Someday (a DBZ fic)
This is not just a DBZ fanfic, but a fanfic based on another fanfic, from the Dragonball Super Z series by Juuhachigo and MiraiBulma. This takes place sometime after their story "Dead Man's Party," and the main character is Chamuya. If any of you decide to give this a shot, I'll appreciate any reviews/feedback.
In my search for freedom
And peace of mind
I've left the memories behind
Wanna start a new life
But it seems to be rather absurd
When I know the truth
Is that I always think of you
*****
Coach called out to him. "Hey, Yamucha! We got two on for you, hotshot. You can bring 'em in, can't ya? It's worth a bonus. Well, what d'ya think?"
Yamucha considered it. "It's a pretty big game, the pennant." He held up two fingers. "Twenty thousand dollars. How's that for a nice bonus?"
Coach stared at him.
Yamucha shrugged. "Hard to believe the entire season's resting on my shoulders! That's an awful lot of pressure."
Chamuya woke up in a cold sweat. Sitting up, he looked around to assure himself he was still in Master Roshi's house, in his room. It was all a dream, just a dream.
But it had been such a realistic dream. More like a memory, really, which made no sense.
"Come on, Cham, get a grip," he muttered, running his hands through his hair. He wasn't wearing a baseball cap. He glanced out the window and saw it was nearly time to get up anyway and got out of bed.
After a quick shower, he felt better and had forced the strange dream to the back of his mind. He'd had dreams about this Yamucha for as long as he could remember, but since the Tournament, they were coming with increasing frequency.
Since he was up a bit early, he decided to get in some training. He started out with the stances Master Roshi demanded, but decided to try something he'd once dreamed about.
He closed his eyes and let the
(memory)
pattern of the attack flow through him. He moved without conscious thought, and finally shouted, "Shin-Rogafufuken!"
He froze after completing the move. It wasn't really a very powerful or useful move--but he hadn't expected it to be anything at all.
There was a crashing noise from inside, and Rinriku suddenly rushed through the door. "I saw everything!" he shouted.
"Saw what--that attack?"
Rin pulled himself up short. "Ye--yeah."
Rin was obviously waiting for something, but Chamuya couldn't oblige. "Well, it's pretty pathetic, didn't you think?"
"When did you remember it?"
"Ah..." If he mentioned the dreams, Rinriku would think he was just nuts. "It was just sort of--there. Maybe I saw it somewhere before I came here. Or at the Tournament. I don't remember ever learning it before."
"Are you sure?"
The urgency in Rinriku's voice caught Chamuya off guard, and he almost said something about the dreams. "That has to be it," he finally replied.
Rinriku sighed. "I guess so. Let's get some breakfast."
Master Roshi hit the ground with his staff after they finished eating. "Students must not be forced to train at all times, lest they become frustrated and unable to learn," he declared ponderously.
"Lest their master be unable to entertain his lady friends," Chamuya whispered.
Rinriku's answering grin told Chamuya he was thinking the same thing.
"So, in my infinite wisdom, I have granted you the day off," Master Roshi finished.
"Well, sensei, if you say so, it must needs be all wise," Rinriku agreed solemnly.
"Yeah, whatever," Master Roshi replied indifferently. "Get off my island and don't come back until tomorrow morning."
"Yes, master," Chamuya and Rinriku said in unison, heading for the door. Chamuya did call back, "You're out of candy and flowers, you know."
They heard Master Roshi's cry of chagrin clearly as they flew away.
"So, a whole free day," Chamuya said. "What are we going to do?"
"I'm going to go visit Gokou. Want to come?"
Chamuya shook his head. "His wife makes me nervous. I don't think she likes me very much."
"She likes you just fine...this time around."
Chamuya stared at his friend. Rin had always been a little odd, but recently, he kept talking like Chamuya should know something he didn't, and Cham would feel like he was missing half the conversation sometimes.
Rinriku sighed. "Well, then, I'll just see you tomorrow if you don't stop by the Sons'."
"All right, 'bye."
Rinriku adjusted direction midair and headed off.
Chamuya shrugged and flew the other way. Maybe he'd go visit Bulma, if her husband wasn't around. Married women were more fun to flirt with anyway.
