*Author's Note: My first note is damn, this is a long chapter! Sorry for
those who like short ones, but I decided not to break this one up since it
was mostly about Gokuu. So, I continued on this chapter with the Bulma and
Vegita stuff (what the fic's really about, ne?). Put in the "regen pool"
which is a reinvention of the regen tank Saiyajins use. Comes in handy in
this chapter (and some later ones). Another scene with Oriibu and a phrase
I don't think is very common to know, "fuzakeru na." It means "don't be
ridiculous," or "stop acting foolish." Something like that. I just really
like that phrase. ^_^ Please enjoy, especially all of you who waited for
my update!!
Chapter 9
"Suge!" Gokuu said, mouth open as wide as if he were a tourist on vacation. He left the training hall with his brother and continued down the halls of the castle. "I've always heard that the Saiyajins were so focused on battle, but I'm still amazed."
"And I'm not surprised," Radditsu grumbled. Now that they were ending the tour of the castle, Radditsu was glad, though he had to still show his idiot brother around the rest of the kingdom, that outside the castle there was little that even his foolish sibling could gawk at in an undignified manner.
"So where are we going next?" Gokuu asked.
"I'm showing you where soldiers ranked such as you and I dwell," Radditsu said. They travelled to the area where they had left their horses.
"Demo, I can't possibly be staying outside of the castle," Gokuu said as he mounted his horse. Radditsu didn't look at him as he did the same. "I have to stay at the castle to watch over Bulma."
"You should worry about yourself, not that woman," Radditsu said. He flicked the reins in his hands, and his horse went off at a quick pace.
Gokuu followed in accordance on his horse, speeding up so that he was side-by-side his brother. "While I'm here, Bulma is my main concern," he insisted. He smiled at the passing sights, viewing the part of Vegita he had only seen a glance of while making the trip to Vegita.
Though he had been told that the Vegita Kingdom were highly barbaric, the towns seemed to be well-organized and busy as well. Saiyajins, as well as obvious outsiders, were moving all about. Some were sparring in the streets, particularly a young group of boys who caused Gokuu to chuckle at their antics so much like a litter of puppies playing with each other. He was surprised, however, to see so many of the "common" people as Radditsu had referred to them in armor. Even the rare sights of women, seen in the towns they went through, were dressed in the same armor. Radditsu took a moment to look at him, noticing the amazed expression once again. He hated his expression, and he hated him. However, he were happy to do the Prince's bidding if it would rid him of his ghost of brother forever.
Radditsu came to a stop in a town that didn't look much different than the rest of those in Vegita. A passing Saiyajin greeted Radditsu and gave Gokuu a strange look. Gokuu blinked and soon found that several of the Saiyajins were staring at him as if he were missing a head or were walking around with a sword through his gut. While trying to determine the cause of the Saiyajins' astonishment and contempt, Radditsu had already began to move without him. Gokuu quickly went after him, temporarily ignoring the looks of the others.
"Why is everyone staring at me?" Gokuu asked. His horse stepped slowly beside the other, trying to get around the Saiyajins in the road.
"Because you're an outcast," Radditsu said curtly. "They don't need anyone to tell them that; they can see it written all over your face."
"Sou ka na?" Gokuu said, meeting the gaze of the unfriendly Saiyajins again.
Radditsu gritted his teeth. *He's just like Kaasan!* he thought, gripping the reins in his hands tighter. *She was so damn nonchalant about things that any Saiyajin would have gotten upset about!*
They reached a post outside a local bar and tied up their horses there. Radditsu, once again was ambivalent about his actions. Half of him didn't want to go into the bar, the great possibility of his father being in there and having to meet Kakarotto. There was a large part of him that believed his father to be quite eager to meet his long-lost son and that angered Radditsu immensely. Why should he care even a fraction of Kakarotto's welfare? So his mother had thought he was supposed to be a great warrior; so what? Kakarotto was labeled as insane and were about to be killed in two days by the Saiyajin no Ouji himself. Bardaku had always seemed like a typical, practical Saiyajin. He wasn't the type to concern himself with insignificant matters. The side of Radditsu that conflicted with his anger of what his father's reaction to Kakarotto might be was the fact that he wanted Bardaku to see his insane son before Kakarotto was killed before all Saiyajins to see. It would give Radditsu great pleasure to watch Bardaku get a chance to talk to Kakarotto before he were killed. Yes, that side of him were causing his feet to go toward the bar.
"What's this place?" Gokuu asked, about a foot behind him. He was led into a room dimly lighted though outside it were quite bright with sunlight. Saiyajins were seated at tables and at the bar itself, drinking and laughing away. The only non-Saiyajin was the bartender who seemed to be endlessly drying the inside of a mug.
Radditsu spotted Bardaku at his usual spot at the bar, but Gokuu had failed to notice his twin sitting in the room. He were more concerned with the group of drunken Saiyajins that were approaching him and his brother. Radditsu turned to see the men snort at Gokuu and flex their muscles as if to show their might.
"What is this?" one of them asked. "You're not Bardaku, are you, boy?"
"I'm Sir Son Gokuu," Gokuu said proudly. His face only displayed confusion as the three of them exploded in laughter.
"A Saiyajin knight!" another exclaimed. "That's rich!"
"Say, boy, you wouldn't happen to be that rumored Saiyajin from Capsule, now would you?" the third one asked.
Bardaku nearly dropped the mug he had just risen into the air. Before he hadn't heard anything, engulfed in his own thoughts, but now he had just heard something that indicated Kakarotto might be in the bar. He scowled at himself and put the mug back down. He would wait for an actual confirmation first.
"I am," Gokuu said, noticing how quiet it became in the room. Only the three Saiyajin's laughter pervaded the silence.
"Kakarotto..." Bardaku said, turning around in his seat.
Radditsu, as well as Gokuu and the other Saiyajins turned their attention on the Saiyajin sitting on the other side of the room. Gokuu froze, stunned by the sight of his father.
"There goes Bardaku now," the first Saiyajin said. "Oi, Bardaku, it seems your brat really has turned out to be some insane pariah from Capsule!"
Bardaku wasn't listening to their words, but rather was astonished as much as Gokuu was. The resemblance was even greater in person, yet that wasn't what caused Bardaku to stare his son as if he were a ghost. The look of pure surprise on his face was not unlike something he had seen several times in his mate. A recall of a particular time she had displayed that look flashed before his eyes...
***
"...for each," Bardaku finished. He frowned in disgust as his mate made her eyes large and her face inculpable as if she didn't even know that such a thing existed. He had just explained to her the current rate for Saiyajin mercenaries in other kingdoms. Once the demand had been high as well as the price; however, once the word had been spread about the damage Saiyajins caused whenever hired, the demand went down with the price.
"Masaka," Oriibu murmured, her face still appearing as unsullied ignorance.
"Take that stupid look off your face," Bardaku commanded, looking around to see if anyone else had witnessed it. "It is highly un-Saiyajin like."
Bardaku was amazed how easily his mate's countenance could slide from one phase to another without a hitch. Oriibu made a sly, even grin and narrowed her green eyes in a face that conveyed that her mind were working in those mysterious ways that Bardaku couldn't hope to understand in a million years. That was more Saiyajin like in the sense that it wasn't a pleasant expression and provocation was written all over her face.
"Would you not agree that a Saiyajin can only be called one by birth?" Oriibu said, clasping her hands behind her head.
"Nan da?"
"You are only a Saiyajin if your parents were full-blooded ones."
"Yes, of course." Bardaku raised a brow and frowned more at her. He hated when she played these kinds of games.
"My parents were definitely of Saiyajin blood, making me a full- blooded Saiyajin."
