Will to Survive
Chapter Four
Moonlight Meetings and Headaches Galore
Disclaimer: Need it be said? I don't own DBZ or any of its chars...I do own this story, as crazy as it is, but that's mostly all I own. ^_~
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Chichi leaned anxiously against the counter, watching Ria. This was her first attempt at a full meal and she desperately wanted the older woman's praise. If she could get this right...then maybe she really could find a place here.
"It looks good Chichi, and you even set it out the way I showed you. Now let's see how it tastes."
Chichi nodded her head and continued to watch, her fingers crossed behind her back. All she really wanted since she had been brought to this house was to stay here. Bulma had turned out to be a great woman and she even tolerated Chichi's mistakes, and she had made quite a few.
It had been a week since she began her work in the kitchen and Ria tolerated her learning mistakes much more than any one else had. She was even teaching Chichi all of her secret recipes. It was one of these that she had tried to make tonight. Bulma loved it and Ria agreed with Chichi that she ought to make it as a way to say thank you. It was certainly better working for Bulma than living on the streets. Here she had a room to herself, clothing, provided for her by her new employer, and three wonderful square meals a day. Plus...there was a certain young man here that she would sometimes go out of her way to run into....and that was often meant literally. If she had Goku run her over one more time this week her back would be sore for months.
She almost smiled at the thought, but Ria was catching on to what her dreamy looks meant and she wasn't going to give herself away so quickly. So she chased the thought from her mind and concentrated on what was at hand. Ria was chewing her first bite of Chichi's food and there didn't seem to be a disgusted look on her face...not yet anyway.
With a brilliant smile Ria clapped her hands and bowed her head in Chichi's direction.
"I think yours is better than mine and I don't mind saying it, although it does pang me to realize that a youngin' like you has surpassed me already. Well now girl-child, I think me you can go ahead and call for the servants and we'll just see if you don't get yourself a fair bit of compliments on this meal."
She blushed at this praise, not really being used to it, but was secretly pleased. So far she had shown a knack for this and she was very happy to be able to do something right for once. As she skipped out of the kitchen, much to Ria's evident amusemant, her thoughts settled happily on the thought of being complimented by the household. The thought of Lorna complimenting her made her stop and fall over laughing in the middle of the hall. She supposed she must have been laughing a little too loudly though, because the next thing she knew she saw a pair of boots stop in front of her and the owner kneel down and lay a hand on her arm, helping her up. Chichi looked up into a pair of dark eyes and felt her whole face flush.
"What's so funny? You should be careful, you were blocking the hall and if Lorna came by she would have gladly stepped on you. Hey Chi, are you ok?"
Her eyes widened and her face flushed even more at his obvious concern and the cute little was he said her name. She knew she was staring at his face but her heart was pounding in her head and her face felt so warm that she was having trouble moving her tongue in her suddenly dry mouth. There was something about this man that she didn't understand...something that he made her feel...and it confused her to no end.
Forcing herself to concentrate she nodded her head and smiled slightly, struggling to think of the words to say.
"I am sure you're right...she wouldn't hesitate to leave her foot prints all down my side. In fact, if she could manage it without also getting the carpets dirty I think she'd rush outside and step in mud before she came and treaded on me."
Goku joined her in her renewed laughing but this time his hand, still on her arm, kept her up. That's where the very person they had been speaking of found them as she came in from outside. She gave them one look and hurried over to stand next to them, her hands placed firmly on her hips and a disapproving look engulfing her face.
"What is going on here? I can hear your racket all the way in the wash house, you ought to be more considerate of the people in this house who are trying to get their work done WITHOUT your infernal noise distracting them! And what precisely are you two doing alone in a hall anyway? With neither of you married and touching each other!! It's shocking! I knew you were a little slu-"
"Hey! Lorna, you leave Chichi alone. I was just helping her up and we were sharing a funny thought. There wasn't anything inappropriate in our behavior."
"Oh? I'll be the judge of that, and don't you doubt for one minute that I'll be telling Miss Bulma about this."
With that the woman turned on her heels and strode down the hall, disappearing into a room and slamming the door behind her. Chichi would have liked to have said something, the very idea of that bitter old witch calling her a slut infuriated her! But the speed with which Goku had come to her rescue had surprised her and she had been more than willing to let him play her knight in shining armor.
