*Author's Note: I really like the character Bardaku and what his relationship would have been with Gokuu's mother. That's another reason this whole Gokuu family thing is popping up, and soon a flashback with Gokuu's mother (whom I have created) will pop up. I made Radditsu really bitter about Kakarotto, and I hope the reason he acts that way is understood. Bulma also looses the ability to speak in this chapter which at first I thought was really stupid because it doesn't help Gokuu stay in the dark any better, but it does allow her to stop verbally bashing Vegita and take some real action! Besides, Vegita shouldn't get away for what he did to her after she told him off, ne? ^_^
Chapter 6
"What the hell??" Radditsu said, gaping at the picture that looked exactly like his father minus the scar. "This has to be some kind of trick!"
"Why would the Prince trick me?" Bardaku said, frowning. "I've never met him until today."
"Well, Kakarotto is supposed to be dead!"
"I never found a body."
"But..." Radditsu scowled and closed the book. "The Prince intends to bring him here?"
His father nodded. Radditsu placed the book on the bar and looked like he was thinking. Bardaku was a bit disturbed by his son's actions, but he knew that if he hadn't told him about Kakarotto, it would have caused more problems.
"I want to bring Kakarotto here," Radditsu said.
"What?"
"I should be the one to bring him here; I am his brother after all."
"You don't know anything about him."
"If I can get authorization from the Prince, I will speak with the Princess," Radditsu said with an unusual grin. "Supposedly they are...friends, so I can be prepared for whatever he may be."
Bardaku didn't respond. Instead he picked up his mug from the bar and took a long drink. His face was expressionless as it had been when he first told Radditsu the news, but that didn't hide much from his son.
"You hope Kakarotto will be allowed to live."
Bardaku simply glanced at his son. "If Kakarotto is mad, he should be killed."
"Kaasan made--"
"Don't bring up my mate," Bardaku interrupted harshly. There was no sadness in his voice, only bitterness.
"Well, you thought Kakarotto would be a great soldier," Radditsu said. He simply smirked at his father's strange manner about his mate. "Once he was properly trained."
"What's your point?"
"I get the distinct feeling Kakarotto is important to you--much like Ka...you know who."
"I don't even know Kakarotto," Bardaku said, picking up his mug again. He drank down all of the beer. "However, he is of my blood, like you, and he reflects myself no matter how much I want to deny it. I'm only concerned about Kakarotto making me look like a fool."
Radditsu studied his father's face, looking for any sign of emotion. "Then you have no objections of me retrieving him," he said after finding none.
"None." Bardaku signaled for the tender to refill his mug.
Radditsu rested his hand on the brown covered book and tapped his fingers upon it. On the surface his father seemed to be telling the truth about how he felt about Kakarotto, but somehow he didn't buy that Bardaku was only worried about his image. He knew that his father was the type that declared he would be judged by his actions, not his stupid offspring's actions. Then again, Radditsu hadn't ever done anything that would be considered mad. He could believe that his father would go against his morals under the circumstances, but he couldn't very believe that he would take so lightly the child his mate had asked him before she died to make into a great soldier. However, Radditsu intended to get to the truth one way or the other.
***
Vegita knew what was coming. His purposes were simple and he got right to the point, but he couldn't say the same for the man looking down upon him. The only person that looked down upon him. He hated that he often went around what was important to the Prince and targeted on things that were of value to himself and vexed the younger Saiyajin.
"So, how did you let it happen, Ouji?" King Vegita said, still amused at the whole story.
"Me?" Vegita said, tossing his cape to straighten it behind him. "It was that bumbling Sukuwa and Pikaru!"
"Hoh? You say the future King of the Saiyajin empire cannot even assign dependable men to watch over an inferior woman?"
"I wouldn't say she is inferior..." Vegita trailed off, wondering what the hell he was saying. His father began laughing before he could start over.
"The woman clearly isn't what she seems," Vegita said, frowning that he hadn't taken care of her yet.
"So, you intend to keep her?"
"No, I intend to kill her, but as I said I am planning to bring the lost Saiyajin to our kingdom to display my power."
"Ah, yes, Kakarotto," King Vegita said, leaning back into his red cushioned chair. "It would be entertaining to have a public killing of an insane Saiyajin. It would not only ensure that Saiyajins live by the code we have had for hundreds of years, but would also put more fear into those Capsule fools who still have several people that defy us. A death of their own should make them quiver and succumb to our power."
"They'll get two deaths."
King Vegita only laughed at the way his son kept trying to reinforce the point that he was going to kill the Princess. "We shall see. Who have you selected to bring the fallen Saiyajin?"
"Radditsu came to me with the request to do it after he speaks with the woman."
"Radditsu, really?" The King said with a short chuckle. "Are you sure it is wise to allow him to be alone with your mate?"
"Hmph!" Vegita said, lifting his nose higher in the air. "As if I have to worry about any low-class..." The Prince's face turned red, noticing his father had made him do it again. "The woman is not going to be my mate."
"We shall see."
"The only thing `we shall see' is how long my patience will last with you, Tousama," Vegita spat.
"Are you ready to take my place all ready, brat?" The King grinned at his son in a way that challenged and enticed him to do so.
Vegita turned his back on his father. "I came here to get you to contact the King of Capsule to arrange the lost Saiyajin's passage to Vegita," he said, only having the ability to speak civilly because of some training in dignified manner. "Now are you going to do it, or not?"
"I will talk to the King," the older Vegita said. He repressed any laughs that were trying to escape.
"See that you do," Vegita said, holding the back the urge to make himself prematurely King.
