War of the World
Chapter 10: Strange Clouds
"Have you decided what you want to do with her?" Coryza asked as she stared out the window of the carriage.
Cooler looked towards his mother. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
"That's why I asked."
The Ostruman king snorted. "I've come up with a few ideas. The one I'm leaning towards should be entertaining. It's more an ultimatum than anything. I'll make her chose between marriage and death."
Coryza turned her head towards Cooler. "Cooler, you should know better than anyone that forcing marriage on someone never ends well. She'll kill you in your sleep."
"Or wait eighteen years and kill me so that her child can take the throne?" he retorted sardonically. Coryza rolled her eyes, sighed, and looked away. Cooler snorted at his mother's reaction. "I'm only teasing, Mother. No need to get all sour on me."
"Yes, well your teasing needs a bit of work. Besides, your father planned on putting Frieza on the throne, even after I did my duty and gave him a proper heir. As far as I'm concerned, he got what was coming to him." She noticed the look Cooler was giving her. "I was a woman scorned, Cooler. If the Child Queen chooses to follow through with your proposition, then you must promise her something; something to keep her from smothering you in your sleep."
"I was thinking of only letting her remain as queen to her people. She'd only need to be with me when I request her. Other than that, she could happily remain in Sirocco and just give me control of her land and armies. Life goes on as if nothing ever happened. Simple."
Coryza nodded. "And if she refuses?"
"I'll let my imagination run on that one."
Serori looked out into the marketplace from her place on the steps leading to the palace. From her perch, she could see Bulma sitting on the side of one of the fountains. She was surrounded by some of the children who dwelled inside Regia walls. Wearing a white lehenga choli, she appeared almost angelic among the children. They all seemed to want her attention and she tried her best to give it to all of them.
"She certainly has a way with the younglings," Serori mumbled to herself.
"That's only because they haven't heard that venomous tongue of hers yet," Vegeta grumbled from behind his mother. He heard her chuckle softly as he walked up beside her. "Who told her to leave the palace? In case she's forgotten, she's supposed to be in Zephyrus under lock and key."
Serori looked at her son. "Did you not see the poor girl this morning? She looked so down. Besides, I gave that blonde girl a few tips on how to get Bulma to safety should anything happen." The call of a bird distracted both Serori and Vegeta. They glanced up towards the sky and saw the bird in question. "A hawk? Well that can't be good."
Vegeta narrowed his eyes. He turned to see that Bulma had stopped at a vendor and was looking over whatever he was selling. "I'll go alert the army. Bring the woman back inside. She cannot be seen by anyone under Frieza's control," he said.
"As you wish, son." Serori began descending the steps.
Vegeta's council had gathered in less than ten minutes. They stood in the barracks, discussing the new development. The Saburran army did not send written messages using crows. Instead, they used different types of fowl. A hawk meant that a foreign and possibly hostile presence was getting closer to the citadel-like city.
"Are we sure this is Frieza?" Paragus asked.
"Who else could it be? We already know Frieza was heading here. Coryza is most likely headed to Sirocco with Cooler. The scouts have not reported any other invading army except Frieza's," Nappa replied.
Bardock nodded. "True. But let's not forget that we've lost some scouts in the process. We're also still waiting to hear back from the scouts His Grace sent to the Gran Bosque," he said. He turned his attention to Vegeta. "Any plans, Your Grace?"
Vegeta flinched at how Bardock addressed him. Somehow, the sound of that honorific no longer felt right unless it was coming from a certain blue-haired siren's mouth. He mentally shook off his discomfort and crossed his arms over his chest. "Let them come. However, no soldier remains alive."
"Not even Frieza?" Raditz seemed confused at Vegeta's orders.
"Frieza is my responsibility. The rest of the army is disposable. Ready our men for combat. Kakarrot, make sure the woman and her sidekicks remain invisible. In case any soldier gets away, we can't have them knowing about her survival." Vegeta turned on his heel and began to walk away. He had to arm himself.
Bulma was saddened when Kakarrot came to usher her back into the palace. She had been having a good time with the children of Regia. While they were definitely different from the children in her country, children were still children. They were inquisitive about everything from her hair as to why she was so pale. One of them had even suggested she get more sunlight. I suppose I don't spend that much time outside anyway. I'm only outside when training or walking the streets, she mused.
"What is the meaning of this?" Chichi asked Kakarrot. He seemed surprised that she'd willingly spoken to him and gave her a wide grin. Chichi sighed and rolled her eyes. "Why are we being forced back into the palace?"
"Well, we're about to have a few visitors. Since Her Grace is supposed to be held captive in Sirocco, we can't let anyone see her. We have to keep up the illusion that she's still a prisoner," Kakarrot said as he escorted them up the large steps leading to the palace.