Goku looked back down at the girl beside him and smiled. She was pretty, that was certain. And she was nice, which made for a good combination. At least she wasn't a twittering airhead like some of the girls and she wasn't rude like Lorna. Oh he got along well enough with all of them, he could get along with anyone, but that didn't mean he wanted to be around them...not like he wanted to be around Chichi. He wasn't the brightest guy, so it was hard to find reasons to be lurking around the halls to see her.
"Well Chi, were you heading to tell the servants to get dinner?"
She laughed at the excited tone in his voice and he was glad he could make her smile. He really was getting hungry though, so he hoped that dinner was done.
"Yes, I was on my way. You're stomach won't have to suffer much longer."
Chichi giggled and poked him in the stomach. He placed his hand behind his head and laughed sheepishly but stopped when he noticed she wasn't laughing with him, that she was staring at her hand still poised next to his stomach.
"Uh...Chi?"
"Oh, I'm sorry! I..I have to go..find the...yeah and get...dinner...and...yeah..Bye Goku!"
She ran off so quickly down the hall that he wondered if he had done anything to scare her off. Maybe she didn't like him as much as he thought she did.
Chichi continued running until she got through to the small room outside the dinning hall, the servants gathered there stood and looked at her in surprise. She supposed her face must be completely red and she knew some of her hair had come out of her bun. She straightened herself out as best she could and gave them all a warm smile, she was really trying to make some friends in this house.
"Dinner is ready to be served."
The group in front of her, mostly composed of young women, bowed their heads to her and filed past into the hall. Not one of them stopped to say a word to her, or to even give her a friendly smile and she sighed in frustration. So far the only people she was on speaking terms with were Ria, Goku, and Bulma...and Lorna, although she wouldn't have complained at not being on speaking terms with the grumpy laundress.
Well....she could only try to give it time...maybe one of them would eventually decide to talk to her....
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Bulma placed her napkin in her lap and carefully folded her hands together. She looked between her guests and sighed, wishing she could run her hands through her hair, but such a display would not go well for her. There were at least two people here that she had to impress. One was her father and the other was the dark haired man sitting in the chair next to hers. Her mother was sitting on the opposite side of him, across from her father, and kept looking at him and then at her daughter and mouthing suggestions at her.
Lord Vegeta wasn't someone she was all that interested in, not like that anyway. He was only there because her father insisted she invite him, because he could be a good client for her. She just wasn't certain that she could trust him with her inventions.
"So I was telling him that if he wanted inventions of that caliber he would have to speak with you."
"I see...and what exactly is it that you are looking for me to build you?"
"We will discuss that after I decide if you are good enough for me to hire."
Bulma felt her lips unconsciously press together at that. Who did this man think he was talking to? He wasn't any richer or higher ranking than she was....GOOD enough for HIM? That was a laugh.
"And if I decide that you are not good enough for me to work for?"
Aha! That got him. His eyes narrowed at her, just slightly, but she caught it. Her father was shaking his head at her vigorously but she ignored him, looking straight into the eyes of the man with his flame shaped upswept hair. She idly wondered how he kept it that way but spared no more than a second for that thought, since her real concern was her possible employer...and not his hair style.
"I think you'll do what I tell you."
"And what makes you think that? You self-centered, pompous-"
"Bulma dear! I simply love this meal, you have to let me talk with your chef, I want this recipe."
Bulma stopped at the beginning of what was probably going to be a long and loud shouting session and looked in surprise at her mother. She refolded her hands calmly and smiled sincerely at her mother, thankful that she had stopped her before she got carried away.
"Mother, you already have this recipe, don't you recall?"
"I do? I don't think so. I don't recall tasting anything this good here before."
"Oh? But this is my favorite, I know you've had it before."
She took a small bite of her food and smiled in pleasant surprise.
"This is wonderful. It's better than even Ria makes it, Chichi is learning so quickly."
"You got a new chef? Well I have to talk to her dear."
"Of course mother, I'll introduce you after dinne-"
"Do you two mind? We were talki-"
"Lord Vegeta, you will have to learn better manners than that. My mother and I were also having a discussion, which you so rudely interrupted. And you have yet to try your food, eat and we will have time to talk afterwards."
Vegeta growled low at her but began eating his food, which was gone in just a matter of moments and he was gesturing for a servant to bring him more. Bulma stared at him in shock, her mouth hanging open the slightest bit. He was a pig...well....a clean pig but still a pig. As she watched he moved on to his fourth plate. She shut her mouth and automatically went back to her own meal, hoping she wouldn't run out of food....
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"Can you have patience for five minutes?"
"Why should I woman? I'm your guest."
