AN: I am NOT dead! I just finished up writing the story on paper (so I already know how it's going to end) all I gotta do now is type the baby up! So, I'm not sure WHO it was but SOMEBODY reviewed me saying there was OOCness in the story. I could have SWORN I told everyone there was OOCness in here (I DID SAY IT, MANNNNYYY TIMES)! I tried my hardest to keep everyone in character, but its HARD!
Disclaimer: I DID OWN DBZ, BUT I SOLD IT FOR TWENTY DOLLARS ON E-BAY. ::SIGH:: I DIDN'T KNOW IT'D BECOME SO POPULAR OR I WOULD HAVE KEPT IT. (J/K! THERE ARE MUCH MORE QUALIFIED PEOPLE WHO OWN DBZ AND I AM CERTAINLY NOT ONE OF THOSE. THE ONLY THING I OWN IN THE WORLD IS THIS STORY. ::SNIFF::
J
PRESIDENT BRIEFS
Chapter 7: The party!
*I could really use some of that energy I used up this morning working out with Henry * Bulma thought, reaching into her purse for her wallet. She walked into Bobles and Narnes, a popular bookstore, and used the card catalog system on the main computer to search for her topic.
*'S'…'s'… aha. I found it. SaiBulB78741Non-fic *. She grabbed the book and flipped through the large expensive pictures intently. She found a good one. *This costume will look great on me. Won't Vegeta be surprised *
*Won't I be surprised at what? *
* You have the absolute worst timing. * Bulma sighed.
"Uh…Miss? I mean, Ms. President. I know this is sort of against normal protocol, but may I ask you a favor? My nine year old daughter wants to be just like you Would you mind autographing a picture and signing an autograph book?" the manager of the bookstore begged.
*This is certainly interesting * Vegeta thought amused.
*Tell me about it. *
"I'd be glad to." Bulma said, smiling warily. The manager gave her the autograph book and her picture to sign.
"Thank you very much. You don't know how happy this will make her. You see she's dying from TxMFC's disease. She has only a week to live and I think this will make her feel a lot stronger. " The manager said, tears filling her eyes.
Bulma wasn't sure what to say. "I am so sorry. Well…I…I guess I had better pay for my book now."
"No! I insist that you take it, with absolutely no charge. Besides, those guys are said to be extinct and no one believes in them anymore. Just take it. I don't think I will ever be able to thank you enough! Good bye!" she called after Bulma, waving.
*That was odd * Bulma thought, as she left the bookstore.
*So, what are you going to do next? *
*I'm going to bed. * Bulma thought sighing.
******************
After her "nap" Bulma got out of bed searching for her guests in her oversized "house". *Where are you Vegeta? *
*I am in the place of eating. *
*You mean the kitchen. * Bulma thought back, heading there.
"Where's everyone else?" she asked out loud.
"Kakkarot is still in bed; Piccolo is the only smart one of us all, he is using his time wisely and training; and that sad excuse for a fighter, Yamcha, suckered that servant woman into going out with him."
"Oh."
"What did you buy that was supposed to 'surprise' me?"
"Um…a…book."
"What is so great about a book?"
"Oh nothing. So, Vegeta, have you decided what to wear to the costume ball yet?"
"I have."
"Well…what are you going to go as?"
"What are you going to be?"
"It's a surprise." Bulma said.
"Then, so is mine."
"Oh, whatever. I hope it's good, because if it isn't and it looks poorly made, I will never hear the end of it from Clairesse."
"I have no idea who you are talking about, but she sounds like a real b*tch."
"She just happens to be my best friend."
*Did you try asking Goku about that strange touching thing again? * Bulma asked.
*Yes… *
*What'd he say? *
* A whole lot of cr*p falling in love *Vegeta thought, shaking his head in disgust.
*Well, maybe he was confused and he was talking about something else. Don't you believe in fate or destiny Vegeta? They're both connected with love, you know. *
Vegeta laughed bitterly, * I used to, that is, I was raised believing that it was my destiny to rule the Saiyan race and be the legendary super Saiyan. I have accomplished neither, so I'm skeptical. *
*Something tells me that you still do believe in those things. In the deepest part of my heart I believe…no I know that you will some day become a super Saiyan. *
*What the h *ll do you know about that? Kakkarot is the only super Saiyan. The legend only mentions one! * Oh screw the d *mn legend, I'm telling you what I think. *
"What do you know? You wouldn't know what it' like cowering in someone else's shadow; some one with the power to hurt you; kill you if they were in the mood. And know that you deserve better (I am royalty for Kami's sake) and I am being lorded over by that d*mn moron, Goku!"