"Yes, and your point?"
"My point, Bardaku, is that I am a Saiyajin," Oriibu said, her voice slipping into its melodious form. She merely grinned as her mate bared his teeth at the sound of it. "How can I, a Saiyajin, do something un-Saiyajin like? Whatever I do, I do it as a Saiyajin, so it is quite impossible for me to do anything relatively un-Saiyajin like."
"You're too damn smart for you own good," Bardaku said. He started down the road again, having paused enough to speak to the unyielding woman. "I won't be responsible for your death, woman."
"My goal is to make sure if someone kills me, I take he or she with me," Oriibu said, already in step with him. She smiled in the nasty way that suggested she was invincible in not only intelligence, but strength as well.
"Then again maybe I will be responsible for your death," Bardaku muttered as she began her infuriating humming. "I'll kill you myself..."
***
"You look just like me!" Gokuu said, taking a step forward. "Suge!"
This time the three Saiyajins weren't the only ones who began to laugh at his comment. The whole bar began snickering and mocking the strange son of Bardaku. Radditsu watched his father intently looking for any signs of approval of Kakarotto or something that indicated he were happy to see him. There were none. Bardaku's face were hard and bilious as it was when... Radditsu's eyes narrowed, recognizing that look. It were the same look he used to give his mother, all the times when she were acting unlike a Saiyajin shouldn't (which were often enough). When he had thought about it, he wasn't sure if he had ever even seen his father grin at his mother, yet he had consented to mate with her and associate with her until her untimely death. In some way Oriibu's strange habits must had appealed to Bardaku to some degree; he figured that was why he was staring so intently at Kakarotto. Kakarotto's flabbergasted expression should have either made Bardaku disgusted or laugh as the others in the bar.
"So you're finally here, Kakarotto," Bardaku said, rising. He ignored all the comments and the laughter of the bar around him.
Upon the mention of his Saiyajin name, as if it reminded him that he were indeed a Saiyajin in a Saiyajin kingdom, Gokuu's face shifted into a countenance as if he were trying to mirror his father. Radditsu's mouth partially opened, noticing that when his brother did that the distinction between the two were even less than before. Though the atmosphere of the bar were light with the amusement of Gokuu and Bardaku, Radditsu felt tense at the stare down Gokuu and Bardaku were giving each other. Even Radditsu didn't like to glare at his father that long; Bardaku usually won those eye battles whenever Radditsu engaged him in them.
After two minutes, the silent battle was broken. "I want to ask you a question," Gokuu said, though not relaxing his features.
"Nani?" Bardaku said, narrowing his eyes in curiosity.
"I have a pretty good idea how I ended up in Capsule," Gokuu said, "demo, what of my mother? What happened to her?"
Bardaku's jaw clenched, and Radditsu's muscles tightened as if he were the one that had inquired about his mother. He knew the drill when you brought up the twenty-past deceased Oriibu: expect to have a verbal beat-down if you were lucky enough not to have a physical one. Gokuu was surely not aware of such things and waited patiently for an answer. Bardaku, though annoyed by the question, was a bit encouraged by Gokuu's amount of gall. Perhaps he wasn't as insane as he had been fabled to be.
"That is information that is of no use to you," Bardaku said evenly. He turned to place some coins on the bar table and then faced his son again. "Since you were foolish enough to come here, your life will end shortly." This brought more laughter in the bar, most knowing that Gokuu's fate was to be killed for insanity.
Radditsu smirked and noticed the slightly angry look on Gokuu's face. His younger brother's eyes trailed their father as Bardaku passed them and made his way for the door. Radditsu was surprised, even for the insane Saiyajin, that Gokuu made steps toward him as if he intended to not be brushed off so easily.
"Matte!" Gokuu said, stopping Bardaku at the door.
Bardaku glared at him and Radditsu grinned in anticipation. It wasn't a far-fetched theory to think that his father could kill Kakarotto before the tournament even happened. "Nan da?" he demanded.
"I have a right to know about my mother," Gokuu said, but it sounded more like a threat. "I know that coming here may be my death, but I had my reasons for coming."
"And what would those reasons be?" Bardaku asked, folding his arms over his chest.
"To protect my Princess and find out about my roots. Those roots include not only my brother and father, but my mother too. If I'm going to die here, I'm at least going to fulfill each of my reasons to be here to my best ability."
"A real sentimental Saiyajin, ain't he?" a nameless Saiyajin laughed. Others soon joined him.
*He may be sentimental, but he is also relentless,* Bardaku thought, having an equal glare in return to the one he was giving his son. *Well, might as well not let the fool do anything that would cause me to have to kill him. Seems the Prince wants that pleasure all to himself for whatever reason.*
"Okay, Kakarotto," Bardaku said, grinning at him as if he knew something Gokuu didn't, "I'll make a deal with you. If you survive the tournament in two days, I'll tell you whatever you want to know about your 'roots.' If you don't, it won't matter any way because you'll be dead."
Gokuu snorted, but surprisingly met Bardaku with the same grin. "I'll hold you to that," he said. His father also snorted and soon left the bar. Gokuu stared after him with the same hard expression and then lifted it suddenly as if forgetting that he had ever met Bardaku.
"Oi, Radditsu," Gokuu said, looking to his brother who was trying to figure out how he should be: confused, surprised, or irascible. "I'm starved; where can we eat?"
Radditsu decided to choose his last option upon his brother's words. "Kakarotto, do you have any idea--" He cut himself off as Gokuu's stomach growled, and his brother commenced to rubbing it sheepishly. "Grr!"
"I hope Saiyajin food is as good as Capsule food," Gokuu said, smiling in anticipation of food.
"Hmph," Radditsu muttered to himself, knowing he wouldn't be heard over all the chuckling in the bar, "might as well let the baka have a few more good meals before he dies..."
***
Just as it seemed that Gokuu were getting his fill of the food (or perhaps just about to take a pause because he had been eating non-stop for an hour and a half), Radditsu too was getting his fill of his brother. It wasn't just that Gokuu were causing him to spend a great deal more money than he had intended on any meal, but the fact that Gokuu weren't really as he had hoped he would be. Radditsu had expected him to be more sensible as he had been told that Capsule people were. Gokuu lacked any sense it seemed; he willing came to Vegita knowing that it would most likely cause his death, yet he didn't take any steps of precaution. No, Gokuu were acting just like...like her. Never did Radditsu think in a million years, after his mother's foolishness had finally caught up with her and caused her death, that she would rise up again in his long-lost brother. To make matters worse, Radditsu knew that Bardaku wasn't disgusted by Gokuu. His father may have been cold and disinterested on the outside, but Radditsu knew there was something else going on inside the Saiyajin. If that wasn't true, Bardaku wouldn't have left the bar when he did. After all, his son had returned and he leaves after a few words with him? Radditsu was highly suspicious; he wanted to know where his father went. What was more important than dealing with Kakarotto? Had his father not said that he was concerned about Gokuu making him look like a fool?
Radditsu glanced at his brother across the table from him, plates surrounding the human vacuum. There was nothing that he seem to take his time to eat; everything was consumed in relatively five seconds. And the joy on Gokuu's face as he ate¾sickened Radditsu. It sickened him so much that he ate little of what he had bought for himself. Radditsu didn't know a Saiyajin that didn't like to eat, but Gokuu like eating to the extreme. You would think that Gokuu hadn't eaten for weeks the way he tore into an animal he couldn't identify, yet was content to eat just the same. Radditsu didn't rule out that Gokuu may have been starved at such at place as Capsule, figuring no one in Capsule would eat an eighth of what Gokuu ate; however, if that were true he doubted Gokuu would have survived very long.
"M-oi."