***
Bulma couldn't understand what had happened an hour ago. She was sure that Vegita was going to come into her room and finish what he had said he would do in her sleep. But, no. The Prince came in as if that was what he was going to do and suddenly took her photo album, muttering about some Kaka thing. She suspected he knew Gokuu in some way, but it didn't make sense. None of her people had ever been in contact with Saiyajins before the alliance had came about. However, Vegita stared at Gokuu as if he had seen him every day. Could Gokuu have not told her something?
The Princess was perplexed and a bit angry as well. She was beginning to relax in the tense situation she was in with the aid of her album book. It was taken without her permission, and she doubted that she would ever get it back. Bulma felt like a mouse that had been caught by a cat that put her in box and watched her hungrily above for some hours then left her alone for another period of time.
"What the hell's going on?" Bulma said, putting her chin in her hands.
She jumped when her door was opened, but settled when she saw that it wasn't Vegita. It was a tall Saiyajin with long, black hair that looked like if one touched it, the spike of his hair would cut their hand. He looked at her with subtle disdain, but bowed regardless of that and spoke politely to her.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness," Radditsu said. "I am Radditsu, third class soldier, Unit 6."
"Wh...Why are you here?" Bulma asked, wondering if Vegita had ordered her to be executed publicly or something.
Radditsu stared at her for a while, making Bulma uncomfortable. Most of the Saiyajins did that to her: examined her like she were some kind of creature they had never seen. Finally, they all ended up smirking at her as if she were some kind of joke.
"Kakarotto," the Saiyajin finally said.
"What is this Kakarotto you people keep talking about?" Bulma said. If it this dealt with Gokuu, she had never heard him say anything about it.
Radditsu pulled out the album book and opened it to a picture of Gokuu. "This is Kakarotto," he said.
"I think you're mistaken," Bulma said. She raised a brow wondering why this Kakarotto person was so important. "This is my friend, Sir Son Gokuu."
"He's my brother."
Bulma felt all the breath being sucked out of her. "Brother??" she repeated. "No, no...that would make Gokuu a...a..."
"Saiyajin," Radditsu said. He frowned. "He may very well be insane, though. How could a Saiyajin not know who he is?"
"No, you must be mistaken," Bulma said, examining the man's face. He did have a sort of resemblance to Gokuu with the hair and the eyes, but she could have said that about several of the Saiyajins she saw.
Several? Bulma thought with a feeling of dread. "Gokuu was raised by his grandfather, Son Gohan," she said.
"Whoever the hell that man was wasn't Kakarotto's kin," Radditsu said. "Kakarotto looks so much like my father it's unbelievable."
"Father?"
"Bardaku...if you get a chance to see him, you'll see that he looks just like him."
Bulma just stood there with her mouth hanging open. The friend she had played with ever since she was a little girl was a Saiyajin. One of the most blood-thirsty, maniacal, evil people in creation. That wasn't Gokuu--he was kind, gentle, and did good whenever he could. He never did anything in spite or revenge, and was so honest, you'd think he were a complete fool.
"What about Gokuu's mother?" Bulma blinked when Radditsu scowled at the use of his name. "I mean, Kakarotto..."
"Bardaku's mate died shortly after Kakarotto was born," Radditsu said impassively.
"I see...but how did Go--Kakarotto get in Capsule?"
"Bardaku was riding to Vegita and Kakarotto fell off the back of his horse," Radditsu said. He grunted and folded his arms over his chest. "I guess that `grandfather' of his found him and took him back to Capsule, raising him as his own."
Bulma put her chin back into her hands. "I wonder how Gokuu will take this..."
"We intend to bring Kakarotto here."
"Really??" Bulma said, forgetting that he was a Saiyajin for a moment. "That would be great!"
Radditsu stared at her grimly. "Is he a weakling?"
"Gokuu is the strongest person in our kingdom!" Bulma said, frowning because his words sounded like an assumption.
"Hmph, even the lowest ranked Saiyajin in our kingdom would be the strongest in your kingdom."
"Gokuu has never been defeated," Bulma said snobbishly. "He's the best of all the knights in our kingdom."
"Knights," Radditsu scoffed. "I guess, Kakarotto isn't going to be around for very long." He smirked to himself. "Oh, well."
"What? What do you mean?"
Radditsu bowed. "Thank you for your time, Your Majesty," he said, and turned for the door.
"Wait!" Bulma said. Radditsu paused, but only to smirk to himself.
Bulma watched him leave, now more worried about Gokuu than she were of herself. "Gokuu, what have I gotten you into?"
***
"A Saiyajin in my kingdom?" King Briefs asked, blinking. "Would I know him?"
"I believe your daughter is friends with him," King Vegita said. "He has the typical black hair and eyes of a Saiyajin."
King Briefs thought of all of the friends that Bulma had that fit the description. "Hmm...two of my knights have features like a Saiyajin," he said. "Neither of them act like Saiyajins though."
"He would be about...twenty or so, I believe."
"Gokuu?" King Briefs said. "No, I think you are mistaken about a Saiyajin being here."
"Bardaku," King Vegita commanded. The Saiyajin with the name stepped into view of the screen.
King Briefs' eyebrows raised. "He looks just like Gokuu," he said in a more dull surprise than a dignified shock.
"He is the father of this Saiyajin," King Vegita said, waving a hand to indicate Bardaku could leave the room. "The Prince requests that he be brought to Vegita."
"For what purpose?"
"We are curious to meet him," King Vegita said with a sly grin. "He is one of us, yet he is the only Saiyajin not to be raised in a Saiyajin kingdom."
King Briefs snapped his fingers. "That would solve the problem of sending a knight to your kingdom," he said, smiling. Obviously he hadn't seen the other king's grin. "Gokuu can be the knight to watch over Bulma and visit his family at the same time."
"Hmph, I guess that kills two birds with one stone," King Vegita said. He let out a chuckle, leaving the other king slightly confused.
