*3rd POV
Focus: Bana

"I don't imagine they will get very far with so many hauls... Being wealthy folks sure changes things--don't you agree, Mom?"

She appeared to nod, but I'm not sure about the attention. Could be she's just considering the appropriate menu for today, as she's already poring over it.

"Salads and juice today, son. I'll definitely include these in our orders."

"Eh?! But--I have eaten fruits back home!"

"That's no excuse. Now pick your own toppings for yours."

"Seriously... do I have to?"

"Oh yes you do, and you will have that menu. Saiyans, after all, are named after vegetables and fruits--would be an insult not to live up to that."

"*Groans* Mom, we are supposed to be renowned for our battle prowess, not for such diet--"

"My brother seems to think so, but I'm not him--and as long as you're in my care, you will obey me. Got it? Hurry, now; pick them up."

"*Sighs* I think I'll just have the same as yours, then. Am I allowed to order dishes besides the salads, though?"

Mom held up three fingers.

"Promise that you'll eat the salads first--I'm not allowing this otherwise."

"Yeah, sure... if that's what you need."

"That settles it. For the main dish, meats of land animals and sea ones must not be in one table. Won't be good for your health. You want that of land or sea?"

I snatched a look on to Uncle's table. Trunks and him are already eating like pigs while Auntie just looks on--smiling, for some reason--and waves in fresh orders for them. Trunks, I saw, is slurping in noodles while Uncle is munching meat one after the other through his chopsticks; good-bye to any semblance of healthy diet Mom is strongly suggesting by this side--

"Y-yeow~"

I felt a light yank by my ear.

"...Look at me when I'm talking, Bana. Land or sea?"

"Land..."

She lets go of it, and waves for attention. A girl servant caught it.

"Excuse me~"

"Yes, madam, how may we help you? Are you ready to order?"

"Yes, I'd like to have beef, juice and salads--all in the largest portion you could afford, and for two. For the meat, I want it well-done."

"Very well. Which juice would you like?"

"I suppose I'll take strawberry. You, son? Pick any one you like."

"The durian one looks nice--I'll take it."

"Why, it also happens to be our favorite menu for the month," the girl smiled, and took our orders. "Please wait for a while~"

She then caught another wave, this time from Aunt Bulma, and went over there.

"...The heck with that durian juice?" Mom whispered, displeased. "You know durians are so rare around here--that would swell up the bills!"

"Well, you asked me what I would like, not the cheapest. Durians, after all, are still fruits. There we go."

"Grr... Sweet talks..."

"Oh come on, Mom, it's not like you don't have any experience with these yourself..."

***

Focus: Trunks

An eating spree it really is!!

Up to now Dad and I have been munching, slurping and gobbling at various dishes, from noodles to beef to pork to a well-fried giant octopus served on a platter that took up the entire table; which is also our latest order. Mom seemed to take just a little of every dish and left the rest to us. This time it's no different.

"*Yum!* ...Pretty great octopus; right, dear?" she asked as I was gobbling almost carelessly one of its large, crunchy tentacles.

Dad, with bits of a tentacle still in his lips, now looked set to pull off another whole one and actually did so as he replied:

"I bet your whole race--!!"

SQUIRT!

...

...Uh-oh.

"...Dad, are you okay?"

"This is bad..."

It sure is, Mom!

I did not quite follow what happened, but it seemed like Dad had pulled out a tentacle that was nearest the octopus' mouth, thus triggering that spurt of ink... and Dad was now splattered with it, head to toe.

"...You impudent tentacled bastard...!"

As he said so, Dad's 'fighting' aura gathered momentum; the windows and several plates and glasses had begun to crack before we rushed to his side and prevented any further collateral damage.

"Come on, honey, not here--"

"Yeah, Dad, it's okay; we'll move out now..."

"Let's... just... go..."

Thus it was that the people's eating went on in peace; though I'd rather not imagine the look on Bana's face if he happened to be somewhere nearby.

The day wore on. It's now sunset, and we are resting near the seaside. Mom is stretching on her chair and appeared to relax. Today's hauls had all been put into the airplane that has been stored again in the Hoi-Poi Capsule to save space.

As for Dad, once more he appeared to be sulking--then again, he's been like this all day.

"Hnn~ That got to be one of the finest rounds of shopping I'd had so far..."

The sound of a ship's whistle got my attention, and we looked out from our seats. A large ship is being guided by several smaller tugs out to sea.

"No way~!" I exclaimed in awe.

"It's a cruise-liner," Mom explained. "To think of it... my own birthday is coming up; perhaps we ought to try putting up one of those at a charter, and celebrate in style. What do you think, Trunks?"

