Chapter 3 - Questions
Outside, the birds were singing. Vegeta, Bulma and the children were sitting at the breakfast table. Bulma was just pouring a cup of coffee when she heard a small explosion outside. Irritated, Vegeta got up and walked to a large window, his wife came to stand beside him. It was their guests; it looked like training or something. Bulma looked at her husband "what are they doing?" Vegeta said nothing, he didn't know.
A few minutes later, the family walked out to find out more. Lilly sat meditating on the ground. Vino stood at the side leaning on her stick while her tail swung from side to side. Vino formed a ball of energy in her hand and threw it at her daughter who then dodged it. "That was too close, you need to react faster." The girl nodded "yes mother". The girl sat back down. Vino turned around "Good morning my prince, Madam Bulma".
Bulma watched as Vino and her husband shared a look. Somewhere a jealous feeling crept up on her; there must still be something between these two. Vegeta grinned at his ex-mate "need help training?" The blue haired woman looked at her guest, who began to smile politely. "That will be interesting, but you're fighting technique is too brutal for Lilly." Vegeta went to stand next to Vino "she needs to get faster right?"
Trunks also joined the fighters "I would also like to help". Bulma placed her hands on her hips "And where do you plan to do that? Certainly not in this garden!" Vino made a polite bow "excuse me; I will quickly repair the damage done earlier". Bulma looked at a small hole in the garden "oh that's nothing, but you guys better train somewhere outside the city". Vegeta took the lead "just follow me, I know the perfect place". Everyone flew into the air; Bulma was left alone with Bulla on her hand.
Mother and daughter walked back to the house together "and what are your plans little princess?" Bulla jumped up and down "Grandma had promised to bake cookies with me." The girl hopped over to her grandparents' house further down the grounds. With a smile she looked her daughter after "then I'll go put on some overalls and see what we can do with that flying metal junk."
Arriving in the bedroom, she picked up jumpsuit from the floor where it had been left the night before. She stepped into it and pulled it up, she pulled the zipper closed and looked at the desk. For a moment Bulma sighed deeply, she knew what she was doing was wrong. But Vino's diary was lying there, and somehow she was curious about the story, in her defense Vegeta didn't say anything about that time either. She wanted to know what she had gotten into the house. She pulled the booklet out from under the photo album:
It was another mission today, my heart weeps for the creatures that faced us. Currently we are in "fighting lessons" with the Saiyan team. When I was up against an "enemy" I hesitated for a moment, but the brutal prince made the kill in my place. He looked at me sternly and shook his head in disapproval. How can someone be so terribly cold, does this man have any feelings at all? But maybe I was wrong; the prince ignored a few frightened children who stood in his way. When he walked away we briefly shared a moment, just a small look. But this softer side of his lasted not long; he attacked the enemy again with ease.
As we got ready to go back to the ship the prince addressed me, he wondered why I fought so poorly when in his opinion I was surprisingly strong when needed. Again he stood too close; I guarded my tail because the man can't be trusted. But when I walked away and so did he it was not his hand but his tail that brushed over my tail. Again the damn shocks, when I looked back I saw a change in his eyes, they seemed softer. But maybe I was just dazed by the touch. That man confuses the hell out of me.
Almost angry and sad, Bulma slammed the diary shut. She knew well that of course this was years ago, she had known love before Vegeta too. But somewhere this felt like a sting, she had always been so honest about Yamcha. But Vegeta was just seducing a girl, and not just any girl. That girl was now a woman, a beautiful woman with long white hair and a charming smile. Okay she walks crippled and has a few scars but her grace and beauty were definitely still there. Bulma sure knew why Vegeta once saw something in her.
Vegeta stood with his arms crossed watching his son and Lilly attack each other. The girl was fast, but definitely not fast enough "Trunks make it harder for her, let her see how a Saiyan fights". Suddenly there was a giggling sound behind him, when he turned around he saw Vino sitting against a rock. Vegeta came to stand next to her.
