Lower Instinct - beginning of vegebul (+ gochi, tienlaunch)

No knack for women (gochi, tienlaunch)

Meanwhile, 'Kakarot' faced a much bigger problem than an angry Saiyan prince - namely an angry wife.
Together with Gohan and Piccolo, he was just about to start training again when Chichi screeched his name out the kitchen window:
"Gokuuu!! How many times do you want me to call you?!"
He had already turned his back on his house and successfully ignored her first shouts, but now he jumped up, startled.
Then he turned around and admitted, laughing stupidly, "Ahaha, sorry. I was hoping it wasn't too important."
"But it is! So come here!"
"Really? Uh, okay," he mumbled. Then he turned to his green-skinned friend. "Hey Piccolo, do you think you could take Gohan and train him for a while? At least until I can catch up?"
"Hmph... Fine", he agreed and then cast a suspicious look at Goku as he disappeared into his house. And it was not for the first time that he felt deep gratitude for his Namekian culture, which was not dependent on such relationship models...
Chichi now presented her request to Goku, which for once did not refer to her own family: "Master Roshi just called. He said Launch's back at Kame House and she wanted to talk to you about something."
"But I've got training to do..." Goku said. This was really inappropriate for him now.
But Chichi showed no mercy for his plight. "Don't you dare be so disrespectful to Master Roshi!" she yelled at him. "Just head over there and hear them out!"
He agreed with a sigh and finally left his house again. Piccolo and Gohan had already left for training, and he couldn't help but envy them both. Wanting to get the Launch-thing over with quickly so he could do the same, he hissed up into theair and then flew all the way over the mountains and the sea to the Kame House.

When he got there, he saw Master Roshi and the blonde Launch already standing outside in front of the veranda. He landed right in front of them.
"Launch! It's been a while", he greeted her friendly. "What's up?"
"What's up?" she snapped back immediately, leaning forward angrily. "I'll tell you what's up! Tien! Ol' three eyes is back in the promised land!"
"Uh, so what? Something wrong?"
"Well, being that he cheated death and all, I thought a visit was in order!"
Goku eyed her with a puzzled look. "Then why don't you just go?"
"I did!" she replied bristly. "But he wasn't home. I've been by time and time again with no luck. Apparently the oaf's out traveling the world, training. Hasn't been back since! I ain't got the foggiest idea where he could be!"
"That makes two of us," Goku said, pointing to himself. "I don't know either."
"Aw, don't give me that. You can fly! Find him for me! Come on, I'm beggin' ya!"
"Hmm..." Unsure of how to go about it, he scratched his head.
But then his old master helped him along - if you wanted to call it that,
"What? You can sense energy, you dolt!" He reminded him, waving his cane in front of his face. "Zeroing in on him should be a piece of cake."
"Oh, yeah, I forget about that!" Goku admitted. Sometimes he was not the brightest bulb in the box...
He quickly put two fingers on his forehead and focused on Tien's energy.
"Let's see now. Hmm... Tien, Tien... Alright, got him! Hey, he's near my house!"
"What? You found him?" Launch exclaimed, amazed. "Already?"
"Yep." Goku nodded. "Now you know where he is and can go to him. If that's all, I'm on my way now!"
He couldn't wait to finally get on with his training. And now that that was settled, he could finally--
"You idiot!" Launch scolded him, standing with her legs apart. "I'm not ready yet! I wasn't expecting you to find him so fast. Seeing him requires, you know... preparation!"
Then Goku and Master Roshi exchanged questioning looks. And while one wondered if she meant making something to eat, the other wondered if this wasn't more related to a kind of 'intimate body care'.
"Try to keep him busy 'til I'm done, got it?" Launch demanded, then disappeared into the Kame House. "I'll be quick!"
Goku sighed. "Sheesh. You try to be nice to people..."
He refocused on Tien's energy and then teleported away from Master Roshi's island.

