Yamcha was sitting at a table in the back corner of a small and dingy tavern, the hood of his black cloak up over his head and shielding most of his face. He was nursing a wooden mug with a warm cider, waiting impatiently for the man who he had arranged to meet. He and his crew had already found two dragon balls in the Shadowlands, and now he had ventured into the Terran kingdom for information that would help him find more.
They were moving as fast as they could, for the Ice-jin were continuing to mount pressure as they circled the Shadowlands. In desperation, the poor of the Shadowlands were joining forces to literally fight for their lives. Yamcha and his crew had already distributed all the Saiyan steel and stallions that King Vegeta had given them. The Shadowlands were holding their own for the time being, enough that Yamcha had gambled that he could leave the Shadowlands for a few days.
Still, he knew that all the valor in the world was not enough to save them. They were only prolonging the inevitable, and would eventually all be decimated at the rate things were going.
The dragon balls were the key. Having been exposed now to the ruthlessness of the Ice-jin as they slaughtered innocents – to include young babes still in at their mothers' breasts – Yamcha knew that getting the dragon balls to King Vegeta would save far more than just the Shadowlands. The fate of Dragon's Edge was at hand, and much would be determined by the meeting he was about to have.
He did not have to wait long. Yamcha subtly looked out of the corner of his eye as the door swung open, and from the fast and heavy footsteps, he already knew his man had arrived. He lowered his head, casting shadows across his face with his hood as he pulled his warm drink closer, the vapors soothing with how cold it was getting outside.
The man he was waiting for slid into the seat across the table, before rudely shouting for an ale.
"Kept me waiting long enough, Yajirobe," Yamcha grumbled with annoyance.
"You just be happy I came at all," Yajirobe snapped, before leaning forward, his eyes greedy. "Well, do you have the coin? My information is not free."
Yamcha reached inside his cloak, pulling out a bag filled with coins, the result of a theft earlier that morning. He showed it to his companion, causing Yajirobe to grin. Instead of handing it over though, Yamcha put it back into his cloak, and then lifted his drink.
"First, the information."
Yajirobe leaned back with a frown. He was about to speak, but remained silent when an ale was placed in front of him. He waited until the server left, then leaned forward, sweaty dark hair falling into his face as he spoke quietly.
"Fine, but before I tell you what I know, there is an open bounty contract that just came up. Do you want it? Your crew is the best for this, especially the wild blonde woman. The pay being offered is not easily dismissed."
"Who is the target?"
"He's political and highly ranked in Dragon's Edge. He's recently betrothed, so the woman is a bonus, though not the primary target. Can't give you more details on the target than that, unless you want the contract, as it's much too dangerous. The pay is 100,000 shillings if you are interested."
Yamcha nearly choked on his cider, his eyes widening. "I've never heard of a bounty being so high! Gods, he must be a very sensitive target."
Yajirobe smirked. "The most sensitive."
"I shall ask Tien and Launch if they'd like it, as they would be doing the real work."
Yajirobe snorted, raising his ale and taking large chugs of it. He lowered his drink, wiping his lips with his forearm. "Suit yourself."
"And the information I wanted?"
"I asked around. Turns out, someone has been bragging about finding a 'gold ball' in the Shadowlands recently, entirely on accident. He was drunk in a tavern nearby just a fortnight ago, saying that maybe it was a dragon ball, but most people ignored him and dismissed him. Hell, I'm not sure I even believe in this, but you're paying me for the information so there it is."
Yamcha frowned. "What man?"
"His name is Pilaf, he fancies himself some kind of emperor. He's a damn fool, so no one takes him seriously, but I figured you would want to know the truth of it. He lives in a cabin close to the Shadowlands, by the Devil's Waterfall here in the Terran kingdom. If he speaks the truth, then he has one of the dragon balls you are seeking. According to the legends, four of the remaining dragon balls have been held by the royal families of Dragon's Edge. If they have been passed down the generations, then they would be with the kings – King Kold, King Piccolo, King Vegeta, and King Ox. So the legend goes, they distributed it this way to maintain equilibrium of power, so no one kingdom would grow too strong. Though…"
"Though?"
"That is enough information for free. Pay up if you want to hear more."
Yamcha's frown deepened, but he took out the bag of coins again. He tossed the bag at his companion, who caught it easily. Yajirobe chuckled, opening his own cloak and tucking it away.
"Rumor has it that the young Princess Chi-Chi may have shared quite a treasure with her friend, the daughter of Lord Briefs, without knowing the real value of it. Doubtful King Ox is even aware, or if he is, that he cares. The importance of the dragon balls has been diminished with time, most don't even believe in them anymore."
"The daughter of Lord Briefs…Bulma Briefs?"
"You've heard of her then."
"I have heard she is…quite, ah, beautiful," Yamcha mumbled uncomfortably, grateful that his hood was casting shadows across his face so that his blush couldn't be easily detected. He raised his mug of cider again.
