Disclaimer: I don’t own the show and I’m not making any money off of this.

Stranger in the Mirror Part 6

By: L.A. Whitfield

Alicia was glad Bulma didn’t ask about the car but she was really worried about what Chichi was going to say about it or more importantly, what she was going to do about it. She could already see her reaction, if she gets to see her before she kills her.

“What?! You wrecked my car?! Why you little!!!!”

*STRANGLE!!*

“Chichi? Are you ok?” Bulma asked waving her hand around in front of her face. Alicia jerked forward in her seat and found herself sweating. Oh god, Chichi was going to kill her...

“Hmmm?! Oh yeah, I’m ok! *sigh* Just worried about Gohan.” And she really was but at the moment, thinking about Chichi’s wrath.

“Yeah, me too but don’t worry Chichi, we’ll find him. He’s a tough kid.” She said patting Alicia on the shoulder. Alicia could already tell that she was gonna like Bulma. She had a very cheery disposition about things. She didn’t know what kind of relationship Chichi had with this woman but she knew they were going to become good friends.

Alicia would have definitely gotten lost if she’d gone alone. Maybe it was a little fate of hand that she wrecked the car but she still felt really bad about. Especially the part about the house. She sighed and fiddled with her ring. She still could’t get the thing off and it was making her mad. As soon as she got the chance, she was going to have to get some one to cut it off. Maybe Bulma could do it later.

“That’s a nice ring Chichi. Where’d you get it from?” Bulma asked looking over at Alicia and the ring on her finger.

“Oh this? My ex....I mean, er um, I found it um, in one of my old jewelry boxes!” She stuttered accidentally shouting. Bulma smiled because as far as she knew, just discovered a secret about Chichi. She just couldn’t stand to leave it alone either. She had to ask her about it.

“Your ex what?” Bulma asked grinning over at Chichi. Oh boy...

“Oh, just a guy I knew when I was very small.” Alicia said as casual as possible but Bulma was grinning madly and laughing.

“Oh Chichi! You mean to tell me you actually had a boy friend before you met Goku?! This is too good! You have to tell me all about him!”

“No I don’t! Besides, it’s none of your business Bulma!” Alicia spat Maybe they weren’t going to be such great friends after all. Bulma and Alicia arrived at Capsule Corps ten minutes and they were the only one’s there.

“So, what was his name Chichi?” Bulma asked for the gabillionth time.

“Where are you parents Bulma?” Alicia asked trying to change the subject because so far, her ex is the only thing Bulma has been talking about.

“Your not going to tell me are you?” Bulma asked exasperated stepping out of the car. Alicia frowned and crossed her arms stubbornly.

“No!” She nearly screamed but coming from Alicia/Chichi, it sounded sort of funny. Bulma winced and stepped back holding her hands up defensively.

“Ok, ok. I’ll drop it but I won’t forget about it either.” She said giving Alicia a wink. Alicia felt like strangling her. What amazed her though was that Bulma was seeing Chichi not Alicia and when Chichi gets mad, everyone either runs away and hides or screams in terror. She must be doing something wrong she thought stepping out of the car. Maybe she wasn’t getting Chichi’s glare right. She practiced Chichi glare out in the side mirror and Bulma eyed her curiously.

“Um Chichi? What are you doing?” Bulma asked holding the door open for her to the house. Alicia stopped glaring and hastily entered the building. Once inside, Alicia was too stunned and amazed to say anything at first.

The inside of Capsule Corps was majestic. This was the first time in her life that Alicia stepped foot inside a machine. Well, Capsule Corps wasn’t exactly a machine but it sure comes close.

“WOW! This place is awesome Bulma! Your rich!” She shouted and then quickly covered her mouth. Bulma giggled softly and set her purse down on a table.

“Boy Chichi, you sure don’t come over often enough. You act like you’ve never been here before.” Bulma said laughing and lead the way to the kitchen like a good host. Alicia just nodded her head and followed. She’d better keep her mouth shut but she couldn’t help but stare up at the ceiling. It was sooo high and decorated so beautifully!

*WHAM!!*

“Oh Chichi! Are you ok?” Bulma said helping Alicia up off the floor. Alicia had been staring up at the ceiling instead of looking where she was going and walked right into a marble pole standing in the middle of the room. For a second, the only thing Alicia could see before her eyes, were stars. Damn. Why’d they have to put it in the center of the room?

“Ohhh, yeah, I’m ok.” She moaned rubbing her temple.

“Man, your going to have an ugly bump there in a little while.” Bulma said holding her hand on Alicia’s temple.

“Here, let me get you some ice for that. Then, we can leave to search for Gohan. Hey, do you have any idea where Gohan might be Chichi?!” Bulma called out from inside her walking freezer. Inside, she was scooping up a hand full of ice and putting it into a plastic zip lock bag. Alicia found a chair and sat down still rubbing her sore head.

