"It was you..." "Of course, but they'll never figure it out." "But how could you?! Why'd you do it?!" "Simple. That woman was getting on my nerves. Don't tell me you actually liked her." "I'm telling them." "You'll tell them nothing!! Besides, I'm the last person on their list. If you say anything, they'll suspect you, not me." "They wouldn't think I killed her." "You're right. They wouldn't think it... they'd KNOW it." "You'll pay for what you've done..."
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Bulma set down the phone as Vegeta walked into the room after a hard training session in the gravity room. She could tell he was really concentrating on this murder. She just didn't know he was that bored. "Who were you talking to, woman?" he asked as he flopped onto the couch gracelessly. Bulma frowned. "Vegeta! You're getting my couch all smelly! And it's none of your business who I was talking to." "If anything I'm making your couch smell better!" the prince snapped back. He smirked as the woman balled her hands into fists and stormed out of the room. He really enjoyed getting under her skin all the time.
Vegeta blinked as Trunks walked into the room and sat in a chair on the other side of the room. The demi-Saiyajin took a sip out of a soda can he was holding and flipped on the tv. Boredom was practically written all over him. "Don't you have anything better to do than watch tv, boy?" Vegeta snapped, glaring at the screen as channel after channel flashed by. "Not really." Trunks replied as he finally decided on a show to watch. Unsolved Mysteries. Vegeta listened as the host talked about and reviewed a murder that was never solved. He looked over at his son when he heard him snort. "What?" Trunks shrugged and motioned toward the tv. "I was just thinking that we should sell them the story of ChiChi's murder since no one can figure out who the killer is." The prince raised an eyebrow as he looked back at the television, though he was secretly watching the demi-Saiyajin from the corner of his eye. "Someone will figure it out soon enough." Trunks was silent for a moment before he chuckled again. "If anyone was going to figure it out, they would have by now."
Vegeta was certain now. Something about Trunks' tone screamed that he knew more than he was letting on. But how was he going to go about confronting him about it? Trunks was his own son, and to accuse him of withholding valuable information about a murder wasn't going to be easy. He'd have to be subtle about this. "Did you have something to do with the murder, boy?!" The demi-Saiyajin nearly fell out of his chair as he was confronted with the blunt question. "What?! Why would you think I had anything to do with it?!" Vegeta shrugged. "It's an innocent question." "And I'm an innocent person! I had nothing to do with this murder, father." Trunks snapped, glaring at the Saiyajin angrily. "A little defensive, are we?" the prince mocked. "Of course I'm defensive! You're accusing me of murdering ChiChi!" the demi-Saiyajin cried. "I am not. I asked you if you had anything to do with it. I didn't say you actually did it." Vegeta studied the strange expression on his son's face. It seemed like Trunks was thinking something over, but was having trouble coming up with some sort of response. His expression was either that of a confused person... or a guilty one.
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Vegeta once again found himself at the Son's household. He'd decided that he should mention his suspicions to Goku, even though he wasn't positive. It wasn't exactly easy to think that your own son could have murdered someone, but he couldn't just ignore it. Yes. He was definitely going soft.
"Kakarotto, I think I might have an idea of who might've been involved with ChiChi's death." Goku blinked and scratched his head. "You don't seem very sure at all..." "I'm not." Vegeta replied. "But it's worth some attention." "Who then?" The prince was silent for a moment before answering. "Trunks." "Trunks?!" Goten cried. The demi-Saiyajin had been asked by the prince himself to be present during this conversation, just in case Trunks might have told him anything. "But... why would Trunks do something like that??" Vegeta folded his arms and watched the teenager carefully. "You once said yourself that Trunks wasn't happy about your mother restricting you from sparring with him, did you not?" Goten's expression seemed distant as he slowly nodded, almost as if he were considering this possibility. Goku wasn't so sure. "He doesn't seem capable of murder, Vegeta. Why would you suspect him?" "He's been acting strange ever since the incident. At first I thought he was feeling a little withdrawn after being around Goten and his grief, but lately he's been making comments every now and then. His whole attitude toward the subject is suspicious. I'm suspecting him for much the same reasons you suspected Gohan." the prince explained, convincing himself more and more of his son's guilt.
