Welcome to Boxer & Rice

The z gang had gathered over at Master Roshi's for a dinner party. The music was good, the food was better, but the usual stragglers were late again. Trunks answered the doorbell.

"Hey, Yamcha. What's up with you!"

The bandit grinned. "Everything's cool, Trunks. I know I haven't called about our sparring sessions lately."

The demi-saiyan waved him in. "Yeah, I was beginning to think you were ducking me."

"Nah, not me. Where's everyone? I hear the music."

"Down in the rec room. Chaotzou went crazy with the cooking, we've got loads of food. Our new garbage disposal is clearing away all excess debris."

Yamcha laughed, his face incredulous. "Garbage disposal? What in heck are you talking about?"

Trunks cracked up. "The living garbage disposal, a certain saiyan!"

"Goku! I should have known..."

The two men headed downstairs. Trunks snickered as they joined the party.

"You know it, Yamcha. He wouldn't miss the first plate handed out!"

****

Yamcha said his hellos before glancing over at Goku. Everyone was engaged in lively conversation, eating, or playing pool. The large screen monitor was on but no one seemed to notice.

He smiled gently in the direction of his lover. As if sensing him through the crowd, Goku stopped eating and glanced over his way, warmth sparkling in his dark eyes.

The bandit went over to the table. "Hey, Goku."

The saiyan gave him a thumbs up. "You look good, Yamcha. Have some food!"

"Sure—"

Someone slapped his back hard. Tien. "So, the mystery man graces us with his presence, hmm?"

Yamcha made a face. "Now what are you talking about!"

The bald warrior grinned, shrugged. "Hell, you've dropped out of sight the last couple of weeks. I thought you'd gone off planet or something."

Yamcha snorted. "Oh, fun-eee. Like you couldn't pick up a receiver and call."

Master Roshi shouted over the din. "Hey, everybody, check this out!" he sat eating on the couch, watching the large screen monitor.

Bulma waved frantically. "Yeah, cut the music. This is wild, check out the news!"

Gohan carried his plate over. "What's all the excitement?"

Even Piccolo floated over out of curiosity. "News? Why's that important now?"

Roshi grunted, annoyed. "If you'd all shut up for two seconds, you'd know. Now everybody, get over here!"

Yamcha sensed someone behind him, feeling the small hairs on his neck bristle. He spun around. Vegeta. The saiyan prince glared at him wordlessly.

"Got something to say?"

"Nothing that you could handle."

"Don't bet on it."

"Hey, you two!" Goku shouted, sensing trouble brewing. "Come watch this."

Vegeta gave Yamcha a sidelong glance as he sidled past. "We'll be talking eventually."

Yamcha snorted. "Count on it."

****

Even Chaotzou came downstairs to watch with everyone, putting his endless cooking on hold.

"What's so special about the news tonight, guys?" he piped up.

"Find a seat and squeeze in, little guy" Tien told him. "Seems like a local story has become national news!"

Chi Chi settled in a nearby chair near Gohan. "What could it be, though? I haven't heard anything."

"Ah, probably a promo for a new movie or something—" Krillen shrugged.

"QUIET!!" Roshi bellowed, pointing at the screen.

A network logo flashed across the screen, fading into a local scene taped earlier. The news media was on display everywhere, talking to crowds of people. Several vans had motion cameras giving zoom views of multiple interviews.

"Hey, everybody, isn't that Rickman's Park?" Gohan was surprised.

"Sure is" Goku answered. "But what's the commotion, I wonder?"

A well coifed woman in a red pantsuit faced the camera.

"Sightings of what?" Tien wondered.

>

Krillen made a face. "A wolf man? C'mon!"

The cameras panned to several groupings of citizens, all in some state of agitation and excitement. Another reporter phased in.

>

"Are these people serious?!" Roshi couldn't believe his ears.

Trunks chuckled. "A 'thing'. Yeah, right."

Dodson frowned.

The woman shook her head in amazement. >







Dodson faced the camera again. >

The old man answered first. >

The old man pulled his chin. >>

Vegeta sneered. "I suspect she may be one of them. Arrula, I've never heard such nonsense in my life!"

Roshi laughed. "That's for sure. The only thing running wild here are imaginations!"

Gohan looked over at Goku. "Dad, do you really think there's a wolf man in the woods?"

Goku snorted in disdain. "That's highly unlikely, to say the least. I put it in the same category as the tooth fairy."

Trunks agreed. "All I see are a bunch of people standing around telling stories. They haven't proven anything!"

Bulma agreed. "Yeah, that woman is nutso" she waved circles around her head.

"Maybe so, but it wouldn't be the first time the government has lied" Yamcha pointed out. "Not that I believe these fruitcakes."

Another man grabbed the mike.