"Oh, she is, undoubtedly so. She said this to a friend about the gift the princess had given her, so one has to wonder, just what this mysterious gift was. It may be nothing, but you never know…"
"How do you even come upon information like this?"
Yajirobe smirked. "The information is everywhere, bandit. One just needs to know how to pluck it and piece it together. Oh, and a bonus for you, if you have more coin to spare."
"I do not…but I can pay you more next time."
"Hmmm…" Yajirobe hummed, frowning in thought as he regarded the bandit before him. Yamcha was only 18, but he was seasoned in Yajirobe's world. They had known each other for some years now, doing business on and off. For all his faults, Yamcha always kept his word, so Yajirobe finally nodded. "Fine. I want the same amount you just gave me."
Yamcha nodded. "I shall bring it next time."
"I spoke with Baba the sorceress before coming here. It appears that you are not the only one looking to gather the dragon balls…"
"Tell me everything."
The only thing that brightened Bulma's mood when dawn came the next morning was that Krillin had made it back to the manor before their scheduled departer. Though he had not shown her the improved dragon ball radar, he had given her a look and a nod to indicate he'd been successful. Aside from that, it was an awful morning, mostly because she had to say goodbye to her father.
Though Vegeta had insisted they would return soon to the Terran kingdom for the tournament to celebrate their betrothal, she did not know him well enough to trust that he would keep his word. As such, she was not sure when she'd see her father again. Her mother had passed when she was too young to remember her, so for most of her life, it had just been her and her father, steadily building their fortune with their combined genius. She worried how he would fare if he was all alone, and her sadness was evident when she clutched Lord Briefs in their goodbye embrace.
"I do not have to go. If you only say the word, I shall stay," she said once more, in the vain hope that her father would change his mind. With his word, the Saiyans were likely to back down. Vegeta could argue with her father, but she knew as well as he did that their parents were in control; though the betrothal could not be rescinded, it was in the prince's best interest to appease Lord Briefs until their marriage.
Lord Briefs chuckled, pulling back enough to kiss her on the forehead. "You have always longed for adventure, Bulma, and now you have the greatest one ahead of you. Soon you will be married, and then you will be the Saiyan princess, and in the future when Vegeta takes the throne, you will be the Saiyan queen. In addition, with the attempt on Vegeta's life here, it is for the best that you two stay together from now on."
Bulma withdrew a little from her embrace, her eyes skirting over to where the Saiyans were. Vegeta and Nappa were both tending to their stallions, securing their gear in preparation for their departure with the soft light of the breaking dawn. Krillin was nearby, watching them with a frown, his own brown leather bag of belongings strapped across his back. She watched as Vegeta secured the last of her belongings across Rebel behind the saddle, and her eyes lingered on him for long enough that he must have sensed it. The prince looked over in her direction, briefly pausing his work, a serious look on his face. He appeared to frown at her before turning back again to Rebel.
"I am worried," she admitted, turning back to her father. "What if I get there and they keep me locked in a dungeon? Or in a tower? What if Vegeta is a savage who will mistreat me once I am his by law? What if-"
"Bulma," Lord Briefs gently cut in. "Saiyan queens have always been well respected in Saiyan culture, and they have always been entrusted with substantial responsibility in ruling the kingdom. Queen Celyra in particular does not seem the kind who tolerates much foolishness. By reputation, she is a formidable queen, enough that it seems many Saiyans fear her as much, if not more than her husband. She does not seem the kind who would tolerate such misbehavior from her son. I will see you during the tournament the Saiyans will hold here and you can tell me then the truth of it then, and if I am wrong, I will bring it to the attention of Queen Celyra, for one of the conditions of your betrothal to Prince Vegeta is that you are treated well. However, I think you will be fine, and I am not concerned."
"But now you will be alone," she lamented, biting her bottom lip. "We have always been together."
He chuckled, "I will be just fine. I have enough work to keep me busy, and I will write to you often and visit as much as I can. You and Vegeta, you two take care of each other, and be patient with each other."
They both looked over as Vegeta cleared his throat as he came to stand near them, his hands resting on his sword belt. He was dressed in his royal white armor now, his red cape rising and fluttering behind him with the breeze. The prince's stare was hard, passing between them both, before settling on Bulma. She noted that he carried himself far more seriously when her father was present, and that the mischievous side of him she'd glimpsed the night before was currently nowhere to be seen.
"We should ride soon, my lady, before the sun fully rises. If we maintain a good pace, we should only require two nights of lodging along the way back to Stonefort," he gruffly said.
"And you are certain that you are well enough for this journey, Vegeta?" Lord Briefs asked. Vegeta scowled, nose twitching, but he nodded and opted not to reply. He did not trust his tongue and he dared not disrespect Bulma's father moments before his departure, lest his parents hear of it. He hated to appear weak in any manner, for it was unbecoming of being a Saiyan, much less being the heir to the throne. The truth was that he could have used a few more days before riding, but he could always force a rest stop if need be, and no one needed to know the real reason why.