The queen glanced around and saw soldiers people coming through the streets. They looked like normal citizens. Then she remembered that Saburrans did not fight with armor. The men and women were dressed as simple commoners. Glancing up, Bulma could see that the archers who were usually lazing about were alert and staring out towards the far wall.
"Kakarrot, is there a place I can watch?" Bulma asked as they went through the large front doors.
Kakarrot looked down at her. Vegeta said just to hide her, but he never said she could not watch. He usually did not read between the lines of his best friend's orders, but now seemed to be as good a time as any to make an exception. He looked around for a moment, making sure no one was listening. Then he leaned in closely to the women. "Go down this hall and make a left at the fork. Four rooms down on the right, there is a small room with a few windows. You should be able to see and hear everything from there. Make sure you stay low and maybe you should wrap your hair up, Bulma. I've gotta go now." He walked off away from them.
Juu noticed Chichi and Bulma looking at her. Sighing, she started to walk towards the indicated corridor. "Follow me."
Frieza was fuming. He was bound and also tied to the horse he was perched on. One of his high-ranking soldiers walked alongside the horse, holding the reins. He made a mental note to kill this soldier later on. He glared towards the front of the procession to see he second-in-command leading the way. He would have to go as well. This whole situation was unacceptable. And I bet my left nut Coryza had something to do with this. Does she plan on just handing me over to the Saburrans? What purpose does that serve? Coryza's reasoning for sending him to Saburra was simply to let Vegeta know of her intentions of moving on Sirocco. Such a move was likely to draw him out of Regia so that another wave of Ostruman soldiers could take the city. Clearly all of that was a lie. The next time I see that bitch, it won't be pretty...
The procession of the Ostruman army had entered the city of Regia about 10 minutes ago. The walk to the palace was longer than Frieza initially thought. He glanced around at the residents of the great city; all dark-haired and dark-eyed. Their clothing was simple and most were barefoot on the hot sandy, cobblestone of the streets. They gave the group vicious stares and pulled the children away from the horses. Frieza smirked as he saw some of the young women moving to make room for them. If there was one thing he could applaud the Saburrans on, it was that their women were fine specimens indeed.
The closer they got to the palace, the barer the streets got. They passed through something of a marketplace and the army stopped right at the steps leading to the palace. Waiting at the foot of the stairs were two large, brawny men. Frieza recognized one of them as Bardock, one of the advisors to the past king. Apparently he still held his position.
"We wish to see King Vegeta. We are here on business, not to battle," Frieza's former right-hand man said loud enough for everyone to hear. Frieza rolled his eyes.
Bardock took his eyes off of the man before him and gave the army a good look. They were armed to the teeth and even a few archers were poised to strike if things went sour. The older man brought his attention back to the soldier before him. "You brought an entire battalion for business? For what reason do you need to see the king?"
"We have something, or rather someone for him." The soldier made a motion with his left hand. Bardock felt Raditz tense beside him and shook his head. The man was only motioning towards Frieza, who sat bound to a horse a few yards back.
"Very well. The king should be here momentarily," Bardock said easily.
A few nervous moments passed before everyone heard Vegeta's deliberate steps as he descended the steps. He was looking over the army that crowded the streets. It was a good size, but they had no idea they were surrounded and completely outnumbered. He was pretty sure that his army was not even needed; the women and children in the surrounding dwellings could have easily done away with the majority. Yes, Saburran women are probably far more vicious than the men, especially when they're young are endangered. A foreign army would definitely put them in a merciless mood, he thought with a sense of pride in his people.
As he reached the landing, Vegeta's eyes drifted to the man who was apparently the leader of the expedition. He set about playing along with the charade for the moment. "You crossed the border, entered my land without my consent, and yet you do nothing but head directly for Regia without conflict. What trickery are you up to?" he asked the man.
"King Cooler offers you vengeance. He also offers a chance to put this conflict to rest with a bargain," the man said.
"Oh? Your king bargains with another's life?" Vegeta nodded his head towards Frieza. "If that is how your king treats his own blood, how can I trust anything he says?"
"You have the Queen Mother's word that no danger will befall your kingdom as long as you keep up your end of the deal."
Vegeta nodded. "So now it's Coryza's word I'm supposed to trust? Forgive me if I am not that easily persuaded. It is laughable, seeing how she killed her own husband and is now offering up her stepson for slaughter by my hand. The Colds are anything but trustworthy, least of all to their own blood. It runs as thin as water." He took in the appearance of the taller man. "What's your name, soldier?"
"Zarbon, Your Grace," came the somewhat confident reply.
Though Zarbon put on a brave face, the young king could smell the fear rolling off this man in waves. He was terrified of what was to become of him and his men after Frieza was handed over. As he should be, Vegeta thought drolly.
