Crackhead Determination Ch.12

This Chapter was Commissioned by Dunk on Patreon (Ascended Being)!

— Bulma —

“Where are they?” The bluenette beside her asked. Bulma looked to Launch, worry stricken on both of their faces. The tournament registration was about to close in ten minutes and no one had arrived yet.

“I don’t know.” The perverted old man shrugged although clearly he wasn’t nearly as worried as them. Roshi’s calmness did wonders for her nerves. Year after year, Goki tended to arrive late, but it was unusual for the others, Krillin, Chi-Chi, Tien, Yamcha, and Chiaotzu, to arrive late.

“They’ll be here.” Puar, the blue cat and her boyfriend Yamcha’s closest companion, said with absolute certainty.

“Or they won’t be.” Oolong shrugged, earning a slap on the back of the head from both Bulma and Puar. “Ow! There’s ten minutes! Who’s to say they’ll even make it in time?!”

Bulma glared at the pig. She had just started calming down, having faith that her friends would arrive on time, and now the perverted pig had to worry her.

She thought about hitting the bastard, or maybe chopping him up and cooking him, but something interrupted her.

“Balloon!” A little girl whined, chasing a yellow balloon. The balloon floated until it got caught in a tree. The little girl jumped over and over trying to reach it, to no avail.

The little girl reminded Bulma a lot of herself. Sure there were no similarities in appearance, but it reminded her of the start of her journey to collect the dragon balls.

Bulma had been but a teenage girl searching for magical balls that she couldn’t comprehend, and even from the start of her journey, she knew she might not actually succeed in gathering all seven.

That didn’t matter to her, it was about the adventure, and perhaps even finding love!

That’s when she met Goki. Bulma didn’t know it then, but Goki and later Chi-Chi would go on to be her shining lights when it came to collecting the dragon balls.

The little girl reminded Bulma so much of herself, because once upon a time, Bulma was reaching for something she couldn’t grasp, something she couldn’t reach.

At least not by herself.

“Do you need help, little girl?” Bulma asked, walking over and crouching to the girl’s level with a smile on her lips.

“Mhm!” The little girl cheered up, pointing at the balloon, and it warmed Bulma’s heart.

“Alright then, I’ll get it!” Bulma flexed her arm and stuck out her tongue which made the little girl giggle. Bulma reached up to the tree, trying to grasp the string of the balloon…and failed. She went on her tiptoes and extended her arm as far as she could, but still couldn’t reach it.

Her face started to grow worried. She didn’t want to fail the little girl, but she was also the tallest of their group present. No one else could do it. She looked back to the little girl who was looking at her with sparkling eyes, she had to succeed!

She reached a little higher, her face gritting in effort as she felt her ribs stretch.

It was no use, she couldn’t grab it.

She couldn’t do anything alone, just as she hadn’t been able to all this time. Always dependent on those around her to succeed when it came to most things.

Just as she was about to lower her hands, the string floated down into her outstretched hand. Bulma’s eyes widened as she grasped the string and pulled the balloon down.

She did it!

“Here you go!” Bulma grinned, handing the balloon to the child.

“Thank you, Ms!” The little girl cheered, bowing quickly and running off to play, and most likely, lose the ballon again.

It didn’t matter though, she had helped the little girl, and that was all that mattered.

“That was rather kind of you.”

Her head snapped over to the origin of the voice and she stilled as she inspected the man standing before her.

He was tall, tall enough to the point she only came up to his chest. He had broad muscles that she could see clearly underneath his sleeveless jacket. A chiseled chest and rippling abs that almost every girl dreamed of at least once in their life. Her cheeks grew flushed as she caught herself staring at his muscles and she forced herself to meet his face.

Her heart skipped a beat when she did. His face, it was perfect, down to the minute detail. His glowing green eyes held strange wisdom in them, his cheekbones were prominent, but not overly so, and his jawline-

It was perfect!

Hearts budded in her eyes as she swooned for the man. When she first started collecting the dragon balls, it was all in an attempt to wish for the perfect boyfriend. Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined a man who looked nearly as good as the one standing before her.

“Uh, you alright?” He asked as he scratched his cheek, a bead of sweat dripping down his forehead.

“Oh!” She snapped out of her dreamy-eyed state, coughing into her hand. “I don’t think I’ve seen you around, are you competing.” She bit back any attempt to flirt, she had a boyfriend and she wouldn’t ever cheat on him.

Even if this man was the definition of handsome.

“I am.” He nodded, grinning as he patted the white cloth wrapped around his head, even with it on, it didn’t take away from his looks, but she was dying to see him without it. “This’ll be my first time.”

“Ah, good to see you again, Lyre.” Roshi walked over with a straight face.

“It’s good to see you as well, Master.” The man bowed slightly to Roshi and the old man mimicked his movements.

“Wait you two know each other?” Bulma asked in confusion.

“Yup, he came over to Kame House a few months ago to learn from Master Roshi.” Launch answered, giggling into her hand. “I must say, Lyre, I’m surprised you’re competing.”

“Well, I didn’t intend to, but Goki begged me to.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

Yeah, Bulma could understand. Goki kind of had that effect on people…Wait, Goki?

“You know Goki?!” She asked, grabbing onto the man’s arms before letting go quickly, realizing how rude that was. “Is she coming?!”