As he flew over the continent, he noticed a group of kids playing baseball. Normally, the game held little appeal for him, but after his series of baseball-related dreams, he wondered if he might not give it a try.
He landed and approached one of the kids waiting to bat. "Hey, can I play?"
Play stopped as the kids looked him up and down. "You didn't bring any equipment," the pitcher said. "We don't got no extra."
"I don't need a glove. Just put me in outfield."
The kids all started laughing. "No glove!" the pitcher howled. "What a hotshot!" Then, without warning, he threw a hard fastball at Cham.
Chamuya reached out and caught it on pure instinct and tossed it back easily. "Do I pass?"
"Let him play, Jun," the first baseman urged. "Put him on our side."
Jun scowled. "Oh, all right. You can take Ken's place in right field. What's your name?"
"Chamuya," he replied, and dashed over.
Cham didn't hog the game, but he was so fast that the others would shout at him to run over to catch the ball, even if it was on the other side of the field. Within minutes, his team was up to bat.
Jun went first; he was obviously the leader of these kids, but Chamuya was urged to go next.
As he hefted the bat, a sort of repressed cheer came over him. It felt right to swing that bat. He was a fighter, not a ballplayer, but there was something about the game. He tried a few practice swings and stepped up.
He looked at the pitcher, experiencing a strange sort of double vision. He could clearly see the dirt diamond and the homemade mound, but there also seemed to be a professional setup superimposed over it.
The pitcher threw the ball and he was impressed. Granted, I haven't played in years now, and this kid's obviously an amateur, but there's potential--SWING!
He obeyed the inner voice and the ball soared. Over the outfield, over the trees, out of sight.
The kids gaped at him.
"You're a pro, aren't you?" the catcher asked in awe.
"No...no." Chamuya was still staring, shaken. He'd liked hitting the ball, it felt good, it felt like something he'd done before.
"No one I know can hit a ball like that," another kid whispered, bringing Chamuya back. "It's gone."
Chamuya grabbed that excuse. "I'm sorry about that. I will go get you another ball. But I have to go." And he hurried away.
*****
Try to throw the picture
Out of my mind
I try to leave the memories behind
Here by the ocean
Waves carry voices from you
Do you know the truth?
I am thinking of you too
*****
Go back and play. Roshi won't let us have another day off for a long time.
Chamuya shook his head, trying to clear it. Dreams were one thing, but voices...
The disturbing thing was that the voice, the personality, it was almost familiar...
He dropped off a new package of balls to the kids, but refused to stop. This...presence inside him was beginning to frighten him a little.
If we won't play baseball, can we at least go see Gokou and Kuririn?
"I'm not going crazy," Chamuya assured himself. "Even though I'm talking to myself."
Crazy? Of course not! He was actually surprised. I'm you.
"No, you're not."
Relax, Chamuya.
Chamuya didn't want to listen to the crazy voice, but being tense didn't help anything. He took a deep breath. "Who's Kuririn?" he wondered aloud.
Don't fight it--you know who he is.
"No, I don't! GET OUT!" Chamuya shouted.
Get out? That's not possible.
"Leave me alone!" Chamuya looked around frantically. He had to go back to the island. Master Roshi had ordered them to stay away, but Chamuya was actually going crazy. He needed help. He cleared his mind and took off.
He was over the ocean when a sudden barrage of images and memories overran him. A floating, shape-shifting cat. The rogafufuken attack. Dragon balls. Dying. Kai-sama. Bulma Briefs.
He held his head, overwhelmed, trying to make sense of it all. He had no idea how he was staying in the air. But maybe he should let himself drown; it would be better than being insane.
After the initial onslaught, it began playing almost like a movie. The strange life of someone called Yamucha, desert bandit, Red Ribbon fighter, Z warrior, baseball player, and member of Earth's Special Forces.
"I'm not that," Chamuya murmured. "I'm not like that at all."
You're not there yet. Yamucha was grinning, Cham could feel it. But we have the same spirit, so you're getting there as you grow up. Do you remember now?
"Everything? I doubt it." A sudden realization hit him. "Rin! He's Kuririn!"
Exactly.
"Bulma..."
I was an idiot, and she stopped being mine, Yamucha said wistfully. But she's happy now, happier than she ever was with me. If, somehow, she ever does leave Vegeta--you won't find a better woman.
