Chapter 20 - Confession

Stupid, stupid Kakarotto. What was he even expecting? For Chi Chi to forgive him? No, of course, not. It wasn't this simple and he had no right for her forgiveness. Kakarotto sat against the wall and hit his head continuously. He stayed outside, not wanting to scare the female any more by sleeping in the same bed. She needed rest and this she could get by being alone. How could all of this have happen? It was his decision to not have a mate, he knew he couldn't have one. His family died, when both parents and his older brother had been soldiers, leaving him behind. Kakarotto had to survive and learn how terrible the real world outside was at the age of six, strolling about every village and cities his little feet could carry him on. Living everyday throughout meant hunting, stealing and killing. He knew very well how Chi Chi felt and yet it was his words that hurt her the most.

Flashback

"Please, High Commander! Help me! I don't have no money. I have nothing!" The old man begged pitifully on his knees, reaching out for Kakarotto's hand with trembling fingers.

"Don't you dare touch High Commander with your filthy hands!" A soldier barked at the poor saiyan, slapping him across his face hard, but he continued his begging and tried nonetheless even though blood drippled down his chin.

"We've got information that you aid the rebellions into developing new weapons. A rebellion which is slowly but steadily gaining more power," he add coldly, a pile of papers in Kakarotto's hand which he waved to emphasise his words.

"I- I would never do that, sir! I swear!" Old saiyan promised but his brief hesitation and the way he averted his eyes proved opposite of his words.

Kakarotto sighed. "You will have to pay your taxes by 1800 sharp, do you understand?" As no answer came from the old saiyan, the High Commander knelt down on one knee, his face close to the old man's threateningly. "You don't want to make me repeat my words, do you?"

"I-..." Old saiyan gulped heavily, looking at the ground frantically. "I have a niece! I- She can cook well! If you... if you need-"

Surprised at the offer the old saiyan tried to make, Kakarotto raised an eyebrow in response. "You want to sell your niece to cover your debts?"

"I didn't mean to offend you, sir! I just mean-"

Kakarotto gritted his teeth for a split second before he relaxed his jaw again."Okay, sent her to the palace by tomorrow. You shall tell her nothing but to meet me in the palace, understood?" He stood up, walking out of the shabby hut. "Consider your debt paid." As he past the door the High Commander casted one last glance at the pitiful old saiyan's stature. "Tch, nothing ever changed," he said to no-one in particular, more to himself.

"Did you say something, High Commander?" One soldier asked carefully.

"Let's meet the King."

End of flashback

If the old man had not mentioned the offer, he would have never taken her in but he pitied the woman for having such an uncle. If it wasn't him, he would have sold her off to someone else. He knew all too well what other saiyan men were capable of.

What he was capable of.

Kakarotto couldn't stand to see anymore of these victims. He had his plans but changed it for this one woman. By the end she would get her freedom and no-one could order her around or play with her life. This the High Commander promised himself. He would train her enough to survive on her own.

When was it that time changed him? Once he did not care about anyone or anything. He had his own principles and plans but this woman changed him. Made him question himself many times before. It was all too late now. Kakarotto was determined about his feelings and goals.

But it had a price.

It's almost time. His heart felt restless as if he was about to lose something important to him. Or did he already lost it and he didn't know it yet? He sighed. "I'm sorry." Resting his head against the wall, he closed his eyes and dozed off gradually.

Chi Chi rolled around and anxiously waited for the spikey-haired male to come but he didn't. It was better this way, she couldn't look at him without the threat of tears falling down her cheeks. Even if Kakarotto said all these hurtful words, Chi Chi would not easily show her weakness. Less than two years and she would be free, that was what she kept saying to herself despite the fact of hurting her heart. 'Stupid Chi Chi, it's your fault for falling for him. Now shut up and try to sleep.'

Laying to the right - fail.
Laying to the left - fail.
Laying on her back - fail.
Laying on her stomach - fail.

