Chess

Disclaimer: I don’t own DB/Z/GT or any of the characters found in this fic. They are the property of TOEI ANIMATION in Japan and FUNimation in the U.S.A.


I also do not own the song or lyrics One Night in Bangkok by Murry Head.

I had no idea that the song was actually part of a larger stage show named ‘Chess’ written by Benny Andersson, Bjor Ulvaeus and Tim Rice. Which I own no rights to either.

I am not making any money from this work of fanfiction.

A/N- This is actually a G/V get together fic. However, some of the other pairings may surprise you. :) I think there’s only one cannon couple in here. Obviously VERY A/U.

I hope this is a fun read for anyone who may be interested in such a combination. (DBZ/chess (the game, not the play.))


Beta’d by Hoshi. Thank you Hoshi! (Thanks to rdk and chibi_vegeta for catching a few others!!!)

Rating – PG13 – or at least that’s what I was hoping for.

Warnings – OOC, A/U, mentions and kisses of M/M, mentions and kisses of M/F, chess, foul language, some minor roles of OC’s.

Anz - :) Thank you for the constant encouragement! Sorry I missed your comment in the last chapter.

Maegerakawaii – Radditz giving Goku that bear hug made me laugh while writing it. I imagine Goku’s eyes growing 3 times their normal size – either from the pressure Radditz is adding or Goku’s embarrassment is difficult to remember though. (Four years is a long time to be writing a story!)

Iuvenes – No doubt in my mind Vegeta is OOC in this. :P Still his gruff self in some points, or at least I’m hoping that’s coming across, but not being under Freiza’s influence – I really do believe that has a big part of how we see the character in the anime series. Radditz and Chichi surprised me - one of those they mentioned it and I said fine and went with it. Um…MLS? Influencing this story? I’m flattered, but really, no. Only thing in common is the amount of characters. This story is much to simple to compare it to MLS. LOL – I had to look up Mokey Paw – I’d never heard of it before – but as you said the fable is much older than either – I was going with a twist on a genie gone bad. “water”? *scratches head* you’ll have to remind me. :(

Gigo – YAY! Cute is one of the few marks I was aiming for with this story. Mature it most certainly is not, but I’m glad it doesn’t look as though I’m twelve (although with the amount of mistakes and beta’s you’d think I might be!) Got a few more chapters coming your way. Check back Monday mornings. :)



Round 12


Goku’s eyes widened as he tried to breathe under the bear hug the prefect stranger was bestowing on him.

Bulma shifted, not certain what to do during such strange circumstances, but the look her brother was giving her screamed, ‘HELP ME!’ “Your Highness?” she finally managed to spit out, but didn’t know how to continue. Saying ‘This must be some sort of mistake’, when it so obviously wasn’t…

Radditz realized he might very well be squeezing the life out of the brother he had thought no longer lived, and let go. He looked over at the woman who had addressed his prince, but had yet to receive an answer. “You can’t be his sister,” he asserted strongly.

Goku growled as he was finally allowed to step back. “She is my sister,” he snarled defensively, “Her family adopted me.”

“Adopted?” Radditz asked, confused.

Chichi stepped in and spoke up, “An Earth custom. Gaining a new family member by legal means, other than marriage. Usually, adults who can’t have children of their own, for various reasons, adopting a child.”

Radditz scratched his head, still not understanding.

Nappa frowned. “Maybe it’s like inducting a new pack member?”

Vegeta also frowned as he thought about it, “Could be…”

“What are you idiots talking about?” Bulma finally exclaimed, a little more secure with in the fact it didn’t look as though this was going to turn into a bloody struggle.

Prince Vegeta sighed while looking between Radditz and Nappa. Finally he spoke, “I think, I should start from the beginning.”

One of Bulma’s eyebrows rose, and Goku stepped away from his ‘brother’.

“Go ahead. I think we’d all like to hear it,” Bulma stated as she found a comfortable place to sit.