Lord Briefs nodded in return, extending his arm to Vegeta. "Good. You take care of my daughter then," he ordered.
Vegeta's scowl worsened, but he took Lord Briefs' arm, both of them firmly grasping the other's forearm. The prince nodded to him once more, then let go, turning his focus once more to the young woman before him.
"My lady," Vegeta beckoned, extending his arm back towards the stables and silently inviting her to walk ahead of him. Bulma sighed, seeing that there was no way out of going, and thus she got on with it. She walked on ahead, though she felt Vegeta's soft steps on the grass close behind her as they approached Rebel.
"Are you sure this will be safe? The last time we rode Rebel, it did not end well," Bulma commented, coming up to the stallion in question. Rebel had been trotting in place impatiently, as though itching to bolt at the first opportunity, whereas Nappa's stallion Volcano stood calm and still by comparison as Nappa explained some things to Krillin, who would be riding with him. Upon her approach though, she noted that Rebel seemed to calm down as he turned his attention on her. The black stallion lowered his head to her, and she smiled a little as she scratched his muzzle.
Vegeta paused briefly, frowning in curiosity and a bit of confusion over Rebel's reaction. His stallion never took well to strangers, ever, and yet the stallion seemed to have warmed drastically to Bulma over a short period of time. Something about her connecting in this way with his stallion stirred something inside him, but he stifled the feeling down as he came around her.
"This time, I will be in front so I am more in control," Vegeta responded. He grabbed the saddle and hoisted himself up from the stirrup, smoothly mounting Rebel. His dark eyes shifted over to his fellow Saiyan. "Nappa!" he harshly ordered, immediately getting Nappa's attention.
"Your highness?" Nappa asked, walking over.
"Get Lady Briefs up on the saddle with me, and get an extra set of reins for more security," Vegeta ordered. Bulma's eyes widened, but before she could object, Nappa moved behind her and literally picked her up under the arms like she was a small child that weighed nothing, easily placing her behind Vegeta on the saddle. Knowing that they were set to ride out that morning, she was in her work trousers and a wool coat, but she still felt heat surge through her as Nappa had placed her practically right up against Vegeta's back. It did not help that she instinctively settled her hands along Vegeta's ribs when Rebel began to trot, her fingers meeting the cool plate of his armor.
Vegeta tried not to shudder at the feeling of her so close behind him, especially when he felt her breath along the back of his neck. Forcing himself to focus, he looked down at Nappa who put the spare set of reins around the back of Bulma, then bringing the front end to Vegeta, as though tying the couple together. Vegeta took the front ends and tied them on his abdomen, leaving just enough slack for Bulma to grab onto. He reached for her hand then which was still by his ribs, and he frowned when he realized she wasn't wearing gloves.
"Your hands will chafe grabbing onto the spare reins," he informed her, as he began pulling off his own white leather gloves. He handed them back to her, ordering, "Put these on, then you can grab onto the spare reins I tied around us. This will help us stay safer this time. Rebel likes to run wild, and sometimes I must allow it, to let his restless energy breathe."
Bulma blinked in surprise as she took his gloves, which were sturdy made and if sold, could likely feed an entire poor village. They were white leather with red trim along the side of the fingers, and had wool inside them to stay warm. She put them on, swallowing a bit when she felt the warmth lingering from his hands. The gloves were a pinch too big for her, but she would make do.
Glancing over, she saw Nappa mount Volcano, who seemed completely unfazed by the large Saiyan on him. Looking down, Nappa grabbed Krillin by the back of his own leather coat with Master Roshi's insignia on the back, lifting the smaller man like he was weightless. He plopped an embarrassed Krillin down in front of him in the saddle, and she couldn't help the giggle over their size difference. Vegeta followed her gaze, and rolled his eyes; he would have preferred Krillin be late and not come at all, but he was doing his best to play "by the rules", which was not a strength of his.
"Alright," Vegeta said sternly, Rebel trotting in a circle with anticipation as Bulma held on. He looked to Nappa and nodded, "Let's go."
Bulma just barely managed to wave goodbye to her father, before Rebel shot forward, his frightening speed only increasing as he went all out in a full gallop. It was just as exhilarating as it had been when they had gone out several nights ago, if not more so now that the light of the dawn was beautifully capturing Mount Paouzu around them. Her heartbeat raced, and she slid her hands around Vegeta while grasping onto the reins binding them together as they tore out of her family's estate.
Vegeta was quite used to the feeling of riding, but the fact that he had a beautiful young woman behind him during the ride had his heart pounding wildly in his chest. He felt more than a prince while she held onto him as they rode through the endless forests, the wind in their hair with Rebel's fierce and unrelenting velocity. He had his title, his horse beneath him, the fresh air around him, his sword at his side, and his betrothed behind him. He felt like a man for perhaps the first time in his life, and he relished in the sensation.