Radditsu frowned, his thoughts interrupted when Gokuu addressed him. "Nan da?"
"Our mother, is she dead?"
Radditsu felt more of his appetite disappearing at Gokuu's questions. "Yes, thankfully," he said. He took a large gulp of his ale. "Crazy bitch..."
Gokuu completely ignored his food and stared at his brother incredulously. "How could you say that about your own mother?"
"If you knew her, Kakarotto, you'd say the same thing. Besides, it wasn't as if I cared for the woman. She were merely the person that carried me in her womb for a short period of her life."
"Saiyajins sure are strange..." Gokuu said, scratching his head. "I don't think I could ever say something about my mother even if I didn't know her."
Considering the double meaning in what Gokuu were saying, Radditsu eyed his brother carefully. "So, would you say the same about your father?"
"Ee?"
"What do you think of Bardaku?"
"...I just wonder where he went."
Radditsu glared at him for not only avoiding his question, but also reading his mind. He had too wondered where Bardaku had went to a such a crucial time. Radditsu knew that his father didn't have any duty right now, and he wouldn't be in a sparring hall; no, Bardaku only went there when he needed to release his anger. He wasn't angry right now; Radditsu knew when his father was angry.
"I probably need to get back to the castle," Gokuu said, quickly shoving all that remained on his plate into his mouth. He made a struggled swallow and beat his chest. "Oishii!"
"Kakarotto, your death will be in the name of our mother."
"Huh?" Gokuu turned to his brother only to be met with a disdainful glare. "What do you mean?"
"Our mother should have been killed several times on account of her insanity," Radditsu said. "Now that you're going to be killed for your insanity, it will be as if she were finally getting her punishment."
Upon the mention of their mother, Gokuu's curiosity rose again. "How'd she die?"
"Unfortunately she had an honorable Saiyajin death," Radditsu spat. "She died in battle, at least that's all Bardaku would say about it. He's the only one who would really know, and he'd never tell you. I asked him once about it, and he told me it was none of my business. I asked again and a second later we were fighting, and I was unconscious. Word of advice, 'little brother,': don't question Bardaku about his mate. He hates when people get into his personal business."
Gokuu rose from the table and his brother a strange look. "Sou ka," he said. He put his hand to his chin, rubbing it, as if he were thinking hard. "Well, I guess I better be going. Jaa."
Radditsu's eyes trailed the younger Saiyajin as he left, wondering if letting Gokuu travel alone in the Saiyajin kingdom was such a good idea. Not that he cared too much for his little brother's welfare, but he had a good idea that Gokuu could easily cause trouble without getting himself killed. However, it was an opportunity for Gokuu to get hurt that allowed Radditsu to let him go, more than the fear that Gokuu would cause trouble and Radditsu would be blamed for it. He had a good feeling that Gokuu was stupid enough to, as the Saiyajin saying went, "use his own sword to cut himself."
***
Gokuu had thought he knew where he was going, but somewhere along the way he became sidetracked. He expected to see the tip of the castle on the horizon as he had when they were near it, but he lacked to see anything like it. In fact, he didn't think the villages he passed looked anything like the ones he had passed on his way to Radditsu's village. He let out a sigh and brought his horse to stop. Surely one of the Saiyajins in the village could help him out, but there weren't as many about as there were in the other village he had been in. The first person he found ignored him and walked away as if he hadn't spoken. Another merely laughed in his face, again leaving Gokuu without any aid. Gokuu's brows came together, and he stood in the middle of what seemed to be some kind of large plaza for fighting. That was obvious by the sword marks left and the remains of blood that caked the crevices of many of the flat stones. He scratched his head and tried to think clearly about his whereabouts. Gokuu remembered going south from the Vegita castle, but now it seemed that he had been wrong about the direction entirely. It must have been the similarity of the towns surrounding the castle.
"Sou ka…" Gokuu sighed, folding his arms over his chest. "Demo, what am I going to do now? I hadn't planned leaving Bulma alone for this long…"
"Hmm? Bardaku?"
Gokuu blinked and turned around to see a Saiyajin with short spiky hair, staring at him. "Iie, I'm Son Gokuu," he said, fighting to smile. He was so accustomed to looking pleasant when introducing himself, but while in the Saiyajin kingdom he thought it was helpful to try to abide by some of their strange customs if not only to get one of them to help him.
"Nani? Son Gokuu?" the Saiyajin said, taking a few steps toward him. He stared at him a few seconds longer before realization filled his face. "Aa! Kakarotto da!"
"Well, that's what the Saiyajins call me," Gokuu said, thinking he might as well introduce himself as that if he ever wanted anyone to recognize who he was.
The Saiyajin grinned and approached him. "I heard that Bardaku's son was coming," he said. "So, 'Lost Saiyajin,' how do you like Vegita?"
Gokuu rubbed the back of his head and grinned. Old habits were hard to break, regardless of how much effort he put toward it. "I'd like it better if I could find my way around here," he said.
The Saiyajin chuckled and folded his arms over his chest. "You live up to your name, huh?" he joked. He only grinned when Gokuu gave a blank look, missing the jest. "Amazing, you resemble…her too."
Gokuu's brows lowered. "My mother?" he said. "You knew her?"
"Aa, unfortunately."
"Who are you?"
"Toma. Bardaku and I know each other well."
"Sou ka," Gokuu said, raising a brow. *Toma doesn't seem like the type who would be the friend of Bardaku…* he thought. *Demo, I wonder if he knows anything about my mother…*
"Anyway, where are you headed?" Toma said, interrupting his thoughts.
"Vegita Castle," Gokuu said.
"Hmph," Toma said, closing his eyes momentarily. "Intent on dying, Kakarotto? I hear the Prince is out to kill you."
"Wakatta," Gokuu said, finding the comment more amusing the more he heard it. He wondered what the point was pretending to the Prince that he were clueless when he was sure everyone knew, including the Prince, that he were aware of what the royal family wanted to do to him. "Demo, I'm a knight of the kingdom of Capsule. I've promised King Briefs that I would protect my Princess who happens to reside at Vegita Castle. It wouldn't be very noble of me to not do my duty because my life was danger. Besides, the danger's what makes life more interesting, desshou?"
"That's what she used to say…" Toma muttered with a smirk at the corner of his mouth. "Well, if you head straight from here for a mile you'll reach a graveyard. From there go east and you'll be on the course for the castle."
Gokuu just stared at Toma, desiring to ask him more about what he knew about his mother. No one seemed to ever address her by her name, which was one of the most curious things, besides that Radditsu and Toma kept comparing her to himself. What was it about his mother that no one dared to call her by her name? Gokuu were pondering this a good minute before Toma pointed in the direction he had instructed and started off.
"Ma…matte!" Gokuu said, raising his hand.
"I'm sure I'll run into you again, Kakarotto," Toma said, tossing his hand back at him. He made a soft chuckle. "That is, if you're still alive later."
Gokuu watched him go, frowning in slight frustration. "I don't think protecting Bulma will be the hardest part of being in Vegita…" he mused.
***
A year could have gone by in the darkness she were in; though the void were a bit frightening, it also seemed welcoming. After all, what was there outside of the darkness? Sorrow? Pain? Loneliness? Why would anyone willing take these things? Sure, the darkness didn't offer the opposite of these things. There was no joy; there was no pleasure; there was no companionship. However, it was one of those times when nothing was the best option between two decisions. There might have been a third option had it seemed plausible, yet how could a mere woman change a society that was dominated by not normal males, but a race of super--egotistical males. No, it was better to stay where nothing could touch her. Not a single Saiyajin, not a single feeling, not a single ray of light. It was better that way, she thought.
