EPIC Side Story: Dragon Ball

Anticipating Master Roshi's arrival, Sarina wrapped her body in a beige and brown shawl before joining Vahn, Goku, and Bulma near the shoreline. This was immediately noticed by Bulma, who, trusting her instincts, asked, "Hey, Vahn. Can you whip up a jacket or something for me to wear? Old men with shades have wandering eyes..."Though he had actually been intending to mess with Master Roshi a bit, Vahn didn't even hesitate to whip out a jacket to go with Bulma's outfit. If she didn't want to be gawked at, going out of his way to allow it to happen wasn't in line with his character. Rather, as she clearly only wanted to be seen by him, at least for the time being, he had an obligation to protect her from others.Seeing that Vahn had produced a pilot's jacket that perfectly complemented her outfit, Bulma's face practically lit up. She would have settled for just about anything, but, as a woman who took pride in her appearance, she would much rather have something fashionable than tacky."Thanks. I would have preferred a [REquip] System but I suppose this'll do for now."Donning the perfectly tailored jacket, the smile on Bulma's face became even more prominent as the notion she would no longer have to purchase clothes or visit a Tailor briefly crossed her mind. She might enjoy shopping, but, if given the option, she would much rather stay home and work on her inventions. Being the most prominent socialite in West City was incredibly stressful...Smiling wryly in response to Bulma's remark, Vahn resisted the urge to caress her head as he shifted his attention towards the old man approaching them atop Turtle's back. In response, Master Roshi immediately raised his hand in greeting, shouting, "Hey there! You four must be the kind folks that helped my good friend, Turtle! The name's Master Roshi! Nice to meet you!"Returning the old man's gesture, Vahn stepped out ahead of the group just as Master Roshi jumped into the air. The presence of two beautiful women had compelled him to show off, so, while Turtle continued to approach the shore normally, Master Roshi flipped through the air with the finesse of a gymnast before landing softly in front of Vahn's group.Never one to shy away when she had something on her mind, Bulma immediately piped up, asking, "Master Roshi? I'll admit, you're pretty spry for an old man but isn't it a little arrogant to go around introducing yourself Master?"Rather than taking offense to Bulma's words, Master Roshi maintained a friendly smile as he stroked his beard. Turtle had told him all about Vahn and his party during their trip, so, while he would have normally bemoaned her lack of respect, he instead focused on Vahn, asking, "Young man, are you a martial artist? Your balance is impeccable and your physique demonstrates your extraordinary level of commitment. How about a little spar...?"Thinking he would open Vahn's eyes to heights unreachable through conventional training, Master Roshi was surprised when the former shook his head, a casual smile on his face as he said, "Though I appreciate your intentions, my level is a bit too high for the standards of this world. Why not have a training bout with this little fellow? I'm sure he would benefit quite a bit from the teachings of his Master's Master...""Master's Master...?"Shifting his attention to Goku, a look of realization briefly flashed across Roshi's face as he noticed the former's tail. He had never actually seen Goku, but, as the Master of Gohan, he had heard quite a bit about the troubled boy his 'young' disciple had found in the mountains."Of my two living disciples, only one of them has mentioned a young boy with a monkey tail. You must be Son Goku, Gohan's Grandson."Surprised to hear Roshi mention his Grandpa, Goku's expression lit up as he asked, "You knew my Grandpa!?"Stroking his beard, Roshi's smile became reminiscent as he answered, "Know him? Of course, I know him. I was the one who taught him martial arts some sixty years ago. Tell me, how is your Grandpa these days? I haven't heard from him in years."Though a hint of melancholy bled into his expression, Goku retained a smile as he said, "Grandpa died a few years ago. I'm sorry I wasn't able to tell you sooner."Hanging his head a nearly inaudible sigh escaped through Roshi's nose. This wasn't the first time he had outlived one of his students. Gohan was just one of the ones he was most proud of, so, hearing about his death, Roshi couldn't help wishing the 'youth' had accepted his offer when he revealed to him the truth of his biological immortality..."No need to apologize, my boy. In fact, I should be the one saying sorry. As Gohan's Grandson, it should have been my responsibility to take you in. At the very least, I should have paid you a visit to make sure everything was okay..."Though he had isolated himself from the rest of the