"And I am just supposed to allow you and the rest of this army to waltz back the way you came without so much as a fight?" Vegeta inquired blandly.
Zarbon cleared his throat nervously. "I am in no position to tell His Grace to do anything. However, I humbly request that you allow us to leave without further conflict. Our only orders were to deliver Prince Frieza," he replied quickly.
Vegeta nodded and turned away from the man to look at Bardock and Raditz. His eye caught something in a window of the palace. He shook his head and turned his attention back to Bardock and Raditz for their counsel.
Bulma sank a bit lower beneath the window. She was positive that Vegeta had just seen her. She could hear what was being said rather clearly. It seemed like the entire city was listening even though only those within the immediate area could hear. While she had been listening to the conversation, she found herself being distracted by the noble demeanor of Vegeta. He just seemed so regal in this situation. Bulma had never paid much attention to men before meeting Vegeta, but she had to admit that he was quite easy on the eyes. He was wearing what she could only assume was what Saburrans went into battle wearing: a sleeveless shirt and pants that conformed to his body's every curve with white boots. Bulma almost certain that in real battle, the shirt was optional.
"Did you hear me, Bulma?" Chichi's voice broke through Bulma's thoughts.
"Huh?" she mumbled. She felt Chichi elbow her and she turned her head sharply. "What is it?"
Chichi rolled her eyes. "They're bringing Prince Frieza to the front. Do you think they'll fight right here and now?" she asked.
Bulma stared at Vegeta as he spoke to Bardock and Raditz. "No. I don't think he plans on fighting Frieza at all. I think Vegeta has something else planned," she said quietly.
"Knowing him, he'll have the army kill the Ostrumans just for wasting his time," Juu said with a snort. Both Chichi and Bulma glared over at her. She shrugged. "What? The Saburrans are warriors. If you haven't noticed, they live for that kind of thing. King Vegeta sure puts enough emphasis on it."
"I don't see the point in killing the Ostrumans if they're just giving Frieza up without a fight," Chichi said, voicing her displeasure. "It's unnecessary. They've been nothing but respectful."
Juu snorted again. "You two are unbelievable when it comes to your optimistic beliefs. I actually expected you to be a little more versed in this sort of thing, Chichi. You are technically a soldier. Maybe following Bulma around has made you forget the darker side of war," she said sarcastically. Chichi opened her mouth to respond to Juu's accusation when Bulma nudged her.
"Something is happening."
Vegeta faced Zarbon again. The tied-up Frieza stood beside him, looking like an angry hornet. Smirking, Vegeta observed the two. "I take it you're directly under Frieza," he said. He stepped up to Frieza and grabbed him by his tied hands. "Betrayal is a nasty bitch, isn't she?"
"She certainly is," Frieza growled out at him. Vegeta grunted and pushed Frieza towards Raditz. Raditz grabbed him and held him still.
In one swift movement, Vegeta drew his sword and impaled Zarbon through his stomach. He twisted it, earning a pained gasp from Zarbon. "I will not play Coryza's little game. I am not a pawn she can use at will. I am not her own personal executioner," Vegeta said slowly as he pulled the sword from Zarbon's abdomen. Zarbon was standing still as stone with his eyes wide. He fell to his knees seconds later and Vegeta relieved him of his head. Vegeta turned his back on Zarbon while sheathing his sword and began ascending the steps to the palace.
Frieza watched in veiled horror as Zarbon's head rolled around on the ground and his blood stained the cobblestone. "I see you and the Child Queen have the same penchant for beheading people," he said quietly. Vegeta heard Frieza's comment clearly and simply smirked as he continued to ascend the steps. Frieza turned his head to look at Vegeta. "You know Cooler won't let this go unpunished. He liked Zarbon very much. Are you really just going to let an entire army roam free in your lands?" Frieza asked with a small grin.
Vegeta stopped walking and faced Frieza once again. "I didn't plan to," he said simply. Frieza's grin disappeared.
Bulma's eyes widened as she watched the slaughter begin. The Ostruman army was attacked from all sides. They never saw it coming. There were screams of agony and the sound of metal meeting metal. She watched as Vegeta kept leisurely walking up the steps. He did not look back once. As soon as he disappeared from sight, Bulma got to her feet and ran out of the room. Chichi and Juu looked at one another before rising and chasing after her.
The king was coming through doors of the palace when he saw Bulma turn the corner. He slowed his pace and watched her run towards him. "Woman, running is doing nothing for your injuries," he said as she stopped in front of him.
"What are you going to do with Frieza?" Bulma asked quickly. She could still hear the sounds of the massacre going on just outside the palace.
