only when the smile on Vahn's face turned wry that she understood his intentions, a faint blush spreading through her cheeks as she averted her eyes and said, "Of course we'll help..."Nodding his head in agreement, Goku thumped his chest and stated, "That's right! Grandpa always told me that the strong should help those in need! I don't know what this sea thing is, but I'm sure Uncle Vahn can help you find it...!"Though he had little to no understanding regarding the events that had transpired the last twenty-four hours, the one thing Goku was absolutely certain of was that Vahn was a good person. He also seemed to know a lot of things. The location of the sea had to be one of them.Taking advantage of the fact he was already sitting down, Vahn gestured Goku to come over so that he could ruffle the young Saiyan's hair. At the same time, a lighthearted smile developed across his face as he said, "Your Grandpa was a wise man..." before shifting his attention to Turtle and adding, "Once we've finished with lunch, we'll escort you directly to the sea."Like a death row inmate who had just had their sentence annulled, an expression of incomparable relief appeared on Turtle's face as the tensions drained from his body. Then, as if he was suddenly a few hundred years young, he raised his head to respond with an invigorated, "Thank you! I can't tell you how much this means to me. I honestly thought I was going to die once I found myself lost in a mountain range..."As turtles were a delicacy all over the world, Turtle was right to be fearful of being trapped inland. If a group of bandits or something like a dinosaur had discovered him, a swift and painless death was the best he could hope for. People could be exceptionally cruel to animals they denoted as prey, so, the moment they discovered he was a magical turtle who could speak, there was a high probability that they would demand something along the lines of wishes before boiling him alive or harvesting his organs to make medicine...Having devoured quite a number of turtles in his life, Vahn could understand Turtle's concerns even without the elderly chelonian voicing them. As a result, he ended up extending his hand to pat the leathery creature on the top of his head. This confused Turtle quite a bit at first, but, feeling the calming energy flowing through his body, it wasn't long before his expression relaxed into a smile."Huh? Where'd you find a sea turtle this far inland? Those things are pretty rare even in the ocean."Emerging after more than twenty minutes in the bathroom, Bulma was surprised to see Vahn sitting in front of one of the most endangered species on the planet. Sea turtles and pretty much all other forms of shelled chelonians had always been revered for their longevity. People believed they could be used to make all kinds of elixirs and medicines, so, with the exception of a few captive breeding populations, the majority of wild turtle species had been pushed to the brink of extinction.Retracting his hand from Turtle's head, Vahn rose to his feet before explaining the situation. He also brought out a few of the dishes he had prepared, as, despite being an extrovert ever since Chloe had helped to break him out of his shell, Vahn had never been fond of standing around and talking. Conversations were best had during or after a meal, so, after inviting Turtle to join them, he created a spread from his Inventory before enjoying a nice, long, and relaxing brunch.........Since he needed the training, Vahn had Goku carry Turtle on his back during their short journey to the sea. The additional weight reduced his speed by quite a bit but they were still able to reach the beach in just under two hours."Here you go, Mr. Turtle. Try not to get eaten by any big fish, okay...?"As the sea was larger than any body of water he had ever seen, Goku couldn't help thinking that the fish within were even larger than the massive fish he frequently had for dinner. He was right, of course, but Turtle was a lot less vulnerable in water than on land. His magical abilities allowed him to glid through the water at supersonic speeds beneath the ocean, so, unless he dropped his guard, he could easily outmaneuver most other underwater creatures."Thank you, Goku. Thank you, Vahn. You may very well have saved this poor turtles life. For that, you have my endless gratitude.""Hey, what about us? We helped out as well."Shifting his attention to Bulma, Turtle understood exactly who Goku had been referring to when he said one of Vahn's companions was annoying. Bulma hadn't actually contributed anything, yet, as if she had been the one to carry him all this way, she expected gratitude by association.Having lived for nearly a thousand years, Turtle was well aware with the temperamental nature of many women, so, after a moment of silence, he said, "You didn't let me finish. I was going to thank you for the fun conversation during lunch and Ms. Sarina for the saltwater. I'm just a little slow due to being a turtle and all..."Feeling a little guilty, a wry smile developed across