And indeed! He found Tien and Chiaotzu near his house, in front of the big waterfall. Both made stunned faces when he appeared in front of them.
"Goku. A rare pleasure," he was greeted by his old friend. Tien had a calm, level-headed aura, as usual.
Goku also greeted in a friendly manner and then immediately explained the reason for his unexpected appearance. "So, someone asked me to find you, and... Let's just say she really, really, REALLY wants to see you."
"That so?" Tien raised both eyebrows in surprise. Then he looked down at Chiaotzu. "We're actually done training here. And it looks like we'll be on the move again soon."
"Seriously? That's a bummer. Can't you wait a little longer?"
"Well..." Tien crossed his arms in front of his chest and looked down thoughtfully for a moment. Then he looked at Gokus face again. "Perhaps we can strike a deal. How's this sound? Let me test the results of my training... on you."
"Is that all?" Goku was visibly pleased because, as always, he couldn't wait to let his fists do the talking. "Shoot, I'd do that for free!"
Without hesitation, he then assumed his fighting pose.
And Tien also raised his hands and spread his feet.
"It's been far too long since we went toe-to-toe," he said. And then he immediately went on the attack. "Here I come!!"
Chiaotzu watched as the two attacked each other and then carried their fight through the terrain. Here and there a rock or a tree would break, and he could see that Tien really gave it his all. But he finally had to realize that he couldn't keep up with Goku for a long time.
"You never cease to amaze me..." he said rather breathlessly as he floated back to the forest floor.
Goku also landed on the ground with both feet first. "Likewise, Tien. You've gotten a lot stronger!"
"But apparently not strong enough," he had to admit bitterly. But he didn't grieve for long and finally nodded to Goku. "All right then. As promised, I'll wait for this mystery guest. Through my sparring with you, I discovered a few things I need to improve. I think I'll train here for a little while longer." Then his gaze wandered to Chiaotzu. "Do you mind?"
He agreed and cheered him on. "Go for it, Tien!"
Tien smiled mildly, then looked back at Goku. "By the way, who is it that wants me to meet?"
"Oh crap. I left that part out." He scratched the back of his head in despair. "It's Launch!" he then revealed and Tien suddenly backed away, startled.
"O-Oh..." He lowered his eyes to the floor and slowly crossed his arms over his chest. The otherwise resolute, muscular bald man suddenly seemed quite insecure. "You have no idea how much that makes me want to move on again..." he had to admit. But finally he looked at Goku again and sighed. "But a promise is a promise. Tell her she can find me here."
He then gave him his thumb. "You bet!"
And immediately afterwards he made his way back to the Kame House. As soon as he was gone, Tien and Chiaotzu exchanged worried sights.

"Hey, I'm so glad you're back!" Goku was greeted by an excited Launch. "Well? Did you find Tien?"
"Sure, did! Listen up..." He paused, noticing Master Roshi's slightly battered look. "Huh, what happened to you?"
Beads of sweat immediately formed on the old man's bald head. He turned pointedly away from Launch and coughed into his fist.
"That's none of your business!", he then mocked without looking at either of them.
Despite the sunglasses, the blush of shame was clearly visible on his wrinkled cheeks. In fact, Launch's 'preparation' had made him curious and he couldn't resist secretly stalking her... And to make it short: Both he and Goku were right with their guesses.
Luckily for him, Goku didn't ask any more questions, but then told Launch where Tien and Chiaotzu were staying. "So just go to the place I told you about and he'll be there waiting."
"Reunited at last!", she rejoiced. "This has been a long time in the making."
Then she gave Goku a lunch box. "I fixed some grub to take with for Tien, but went a little overboard. You can have the leftovers."
He gratefully accepted the food and, being the glutton he was, he simply ate it up on the spot.
Launch, meanwhile, turned her eyes to the horizon in anticipation. "Hold on your hat, Tien! I'm coming for ya!"
And while Goku then said goodbye to her and Master Roshi, the old turtle hermit preferred not to say anything more about the whole thing. And when Launch finally left his island, he couldn't help but envy and pity Tien at the same time...

He really kept his word and waited for Launch. She had rushed through the mountains on her motorbike, past Goku's house, the full clothesline flapping vigorously in the wind. But this impetuous woman didn't care about anything or anyone - because she just wanted to go to him. So she took a powerful leap over the last rise and then jerked the rear wheel so that she came to a halt, leaving a deep skid mark on the forest floor. Tien just watched her in a daze while Chiaotzu had put on a neutral face as usual.
"Well, you two, how it goes?" came Launch's coarse voice.
She got off her motorcycle and then stowed it in a capsule. Then she ran up to Tien and handed him a huge lunch box.
"Here's something to eat for ya!"
He looked down at her, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.
Hesitantly he took the bundle from her. "Uhm... thanks."
As he took it in both hands, her gaze lingered on his face. She blushed, and when Tien saw this, he felt the same way. There was something about this woman that deeply confused him. Her mere presence made him nervous. And it wasn't just because she turned into a different person after every sneeze.
"Does...the other one know this time that you're coming with us?" he asked sheepishly while opening his lunch box. Chiaotzu peered curiously over his shoulder.
Launch stood beside him, arms crossed. "I don't care!"
Tien just let out a resigned sigh. He really had no knack for women...


pic by https://www.deviantart.com/tien-x-lunch