So. Now, Yamucha was all business. Are you ready?
"Ready? For what?"
There was no answer, and Chamuya wondered if Yamucha was truly gone, but then there was a sudden, sharp pain, all over, as a new awareness crashed over him. When he opened his eyes, he was truly his whole self; one warrior with two lives, and the experiences of both.
Chamuya shook his head, again trying to clear it, but this time, to gain a better of understanding of who he was.
Still Chamuya. He was relieved--his inner voice sounded like him again. He was Chamuya, but Yamucha had been added to him, filling the empty spaces he hadn't known existed until then.
*****
The love we had together
Just fades away in time
And now you've got your own world
And I guess I've got mine
But the passion that you planted
In the middle of my heart
Is a passion that will never stop
Someday someway
Together we will be baby
I'll take and you'll take your time
We'll wait for our fate
Cos nobody owns us baby
We can shake--we can shake the rock
--Michael Learns to Rock, "Someday"
*****
He had to tell Rinriku. So much that had been confusing before was now clear. He had to go to Gokou. Gokou and ChiChi.
Chamuya smiled to himself. ChiChi never liked Yamucha much, but she did like Chamuya just fine, as Rin had said. Probably because there were no children who were supposed to be studying for him to help corrupt.
"Rin! Gokou!" he called as he landed in the yard.
"In the back!" Rin called back.
Chamuya hurried around. Gokou and Rinriku were there, taking a lunch break, it looked like. Seeing his friends again--really seeing them--filled him with an almost unbearable joy.
Gokou gave him a sharp look. "You're different," he said.
"I remember everything." The words began just tumbling out. "Everything! Yamucha, the battles, the tournaments, looking for the dragon balls, Pilaf--"
"YOSH'!" Gokou shouted, cutting him off, jumping up from the table and hugging him.
Rinriku seemed to be stunned, unable to move.
"It's really me, Rin," Chamuya said. "I got all Yamucha's memories."
"How?" Rinriku demanded.
"I never said anything, but I've always had these weird dreams. They just kept getting more intense after the Tournament, and today...well, today, he actually talked to me, before everything else hit me." He rubbed his head. "I still have the headache."
"Wow." Gokou was still beaming. "All we need is Tienshinhan and Chao Tsu and it will be just like before!"
"Just about," Chamuya agreed. "Guys, I'll come back, but I need to go talk to Bulma, too, all right?"
"Okay!" Gokou replied cheerfully and Rin nodded his agreement.
Chamuya spotted Bulma sitting under a tree near the main building, reading a book. She seemed to be alone, and he was struck by a sudden terrible, wonderful idea of how to greet her. He checked the nearby ki levels; she seemed to be alone. Well, what was life without risks? He swooped down next to her and gave her a hard, quick kiss. He sat back before she could pull back, but she slapped him anyway.
"I'm married, baka!" she shouted at him. "And I will sic my husband on you if you ever even think about doing that again!"
Chamuya had to laugh. "You wouldn't do that to an old friend, would you, Bulma-chan?"
That brought her up short. "If I included you in my list of old friends, which I do not!" she declared, but some of the heat was missing, and he could hear the puzzlement in her voice.
"Bulma-chan." He found he didn't know what to say now. "It's me. Yamucha," he finally said simply.
Bulma wasn't often speechless. She reacted to surprises by yelling. But Chamuya had her here. She just goggled at him. "Yamucha?" she finally whispered.
He took her hand. "Well, sort of. I was Yamucha, last time I was alive. I've just remembered everything."
Bulma suddenly started laughing. "You know, it just figures."
"What's that?" Chamuya asked.
"That it would be you at the Tournament. Of course it'd be you. Who else?"
"I could say the same about you," Chamuya replied with a grin. He squeezed her hand. "Bulma-chan...like I said, I was Yamucha. I'm not him now. I'm so glad to know you again, but I don't love you--like he did."
She looked striken. "Did he still?"
Chamuya thought back. "He was accepting it. If he hadn't died before he could settle it..."
Bulma nodded. "Good."
They sat in silence for a moment, then Chamuya rubbed his hands together as a wicked grin crossed his face. "Now, that that's settled, how crazy can we make Vegeta about the fact that your old suitor is back?"
