"I can't do this," I said as their shirts hit the floor.
The two of them gave me incredulous looks.
"You're saying you don't want to?" Nami asked.
"Fuck no I'm not saying that! If it was a matter of what I wanted I'd already be naked and I'd have teleported Twilight out of here."
"Hey!"
"The thing is that as much as I want it, I know that I can't because you're both in love with someone else."
They both stared at me for a few moments before Nami closed her eyes and sighed and Robin smirked and placed a hand over the left side of her face.
"I suppose that is true. Perhaps we just tried to look past that. I guess we just didn't see it because you are, by and large, the same person."
"One slight split in my past and you get two people who are the same, yet different. It's kind of like an identical twin."
"Not quite identical I can see. He has more muscle definition and you have..."
Robin trailed off as she looked down my body. I got what she was implying. Without sounding vulgar, Eris had made changes to me everywhere. There were a few things that were still me like my hair, my- well, sort of my eyes, my fingerprints, freckles, skin tone, and voice. Despite those consistencies, a lot of me was different everywhere else. While none of the changes physically had a downside it was still quite the jarring change.
"Anyway," I said with a snap of my fingers; redressing the two ladies, "as much as I'd love to, I have to regretfully decline."
That said, since I'm not gay I still took a peek at them with my x-ray eyes. Regret indeed.
"I suppose since we aren't going to be doing anything naughty we should take him to see Bulma and our two dear doctors, right Nami?"
"You're right. By the way," she said getting a glint in her eyes, "since I now know you're not the man I care for, if you try to look at me naked with your x-ray eyes it's going to cost you everything you own. Am I clear?"
"No question," I replied; instantly glad I had already done it while hoping she didn't figure that out.
"You know they're kind of making you out to be a pervert Seth."
"All men are perverts," I replied. "It's just a question as to how much of one they are that leads them to be either desired, tolerated, or despised."
Robin chuckled softly at my words.
"Our Seth said the same thing once."
"Yeah, but he's probably got charisma through the roof somehow. That or..."
"Or what?" Twilight asked.
Actually thinking about it, I wondered if he had somehow inadvertently started to bleed off his hypnotism ability. I mean, he had juggled Nami and Robin, two characters from One Piece, a manga where the author had once said that no one on the crew would end up dating or hooking up with anyone, and had somehow made it not only work but kept them aware of it as it happened. I mean since I had his memories I knew that he wanted to try and date someone to find happiness when he came to this time period.
I walked out silently, following Nami and Robin as I thought about this. According to his memories he had wanted to try dating several people he knew were going to be there. Dating Cyborg 18 hadn't panned out because he was too late and Krillin had gotten there first. Isane Kotetsu didn't work out because he had to invoke his hypnotism on her and he had agreed that he wouldn't try anything on any woman who he used it on. He really stayed faithful to that one despite how many times Rangiku Mastumoto had tried to get his attention including the 'accidental' shower time mishap. Congrats to you my double for giving me that mental image.
After those didn't work, a date with Robin worked out well. A second date did too. After that was when things got complicated as Nami asked him out. There was some blackmailing and ulterior motives, but to her surprise she had fun. Somehow the two had found out and instead of the reaming he had expected, the three of them had ended up having a long conversation about it before they decided to try dating at the same time.
That was eight months ago. Honestly the whole thing was very confusing, but I'd never had a girlfriend before so I had no clue about relationships despite the fact that I knew that two ladies dating one man was really unnatural. Wow, this does feel kind of wrong in my head, but it is myself and I can't help but use self defense. Still going by my hypothesis if future me was subconsciously using, or even leaking, his hypnotic ability then that would help to explain things.
I suppose I could either deal with it or leave it alone. After all, the other version of me was coming back in a few days if things went according to schedule. I may have wanted to have some fun with them, but he was legitimately looking forward to it. Besides, after everything was over he was going to sail with the Strawhat crew so he could stay with the two of them. I wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to ruin that or not.
Our group made it to our destination before I could come to any decision, though I think it was about to be made. It was a relatively open room with various items strewn all over the place. Two of the walls were just shelves that held items of unknown importance. Other than a single desk in the open on one side of the room there weren't any furniture items in the room. No, there wasn't even a chair for the desk and no, the the shelves were bolted to the wall.
The only two people in the room were Bulma, who was tinkering with a large device, and Trafalgar Law, who was sitting up against the far wall; the bare one I mean. As we entered, Law gave us all a cursory glance before turning his attention back to what Bulma was working on. We ambled over to her as she remained focused on her work. I really didn't feel like interrupting her. Nami, however, didn't have any such reservations.