"Yes! And as my guest you should have some manners in MY home."
"Now why would I do that? That would require that I have some respect for you."
"You son of a bi-"
"Bulma! Weren't you going to introduce your mother to this new chef of yours?"
Bulma sighed and smiled politely at her father, turning her back on Vegeta and pointedly ignoring him.
"Yes I was, I do believe that is what Lord Vegeta and I were talking about. He doesn't want me to leave him alone for five minutes. I guess he's afraid of being left by his poor whittle lonesome self."
"Why you little who-"
"Lord Vegeta, you really do know how to charm a lady, don't you?"
Bulma stopped again and turned to look at the new speaker, the one who had been silent almost all through dinner. A frustrated sigh just didn't seem enough right then.
"Thank you Daniel, I do believe that I can take care of him myself. But I appreciate your attempts."
"Nonsense Lady Bulma. You deserve someone to champion your causes for you. And I personally would be happy to-"
"Does he ever shut up?"
"Do ANY of you shut up?"
"Bulma!"
"Father! What were you thinking bringing that pompous ass into my home! And Daniel, if I want someone to champion me then I'll CHOOSE him myself!"
The three men all stood looking slightly taken aback, well....the two men since Vegeta's facial expressions never did seem to change. But she stuck to her ground and having managed to silence them all for five seconds stormed out of the room.
"Mother! Come this way."
"Coming Bulma dear!"
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"Chichi! There you are, wait a moment. Chichi, this is my mother. Mother, I would like you to meet Chichi."
Bulma sighed as she went through the obligatory introductions only to have her mother envelope the young girl in a hug and squeal in her ear.
"Oh! I'm so happy to meet you. You simply MUST tell me what you did to that recipe to make it so delicious."
Chichi was almost knocked off her feet by the exuberance of the older woman, who she wouldn't have picked out as Bulma's mother if she'd been given a million years and five people to choose from.
"Did? I followed the recipe I was given..."
"You didn't add anything? You're simply wonderful then!"
"I am? I don't understand how it could have been better if I didn't change the recipe...."
"Well it was Chichi...I think so as well. I'd like to thank you for making my favorite meal. Goodness knows I'm going to need SOMETHING nice to have come from this evening."
"Oh! But Bulma...I made it as a thank you for taking me in....You really liked it that much?"
She was watching both of the women now, her eyes wide in her head in disbelief. They had to be joking with her, it couldn't be any better than when Ria made it....
"It was! If I thought I could manage I would steal you from Bulma."
Chichi laughed lightly and blushed at the same time, her eyes moving to the floor in embarrassment.
"Thank you Mrs. Brief's. You're too kind."
"That's not true Chichi, you really do deserve it. Now, I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave you and go back to my guests, but I think my mother would prefer to stay and chat with you. I will see you both later then."
She watched the younger woman walk dejectedly down the hall until she stopped in front of the library door, straightened her shoulders, opened the door, and disappeared from sight. Then she turned back to the older blond woman and sighed. If she had to entertain the overly excited woman for long then she might have to yank out a few of her hairs....still, it wasn't a bad job.
"Well Mrs. Briefs. Can I show you to the kitchen, perhaps we can have some refreshments in there?"
"That would be wonderful dear!"
Chichi sighed again and wondered to herself as she followed the woman to the kitchen if the older lady ever stopped squealing.
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Bulma lounged back against her favorite chair and regarded the dark haired man sitting across from her. She had managed to make it through two more hours of senseless chatter spattered with the occasional argument before Daniel, her mother, and her father finally left. Vegeta though, refused to leave until he had gotten to talk to her more. She supposed it was better just to talk with him than to argue for another few hours with him over it.
"Listen Lord Vegeta, I have no intention of helping you. Not right now. I have too many projects in the work. I know my father brought you here with the intention of getting me to help you because he can not, but I am simply too busy."
Vegeta didn't seem pleased by that, not that she could really tell...the guy was almost impossible to read. She just hoped he wouldn't start yet another argument...she was really getting tired...not to mention a headache....the man just set her off in the worst way...
"We're getting no where like this. I'll give you a month to clear up your work and then I expect you to do what I want. That's all the discussion I'm willing to have on this. Got it?"
"Why you conceited jackass!"
She was on her feet in an instant and was seriously considering trying to hit him, which would have been most unlady like; although she had already ruined her chances of being thought of by him as a calm, polite young woman.
By the time she had gotten to her feet and stopped yelling he was already at the door to the parlor, his hand resting on the knob and ready to go out.