*****
Man, was this originally written so long ago, but I'm trying to get rid of some old notebooks and I'm typing up some of the old fics. Maybe the F/A fic inspired by "After the End" will be next.
I wonder where that one is...
In my search for freedom
And peace of mind
I've left the memories behind
Wanna start a new life
But it seems to be rather absurd
When I know the truth
Is that I always think of you
*****
Coach called out to him. "Hey, Yamucha! We got two on for you, hotshot. You can bring 'em in, can't ya? It's worth a bonus. Well, what d'ya think?"
Yamucha considered it. "It's a pretty big game, the pennant." He held up two fingers. "Twenty thousand dollars. How's that for a nice bonus?"
Coach stared at him.
Yamucha shrugged. "Hard to believe the entire season's resting on my shoulders! That's an awful lot of pressure."
Chamuya woke up in a cold sweat. Sitting up, he looked around to assure himself he was still in Master Roshi's house, in his room. It was all a dream, just a dream.
But it had been such a realistic dream. More like a memory, really, which made no sense.
"Come on, Cham, get a grip," he muttered, running his hands through his hair. He wasn't wearing a baseball cap. He glanced out the window and saw it was nearly time to get up anyway and got out of bed.
After a quick shower, he felt better and had forced the strange dream to the back of his mind. He'd had dreams about this Yamucha for as long as he could remember, but since the Tournament, they were coming with increasing frequency.
Since he was up a bit early, he decided to get in some training. He started out with the stances Master Roshi demanded, but decided to try something he'd once dreamed about.
He closed his eyes and let the
(memory)
pattern of the attack flow through him. He moved without conscious thought, and finally shouted, "Shin-Rogafufuken!"
He froze after completing the move. It wasn't really a very powerful or useful move--but he hadn't expected it to be anything at all.
There was a crashing noise from inside, and Rinriku suddenly rushed through the door. "I saw everything!" he shouted.
"Saw what--that attack?"
Rin pulled himself up short. "Ye--yeah."
Rin was obviously waiting for something, but Chamuya couldn't oblige. "Well, it's pretty pathetic, didn't you think?"
"When did you remember it?"
"Ah..." If he mentioned the dreams, Rinriku would think he was just nuts. "It was just sort of--there. Maybe I saw it somewhere before I came here. Or at the Tournament. I don't remember ever learning it before."
"Are you sure?"
The urgency in Rinriku's voice caught Chamuya off guard, and he almost said something about the dreams. "That has to be it," he finally replied.
Rinriku sighed. "I guess so. Let's get some breakfast."
Master Roshi hit the ground with his staff after they finished eating. "Students must not be forced to train at all times, lest they become frustrated and unable to learn," he declared ponderously.
"Lest their master be unable to entertain his lady friends," Chamuya whispered.
Rinriku's answering grin told Chamuya he was thinking the same thing.
"So, in my infinite wisdom, I have granted you the day off," Master Roshi finished.
"Well, sensei, if you say so, it must needs be all wise," Rinriku agreed solemnly.
"Yeah, whatever," Master Roshi replied indifferently. "Get off my island and don't come back until tomorrow morning."
"Yes, master," Chamuya and Rinriku said in unison, heading for the door. Chamuya did call back, "You're out of candy and flowers, you know."
They heard Master Roshi's cry of chagrin clearly as they flew away.
"So, a whole free day," Chamuya said. "What are we going to do?"
"I'm going to go visit Gokou. Want to come?"
Chamuya shook his head. "His wife makes me nervous. I don't think she likes me very much."
"She likes you just fine...this time around."
Chamuya stared at his friend. Rin had always been a little odd, but recently, he kept talking like Chamuya should know something he didn't, and Cham would feel like he was missing half the conversation sometimes.
Rinriku sighed. "Well, then, I'll just see you tomorrow if you don't stop by the Sons'."
"All right, 'bye."
Rinriku adjusted direction midair and headed off.
Chamuya shrugged and flew the other way. Maybe he'd go visit Bulma, if her husband wasn't around. Married women were more fun to flirt with anyway.
As he flew over the continent, he noticed a group of kids playing baseball. Normally, the game held little appeal for him, but after his series of baseball-related dreams, he wondered if he might not give it a try.
He landed and approached one of the kids waiting to bat. "Hey, can I play?"