***
Vegita should have been doing more training at the present hour even if he had spent a great majority of the morning all ready training. However, a few things bothered him. He remembered as he had flipped through the book of pictures that he had seen one that remained on his mind. A picture of the Princess and a nearly Saiyajin looking man were holding hands in some garden. The woman had a look like there was nothing else in the world besides the man with the scarred face. The man had a goofy look on his face that Vegita didn't particularly like either. He didn't know why he was concerned about the picture, but he was. It had driven him to travel to the Princess's room again, but not with the intent to kill. Vegita wasn't even really sure what the hell he wanted with her this time. He was still planning to kill her, but he wanted her to live long enough for him to bring Kakarotto to the kingdom and deal with him. As the two were friends, it would be easier to get Kakarotto
to their kingdom if Bulma were alive.
Vegita cracked a small grin when the Princess jumped when he entered. She was doing that a great deal as of late and it was being to be amusing. He stayed near the door, not intending to stay long.
"It would be of your interest to know that I am holding off your death for a while," Vegita said evenly. He figured some "small talk" would be best to start off with.
"What's a while to you?" Bulma asked, wondering if he meant a day. "And why are you doing this? I thought you couldn't afford to have me around."
"Well, Kakarotto is the reason," Vegita said.
"Kaka... Oh, you mean Gokuu," Bulma said, remembering what Radditsu had said. "I don't understand what you people want with him--he's not like you people."
Vegita chuckled. "Well, that's going to be to Kakarotto's disadvantage," he said, rubbing his hands together.
"Now you're sounding like his brother...Radibu or whatever," Bulma said frowning. "What are you planning for him, Vegita?"
"Woman, will I have to teach you again?"
"Vegita-Ouji," Bulma said, rolling her eyes. "You know, if I have to call you so formally, then you should have to do the same for me. I am not called woman."
"You would prefer man?" Vegita grinned as she turned red.
"I am a princess!" Bulma shouted, not caring much who Vegita was at the moment. "I demand respect!"
"And what will you do if you don't get it?" Vegita asked.
"You are such a..." Bulma threw up her hands in the air. "Forget it! Talking with you is like talking to a rock." She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.
Vegita made a wily expression. "You really want to know what will happen to Kakarotto?" he asked in a low voice.
"Of...course..." Bulma said. She swallowed, wondering why he was starting to sound like that.
"He will be an example," Vegita said in the same voice. "I have a feeling he's insane."
"Insane?"
"A Saiyajin who acts like you people must be insane," Vegita said. "As the future ruler of the Saiyajin empire, I cannot allow such a blemish on the Saiyajin name to live."
"You're going to kill Gokuu??" Bulma said, wobbling on her feet. "You can't!"
"I have no choice," Vegita said, holding up a gloved hand. "It is the merciful thing to do."
"But he has--" Bulma stopped herself before she revealed too much. If she told them of his wife and children, they might be killed as well.
"Has what?" Vegita was slightly interested since she stopped.
"Has...so many good qualities..." Bulma said, hoping it was a convincing enough cover-up.
"Hmph," Vegita said. He didn't really believe her, but knew that she couldn't do anything to keep Kakarotto alive, so it were no matter. "By the way, who was that other Saiyajin-looking fellow in your little book?"
"Huh?" Bulma said. For a moment she thought he were talking about Gohan, but she guessed that he hadn't seen too many pictures of him. "I don't know who you're talking about."
"He had scars on his face."
"Oh, Yamcha," Bulma said a little relieved. "He used to be my..." She trailed off, wondering why the hell she should tell him anything.
"Your what?" Vegita was frowning now.
"What is it any of your business?" Bulma returned. "He's my friend. And if you're wondering if he's a Saiyajin-he's not... I hope."
"Well, maybe he can come here too and take Kakarotto's test with him," Vegita said. "If they live up to the Saiyajin standards, they can live."
"No...I don't even want Gokuu to come here!" Bulma said, shivering at the thought. "Why are you so concerned with killing people?"
"I'm a Saiyajin." Vegita shrugged. "What more can I say?"
"Where is my album book?" Bulma suddenly asked. "I want it back."
"Probably still with Bardaku," Vegita said. He frowned a little more because he hadn't gotten the answer he really wanted. "In your kingdom is it normal to be so...close with your friends?"
"What are you talking about?"
Now the Prince was truly getting angry. "That Yamcha person..." he said, folding his arms over his chest. "You and him were in a picture as if..."
"Not that it's any of your business," Bulma said, "but I used to be more than friends with Yamcha."
"Hmph, and you claim you're a princess, royalty and all," Vegita scoffed.
"I am a princess," Bulma said. Now she was getting angry.
"What royalty would degrade themselves by being involved with a commoner in that manner?" Vegita said. He had entered his high-and-mighty attitude, so high above the sky, no one was at his level.
"How do you even have the place to talk?" Bulma said, turning red. "In your opinion, I am below yourself, am I right?"
"Yes, and your point?"
"Well, you're supposed to be involved in that manner with me..." Bulma said haughtily. "Even if you're declaring that you're going to kill me."
"Hmph, at least you're royal trash," Vegita said, using the oxymoron as if it weren't one. "A subject, no less..."
"He is a knight," Bulma said. "It is perfectly acceptable for a princess to be involved with a knight."
"Yes, another reason Capsule is so inferior," Vegita said, dismissing it. "Well, I've gotten all I need from you." He turned to leave.
"Wait a minute!" Bulma said, grabbing his arm.
Vegita was so shocked by her insolence to touch him that he didn't even know how to react. "What the hell do you think you are doing??" he asked, nearly about to throw her off him.