By the time it was already past 300 ITM and she still couldn't get a wink of sleep. Her mind vividly displayed the whole scenario; kidnapping, Gogeta's words and the battle. She needed to talk with Gogeta again. What did he mean when he asked if she remembered him? There was more into it, more than the devices made him act upon. Something that made Chi Chi scared to ask about but simply had to know.

Suddenly the ebony-haired woman felt cold and tugged the blanket over her shivering body. So much happened she couldn't understand nor follow. She sighed weakly. "Let's give it another try."

Several weeks past and Chi Chi had spent her time in the house doing her chores and afterwards visited Bulma and Tarble. Sometimes they even came to pick her up and spent time with her outside the palace, knowing how difficult the situation was between Kakarotto and Chi Chi. At first they tried to bring them back together or, at least, for them to reconcile, but Chi Chi remained silent.

"You have to give him a chance! Let him say whatever he has to say and listen. I don't know the details but this is suffocating!" The albino girl tried but Chi Chi shook her head the umpteenth time. Bulma knew about their pact but remained silent about it since Kakarotto asked them to. She could guess what the problem between them was and it made her crazy. Both obviously loved each other and suffered because of their stubbornness. Kakarotto needed to change this fast or else he might lose her for good. "Is it that bad?" Bulma asked one last time.

Both saiyan females laid on the King and Queen's royal bed, pillows hugged closely to their frames as they stared at the ceiling together. Without their notice, it slowly started to be their hiding place, whenever they wanted to have their woman talk, they retreated to the royal chamber. Since the King of Vegetasei was busy almost all the time, they could used the gigantic chamber for themselves. It had everything one needed; a comfortable lounge, a terrace with the best view to the garden, bathroom which was half the size the chamber itself had and the bedroom section. Everything was provided in the royal chamber except for a kitchen, of course. Which Bulma had insisted to have, too, at some point, but Vegeta preferred otherwise.

As time past the sky changed its colour into a dark orange, Chi Chi rose from the bed. It was time for her to go. A smile filled her lips as the raven-head looked down at the albino woman. "You're a good person, you know that?"

Bulma smirked smugly but was inwardly very flattered by her words. "I know, right? It was time you noticed."

"Arrogant and snobbish, too, of course," Chi Chi added, playfully rolling eyes at the giggling woman. "But I love you!" With a delightful squeak the ebony-haired woman jumped into her friend's arms and embraced her lovingly.

"Ahem." Both women froze in spot and looked up to see from whom the voice came from. It was King Vegeta, who stood with crossed arms at his majestic bed. Mutely he gazed at the females with an raised eyebrow who giggled awkwardly in response. "We didn't hear you coming in, darling," Bulma grinned. Chi Chi quickly let go of Bulma and jumped off of the bed while Bulma turned on her side comfortingly, resting on her head on her hand. "See you tomorrow, Chi!"

"See you tomorrow," Chi Chi called out as she walked toward the exit of their chamber, turning around one last time and waving at the royal couple. Bulma stood on her knees behind the King and forced his hand to wave back as she held on it like a puppeteer, the albino waved with her free hand. "Bye, bye!" At the hilarious picture Chi Chi convulsed with laughter whilst exiting the chamber. Dare the soldiers attempt the same, though. Death was all written over Vegeta's face.

No guard dared twitching a muscle but closed the door as the royal couple's guest had left the chamber.

"Kakarotto is a mess thanks to her," Vegeta said, turning around to face his beautiful queen and throwing off the red cape he carried on his shoulders day in and out. Finally he could stretch out his sore muscles. "I never saw him this way. He fucking likes her."

"It's time for him to notice or he will lose her. His fault for hurting her feelings. He shouldn't have done it if he knew he would suffer like this," Bulma sighed, brushing her delicate fingers past her hair. With time she got to know the raven-haired woman, she came to treasure Chi Chi a lot.

"He has his reasons. You know how hard it is for him and yet he changed his plans for her."

"I know. He's my childhood friend and that's why I wish for him to be happy and let go of his past!" She proclaimed, but to whom was she saying it? Vegeta felt just like her even when he was not voicing it aloud.