"You should watch your mouth woman."
With that he strode from the room and she could hear her front door opening and slamming behind him. He hadn't even bothered to wait for the doorman...which meant he was certain she was going to chase after him. 'Damn him! He's known me five hours and he can already figure that out?'
A soft sigh unconsciously escaped from her lips and she shook her head as she called for the maids to clear the room. That Vegeta was going to be a problem, and she could tell she wasn't going to be able to put him off easily.
As she climbed the stairs to her bedroom Bulma's head began filling with ideas of getting rid of her newest arrogant annoyance...and other thoughts about just what a cute annoyance he actually was....
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Chichi finished cleaning the plates and dishes from the dinner and laid them out on the drying rack, brushing the tendrils of hair that escaped her bun from her face. She was practically swaying on her feet from exhaustion. Now that the nerve-racking first dinner was over she was relieved...but she was also so tired. She had been so tense for so many hours, wondering if she would get it right, worrying that she might be fired if she messed up. She hadn't realized, all those years she lived by herself on the streets, just how good it could feel to have a place to stay and call your home...to do something honest and not have to live each day risking her life and her freedom.
Her weariness led her from the kitchen and up the stairs...one agonizingly slow step at a time....By the time she reached the first landing she was feeling a need to fall asleep right where she stood....which didn't seem like a good thing when she had another flight of stairs she had to climb. An inarticulate moan of weariness escaped her mouth and she prepared to start the next flight of stairs...until she noticed the balcony doors open.
Bulma's house was designed for as many balconies as there could be and the one located at the landing seemed to fit along with the rest, although at first she had thought the door situated in the wall was a little out of place. It was only open a tiny bit, hardly even noticeable and she wondered at herself for noticing it even as tired as she was, although that probably came from her ears of street living and the need to notice everything that was going on around her.
The soft moonlight fell evenly and spread out across the balcony, it almost made the balcony seem as light as the hallway she had just left. Chichi sucked in her breath in surprise at the figure leaning against the rail across from her. He had turned to look at her as soon as she stepped outside, and a soft breeze whipped between them...pulling her hair across her face and momentarily blinding her to the man before her.
She pulled her hair out of her face and stepped forward, smiling shyly at him. This man...did something to her...made her feel something...she wasn't really sure what it was but she liked it and she liked being around him.
"Goku? What are you...doing out here at this time of night?"
"I was looking at the sky, at the stars. They're really pretty. That was a wonderful dinner tonight Chi!"
Chichi slid up to the railing next to him and smiled up at him as he rubbed his stomach and started talking about how much he loved the food. As she listened to him rambling about the food, Chichi stood as close to him as she could, her sleeve barely brushing the sleeve of his clothing, the both of them bathed in the bright moonlight.
"Hey Goku? I've been wondering....what...did you used to do before Bulma took you in? Were you...like me too?"
At first she thought he wasn't going to answer her, he was so quiet, which was something she was beginning to realize was not normal for Goku. Just when she couldn't stand the silence anymore, when she was about to turn and go back inside, he turned to her, placing his hand gently under her chin and tilting her head up slightly. He was staring into her eyes and she almost didn't notice the hesitation slashing across his face, and then he opened his mouth slowly, searching her face as if he could find the words he meant to say written there.
"Chichi, I...."
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AN: ^_^ Am I evil yet? I know, it's taken me forever and a day to update...but you know, I can only offer my apologies and the pitiful excuses that I've been busy and have been terribly stuck on where to take this. But look...a nice long chapter to pacify you...even though I really did end it terribly didn't it? ^_^ Well....does anyone want to make any suggestions as to what he could have done? I'm not saying I don't know what he did...but I might take a suggestion if it's better than my idea. ^_^
Remember, if you want to be on my ml just send an e-mail to hibari_heza@fangirl.org and tell me you want to be sent updates for this fic. Or leave your e-mail addy in a review and I'll add you. ^_^ Thanks.
Kei: Thanks. ^_^ I love hearing stuff like tgar. Well....I wonder what he did too...I'll go ask him. ^_~
Seneca: ^_^ O.k. I feel more inspired lately...my muse hasn't been on hiatus as much. Lol
Dbgoddesses: I try to get them out fast, but I just can't sometimes. Umm...what's your pen name? I'll read it if I can find it. ^_^
JenTrunks: Don't worry, there will be plenty of G/CC moments. ^_^ I've just got to get her established in the household first. Hehe.