"Toss him in the deepest, darkest part of the dungeon and leave him in there until I feel like it. Would you like to have a word with him?"
"He most likely knows that Coryza has taken Sirocco and thinks that she has me imprisoned. Since he isn't going anywhere in the near future, I don't see the hurt in rubbing it in his face that he's been betrayed for what amounts to no reason," Bulma responded. She smiled when Vegeta raised an eyebrow at her. "What?"
"So you want to rub it in his face? Such a wicked woman you are," he said.
"I'm not wicked." Bulma uncrossed her arms and stepped up to Vegeta. "By the way, I loved how you handled this situation. Such grace and flair is hard to come by in a warrior like yourself."
Vegeta watched her warily. He leaned down towards her a bit. "Grace is not something I equate with being a warrior, woman. Your flattery will get you nowhere. You will not pick up a weapon even to hand it to someone else until you are completely healed."
Bulma frowned and sighed. "I wasn't buttering you up. Can't I just give you a compliment?"
"Woman, no one gives compliments just for the sake of it."
"I think what you mean is that Saburrans don't give compliments for the sake of it. I am not a Saburran. So take my compliment. Your ruthlessness is to be admired," Bulma reached up and wiped a bit of blood off of Vegeta's face, "Your Grace."
The situation was eerily similar to when Bulma had been the one covered in blood after severing a man's head. Vegeta did not move has her thumb wiped the blood of Zarbon away. He found that he was somehow frozen by her touch. Neither noticed how Bulma's hand lingered on his face, almost cupping his chin. Only Serori clearing her throat behind Vegeta knocked them out of their stupor.
Serori smiled as she watched Vegeta and Bulma step away from one another as if they had been caught doing something very, very naughty. She kept her thoughts to herself and continued to walk towards them. "Frieza is being taken to the dungeons beneath the barracks. The streets are running red with blood. I doubt a single Saburran soldier was injured in that mass execution. It could hardly be called a battle of any sort. One would've thought they would've put up a better fight than that," she said.
Vegeta grunted and looked back at his mother. "Bardock will have them thrown in the Fovea. I can smell the rain already so the streets will be cleansed naturally and the rainwater will drain through tunnels. Problem solved," he said bluntly. Serori nodded but Bulma appeared confused.
"Fovea? What's that?" she inquired.
"A deep hole that no one knows where it leads. Some say if you fall in it that you will simply end up on the other side of the world. I don't know about that but I do know that even in the storm season, it does not even fill with water," Serori answered.
"So you'll just toss the bodies down there?" Bulma glanced between Serori and Vegeta. Serori nodded curtly. "Well that doesn't sound nice. In Zephyrus, we burn the bodies and scatter their ashes in the wind as a sign of respect."
"Pyres are reserved for those who have died honorably in a great battle, woman," Vegeta said with a smirk. He began to walk away. "Perhaps after I've eaten I'll be inclined to take you on a little excursion to see Frieza. Until then, woman," he tossed over his shoulder.
Bulma watched him go. "Until then, Your Grace."
Later, Vegeta inhaled as he looked out over Regia from his balcony. Just as Serori had described it, the streets were red with blood. The bodies of the slain were still being carted off. For the most part, the streets remained empty and the blood-soaked cobblestone was visible to him. The smell of blood mixed with the smell of the incoming storm and the king relished it. From the sound of the thunder, Vegeta figured the storm was an hour or two away.
His mind shifted from the storm to Bulma. Eventually, they would have to go back to Zephyrus. As soon as her ribs were healed enough to do so, they would have to confront the Colds in Sirocco. But what about Frieza? Where does he fit into all of this? It occurred to Vegeta suddenly that he did not know enough about Cooler to guess how he would react to certain situations.
Coryza usually acts on her own. The war has been fought solely on her terms. Cooler has had almost no say in it. How would Cooler respond to news of Frieza's execution? Surely it would not be as apathetic as Coryza's reaction. He seems to value family quite a bit more than she does. Or does he... The fact that Vegeta could not predict Cooler by his personality bugged him to no end. The actual ruler of Ostrum was a complete mystery to him. Perhaps Coryza planned it this way.
A knock on his door shook him from his thoughts. Before Vegeta could stop him, Ponos bounded towards the door and nearly went through it before Vegeta's harsh whistle sounded. "Heel," the king said. Ponos sat back on his hind legs and watched as the king opened the door. A few servants stood there with trays of food. Vegeta opened the door further and they came in to set his table. One of the many servants held a large tray reserved for Ponos. He sat it down in front of the canis. However, Ponos did not eat. Instead, he looked at Vegeta. The king was paying him no mind, instead watching as his own place was being set. Once the servants filed out of the room, Vegeta took a seat and glanced over at one of his most loyal friends. "Eat," he said. Both of them dug in.