“Ouch! That smarts! Do you have any Tylenol Bulma?” Alicia asked. Bulma came out of the freezer carrying the bag of ice and closed the door behind her.

“Um, yeah sure. I’ll go get you some.” She said handing the bag of ice to Alicia. “Hold this on your head Chichi and I’ll be right back with the Tylenol.” Bulma said walking away down the long hall way. She disappeared around a corner.

Alicia wondered where the bathroom was located. There was probably a bathroom in every room! Seconds later, Bulma came back, and she had a bottle of Tylenol in her right hand. She handed the bottle to Alicia and sat down across from her.

“I didn’t know how much you wanted so I just grabbed the whole bottle.” Bulma explained seeing that Alicia was just sitting and staring at it. She felt like she could use the whole bottle but that might kill her.

“Um, thanks.” Alicia said trying to twist the lid open but was having a little trouble.

“Those child proof lids can be a little hard to open some times. You want me to help you?” Bulma asked holding out her hand. .

“Ouch!” She dropped the bottle and stuck her finger in her mouth. Now her finger was bleeding.

“Be careful Chichi. You have to push down on it first and then twist it open.” Bulma explained grabbing the bottle and opening it with ease. Alicia grumbled and crossed her arms in front of her.

Bulma handed the bottle back to Alicia and crossed her legs as she looked around her kitchen. “I really need to buy a new refrigerator.”

Alicia looked at her current fridge and couldn’t figure out what was wrong with it. It looked brand new but she didn’t feel like getting into a big conversation over it.

As Alicia took out two pills, Bulma watched her with concern because her hands were shaking slightly.

“What? Is something the matter?” Alicia asked getting up to grab a glass of water to go with her pills. Bulma shook her head and propped her feet up onto a chair to her right side.

“You look a little pale, are you feeling ok?” Bulma asked across the table.

Alicia clenched her hurt finger inside her fist and poured herself a glass of water. What did she mean? Did she really look that pale? She was feeling pretty tired. Maybe traveling to this world did something to her. Or maybe, it was the ring...

She turned to head back to the table, but spotted her reflection in the microwave on the counter. She halted in mid stride and turned back towards the microwave. Instead of seeing Chichi’s face, she saw her own, and she couldn’t help but stare at herself in shock.

Her skin looked as white as a sheet and her eyes were all red and puffy. With a startled gasp she dropped her bag of ice and stepped back from her reflection. Bulma got up from her chair and rushed to her side.

“Chichi! Are you ok?” Bulma asked holding her friends arm. Alicia nodded and turned away from her reflection.

“Yeah, I guess I’m just tired.” Alicia whispered heading back for the table. Bulma helped her to her chair and stood behind her as she sat down.

“You’ve been through a lot today Chichi. Why don’t you lie down for a while before we go?” Bulma suggested rubbing her shoulders. She could use a good nap. She couldn’t remember the last time she had one.

“Yeah, I think your right Bulma.” She said standing. “I think I need to lay down for a while.” Bulma lead her to a back room and thankfully it wasn’t too far off.

“Here, this is my room but you can take a nap in here.” Bulma offered throwing back the bed cover.

Alicia laid down in bed and closed her eyes. “Thanks Bulma. Please don’t let me sleep too long because I really want to go out and look for Gohan.” Bulma nodded, turned off the light, and closed the door behind her.

“I bet Chichi wouldn’t have laid down but I’m really tired. I almost fell asleep at the table back there.” Alicia said to herself staring up at the ceiling. She then looked outside the window in Bulma’s room. She had a perfect view of the gravity room.

“Must like keeping an eye on him while he trains.” She muttered and yawned.

“Damn it! I wish I weren’t so tired...Oooops!!” She clamped her hand over her mouth and held her hand up front of her face. It was flashing!

“Shi*, shi*, shi*!!”

“Oh no! I didn’t mean that! Please don’t grant me the wish!” She shouted jumping out of bed and trying to pull the ring off.

“Come off you stupid ring! Gosh darnit! She screamed but it was too late...

In the kitchen...

Bulma sat down to drink her coffee when she suddenly felt that weird tingling at the back of her neck like some one was watching her. She set her cup down, turned around and got the shock of her life.

“How did you get in here?! Who are you!!” Bulma demanded standing into a defensive position. She couldn’t see it’s face because it was hidden beneath the hood but she could hear it’s evil chuckle.

“I’m warning you creep! My friends will be back any second now and they are going to pulverize you if you try anything! Leave now if you know what’s good for you!” Bulma cried trying to sound courageous but her voice cracked. The cloaked figure advanced ahead ignoring her, holding up a stick covered with poisonous prickles.

“What do you think your going to do with that?!” Bulma said backing up against a wall. Bulma gasped as he pulled back his hood. The skin on his face was rotted away and she could see the bones beneath it. He also stank horribly, like something that’s been dead for days.

“WHAT ARE YOU?!” Bulma spat in disgust covering her mouth.