world for a number of reasons, Roshi couldn't help lamenting at times like this. Unfortunately, the only medicine for regret was letting things go and doing your best to move forward. Gohan wouldn't have wanted people to mourn him. He was the kind of man that believed death should be celebrated. Not for the event itself, but for the glory of the life that preceded it.As Goku was the living embodiment of everything his former student stood for, Roshi's expression gradually solidified into a serious, battle-hardened expression as he added, "Very well. Now that it's come to this, I want you to show me everything your Grandfather has taught you. As a student of my student, I have an obligation to correct your mistakes..."Planting his staff in the ground, Roshi removed the 40kg shell from his back before leaning forward with his hands behind his back. While this was going on, Vahn whispered something into Goku's ear before giving the young Saiyan a supportive pat on the back. In response, Goku set aside his Power Pole before adopting a stance with both arms spread out."Oh, a little pre-fight advice? I take it that man is your new Master then...?"While adjusting his stance into a low squat, Goku answered, "He's not my Master. Uncle Vahn is my family..."Raising his brows, Roshi was about to ask for clarification when Goku suddenly charged at him like a bullet.("Nice speed...")Side-stepping the toddler-sized projectile, Roshi attempted to chop Goku in the back of his neck only for the latter's tail to grasp his wrist. This was an exceptionally dangerous maneuver, but, so long as Master Roshi didn't grip his tail directly, Goku could use it to grab and hang from objects. (A/N: Young and poorly trained Saiyans lose their power when their tails are grasped with sufficient strength.)Surprised by Goku's maneuver, Roshi nearly took a foot to the face as the young Saiyan used his tail as leverage to twist his body. In the same motion, Goku threw out his right hand, surprising the old master a second time with a handful of sand.Thanks to his sunglasses, Roshi was largely unaffected by the surprise attack. He was also beginning to take Goku a little more seriously, so, the moment the young Saiyan attempted to sweep his legs, Roshi raised his feet in a manner that left his upper body in the exact position he started. Then, in a single swift motion, he springboarded off of Goku's head, vaulting high into the sky as he remarked, "You're not half bad, kid. With a bit of polish, it won't be long before you surpass both me and your Grandfather."Though his words were slightly embellished, Roshi would be lying if he said he wasn't impressed by Goku's speed and strength. The boy clearly had talent, and, so long as it was nourished properly, he would invariably become one of the strongest in the world.Landing a few meters away from where Goku was standing, Roshi placed his hands behind his back a second time before saying, "It's time to end this..."Undaunted by the suffocating aura that had begun to leak from Roshi's visibly swelling body, Goku jumping forward with a loud, "Haaaaa...!". Vahn had told him to hold nothing back, so, the moment he reached the apex of his jump, he extended his foot like a spear aimed towards Roshi's head.With a slight smile on his face, Roshi leaned forward in a way that caused the light from the sun to refract off his head. Goku wasn't actually blinded by this but it was more than enough to cause him to squint. At that exact same moment, Roshi extended his arms to the side, his body appearing to flicker as Goku's kick passed through him.Crashing into the ground, Goku barely had time to utter a confused, "Huh...?" before a far more tangible version of Roshi appeared right behind him, explaining, "That would be the after image technique. Good fight, kiddo."Without waiting for Goku to respond, Roshi attempted to chop the back of his neck a second time. To his surprise, Goku raised his shoulders as if he were trying to retract his neck into his body. In the same motion, he jumped backward with all the force his legs could muster on loose sand.Though he was somewhat surprised by Goku's maneuver, Roshi's speed allowed him to step back much faster than the young Saiyan could launch himself. As a result, Goku ended up landing hard on the ground, his body leaving a short trail through the sand as Roshi appeared next to him and said, "Good instincts. If you were a bit stronger and faster, you might have been able to catch me by surprise."Extending his hand to Goku, Roshi helped the young Saiyan stand before subsequently helping to dust off his clothes. At the same time, Vahn, Sarina, and Bulma walked over, the latter commenting, "Wow. I've never seen a fight like that one. You're really strong for a little kid, Goku."Rubbing the back of his head, an awkward laugh emanated from Goku's throat. He didn't