Bulma felt the pain return before her eyes again viewed the world. *Iie,* she thought wishing it away, *I didn't choose to come back to this world, this world where people such as Saiyajins exist! I would rather live in darkness forever than suffer the life I have been given! Naze…naze am I forced to go back? I should just die… I wouldn't have to suffer anymore…*
The light poured into Bulma's eyes, and she slowly focused on her surroundings. The room, or rather the prison she were forced to stay in until Vegita decided he had made her suffer enough, came into vision. The pain was just an added treat. Bulma rolled on her side, finding that a painful motion. Her lips touched the sheets on her bed and slowly her mind came to the realization: she wasn't on the floor anymore. That was surprising enough to make her ignore her aches. Why hadn't Vegita let her on the floor after…after…
*Sou desu ne…* Bulma thought, staring blankly into the white sheets of her bed, *Vegita… He threw me against the wall like a…like a rag doll! I should have a concussion, or at least some kind of brain damage. My head does hurt, demo I don't feel like my mind has been affected.*
Bulma attempted to lift her leg. She cried out in pain, quietly cursing to herself. The feeling was akin to trying to lift one's leg when it is pinned down by a sword. Tears might have developed in her eyes had she not compared the ache to what was going on with Gokuu. This tournament thing was surely going to be…
*Wait a minute…* Bulma thought, stopping her analysis of the problem at hand. *Did I just cry out and curse out loud??*
"Sou desu ka??" Bulma said, her words halfway muffled in the side of the bed. She smiled and drew in a breath. "Yoshi! My voice's back! It must have been the shock to my system when Vegita threw me against the wall… At least there's one thing that I can be grateful for because of that terrible situation."
As if her brain was telling her she were overdoing it after such an ordeal, a sharp pain tore through her skull, making her cringe and close her eyes shut. It disappeared, came again a minute later, and finally went away again. Bulma took in heavy breaths; it was incredibly hard not to scream at the pain. She didn't want those guards she knew were surely at the door to come in to investigate on her. The longer she didn't see a Saiyajin, the better. Bulma drew her hand to her head where the pain had been focused, feeling for some kind of bump or swelling. There was none, and she realized for the first time that her head was cool as if ice had been laid there. Still, it seemed unlikely even if Vegita had given the order to take responsibility for Bulma's injury that merely the ice on her head could have prevented a swelling. Surely there was a bruise, but Bulma couldn't see it for herself, having no mirror in the room. She sighed and opened her eyes.
"Son-kun, where are you?" Bulma said softly.
Bulma blinked as she heard footsteps toward her door and heard the slight murmuring of the idiot Saiyajins at her door. Knowing who the visitor was likely to be, Bulma decided she needed to pretend as though she hadn't regained consciousness yet. She couldn't handle, mentally or physically, talking with Vegita at the moment. Besides, the thought of seeing him made her shiver on the inside. She kept picturing the way he picked her up, and then…
The door made a creak as it was opened, and Bulma quickly shut her eyes again. Her heart began to thump as she heard soft footsteps coming toward her bed, and she tried her best to lie as still as possible in the situation. The silence as she waited for her visitor to indicate he had left or wasn't going to cause her any harm, drove her insane. What was he doing? Just staring at her? That really disturbed Bulma.
Indeed Vegita were merely examing Bulma, a bit surprised she hadn't awoken yet. It was evening now, making it about three hours since she had passed out. Vegita wasn't concerned about the woman; he just found it strange she hadn't come to yet. How long did it take these "normal" people to get over something like that? He had merely thrown her against a wall; it wasn't as if he had beat her to a pulp or anything. However, as Vegita looked more at Bulma now, it seemed as if she had gotten beaten up. The thought that he had hurt her enough to be in that state began to make him sick. Vegita scowled, unable to shake the nausea he was experiencing. The Saiyajin no Ouji experiencing nausea? That didn't happen or even making sense happening. He was a Saiyajin, and Saiyajins didn't get sick, especially by the sight of a weak woman.
Vegita turned his back to her and concentrated on making that weak feeling go away. "I am the crowned Prince of Vegita," he muttered to himself. "I, all of Saiyajins, shouldn't be showing these kinds of signs of weakness! No matter what, I must act like a Saiyajin!"
Bulma tried not to show any facial expression, knowing that would indicate that she was back to her senses. She was having a difficult time, however, doing so with Vegita talking to himself. Of course, she had done things like that before, but it was stranger to see Vegita do it. After all, he was one of the oh-so-perfect Saiyajins. The crème of the crème. And what was he muttering about? All Bulma could catch was something about "weakness" and "Saiyajins." The rest was like a growl.
Now that the Prince had gotten himself together, he turned back toward the "unconscious" Princess. "Hmm?" Vegita stepped closer to the bed so that he could examine her face better. *Her face… It changed. The change is slight, but still there. Her expression is tighter and more tense… Can she be waking up, or…?*
Vegita frowned and reached out to take hold of her chin. He fixed his eyes on Bulma's shut ones, waiting for some kind of sign that she wasn't brain-dead. Bulma had a hard time keeping up her act. Now she was sure that Vegita was just staring at her which made her want to shiver. The longer she lied there with the knowledge that the Prince was touching her and examining her with his unpleasant eyes, the more Bulma couldn't control her body's desire to show apprehension. Her face twitched and she swallowed. Immediately afterwards, she mentally cursed that he had such an effect on her, even though the effect was completely valid after what he had done to her.
"Yappari," Vegita said, fighting not to grin. He was slightly amused that the woman were pretending to be unconscious the whole time, but wanted to stand firm in the anger that he had for her. "You've already woken up, haven't you?"
Bulma, despite she knew Vegita knew she were awake, resisted opening her eyes so that he could confirm that. *Iie…* she thought, ignoring the bead of sweat that rolled down the side of her head. *I'm not going to look at that monster again! Son-kun, aren't you here yet?? I really need you right now…*
Now Vegita was getting annoyed. His first instinct was to shake her until she woke up, but in the condition she seemed to be in, he wasn't sure if that wouldn't do her more harm than good. Not that Vegita cared if she were more injured; he just didn't want her to become unconscious again.
"Oi!" Vegita said. His grip on her chin tightened slightly. "I know you can hear me! Don't you dare try ignoring me!"
Bulma swallowed again. *Damn,* she thought, *I have to do something to appease him so that he'll leave me alone. Demo, I refuse to look at him! I won't! And he doesn't need to know that my voice has returned…*
Vegita's anger descended a degree when Bulma nodded her head slowly. He glared at her, disliking the fact that she hadn't opened her eyes yet. However, for the moment he were going to let that slide.
"How long have you been awake?" He let go of her chin and folded his arms over his chest.
Bulma shrugged and cringed afterwards. She let out a sigh, wondering how long she were going to be in pain and just how she were ever going to move off the bed. Her legs, arms, and head hurt; there was no way she would be walking soon.
Vegita noticed her cringe and the sigh she had let out. "Hmph," he said, "are you truly that weak? I barely threw you against a wall and now you're acting as if I threw you off the top floor of this castle or something."
*You might as well!* Bulma thought. A frown appeared on her face, but she fought the temptation to tell him off. She didn't have enough energy to, nor wanted a chance for Vegita to get angry at her again. Bulma just drew in a short breath.
"…You're just faking your pain, aren't you?" Vegita said, pushing away a hint of concern that was trying to get into his voice. "You can't be that hurt from that one toss against a wall."