Bulma let him go and put her hands on her hips. "You threaten to kill me, you put me down, you threaten to kill my friends, and overall you're a huge asshole," she said, forgetting all royal etiquette she had been taught. "Well, for once I want to tell you something, 'Your Majesty.' "
Vegita knew he should have just walked away as though she didn't matter, but for some reason he was curious to know what exactly the little woman had to say.
"You may be the Prince of the oh-so-powerful Saiyajins," Bulma said, having a slight feeling she was being a little over-dramatic, but not caring, "but you are not as superior as you think. You're unusually short, you have an attitude no one could possibly tolerate, no one ever has probably truly liked you, and I feel sorry for the woman after me that will have to be your prospected mate. The thought of even being called your friend disturbs me, and the thought of being your `mate' just makes me want to hurl! I can't wait for you to kill me because I'd kill myself if I had to give myself to an arrogant bastard like you!"
Vegita's hand went for Bulma's throat before all of what she had said had sunken in. "How dare you speak to me like that!" the Prince sputtered. No one had even remotely said anything like that to him--not even his father. "There are plenty of women who would give their right arm to be in your position, woman!"
"They can have it!" Bulma said, struggling to breathe. "Belonging to you...is worse than...death..." Her lungs began to burn from the lack of oxygen.
Vegita was tempted to kill her then, but he resisted the urge again. "Lousy bitch," he said, throwing her on the floor.
Bulma landed on her rear and began rubbing her throat. She looked up at Vegita ruefully, but didn't seem any less insolent. In fact, she looked a degree more so.
"Why don't you just get rid of me all ready?" she said, taking in deep breaths.
"No..." Vegita said, his eyes burning into hers. "I want you to live, so you can see me kill you little friend. And maybe I won't stop there." He bent his knees so that he could be eye level with Bulma. "Before I was just going to kill you because you would cause me problems as my mate...but now I want to kill you and some other people you care about because I want you to suffer."
Bulma gradually lost her spirited look and expressed more fear. Vegita's face became more malignant and vicious. His stare into her gem-like eyes never wavered, causing the Princess to have great discomfort.
"I don't care what you do to me..." she said. They both knew it was a lie, but it didn't matter to Bulma. "I won't let you hurt the people I care about."
"Like I've said before--what can you do about it?"
"I'll...talk to Gokuu..." Bulma said, nodding to herself. "I'll warn him about you people and tell him to warn all the other people in my kingdom!"
Vegita grinned, not particularly worried about Capsule rallying against Vegita, but not wanting Bulma to spoil his fun in making an example of Kakarotto. "You won't say anything to Kakarotto," he promised.
"You can't stop me!" Bulma said. "He'll want to talk to me when he comes and if you don't allow him, he'll know something's wrong!"
Vegita shot his hand out to her neck again, poking a spot under the curve of her jaw. "Kakarotto will know nothing," he said.
Bulma opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. She blinked and held her throat, clearing it several times. She tried her voice again, but it failed to come out.
Vegita laughed and stood straight again. "By the time your voice comes back, Kakarotto will be dead," he said. As she stood up and flailed her arms around madly, he was more satisfied with his decision to cut off her vocal cords. "Hmm...I never thought a woman like you could seem appealing, but with no voice, you're actually tolerable."
Bulma mouthed words that were heated and insulting, but nothing more. She soon gave up and looked angrily at the floor. Vegita stayed for a moment to ridicule her a little more.
"Well, since you have no use of your voice," the Prince said smugly, "why don't you try another way to best me, or are you limited to your large mouth?"
Bulma's features tightened, but she didn't move her gaze. Vegita's laughter pierced at her dignity like an arrow through her hand. True, her voice always seemed to be her greatest weapon against people that were physically stronger than her, but Bulma also had other strong points. She had her brilliance--with that she might me able to defeat Vegita yet. With this in mind, she lifted her head and smiled at Vegita.
Vegita's brows moved in curiosity. "Something on your little mind?" he asked. "Well, try what you like, woman--you'll never get anywhere. I guarantee."
Bulma's smile became more confident as if to say "we shall see." Vegita frowned, getting the message that was being sent by her smile. It reminded him so of his father's continuing to dismiss him. The Prince simply gave her a "hmph," however, and left the room. Sukuwa and Pikaru saluted to him as he closed the door.
"Check on the woman, every now and then," Vegita ordered. "She's lost her voice...some kind of throat infection or something. However, I think she may be trying to compensate for that in another way. Keep me posted on anything that you find as unusual."
"Hai, Vegita-Ouji!" the two Saiyajins said.
Vegita left to continue his training again and plan the way he would humiliate the friend of Bulma's who happened to be wonderfully Saiyajin. In some weird way, he was looking more forward to killing Kakarotto than he had anyone else in his life. Even killing the Princess didn't have as much appeal to him as did the lost Saiyajin. He had a feeling that he'd prove something by killing him...maybe even prove to the insolent woman that he was someone to be feared. Vegita could cause fear in her most of the time, but the other times she was quite uppity and completely disrespectful. Sometimes it was amusing, but when it wasn't...it made his blood boil. He could have killed her several times all ready, but of course he hadn't. At the moment he had an excuse, but before...
The Prince stopped in the middle of an empty hall and closed his eyes. The vision of Bulma sleeping with the moonlight upon her clouded his mind. He tried to flush it out by concentrating on something else, but it overtook him and called back those strange feelings again. Vegita drew in a breath and opened his eyes again.
"Have I lost my mind?" he whispered to himself. "Only a minute ago I was ready to kill that little wench and now I'm..." Vegita frowned not knowing the words to express whatever he was feeling.
Vegita growled at himself and quickly made his way to the training hall. He ignored all the soldiers about and went into his private room and closed the door behind him. He began to relentlessly train himself until his thoughts became focused on what his beating heart and his furious blood pumping was telling him. Kill. Kill. Kill. No thoughts of how the woman looked crossed his mind and a wall was being built up to prevent it from happening again.