"He will be awake soon."

Chi Chi was in the beautiful garden again, a view that mesmerised her every time since she laid her eyes on. Colourful flowers and the fountain in the middle of the small park-like garden warmed her heart. Branches for little rests or whenever one felt like being part of the part of the breath-taking picture. Too bad this place was related to him. Chi Chi sighed. Avoiding the High Commander every single day exhausted the female and turned it into a challenge without rest.

Opening the door reluctantly, her onyx eyes searched for any trace of the Commander. There was nothing that gave away his presence. Shrugging it off as an okay, the saiyan female entered the house and closed the door behind her. Defeated from all the tension, Chi Chi sat down on the leather couch and made herself comfortable, closing her eyes. Many things went through her mind as of how everything began with Kakarotto, her childhood in the village, the words Gogeta said. From the day on since her parents died, everything changed drastically for the woman. Even her life with her uncle she came to accept but then he sold her off and everything changed again.

"Chi."

He was here. Chi Chi opened her eyes again and readied her tense body for any avoidance she could make. Without answering the saiyan female stood up and walked toward the bathroom, where should could be alone, even if it was for a moment.

"Chi." Kakarotto tried again, softly.

The way he said her name made her heart beat faster, sending shivered down her spine at the thought of him touching her. For this very reason she hated herself the most at how she allowed the man who made her suffer so much, had full control of her emotions and heart. Chi Chi walked head on to the bathroom.

"Chi Chi!"

Shocked as her whole name was called out by Kakarotto, who never often said it, stopped her tracks. She looked at Kakarotto straight in the eyes. He stood right before her, fidgeting. Never had Chi Chi seen him this nervous before.

"I can't stand it anymore. For weeks you have ignored me. I remained silence, knowing I have no right to anything but I can't take it anymore. Let me say what I wanted to say on that day," Kakarotto said. After having hurt her so much, she deserved to know the truth behind all this. He walked toward her steadily.

"No," Chi Chi shook her head stubbornly and by some strange reason her eyes watered and clouded her vision. With all her might, she held them back from falling. She was sick of all this, weak and just wanted it to end.

"Chi Chi."

"No! No, I don't want to listen to you, okay? I've have enough already!" Chi Chi exploded, not master of her tears and emotions anymore. "You bought me in as a slave, I know! I'm just a pretentious fiancée, I know! What else do you want from me? You already have everything I own. Everything!" Including my heart... Kakarotto pulled the crying woman into a tight embrace. "Let me go!" Desperately she tried to push him away and shake him off but he remained unshaken.

"I'm sorry!" Kakarotto said earnestly and made Chi Chi stop her pushing and shaking abruptly. As the spikey-head gained her ears and attention, he repeated his words again, softer. "I'm sorry, Chi Chi. All the bad things I said to you... I never meant them. It's because I was jealous of you and Gogeta."

Chi Chi shook her head unbelievably, What was he saying? "No, it's all a trick. You don't mean what you say. I understood you long ago that I should be always obedient and never to fall in love with you. That's what you said! Stop playing with me already!" Chi Chi punched his chest in protest and tried to free herself from his iron grip again.

"I made mistake! How could I ever know it would turn out like this?" Kakarotto said more to himself, his head fell down briefly, hopelessly before he locked their gazes again. "Everything I said before was wrong. You're not slave to me. You never were. From the first day on you impressed me. You never backed down and kept fighting, even when you were scared or felt like crying. You showed me many side of you and it mesmerised me. It was I who denied all this and said words I never meant. Do you understand what I want to say, Chi Chi?" Cupping her cheeks in his calloused hands, he tilted her head toward his. Suddenly he captured her rosy lips and kissed her tenderly. "I love you," he whispered against her lips.

a/n: Thank you all for your reviews! Isha, you keep motivating me to write, thank you so much for all the time you are waiting. I'm happy knowing you lovely readers waiting for my chapters and liking it. I hope this one is to your favour! Please, share your opinions with me for I want to know all of them!