It felt like minutes, but the day passed by in a blur. They stopped once at midday, just long enough to eat some food they had packed from Bulma's manor. The Saiyans had not been much for conversation, as they had been on edge during their break, straining to hear if anyone came up on them in the small clearing they had stopped at. Bulma and Krillin had barely finished eating when Vegeta was already ordering them all to continue. As much as Bulma was quickly growing to love riding – especially with Rebel and Vegeta – she was not used to it, and was already getting sore. She had no qualms telling Vegeta that her rear was hurting, and demanding to rest for just a short while longer. The prince had scowled terribly at her, a light redness coloring his face, but he had then surprised her by ordering Nappa to unpack a blanket for more cushion for Bulma in the saddle (when Krillin had piped up asking if he could have one too, he was completely ignored by both Saiyans).
Sooner than Bulma had liked, they were back on the road, with Rebel and Volcano continuing to gallop hard and fast. She was more comfortable now, both with the ride itself, but also with being so physically close to Vegeta. Only one time did Rebel get distracted and rear up, which had frightened her and prompted her to latch onto Vegeta's chest, but the prince had maintained his balance and grabbed her hands tightly until Rebel dropped back down onto all fours. Vegeta had clicked his tongue and they had resumed riding without a hitch, but he had kept one hand tightly over hers on his chest for quite some time, his other holding Rebel's reins.
It was over before she knew it. The sun had fallen, and Vegeta was slowing the pace down once more as Nappa came up next to him on Volcano as they trotted in the dark forest.
"We have to find some lodging for the night," Vegeta informed him, both of them looking around. The prince gestured with his chin towards the distance, where he could see lights and smoke from chimneys. "There appears to be a town there."
"Satan's Town," Krillin said with a nod. "I have been there a few times. They have several inns there."
Vegeta nodded, and they made their way over as quietly as possible. Being so close to him, Bulma couldn't help but notice that Vegeta's posture wasn't as strong as it had been, and he seemed to be breathing a little rougher than before. His injury on the back of his head from his fall was literally in her face, and she gripped him a little tighter.
"Are you alright, my prince?" she asked with some concern.
"Perfectly fine," Vegeta growled without a look back. Truthfully, he was exhausted, riding and commanding Rebel for literally the entire day taking a toll on him. Though they could have gone further – the Saiyan stallions had tremendous stamina and could literally go full tilt for days before they required rest – he did not want to push himself, lest he be caught in a weakened state by his enemies. He absolutely refused to let down his guard again. Though he and Nappa were well capable of sleeping on the ground, it would leave him far too vulnerable, and he dared not risk it.
Bulma frowned from behind him, pulling her hands back to his ribs as they trotted into the town. She did not entirely believe him, but she was getting tired, and decided this battle was not worth her energy. Instead, she focused on taking in the town around her. It was a small fisherman town, and was close to the water. She had only been there once before as a small girl, and she smiled when she saw some spears alongside different buildings that the fishermen used – the same ones she and her father had designed long ago.
Finally, Vegeta pulled up in front of a small stone building, looking up to see a wooden sign in front with "Fisher's Lodge" carved on it. He looked over at Nappa with a steely gaze, and Nappa nodded, immediately dismounting Volcano as Bulma and Krillin exchanged a look. Nappa led Volcano over to some stables alongside the side of the building, towards the back, while Vegeta followed. After Nappa had Volcano secured, he reached up to Bulma, and again picked her up to put her gently down on the ground.
"Kindly give me warning next time you do that," Bulma grumbled, her legs feeling wobbly from being on Rebel for so long.
Nappa smirked. "Of course, my lady," he responded, before reaching up to Krillin to grab the back of his jacket with one hand. He was less gentle with Krillin, roughly hauling him off Volcano and nearly dropping him to the ground. He then looked back at Vegeta, who was dismounting from Rebel. "I will go in to secure us rooms."
"Fine," Vegeta grunted, landing easily on his feet. He worked on securing Rebel while Krillin came up next to Bulma, rubbing his hands together for warmth.
"That was thrilling," he said to her, before frowning a little as he got more quiet, mumbling, "Though Nappa does not exactly smell nice."
She laughed at that. "Well, fortunately, my experience was a little more pleasant in that sense."
He watched Vegeta tending to Rebel, noting that the prince had his back towards them, and he glanced over to where Nappa had gone inside. Krillin then leaned in close to Bulma, whispering, "When shall I show you what you requested?"
Bulma tossed back her hair as she stretched. She also glanced over at Vegeta as he scratched Rebel behind his ear.
"Tonight. After everyone is asleep, come to my chambers."
Krillin nodded just as Nappa came back outside into the night air, right as Vegeta also turned to them.