Before another word could be spoken, all three warriors snapped to attention as a ki similar to the one felt before ChiChi's murder suddenly spiked somewhere nearby. "That's it!" Vegeta cried, rushing to the door to investigate. Goten was close behind. "Hurry! We have to find it before it disappears again!" The three Saiyajins quickly ran outside and shot into the air to follow the mysterious ki, which was once again disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. "It's the same pattern!" Goten said. He could feel a lump forming in his throat as he remembered what he had found the last time he followed this strange energy. He only hoped that this time wouldn't be the same.
Vegeta cursed and paused as he scanned the landscape below. The ki had completely vanished again, and like the first time, he was left with only a general area of where it may have come from. He was thinking along the same lines as Goten. The prince was hoping that they wouldn't find another victim as they had last time. Goku frowned as he had thoughts of his own. He should have used the instant transmission as soon as he felt the ki. But it was too late for that now.
"Down there." Vegeta and the others descended in a spot they all agreed the ki had come from. Unfortunately, they were pretty sure they wouldn't find the source, but they wanted to make sure they didn't find anything else either. Each Saiyajin split up to scan the area, and for a few minutes, nothing was found. But that didn't last long.
Goku and Vegeta's sensitive Saiyajin ears each picked up the startled gasp of Goten and they were quick to investigate. Both warriors reached the scene at the same time, and each saw that Goten was staring down at yet another victim. Goku's eyes widened slightly at the sight. Not only had this victim's neck been broken, but he had a serious head wound as well. It looked as if he had taken a ki blast right to the temple. Goku swallowed nervously and looked over at Vegeta, who's expression was blank. His eyes seemed empty, like no one was home. Goten looked back at the prince and his father with a look of disbelief. "He's dead... Trunks is dead!!"
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"I don't understand... How'd you do it? I thought you were...." "Things will become clear soon enough. Don't wrack your brain over it now because you'll never figure it out." "Then why?! Why'd you kill Trunks?!" "He knew more than he was letting on. Remember, he had his mother's smarts." "You didn't have to kill him..." "And you didn't have to let it happen either." "I didn't LET anything happen!! How dare you even suggest such a thing! I have no control over what you do!" "True. I'll do whatever I want. But you have to admit... part of the blame rests on your shoulders." "No... no it doesn't! That's not true!" "Really? If you're so confident that you're completely free of guilt... then why haven't you told them?"
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Vegeta stood silently at his son's fresh grave, watching as the wind gently blew some loose flower petals across the soil. The others, including Bulma, were standing a little ways away from the prince. Despite his calm appearance, everyone knew that the wrong move could result in someone losing a limb. "I don't understand why someone would do this..." Bulma muttered as her eyes began to once again mist over. Goten just shook his head silently. When the murder of his best friend had first taken place, the demi-Saiyajin was full of grief, much the same way he'd been when his mother was killed. But now he was full of hate instead. He wanted to tear the person responsible for this apart. There was no reason for them to kill Trunks! He had done nothing wrong...
Everyone looked toward the prince when they heard him growling softly. His anger was beginning to show itself and no one knew how he'd react if confronted at the moment. "Do... do you think someone should talk to him?" Gohan asked as he looked specifically at his father. Goku, however, was already on his way over to the other Saiyajin.
Goku stopped next to the prince, but remained silent. If Vegeta had anything to say, he'd let him say it. Several minutes drifted by before the shorter Saiyajin snorted in disgust. "I guess I was wrong about Trunks being the murderer." Goku just nodded in response, unsure of what to say. Another couple minutes passed by before Vegeta spoke again. "Has anyone seen that Namek lately?" The other Saiyajin blinked in surprise and looked at the prince. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen Piccolo in weeks! He wondered if he even knew about the murderers. "No... Why?" Vegeta finally took his eyes off Trunks' grave and looked at the other Saiyajin. "If you haven't noticed, Kakarotto, both murders took place near your home. Besides you and your son, that Namek is the only one who hangs around that area to meditate and do whatever it is he spends his days doing! He's the only one left that has enough ki and speed to commit these crimes. And my son shouldn't have been killed so easily, unless, of course, he was taken by surprise. And that Namek has a tendency to sneak up on people!" Goku looked down at Trunks' grave as he considered the prince's words. What he had said did make sense, but why would Piccolo suddenly start killing people? It didn't all add up, but there was only one way to find out if Vegeta was right. "Maybe we should pay Piccolo a visit."