Chapter Four
Moonlight Meetings and Headaches Galore
Disclaimer: Need it be said? I don't own DBZ or any of its chars...I do own this story, as crazy as it is, but that's mostly all I own. ^_~
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Chichi leaned anxiously against the counter, watching Ria. This was her first attempt at a full meal and she desperately wanted the older woman's praise. If she could get this right...then maybe she really could find a place here.
"It looks good Chichi, and you even set it out the way I showed you. Now let's see how it tastes."
Chichi nodded her head and continued to watch, her fingers crossed behind her back. All she really wanted since she had been brought to this house was to stay here. Bulma had turned out to be a great woman and she even tolerated Chichi's mistakes, and she had made quite a few.
It had been a week since she began her work in the kitchen and Ria tolerated her learning mistakes much more than any one else had. She was even teaching Chichi all of her secret recipes. It was one of these that she had tried to make tonight. Bulma loved it and Ria agreed with Chichi that she ought to make it as a way to say thank you. It was certainly better working for Bulma than living on the streets. Here she had a room to herself, clothing, provided for her by her new employer, and three wonderful square meals a day. Plus...there was a certain young man here that she would sometimes go out of her way to run into....and that was often meant literally. If she had Goku run her over one more time this week her back would be sore for months.
She almost smiled at the thought, but Ria was catching on to what her dreamy looks meant and she wasn't going to give herself away so quickly. So she chased the thought from her mind and concentrated on what was at hand. Ria was chewing her first bite of Chichi's food and there didn't seem to be a disgusted look on her face...not yet anyway.
With a brilliant smile Ria clapped her hands and bowed her head in Chichi's direction.
"I think yours is better than mine and I don't mind saying it, although it does pang me to realize that a youngin' like you has surpassed me already. Well now girl-child, I think me you can go ahead and call for the servants and we'll just see if you don't get yourself a fair bit of compliments on this meal."
She blushed at this praise, not really being used to it, but was secretly pleased. So far she had shown a knack for this and she was very happy to be able to do something right for once. As she skipped out of the kitchen, much to Ria's evident amusemant, her thoughts settled happily on the thought of being complimented by the household. The thought of Lorna complimenting her made her stop and fall over laughing in the middle of the hall. She supposed she must have been laughing a little too loudly though, because the next thing she knew she saw a pair of boots stop in front of her and the owner kneel down and lay a hand on her arm, helping her up. Chichi looked up into a pair of dark eyes and felt her whole face flush.
"What's so funny? You should be careful, you were blocking the hall and if Lorna came by she would have gladly stepped on you. Hey Chi, are you ok?"
Her eyes widened and her face flushed even more at his obvious concern and the cute little was he said her name. She knew she was staring at his face but her heart was pounding in her head and her face felt so warm that she was having trouble moving her tongue in her suddenly dry mouth. There was something about this man that she didn't understand...something that he made her feel...and it confused her to no end.
Forcing herself to concentrate she nodded her head and smiled slightly, struggling to think of the words to say.
"I am sure you're right...she wouldn't hesitate to leave her foot prints all down my side. In fact, if she could manage it without also getting the carpets dirty I think she'd rush outside and step in mud before she came and treaded on me."
Goku joined her in her renewed laughing but this time his hand, still on her arm, kept her up. That's where the very person they had been speaking of found them as she came in from outside. She gave them one look and hurried over to stand next to them, her hands placed firmly on her hips and a disapproving look engulfing her face.
"What is going on here? I can hear your racket all the way in the wash house, you ought to be more considerate of the people in this house who are trying to get their work done WITHOUT your infernal noise distracting them! And what precisely are you two doing alone in a hall anyway? With neither of you married and touching each other!! It's shocking! I knew you were a little slu-"
"Hey! Lorna, you leave Chichi alone. I was just helping her up and we were sharing a funny thought. There wasn't anything inappropriate in our behavior."
"Oh? I'll be the judge of that, and don't you doubt for one minute that I'll be telling Miss Bulma about this."
With that the woman turned on her heels and strode down the hall, disappearing into a room and slamming the door behind her. Chichi would have liked to have said something, the very idea of that bitter old witch calling her a slut infuriated her! But the speed with which Goku had come to her rescue had surprised her and she had been more than willing to let him play her knight in shining armor.