With big golden eyes, Vino looked at him. She smiled "this brings back memories. I hope our children will eventually have an easier future." Vegeta looked away, at the two younger fighters "Trunks doesn't know war like your daughter, we did however, face our fair share of threats here on earth. But he's strong, I'm not worried."
Sighing deeply, Vino closed her eyes "I hope Lilly can take a breather here. That she can just be a teenager for a change. Growing up on a planet that was completely in a state of war. Her father has always trained and prepped her well. But when he was killed just over two years ago in the last battle that was fought, Lilly has always taken on all the responsibility of protecting everybody."
For a moment Vegeta did not know what to say, searching for words he studied the face of the woman beside him. Bravely Vino smiled "you don't have to say anything V, that battle is behind us". Vegeta shook his head "speaking of battles, I think you need another lesson too. That damn right side of you, you still leave it open while fighting". Surprised, the woman looked at the prince for a moment, but then got a mischievous look. Time for a fight.
Trunks was surprised by Lilly's quick movements and ability to react. The girl was nowhere near a super Saiyan level, but ability to see while blind was unmatched. But she only defended, she barely attacked. Suddenly the two fighters stopped, when Trunks looked up his father and Lilly`s mother were sparring.
The girl came to stand next to Trunks "your father is holding back quite a bit now. My mother fights almost calmly." Trunks had to admit that it was indeed a lot slower and calmer. He noticed his father saying things; they were too far to hear what. "I guess dad is teaching her or something?" Lilly nodded yes.
Suddenly, Trunks turned to the girl next to him "who trained you anyway?" With a confident grin, Lilly still looked in her mother's direction. "My parents together, my mother the fighting and my father tactics. As you know my mom is half Saiyan, dad used to call her his little firecracker. My dad was a huge calm man, but good strategist."
A little guilty, Trunks looked down "you must miss him". He suddenly felt a hand on his upper arm, Lilly had moved closer. "Of course, but my daddy is in paradise. When I die I'll see him again. It's okay, he's earned the rest." Surprised, the purple haired boy looked at the young girl, she is so wise but still so young. "Do you want to train again a little?" he finally asked.
Gently Lilly squeezed his arm for a moment as she smiled sweetly "may I attack you now?" Trunks chuckled "I think this is the first time a girl has asked if she can attack me." The two adolescents took up a spot against each other again. Lilly took a bow and flew straight at Trunks, why was she always faster than he thought.
Bulma took papers from the printer and then walked into the hangar. She stared intently at the construction drawing of the ship the Needletail. "What have you got there girl?" Snipp sat on a wing and shouted down. Bulma looked up and waved the papers "a construction drawing, I want to know how it was originally built".
With great ease Snipp climbed down, he put on a pair of glasses grabbed the papers from Bulma`s hands. "Hey!" called the woman. Amazed, she looked at the meter-high squirrel with reading glasses. Bulma tilted her head slightly. "Where did you get these papers?" asked Snipp questioningly. "From Jaco, a friend from the Galactic Patrol." Snipp gulped for a moment, shocked.
With wide eyes, the little creature looked at the blue-haired woman "and what did you say to this friend?" Bulma crossed her arms. "That we have friends visiting with a Needletail as a ship. And that I'm doing some repairs. But is there anything to be afraid of?" Guiltily Snipp began to chuckle and scratched his head "no, nothing at all." The genius again snatched the papers from Snipp's tiny paws and stared at the layout for a moment.
Bulma walked into the ship, she took a seat in the cockpit. There were indeed a few things missing. She started fiddling with the cables a bit more, meanwhile she was grumbling that maybe this thing couldn't be better scrapped as parts. Surely she could use that to build a new ship. Then Bulma pulled open a compartment, a picture fell out. It was Vino and Lilly, with a very large man. Was that Lilly`s father? Or was this the Malbec from her diary? Or was that just the same guy in the end. Snipp came in and stared at the picture "oh, give that to me, the captain is very fond of that. That`s the only one she has of Juro".