~o0o~


Vegeta finished his story, which had actually gone into quite some detail about Sayians’ Singular history, as these people kept interrupting with questions.

When the time came for questions – such as he was finished – there was nothing but an awkward silence. His eyes flickered over to where Goku sat as the man shifted uncomfortably. Vegeta couldn’t tell from just looking what was going on in the other’s mind, and it didn’t help that Goku wasn’t looking at him.

No, Goku was looking at his human ‘sister’.

“Oh no you don’t,” Goku moved suddenly, standing and stepping away from Bulma.

Bulma blinked. “Don’t what?” she hadn’t done anything! Now everyone was suddenly looking at her as though she’d done or said something wrong.

Everyone’s head turned toward the brother as Goku growled, “You don’t get to stick me with needles…”

And their gazes all shifted back towards Bulma as she responded. “I-I wasn’t!” she started.

It was beginning to look like a tennis match as everyone’s gazes turned back towards Goku in anticipation of his response. “Your train of thought was so obvious,” he countered.

Everyone turned expectantly towards Bulma in preparation for her come back. She crossed her arms. “You didn’t even let me get far enough to think about needles,” she pouted.

“But that’s where it was going,” Goku smirked in triumph.

“I guess,” Bulma conceded.

Nappa whined. “What does any of this have to do with needles?” he whispered to Yamcha.

Well, thought he whispered – Nappa didn’t exactly have an ‘indoor’ voice. “She wants to do some genetic testing,” Goku offered his explanation.

“Genetic testing?!” all three sayians’ tails puffed out at the phrase.

Bulma gulped. “Okay, I won’t do it!” she turned her gaze back to her brother, “So, you’re just going to take his word on it,” she nodded towards the prince of these ‘sayians’, “That you’re an alien?”

Vegeta growled at the insinuation that he may have been untruthful as Goku laughed. “You and I both know this is probably the best explanation for some of the stuff I can do.”

Yamcha grinned. “Well, at least there is an explanation for how much stronger than the rest of us you are.”

Goku nodded, “See?”

Bulma made a disgruntled face. “Not as good as knowing for sure,” she replied. “Can I at least cotton swab your mouth when we get home?”

Goku rolled his eyes. “Fine. Just no needles!”

“Oh, my,” Chichi interrupted unintentionally as she looked at the clock on the wall.

“What?” Goku and Bulma asked at the same time.

“We’re going to be late,” Chichi pointed at the clock she was looking at.

Goku and Vegeta both looked at the clock, eyes going wide. “Crap,” Goku stated.

Vegeta looked at him. “Can you fly?”

“What?” Goku squeaked.

“Can you fly?” Vegeta asked again. At Goku’s hesitation in answering, Vegeta clarified, “It won’t take as long to get there if you can fly.”

“Oh…yes, I can fly,” Goku replied.

Vegeta turned to Chichi, “Since he and I are the ones actually playing, I suggest the two of us fly to the tournament, and who ever else is coming can catch up?”

Chichi nodded, “That sounds like a good plan to me,” she agreed.

Vegeta didn’t hesitate in moving towards the exit to the courtyard. He stopped momentarily when it was apparent Goku wasn’t following him. “Well?”

Goku finally got his feet to move. “Okay, you know the way?”

Vegeta nodded curtly as they made it into the courtyard with its open sky. “Yes,” he said and he lifted up into the air, Goku following his example a moment later.

Bulma and Chichi gathered their coats and purses before heading towards the front door of the palace, then Bulma stopped. “What about the others? They can’t all go to the tournament…”

Chichi shook her head as she reached for Bulma’s hand, “If they don’t have a way to get back to their hotels…or wherever they are staying, my father will put them up for the night,” she said as she unbolted the front door.

“Okay,” Bulma nodded and then began digging through her purse for her capsule car. She tossed it into an open area after depressing the button.

Chichi gave a low, appreciative whistle as the vehicle was revealed. “Wow.”

Bulma smirked as she hopped into the driver’s seat. “Wait until you see how it handles.”