Vegita watched Bulma's lips move, indicating she were trying to say something. *Everything hurts,* she mouthed. *It's highly likely I won't be able to move for several days.*
"Days?" Vegita let out a growl and sat on the bed next to Bulma. He watched her body tense and held back a grin. He needed to concentrate on the business of her not moving for days. In two days they would have the tournament, and Bulma needed to be there when he killed Kakarotto. If she were going to be lying on her bed during that time, he might as well kill him any old place. No, he needed to take care of this business right away.
"Well, even if you're lying about this, I'm not going to take a chance," Vegita said. "I didn't think I'd have to do this, but I will even if Kakarotto gets suspicious. It will be difficult for you to communicate with him anyhow with your voice still gone."
Bulma might have snorted at his assumption her voice was still gone if she wasn't nervous about what he was talking about. What didn't he want to do before, but was now going to do to her? It sounded as if Bulma was going to be in more pain than she was at the moment if that were possible.
*What…what are going to do to me?* Bulma silently asked.
"Hmph, not that you don't deserve to be in pain after what you did to me…" Vegita said, his words feeling a bit false, but of course, that couldn't be possible for the Saiyajin no Ouji. "I don't really have a choice about it, since if you're hurt, it will ruin my plans."
*Na…nani?*
Vegita ignored her mute words and slipped his hand under her back. The alarm Bulma experienced when he touched in that manner completely made her forget that her motions were now painful. Eyes now open, she slid away to the left edge of the bed, more concerned with her fear than her sore muscles. Vegita raised a brow at her, mostly in surprise.
"I thought you said everything hurts," he said, watching her heavy breathing. "Why is it that you can jump over to the other side of the bed so easily?"
*That did hurt,* Bulma mouthed. She swallowed, noticing that she was close to saying that out loud. *I don't want you touching me again--ever.*
"Hmph." Vegita scowled at her, his temper rising instantaneously. He wasn't even sure why her silent comment made him so angry. A minute glaring at her and he concluded that it had to be the fact that she was getting in the way of his plan with her strange behavior. That had to be it.
"Fuzakeru na!" Vegita snapped, breaking the brief quiet. "I hate that I even have to do this for you…a woman that doesn't know her place!" He leaned over and grabbed her arm. "I have killed people for far less than what you've said and done to me! Slapping me--are you out of your mind??"
As much as it hurt and scared her for Vegita to hold her arm like that, Bulma had another sudden temper flare from Vegita's words. She didn't know what it was about him that made her so furious; surely it couldn't just be the fact he was a heartless, arrogant, pig-headed bastard. No, he was also violent, bloodthirsty, uncouth, and just plain unpleasant to be around. Yes, it was stupid to even dare to argue with him again after the wall incident, but Bulma couldn't help it; she wasn't used to being thrown around (literally as well) as if she wasn't important. She was a princess. She didn't need to prove that she, from birth, deserved to be treated in that manner.
*Me out of my mind??* Bulma's lips began moving rapidly at this moment, but Vegita was able to keep up despite that. *You threw me against a wall! I'm not a Saiyajin; I could have been killed or had serious brain damage! It's a miracle that I was even able to regain consciousness by this time! Don't you have any kind of regret of what you did to me??*
"You deserved it," Vegita said. He let go her arm immediately after saying that, a reaction of the alien feeling that invaded him again. His now free hand held his head.
*Maybe she's right about me being out of my mind,* Vegita thought, concentrating to push the weak intruder away.
Bulma simply stared at Vegita as he struggled with something with himself. Just as quick as her anger had appeared, it had gone. Now she was concerned with whatever was plaguing the Saiyajin Prince. She hadn't ever seen him like he was; he seemed extremely frustrated and if Bulma didn't know any better, confused. Besides the way he looked, as if there was a voice in his head telling him to do something he didn't want to do, there was the matter of him suddenly losing his grip on her. That had really made Bulma wonder what was wrong with him; he had let go as if holding onto her bothered him as much as it did her. It would have been pointless for her to ask him since she was still feigning no voice and he seemed way too occupied with his problem to notice she were trying to say something. Bulma watched him quietly, half with fear that his problem would soon become hers and half with wonder.
Vegita's breathing was a bit more labored by then. *What is wrong with me?* he thought. *First feeling sick and then this ridiculous feeling! It's all this woman's fault;it has to be! If this keeps up I'll be…I'll be denied the Saiyajin throne… That's it; I'm just going to concentrate on my plan; I'm not going worry about this woman even as much as my plan involves her. Kakarotto and she will be killed as I have thought it out to be. Yes, and for that to happen I have to get this woman in a better condition.*
Bulma internally jumped when Vegita snapped out of his quandary as fast as he went into it. He looked at her intently and grabbed her arm again. Bulma fought not to look away, fearing he was going to indeed turn his problem on her.
"Listen you asinine little woman," Vegita growled in her face. "You are going to cooperate with me without any hindrance! Or would you prefer to lie on this bed in more pain than you already are??"
Bulma swallowed and shook her head. His erratic behavior was currently frightening her more than what he had done and could do to her. Saiyajins were bad enough without them acting like they were mentally unstable. She was surprised that they considered Gokuu insane; if they watched Vegita more often they might just change their definition of what was insane.
Vegita growled some additional incoherent words and once again tried to lift Bulma off the bed. Bulma didn't fight him this time, but he could feel every involuntary movement of her body. As he carried her out the room, he expected to feel himself smirking at someone's else fear of him, as was common with him, but he only frowned as he did when someone was annoying him or testing his authority. Although this was strange, Vegita did his best to ignore it. He didn't need to distract himself from his plan any more. Besides, Sukuwa and Pikaru were regarding him now with veiled suspicion.
"When Kakarotto shows up again, tell him that the woman is in my care at the moment," Vegita instructed.
"Uh, hai…Denka…" Sukuwa said, watching his Prince walk away with the incapacitated woman in arms. He looked to Pikaru who looked equally suspicious. "What do you think that is all about?"
"Saa?" Pikaru said, relaxing a little at his post. "The Prince has been acting strange lately."
"You're telling me…"
***
Bulma had thought the scariest matter she'd have to deal with the Saiyajin no Ouji was her killing or hurting her; however, she found out that when she was unsure what Vegita was going to do to her was even more scary than when she knew exactly what he was going to do. This was true when she had been promised she would be killed in the night, but instead was left alive to wonder when he was going to come and go through with his promise. This was certainly true when she had escaped from her room a second time and was visited by the Prince. That moment before she was thrown against the wall was one of the most terrifying moments of her life…and the situation she was in now, being carried by Vegita to God-knows- where was causing her level of anxiety to almost reach her recent "get- together" with the wall. Bulma wanted to scream her head off, kicking until she fell out of Vegita's arms. Damn the pain; she wanted to be nowhere near the bastard. She wanted to go home and be with her family and friends, maybe even invent something else that could benefit the world. Regrettably Bulma couldn't override her fear. It was set, at least with Vegita's hands touching her…the hands that had thrown her into a wall mercilessly. Now more than ever Bulma felt powerless, yet it wasn't Vegita that had her captured; it was her fear.
Vegita was feeling more relieved as he traveled to the room that would fix his current problem with the woman. Well, it would fix one of his current problems with the woman; the problems with her were far greater than the Saiyajin empire itself. He could still feel how tense Bulma's body was in his arms in spite of her disability, but the silence was doing him some good. Vegita's head was clearing, and his regular attitude about everything (especially Bulma) was coming back into view. Yes, he was going to help her this one time, but it was all for the sake of her suffering that he would produce in two days. Vegita smiled to himself and stopped at a locked door at the end of an empty hall.
Bulma eyed the door, that looked so common, yet was so terrifying. What was behind the door? Vegita's hinting that it may be something beneficial to her, was inconsequential to her. The Saiyajin no Ouji help her, even if it were to his own eventual gain? Bulma never would think it was possible. After all, he had thrown her against a wall. No matter how many times she thought of that, it would never get old.