"There are only two free rooms," Nappa said. "50 shillings per room."
Vegeta nodded. "We will take them then. You and her escort can take one room. The lady and I will take the other."
It took Bulma a couple of seconds to process what Vegeta had said, before she spun on him in a sudden rage. "I am not sharing a bed with you before we are married!" she shrieked, startling all three of her companions with her outburst.
"Did I ask for your opinion, woman?" Vegeta snarled in response.
Nappa knew Vegeta well, and Krillin knew Bulma well, both having known them since they were children. They both looked at each other, saw recognition in the other's eyes of where this was going, and then Krillin and Nappa both made a hasty escape, going inside the lodge.
Vegeta and Bulma barely noticed, their heated gazes only locked on each other. Bulma reached out, poking him hard on the chest plate of his armor.
"You promised my father you would respect my honor, and trying to get into my bed is not showing me much respect!"
He glared at her, his eyes intense. "Sharing a bed does not mean I am going to fuck you tonight, my lady," he snidely commented, making her gasp loudly.
"How DARE you speak to me in such a manner!" she yelled indignantly, her nose crinkling in disgust. "I am a lady, and you…you are supposed to be a prince with manners, but you…you are a vulgar man!"
"Tch. Perhaps you have forgotten, but besides promising your father that I would respect your honor, I also gave him my word that I would take care of you. Sleeping in your quarters will help me ensure your safety." Though Vegeta's explanation was sound, his tone was so condescending that he just made her want to scream.
Bulma furiously glared at him, her blue eyes challenging and fierce. "Do not presume to play me for a fool, Prince Vegeta. I am an intelligent woman, likely the most intelligent in all of Dragon's Edge. I know what you want."
Vegeta raised an eyebrow, a slow smirk spreading over his face. "Oh? Do enlighten me, my lady. What do you think I want?" he asked, his voice rougher than usual as he moved closer to her.
It was difficult to maintain her resolve when Vegeta sounded like that. It was even harder when he came to stand so close to her, and she swallowed, reminding herself that she did not love the young man before her now. She had never been with a man, and she wanted her first time for everything to be with her true love, not the arrogant prince before her.
But her body did not care what her heart wanted as he came close enough for her to realize just how dark his eyes really were. She felt breathless, almost faint, as he came inches from her, his burning eyes on her lips.
"Well?" Vegeta breathed, stirring her out of her thoughts.
She let out a shaky breath. "You said you would only go as far as I allow. Show me then that you are a man of your word, Prince Vegeta. I do not want to share a room with you, as I am not comfortable with you like that…yet. Prove to me that I can trust you."
Vegeta frowned, his eyes shifting from her lips back up to her eyes. He appeared to visibly contemplate her words, before he finally nodded.
"Very well. The three of us will share a room, and you will have your own," he relented. He watched her sigh with relief, before she gave him a real smile of gratitude. Some of the tension in Vegeta's jaw eased, and he was riveted; she was a mesmerizing beauty, which made it even harder for him to be patient.
"Good. I appreciate that, my prince," Bulma politely said. Vegeta grunted, before gesturing with his hand for her to go on ahead of him. He followed closely behind as she entered the lodge, pausing briefly at the entrance to scan the roads of the town, but it was late now and there was hardly anyone out at this time. He looked around one more time, and then went inside behind her.
Later that night, after they had all brought in their belongings for the evening and retired to their rooms, Bulma was still awake in her soft feather bed, alone in her room. She laid on her side in a light gown, under the furs covering the bed. There were lanterns hanging on the wall, but she had turned off the fire inside all of them after bathing, leaving just one on, which gave the room a dim glow. There was a fireplace in the room as well, but it appeared ancient and had probably never been used in her entire lifetime.
Bulma waited, and waited, and waited impatiently for what felt like an eternity. Finally, she heard some gentle knocking on the wooden door. Bulma immediately sprang up and looked through the little peep hole, then gratefully lifted the heavy wooden latch on the door. She opened it, grabbed Krillin, and hauled him inside. Krillin chuckled as she put the latch back on the door, before spinning back towards him.
"Let me see it!" she exclaimed. Krillin grinned and pulled out the completed dragon ball tracker from his pocket, and Bulma instantly snatched it, going over to the lantern for better lighting. "Hm, it doesn't look much different," she murmured, almost sounding disappointed as she examined it.
"The sorceress insists the tracker is completed."
"I shall test it right now," Bulma enthusiastically said.
She rummaged through the bag Krillin had brought up to her room for her earlier, to the bottom where she had her four star dragon ball wrapped securely in her undergarments. She took it out, and it seemed to pulse with its own light. Bulma laid it on her bed, then went to the opposite corner of the room past the fireplace. She pressed the button on the tracker, watching as the needle spun completely around once, before it pointed directly towards the dragon ball.
Her blue eyes then widened when the needle suddenly began to glow with a bright yellow light, like it was burning. She looked up at Krillin in surprise, as he grinned widely.