"Do you not think them completely barbaric, Bulma?" Chichi asked as she brushed Bulma's hair. She sat out in the courtyard with Juu and Bulma. The queen was sitting beneath Chichi, staring at the statues.
"I think they're magnificent," Juu said wistfully. "They're naturally gifted warriors. I'm sure if you give an untrained boy a weapon, he could easily take out a seasoned veteran in any other army."
Chichi rolled her eyes. "Children fighting... That's preposterous and barbaric."
Juu chuckled. "Says the girl who has been training to fight since she could walk. By your logic, the Praestes are the most barbaric people on Tenebris. Your kind is bred for battle."
"My kind is just as Zephyrean as you or the queen. We are not bred. We are just a clan that are the sworn protectors of the Royal House of Zephyrus." Chichi sat the brush down and began braiding Bulma's hair once more.
"Leave it down for now, Cheech," Bulma said softly. Chichi appeared confused for a moment, but then began to take the braids out. Bulma looked up at the darkening sky. Like Vegeta said, clouds were rolling in and she could smell the unmistakable scent of rain. "The strength, poise, and discipline that the Saburrans have shown should be admired and applauded. They are not barbaric in the least. That is just their way. I'm sure some of our customs seem a bit off to them."
"Like funeral pyres for invading armies?" Juu piped with a smirk.
The queen chuckled. "Like funeral pyres. Although, I am curious to see what that giant hole looks like. The Fovea, I believe it is called. A giant hole with no end?"
"It's probably nothing more than a sunken well," Chichi replied. "A really, really deep well."
A flash of lightning made all three ladies glance up at the sky. The following thunder made them flinch. Juu stood from her place across from the other two women. "We should get inside. I've heard the storms in Saburra can be quite the spectacle," she said, still looking at the sky warily. Both Bulma and Chichi had also stood but Chichi was the only one moving to leave with Juu. "Your Grace?"
Bulma continued to gaze up at the large mass of clouds as they rolled in. She shook her head. "I'll come in a moment. You two go ahead without me." Sensing that Chichi was about to object, Bulma looked in her direction. "We're in a secure courtyard. There's only one way in or out. I'm pretty sure I'll be safe for the next five minutes."
Chichi bit her lip but did not say anything. She nodded and started to walk towards the entrance to the courtyard. Juu followed her, looking back a few times at their queen. Bulma's back was to them as the wind began to blow.
After her compatriots were gone, Bulma closed her eyes and stood still. It had been a while since she'd just stopped and listened to the wind. As she listened to the wind howl around her, the sky was growing darker as the storm settled over Regia. A few light drops of rain began to fall. Bulma opened her eyes and looked up. She could see the lightning dancing inside the clouds, the thunder being the soundtrack to the light's dance. Wind, rain, and thunder. Music to my ears, she thought.
Vegeta walked outside. He'd seen the woman's two stooges going back to their quarters without her. If she was not with them, then where was she? Ponos walked slowly beside him. As if the canis could sense who Vegeta was looking for, he took a turn down another hallway. Vegeta raised an eyebrow; Ponos was heading towards the courtyard. Sighing, he followed after his animal companion.
"It's about to storm, mutt. Why've you led me out here?" he mumbled quietly. Ponos came to a stop once they were outside. He sat back on his hind legs and looked forward. Vegeta stepped around the large animal and a gust of wind nearly toppled him. Blinking a few times, he looked ahead of him and he was unsure of what he was seeing.
Bulma was sat on the ground several feet away from him. She was soaking wet and covered in blood. She was crying. Her cries were almost primal in nature. It sounded as if she was experiencing agony, rage, and sorrow all at once. What was she so upset over? And why was she so wet? It was barely sprinkling outside. Where had the blood come from? Was it hers? Before Vegeta could come to any conclusions about Bulma's state, the sight of her seemingly melted away.
What the hell was that? Was it some sort of vision? Vegeta blinked a few times and recognized his surroundings as the palace's courtyard. Bulma was still several feet away from him, but she was standing with her back to him. Her hair was completely down, something he had not seen before. The sheer length of it astounded him. He could see why she kept it in such elaborate braided styles. Bulma appeared to almost be swaying in the wind as she stood there. What was she doing? Vegeta watched her for a few more minutes in silence before stealthily moving towards her.
"Did they not teach you the importance of remaining indoors during..." Vegeta found himself on his back with Bulma's foot on his chest and looking down the business end of his own weapon. How and when had he been disarmed?
The Zephyrean queen blinked a few times. She seemed to notice that it was Vegeta in front of her and not some intruder looking to kill her. She rolled her eyes. "Damnit, Vegeta! I could've killed you!" she yelled at him.