Vegita dropped his left arm slowly, letting Bulma's feet touch the floor, but keeping his other arm around her back. Her shivering in this action was much greater than when Vegita had been transporting her to the room. Vegita grinned, but he would never admit it even to himself that his expression was almost completely forced. He pulled out a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. For a moment he thought of pushing Bulma along into the room so he wouldn't have to carry her any more, but each second he thought of it started to beckon that feeling that attacked him lately. Vegita growled, having to satisfy some unknown emotion as if he were its slave. If only he could make it disappear forever!
Vegita lifted Bulma up once again and carried her into the near empty room. There seemed to be only a small pool of emerald water inside. That eased Bulma only slightly. Why would a room with just a pool be locked up? Why did Vegita bring her there? Bulma concluded, drawing from all the events that had occurred in just one day, that Vegita were going to drown her or at least try to. Perhaps he wanted to play with her a while for his sick amusement. Her chest rose up and down violently as he laid her on her back on the tiled floor next to the pool. She didn't want to look up at him, to see him above her while she was helpless on the floor, but she didn't want him to be out of her sight either. Vegita's raven eyes locked with hers for a brief moment (Bulma figured it had to be he was thinking of exactly what he wanted to do to her), and he left her sight as he walked away from her left side. Bulma forced herself to turn her neck so her eyes wouldn't leave Vegita for more than a minute and discovered he were only locking the door. At first she was comforted by that before she realized that she was now locked inside this room with the horrible man. Her panic rose and she shuddered so terribly that she was sure she would roll over into the pool any minute. As if Vegita realized this, he sat her up and held her firmly in place. The dark eyes that were planted on Bulma didn't seem to have the glint they did when the Prince were set on something evil, but the annoyance expressed on his face was evident.
"What the hell are you shaking so much for??" Bulma almost raised a brow at his question. The better question would be why he seemed so disturbed that she was shaking. "Did I say I was going to hurt you? I thought you said you were a genius, yet you can't even distinguish between when you are safe and when you are in danger."
Bulma's lips twitched as she fought not to mouth the words she were thinking, but she couldn't help it. *You threw me against a wall,* she silently said. For a moment she thought about speaking aloud, but she thought the fact she could speak and Vegita thought she couldn't could be an advantage to her in future somehow. *Do you seriously think I'll ever feel safe when you're around me?*
"I'd tell you to shut up, but you're not really saying anything," Vegita said, hating her repetitiveness. She needed to get over what had happened and learn from her mistake: touching him without his consent. "Just quit acting like an idiot and let me get this over with."
*Get what over with??*
Vegita didn't bother to read her lips any more. He held her up with one hand and began undoing her dress with the other hand. Of course, Bulma began squirming like crazy, one of her worst fears coming true. Vegita truly was crazy, she thought; he was going to take advantage of her at a time like this?
"Grr!" Vegita almost was going to shake her, but all he did was tighten his hold on her. "Stop moving around, damnit! Would you rather get into this pool fully dressed??"
*Why do I need to get in this pool??* Bulma demanded.
Vegita was going to explode in frustration, but he repressed it and for once thought rationally. "You are going in this pool so you can heal," he said. He glared at her confused expressed. "What, do you think your stupid little kingdom is the only one that has advancements in technology?"
*De…demo…*
"We call it a regen pool," Vegita said. "Only the Elites know about this, however. If the low-classes want to get healed, they'll do it the hard way. Of course, I've never needed this." He smirked as if insinuated that she were horribly weak.
*So, I just sit in the pool and my injuries will be gone?*
"Yes, you stupid little woman," Vegita said. "Now that we've wasted more of my precious time explaining what's going on, will you stop acting like an idiot?"
Idiot, Bulma thought furiously for the few seconds before Vegita went back to undressing her. She forgot about her second time being called that and worried about the Prince's hands unbuttoning the back of her dress.
Vegita soon forget about his reasons for undressing Bulma and concentrated on merely the action. It slightly reminded him of when he had joined her in the bath the other day. As he caught a glimpse of her creamy- colored back from the split now formed in her dress, he thought of how he wouldn't mind doing that everyday. Bulma, feeling her exposed skin from behind, shivered and also recalled the little episode in the bathing hall. She couldn't believe after that she was allowing him to take off her clothes. Now more than ever she didn't want him leering at her body. Of course, that was exactly what Vegita was doing. He slid down her dress, but was greatly disappointed at what he discovered was wrapped around her back.
"What the hell is this white thing you're wearing??" Vegita said. He noticed that it was only covering her breasts.
Bulma felt herself flushing all the way to her collar. Even Yamcha hadn't been allowed to see her like this, and they had gotten relatively serious before they dissolved their relationship. Now she was sitting there on the floor, her dress down to her waist, having a lewd man gawking at her and inquiring about her undergarments.
*It's call a "brassiere,"* Bulma explained. *My mother invented this to eliminate the other cumbersome supports we women have to wear…* Bulma trailed off, growing hot with embarrassment. Why was she even explaining all of this to him? It was none of his business, and he shouldn't sound so disappointed about it in the first place.
"What a useless invention," Vegita said, tempted to rip it off. It was attached by two large buttons which the Prince began to reach for.
Bulma pulled forward and shook her head furiously. Vegita frowned and glared at her back. "Hmph, are you going to act meek again?" he asked. "I said you needed to get into this pool."
Bulma turned her head back so he could read her lips. *You can take off my dress, but not my undergarments.*
"Are you trying to order me around?" Vegita inquired, eyes narrowing. "I'll do as I please! If you don't like it, I'll just simply throw you into pool as you are right now!"
Vegita watched her eyes waver with concern of being totally exposed to him. He thought for a moment (falling prey to his foreign feeling again) that her eyes resembled the pool water. The water continuously shook in its square space as did the blue in Bulma's eyes. He supposed that was because of tears filming her eyes, but he finally got his senses together that he didn't need to think about such things in the first place. He growled, knowing that if her stupid look was effecting him, then surely humiliating her by exposing her most private areas would invoke the "invader" of his mind once again. He let out a low growl.
"Hmph, it's probably best if you leave some of your body covered up, Vegita said. "From what I saw in the bath the other day, you should never been seen completely naked."
Bulma clenched her teeth, but pacified herself with the fact that he wasn't going to leave her completely exposed. She was almost relieved when he took off her dress completely; at least now she wouldn't have to feel his hands over her so closely. However, though having her underwear and bra on, she hated that Vegita could freely look at the majority of her body. She wondered if this was what prostitutes went through.
Vegita tried not to enjoy the near-naked Bulma, but he couldn't resist it. He liked what he saw, and he liked the way Bulma was embarrassed to be seen by him. Thousands of thoughts raced through his head of how to take advantage of the situation, but he knew that he didn't have time for any of those things. Besides, he didn't like the woman enough to do any of them, as much as she had her appeal at times…
Bulma drew in a startled breath as Vegita grabbed her by her waist and lifted her off the floor. Being held above the ground like that only reminded her of the way Vegita had before he threw her against the wall. Though she fought it, tears began to weld up in her eyes. Vegita either didn't see them or ignored them. Carefully, he lowered her into the water, which was much deeper than Bulma would have guessed. He hadn't let her go yet, but she was nearly halfway in and it didn't seem like her feet were that close to touching the bottom of the pool.
"Hold onto the edge for a moment," Vegita commanded. "I know you can at least manage that in all your pain." He smirked a little at her perturbed expression and let her go once she had done as he had instructed.