Play stopped as the kids looked him up and down. "You didn't bring any equipment," the pitcher said. "We don't got no extra."
"I don't need a glove. Just put me in outfield."
The kids all started laughing. "No glove!" the pitcher howled. "What a hotshot!" Then, without warning, he threw a hard fastball at Cham.
Chamuya reached out and caught it on pure instinct and tossed it back easily. "Do I pass?"
"Let him play, Jun," the first baseman urged. "Put him on our side."
Jun scowled. "Oh, all right. You can take Ken's place in right field. What's your name?"
"Chamuya," he replied, and dashed over.
Cham didn't hog the game, but he was so fast that the others would shout at him to run over to catch the ball, even if it was on the other side of the field. Within minutes, his team was up to bat.
Jun went first; he was obviously the leader of these kids, but Chamuya was urged to go next.
As he hefted the bat, a sort of repressed cheer came over him. It felt right to swing that bat. He was a fighter, not a ballplayer, but there was something about the game. He tried a few practice swings and stepped up.
He looked at the pitcher, experiencing a strange sort of double vision. He could clearly see the dirt diamond and the homemade mound, but there also seemed to be a professional setup superimposed over it.
The pitcher threw the ball and he was impressed. Granted, I haven't played in years now, and this kid's obviously an amateur, but there's potential--SWING!
He obeyed the inner voice and the ball soared. Over the outfield, over the trees, out of sight.
The kids gaped at him.
"You're a pro, aren't you?" the catcher asked in awe.
"No...no." Chamuya was still staring, shaken. He'd liked hitting the ball, it felt good, it felt like something he'd done before.
"No one I know can hit a ball like that," another kid whispered, bringing Chamuya back. "It's gone."
Chamuya grabbed that excuse. "I'm sorry about that. I will go get you another ball. But I have to go." And he hurried away.
*****
Try to throw the picture
Out of my mind
I try to leave the memories behind
Here by the ocean
Waves carry voices from you
Do you know the truth?
I am thinking of you too
*****
Go back and play. Roshi won't let us have another day off for a long time.
Chamuya shook his head, trying to clear it. Dreams were one thing, but voices...
The disturbing thing was that the voice, the personality, it was almost familiar...
He dropped off a new package of balls to the kids, but refused to stop. This...presence inside him was beginning to frighten him a little.
If we won't play baseball, can we at least go see Gokou and Kuririn?
"I'm not going crazy," Chamuya assured himself. "Even though I'm talking to myself."
Crazy? Of course not! He was actually surprised. I'm you.
"No, you're not."
Relax, Chamuya.
Chamuya didn't want to listen to the crazy voice, but being tense didn't help anything. He took a deep breath. "Who's Kuririn?" he wondered aloud.
Don't fight it--you know who he is.
"No, I don't! GET OUT!" Chamuya shouted.
Get out? That's not possible.
"Leave me alone!" Chamuya looked around frantically. He had to go back to the island. Master Roshi had ordered them to stay away, but Chamuya was actually going crazy. He needed help. He cleared his mind and took off.
He was over the ocean when a sudden barrage of images and memories overran him. A floating, shape-shifting cat. The rogafufuken attack. Dragon balls. Dying. Kai-sama. Bulma Briefs.
He held his head, overwhelmed, trying to make sense of it all. He had no idea how he was staying in the air. But maybe he should let himself drown; it would be better than being insane.
After the initial onslaught, it began playing almost like a movie. The strange life of someone called Yamucha, desert bandit, Red Ribbon fighter, Z warrior, baseball player, and member of Earth's Special Forces.
"I'm not that," Chamuya murmured. "I'm not like that at all."
You're not there yet. Yamucha was grinning, Cham could feel it. But we have the same spirit, so you're getting there as you grow up. Do you remember now?
"Everything? I doubt it." A sudden realization hit him. "Rin! He's Kuririn!"
Exactly.
"Bulma..."
I was an idiot, and she stopped being mine, Yamucha said wistfully. But she's happy now, happier than she ever was with me. If, somehow, she ever does leave Vegeta--you won't find a better woman.
So. Now, Yamucha was all business. Are you ready?
"Ready? For what?"