actually mind receiving compliments but it felt weird to be called strong when he hadn't even been able to land a clean hit on his opponent.Seeing through Goku's thoughts at a glance, Vahn beat Roshi to the punch by using cleaning magic and saying, "Bulma's right. If you were to compete with others around your age, you would be able to defeat each and every one of them. Losing against skilled Masters who have years, if not decades of training under their belt is nothing to be ashamed of."Punctuating his words with a gentle ruffling of Goku's hair, Vahn was about to ask if Sarina wanted to have a go at the old man before Roshi interrupted, saying, "Well said, young man. It seems your body isn't the only thing you've trained over the years. Tell me, who is your Master? Which schools have you trained under...?"Shaking his head, Vahn rose to his feet before answering, "That's a conversation for another time. For now, I believe there is a different matter you wished to discuss?"Though he briefly squinted his eyes, Roshi didn't attempt to press Vahn to disclose information he wasn't willing to give. Instead, a grandfatherly smile developed across his face as he caressed his beard and replied, "Ah, yes, I had nearly forgotten. Thanks for the reminder."Stepping away from the group, Roshi picked up his turtle shell and staff before popping his neck and saying, "I wanted to thank you for what you did for my friend. I can't guarantee you'll be able to use it, but there's no harm in letting you try."Having planned out everything prior to his arrival, Roshi punctuated his words by pointed his staff towards the horizon and shouting, "Come to me, Flying Nimbus...!"......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Bulma is already thinking like one of Vahn's lovers...','Master Roshi is fated to outlive each and every one of his students...','Scheming old man xD...')

Though there was a short delay, it wasn't long before Master Roshi's shout was greeted by a fluffy golden cloud zipping across the sky at 1500km/h.With a quality that made it appear like a moving painting, the Flying Nimbus was the offspring of a pseudo-spiritual creature birthed between the Realms of Heaven and Earth. The actual Nimbus was a massive golden cloud said to bring great fortune to all who witnessed its splendor while the much smaller variant, creating a long golden trail as it moved across the sky like a comet, was the favorite mode of transport for Earth's former Sages.As a pseudo-spiritual entity with a nascent ego, the Flying Nimbus possessed the innate ability to ascertain whether or not the person trying to ride it was good, evil, pure of heart, or malicious. If it didn't approve of your character, trying to board it was the same as stepping into empty air."This little fella is known as Nimbus, the Somersault Cloud. Back in the day, these bad boys used to ferry the righteous and pure of heart all over the world. Now, the only people that can board them are young children and those who have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of martial arts. Here, let me demonstrate."Though it had been decades since he last attempted to board the Flying Nimbus, long before the advent of Television, Roshi showed zero hesitation when he attempted to jump up and sit on the glistening golden cloud. Unfortunately, it had been quite some time since he was pure of heart, so, the moment his bottom impacted the cloud, he promptly slipped through it."What tha-!?"Thanks to his shell, Roshi was able to avoid landing directly on his tailbone. Unfortunately, not all injuries were to the body. He was so embarrassed by the unexpected faux pas that his face became red from his nose to his ears. It was kind of sad, but, when it came down to it, the only person Roshi could blame for the mishap was himself.Forcing himself to his feet, Roshi took a moment to dust himself off before clearing his throat with a cough and saying, "Anyways...feel free to give it a go, youngsters. So long as you're able to sit upon its back, the Nimbus will forever answer your call...?"Seeing the golden cloud approach Vahn of its own fruition, Roshi's words gradually trailed off as a look of disbelief marred his elderly face...With the Nimbus nuzzling against the side of his body like a cat seeking affection, a soft chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as he proceeded to run his hand along its surprisingly warm and expectedly fluffy surface.Though it was difficult to claim he was pure of heart, Vahn was the closest thing to Origin in each of the Records he had visited. As for his Actualized Worlds, he was the literal origin of every entity that existed within. This included the Nimbus, the Giant Nimbus, and everyone capable of riding them. If he wasn't qualified to mount the shimmering golden cloud, no one was.Unfortunately, though it very clearly