Bulma's face as she said, "Sorry about that. I've never been known for my patience. I should probably work on it..."Punctuating her remark with a self-deprecating laugh, Bulma briefly shifted her gaze to Vahn. In response, he simply returned one of his characteristically carefree smiles. This caused her to feel even more embarrassed. Fortunately, just as she felt as though everyone was silently judging her, Turtle spoke out, saying, "Oh, it's not a problem. You're still young, after all. It's okay to be a little brash and impatient so long as you learn from it. Now, if the four of you are willing to wait, there is someone I want you to meet. He's an old friend of mine and should be more than willing to reward you for your troubles."On that note, Turtle raised his flipper as a gesture of farewell before swimming out into the sea. His departure was relatively slow at first, but, the moment he reached deep waters, a hazy green aura covered his body as he zipped through the water like a submarine on steroids. Only Vahn was able to perceive this but it was still pretty interesting.Not believing for a moment that Turtle would actually return, Bulma mutter a silent, "Well, there he goes..." before looking towards Vahn and asking, "What now...?"Just as he had when Turtle asked, Vahn shifted his attention to Sarina to see what she had to say. In response, a wide smile developed across her face as she suggested, "I think we should stick around. This is actually my first time visiting the beach so I wouldn't mind going for a swim and trying out a tanned look."Reinforcing her statement, Sarina used her [REquip] System to change into a rather peculiar-looking bikini with a black base and white frills. A ruddy hue immediately colored her cheeks, but, instead of behaving bashfully, she punctuated her words by grabbing Vahn's arm and adding, "Help me apply sunscreen." with an embarrassed yet visibly excited look on her face.Returning a smile of his own, Vahn made a casual gesture with his left hand that caused several beach chairs, a large parasol, several coolers, and an oversized grill to appear out of thin air.With the exception of his bedroom and workshop, the beach was inarguably Vahn's favorite place to visit. The beauty of his women in swimsuits had a lot to do with this, but, more than that, he just liked being around the water, cutting loose, and relaxing. Thus, ever since his relatively brief stay in the Akamatsuverse, Vahn had always carried the supplies for a beach getaway in his Inventory.........After traveling hundreds of kilometers in only a few minutes, Turtle reached the edge of a small island located in an abnormally calm section of the sea. There, taking up nearly half the island, a pink, two-story house with the words 'Kame House' printed in bright blue letters could be seen.Sensing Turtle's arrival, an old man wearing a Hawaiian-esque, orange t-shirt and a pair of baggy white shorts rose from his position on a tattered-looking lawn chair. He was relatively short at only 165cm tall, and, due to his poor posture, he appeared even shorter. His bald head glistened like the bright orange orb dangling from his neck while his eyes, veiled by oversized sunglasses, sharpened for a brief moment before relaxing as he recognized the intruder's identity.Stroking his bushy white beard and mustache, the elderly man smiled as he said, "Why, if it isn't Turtle. Where have you been these past couple of months? I was starting to get worried."Returning a smile of his own, Turtle dragged his body towards the old man as he answered, "It's good to see you, Master Roshi. Though I'm ashamed to admit it, I got lost after leaving one of my friend's birthday parties. Fortunately, a mysterious man and an exceptionally kind young boy gave me a hand and guided me back to the sea. If you're not too busy, I'd like you to meet them. They didn't ask for one but I believe they deserve a reward.""Hmm...very well, then. Take me to this mysterious man and his young friend."As he was actually bored out of his mind, Master Roshi didn't mind stepping away from his tiny and extremely remote island to reward a group of promising youngsters. Kindness was a rare trait these days, so, as one of the strongest, oldest, and wisest men on the planet, he had a moral obligation to reward those who demonstrated it without ulterior motives. Who knows? He may even find himself a new student...With that in mind, Master Roshi picked up his club-like staff before donning a remarkably heavy, turtle-like shell and making his way over to stand on Turtle's back. This caused the aged chelonian to grunt, but, having served as one of Master Roshi's mounts for the better part of a hundred and fifty years, he was pretty accustomed to the old man's weight.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Humans can be remarkably self-serving...','If I had a harem of 100+ God-tier beauties, I would probably enjoy the beach as well...','Master Roshi is going to react like Sanji after his training arc once he sees Bulma and Sarina in their bikinis xD...')