“Why my dear child, I am the devil, and I am going to hit you over the head with my pretty little stick here and then, I’m going to suck all the energy from your body.” He said iniquitously raising his stick above his head. Bulma shrieked and jumped out of the way just as he brought the stick down. Thankfully he missed and hit the wall instead.

“HOLD STILL WENCH!!” The demon shouted coming after her again. Bulma ran from the kitchen into the living room.

“Vegeta! Where are you when I need you?!” She screamed jumping over a coffee table with barely enough room to clear it.

Bulma shrieked again, tripping over a small foot rest that she hadn’t seen right in the front of Vegeta’s favorite recliner landed on her back.

“Ha! I’ve got you now wench!” He laughed raising his stick once again.

“I don’t think so!” Bulma screamed quickly rolling out of the way as he brought the stick down hitting the spot on the floor where she had just been laying.

“You are fast little wench, but NOT FAST ENOUGH!!” With that he threw down his stick and raised both of his hands out in front of him, pointing them at her. Bulma froze and stared at him transfixed.

He let out a terrible hiss and jerked his fingers out. Out of his finger tips, shot a bunch of small quills that were filled with sedatives. Two of them hit Bulma in the neck while the rest struck the wall behind her. Bulma gasped and yanked them out of her neck, leaving small, bloody puncture wounds.

“It wont be long now wench! BWAHAHAHA!!” His hidiouse laughed made her ill and then that was the last thing she heard before passing out.

Two down, only a few more to go! BWAHAHAHA!!!

Back in the real world...

(Quick recap: The intersection was coming up fast on Chichi and our two friends Jason and Christina as the brakes to their stolen car have gone out.)

“THERE IS NO FREAKING HOVER BUTTON!!” Christina and Jason screamed above the music. They were now just a few feet yards from the intersection. Things looked very grim.

Chichi: “WELL THE BREAKS AREN’T WORKING!!” Chichi screamed gawking at the up coming intersection.

Everyone: “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

Now...

Everyone: “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH *DEEP BREATH* AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Just as they are about to slam through the intersection, an observant driver see’s them coming and moves out of the way just in the nick of time. Unfortunately, he drives onto a railroad track and a big train hits him...

*CRASH!!*

“Oh god! What’d we hit?! Who’d we hit?! Have we been hit?! Where all going to die!!!”

“Christina! Chill out! We didn’t hit anything but the car that moved out of the way to let us through got hit by a train!”

Christina starting crying and wailing. “That’s just awful! Oh my god! *gasp* We’re *gasp* criminals! Murderers! *gasp*” She cried beginning to hyperventilate.

“Wait a minute! He’s getting out of the car! He’s still alive! He’s still alive Ha ha!!” Jason laughed looking in his rear view mirror. They were quickly going over another hill though, so Christina didn’t get see it.

“Are you sure Jason?! You really saw him get out of the car?!” Christina cried looking back. Jason nodded his head and smiled at her.

“Yeah, don’t worry about him. He’s ok. Right now, I’m more worried about us!” He said getting propelled against his door as they turned a sharp corner at eighty miles per hour.

“Oh shi*! We almost flipped!” Christina said holding her stomach, looking ill.

“Where are the emergency break Jason?!” Christina asked wealy leaning forward between Jason and Chichi.

“How am I suppose to know?! This isn’t my car! I don’t even have a car! Besides, Chichi’s big butt is probably sitting on it!!” Chichi’s face turned bright red. Uh oh...

*SMACK!!*

“Why you!!!” Jason howled like a mad man lunging at Chichi. Chichi’s hands were jerked away from the steering wheel and wrapped around Jason’s neck. They were at each other’s throats now and neither one of them were paying any attention to where they were going.

“Jason! Stop!” Christina screamed trying to seperate them but it was no use. They were latched onto each other like leeches.

“No! You saw what she did! I’ve had it with her! No body slaps me that many times, without getting punished for it! Ahhhhhhh!!” Jason screamed slamming Chichi’s head against the back of her seat. Chichi snarled and bit his hand.

“OUCH! WHY YOU!!!”

“But! There’s another intersection coming up!” Christina interupted pointing ahead. Neither one heard her.

*sounds of wild street cats fighting*

“JASON!! That’s it! Where’s that emergency break at?!” Christina screamed frustrated beyond terror. Deciding now was a good time to take over, Christina reached up, while the two where fighting, putting her own neck at risk, and felt around for the emergency break.

“AH HA! I think I’ve found it!” Suddenly as the car skidden to a halt, everyone that wasn’t wearing a seat beat found themselves painfully plastered into the front wind shield. (That would include everyone accept Chichi) They stopped two feet from the intersection and amazingly, behind the bus that they were trying to catch up to.

Slowly Chichi undid her safety belt and stepped out of the car.

“Well! Are you two getting out or what?!”

Christina and Jason: “Ohhhhhhhhhhh...”

More to come...