Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters.

Chapter Twenty Four

There was someone in here. Vegeta could feel it, the presence of another being. As he woke, he slowly got up and looked around for someone to be there but there wasn't anyone. With a sigh, he decided that if they were just going to watch him, he wouldn't bother until he got dressed. The prince stood and was shocked to see the beauty of blue laying on his couch by the window. Had she wondered in here at night? He walked over and just before he got within arms reach of her, she jumped. The blue haired saiyan was startled and Vegeta had to dodge a blast from her. A loud bang came from it hitting the wall. "Bulma! You're ok. You're safe!" He tackled her to the ground and held her there.

Bulma, startled and angry from her dream, fought the one holding her but, in her tired state, she couldn't build up the strength to over power him. His words processing. Safe... I'm safe. She looked up, her mind now processing what's going on and she saw the prince over her, holding her down. She was on the ground, next to where she remembered falling asleep. Bulma relaxed slightly under the prince. "Where am I?"

"The better question is how did you get here." Vegeta smirked and stood, bringing her with him. Since they weren't in the training room, with such high gravity, the woman wasn't heavy at all. "When did you get here?"

"You don't have any answers until I get mine." Bulma pushed away from him and crossed her arms.

"You answer my first question and you'll get any answers you want." Vegeta smirked, mimicking the woman in crossing his arms.

"Fine, I got here by walking." Bulma smirked at her well thought but vague words.

"That wasn't my first question." Vegeta turned around and walked to his dresser. He needed to get out of his sleepwear and get ready for the day.

"What do you mean that wasn't your first question?" Bulma got up and followed him. "You asked how I got here and then when did I get here."

Vegeta took off his shirt and smirked as he continued to undress, unabashedly.

Bulma turned away when she realized that he wasn't going to stop and crossed her arms, her foot tapping with annoyance. "You hadn't asked a previous question, prince. What question do you want answered?"

Vegeta chuckled softly, putting on his blue spandex outfit. The prince walked over to the woman in the room and wrapped his arms around her as he stood behind her and whispered in her ear. "Tell me what is on your mind. Tell me what changed you. What hurt you?" He almost regretted the question as he felt her pain again. He didn't like to be the one to bring it up but he needed to know. She wasn't acting like herself... at least, not like she was acting when he was last with her. Could it be that she just wasn't comfortable in a new place?

Bulma shook her head. Anything... anything but thinking about that asshole. "It doesn't matter." her voice full of anger and her power rose slightly. "I told you that I don't want to talk about it."

"Then you won't get an answer to your questions. Now, find your belongings and find something suitable to wear. We are to meet my parents in the meeting room in an hour."

Bulma rolled her eyes. "And where are my belongings?"

"You don't get any answers from me until you give me answers."

In a huff of irritation, the young saiyan left the room in search of her belongings. She was at the dead end of the hallway and saw on either side of her a door. One to her immediate left and a door in the middle of the hall on her right. Hoping that her room was further away from the prince's, she walked into the door on her right. This room was similar to the prince's room but it had much brighter colors. Instead of the dark red and blues, this room had light grey walls with a mural on the ceiling of the Vegeta-si sky. The accents in the room were gold but the main color of the furniture was white. "Hello there." Bulma put her hand out and little ki blasts circled her wrist, ready to attack the one who surprised her. "That looks really cool!" the young male voice said before walking up to her. It was as if a mini prince had walked up to her. They looked a lot alike but the boy looked happy. He didn't look as angry as the prince. "Can you teach me how to do that?" Bulma looked at her outreached arm and remembered that she was preparing for an attack. The ki blasts disappeared and Bulma looked at this new boy again. "My name is Tarble. What's yours?"

Bulma was silent, her mind processing, unused to this upbeat attitude. "Bulma."

"You're my brothers mate to be!" The boy sounded so happy and optimistic. Was this what normal saiyans were like? Or was it just this one that was different? "I was told I'd get to meet you soon." His eyes, though black, were almost like rays of sunshine. If she hadn't spent the last month on a planet with a sun, she wouldn't know what the rays of sun felt like but they were definitely warming and bright. How did the sun's rays feel on this planet? Were they just as warm? If she were to complete her mission, could she choose to keep this planet and stay here instead of the ship? "Why are you in here? Are you lost?" Bulma didn't react to his words as her mind was somewhere else. "I could help you if you would like." He grabbed her hand and walked out of the room, pulling her along with him. She was surprised at herself that she didn't hurt the boy for touching her. "What were you trying to find? The meeting room?"

"Where are my living quarters?" Bulma spoke, her voice almost monotone as this experience didn't feel real.

"You're across the hall from me. Unless you chose to share the room with my brother. Maybe that's what you were looking for. My brother's probably in his room."

"No. To my room." The words quickly spoken. Bulma did not want to talk with him right now. She needed to think up a new strategy with him. She had a mission to complete. But then again... If this Tarble was his brother, maybe she didn't need the older prince to get to the king.

"You are across the hall from me in this room." He guided her to the door closer to the prince's room and when she opened it, she was surprised. It was just as big as the other two. Her belongings were on the bed. "Where did you sleep last night?"

Bulma sighed in slight anger as she remembered how she woke up. "On a couch."

"That's strange. Anyway, I'll let you get ready and I'll see you after the meeting." The boy skipped along the hall back to his room, leaving Bulma alone. The blue saiyan smirked as she closed the door. No longer would she have to use the older prince. This younger one would do just fine to get to the king.

AN: Apologies for not having updated this story in so long and for this being such a short chapter. I'm going through and rereading this story to get my mind back in the headspace to write it more.

Taino Delsan13, I'm glad I peaked your interest.