"You better believe I understand that feeling. That is exactly what I went through with my father. I knew his using me was wrong; but I couldn't stop him; after all, he was my father and he 'loved me' right? WRONG! He used me to get inside information for rival companies, and if I didn't do what he said exactly, he swore he would kill my mother." Bulma laughed dryly.
"Isn't that funny? Yet, it's sort of…warped. I'm the President of the whole entire planet, and I was being bossed around by my father; a sixty year old man who did whatever he could to gain power, even if it meant ruining his only heir."
The two held gazes for a long silent moment that was charged with electricity. Then they both turned away from each other. After a long, awkward silence Bulma cleared her throat loudly and got up to leave, "Well…I'll see you when I see you. I've got things to do and I may not be at dinner tonight."
Vegeta watched her leave and said nothing.
*******************
(CHEESE ALERT! SORRY BUT I COULD SEE NO WAY AROUND THIS SCENE.) The next day, Bulma and Vegeta went shopping with out the other knowing it. They both smirked as they paid for their purchases, thinking * Wait until she/he sees me in this!" (OK THAT WAS HOPEFULLY THE END OF THE CHEESE…FOR NOW BWA HA HAH)
********************
Bulma put in the contacts that made her light blue eyes a navy blue color. * Done. I wonder what Vegeta will think of me in this. * She thought smiling. She sneaked past Vegeta's room and into Goku's.
"Wow, Bulma! You look great! Just like a- -"
"Shh! Vegeta will hear you! Now be brutally honest Goku and absolutely no trying to protect my feelings. How do I look?" she asked turning in a slow circle.
"Great! Honestly." Goku whispered grinning.
"I'll see you later then, Goku." Bulma said waving and turning to leave.
"Wait! Bulma, I have to tell you something. I don't think he'll ever tell you this on his own but Vegeta's been kind of unlucky in the past. He's been with a lot of women and all of which told him they loved him. That and a…disturbed fiancée he had been convinced (or persuaded) to care for caused him to scorn the word love. He does love you, (even though he doesn't and may never show it); and he has had this thing for you a long time, ever since he first started living with my wife and I."
Bulma gulped at this; she listened and heard Goku but she didn't really believe him. She decided to play along. "Well, unlike Vegeta, I have never been with a man before. I find Vegeta…oh; I don't know exactly how to describe it. He fills my mind most of the time and I never really feel myself until I am around him."
"You're in love with him too! Great!" Goku said beaming.
"Great." Bulma said sarcastically, leaving. * I don't care what Goku says. Vegeta will never love anyone or anything but himself and his pride. * She rapped on Vegeta's door. "Come on out, Vegeta! It's time to leave for Kami's sake!"
"Do not rush me you loud mouth! I am not yet ready. Stop pestering me d*mn it, and leave a driver here who knows where the h*ll the party is." Vegeta yelled from the other side of the door.
"Fine. Slow *ssed son of a…" Bulma muttered as she ran down the stairs and got into the limo.
Vegeta got out of the bed (he forgot about the party and he'd been catching some Z's).
*This is even better! I can't wait to see his face when he sees my costume * Bulma thought laughing softly.
***************************
"Where's Vegeta?" Clairesse asked Bulma over the sound of the music.
"He'll be here in a little while. He is still getting dressed for some reason. Kami, you'd think he was a woman judging by how slow he is at getting dressed."
"I noticed your expression while you were talking about him. Does this mean what I think it does? Bulma Briefs billionaire is in love with Vegeta the extraordinare?" Clairesse teased.
"Yeah. So I've been told." Bulma stated seriously.
Clairesse choked. "I was only kidding! You're serious?! Wow! Go Bulma! He's quite a dish. And speaking of dishes, how do you like my costume? You're looking great. But...what are you supposed to be?"
"It's a sort of an inside…uh, joke between me and Vegeta. It's really hard to explain."
"Right…and what about the tail?"
"That's also part of the joke."
"Whatever. Is my halo on crooked? Oh, just look at Dane. His devil horns are practically falling off his head. Excuse me Bulma." She said rushing toward her husband.
Bulma sighed & headed towards the punch table. *I think Dane should be the angel and Claire the devil. *
"Hello governor Hush!" Bulma said smiling.
"Who?"