With Goku catching fish in the sea and Bulma getting changed in her Capsule House, Vahn took a moment to honor Sarina's 'request' by starting with the front of her body. This involved removing her top, having her lie down, and straddling her thighs. Was this completely necessary? Of course not. Sarina had just become a little voyeuristic and accustomed to teasing as a result of her time in the Loki Familia..."Mmm...I may have made a slight mistake in your transmigration. Your breasts are a bit larger than I remember..."Though he would never make such a mistake, Vahn knew Sarina had a moderate obsession with the size of her breasts. She believed they made her appear mature and attractive, so, even if it was just lip service, Vahn made sure to comment on them whenever the opportunity presented itself...With a fierce blush on her face, Sarina's eyes were focused on the Capsule House in the distance as she resisted the urge to squeal and moan under Vahn's persistent ministrations. When she heard his comment, her already stiffening nipples became completely rigid as she instinctually closed her legs in an attempt to rub her thighs together.Squeezing his knees together to prevent Sarina's hips from wiggling about, Vahn briefly massaged her belly before moving to her breasts and allowing his subtly luminous, lotion-covered fingers to sink into the indescribably soft mounds of flesh. Then, without going out of his way to directly tease her nipples, he massaged and kneaded the mochi-like mounds until they were glistening with a thin yet thorough oil covering."I'd say that about does it for your front. Flip over so I can do your backside..."Willfully choosing words that could be misconstrued, Vahn was unsurprised to feel a powerful and expectant shudder run through Sarina's body. Doggy style was her preferred position when it came to rough and intense sex as she liked to have her breasts dangle and sway with the impact of each thrust. The only position she preferred, even more, was the standard missionary as it allowed her to lock her legs and arms around Vahn's body as they kissed and made slow and passionate love...Seemingly forgetting that Vahn was supposed to be applying lotion to her skin, Sarina didn't simply flip over in response to his words. Instead, she habitually got on her hands and knees, a dazed and somewhat intoxicated expression on her face as she playfully swayed her hips.As tempting as the offer was, Vahn ultimately just massaged Sarina's soft yet muscular bottom for a bit before reminding her they were currently at the beach. This caused the impassioned look on her face to transition to one of confusion, as, more often than not, Vahn would simply slow or stop time so they could do it when and wherever.Understanding Sarina's confusion, Vahn allowed the thumb of his right hand to slip beneath the fabric of her bikini, gently tracing the sensitive skin that had been cut into by the elastic band as he reminded, "We agreed that I wouldn't use my authority over Time during our stay. If you want to be able to 'play around' whenever you want, you'll need to master the ability yourself."Punctuating his words with a very light smack to Sarina's bottom, Vahn was able to inhibit the plea forming at the tip of her tongue. She was too used to being able to do it whenever she wanted, so, now that she had asked him to spend the next thirty-odd years training her, Vahn was going to use sex as a tool to motivate her. If she wanted to be able to have sex whenever she wanted, she would need to master time and space abilities as well...Though a wave of anxiety briefly washed over her body, Sarina quelled her impassioned state pretty quickly when Goku suddenly emerged from the sea with a bus-sized shark in tow, shouting, "Uncle Vahn! Sarina! Look what I caught~!"As Sarina promptly descended to the beached towel to cover her breasts, Vahn half-turned to wave at Goku, replying, "Nice catch, Goku! Go ahead and place it next to the grill. Once I'm finished here, I'll start cooking.""Okay~!"Without even suspecting that Vahn and Sarina might have been doing something naughty, Goku dragged the 1500kg fish over to the grill. This actually confused Vahn a bit, as, in the version of Dragon Ball he was most familiar with, Goku and Krillin had struggled to train with 40-100kg turtle shells during their training with Master Roshi. In spite of this, Goku's initial encounter with Bulma showed him dragging a giant fish that was easily four meters in length and well over 800kg...Shaking his head, Vahn chalked it up to the existence of Laws he wasn't intimately familiar with. For all he knew, Goku was simply at his most powerful when it came to the procurement of food. If he didn't have more important matters at hand, Vahn might have pulled out his Scouter to check.........After failing to get Vahn to