wanted him to, Vahn had no intention of making the Nimbus his mount. Its maximum speed was a leisurely Mach 1.5. This was, quite literally, millions of times slower than his maximum, unassisted flight speed.As much as he enjoyed leisurely flights, Vahn knew the Nimbus would be better served in the hands of another. Thus, after fluffing it up quite a bit, he gently urged the inordinately fluffy cloud from his body as he said, "Sorry, little fella, but you'll need to choose someone else as your master. I already have a dedicated mount."Hanging its 'head' in a clearly disheartened manner, the Nimbus slowly separated from Vahn's body before moving towards Bulma. This caused a haughty smile to develop across the buxom blunette's face. In response, Sarina tried to warn her, saying, "Bulma...only the pure of heart can ride the Flying Nimbus..." but Bulma wasn't having any of it, rebutting, "I'm the purest girl you'll ever meet!" before attempting to glomp the luminous golden cloud.Unsurprisingly, Bulma fell through the cloud as if it didn't exist. Fortunately, just as she was about to crash, face-first into the ground, Vahn promptly caught her, teasing, "Someone's been naughty..." in a tone only she could hear.Blushing fiercely, Bulma wanted to protest but found herself unable to speak with Vahn's muscular arms supporting her body. His abs were also a mere three centimeters away from her face, so, for a brief moment, Bulma's eyes glazed over as Vahn helped her to a standing position before giving her butt a very discreet squeeze."...!?"With her back straightening, Bulma stared at Vahn with eyes round as saucers. In response, he just smiled back at her, asking, "You okay...?" in a tender, ostensibly concerned tone.Inhaling a deep breath through her nose, Bulma resisted the almost instinctual urge to accuse him of sexual harassment. She didn't want to cause a scene in front of Roshi, and, more importantly, she wasn't actually that upset by his behavior. After all, she had specifically chosen these shorts to draw attention to her butt. Letting him cop a feel after he had saved her from faceplanting seemed like a suitable reward...With that in mind, Bulma ultimately just snorted through her nose before averting her eyes and crossing her arms in a defiant manner. She didn't want Vahn to think she was an easy woman, so, even if she wasn't actually upset, that didn't prevent her from pretending she was...Smiling wryly in response to Bulma's behavior, Vahn briefly glanced toward the pink aura clinging to his body before shifting his attention to Sarina and asking, "Do you want to try...?" in a curious tone.Just as Bulma looked toward her with the intention of egging her own, Sarina promptly shook her head, saying, "I know I'm not pure of heart. If any of us can ride the Nimbus, it's Goku. I say we let him give it a try."Nodding his head in affirmation, Vahn turned to Goku, smiling as he asked, "How about it, kiddo? Want to give it a go?"Without any hesitation whatsoever, Goku answered, "Okay...!" before leaping onto the Nimbus with an excited smile on his face.To the surprise of no one, not even Bulma, the Nimbus solidified the moment Goku landed atop it. Then, just as Goku was about to celebrate with a merry jig, the golden cloud took off like a meteor towards the horizon. It was still feeling a little upset after Vahn's unceremonious rejection, so, now that it had a new master, it wanted to show off a bit."Well, I'll be..."Seeing the Nimbus flying around at high speeds while Goku laughed vivaciously on its back, Roshi couldn't help feeling as though the cloud and boy were made for one another. It had been decades since he saw the Nimbus so spirited, but, after watching the scene for several seconds, he ultimately shook his head before shifting his gaze to Vahn and asking, "Young man, who, or, more specifically, what are you...?"Though he had no intention of discussing the finer details, Vahn had no qualms about revealing his status as a God. Thus, rather than foot about the issue, he returned a carefree smile as he answered, "My name is Vahn Aldrnari Mason. Many know me as the Sage Dragon Emperor. Others know me as the God of Infinite Possibilities. You may simply refer to me as Vahn.""Sage Dragon Emperor...? God of Infinite Possibilities...?"Nodding his head in response to Roshi's utterance, Vahn answered, "Indeed. And, no, they are not simply titles. You probably noticed the Sun disappearing from the sky previously, yes? That was my doing."As it was pretty difficult not to notice the Sun disappeared from the sky, Master Roshi's expression became incomparably serious as he asked, "Why have you come to this world?"Shaking his head, Vahn answered, "Not for the reasons you suspect. I am simply an observer. I'm not here to cause trouble or take over the world. I just want to relax, enjoy life, and watch over the