Goku looked back down at the girl beside him and smiled. She was pretty, that was certain. And she was nice, which made for a good combination. At least she wasn't a twittering airhead like some of the girls and she wasn't rude like Lorna. Oh he got along well enough with all of them, he could get along with anyone, but that didn't mean he wanted to be around them...not like he wanted to be around Chichi. He wasn't the brightest guy, so it was hard to find reasons to be lurking around the halls to see her.
"Well Chi, were you heading to tell the servants to get dinner?"
She laughed at the excited tone in his voice and he was glad he could make her smile. He really was getting hungry though, so he hoped that dinner was done.
"Yes, I was on my way. You're stomach won't have to suffer much longer."
Chichi giggled and poked him in the stomach. He placed his hand behind his head and laughed sheepishly but stopped when he noticed she wasn't laughing with him, that she was staring at her hand still poised next to his stomach.
"Uh...Chi?"
"Oh, I'm sorry! I..I have to go..find the...yeah and get...dinner...and...yeah..Bye Goku!"
She ran off so quickly down the hall that he wondered if he had done anything to scare her off. Maybe she didn't like him as much as he thought she did.
Chichi continued running until she got through to the small room outside the dinning hall, the servants gathered there stood and looked at her in surprise. She supposed her face must be completely red and she knew some of her hair had come out of her bun. She straightened herself out as best she could and gave them all a warm smile, she was really trying to make some friends in this house.
"Dinner is ready to be served."
The group in front of her, mostly composed of young women, bowed their heads to her and filed past into the hall. Not one of them stopped to say a word to her, or to even give her a friendly smile and she sighed in frustration. So far the only people she was on speaking terms with were Ria, Goku, and Bulma...and Lorna, although she wouldn't have complained at not being on speaking terms with the grumpy laundress.
Well....she could only try to give it time...maybe one of them would eventually decide to talk to her....
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Bulma placed her napkin in her lap and carefully folded her hands together. She looked between her guests and sighed, wishing she could run her hands through her hair, but such a display would not go well for her. There were at least two people here that she had to impress. One was her father and the other was the dark haired man sitting in the chair next to hers. Her mother was sitting on the opposite side of him, across from her father, and kept looking at him and then at her daughter and mouthing suggestions at her.
Lord Vegeta wasn't someone she was all that interested in, not like that anyway. He was only there because her father insisted she invite him, because he could be a good client for her. She just wasn't certain that she could trust him with her inventions.
"So I was telling him that if he wanted inventions of that caliber he would have to speak with you."
"I see...and what exactly is it that you are looking for me to build you?"
"We will discuss that after I decide if you are good enough for me to hire."
Bulma felt her lips unconsciously press together at that. Who did this man think he was talking to? He wasn't any richer or higher ranking than she was....GOOD enough for HIM? That was a laugh.
"And if I decide that you are not good enough for me to work for?"
Aha! That got him. His eyes narrowed at her, just slightly, but she caught it. Her father was shaking his head at her vigorously but she ignored him, looking straight into the eyes of the man with his flame shaped upswept hair. She idly wondered how he kept it that way but spared no more than a second for that thought, since her real concern was her possible employer...and not his hair style.
"I think you'll do what I tell you."
"And what makes you think that? You self-centered, pompous-"
"Bulma dear! I simply love this meal, you have to let me talk with your chef, I want this recipe."
Bulma stopped at the beginning of what was probably going to be a long and loud shouting session and looked in surprise at her mother. She refolded her hands calmly and smiled sincerely at her mother, thankful that she had stopped her before she got carried away.
"Mother, you already have this recipe, don't you recall?"
"I do? I don't think so. I don't recall tasting anything this good here before."
"Oh? But this is my favorite, I know you've had it before."
She took a small bite of her food and smiled in pleasant surprise.
"This is wonderful. It's better than even Ria makes it, Chichi is learning so quickly."
"You got a new chef? Well I have to talk to her dear."
"Of course mother, I'll introduce you after dinne-"
"Do you two mind? We were talki-"
"Lord Vegeta, you will have to learn better manners than that. My mother and I were also having a discussion, which you so rudely interrupted. And you have yet to try your food, eat and we will have time to talk afterwards."
Vegeta growled low at her but began eating his food, which was gone in just a matter of moments and he was gesturing for a servant to bring him more. Bulma stared at him in shock, her mouth hanging open the slightest bit. He was a pig...well....a clean pig but still a pig. As she watched he moved on to his fourth plate. She shut her mouth and automatically went back to her own meal, hoping she wouldn't run out of food....
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"Can you have patience for five minutes?"
"Why should I woman? I'm your guest."