fork over one of the [REquip] Systems, Bulma was in a huff as she went through more than a dozen different swimsuits, complaining, "No, no, no! None of these are even half as sexy as what that woman was wearing! I could have sworn there was a micro bikini in here somewhere...!"Though she normally wouldn't even consider aiming for a man that was already in a relationship, Vahn's behavior and Sarina's words made it pretty obvious they weren't against the idea. If not for the fact she was uncomfortable with the notion of sharing her man with another, Bulma might have already jumped off into the deep end. Instead, she was determined to at least try and steal Vahn for herself...Just as she was about to give up, a flash of camo appeared in the corner of Bulma's vision. This was exactly what she was looking for. Unfortunately, only the top could be found amongst the veritable mountain of clothes that dominated nearly half of her walk-in closet.Tearing away at the mountain of clothes in futility, Bulma's frustration grew until she shouted, "Ugh! Why do I even have all these clothes in the first place!? I can never find what I'm looking for...!"With yet another reason to secure and market the [REquip] System, Bulma decided to forgo the complete outfit and improvise. She was quite confident in her appearance, so, instead of fretting over the pieces that were missing, she sorted through a few different bottoms before settling on a pair of compression shorts that resembled jeans.To complete the outfit, Bulma attached a green Hoi-Poi Capsule Holster to her right thigh and a band-strap for a hunting knife to her left. Then, as she had absolutely no intention of getting in the water, she donned a pair of standard-issue combat boots. She had always been fond of firearms, so, despite sanctions that prevented civilians from purchasing military equipment, Bulma had a large collection of authentic goods that ranged from pistols to literal tanks.Being the daughter of the richest man in the world had its perks.After checking herself out in the mirror for the better part of ten minutes, Bulma pulled at the trim of her shorts until the fabric at the back was thoroughly wedged between her pert and perky butt. It was more than a little uncomfortable, but, when it came to impressing and poaching men, sacrifices had to be made.Finally satisfied with the way she looked, Bulma gave her right cheek a light smack as she remarked, "I'd like to see him remain calm when he gets an eyeful of this..."Recalling the nigh perennial mask of calm on Vahn's face, a determined look flashed across Bulma's face as a stubborn resolution formed in her heart. Her target might be a God but that didn't mean she was just going to bend the knee and worship the ground he walked on. No. He had come here for her. That was proof enough that he was drawn to her beauty and intelligence. She might not be able to get him to fawn over her like the other idiots eager to get in her pants but that wasn't going to stop her from taking charge and seizing the reins in their relationship. She might enjoy showing off and flaunting her appearance but she was no one's trophy.After repeating the mantra in her mind more than a dozen times, Bulma was able to suppress her anxiety long enough to depart the Capsule House. In total, it had taken her more than an hour to change. Vahn had long finished applying Sarina's lotion, so, while the latter was tanning on one of the beach chairs, the former was hard at work preparing and cooking the veritable mountain of fish Goku had procured.Seizing the opportunity, Bulma sauntered over to Vahn with a trepidatious yet excited smile on her face. Her intention was to approach him from behind and jump on his back in a manner that would have pinned her breasts firmly against him. Before she could cover even half the distance, however, Bulma's pace gradually slowed to a stop as the diameter of her eyes gradually increased."Was he always this hot...?"Having only ever looked at Vahn's face previously, Bulma was genuinely surprised to see how toned his body was without a shirt on. She had never seen someone with such a well-defined yet compact physique. It was like every part of his body had been sculpted to perfection. If Bulma hadn't already come to terms with the fact that Vahn was a God, his physique would have been more than enough proof. There was no way a human could possess such features...Sensing Bulma's gaze, a teasing smile developed across Vahn's face as he looked over his shoulder. This caused the buxom blunette to freeze like a startled deer caught in headlights. Fortunately, just as Bulma was beginning to regret trying to show off, Vahn casually remarked, "You look even more amazing than expected. That outfit really suits you."Feeling the tensions drain away from her body, a gratified smile developed