"It would've been fun watching you try," Vegeta retorted while leering up at her. He watched the little queen's eyes widen with anger and tried to keep himself from laughing.
Bulma removed her foot from his sternum and pushed the tip of the sword where her foot had been. "It doesn't look like it would take much. It would be awfully hard not to kill you from this angle, Your Grace," she said.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes at her. His right hand shot up and grabbed Bulma's arm. He pulled her forward as he rose to a sitting position. Bulma gasped as she was still holding his sword to his chest. The king expertly disarmed Bulma. She ended up kneeling with his face mere inches from hers. His sword fell to the ground beside them. For a moment, all they did was stare at one another, unsure of what was to come next.
"I could've hurt you, Vegeta. You... frightened me," Bulma admitted quietly. The rain was now coming down at a steady pace.
"You could never, woman," Vegeta stated calmly.
The two entered another long silence between them. Bulma's hair was now soaked and sticking to her head and Vegeta's normally gravity-defying mane was somewhat lax now. Vegeta took notice of how pale Bulma had gotten. He could see her shiver slightly. Unlike him, she would not be able to stay too long in the rain without getting cold.
"You should go inside, woman. Your feeble body will freeze if you stay out here," he said.
Bulma blinked out of the stupor she was in. "I resent being called feeble, Your Grace. I am as strong as they come and I will go inside when I damn well please," she said.
"Such language from a queen is unbecoming."
"You're definitely one to talk when it comes to the proper language of a monarch." Bulma slowly moved away from him. Vegeta stood up and offered his hand to her. She glanced at it before taking it. He pulled her up. Bulma crossed her arms as she watched him retrieve his sword from the ground. "Sorry about that whole trying to kill you thing. You just really shouldn't sneak up on me. Training with Chichi has its perks."
Vegeta looked at the Zephyrean queen as he sheathed his weapon. By now, they were both drenched. Vegeta stepped forward and took a lock of her hair into his hands. Bulma stood still as stone, watching as he examined her. He really had no concept of personal space, but she was not about to push him away. Instead she closed her eyes as his hand came close to her cheek. Vegeta noticed her shiver slightly as his hand grazed her cheek.
"As I said before, you could never," he whispered his reply.
Kakarrot walked swiftly down the halls of the palace. He could not find Vegeta anywhere. The soldier had been searching for at least 30 minutes. The palace in Regia was not exactly small so the task was indeed tedious. It was not until he saw Chichi and Juu walking towards Bulma's guest quarters that he felt he might actually get somewhere. He noticed that their queen was not with them. Luckily he caught Chichi's eye and waved his arm at her. She quickly looked away and pretended she did not see him. Smiling, Kakarrot began running towards them.
Before Chichi could push Juu down another hallway, Kakarrot caught up to them. He maneuvered his body right in front of them and smiled that big cheesy grin of his. He's the only one I've never seen smile in a completely non-malicious way. Why is he so different from the rest of his compatriots? She noticed he did not seem to even notice Juu there and was looking directly at her. Feeling her cheeks heat up, Chichi glanced away.
Still smiling for having achieved the desired effect, Kakarrot looked at Juu. "Have you seen your queen?" he asked.
"We left her in the courtyard. Why do you ask? Is something wrong?" Juu crossed her arms.
"Well, I don't suppose anything is especially wrong. But I'm trying to find Vegeta. I can't find him anywhere and I really need to find him."
Chichi turned her eyes back to the Saburran. "So why are you asking us about Bulma?"
Kakarrot shifted his weight from foot to foot nervously. "Well, uh, lately they seem to sorta," he tapped his index fingers together, "be drawn towards one another. I figured that wherever she is that he might be close by. I'm actually surprised she isn't with you two."
"Bulma is not drawn to that..."
"We left her in the courtyard. She wanted some alone time," Juu said, preventing Chichi from surely saying something that might offend the Saburran officer. Though he was much more affable than most Saburran men, Juu knew Kakarrot would not take kindly to any insults involving his king and best friend.
"Thanks!" Kakarrot ran past the two as a thunderbolt struck.
Bulma unconsciously flinched at the sound of thunder. The storm was beginning in earnest. I should really go inside, she told herself. But she liked being so close to Vegeta. He was giving off the heat she needed to keep from freezing. "Will you take me to see Frieza?" she asked.
Vegeta held her chin and raised her head. "And what could you possibly have to say to him?"
"Oh I'm sure he knows something we don't know about Sirocco. We could learn a lot from him."
"And you're certain he will talk?" Vegeta noticed the glint in her eye as she smiled innocently at him. "You are sure?"
The queen stepped up closer to Vegeta. "Well, he might not talk... at first."