"Ah, yes..." Vegita said, slashing a sword about in the air. "Kakarotto will soon be the one facing this blade of mine." He grinned at his skinny reflection in the polished metal before him and released a chuckle of malice.
Chapter 6
"What the hell??" Radditsu said, gaping at the picture that looked exactly like his father minus the scar. "This has to be some kind of trick!"
"Why would the Prince trick me?" Bardaku said, frowning. "I've never met him until today."
"Well, Kakarotto is supposed to be dead!"
"I never found a body."
"But..." Radditsu scowled and closed the book. "The Prince intends to bring him here?"
His father nodded. Radditsu placed the book on the bar and looked like he was thinking. Bardaku was a bit disturbed by his son's actions, but he knew that if he hadn't told him about Kakarotto, it would have caused more problems.
"I want to bring Kakarotto here," Radditsu said.
"What?"
"I should be the one to bring him here; I am his brother after all."
"You don't know anything about him."
"If I can get authorization from the Prince, I will speak with the Princess," Radditsu said with an unusual grin. "Supposedly they are...friends, so I can be prepared for whatever he may be."
Bardaku didn't respond. Instead he picked up his mug from the bar and took a long drink. His face was expressionless as it had been when he first told Radditsu the news, but that didn't hide much from his son.
"You hope Kakarotto will be allowed to live."
Bardaku simply glanced at his son. "If Kakarotto is mad, he should be killed."
"Kaasan made--"
"Don't bring up my mate," Bardaku interrupted harshly. There was no sadness in his voice, only bitterness.
"Well, you thought Kakarotto would be a great soldier," Radditsu said. He simply smirked at his father's strange manner about his mate. "Once he was properly trained."
"What's your point?"
"I get the distinct feeling Kakarotto is important to you--much like Ka...you know who."
"I don't even know Kakarotto," Bardaku said, picking up his mug again. He drank down all of the beer. "However, he is of my blood, like you, and he reflects myself no matter how much I want to deny it. I'm only concerned about Kakarotto making me look like a fool."
Radditsu studied his father's face, looking for any sign of emotion. "Then you have no objections of me retrieving him," he said after finding none.
"None." Bardaku signaled for the tender to refill his mug.
Radditsu rested his hand on the brown covered book and tapped his fingers upon it. On the surface his father seemed to be telling the truth about how he felt about Kakarotto, but somehow he didn't buy that Bardaku was only worried about his image. He knew that his father was the type that declared he would be judged by his actions, not his stupid offspring's actions. Then again, Radditsu hadn't ever done anything that would be considered mad. He could believe that his father would go against his morals under the circumstances, but he couldn't very believe that he would take so lightly the child his mate had asked him before she died to make into a great soldier. However, Radditsu intended to get to the truth one way or the other.
***
Vegita knew what was coming. His purposes were simple and he got right to the point, but he couldn't say the same for the man looking down upon him. The only person that looked down upon him. He hated that he often went around what was important to the Prince and targeted on things that were of value to himself and vexed the younger Saiyajin.
"So, how did you let it happen, Ouji?" King Vegita said, still amused at the whole story.
"Me?" Vegita said, tossing his cape to straighten it behind him. "It was that bumbling Sukuwa and Pikaru!"
"Hoh? You say the future King of the Saiyajin empire cannot even assign dependable men to watch over an inferior woman?"
"I wouldn't say she is inferior..." Vegita trailed off, wondering what the hell he was saying. His father began laughing before he could start over.
"The woman clearly isn't what she seems," Vegita said, frowning that he hadn't taken care of her yet.
"So, you intend to keep her?"
"No, I intend to kill her, but as I said I am planning to bring the lost Saiyajin to our kingdom to display my power."
"Ah, yes, Kakarotto," King Vegita said, leaning back into his red cushioned chair. "It would be entertaining to have a public killing of an insane Saiyajin. It would not only ensure that Saiyajins live by the code we have had for hundreds of years, but would also put more fear into those Capsule fools who still have several people that defy us. A death of their own should make them quiver and succumb to our power."
"They'll get two deaths."
King Vegita only laughed at the way his son kept trying to reinforce the point that he was going to kill the Princess. "We shall see. Who have you selected to bring the fallen Saiyajin?"
"Radditsu came to me with the request to do it after he speaks with the woman."
"Radditsu, really?" The King said with a short chuckle. "Are you sure it is wise to allow him to be alone with your mate?"
"Hmph!" Vegita said, lifting his nose higher in the air. "As if I have to worry about any low-class..." The Prince's face turned red, noticing his father had made him do it again. "The woman is not going to be my mate."
"We shall see."
"The only thing `we shall see' is how long my patience will last with you, Tousama," Vegita spat.
"Are you ready to take my place all ready, brat?" The King grinned at his son in a way that challenged and enticed him to do so.
Vegita turned his back on his father. "I came here to get you to contact the King of Capsule to arrange the lost Saiyajin's passage to Vegita," he said, only having the ability to speak civilly because of some training in dignified manner. "Now are you going to do it, or not?"
"I will talk to the King," the older Vegita said. He repressed any laughs that were trying to escape.
"See that you do," Vegita said, holding the back the urge to make himself prematurely King.
***
Bulma couldn't understand what had happened an hour ago. She was sure that Vegita was going to come into her room and finish what he had said he would do in her sleep. But, no. The Prince came in as if that was what he was going to do and suddenly took her photo album, muttering about some Kaka thing. She suspected he knew Gokuu in some way, but it didn't make sense. None of her people had ever been in contact with Saiyajins before the alliance had came about. However, Vegita stared at Gokuu as if he had seen him every day. Could Gokuu have not told her something?