across Bulma's face as she habitually combed through her hair and asked, "Do you mean it? You're not just saying that to try and make me feel better, right?"Maintaining a relaxed smile, Vahn shook his head before turned back to the grill and answering, "I may embellish things but I never tell lies. You should trust in the confidence that compelled you to choose such an outfit. You are a remarkably beautiful woman, Bulma..."Hearing Vahn addressing her by name rather than referring to her as Ms. Briefs, an indescribably fluttery feeling spread through Bulma's chest as her heart began palpitating like a forty-year-old diabetic. She had never thought that hearing her name could sound so pleasant. In fact, prior to this exact moment, she had actually preferred Vahn referring to her Ms. Briefs as his voice made everything he said sound polite and sincere...Feeling uncharacteristically bashful, Bulma began as she averted her eyes, cupped her flaring cheeks, and remarked, "You're way too good at this..." before summoning up the courage to ask, "Okay, Mr. God...if you always tell the truth, then answer me this...did you come to Earth with the intention of getting into my pants...?"Setting aside the metal spatula he had been using to flip fish patties, Vahn half-turned to look at Bulma before answering, "My reasons for coming here are exactly as I stated previously. However, I won't deny that the thought has crossed my mind. If it hadn't, I wouldn't have left my door open for you..."Though she already expected such a response, the complexion of Bulma's face became even redder as the image of Vahn's toned yet muscular figure appeared in her mind. She had thought about him quite a bit the previous night, but, now that she knew what he looked like beneath his shirt, she had a much clearer image to work with. It was kind of scary, but, at the same time, she would be the one lying if she said she wasn't interested...Lowering her hands, Bulma forced herself to meet Vahn's gaze as she said, "Hey...why don't we-"Interrupting Bulma's poorly considered proposition, Goku emerged from the sea, shouting, "Uncle Vaaaahn! Look over there! Mr. Turtle's come back and he's brought an old man with him...!"......(A/N: Alternate Titles: '(O w O)...','The downside to having functionally infinite wealth and being a hoarder...','Bulma's route was 99% complete the moment she saw Vahn's body xD...')

With Goku setting a pace of about 80km/h, Sarina had little trouble running alongside him as Vahn and Bulma rode along their flanks.After coming to terms with the fact that Vahn could move to the other side of the planet in less time than it took to blink, Bulma wasn't even surprised by Goku's and Sarina's ability to match the pace of motor vehicles. She found it difficult to believe she could ever do the same, but, with no interest in martial arts, she wasn't particularly bothered by the notion. Instead, she turned on the radio so that the duo would having something to listen to as she stared listlessly at the road ahead..."This is so boring..."Not expecting anyone to hear her utterance over the sound of two engines, Bulma was surprised when Vahn remarked, "Boring is good. It means you want for nothing and have the leeway to let your mind wander. If you were starving, injured, or at imminent risk, you wouldn't feel bored..."Scrunching her brows and nose, Bulma half-turned to ask, "Do you always lecture people like an old man? Just how old are you, anyway? Your appearance would leave me to believe you're in your late twenties but your temperament reminds me of an old professor."As he was an ageless being whose age had technically reset the moment he reincarnated, Vahn simply smiled in response to Bulma's words, asking, "How old do you want me to be...?"Confused by Vahn's words, Bulma was about to ask him to clarify when Vahn beat her to the punch, his appearance reverting to a point where he could easily pass as a Second or Third Grade student in Senior High. (A/N: Approximately 16-17-years-old.)Just as an excited flush began to spread through Bulma's cheeks, Vahn did the complete opposite of his transformation. He didn't take it nearly as far as when he first entered the Tower, but, with a full beard and a few silver strands in his hair, he could easily pass as a tenured professor in his late forties."Age is a transient concept that holds very little meaning to those who possess true power. Even a relatively normal human being such as yourself could effectively live forever if you used the Dragon Balls. As for my actual age..."Recalling that he had experienced the lifecycle of a cosmos and possessed memories related to the creation of numerous metaversal structures, a thoughtful glimmer flashed across Vahn's eyes as he said, "I'm somewhere between seven hundred and thirty-seven-billion years old...?"Slamming on