Vegita pulled back one of the large tiles on the floor which had some kind of mask underneath it. He pulled it out, revealing a tube to be attached to it that was coiled under the tile as well. Vegita pulled it out so that the tube extended enough to allow him to attach the mask to her face. Bulma raised a brow and stupidly tried to ask him about the mask. She frowned, realizing that now he couldn't read her lips.
"You have to be completely submerged," Vegita said, figuring the prying woman would be wondering about the mask. "The mask is to help you breathe. Unless you'd like to see how long you can hold your breath?" He let out a three-second chuckle at her angry expression. "Yoshi, let go."
Bulma hesitated, nervous about being underwater while Vegita was above doing unseen actions. Vegita lowered his brows and fixed her problem on his own. He removed her hands easily, and the Princess wasn't able to move fast enough in her condition to latch on again. Gradually she sunk to the bottom where about two feet of water was above her. Vegita looked down at her, his left eyebrow twitching.
"Damn troublesome woman…" he muttered. He pulled back the tile next to the other he had already pulled, allowing him to view the controls of the regen pool. He punched a few buttons and waited for the screen to show it was activated.
The screen turned green and then showed the time remaining that Vegita had set. He figured an hour would be good for her or at least have her walking with ease again. Even though he hadn't ever used the regen pool, he had still been taught how to use it. He sat down next to the pool, one leg extended and the other bent so he could lay his arm on his knee. Vegita had the option of leaving her by herself, but he didn't want to risk anyone finding her there. Even if she wasn't going to be his mate, she was currently his property and he didn't want anyone to see her as exposed as she was. He let out a breath and closed his eyes, waiting for the sound that would indicate Bulma's time was up.
Bulma's eyes too closed while she was underwater, feeling more relaxed than she ever had been in the Saiyajin Kingdom (save the short time she was in Gokuu's care). The water had gotten warmer in about a minute after her feet touched the bottom of the pool. She wasn't sure if it were just the temperature, but her whole body was relived of it aches and tension. Bulma felt like she were floating…and her mind drifted away as if she were being beckoned by a wonderful dream.
*Michi's End Note: Yeah, it'll be another while till Chapter Ten. Sorry, I have a few other fics I'm simultaneously working on (along with school crap... Mou!!) ^_^
Chapter 9
"Suge!" Gokuu said, mouth open as wide as if he were a tourist on vacation. He left the training hall with his brother and continued down the halls of the castle. "I've always heard that the Saiyajins were so focused on battle, but I'm still amazed."
"And I'm not surprised," Radditsu grumbled. Now that they were ending the tour of the castle, Radditsu was glad, though he had to still show his idiot brother around the rest of the kingdom, that outside the castle there was little that even his foolish sibling could gawk at in an undignified manner.
"So where are we going next?" Gokuu asked.
"I'm showing you where soldiers ranked such as you and I dwell," Radditsu said. They travelled to the area where they had left their horses.
"Demo, I can't possibly be staying outside of the castle," Gokuu said as he mounted his horse. Radditsu didn't look at him as he did the same. "I have to stay at the castle to watch over Bulma."
"You should worry about yourself, not that woman," Radditsu said. He flicked the reins in his hands, and his horse went off at a quick pace.
Gokuu followed in accordance on his horse, speeding up so that he was side-by-side his brother. "While I'm here, Bulma is my main concern," he insisted. He smiled at the passing sights, viewing the part of Vegita he had only seen a glance of while making the trip to Vegita.
Though he had been told that the Vegita Kingdom were highly barbaric, the towns seemed to be well-organized and busy as well. Saiyajins, as well as obvious outsiders, were moving all about. Some were sparring in the streets, particularly a young group of boys who caused Gokuu to chuckle at their antics so much like a litter of puppies playing with each other. He was surprised, however, to see so many of the "common" people as Radditsu had referred to them in armor. Even the rare sights of women, seen in the towns they went through, were dressed in the same armor. Radditsu took a moment to look at him, noticing the amazed expression once again. He hated his expression, and he hated him. However, he were happy to do the Prince's bidding if it would rid him of his ghost of brother forever.
Radditsu came to a stop in a town that didn't look much different than the rest of those in Vegita. A passing Saiyajin greeted Radditsu and gave Gokuu a strange look. Gokuu blinked and soon found that several of the Saiyajins were staring at him as if he were missing a head or were walking around with a sword through his gut. While trying to determine the cause of the Saiyajins' astonishment and contempt, Radditsu had already began to move without him. Gokuu quickly went after him, temporarily ignoring the looks of the others.
"Why is everyone staring at me?" Gokuu asked. His horse stepped slowly beside the other, trying to get around the Saiyajins in the road.
"Because you're an outcast," Radditsu said curtly. "They don't need anyone to tell them that; they can see it written all over your face."
"Sou ka na?" Gokuu said, meeting the gaze of the unfriendly Saiyajins again.
Radditsu gritted his teeth. *He's just like Kaasan!* he thought, gripping the reins in his hands tighter. *She was so damn nonchalant about things that any Saiyajin would have gotten upset about!*
They reached a post outside a local bar and tied up their horses there. Radditsu, once again was ambivalent about his actions. Half of him didn't want to go into the bar, the great possibility of his father being in there and having to meet Kakarotto. There was a large part of him that believed his father to be quite eager to meet his long-lost son and that angered Radditsu immensely. Why should he care even a fraction of Kakarotto's welfare? So his mother had thought he was supposed to be a great warrior; so what? Kakarotto was labeled as insane and were about to be killed in two days by the Saiyajin no Ouji himself. Bardaku had always seemed like a typical, practical Saiyajin. He wasn't the type to concern himself with insignificant matters. The side of Radditsu that conflicted with his anger of what his father's reaction to Kakarotto might be was the fact that he wanted Bardaku to see his insane son before Kakarotto was killed before all Saiyajins to see. It would give Radditsu great pleasure to watch Bardaku get a chance to talk to Kakarotto before he were killed. Yes, that side of him were causing his feet to go toward the bar.
"What's this place?" Gokuu asked, about a foot behind him. He was led into a room dimly lighted though outside it were quite bright with sunlight. Saiyajins were seated at tables and at the bar itself, drinking and laughing away. The only non-Saiyajin was the bartender who seemed to be endlessly drying the inside of a mug.
Radditsu spotted Bardaku at his usual spot at the bar, but Gokuu had failed to notice his twin sitting in the room. He were more concerned with the group of drunken Saiyajins that were approaching him and his brother. Radditsu turned to see the men snort at Gokuu and flex their muscles as if to show their might.
"What is this?" one of them asked. "You're not Bardaku, are you, boy?"
"I'm Sir Son Gokuu," Gokuu said proudly. His face only displayed confusion as the three of them exploded in laughter.
"A Saiyajin knight!" another exclaimed. "That's rich!"
"Say, boy, you wouldn't happen to be that rumored Saiyajin from Capsule, now would you?" the third one asked.
Bardaku nearly dropped the mug he had just risen into the air. Before he hadn't heard anything, engulfed in his own thoughts, but now he had just heard something that indicated Kakarotto might be in the bar. He scowled at himself and put the mug back down. He would wait for an actual confirmation first.
"I am," Gokuu said, noticing how quiet it became in the room. Only the three Saiyajin's laughter pervaded the silence.
"Kakarotto..." Bardaku said, turning around in his seat.
Radditsu, as well as Gokuu and the other Saiyajins turned their attention on the Saiyajin sitting on the other side of the room. Gokuu froze, stunned by the sight of his father.
"There goes Bardaku now," the first Saiyajin said. "Oi, Bardaku, it seems your brat really has turned out to be some insane pariah from Capsule!"