Ponos' growl caught Vegeta's ears. He'd almost forgotten the animal was out there with them. He tore his eyes away from Bulma just as Ponos pounced on someone who walked through the doors. The canis began to wrestle with whoever it was. Vegeta rolled his eyes when he noticed it was just Kakarrot.
Kakarrot maneuvered himself around so that he was on top of Ponos. He looked up at the king and smiled. "Hey, Vegeta! I've been looking all over for you! Why are you two out in the rain?" he asked. It did not escape his notice that the two monarchs were scandalously close to one another.
The king took a small, barely noticeable step away from Bulma as she turned to face Kakarrot. "That's none of your concern. Why have you come looking for me? What do you want?"
Kakarrot released Ponos and made it to his feet. "Well, the scouts made it back. They brought some people with them; two men. One is really short and the other sorta looks like that blonde girl. They're in the infirmary getting patched up."
Bulma's eyes lit up and she began walking towards Kakarrot quickly. "Was the short guy bald?"
"Uh, yeah," the Saburran replied. The queen smiled and rushed past Kakarrot. "Wait! Do you know them?" He turned and faced Vegeta, who was approaching him at a much slower pace. Vegeta shook his head and followed after Bulma, motioning for Ponos to come along.
When Bulma made it to the infirmary, she could hardly contain her glee has she saw Krillyn and Juuna examining their newly wrapped wounds. Without thinking of her own healing ribs, she ran towards the two and pulled them into a hug before they could escape her.
"It's nice to see you too, Your Grace," Krillyn said quietly. Bulma released them and looked them over in silence. "We're fine. These are nothing major. Just some cuts that needed re-wrapping and cleaning. We'll be okay."
Bulma nodded slowly. "You must tell me what happened to the others. How is Sirocco? What about Maron? Did she get away with the Royal Guard and Yamcha? Did anyone else sur..."
"Let them answer one question before you ask twenty more," Vegeta said as he entered the room. Bulma turned her head and glared at him. "They can't answer if you're constantly flapping your lips."
"You know what..."
"The Royal Guard was slain and the carriage was empty when I found it," Krillyn quickly stepped in. He knew how Vegeta and Bulma could argue for days once they got started. "Maron and Yamcha were not among the bodies there. Many of the detail were either killed or dragged back to Sirocco."
"What about Sirocco?"
Juuna sighed. "The city was under siege when I made it back. I met up with Krillyn and we decided to come here to see you."
Bulma raised an eyebrow. "How did you know I was here? How did you know I wasn't in the..."
"I saw you escape on Bella with Chichi. I didn't say anything because I didn't want anyone to follow you," he replied.
The queen nodded and took in what they were saying. Then she turned to face Vegeta. "Take me to him."
Frieza looked at the shackles around his wrists. The chains were bolted to the ground. They were long chains that gave Frieza the freedom to walk around his cell, but he still could not too far to the door. The Saburrans had not said much to him since chaining him to the floor. He just sat quietly in the dimly lit cell, listening to the storm outside.
The Saburrans aren't as barbarous as I initially thought. At least they have the decency to keep these cells clean, the prince thought. What shall I do when I get my hands on that loathsome woman? He thought of all the ways he could kill Coryza for embarrassing him like this.
The sound of a door opening brought Frieza out of his musings. He sat up straight as he heard several footsteps. Soon, Vegeta's body came into view. Smirking, Frieza relaxed against the wall as the king came to a stop in front of his cell. "The good king has arrived. You'll have to excuse me if I don't rise for the occasion," he retorted.
Vegeta narrowed his eyes and brought out a key. He swiftly unlocked the door and stepped in. After surveying the room for possible threats, he glanced at Frieza. "Woman," he called. Vegeta almost laughed when he saw the look on Frieza's face.
The Ostruman prince watched Bulma walk around Vegeta. It had been so long since he had actually come face to face with her that he'd almost forgotten how far she'd come from being a chubby-faced girl with big glassy eyes. Even though she was currently soaking wet and far from her best, he could see why Cooler had something of a soft spot for her.
"You seem surprised to see me, Frieza. I understand that we haven't seen one another in quite a while, but surely I cannot have changed all that much since our last meeting." Bulma stopped advancing and stood at least 10 feet away from Frieza as he sat against the wall. She watched him rise from his seat and begin approaching her.
"I suppose I should be surprised to see you. For whatever reason, my stepmother seems to think that you are in Sirocco, being held as a prisoner in your own palace," Frieza said plainly. The chains on his shackles caught and he could not go any further. However, he was only a few feet from Bulma. Had his hands not been bound, he would have been able to reach out and touch her from his position.
Bulma narrowed her blue eyes. "In a way, I am being held captive in Sirocco. But what she doesn't know won't hurt her. Tell me what I can expect from them."