Chichi slid into the passenger’s side, and buckled up.

Eddie, Jane and Krillan made it outside just in time to watch the exhaust trail fade. “You coming tonight?” Eddie asked his sister as he dug out his own vehicle.

Jane smiled faintly and shook her head. “No…I think I’ll stay here for the evening.”

Eddie did a double take, and then grinned. “Okay,” he acknowledged before climbing into his vehicle and taking off.

“Did I miss something?” Krillan asked the tall blonde.

Jane smiled as she laid her hand on his shoulder. “Nope.”

Krillan blushed at the way her hand brushed across the back of his neck. “O-okay.”


~o0o~

Goku sighed quietly as he followed Vegeta. The glow from the city was already lighting up the sky. They were getting closer to their destination, and he still hadn’t figured out how to broach the subject of their badly communicated ‘talk’.

It seemed that Vegeta was already putting it behind him, as though it didn’t make that much of a difference to him, but Goku couldn’t help but feel bad about what had happened. It had been obvious both of them had personal interest in the other, not just business, but if that were the case, it shouldn’t have been so easy for Vegeta to put it behind him; right?

Vegeta would have given, well, maybe not anything, but a whole lot to know what the sigh he heard from his companion meant. He certainly wasn’t going ask him; the sudden cold shoulder the other had given him in the courtyard…that was something to keep in mind.

Disappointing. If Vegeta were going to be honest with himself, he found the way the other had reacted very disappointing. He had only gotten to the point of explaining why he was on planet…thankfully he hadn’t gone into his own personal feelings before the other had shown his true colors.

If the sigh were regret…Vegeta gave a small sigh of his own. He’d been so close to having it all.

Despite his thoughts, Goku couldn’t help but be astounded at the sight below them as they flew over the lit city. Not only the lights from high riser windows, but the lamps along the streets and canals, also. The water in the canals glittered up at them as waves from slowly moving rafts and poled boats distorted and bounced the glow. Dazzling.

Vegeta hardly noticed the sight below him as he scanned out skyscrapers as though they were landmarks. He adjusted course as he noted some familiar buildings. He slowed as they came closer to their destination, Goku finally pulling even with him just before he came to a complete stop above the building they needed to get down to. He scanned the area for people before quickly descending, Goku following his lead.

They landed in the street without being noticed, and continued into the building. Goku’s wandering focus narrowed as they entered the hallway, the only thing of real interest being the man he was following and the training suit the prince was wearing….

Taul looked up from the small desktop as his peripheral vision noted movement in the hallway. He’d been a little worried when the Briefs siblings had not shown up their usual fifteen minutes early. Whatever relief he had felt at seeing Goku was eclipsed and replaced with him biting his tongue. The prince was most definitely not in his normal outfit; the clothing he was wearing tonight left little to the imagination, and left the host too tongue tied to mention anything about dress code and jackets and ties as the two passed him in their hurry to enter the hall.

Goku growled as he sat across from his opponent for the evening. This man had always been one of his toughest opponents; something about the scientist from the Red Ribbon Army always managed to rub him wrong.

Dr. Gero was usually pretty good about hiding his reactions, but seeing the male BriefS sibling in such attire made him raise an eyebrow. “Did I miss something?”

Goku snarled as he situated his chair better. “Nothing of interest to you.”

Dr. Gero smothered his smirk before it could surface. He never understood how this man was able to best him at these tournaments half the time, but if he were so distracted already…he rubbed his palms together in anticipation of a win.

Goku noted the gesture and frowned. If Dr. Gero beat him this evening, then he wouldn’t go to the final match. It would also mean he wouldn’t be able to face off with Vegeta the next evening, if the prince won.

Which could also mean, with nothing left in common, this may be the last time he saw the alien prince.

Goku didn’t like that thought, whatsoever. Something in him snapped into place. The stakes had just been raised to something that meant a whole lot more to him than money. He turned a steady gaze to Dr. Gero.