“She is.” He nodded. “She should be here about…”

“Heya guys!”

“Now.”

The gathered people all turned to the new voice and they stared. Everyone blinked a few times at the tall woman and for a moment they all wondered if this was even Goki. Then they saw a familiar monkey tail swishing behind her, and shock filled their eyes.

Bulma pointed at the taller black haired girl, her mouth opening and closing several times before she finally managed to get a word out.

“G-Goki?!”

“Mhm!” Goki grinned, “It’s so nice to see you all after so long! You’ve gotten shorter, Bulma!”

“And you’ve gotten a lot taller…” Bulma whispered. She had never been tall, standing at about 5’5, but now Goki towered over her at around 5’9. Bulma couldn’t believe it.

Goki had truly grown up.

“It’s good to see you, Master.” Goki bowed before the old man, Roshi smiling as he returned the bow.

“Likewise, Goki, you’ve grown well.” His eyes drifted down to Goki’s chest and disgust washed over Bulma’s eyes. Goki had grown up, and now she wasn’t safe from the old man’s gaze.

“Yes, she has.” The handsome man stepped forward in front of Roshi, blocking his view. “I’m sure you’ll see that during the tournament, but if you look too hard, you may end up losing your eyes, old man.”

Roshi coughed into his hand, saying something about “kids these days, having no respect,” before he gave a quick nod.

Bulma watched it all in surprise. The man had protected Goki from the perverted old man, and he ‘silently’ declared that he would take the old man’s eyes if he continued to stare.

He was a warrior of women everywhere, a real-life prince!

“I’m glad we’re clear.” Lyre crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes. “By the way, Krillin’s coming.”

“Huh?” Goki asked before a gust of wind blew in front of them, forcing most of them to close their eyes until the wind died down to nothing. Upon opening her eyes, Bulma’s heart swooned again as she stared into her boyfriend's eyes.

Tien, Chiaotzu, Chi-Chil, Krillin, and Yamcha were all standing there with smiles on their faces.

“Hey guys, sorry for being so late!” Krillin laughed, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, but she tuned him out.

“Yamcha!” Bulma cheered, rushing over to the man. Yamcha’s cheeks grew red and he tried to shrink away from her grasp, but she wouldn’t let him go so easily. “I missed you!”

“...I-I missed you too, Bulma.” Yamcha’s entire face was so red, and she quickly realized he had not yet gotten over his fear of women, but she was his girlfriend, he had to get used to being around her!

“Hey, Master.” Krillin greeted the old man. “Look at me, guess it’s been a while. I’m sure you’re surprised with how tall I’ve gotten.

Roshi stared at Krillin, eyes hidden behind his glasses as he let out a reserved laugh.

— Lyre —

“Oh wow, Krillin!” The bald student of Roshi looked at the voice and saw a black-haired woman moving towards him quickly. “It’s been a while hasn’t it? I’m surprised by how much you’ve grown!”

It was fucking hilarious to hear those words come out of Goki while looking at her in front of Krillin. She towered over the little guy so much he had to look up when speaking to her. If it were anyone besides Goki, I’d think they were making fun of him, but Goki doesn’t have the heart for something like that-

Yet.

“G-Goki?” Krillin asked, earning a nod from Goki. “Goki!” He wrapped his arms around her in a hug, my eyes narrowed slightly, but that was my possessive nature talking. “Goki, I’m so glad to see you! I’ve been waiting to thank you all this time!” Krillin pulled away from the hug and seeing Goki’s confusion he decided to explain. “They told me how I was killed by one of King Piccolo’s henchmen and how you brought me back! You’re amazing Goki…I-I don’t know what to say!”

Ah yes, when he got Tambourined.

Goki’s eyes softened at his words. “I’m glad you’re back, Krillin.”

“It’s good to be ba-”

Krillin’s words were cut off as he got thrown out of the way. The form of a woman wrapped her arms around Goki tightly.

“Uh, Chi-Chi?” Goki asked in confusion. Chi-Chi pulled away and placed both of her hands on Goki’s cheeks.

“Oh, Goki, I’ve been waiting for years to see you again! I’m glad to see that you are okay!” It was clear how worried Chi-Chi seemed to be for Goki and again my eyes narrowed. No one else was nearly as concerned for Goki’s well-being when training with Kami. Were there more pieces to this puzzle?

“It’s good to see you, Chi-Chi.” Goki grinned, wrapping her arms around the human girl. Chi-Chi’s face grew red, as she returned the hug, tighter this time.

Ah.

I get what’s going on now.

“I don’t mean to interrupt a great moment-” Roshi attempted to say before Chi-Chi glared at him. There was a silent promise in her eyes that gave me the shivers, and it wasn’t even directed at me!

‘If you ruin this for me, I will stab you.’

“-but the tournament registration is about to end.” Roshi finished, pushing past the look in Chi-Chi’s eyes. All of our eyes widened. I quickly looked at the clock on one of the buildings and it was true, we had two minutes left.

“We’ll have to continue this later, Chi-Chi!” Goki said before breaking the hug and rushing to the registration table. I followed closely behind her and watched as she began registering for the Tournament. The others in the group that planned on competing lined up behind us and eventually we were all signed up.

“Glad we made it in time, let’s our rooms,” Tien suggested and everyone nodded along.

— Chapter End —

Author’s Note: Cooking extra today, cooking different.