"Bulmaaaa! You have visitors!"
To her credit, Bulma didn't even flinch one iota. That woman had nerves of steel... unless her life was in danger. Even that went away as she became older and more confident. She also seemed to age extremely well. This showed as she looked away from her work and over to our little group. Again, I took a quick look with my x-ray eyes. Yeah it's starting to sound a bit creepy but honestly I reiterate the pervert thing from earlier and honestly the majority of either gender would do the same with that power. Not to mention that she held a special place for me as the first anime woman I ever had a crush on.
"Seth! You're up!" she exclaimed as she put down a few tools. "I was wondering how long you would be out for," she continued while removing some protective gear. "Having alterations done to one's self can be quite taxing."
She gave me an appraising look.
"It looks like the changes worked out splendidly though."
She then switched her gaze to Twilight.
"And you must be the famous Twilight Sparkle I've heard so much about. My name is Bulma Briefs. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise. Seth has told me about you a few times as well."
"All good things I hope?"
"Yes they were. You were his first crush in fact."
"Twilight that was said in confidence!" I hissed loudly.
"With Discord there?" she asked as if she was questioning my seriousness.
"Well, isn't that sweet?" I heard Robin say teasingly.
"I tell ya, I get no respect," I said in a perfect Rodney Dangerfield voice.
"That's cute, really," Bulma said, "but you know I'm happily married."
"I have more than enough meta knowledge to know that. Why am I here again?" I asked despite knowing why.
"Other than the obvious modifications made to your body, we were also concerned about any possible changes that occurred to your abilities. After all, Eris did absorb the Hogyoku that Aizen possessed so we have no idea how that might have affected her. She already altered your body before getting your permission."
"Not consciously at least. Though after a little thought I bet this might be the result of my subconscious at work. It happened while I was asleep if you remember."
"So you're saying that subconsciously you actually did tell Eris to do this?" Bulma asked with a modicum of confusion.
"I've never had a problem with the way I looked. I just thought sometimes that I should do something to make myself healthier. I just never had the work ethic to do it. I'm a bit concerned that this might end up wasted anyway."
"It doesn't matter," Law finally spoke up. "Changes were made and we need to see if there are any more. You swore you would get me back to take revenge on Doflamingo and doppelganger or not I expect you to keep your word."
"Which is why we're going to head to the gravity room for some tests!"
Ah the gravity room. Vegeta's little home away from home. Wait that doesn't work since it's inside his home. Ah well, you get the idea. He trained in there ALL THE TIME. It was his life's work, I think, because he always wanted to beat Goku to prove himself as the strongest saiyan of all. And he spent hours upon hours every day in there to make it happen.
While I could marvel at it later, since by then we started moving that way, it was Law's comment that stuck with me. Future me had made a promise to find Law a way back. Law may have said swore, but I had the memory too and I was immediately more focused on it. I knew he would figure it out too because of the plans he made to sail with the Strawhats, but he still hadn't figured it out yet. Bulma had been working on it with that large device I had just seen, but it would still take time. That promise concerned me mostly because it touched on one of my big core values. As such, the fact had me greatly more concerned than the other things happening around me.
Things like the conversations between the four ladies, and yes I'm counting Twilight because she's still classy you jerks, that were walking around me as we made it to a door centered in a T-junction hallway.
"We've all kind of gotten used to it. Seth isn't trying to be rude. He's just always thinking, even if it isn't necessarily important," Bulma stated.
I caught the tail end of that and felt a little guilty. I usually listened really well. Perhaps I didn't listen as well as I thought I did.
"Another of the plethora of things I should work on I suppose."
"At least physically all you need to do is maintain what you have right now," Twilight said helpfully.
"Old habits die hard."
"Let's just see if anything has changed with you. Let's head in-"
Bulma stopped short as she looked at a panel next to the door.
"Ohhhh! Vegeta!" she exclaimed equal parts agitated and exasperated.
"Training again?" Robin asked with a sly smile.
"He's upset that he didn't get to fight anyone he thinks was strong."
"Who did he fight?"
"Someone named Stark."
"He fought the Primera Espada Coyote Starrk and didn't break a sweat?" I asked. "Oh who am I kidding? Out of everyone you have the most powerful fighters. The only way they could win is through trickery. On that note, who dealt with Baraggan?"
"Byakuya was dealing with him up until you defeated Aizen. After that, he lost interest and left via a garganta. Robin probably informed you that most of the Espada escaped. In fact, the only Espada that was killed was Zommari."