There was no answer, and Chamuya wondered if Yamucha was truly gone, but then there was a sudden, sharp pain, all over, as a new awareness crashed over him. When he opened his eyes, he was truly his whole self; one warrior with two lives, and the experiences of both.
Chamuya shook his head, again trying to clear it, but this time, to gain a better of understanding of who he was.
Still Chamuya. He was relieved--his inner voice sounded like him again. He was Chamuya, but Yamucha had been added to him, filling the empty spaces he hadn't known existed until then.
*****
The love we had together
Just fades away in time
And now you've got your own world
And I guess I've got mine
But the passion that you planted
In the middle of my heart
Is a passion that will never stop
Someday someway
Together we will be baby
I'll take and you'll take your time
We'll wait for our fate
Cos nobody owns us baby
We can shake--we can shake the rock
--Michael Learns to Rock, "Someday"
*****
He had to tell Rinriku. So much that had been confusing before was now clear. He had to go to Gokou. Gokou and ChiChi.
Chamuya smiled to himself. ChiChi never liked Yamucha much, but she did like Chamuya just fine, as Rin had said. Probably because there were no children who were supposed to be studying for him to help corrupt.
"Rin! Gokou!" he called as he landed in the yard.
"In the back!" Rin called back.
Chamuya hurried around. Gokou and Rinriku were there, taking a lunch break, it looked like. Seeing his friends again--really seeing them--filled him with an almost unbearable joy.
Gokou gave him a sharp look. "You're different," he said.
"I remember everything." The words began just tumbling out. "Everything! Yamucha, the battles, the tournaments, looking for the dragon balls, Pilaf--"
"YOSH'!" Gokou shouted, cutting him off, jumping up from the table and hugging him.
Rinriku seemed to be stunned, unable to move.
"It's really me, Rin," Chamuya said. "I got all Yamucha's memories."
"How?" Rinriku demanded.
"I never said anything, but I've always had these weird dreams. They just kept getting more intense after the Tournament, and today...well, today, he actually talked to me, before everything else hit me." He rubbed his head. "I still have the headache."
"Wow." Gokou was still beaming. "All we need is Tienshinhan and Chao Tsu and it will be just like before!"
"Just about," Chamuya agreed. "Guys, I'll come back, but I need to go talk to Bulma, too, all right?"
"Okay!" Gokou replied cheerfully and Rin nodded his agreement.
Chamuya spotted Bulma sitting under a tree near the main building, reading a book. She seemed to be alone, and he was struck by a sudden terrible, wonderful idea of how to greet her. He checked the nearby ki levels; she seemed to be alone. Well, what was life without risks? He swooped down next to her and gave her a hard, quick kiss. He sat back before she could pull back, but she slapped him anyway.
"I'm married, baka!" she shouted at him. "And I will sic my husband on you if you ever even think about doing that again!"
Chamuya had to laugh. "You wouldn't do that to an old friend, would you, Bulma-chan?"
That brought her up short. "If I included you in my list of old friends, which I do not!" she declared, but some of the heat was missing, and he could hear the puzzlement in her voice.
"Bulma-chan." He found he didn't know what to say now. "It's me. Yamucha," he finally said simply.
Bulma wasn't often speechless. She reacted to surprises by yelling. But Chamuya had her here. She just goggled at him. "Yamucha?" she finally whispered.
He took her hand. "Well, sort of. I was Yamucha, last time I was alive. I've just remembered everything."
Bulma suddenly started laughing. "You know, it just figures."
"What's that?" Chamuya asked.
"That it would be you at the Tournament. Of course it'd be you. Who else?"
"I could say the same about you," Chamuya replied with a grin. He squeezed her hand. "Bulma-chan...like I said, I was Yamucha. I'm not him now. I'm so glad to know you again, but I don't love you--like he did."
She looked striken. "Did he still?"
Chamuya thought back. "He was accepting it. If he hadn't died before he could settle it..."
Bulma nodded. "Good."
They sat in silence for a moment, then Chamuya rubbed his hands together as a wicked grin crossed his face. "Now, that that's settled, how crazy can we make Vegeta about the fact that your old suitor is back?"
*****
Man, was this originally written so long ago, but I'm trying to get rid of some old notebooks and I'm typing up some of the old fics. Maybe the F/A fic inspired by "After the End" will be next.
I wonder where that one is...