The Princess was perplexed and a bit angry as well. She was beginning to relax in the tense situation she was in with the aid of her album book. It was taken without her permission, and she doubted that she would ever get it back. Bulma felt like a mouse that had been caught by a cat that put her in box and watched her hungrily above for some hours then left her alone for another period of time.
"What the hell's going on?" Bulma said, putting her chin in her hands.
She jumped when her door was opened, but settled when she saw that it wasn't Vegita. It was a tall Saiyajin with long, black hair that looked like if one touched it, the spike of his hair would cut their hand. He looked at her with subtle disdain, but bowed regardless of that and spoke politely to her.
"Good afternoon, Your Highness," Radditsu said. "I am Radditsu, third class soldier, Unit 6."
"Wh...Why are you here?" Bulma asked, wondering if Vegita had ordered her to be executed publicly or something.
Radditsu stared at her for a while, making Bulma uncomfortable. Most of the Saiyajins did that to her: examined her like she were some kind of creature they had never seen. Finally, they all ended up smirking at her as if she were some kind of joke.
"Kakarotto," the Saiyajin finally said.
"What is this Kakarotto you people keep talking about?" Bulma said. If it this dealt with Gokuu, she had never heard him say anything about it.
Radditsu pulled out the album book and opened it to a picture of Gokuu. "This is Kakarotto," he said.
"I think you're mistaken," Bulma said. She raised a brow wondering why this Kakarotto person was so important. "This is my friend, Sir Son Gokuu."
"He's my brother."
Bulma felt all the breath being sucked out of her. "Brother??" she repeated. "No, no...that would make Gokuu a...a..."
"Saiyajin," Radditsu said. He frowned. "He may very well be insane, though. How could a Saiyajin not know who he is?"
"No, you must be mistaken," Bulma said, examining the man's face. He did have a sort of resemblance to Gokuu with the hair and the eyes, but she could have said that about several of the Saiyajins she saw.
Several? Bulma thought with a feeling of dread. "Gokuu was raised by his grandfather, Son Gohan," she said.
"Whoever the hell that man was wasn't Kakarotto's kin," Radditsu said. "Kakarotto looks so much like my father it's unbelievable."
"Father?"
"Bardaku...if you get a chance to see him, you'll see that he looks just like him."
Bulma just stood there with her mouth hanging open. The friend she had played with ever since she was a little girl was a Saiyajin. One of the most blood-thirsty, maniacal, evil people in creation. That wasn't Gokuu--he was kind, gentle, and did good whenever he could. He never did anything in spite or revenge, and was so honest, you'd think he were a complete fool.
"What about Gokuu's mother?" Bulma blinked when Radditsu scowled at the use of his name. "I mean, Kakarotto..."
"Bardaku's mate died shortly after Kakarotto was born," Radditsu said impassively.
"I see...but how did Go--Kakarotto get in Capsule?"
"Bardaku was riding to Vegita and Kakarotto fell off the back of his horse," Radditsu said. He grunted and folded his arms over his chest. "I guess that `grandfather' of his found him and took him back to Capsule, raising him as his own."
Bulma put her chin back into her hands. "I wonder how Gokuu will take this..."
"We intend to bring Kakarotto here."
"Really??" Bulma said, forgetting that he was a Saiyajin for a moment. "That would be great!"
Radditsu stared at her grimly. "Is he a weakling?"
"Gokuu is the strongest person in our kingdom!" Bulma said, frowning because his words sounded like an assumption.
"Hmph, even the lowest ranked Saiyajin in our kingdom would be the strongest in your kingdom."
"Gokuu has never been defeated," Bulma said snobbishly. "He's the best of all the knights in our kingdom."
"Knights," Radditsu scoffed. "I guess, Kakarotto isn't going to be around for very long." He smirked to himself. "Oh, well."
"What? What do you mean?"
Radditsu bowed. "Thank you for your time, Your Majesty," he said, and turned for the door.
"Wait!" Bulma said. Radditsu paused, but only to smirk to himself.
Bulma watched him leave, now more worried about Gokuu than she were of herself. "Gokuu, what have I gotten you into?"
***
"A Saiyajin in my kingdom?" King Briefs asked, blinking. "Would I know him?"
"I believe your daughter is friends with him," King Vegita said. "He has the typical black hair and eyes of a Saiyajin."
King Briefs thought of all of the friends that Bulma had that fit the description. "Hmm...two of my knights have features like a Saiyajin," he said. "Neither of them act like Saiyajins though."
"He would be about...twenty or so, I believe."
"Gokuu?" King Briefs said. "No, I think you are mistaken about a Saiyajin being here."
"Bardaku," King Vegita commanded. The Saiyajin with the name stepped into view of the screen.
King Briefs' eyebrows raised. "He looks just like Gokuu," he said in a more dull surprise than a dignified shock.
"He is the father of this Saiyajin," King Vegita said, waving a hand to indicate Bardaku could leave the room. "The Prince requests that he be brought to Vegita."
"For what purpose?"
"We are curious to meet him," King Vegita said with a sly grin. "He is one of us, yet he is the only Saiyajin not to be raised in a Saiyajin kingdom."
King Briefs snapped his fingers. "That would solve the problem of sending a knight to your kingdom," he said, smiling. Obviously he hadn't seen the other king's grin. "Gokuu can be the knight to watch over Bulma and visit his family at the same time."
"Hmph, I guess that kills two birds with one stone," King Vegita said. He let out a chuckle, leaving the other king slightly confused.