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Bulma set down the phone as Vegeta walked into the room after a hard training session in the gravity room. She could tell he was really concentrating on this murder. She just didn't know he was that bored. "Who were you talking to, woman?" he asked as he flopped onto the couch gracelessly. Bulma frowned. "Vegeta! You're getting my couch all smelly! And it's none of your business who I was talking to." "If anything I'm making your couch smell better!" the prince snapped back. He smirked as the woman balled her hands into fists and stormed out of the room. He really enjoyed getting under her skin all the time.
Vegeta blinked as Trunks walked into the room and sat in a chair on the other side of the room. The demi-Saiyajin took a sip out of a soda can he was holding and flipped on the tv. Boredom was practically written all over him. "Don't you have anything better to do than watch tv, boy?" Vegeta snapped, glaring at the screen as channel after channel flashed by. "Not really." Trunks replied as he finally decided on a show to watch. Unsolved Mysteries. Vegeta listened as the host talked about and reviewed a murder that was never solved. He looked over at his son when he heard him snort. "What?" Trunks shrugged and motioned toward the tv. "I was just thinking that we should sell them the story of ChiChi's murder since no one can figure out who the killer is." The prince raised an eyebrow as he looked back at the television, though he was secretly watching the demi-Saiyajin from the corner of his eye. "Someone will figure it out soon enough." Trunks was silent for a moment before he chuckled again. "If anyone was going to figure it out, they would have by now."
Vegeta was certain now. Something about Trunks' tone screamed that he knew more than he was letting on. But how was he going to go about confronting him about it? Trunks was his own son, and to accuse him of withholding valuable information about a murder wasn't going to be easy. He'd have to be subtle about this. "Did you have something to do with the murder, boy?!" The demi-Saiyajin nearly fell out of his chair as he was confronted with the blunt question. "What?! Why would you think I had anything to do with it?!" Vegeta shrugged. "It's an innocent question." "And I'm an innocent person! I had nothing to do with this murder, father." Trunks snapped, glaring at the Saiyajin angrily. "A little defensive, are we?" the prince mocked. "Of course I'm defensive! You're accusing me of murdering ChiChi!" the demi-Saiyajin cried. "I am not. I asked you if you had anything to do with it. I didn't say you actually did it." Vegeta studied the strange expression on his son's face. It seemed like Trunks was thinking something over, but was having trouble coming up with some sort of response. His expression was either that of a confused person... or a guilty one.
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Vegeta once again found himself at the Son's household. He'd decided that he should mention his suspicions to Goku, even though he wasn't positive. It wasn't exactly easy to think that your own son could have murdered someone, but he couldn't just ignore it. Yes. He was definitely going soft.
"Kakarotto, I think I might have an idea of who might've been involved with ChiChi's death." Goku blinked and scratched his head. "You don't seem very sure at all..." "I'm not." Vegeta replied. "But it's worth some attention." "Who then?" The prince was silent for a moment before answering. "Trunks." "Trunks?!" Goten cried. The demi-Saiyajin had been asked by the prince himself to be present during this conversation, just in case Trunks might have told him anything. "But... why would Trunks do something like that??" Vegeta folded his arms and watched the teenager carefully. "You once said yourself that Trunks wasn't happy about your mother restricting you from sparring with him, did you not?" Goten's expression seemed distant as he slowly nodded, almost as if he were considering this possibility. Goku wasn't so sure. "He doesn't seem capable of murder, Vegeta. Why would you suspect him?" "He's been acting strange ever since the incident. At first I thought he was feeling a little withdrawn after being around Goten and his grief, but lately he's been making comments every now and then. His whole attitude toward the subject is suspicious. I'm suspecting him for much the same reasons you suspected Gohan." the prince explained, convincing himself more and more of his son's guilt.