A few times Bulma blinked her eyes "Juro?" Snipp put the picture in a pocket of his jumpsuit. "Lilly`s father, Vino`s love of her life. When I picked them up two years ago he had just died. He seemed to have been a high-ranking general in the rebel army against Frieza and later against the Pilseners." Bulma felt a little calmer, this man looked nothing like Vegeta and this was Vino`s love of her life. With a grin on her face, Bulma began to continue working on the ship. She still had plenty to do.
After two hours of work, Bulma found herself covered in oil. "Snipp I'm taking a shower, see you later" The squirrel waved at the woman for a moment, too afraid to make a flirt joke. Her husband was scary, but Bulma had already hit him on the head with a socket wrench earlier that day. Bulma walked over to the shower and let the water flow. For a moment she looked at the clock; it was getting close to noon. After showering, she decided to contact Vegeta, who was never away for long without food.
As Bulma grabbed clean clothes from the closet, she looked at her desk for a moment. No, Bulma thought, I have to put that little book back. But somewhere she remained curious. A little more didn't matter now, did it? While she tied a red scarf on her neck she pulled the book forward:
Together with all warriors we were flying back to planet 79 in the big ship. I was just returning from the medic room when my path crossed with the Saiyan prince. My heart skipped a beat. Without me realizing it, he moved so fast that he had me pinned between the wall and his body. The man had something against personal space. When I pointed out to him that I was a respected lady he just grinned? It wasn't until I felt the jolt in my body that I knew his tail had curled around mine. Vegeta claimed that I needed more training, tomorrow morning at 7:00 I had to meet him in the training ground on the planet. As he walked away it almost felt colder in the hallway, when he was around the corner I fled. I locked myself in a room for a while. I am feeling so shaken up, my heart racing.
Vegeta walked into the kitchen, Bulma stood by the kitchen counter. Without saying anything Vegeta grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. Bulma turned around "and did you have good training?" Vegeta looked at his wife "you better ask the ladies about that, they were a little tired." Bulma looked at the door "and where is Trunks?" Her husband shrugged for a moment "shower I think."
Sighing, Bulma walked past Vegeta, he grabbed her wrist "What is it?" he asked. Bulma looked at her husband "nothing, maybe I just need to get used to the fact that you had a love life for me. She's a very beautiful woman, what happened between you two?" Bulma had to ask, if she knew she could easily put that diary away. Vegeta looked down.
After a small squeeze on Bulma`s wrist, Vegeta let go. "We were young, I was like 19 and she was 17 or something. All I knew was life in the Frieza army. Vino was a trained lady and in training for the army of her home planet. Our lives couldn't have been more different. Except that we both had Saiyan blood and were in the Frieza army unwillingly. It created a bond, an attraction."
Bulma slid her hand into his "but you thought she was dead?" Vegeta looked at her "Yes, stupid girl. She had accepted the enemy's offer, marry their prince so the war would be over and Frieza would leave the planet. I had warned her, Frieza is not leaving. The wedding ended in a massacre. The story was that Vino had shot the prince to death in front of the altar". Bulma looked at her husband in shock.
A chuckle came from the doorway; Vino was standing there. "Yes I shot him through his temple, it was a quick death. It was chaos after that. I was as good as dead too, they took me away heavily weakened among the bodies. Frieza was gone quickly after that, we had our army back to fight the Pilsners". Bulma felt her husband's hand tighten "You should have warned me" he snarled. She smiled "I had told you, but I didn't know our king's peace plan either. I had asked you to come with me". Vegeta looked down, Bulma squeezed his hand.
Vino sighed "We were indeed young, perhaps a bit naive that we thought we were capable of doing it all." Limping, Vino walked away. Bulma laid her head against her husband's chest. "Honey, I had no idea. It must have been traumatic". Vegeta said nothing, pressing a kiss against his wife's forehead. This was all Bulma needed to understand her husband. But still something wasn't right somehow, her gut still nagged.