"Baba infused it with a type of energy she referred to as ki. The brighter the needle grows, the closer the dragon ball is. If you click the top button twice, it will cycle through and show you the next closest dragon ball-"
They both froze when someone suddenly knocked loudly on the wooden door. Krillin immediately pulled his bow off his back, drawing an arrow as Bulma quietly went over to the door.
"Who is there?" she asked, even while looking through the peep hole.
"Who do you think?" Vegeta's gruff voice replied. "Open up."
Bulma looked back at Krillin, and anxiously pointed to the curtains, silently telling him to hide. She could not tell Vegeta the real reason Krillin was in her room so late, and being evasive would only make the prince think of inappropriate reasons for Krillin's presence. Krillin ducked behind the thick and heavy window curtains which were fully drawn as Vegeta impatiently knocked again. With the dim lighting of the room and the curtains going to the floor, unless Vegeta pulled back the curtains, he would not notice him.
"I am coming!" Bulma yelled. Once she was certain Krillin (and her tracker) were well hidden, she lifted the heavy latch and opened the door. Without waiting for an invitation, Vegeta came inside, beginning to scan the room and making her panic when she realized she hadn't hidden the dragon ball, and it was still sitting on her bed. While he looked the other way, she went over and covered it with the furs of the bed, taking a seat next to it when Vegeta turned in that direction. "What did you need, my prince? I was sleeping."
Vegeta looked at her, frowning as his eyes studied her. "It does not look like I woke you." He looked around the room again. "I thought I heard someone else speaking here."
"I had the window open for a short time for fresh air, so you likely heard some of the town folk outside," Bulma rationally explained. Vegeta looked confused, glancing over to the window, and she did not know why she felt a flare of guilt over lying to him.
"Hn."
Vegeta finally settled his gaze back on her. It was then that he noticed that she was in a light night gown, and he let his eyes roam in appreciation. Bulma realized too late that though it covered her, it had thin straps on top that cut down low at the front, showing off her cleavage. She cleared her throat, making Vegeta look back up and make eye contact.
"Well? What did you need?" Bulma asked again, frowning at him. He was barefoot, in his casual night wear, his more casual sword belt hanging off his hips. Her lips pursed at the black shirt that Vegeta had left fully unbuttoned and open again, showing off his firm chest and his chiseled abs that dipped into a low 'v' just above his low hanging pants, but she forced herself to bring her eyes back up. When she did, she found him looking uncomfortable as he gazed at the side wall. For a moment, she was embarrassed, thinking he had seen her ogling him, until Vegeta cleared his throat and hesitantly spoke.
"I was looking for some of the herbal tea that your father's healers were giving me…" Vegeta shifted his weight, brow furrowing. "It seems that tea…makes sleep easier," he awkwardly admitted, a hint of red crossing his cheeks.
Bulma couldn't help the smile that spread over her face. The herbal tea did make sleep easier, but it also helped provide pain relief. Observing him more critically, she could see some tension in his shoulders and in his jaw, and the slight way his eyes were narrowed – not out of anger or fatigue, but what must have been pain. Though she did not like to see anyone in pain, Vegeta did look endearing to her trying to find a way to ask for the tea without admitting he had overdone it with the aggressive pace he had set during the ride that day.
"Yes, of course, I will prepare you some. I had the healers pack it primarily for you anyway," she gently replied, standing and going to her belongings. Vegeta grunted his approval. He then went over to the edge of her bed and took a seat, running a hand up through his hair, and then to the back of his head.
Silence fell between them after that, while Bulma rekindled the fireplace with some effort, starting it up for the first time in what must have been many years. She hummed a little as she set a pot full of water over the fire to boil, the sound making Vegeta look over towards her. She caught his look and smiled a little.
"It should not take much longer."
"Fine," he muttered.
Wanting to fill the silence of the room, Bulma turned back to watch the water as it began to simmer. "So…how does the ascension work, for you to become king?"
"Tch. Eager to become the Saiyan queen already?"
Bulma laughed. "Hardly. That is why I ask, in the hopes it will not be any time soon."
Vegeta grunted, scowling as he looked away. "Well, assuming the king does not die any time soon, I can officially challenge him for the throne once I reach my 21st name day. I must defeat him in a sword fight to earn the crown, with the queen and the royal council bearing witness. You can only challenge once a year. If you are not victorious by your 30th name day, or if the king has defeated you three times, you lose your right to the throne. If the king has other sons, the right goes to them. If he has no more sons, or none are strong enough to defeat him, then there is an open tournament for any Saiyan males between 21 and 30, to identify a new heir who can challenge the king.