Before another word could be spoken, all three warriors snapped to attention as a ki similar to the one felt before ChiChi's murder suddenly spiked somewhere nearby. "That's it!" Vegeta cried, rushing to the door to investigate. Goten was close behind. "Hurry! We have to find it before it disappears again!" The three Saiyajins quickly ran outside and shot into the air to follow the mysterious ki, which was once again disappearing as quickly as it had appeared. "It's the same pattern!" Goten said. He could feel a lump forming in his throat as he remembered what he had found the last time he followed this strange energy. He only hoped that this time wouldn't be the same.
Vegeta cursed and paused as he scanned the landscape below. The ki had completely vanished again, and like the first time, he was left with only a general area of where it may have come from. He was thinking along the same lines as Goten. The prince was hoping that they wouldn't find another victim as they had last time. Goku frowned as he had thoughts of his own. He should have used the instant transmission as soon as he felt the ki. But it was too late for that now.
"Down there." Vegeta and the others descended in a spot they all agreed the ki had come from. Unfortunately, they were pretty sure they wouldn't find the source, but they wanted to make sure they didn't find anything else either. Each Saiyajin split up to scan the area, and for a few minutes, nothing was found. But that didn't last long.
Goku and Vegeta's sensitive Saiyajin ears each picked up the startled gasp of Goten and they were quick to investigate. Both warriors reached the scene at the same time, and each saw that Goten was staring down at yet another victim. Goku's eyes widened slightly at the sight. Not only had this victim's neck been broken, but he had a serious head wound as well. It looked as if he had taken a ki blast right to the temple. Goku swallowed nervously and looked over at Vegeta, who's expression was blank. His eyes seemed empty, like no one was home. Goten looked back at the prince and his father with a look of disbelief. "He's dead... Trunks is dead!!"
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"I don't understand... How'd you do it? I thought you were...." "Things will become clear soon enough. Don't wrack your brain over it now because you'll never figure it out." "Then why?! Why'd you kill Trunks?!" "He knew more than he was letting on. Remember, he had his mother's smarts." "You didn't have to kill him..." "And you didn't have to let it happen either." "I didn't LET anything happen!! How dare you even suggest such a thing! I have no control over what you do!" "True. I'll do whatever I want. But you have to admit... part of the blame rests on your shoulders." "No... no it doesn't! That's not true!" "Really? If you're so confident that you're completely free of guilt... then why haven't you told them?"
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Vegeta stood silently at his son's fresh grave, watching as the wind gently blew some loose flower petals across the soil. The others, including Bulma, were standing a little ways away from the prince. Despite his calm appearance, everyone knew that the wrong move could result in someone losing a limb. "I don't understand why someone would do this..." Bulma muttered as her eyes began to once again mist over. Goten just shook his head silently. When the murder of his best friend had first taken place, the demi-Saiyajin was full of grief, much the same way he'd been when his mother was killed. But now he was full of hate instead. He wanted to tear the person responsible for this apart. There was no reason for them to kill Trunks! He had done nothing wrong...
Everyone looked toward the prince when they heard him growling softly. His anger was beginning to show itself and no one knew how he'd react if confronted at the moment. "Do... do you think someone should talk to him?" Gohan asked as he looked specifically at his father. Goku, however, was already on his way over to the other Saiyajin.
Goku stopped next to the prince, but remained silent. If Vegeta had anything to say, he'd let him say it. Several minutes drifted by before the shorter Saiyajin snorted in disgust. "I guess I was wrong about Trunks being the murderer." Goku just nodded in response, unsure of what to say. Another couple minutes passed by before Vegeta spoke again. "Has anyone seen that Namek lately?" The other Saiyajin blinked in surprise and looked at the prince. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen Piccolo in weeks! He wondered if he even knew about the murderers. "No... Why?" Vegeta finally took his eyes off Trunks' grave and looked at the other Saiyajin. "If you haven't noticed, Kakarotto, both murders took place near your home. Besides you and your son, that Namek is the only one who hangs around that area to meditate and do whatever it is he spends his days doing! He's the only one left that has enough ki and speed to commit these crimes. And my son shouldn't have been killed so easily, unless, of course, he was taken by surprise. And that Namek has a tendency to sneak up on people!" Goku looked down at Trunks' grave as he considered the prince's words. What he had said did make sense, but why would Piccolo suddenly start killing people? It didn't all add up, but there was only one way to find out if Vegeta was right. "Maybe we should pay Piccolo a visit."