***
Vegita should have been doing more training at the present hour even if he had spent a great majority of the morning all ready training. However, a few things bothered him. He remembered as he had flipped through the book of pictures that he had seen one that remained on his mind. A picture of the Princess and a nearly Saiyajin looking man were holding hands in some garden. The woman had a look like there was nothing else in the world besides the man with the scarred face. The man had a goofy look on his face that Vegita didn't particularly like either. He didn't know why he was concerned about the picture, but he was. It had driven him to travel to the Princess's room again, but not with the intent to kill. Vegita wasn't even really sure what the hell he wanted with her this time. He was still planning to kill her, but he wanted her to live long enough for him to bring Kakarotto to the kingdom and deal with him. As the two were friends, it would be easier to get Kakarotto
to their kingdom if Bulma were alive.
Vegita cracked a small grin when the Princess jumped when he entered. She was doing that a great deal as of late and it was being to be amusing. He stayed near the door, not intending to stay long.
"It would be of your interest to know that I am holding off your death for a while," Vegita said evenly. He figured some "small talk" would be best to start off with.
"What's a while to you?" Bulma asked, wondering if he meant a day. "And why are you doing this? I thought you couldn't afford to have me around."
"Well, Kakarotto is the reason," Vegita said.
"Kaka... Oh, you mean Gokuu," Bulma said, remembering what Radditsu had said. "I don't understand what you people want with him--he's not like you people."
Vegita chuckled. "Well, that's going to be to Kakarotto's disadvantage," he said, rubbing his hands together.
"Now you're sounding like his brother...Radibu or whatever," Bulma said frowning. "What are you planning for him, Vegita?"
"Woman, will I have to teach you again?"
"Vegita-Ouji," Bulma said, rolling her eyes. "You know, if I have to call you so formally, then you should have to do the same for me. I am not called woman."
"You would prefer man?" Vegita grinned as she turned red.
"I am a princess!" Bulma shouted, not caring much who Vegita was at the moment. "I demand respect!"
"And what will you do if you don't get it?" Vegita asked.
"You are such a..." Bulma threw up her hands in the air. "Forget it! Talking with you is like talking to a rock." She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair.
Vegita made a wily expression. "You really want to know what will happen to Kakarotto?" he asked in a low voice.
"Of...course..." Bulma said. She swallowed, wondering why he was starting to sound like that.
"He will be an example," Vegita said in the same voice. "I have a feeling he's insane."
"Insane?"
"A Saiyajin who acts like you people must be insane," Vegita said. "As the future ruler of the Saiyajin empire, I cannot allow such a blemish on the Saiyajin name to live."
"You're going to kill Gokuu??" Bulma said, wobbling on her feet. "You can't!"
"I have no choice," Vegita said, holding up a gloved hand. "It is the merciful thing to do."
"But he has--" Bulma stopped herself before she revealed too much. If she told them of his wife and children, they might be killed as well.
"Has what?" Vegita was slightly interested since she stopped.
"Has...so many good qualities..." Bulma said, hoping it was a convincing enough cover-up.
"Hmph," Vegita said. He didn't really believe her, but knew that she couldn't do anything to keep Kakarotto alive, so it were no matter. "By the way, who was that other Saiyajin-looking fellow in your little book?"
"Huh?" Bulma said. For a moment she thought he were talking about Gohan, but she guessed that he hadn't seen too many pictures of him. "I don't know who you're talking about."
"He had scars on his face."
"Oh, Yamcha," Bulma said a little relieved. "He used to be my..." She trailed off, wondering why the hell she should tell him anything.
"Your what?" Vegita was frowning now.
"What is it any of your business?" Bulma returned. "He's my friend. And if you're wondering if he's a Saiyajin-he's not... I hope."
"Well, maybe he can come here too and take Kakarotto's test with him," Vegita said. "If they live up to the Saiyajin standards, they can live."
"No...I don't even want Gokuu to come here!" Bulma said, shivering at the thought. "Why are you so concerned with killing people?"
"I'm a Saiyajin." Vegita shrugged. "What more can I say?"
"Where is my album book?" Bulma suddenly asked. "I want it back."
"Probably still with Bardaku," Vegita said. He frowned a little more because he hadn't gotten the answer he really wanted. "In your kingdom is it normal to be so...close with your friends?"
"What are you talking about?"
Now the Prince was truly getting angry. "That Yamcha person..." he said, folding his arms over his chest. "You and him were in a picture as if..."
"Not that it's any of your business," Bulma said, "but I used to be more than friends with Yamcha."
"Hmph, and you claim you're a princess, royalty and all," Vegita scoffed.
"I am a princess," Bulma said. Now she was getting angry.
"What royalty would degrade themselves by being involved with a commoner in that manner?" Vegita said. He had entered his high-and-mighty attitude, so high above the sky, no one was at his level.
"How do you even have the place to talk?" Bulma said, turning red. "In your opinion, I am below yourself, am I right?"
"Yes, and your point?"
"Well, you're supposed to be involved in that manner with me..." Bulma said haughtily. "Even if you're declaring that you're going to kill me."
"Hmph, at least you're royal trash," Vegita said, using the oxymoron as if it weren't one. "A subject, no less..."
"He is a knight," Bulma said. "It is perfectly acceptable for a princess to be involved with a knight."
"Yes, another reason Capsule is so inferior," Vegita said, dismissing it. "Well, I've gotten all I need from you." He turned to leave.
"Wait a minute!" Bulma said, grabbing his arm.
Vegita was so shocked by her insolence to touch him that he didn't even know how to react. "What the hell do you think you are doing??" he asked, nearly about to throw her off him.
Bulma let him go and put her hands on her hips. "You threaten to kill me, you put me down, you threaten to kill my friends, and overall you're a huge asshole," she said, forgetting all royal etiquette she had been taught. "Well, for once I want to tell you something, 'Your Majesty.' "
Vegita knew he should have just walked away as though she didn't matter, but for some reason he was curious to know what exactly the little woman had to say.