Dr. Gero couldn’t quite put a finger on it, but it seemed, within seconds, his outlook of an easy win had just gone out the window.

Prince Vegeta dismissed his opponent’s name almost as soon as the introductions were over. He could care less who his competitor was. What mattered was the win, getting to the next round, making Goku pay attention to him. The prince’s eyes narrowed as he folded his arms across his chest; he didn’t like being brushed aside.

Mr. Shore came over to the tables, amplified announcement no longer needed to address the few remaining competitors. “Okay folks, semi-final round. Good luck to all you gentlemen,” he said with a bow before turning away.

Neither of the first set of games needed to go into the speed rounds, both Goku and Vegeta beating their opponents of the evening within the first forty minutes. Bulma and Chichi arrived just as Goku was heading towards the refreshments.

The ladies split up with each of them going to their competitor of interest. Bulma latched onto her brother’s arm. “Everything okay?” she could read the tenseness in his behavior.

Goku shrugged carefully, the aggravated energy he felt was not aimed at his sister and he didn’t want to unintentionally hurt her. “I don’t know…”

Bulma frowned, “Something more happened than what Vegeta was talking about this evening, didn’t it?”

Goku stopped walking. “I - I may have messed up.”

Bulma raised an eyebrow at him. “Okay, well, lets have a seat and see if I can’t help sort it out?”

Goku sighed and nodded. “Thanks sis. I need my head straight for the next game. Dr. Gero isn’t going to take kindly to the schooling I just gave him.”

Bulma scrunched her nose at the mention of the weird scientist. She never had liked the guy.

Meanwhile Chichi took one look at Vegeta and realized he was not in the mood for company at all. Arms once again crossed over his chest and glowering at anything and nothing. “I suppose it won’t help to talk about it?” she asked.

Vegeta looked up from the pieces on the table, still not reset as of yet. “No,” he sighed, “Well, not right now. I need to win this round; that will decide my next course of action.”

Chichi nodded as she took a seat. “Do you want something to drink?”

Vegeta gave the idea some thought. A drink sounded good at the moment, but he didn’t want anything to impair his performance. “No thank you. Not this evening.”

Chichi nodded as she beckoned a server over. “Will you please bring us two glasses of water?” She had almost ordered something stronger for herself with the competitive levels in the room nearly tangible, something to soften it may have been nice, but she decided against it.

Eddie made it into the building just as the second set of games began. He took a seat quietly next to Bulma, eyeing all players, trying to match abilities to current attitudes. Goku wasn’t laughing; the first time he’d seen the Briefs sibling anything but at least humored during one of these tournaments.

The alien prince practically radiated hostility and Eddie felt sorry for his opponent. He quietly dismissed himself and ordered the poor fellow a drink after witnessing the man’s hand trembling as he picked up his knight and then set it back down.

Chichi leaned over so she could whisper in Vegeta’s ear as she watched his opponent down the glass as if it were a shot. “Ease up, will ya?”

Vegeta’s scowl grew momentarily as he clenched his fists once and then miraculously adjusted his attitude. The game was over within the next five moves and Vegeta’s opponent excused himself quickly, thankful to be out of the intimidating prince’s presence.

Vegeta relaxed back into his seat as he watched what remained of the game Goku was finishing. He noted Goku’s opponent, watching as the man’s eyes scanned the pieces on the board. The man was very shrewd. Vegeta shifted as he watched Goku reach for a piece while wondering what the man was thinking as he touched his rook. It appeared Dr. Gero thought the same thing as the man smirked when Goku’s piece settled on the board with a faint click.

Goku didn’t bat an eyelash at the next move Dr. Gero made and then immediately made his, “Mate.”

Vegeta smirked even as Dr. Gero flinched as he took a good look over the board and then sighed, making the only move left open to him.

Goku finally smiled as he moved his pawn forward. Dr. Gero had thought his king was safe where he had left it castled in the corner. “Checkmate.”