"Vegeta didn't kill Starrk?" I asked in surprise.
"Well he had a young woman with him so he was spared when she shielded him. The two are now being held in confinement."
"Egh, you know what? That's future me's problem. When he gets back let him take care of it."
"That's what we planned on doing," Bulma said matter-of-factually. "You may look like the Seth we know, but we all agreed that you aren't the same one we know so we aren't going to follow your orders. Those of us who aren't under your thrall are still level headed enough to realize this."
"Most of the time," Twilight added.
"That doesn't bother me a bit," I continued. "He's the leader, not me, so he can take responsibility. I'm just here to seal the rift with Twilight. Getting the Aizen situation thrust upon me sucked but I understand and did it anyway. I am just exceedingly lucky that nothing bad happened to either of us or everyone in a multitude of universes could have died, or worse."
"I agree, and we can get that taken care of after we run those tests."
"I do like tests," Twilight said to which I almost snorted at, "but is now really the time?"
"Better to do it now in a more controlled environment."
"That's true," Twilight replied at length.
"Fine. The sooner we do this the sooner we can go seal the rift."
Bulma gave me a telling smirk as she pressed a button on the panel next to the door.
"Vegeta! We need to use the gravity room for some tests! Can you open up?"
There was a bit of a pause before Vegeta's voice registered from the panel.
"I'm busy! Come back to do whatever foolish thing you need to do later."
"Vegeta! We need to know what side effects absorbing the Hogyoku my have had on Eris and Seth!"
There was another long pause before the door to the gravity room slid open. There standing in the doorway was Vegeta. Despite the fact that he was almost a head shorter than me his sheer presence was really intimidating. It was similar to Goku except where Goku's went away quickly after you got used to it Vegeta's seemed to permeate everything around it continuously.
I didn't have much time to contemplate it though. As soon as Vegeta spotted me he went from scowl to smirk. I barely saw him do it before I felt him grab me by the front of my shirt and hurl me inside. I say felt because I couldn't catch up visually until I had already been pancaked onto the wall he threw me at upside down. I didn't even slide down head first like physics probably said I should. I peeled off of the wall instead. I was still aware enough to land on all fours and quickly stood up and turned around.
Vegeta had closed the door and locked it behind him if the angry shouts were any indication. I didn't get to think about that either. Vegeta's menacing chuckle was what demanded my attention.
"So... an even weaker version of the weakling leader shows himself. How pitiful."
"Hey we can't all be super saiyan powerhouses."
"Hmph. That is exactly what your copy said to me when he finally worked up the nerve to say something to me. You two would make a lovely couple."
A brief thought of the time Discord turned me female blew through my mind. It quickly left as I found myself face down on the floor. That was getting weird.
"If Bulma wants to run some tests then I see no reason why we shouldn't try to perform them in combat. Now stand up before I make you."
Instead of standing up normally, I teleported across the room. Vegeta slowly turned until he was looking at me over his shoulder. That smirk of his was not getting any less confident.
"I'm a younger version of the guy you know, Vegeta. Four years younger and no combat training of any sort. I'm pretty much just a punching bag for you. I'm not sure why-"
That was as far as I got before I was doubled over on Vegeta's fist.
"Of course you are. If all you do is stand around though then you can't be performing any tests now can you?"
"...Hit me again."
"What?"
I stood up from his fist and looked down into his eyes.
"Hit me again," I repeated.
Again I wasn't sure what happened. I barely saw him scowl at me before I was again plastered against the wall. I was at least upright this time. I looked forwards at Vegeta whose arm was still outstretched from a punch that probably hit me in the chest. I wasn't sure though.
"I couldn't feel it."
"What are you blathering about now?"
"You punched me into the wall... but I don't even feel any pain over it."
I teleported out of the wall a few feet onto the floor. I then proceeded to pinch and twist my arm. Okay, I felt that. It just didn't hurt. What was-
I was face down on the floor in an instant without knowing what happened once more.
"Don't mock me you worm."
I teleported again to my feet; standing in front of Vegeta a dozen feet away.
"I'm not mocking you dammit! I just don't seem to register your blows!"
In retrospect, I know that was the wrong thing to say. It was pretty much the same as saying that I didn't even feel him hit me. It's in the same vein as saying that his punches were nothing. You don't say that to Vegeta. He doesn't take it well.
"Prepare yourself you lowly scum. You're about to get all the tests you can handle."
..........Ohfucksomeonehelpme.