"You may be the Prince of the oh-so-powerful Saiyajins," Bulma said, having a slight feeling she was being a little over-dramatic, but not caring, "but you are not as superior as you think. You're unusually short, you have an attitude no one could possibly tolerate, no one ever has probably truly liked you, and I feel sorry for the woman after me that will have to be your prospected mate. The thought of even being called your friend disturbs me, and the thought of being your `mate' just makes me want to hurl! I can't wait for you to kill me because I'd kill myself if I had to give myself to an arrogant bastard like you!"
Vegita's hand went for Bulma's throat before all of what she had said had sunken in. "How dare you speak to me like that!" the Prince sputtered. No one had even remotely said anything like that to him--not even his father. "There are plenty of women who would give their right arm to be in your position, woman!"
"They can have it!" Bulma said, struggling to breathe. "Belonging to you...is worse than...death..." Her lungs began to burn from the lack of oxygen.
Vegita was tempted to kill her then, but he resisted the urge again. "Lousy bitch," he said, throwing her on the floor.
Bulma landed on her rear and began rubbing her throat. She looked up at Vegita ruefully, but didn't seem any less insolent. In fact, she looked a degree more so.
"Why don't you just get rid of me all ready?" she said, taking in deep breaths.
"No..." Vegita said, his eyes burning into hers. "I want you to live, so you can see me kill you little friend. And maybe I won't stop there." He bent his knees so that he could be eye level with Bulma. "Before I was just going to kill you because you would cause me problems as my mate...but now I want to kill you and some other people you care about because I want you to suffer."
Bulma gradually lost her spirited look and expressed more fear. Vegita's face became more malignant and vicious. His stare into her gem-like eyes never wavered, causing the Princess to have great discomfort.
"I don't care what you do to me..." she said. They both knew it was a lie, but it didn't matter to Bulma. "I won't let you hurt the people I care about."
"Like I've said before--what can you do about it?"
"I'll...talk to Gokuu..." Bulma said, nodding to herself. "I'll warn him about you people and tell him to warn all the other people in my kingdom!"
Vegita grinned, not particularly worried about Capsule rallying against Vegita, but not wanting Bulma to spoil his fun in making an example of Kakarotto. "You won't say anything to Kakarotto," he promised.
"You can't stop me!" Bulma said. "He'll want to talk to me when he comes and if you don't allow him, he'll know something's wrong!"
Vegita shot his hand out to her neck again, poking a spot under the curve of her jaw. "Kakarotto will know nothing," he said.
Bulma opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out. She blinked and held her throat, clearing it several times. She tried her voice again, but it failed to come out.
Vegita laughed and stood straight again. "By the time your voice comes back, Kakarotto will be dead," he said. As she stood up and flailed her arms around madly, he was more satisfied with his decision to cut off her vocal cords. "Hmm...I never thought a woman like you could seem appealing, but with no voice, you're actually tolerable."
Bulma mouthed words that were heated and insulting, but nothing more. She soon gave up and looked angrily at the floor. Vegita stayed for a moment to ridicule her a little more.
"Well, since you have no use of your voice," the Prince said smugly, "why don't you try another way to best me, or are you limited to your large mouth?"
Bulma's features tightened, but she didn't move her gaze. Vegita's laughter pierced at her dignity like an arrow through her hand. True, her voice always seemed to be her greatest weapon against people that were physically stronger than her, but Bulma also had other strong points. She had her brilliance--with that she might me able to defeat Vegita yet. With this in mind, she lifted her head and smiled at Vegita.
Vegita's brows moved in curiosity. "Something on your little mind?" he asked. "Well, try what you like, woman--you'll never get anywhere. I guarantee."
Bulma's smile became more confident as if to say "we shall see." Vegita frowned, getting the message that was being sent by her smile. It reminded him so of his father's continuing to dismiss him. The Prince simply gave her a "hmph," however, and left the room. Sukuwa and Pikaru saluted to him as he closed the door.
"Check on the woman, every now and then," Vegita ordered. "She's lost her voice...some kind of throat infection or something. However, I think she may be trying to compensate for that in another way. Keep me posted on anything that you find as unusual."
"Hai, Vegita-Ouji!" the two Saiyajins said.
Vegita left to continue his training again and plan the way he would humiliate the friend of Bulma's who happened to be wonderfully Saiyajin. In some weird way, he was looking more forward to killing Kakarotto than he had anyone else in his life. Even killing the Princess didn't have as much appeal to him as did the lost Saiyajin. He had a feeling that he'd prove something by killing him...maybe even prove to the insolent woman that he was someone to be feared. Vegita could cause fear in her most of the time, but the other times she was quite uppity and completely disrespectful. Sometimes it was amusing, but when it wasn't...it made his blood boil. He could have killed her several times all ready, but of course he hadn't. At the moment he had an excuse, but before...
The Prince stopped in the middle of an empty hall and closed his eyes. The vision of Bulma sleeping with the moonlight upon her clouded his mind. He tried to flush it out by concentrating on something else, but it overtook him and called back those strange feelings again. Vegita drew in a breath and opened his eyes again.
"Have I lost my mind?" he whispered to himself. "Only a minute ago I was ready to kill that little wench and now I'm..." Vegita frowned not knowing the words to express whatever he was feeling.
Vegita growled at himself and quickly made his way to the training hall. He ignored all the soldiers about and went into his private room and closed the door behind him. He began to relentlessly train himself until his thoughts became focused on what his beating heart and his furious blood pumping was telling him. Kill. Kill. Kill. No thoughts of how the woman looked crossed his mind and a wall was being built up to prevent it from happening again.
"Ah, yes..." Vegita said, slashing a sword about in the air. "Kakarotto will soon be the one facing this blade of mine." He grinned at his skinny reflection in the polished metal before him and released a chuckle of malice.