"Conversely, if my father were to die, I would be the king in title, but I would not be crowned right away. Custom dictates that if a king dies, we hold a tournament for any Saiyan male with the desire to challenge the heir to the throne. Whoever emerges from the tournament will then fight the prince, and the winner would then be crowned king. This ensures that only the strongest bloodline rules the kingdom. My family came to power this way through a tournament challenge after a king was assassinated, and we have been successful for the last 5 generations in maintaining the throne. I fully intend on continuing that tradition."
Bulma frowned in thought as she pulled away the pot with boiling water, putting it on a small table in the room that had a handful of mugs. She took a wooden mug, filling it with the boiling water.
"So…you fight your father to the death?" she asked warily.
Vegeta chuckled. "Between father and son, it is usually until someone yields, but if there is an outside challenger from a tournament, then yes, the fight is to the death. I myself was 3 years old when my father challenged my grandfather for the throne. My father waited to challenge until he was 28 years old, and then defeated the king on the first try, earning the throne. It was not easy though. I remember it was a bloody fight. But they both survived. My grandfather then served on the royal council, helping my father as an advisor until he died."
"Hmm…" Bulma mixed the tea for him, having listened to him carefully. "I did not realize it was so involved. I thought it was just a simple ascension since you are the heir to the throne."
"No, the fights and the challenges are coded into the law, because strength matters above all. It is to protect the kingdom in case an heir is too weak to rule. The Saiyan kingdom only respects the royal family because the king is a strong warrior, and he must prove his worth. Fortunately for my parents, I was the eldest son, for my brother Tarble is too soft for a real fight," he snorted.
"Oh, you have a brother!" she said excitedly, handing him the mug of hot tea as Vegeta rolled his eyes. She took a seat next to him, subtly pushing back the dragon ball further under the furs they were sitting on as she smoothly asked, "How old is he?"
"Tarble is 12, and abnormally…gentle, for being a Saiyan male," he admitted, frowning in displeasure as he held his mug with both hands. He seemed to suddenly realize that he was giving Bulma far more information than he had initially intended. Blaming it on his pounding headache, he took a large drink of the piping hot liquid.
"Oh, he sounds delightful. I am excited to meet him," she said with a genuine smile.
"Tch." Vegeta took another sip of the tea. He could have finished it all, but he wanted an excuse to stay a short while longer. Now that they were conversing without arguing, he found he did not want it to end too soon. "And what of you? How do you feel about being the next Saiyan queen?"
"Assuming you defeat your father, you mean?" Bulma asked, making him turn his intense glare towards her. When he saw though that she was being playful, he scoffed a little and looked away, his eyes lightening when he did. "I am not sure. My father told me that there is much expected of a Saiyan queen. He speaks very highly of your mother."
"She is an excellent queen."
"I am not sure I can follow her footsteps. You have been royalty your whole life, whereas this is all such a novelty to me. I never expected ruling over anything. It feels like it will be…a…" she struggled for the right word, but the only one that came to mind was one that he would probably find offensive.
That is, until he voiced it out loud, "Burden?"
Bulma looked relieved. "It is quite the responsibility."
"I know. It is tremendous responsibility and a burden all at once. But we cannot choose fate," Vegeta mumbled, looking at her from the corner of his eye, his gaze dropping to her lips and further down to her cleavage. "We can only accept our destinies."
Bulma felt her face burn hot over his wandering eyes as she looked away from him, but she did not have a chance to say another word before Vegeta abruptly stood up. Startled, Bulma looked up at him.
"What is it?" she asked nervously.
"Rebel," he said in one rushed, worried breath. Just like that, he dashed out of her room, dropping his mug along the way.
Concerned over the stallion she was growing to love, and never one to be left behind, Bulma immediately began to put on her boots over her bare feet as Krillin finally emerged from behind the curtains. She gestured with her head towards the door, "Krillin, go get Nappa, so he can help," she ordered as she snatched up her wool coat.
"Right," Krillin agreed hurriedly as they both rushed out of her room.
Vegeta beat them all downstairs, emerging outside and drawing his sword, driven by the fear he felt coming from his stallion. He leaned up against the stone wall, hearing Rebel neighing in a panic, and he looked around the corner. There were two men standing before the stables, and though they were wearing brown cloaks now, he immediately recognized them as the Ice-jin men that he had run into that night with Bulma. Both older, one bald, one with thinning white hair, both tall but lanky men. When one of them drew a sword and held it in front of Rebel, Vegeta immediately came around the corner, his sword ready and gripped tightly in his right hand.
"If you hurt my stallion, I will fucking gut the both of you," Vegeta snarled, pulling his sword back as he got their attention, just as a bare chested Nappa came from behind him carrying his own heavy sword.
The assailants hesitated a moment too long, before an arrow sliced through the night air and struck the man with his sword raised in front of Rebel, right in the forehead. The man dropped, dead on impact, and Vegeta and Nappa looked behind them in surprise to see Krillin aiming his bow and arrow.