Frieza snorted and turned his back on Bulma. He began walking towards a small cot in the far corner. "I thought it would be clear as day how Coryza operates, little queen. She has never been one for the direct approach. She'll probably just blow a lot of hot air to get that idiot to come out of hiding." He made a gesture towards Vegeta. The Saburran king let out a low growl and Frieza flashed him a grin.
"Everyone knows how that vile woman thinks. Tell us about Cooler."
"Cooler?" Frieza sat down and faced them. "What's there to know? He's a pigeon for Coryza. He does whatever she says without question. He's only king in name, but I'm sure you already knew that. But every now and then he surprises me."
Vegeta became interested in their conversation. "How so?"
"You think I'll just hand you over such sensitive information? No one truly knows the workings of my brother's mind except for me. There are things about him that even Coryza doesn't know and he will do anything to keep it that way."
"Things like what?"
Frieza looked at Bulma and laughed. "Let's just say that you were very smart to politely decline his marriage proposal. Though your method of said declination might have given him some... inspiration."
This made Vegeta glare at the back of Bulma's head. "He proposed to you?"
Bulma chose to ignore his inquiry for now. She trained her gaze on Frieza once again. "So you will tell me nothing?"
Frieza yawned and relaxed back on the cot. "Why should I? You've got me chained up like some common criminal. No. I will sit here and patiently wait. I will sit here and think of the different ways I can slit that pretty little ivory neck of yours."
The queen simply grunted and turned on her heel. She left the cell without another word. Vegeta waited a moment, still glaring at Frieza. Then he left as well and tossed the keys to a guard. Frieza's grin never left his face.
Bulma was storming down the hallways of the palace. She was almost to her quarters. She could hear that Vegeta had caught up with her, but she did not slow down. "I need to go back, Vegeta. I can't stay here," she called over her shoulder. "I don't care what you say. I'm leaving in the morning and that's..." The words were caught in her throat as a hand closed around her right arm. In a flash, she found her back against the wall and Vegeta trapping her against the wall. "Vegeta..."
"Damnit, woman! We've had this discussion several times already. You are not going anywhere but to your quarters. If I have to chain you down there with Frieza, I will. You'll only be walking into a trap and you know it. Why can't you fucking understand that?" Vegeta's voice was low and while his threat was light, his voice made it sound as if he planned on executing her.
"Don't you dare take that tone with me! What the hell don't you understand, Vegeta? I have a duty to my people and..."
"You have a duty to LIVE, woman. What good are you to your people DEAD? You claim you hate being known as the Child Queen, but right now you are doing nothing to dispel the notion of being anything more than a brat who throws a tantrum when things don't go her way." He was getting extremely frustrated with how incredibly stubborn Bulma could be. He knew he had his moments, but this was ridiculous. He watched her bottom lip tremble in anger. She was two seconds away from screaming her head off at him. Vegeta dropped his left arm from the wall and put his weight on his right arm. He leaned in closer to Bulma's ear. "In this alliance, we are supposed to protect one another. I am trying my damnedest to protect you, but you are fighting me off at every turn. Let those who have sworn to protect you do their job." His voice had gone from harsh to somewhat soft.
Bulma inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly. She relaxed the tension in her body and looked away from Vegeta. "I'm sorry. It's just... I'm not accustomed to just sitting by and waiting. I'm not used to losing." She faced Vegeta once more. "You know, Baba always told me I was too emotional. She said I needed to start thinking with my head instead of my heart."
"The old bat was right." He placed his free hand over her heart. "You only need to fight with your heart," he whispered. Their noses were touching. Bulma subconsciously lifted her head to meet his. Just before anything could happen, the door beside them swung open. Vegeta quickly moved away from Bulma and glared at the intruder.
Chichi knew she had just interrupted something by the way Vegeta was trying to set her on fire with his eyes. It also did not help that Bulma's face was flushed with embarrassment. Then she took in Bulma's general appearance. "Your Grace, you're soaked! You must change before you catch your death! Being in those clothes cannot be good for your ribs," she said. She motioned for Bulma to come inside quickly.
"Give me a moment, Cheech. I'll be right in." Bulma noticed the incredulous look her guardian was giving her. "I mean it. Vegeta won't let me go anywhere anyway."
Vegeta watched Chichi give him one last withering glance before returning to the room and shutting the door. "That raven is too familiar for my liking."
Bulma chuckled. "No more familiar than Kakarrot is with you." She turned her head towards him. Taking a few steps up to him, she paused for a moment. Then before Vegeta could react, she rose up and pecked him on his cheek. "Goodnight, Your Grace." Bulma did not allow Vegeta to respond. She quickly went into her quarters and closed the door softly, leaving a bewildered Vegeta standing there.