"Um…governor?"
"I'm the governor? Since when? Who are you? What are you doing in my house? Where am I?"
"Oh, I think I hear my mother calling me." Bulma lied, leaving the very confused and dull governor at the punch bowl. She circulated among the other guests and talked to all the ones she knew (which was most everybody). When the music came on and the lights dimmed until you could barely see your hand in front of your face, everyone began to dance; except for Bulma, who sat on the sideline. She was the only one there without a date and she was beginning to feel like a big time loser.
She frowned as the other couples slowly swayed to the music in front of her, thinking *Clark may have been disturbed but whenever he was his 'normal' self, he was a great dancer who never left me hanging. *
(Vegeta OOC)"If he was a great dancer then I'm Miss Universe. "
At the sound of Vegeta's whisper just then, Bulma jumped, then smiled in the direction of his voice. They couldn't really see each other, because it was so dark (not even Vegeta could see, ok? Just for the sake of this paragraph, he is not perfect).
*Well? *
*What is it, Vegeta? *
*You wanted a great dancer; here I am. *
Bulma smiled and took his hand, letting him lead her onto the floor with the other couples. She looked up as she sensed Vegeta was taller than she was. *What…? *
*You are not wearing those tall shoes (high heels) today, and my boots make me taller. *He 'told' her. Bulma put her arms around his neck and closed her eyes as Vegeta put his arms around her waist.
*This is too perfect * Bulma thought contentedly.
*You mean I'm too perfect. * Vegeta thought.
Bulma laughed, *Says you. I can't wait until the lights come back on so I can see what your costume is. By the way, how did you find me while this place is so crowded and there is practically no light? *
*The link. *
They danced in silence for a few more minutes. Suddenly, a spotlight came on a little podium that was in the corner of the room. Clairesse climbed up on it, with Dane standing behind her. She grabbed the microphone, "Hi everyone! Dane and I would like to thank every one of you for coming tonight and we hope you'll have a marvelous time. We're turning the lights back on, so we can all go eat dinner. After eating, there will be more dancing and lots of games set up on the other side of the mansion. Thank you again for coming."
The lights came on. Bulma and Vegeta both gasped simultaneously.
(BWA HAH HA! MADE YOU LOOK!)
*What the h *ll are you wearing! * They both thought at the same time. Vegeta recovered first.
"You-you're a Saiyan princess." Vegeta choked out. He stared appreciatively at Bulma's mid-calf high black boots, her simple yet sexy (not to mention elegant) royal blue dress that went mid-thigh, several gold and silver armbands and her hair, which was in complicated curls held upon her head by a bold yet simple tiara. His eyes lingered on her 'tail'.
*Looks very authentic. Except for the fact that your tail stays in one place the whole time. *
Bulma ignored the last part, *You look exactly like a picture in my book, Sayians, of a Saiyan prince. (AN: I know my spelling of Saiyan is probably wrong).
*I AM the Saiyan prince you fool *
"Right." Bulma said smacking forehead lightly, "How in Kami's name did I forget?"
Vegeta changed the subject, "Let's go eat before all of those greedy simpering fools get it all." He said, leaving Bulma behind. Bulma trotted after him.
Clairesse sat Bulma to her right and Vegeta next to Bulma and a giggling busty blond woman to Vegeta's right. Dane, who was on Claire's left, shook hands with Vegeta after Bulma introduced them. He was faintly surprised at how strong his handshake was, but he dismissed it. The woman on Vegeta's right hand side was Victoria Greene, and she kept 'accidentally' touching Vegeta. Clairesse watched to see what Bulma would do out of the corner of her eye, as she simultaneously spoke with another guest.
*What the h *ll does this woman think she's doing! She is so d *mn clumsy *. Vegeta thought, rapidly becoming annoyed. Bulma glanced over at the giggling Victoria (who was fluttering her eyelashes and pouting when she noticed Vegeta was ignoring her) frowned.
*She's flirting with you. She wants you. * Bulma thought with some acid in her voice.
*I don't give a d *mn if she wants me or not. I ought to break her d *mn fingers. No one touches me with out my consent. * Bulma touched Vegeta lightly on the arm.
"No one?" she whispered softly and temptingly. Vegeta met her glance and they gazed into each other's eyes for a long period of time, in which only 3 people noticed their odd behavior. Dane smiled to himself; Clairesse laughed under her breath, and Victoria scowled at Bulma. To get his attention, Victoria 'accidentally' spilled her fake champagne (sorry, but I am so anti-alcohol it's painful) in Vegeta's lap.