The other assailant suddenly took off in a run, losing all of his courage upon seeing his comrade die in front of him. They had been completely unable to get anyone else to take their bounty contract, no one daring target the heir to the Saiyan throne, thus making them take matters into their own hands so they would not return to Prince Frieza unsuccessful. Their plan had been to slaughter the Saiyan stallions, then get the jump on Vegeta while he was distracted upon discovering the corpses. What they had not counted on was how in tune Vegeta was with Rebel, which had let him catch them red-handed. Now there was no hope, for the Saiyans and the Terran archer would kill him – and if he somehow managed to survive, Frieza would be waiting.
He did not make it far before another arrow struck him from behind, going through his body until the tip of the arrow emerged from his chest. He collapsed with a cry of pain to the grass below, but was given no reprieve before Nappa kicked him hard in the ribs, forcing him on his back. He then had two Saiyans glaring down at him, Vegeta's sword right in his face as Krillin came up to them as well. In the background, Bulma was trying to soothe Rebel, who was restless and upset, though she kept glancing over at the Saiyans worriedly.
From a near distance, watching this all play out as a crowd began to gather, two assassins and a thief from the Shadowlands watched with avid attention from the shadows. They had also recognized the stallions as belonging to Saiyans, and had been planning to make a move of their own for a theft (not an assassination), before the fools in the brown cloaks began to antagonize the black Saiyan stallion. Not wanting to overplay their hand, they had decided to wait and observe how things played out.
"Tch, amateurs," Launch muttered as the Saiyans brutally interrogated the fallen assailant.
"What do you want to do?" Tien whispered, glancing at Yamcha.
"They're already distracted, and there's a crowd now," Yamcha whispered back, raising his black hood over his head. "They must have the tracker inside. I'll find it," he affirmed, and then slipped away silently.
Meanwhile, the Saiyans continued their interrogation. Nappa had his boot on the arrow protruding from the man's chest, putting pressure on it and causing the man to scream in pain.
"Who sent you?!" Vegeta yelled, holding the sharp end of his sword right over the screaming man's face. "ANSWER ME!" he screamed.
The older, bald man seemed to regain his bearings a little, and it looked like he was moving something around in his mouth. Before Vegeta and Nappa realized it, he bit down on something, which had him quickly foaming at the mouth. Nappa immediately grabbed Vegeta by the arm and roughly pulled the prince back, in case the toxins were airborne.
"Poison," Nappa said grimly, watching the man writhe on the ground before them. "He preferred to die than tell us the truth."
"Tch. I recognize him from the other night. He is with the Ice-jin," Vegeta growled, gripping his sword tightly at his side.
"You mean from the night that you and Bulma fell off Rebel?" Krillin asked beside them. Both Saiyans looked at him then, and Krillin was pleased to see it was with new respect. Vegeta nodded with a grunt.
"I am sure I was the real target here, and Rebel was just a distraction," he gruffly said, sheathing his sword at his side. "We must leave here at once. Staying here is no longer safe." He looked at Krillin critically, frowning as he did. "You know these lands. The horses can ride all night, but we cannot," he relented, suddenly regretting asking Bulma for the herbal tea. "Where is there a safe place we can go for rest?"
"I am not sure," Krillin answered, scratching the back of his head. "This is the furthest I've come in the Terran kingdom."
"I know where we can go," Bulma answered, coming up to them. Vegeta and Krillin both stepped aside for her as she looked at the poisoned man who was dead now, a hideous mess of blood and foam coming from his mouth. Vegeta observed Bulma's reaction carefully. "Yes, he was one of the Ice-jin from that night. Good riddance, I say," she mumbled, damn near making the Saiyan prince next to her smile in response as his respect for her grew a notch.
"Where can we go then, my lady?" Vegeta gruffly asked.
Bulma looked around at the crowd growing from the commotion and the dead bodies. "Too many ears here. Let's get our things and leave. I will direct once we are riding again. I will also handle the situation here at the lodge before we go. They have heard of me here, I have more sway."
Everyone nodded, agreeing with the plan. They then dispersed, both Saiyans going to check on their respective stallions while Krillin went about retrieving his two arrows in both of the dead men. Bulma went back inside the lodge, intent on going to the living quarters where the owner of the lodge was, when she bumped right into a young 18-year-old with messy dark hair and a scar along his face in a black cloak, just as he was leaving.
"Oh, pardon me," Bulma breathed, blinking when she looked up at him and realized how attractive he was. He was tall and gave her a winning smile, making her blush.
"Ah…uh, my apologies, m'lady," Yamcha nervously said, bowing his head a little with respect, and so she would not see his own blush. Bulma was absolutely stunning, and he had to get out of there before he lost his wits completely. Before she could say anything else to him, he quickly maneuvered around her and left the lodge.
Bulma blinked, watching him leave out of sight, before thinking none of it as she went about her business.
It would be another 10 minutes before she realized that both her dragon ball and the tracker were now missing from her room.