"Yea, that'd be sweet!"

Wow! I mean, who would not love it?! Of course Mom might need some help drawing up the guest list, but I guess I could help with some. Goten would be my primary choice, and then... ought I take in Bana as well, I wonder?

No; from what I've seen, Mom's already getting close with Aunt Saui. Taking the son in is of course part and parcel of the deal--though I could not yet begin to think how it would turn out if Bana and Goten were to meet.

Then again, we also have not met Bana's dad.

"So then... we are going home now?" I asked of Mom. "Already got enough for one day, you see."

"Oh, not just yet, I think. Got to know from that restaurant's cashier that tonight they will hold some outdoor party. Might be fun to watch. After that, we go home. Okay?"

"Yeah, well, it's your party... Just don't end too late."

***

People cheered. Glasses clinked, and the aroma of some beast I had not seen before roasting at some spit slowly filled the air. At a stage lighted by a pair of torches, some guy with a yellow mic is blabbing for people round him to start getting merry.

However... it's not about time to mind such trifles! Fact is, Dad's nowhere to be found and almost impossible to locate amidst these crowds...

"Can't believe we've lost him," Mom groaned, "and he hates crowds!"

"Dad? Dad~!" I tried, levitating to better spot him. "Dad~ Where are you..?"

"Hey," Mom grabbed my leg from under me while whispering furiously, "no flying!"

"Uwah~"

That's that, then--but we got no closer in finding Dad; that is, until I thought I could sense his 'Ki' near the front of the stage.

"Hey, look--that's him!"

"Where?" Mom's still craning her head in confusion.

Oh, right, she's got no Saiyan blood...

"That's enough--ENOUGH!!!"

...!!

This sudden familiar outburst sent half the crowds, along with the mic guy on the stage, reeling; revealing Dad's figure at last as he stood with his back on us. That figure then put up his aura and dashed upwards and away.

"Aw, gee... looks like Dad's checkin' out," I said with a smile and my hands behind the head.

"Being Vegeta, I guess we should be thankful he lasted this long..."

Oh, so true, Mom; this is way longer than the one-hour span he promised me!

"Thanks, Dad~!" I waved both hands, believing that out there somewhere he could still hear me, "I had an awesome time! See you back at home~!"

Beside me, Mom just smiled. Silent thanks, I suppose.

"Shall we call it a day then, Mom?"

"A moment. Got one more person to deal with, and we're off. Let's first find somewhere quieter."

Once we got to the desired spot, she took out her phone and dialled.

"...Oh, hello, Bana. Is your mom around? --Yes, it's me --Alright." Silent for a while. "Saui? Gosh, been trying to get to you. Listen, my birthday party will come off in two weeks; think you could grace us with your presence? --Why, of course, you're welcome to take him --Okay! Looking forward to it, and thanks!"

Gotcha.

***

Focus: Bana

We're home by this time.

Mom ended the call, sighing.

"Well?" I asked. She was in the kitchen when the call came through, so I had to get her.

"Oh, you won't believe this. We're phone-invited to some special event, and she said Seika is also welcome! A way to congratulate him, perhaps, but still..."

Seika is my dad's name.

"What event?"

"Your aunt's birthday party."

"When?"

"In two weeks' time."

"Earthen style?" I snickered.

"Depends--if she also asked some of your uncle's friends, then perhaps it'd be semi-Saiyan."

"Then again, we don't really know if most of Uncle's present friends would be Saiyans."

"Well, from our race there's still Kakarot; he might come. Either way, we'd have to be there to find out; now, wouldn't we."

"You will break the news to Dad?"

"Why, of course!" she cupped her hands. "They might be dying to know more of him by now; it's not entirely fair if we keep him in the shadows just because Vegeta might be there."

"And me?"

"Oh, you're free to join, Bana. I know you're craving to meet Trunks again and pull up some more pranks with him--right? Besides, Kakarot's family might also be there; one of whom might be a Saiyan, and that'll be a lot nicer!"

"...You're really getting hyped about this, Mom--aren't you?"

"Shush, shush, my child--a millionaire's invitation might not pass by twice. I say we grab it as it passes, and everyone's gonna be happy! What's so wrong with that? And above all--free food! Oh, I would just LOVE to come~"

"So, uh, this Kakarot... what relation is he to us?"

"A Saiyan, to be sure; and our hostess' friend! Oh, Seika~ Got some news for ya~"

...

...Something strange's definitely got into my mom.

***

Any guesses on how it might turn out when Seika shall meet his former Prince? :D And, what do you all think of the overall trip for both sides? :3

P. S. My longest chapter so far... ^^