Vegeta and Bulma both sprang out of their chairs. Vegeta glared menacingly at the now trembling Victoria. Vegeta growled low in his throat and tried to decide which hand of hers he would break first. Bulma put a hand on Vegeta's shoulder and frowned at Victoria.
*Don't waste your time Vegeta. She isn't worth the effort. *
Vegeta sat back down reluctantly, as he realized everyone was watching. Bulma sat down also but shot Victoria a venomous glare full of malice. Clairesses's eyebrows were raised as high as they could go.
"We apologize for the disruption, Clairesse." Bulma said embarrassed.
*Well, well, well. This is perfect. They seem to be getting along very nicely. * Claire thought smiling.
"Oh, that's fine dears. Victoria, maybe you should leave." Victoria ran out of the room crying. Conversation started back up after she left. "My goodness. You'd think she'd be used to being rejected by now. That girl just does not understand when a guy is giving you the brush-off. Poor Vegeta, don't look so taken aback you poor dear. Sticky Vicky tries to put her sticky little paws on all the guys. I wouldn't have invited her here but Dane is a friend of one of her boyfriends.
Dane shook his head at his wife's tirade. He loved his wife but she was so predictable! She always tried to find the perfect match for the people she cared for the most. He looked at Bulma and Vegeta who looked taken aback at what Clairesse was telling them. * The poor things* He thought. * They seem to be Claire's next unfortunate couple*
"Do you ever stop match-making dearest heart?" He asked his wife later that night.
"I can't! I am so happy with you and I just feel obligated to share the wealth with everybody else."
"I love you." Dane said kissing his wife.
"I know." Clairesse said kissing him back.
******************
No amount of pleading could make Vegeta stay after dinner.
"You were the last to arrive and the first to leave!"
*What's your point? *
"Oh, forget it!" she said pulling off her tail and throwing it away. Vegeta winced at the sight, "What made you decide to be a Saiyan princess?" he asked as they got in the limo.
"Oh, I don't know. I guess I just wanted to know what it felt like to be royalty for a night." Vegeta raised his eyebrow in amazement.
"That's pretty much what I was thinking."
"Really, Vegeta?"
"No. I didn't want to look a fool so I decided to dress as myself."
"Cheater."
Bulma leaned on his shoulder tiredly; Vegeta's eyebrows raised dramatically but he did nothing. *Wake me up when we get there Vegeta * Bulma yawned instantly falling asleep.
*D *mn, that woman falls asleep faster than anyone I know * Vegeta thought in minor annoyance. Vegeta tried to see what Bulma was dreaming about (he so rarely dreamed he liked to see what others dreamed about) but she seemed to have blocked him out. He frowned and closed his eyes. *This woman is more trouble than she is worth. *Something deep in his mind told him that Goku was right and that he had stumbled into the quicksand of love and the harder he fought it the less likely it was he would ever get out and that she was destined to be his mate for life.
*That's ridiculous! I could never have a human for a mate. * He snapped out of his thoughts as they reached the Whit House. He tried to wake Bulma, but she was too deeply sleeping. He sighed in annoyance and threw her over his shoulder. He walked past stunned servants, a shocked Susie (who dropped a tray of 10 crystal glasses) and a very smug Goku, as he literally tossed Bulma onto the bed. He took her shoes off of her feet and threw them under the bed. He frowned slightly as he reached out and took her tiara off her head gently. Her tightly curled hair cascaded down her back. He avoided looking at her face as he took her jewelry off her arms and put it on the dresser. He tried to make himself leave *You have no more excuses to stay in here any longer Vegeta. Get out of the woman's room now, and for Kami's sake, do not look at her face. * Vegeta turned around and stormed out of the room. He turned off the lights and gently closed the door.
***************
In her dreams Bulma was bound and blind. She sensed Vegeta standing a little away from her. She screamed his name, but he laughed and left her there alone in the darkness; the darkness that threatened to swallow her whole being and leave her a shadow of a human being. (Hint hint)
AN: Okay, if you're passing English you probably know that that was FORESHADOWING-PREDICTING OF THINGS TO COME. This chapter is extra long because I feel bad for leaving some of you hanging. I am sincerely sorry about the OOCness but it's really hard to keep the characters In Character in a story on an alternate timeline. Please review my story! =)
~BULMA16-CHAN~