"Yes! And as my guest you should have some manners in MY home."
"Now why would I do that? That would require that I have some respect for you."
"You son of a bi-"
"Bulma! Weren't you going to introduce your mother to this new chef of yours?"
Bulma sighed and smiled politely at her father, turning her back on Vegeta and pointedly ignoring him.
"Yes I was, I do believe that is what Lord Vegeta and I were talking about. He doesn't want me to leave him alone for five minutes. I guess he's afraid of being left by his poor whittle lonesome self."
"Why you little who-"
"Lord Vegeta, you really do know how to charm a lady, don't you?"
Bulma stopped again and turned to look at the new speaker, the one who had been silent almost all through dinner. A frustrated sigh just didn't seem enough right then.
"Thank you Daniel, I do believe that I can take care of him myself. But I appreciate your attempts."
"Nonsense Lady Bulma. You deserve someone to champion your causes for you. And I personally would be happy to-"
"Does he ever shut up?"
"Do ANY of you shut up?"
"Bulma!"
"Father! What were you thinking bringing that pompous ass into my home! And Daniel, if I want someone to champion me then I'll CHOOSE him myself!"
The three men all stood looking slightly taken aback, well....the two men since Vegeta's facial expressions never did seem to change. But she stuck to her ground and having managed to silence them all for five seconds stormed out of the room.
"Mother! Come this way."
"Coming Bulma dear!"
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"Chichi! There you are, wait a moment. Chichi, this is my mother. Mother, I would like you to meet Chichi."
Bulma sighed as she went through the obligatory introductions only to have her mother envelope the young girl in a hug and squeal in her ear.
"Oh! I'm so happy to meet you. You simply MUST tell me what you did to that recipe to make it so delicious."
Chichi was almost knocked off her feet by the exuberance of the older woman, who she wouldn't have picked out as Bulma's mother if she'd been given a million years and five people to choose from.
"Did? I followed the recipe I was given..."
"You didn't add anything? You're simply wonderful then!"
"I am? I don't understand how it could have been better if I didn't change the recipe...."
"Well it was Chichi...I think so as well. I'd like to thank you for making my favorite meal. Goodness knows I'm going to need SOMETHING nice to have come from this evening."
"Oh! But Bulma...I made it as a thank you for taking me in....You really liked it that much?"
She was watching both of the women now, her eyes wide in her head in disbelief. They had to be joking with her, it couldn't be any better than when Ria made it....
"It was! If I thought I could manage I would steal you from Bulma."
Chichi laughed lightly and blushed at the same time, her eyes moving to the floor in embarrassment.
"Thank you Mrs. Brief's. You're too kind."
"That's not true Chichi, you really do deserve it. Now, I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave you and go back to my guests, but I think my mother would prefer to stay and chat with you. I will see you both later then."
She watched the younger woman walk dejectedly down the hall until she stopped in front of the library door, straightened her shoulders, opened the door, and disappeared from sight. Then she turned back to the older blond woman and sighed. If she had to entertain the overly excited woman for long then she might have to yank out a few of her hairs....still, it wasn't a bad job.
"Well Mrs. Briefs. Can I show you to the kitchen, perhaps we can have some refreshments in there?"
"That would be wonderful dear!"
Chichi sighed again and wondered to herself as she followed the woman to the kitchen if the older lady ever stopped squealing.
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Bulma lounged back against her favorite chair and regarded the dark haired man sitting across from her. She had managed to make it through two more hours of senseless chatter spattered with the occasional argument before Daniel, her mother, and her father finally left. Vegeta though, refused to leave until he had gotten to talk to her more. She supposed it was better just to talk with him than to argue for another few hours with him over it.
"Listen Lord Vegeta, I have no intention of helping you. Not right now. I have too many projects in the work. I know my father brought you here with the intention of getting me to help you because he can not, but I am simply too busy."
Vegeta didn't seem pleased by that, not that she could really tell...the guy was almost impossible to read. She just hoped he wouldn't start yet another argument...she was really getting tired...not to mention a headache....the man just set her off in the worst way...
"We're getting no where like this. I'll give you a month to clear up your work and then I expect you to do what I want. That's all the discussion I'm willing to have on this. Got it?"
"Why you conceited jackass!"
She was on her feet in an instant and was seriously considering trying to hit him, which would have been most unlady like; although she had already ruined her chances of being thought of by him as a calm, polite young woman.
By the time she had gotten to her feet and stopped yelling he was already at the door to the parlor, his hand resting on the knob and ready to go out.