people around me. Being a God isn't exactly a stress-free occupation...""Hmm..."Though he couldn't help feeling a little skeptical, Roshi knew there was a fairly decent chance that Vahn was who he claimed to be. His suspicion was due to the fact he was already aware of Earth's Guardian God, Kami. He had never met the man, but, after climbing Korin's Tower more than three hundred years ago, he heard tales of the Guardian God and had even seen the Lookout suspended high above the clouds.Deciding it would be best to avoid inadvertently offending Vahn, the serious expression faded from Roshi's face as he caressed his beard and asked, "What do you intend to do with Goku? There must be a reason for you to be traveling with him."Instead of immediately answering Roshi's question, Vahn pointed to the glistening orange sphere dangling from his neck. This earned him a confused look from Roshi, but, following his gaze, Bulma immediately recognized the orb's identity, shouting, "Dragon Ball...!" in an excited tone."Dragon whatsit...?"Speaking before Bulma could unnecessarily complicate things, Vahn explained, "We're currently on a journey to gather seven of those spheres. Once we're finished, I would appreciate it if you looked after Goku for a couple of years. He may not be able to reach his full potential under your guidance but I'm certain Gohan would rest easier if Goku was entrusted to you."As he had already been planning to take Goku as a student, Roshi saw no reason to refuse Vahn's request. He did, however, ask, "What makes you believe he can't reach his full potential under my guidance? I may be getting on in years but I'm still the strongest man on Earth. I've trained many of the world's greatest martial artists and even ascended Korin's Tower in my youth..."Smiling in response to the old man's words, Vahn elected to place his hand on Roshi's shoulder rather than explain things. In response, the old man's eyes widened, as, playing within his mind were crystal clear images of Goku fighting against foes like Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu.Retracting his hand from the old man's shoulder, Vahn explained, "The standards of Earth are not Universal. If you travel to the more populous and technologically advanced regions of the Galaxy, even a poorly trained foot soldier would vastly exceed the most powerful person on this planet. If you are serious about preserving this planet, you won't allow Goku and his future companions to become complacent in their training..."Snatching the Dragon Ball from Roshi's neck, Vahn dangled it in front of him, adding, "I'll be taking this. Think of it as compensation for my little gift...""Gift...?"Confused by Vahn's words, Roshi habitually reached up to stroke his beard only to find it missing. At that exact same moment, a frigid, seaborne breeze swept inland. Under normal circumstances, this would have left his scalp feeling chilled. Instead, strands of black obscured his vision as Roshi extended his hand to find a full head of hair in place of his previously bald head.As a courtesy, Vahn produced a mirror from his Inventory before passing it to the befuddled martial arts master and saying, "This ought to make it easier for you to keep up with the young ones."Seeing his reflection in the mirror, Roshi's mouth hung in disbelief. Immediately thereafter, a wide smile developed across his face, as, not only had his hair grown back, even his missing teeth had been replaced. He was a little sad to see his beard missing but that was a small price to pay for his apparent youth."I used a self-made magic spell to restore your body to its prime. So long as you don't engage in any 'excessive' behavior, it should persist indefinitely."Raising his brows, Roshi was about to ask what Vahn meant by 'excessive' behavior when he noticed the deadpan stare on the latter's face. This caused a wry and somewhat sad smile to develop across his own. Fortunately, just as he was about to relent and promise not to misbehave, Vahn extended a lifeline, whispering, "So long as it's consensual, there won't be any adverse consequences. Just keep in mind that there's a distinct difference between consent and someone relenting to pressure. Don't go around trying to exploit people or take advantage of their circumstances. If you do, succumbing to your old age will be the least of your concerns..."On that note, Vahn gave the now young Roshi another pat on the shoulder. This time, a cold sweat broke out across the man's body, as, rather than showing him scenes of Goku doing battle, he gave the man a peek at life inside Azathoth's dimension.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn makes spirits go doki doki~','Ah, yes, a fair exchange...','Master Roshi and Launch confirmed...!?')

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...')

Chapter 12: Meeting the Turtle Hermit