A Tuffle Situation Z

Chapter One

   The sun shines over the Kame House.

   A short, 4'9" Tuffle sits on the front steps of the small house. She stares at the horizon while chewing gum and getting lost in thought. Her gold dusted lips blow varying-sized watermelon flavored bubbles. Her right hand cups her chin as her left hand twirls her left long braid. She seems to be trying her best to ignore her surroundings as she admires the water in front of her. That is, until a certain someone shows up on the island.

   She looks over as she senses a familiar energy. Her bored- slightly annoyed- face turns excited at the sight. A big smile overtakes her expression as she looks over at her newly-made friend and his son. "Goku!" She gets up and hurries over. "Gohan!" She chuckles and snatches the little boy from the tall friend. "Ohhh, how's my little Gogo?"

   Goku chuckles and grins. "Hey, Vesper."

   "Hi, Auntie Vesper! I'm alright."

   "I'm so glad you guys are here." She looks up at Goku. "I've been sitting out here for a while now, trying to avoids the nuisances inside." She nods to the house, rolling her eyes.

   Goku frowns, furrowing his brows. "You still aren't getting along with them?" She shakes her head. He sighs and walks to the front door, Vesper and Gohan following behind. "Come on, Vesper. They are just as much my friends as you are. I want all of you to get along."

   The Tuffle sucks her teeth and grunts in annoyance. "Yeah, yeah. I get it, Goku. But they are insufferable. I mean...outside of Krillin, of course." Her cheeks burn softly at his name, eyes shifting aside nervously. "He respects me. He's nice and all- like you."

   "Well, I'm glad you two like each other." He smiles. "He's my best friend. If my best friend didn't get along with my new friend, we'd have a problem." Vesper nods.

   The door opens before Goku can place a hand on it. Quite a few voices call out his name in excitement and he gets ambushed by hugs. Goku laughs and hugs them all back, greeting them. Vesper sighs and hikes Gohan onto her shoulders, feeling a mix of anger and jealousy. They faun over him, but I'm nothing but an irritation to them. Or at least one of them. I'm really some kind of view to some of them. She huffs. Gohan smiles at her and giggles, playing with her braids gently. She can't but smile at how innocent and adorable he is.

   "It's been way too long, ya know." Krillin states.

   "Yeah, I'm sorry. I've been really busy lately and it kinda slipped my mind. Heh..." Goku rubs the back of his neck with a chuckle.

   "Busy? With what?" Krillin asks, tilting his head and furrowing his eyebrows. Goku points over to Vesper and Gohan. Everyone's faces flush and eyes widen. "Is that...is that a kid?"

   "He looks like you too, Goku." Bulma states in awe,

   "Yeaaah...heh." Goku chuckles nervously. "I have a son now. Been busy with him."

   Gohan sees the others and cowers a little. Vesper pats his leg and gives him a reassuring smile. "It's alright, Gohan. I would never let them hurt you. Auntie's promise." As she says she promises, Gohan holds out his little hand to her. She gently draws an X on his palm, making he smile a bit and trust her word.

   "Wait, you knew about him?" Krillin asks her. She nods. "How? We didn't know about him."

   "Because unlike you guys, I never lost contact with him. I made sure to constantly visit him." She scoffs. "You really think I'd leave him to be a father with ChiChi? Funny."

   "How did you help?" Bulma hisses out at her.

   Vesper glares at Bulma. "I've actually raised kids, thank you. Being the head scientist and engineer for 15 years, I was put in charge of helping raise any children gathered on the ship." She snarls at her, getting one back. "Seeing how clueless Goku is to pretty much everything and ChiChi being of no real help, I figured I'd step in as an aunt."

   "Hehe, yeah. And I'd say she's been a real big help. He loves her. They get along really well." Vesper smiles triumphantly.

   "Surprising. She can't even care for herself right." Vesper growls at the insult. "What? What're you going to do? Bite my ankles?" Bulma steps to her once, putting her hands on her hips and leaning over a bit.

   "If I did, you'd be immobile!" Vesper firmly states, nipping at her.

   Krillin and Goku get between them, putting their hands out. "Whoa now," Krillin states, "let's not get feisty." He chuckles awkwardly, looking at them.

   "Yeah, we are supposed to be having fun here. Let's just relax and be friends." Goku tries to mediate.

   "Ehh, I don't know." Roshi mumbles. "I think it'd be pretty smoking to see a cat fight." He strokes his facial hair with a dirty grin, eyeing the women's chests. The two glare daggers at him, causing him to flinch away in fear and look away nervously.

   Vesper huffs. "Old creep." She looks up at Gohan. "Don't you ever turn into the disappointment he is." Gohan nods and looks at his father, earning a laugh. "Oolong's no better. But he is a pig, so it explains a lot." She smirks. Oolong looks at her and narrows his eyes at her.

   Goku heads inside the house. "You've got a point." He pats his stomach. "Man, I'm starving." Everyone looks at each other, following behind, and chuckle. "Whaaat?"

   "Yup, that's Goku for ya." Krillin snickers out.

   They all gather in the common area. Roshi goes into the kitchen and starts piling food together for Goku. Vesper sits between Goku and Krillin, Gohan on her lap. Krillin and Vesper glance at each other and then away shyly. Their faces redden a bit and they are very obviously awkward. Krillin fidgets with his clothes while Vesper twirls her braids. Goku notices and smiles a little. Gohan looks at the two curiously and tilts his head. Bulma rolls her eyes at them and snarls in disgust at Vesper. Vesper stretches and rests her head on Goku's shoulder, causing him put that arm around her and pet her head. Krillin looks a little jealous at them, which Gohan notices. He looks at Vesper again and then innocently embarrasses Krillin.

   "Do you like Auntie Vesper?"

   "H-huh?" Krillin blushes visibly and starts stuttering in awkward panic. "I- uh...um..." He starts laughing nervously and looks away. "I...m-m-maybe..." Vesper slowly drags her eyes to him and blushes. "I- I mean...she's very...beautiful and nice." He rubs the back of his neck nervously.

   Gohan looks at Vesper. "Do you like him too?"

   Vesper bursts into a blushing mess. "H-huh?! I- uh- wait-! I...hnn..." She covers her face with her hair and whimpers. "It's complicated..." She whines out quietly. Krillin looks down awkwardly, twirling his thumbs and shifting his eyes side-to-side.

   Gohan pats her head. "It's alright Auntie. I'm sure you'll figure it out soon! I think you two would be cute together! He seems nice." He smiles and giggles.

   Krillin blushes and chuckles a bit. Vesper relaxes just a bit. "Heh...thanks, honey." She looks at Krillin nervously, getting an uncertain glance back. Vesper shifts Gohan to her other side- next to his father- and leans over to Krillin. She gently kisses his cheek. "I think it's a little clearer now."

   Krillin's face explodes with blush. "Oh w-w-wow."

   "Just a little." She giggles.