the brakes the moment she heard Vahn's words, Bulma nearly flipped her motorcycle as she parroted, "Thirty-seven-billion!? That's older than the entire Universe!"Circling back and setting his hoverbike down next to Bulma, Vahn maintained a carefree expression as he said, "You're not wrong. In fact, this Universe is a lot younger than your Scientists believe. I'm not sure of its exact age, but it should be around a hundred million years or so? Time can be pretty janky at times..."Cradling the sides of her head, Bulma appeared to be having a minor existential crisis as she leaned forward and muttered, "Calm down, Bulma. He's probably just teasing you. I mean, what would that even make him...?"Responding to Bulma's impromptu soliloquy, Vahn answered, "My two most prominent titles are the Sage Dragon Emperor and the God of Infinite Possibilities. I have quite a number of additional titles but they're not all that important at the present moment."Raising her head, Bulma met Vahn's gaze, her sapphirine eyes quivering as she asked, "So, you're a God? Like, for real...?"Nodding his head in affirmation, Vahn figured the best way to prove his claim was to perform a feat that simply couldn't be explained away by conventional reasoning. More specifically, he reached his hand up towards the Sun before twisting his hand in a counter-clockwise motion. To Bulma's horror, the Sun simply flickered out before he lowered his hand to reveal a golfball-sized star.With her eyes nearly popping out of her head, Bulma screamed, "Oh my God! Is that the Sun!? Put it back...!"Amused by Bulma's exaggerated yet wholly justified reaction, a soft chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as he tossed the tiny orb skyward. From the perspective of others, it appeared to vanish the moment it left his hand, but, thanks to the Law of Perspective working in his favor, Vahn was able to return it to its proper position. As for the side effects of removing a planetary system's sun? He just 'erased' them from the causal chain.Though she exhaled a sigh of relief upon seeing the Sun in its rightful position, Bulma was far from calm. Her rational mind was telling her to remain skeptical, but, as the radio station was currently blaring the Emergency Broadcast Signal, there was quite a bit of evidence to support Vahn's claim of Godhood.With one question sticking out among the countless that had pervaded her mind, Bulma asked, "Why are you here...?" in an audibly trepidatious tone.Caressing his nonexistent beard, Vahn assumed a thoughtful pose as he considered the best way to answer Bulma's question. In the end, a distinctly appreciative smile developed across his face as he pointed between her and Goku, answering, "My underlying purpose is to train and spend time with Sarina. As for why we're here, it's because fate and circumstance have brought us together. I would like to go into greater detail, but, for the time being, you'll have to be content with the knowledge that we're your friends. More accurately, we'd like to be."Covering her eyes and squeezing her temples with her right hand, Bulma took a time out to process Vahn's words. If she forced herself to think objectively, this was actually a positive development. The notion of having a God as a friend was completely outlandish, but, so long as she played her cards right, she should be able to benefit in the long run. In fact, if she took Vahn up on his previous offer, she might even be able to net herself a literal God as a boyfriend...Excited by the prospect, a moderately unsettling smile developed across Bulma's face as she briefly toyed with the notion of becoming a Goddess. After all, if she and Vahn became a couple, wasn't it only natural that he grant her things like immortality and eternal youth? He could produce objects out of thin air and even pluck the Sun from the sky. Helping her preserve her appearance should be relatively simple.As if she hadn't been having a mental breakdown moments prior, Bulma spontaneously crossed her arms beneath her breasts, a confident and proud expression on her face as she said, "Of course I'll be your friend! Who am I to refuse a God? I mean, the two of you came all this way just to become friends with me, right? Who could have guessed that my genius-level intellect and peerless beauty could even captivate the Gods~?"With an expression remarkably similar to Luvia's, the only things Bulma needed to complete the image were golden drill tails and an excessively haughty laugh. As for Goku? He was just staring blankly at the side, his hazel-brown eyes focusing on a butterfly flittering around in the distance.