"You should watch your mouth woman."
With that he strode from the room and she could hear her front door opening and slamming behind him. He hadn't even bothered to wait for the doorman...which meant he was certain she was going to chase after him. 'Damn him! He's known me five hours and he can already figure that out?'
A soft sigh unconsciously escaped from her lips and she shook her head as she called for the maids to clear the room. That Vegeta was going to be a problem, and she could tell she wasn't going to be able to put him off easily.
As she climbed the stairs to her bedroom Bulma's head began filling with ideas of getting rid of her newest arrogant annoyance...and other thoughts about just what a cute annoyance he actually was....
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Chichi finished cleaning the plates and dishes from the dinner and laid them out on the drying rack, brushing the tendrils of hair that escaped her bun from her face. She was practically swaying on her feet from exhaustion. Now that the nerve-racking first dinner was over she was relieved...but she was also so tired. She had been so tense for so many hours, wondering if she would get it right, worrying that she might be fired if she messed up. She hadn't realized, all those years she lived by herself on the streets, just how good it could feel to have a place to stay and call your home...to do something honest and not have to live each day risking her life and her freedom.
Her weariness led her from the kitchen and up the stairs...one agonizingly slow step at a time....By the time she reached the first landing she was feeling a need to fall asleep right where she stood....which didn't seem like a good thing when she had another flight of stairs she had to climb. An inarticulate moan of weariness escaped her mouth and she prepared to start the next flight of stairs...until she noticed the balcony doors open.
Bulma's house was designed for as many balconies as there could be and the one located at the landing seemed to fit along with the rest, although at first she had thought the door situated in the wall was a little out of place. It was only open a tiny bit, hardly even noticeable and she wondered at herself for noticing it even as tired as she was, although that probably came from her ears of street living and the need to notice everything that was going on around her.
The soft moonlight fell evenly and spread out across the balcony, it almost made the balcony seem as light as the hallway she had just left. Chichi sucked in her breath in surprise at the figure leaning against the rail across from her. He had turned to look at her as soon as she stepped outside, and a soft breeze whipped between them...pulling her hair across her face and momentarily blinding her to the man before her.
She pulled her hair out of her face and stepped forward, smiling shyly at him. This man...did something to her...made her feel something...she wasn't really sure what it was but she liked it and she liked being around him.
"Goku? What are you...doing out here at this time of night?"
"I was looking at the sky, at the stars. They're really pretty. That was a wonderful dinner tonight Chi!"
Chichi slid up to the railing next to him and smiled up at him as he rubbed his stomach and started talking about how much he loved the food. As she listened to him rambling about the food, Chichi stood as close to him as she could, her sleeve barely brushing the sleeve of his clothing, the both of them bathed in the bright moonlight.
"Hey Goku? I've been wondering....what...did you used to do before Bulma took you in? Were you...like me too?"
At first she thought he wasn't going to answer her, he was so quiet, which was something she was beginning to realize was not normal for Goku. Just when she couldn't stand the silence anymore, when she was about to turn and go back inside, he turned to her, placing his hand gently under her chin and tilting her head up slightly. He was staring into her eyes and she almost didn't notice the hesitation slashing across his face, and then he opened his mouth slowly, searching her face as if he could find the words he meant to say written there.
"Chichi, I...."
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AN: ^_^ Am I evil yet? I know, it's taken me forever and a day to update...but you know, I can only offer my apologies and the pitiful excuses that I've been busy and have been terribly stuck on where to take this. But look...a nice long chapter to pacify you...even though I really did end it terribly didn't it? ^_^ Well....does anyone want to make any suggestions as to what he could have done? I'm not saying I don't know what he did...but I might take a suggestion if it's better than my idea. ^_^
Remember, if you want to be on my ml just send an e-mail to hibari_heza@fangirl.org and tell me you want to be sent updates for this fic. Or leave your e-mail addy in a review and I'll add you. ^_^ Thanks.
Kei: Thanks. ^_^ I love hearing stuff like tgar. Well....I wonder what he did too...I'll go ask him. ^_~
Seneca: ^_^ O.k. I feel more inspired lately...my muse hasn't been on hiatus as much. Lol
Dbgoddesses: I try to get them out fast, but I just can't sometimes. Umm...what's your pen name? I'll read it if I can find it. ^_^
JenTrunks: Don't worry, there will be plenty of G/CC moments. ^_^ I've just got to get her established in the household first. Hehe.