("This kid is a half-step away from Nirvana...")Amused by his own thoughts, an amused yet affectionate developed across Vahn's face. Bulma immediately misunderstood this, her own smile growing to the point it was beginning to strain the muscles in her cheeks. She had always been proud of her intellect and looks. Having a literal God recognize them caused her to feel giddy to her core.Realizing she had misunderstood something the moment he saw the look on Bulma's, the edges of Vahn's smile curled upward as he promptly decided against correcting it. Instead, he proposed, "It's getting pretty close to lunchtime. Since we've already stopped, how about we take a break? I'll cook something tasty and invigorating."Hearing Vahn mention food, focus immediately returned to Goku's eyes as he jumped into the air and shouted, "Alright! Now you're speaking my language~!" in an excessively eager tone.Seizing the opportunity Goku's outburst had afforded him, Vahn brought out a much smaller hut than the inn-sized cottage he had used the day prior. From the outside, it resembled a traditional, open-air noodle bar. As for the interior, it resembled a high-quality Japanese restaurant that could easily seat more than a hundred people without crowding issues."Holy cow..."Following Vahn into the interior, Bulma was both surprised and slightly relieved to experience yet another thing that defied common sense. She was now starting to grasp why Sarina had basically told her to just give up and accept the things Vahn did. She was also starting to understand why Vahn had refused so many of her questions the previous night. As a God, there were probably a bunch of rules he had to follow. If there weren't, what could possibly prevent him from just doing whatever he wanted?"Go ahead and make yourselves comfortable. Bathrooms are on the far left and there's a decently sized arcade located in the back. Food'll be out in a few minutes."Though he could easily just will food into existence, the only time Vahn abstained from cooking was when Rindo cooked for him. It was still one of his favorite pastimes, so, while Bulma went to freshen up in the bathroom, both he and Sarina entered the kitchen. He had been teaching her how to cook even prior to their descent into the Actualized World. Now that they were going to be spending the next thirty-odd years together, he had every intention of turning her into a God-tier chef.........Noticing a building appearing out of thin air, an extremely weary-looking figure began a slow and gradual crawl towards it with a fatigued yet hopeful expression on their face. It had been more than a year since they last encountered another person, so, hoping the people inside could render their assistance, the figure forced their tired limbs to carry them towards the remarkably fragrant stall.........Raising his brows, Vahn briefly sent his intent to the outside before smiling as he said, "Sarina, can you prepare a bucket of iced water with salt? It appears we'll be having another guest for lunch..."Though she was momentarily surprised by Vahn's words, it only took a moment for Sarina to nod her head and answer, "Sure thing. Where can-"Before she could finish her question, a bucket appeared on the counter next to Sarina. A wry smile immediately developed across her face, but, instead of asking why Vahn didn't just create a bucket with saltwater, she quickly retrieved a hose before doing as instructed. It was better not to question Vahn's reasoning, as, more often than not, you would find yourself feeling rather silly when he gave you a very simple and straightforward response.........While Sarina was pondering the mysteries of Vahn's mind, Goku was the first to notice the arrival of their guest. More specifically, a look of confusion marred his face when a large, sundried sea turtle flopped through the entrance. When it saw Goku, a look of relief flashed across the creature's eyes as it asked, "Young man, are there any adults present...?"Though he was marginally surprised by the fact the predominately brown creature could speak, a friendly smile immediately developed across Goku's face as he replied, "Sure are. My Uncle Vahn is in the kitchen with his lady friend. There is also another girl in the bathroom but I don't think you'd want to talk to her. She's kind of annoying."Relieved to hear there were some adults present, the inordinately large sea turtle exhaled a sigh before perking up quite a bit as he asked, "Can you get them for me? I'm exhausted after a long journey and could use some rest."Hopping from the chair he had been seated on, Goku's thumped his chest like a boy scout as he answered, "No problem! Leave it to me~!" before scampering toward the kitchen. In response, a remarkably human smile developed across the turtle's face as he remarked, "What a kind young man..."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Ah, yes, the classic yoink and yeet. Assert that dominance, Vahn xD...','Bulma be like, "This is okay..."','Turtle Soup anyone...?')

Chapter 10: Crossroads of Fate