Bardaku wasn't listening to their words, but rather was astonished as much as Gokuu was. The resemblance was even greater in person, yet that wasn't what caused Bardaku to stare his son as if he were a ghost. The look of pure surprise on his face was not unlike something he had seen several times in his mate. A recall of a particular time she had displayed that look flashed before his eyes...
***
"...for each," Bardaku finished. He frowned in disgust as his mate made her eyes large and her face inculpable as if she didn't even know that such a thing existed. He had just explained to her the current rate for Saiyajin mercenaries in other kingdoms. Once the demand had been high as well as the price; however, once the word had been spread about the damage Saiyajins caused whenever hired, the demand went down with the price.
"Masaka," Oriibu murmured, her face still appearing as unsullied ignorance.
"Take that stupid look off your face," Bardaku commanded, looking around to see if anyone else had witnessed it. "It is highly un-Saiyajin like."
Bardaku was amazed how easily his mate's countenance could slide from one phase to another without a hitch. Oriibu made a sly, even grin and narrowed her green eyes in a face that conveyed that her mind were working in those mysterious ways that Bardaku couldn't hope to understand in a million years. That was more Saiyajin like in the sense that it wasn't a pleasant expression and provocation was written all over her face.
"Would you not agree that a Saiyajin can only be called one by birth?" Oriibu said, clasping her hands behind her head.
"Nan da?"
"You are only a Saiyajin if your parents were full-blooded ones."
"Yes, of course." Bardaku raised a brow and frowned more at her. He hated when she played these kinds of games.
"My parents were definitely of Saiyajin blood, making me a full- blooded Saiyajin."
"Yes, and your point?"
"My point, Bardaku, is that I am a Saiyajin," Oriibu said, her voice slipping into its melodious form. She merely grinned as her mate bared his teeth at the sound of it. "How can I, a Saiyajin, do something un-Saiyajin like? Whatever I do, I do it as a Saiyajin, so it is quite impossible for me to do anything relatively un-Saiyajin like."
"You're too damn smart for you own good," Bardaku said. He started down the road again, having paused enough to speak to the unyielding woman. "I won't be responsible for your death, woman."
"My goal is to make sure if someone kills me, I take he or she with me," Oriibu said, already in step with him. She smiled in the nasty way that suggested she was invincible in not only intelligence, but strength as well.
"Then again maybe I will be responsible for your death," Bardaku muttered as she began her infuriating humming. "I'll kill you myself..."
***
"You look just like me!" Gokuu said, taking a step forward. "Suge!"
This time the three Saiyajins weren't the only ones who began to laugh at his comment. The whole bar began snickering and mocking the strange son of Bardaku. Radditsu watched his father intently looking for any signs of approval of Kakarotto or something that indicated he were happy to see him. There were none. Bardaku's face were hard and bilious as it was when... Radditsu's eyes narrowed, recognizing that look. It were the same look he used to give his mother, all the times when she were acting unlike a Saiyajin shouldn't (which were often enough). When he had thought about it, he wasn't sure if he had ever even seen his father grin at his mother, yet he had consented to mate with her and associate with her until her untimely death. In some way Oriibu's strange habits must had appealed to Bardaku to some degree; he figured that was why he was staring so intently at Kakarotto. Kakarotto's flabbergasted expression should have either made Bardaku disgusted or laugh as the others in the bar.
"So you're finally here, Kakarotto," Bardaku said, rising. He ignored all the comments and the laughter of the bar around him.
Upon the mention of his Saiyajin name, as if it reminded him that he were indeed a Saiyajin in a Saiyajin kingdom, Gokuu's face shifted into a countenance as if he were trying to mirror his father. Radditsu's mouth partially opened, noticing that when his brother did that the distinction between the two were even less than before. Though the atmosphere of the bar were light with the amusement of Gokuu and Bardaku, Radditsu felt tense at the stare down Gokuu and Bardaku were giving each other. Even Radditsu didn't like to glare at his father that long; Bardaku usually won those eye battles whenever Radditsu engaged him in them.
After two minutes, the silent battle was broken. "I want to ask you a question," Gokuu said, though not relaxing his features.
"Nani?" Bardaku said, narrowing his eyes in curiosity.
"I have a pretty good idea how I ended up in Capsule," Gokuu said, "demo, what of my mother? What happened to her?"
Bardaku's jaw clenched, and Radditsu's muscles tightened as if he were the one that had inquired about his mother. He knew the drill when you brought up the twenty-past deceased Oriibu: expect to have a verbal beat-down if you were lucky enough not to have a physical one. Gokuu was surely not aware of such things and waited patiently for an answer. Bardaku, though annoyed by the question, was a bit encouraged by Gokuu's amount of gall. Perhaps he wasn't as insane as he had been fabled to be.
"That is information that is of no use to you," Bardaku said evenly. He turned to place some coins on the bar table and then faced his son again. "Since you were foolish enough to come here, your life will end shortly." This brought more laughter in the bar, most knowing that Gokuu's fate was to be killed for insanity.
Radditsu smirked and noticed the slightly angry look on Gokuu's face. His younger brother's eyes trailed their father as Bardaku passed them and made his way for the door. Radditsu was surprised, even for the insane Saiyajin, that Gokuu made steps toward him as if he intended to not be brushed off so easily.
"Matte!" Gokuu said, stopping Bardaku at the door.
Bardaku glared at him and Radditsu grinned in anticipation. It wasn't a far-fetched theory to think that his father could kill Kakarotto before the tournament even happened. "Nan da?" he demanded.
"I have a right to know about my mother," Gokuu said, but it sounded more like a threat. "I know that coming here may be my death, but I had my reasons for coming."
"And what would those reasons be?" Bardaku asked, folding his arms over his chest.
"To protect my Princess and find out about my roots. Those roots include not only my brother and father, but my mother too. If I'm going to die here, I'm at least going to fulfill each of my reasons to be here to my best ability."
"A real sentimental Saiyajin, ain't he?" a nameless Saiyajin laughed. Others soon joined him.
*He may be sentimental, but he is also relentless,* Bardaku thought, having an equal glare in return to the one he was giving his son. *Well, might as well not let the fool do anything that would cause me to have to kill him. Seems the Prince wants that pleasure all to himself for whatever reason.*
"Okay, Kakarotto," Bardaku said, grinning at him as if he knew something Gokuu didn't, "I'll make a deal with you. If you survive the tournament in two days, I'll tell you whatever you want to know about your 'roots.' If you don't, it won't matter any way because you'll be dead."
Gokuu snorted, but surprisingly met Bardaku with the same grin. "I'll hold you to that," he said. His father also snorted and soon left the bar. Gokuu stared after him with the same hard expression and then lifted it suddenly as if forgetting that he had ever met Bardaku.
"Oi, Radditsu," Gokuu said, looking to his brother who was trying to figure out how he should be: confused, surprised, or irascible. "I'm starved; where can we eat?"
Radditsu decided to choose his last option upon his brother's words. "Kakarotto, do you have any idea--" He cut himself off as Gokuu's stomach growled, and his brother commenced to rubbing it sheepishly. "Grr!"
"I hope Saiyajin food is as good as Capsule food," Gokuu said, smiling in anticipation of food.
"Hmph," Radditsu muttered to himself, knowing he wouldn't be heard over all the chuckling in the bar, "might as well let the baka have a few more good meals before he dies..."
***
Just as it seemed that Gokuu were getting his fill of the food (or perhaps just about to take a pause because he had been eating non-stop for an hour and a half), Radditsu too was getting his fill of his brother. It wasn't just that Gokuu were causing him to spend a great deal more money than he had intended on any meal, but the fact that Gokuu weren't really as he had hoped he would be. Radditsu had expected him to be more sensible as he had been told that Capsule people were. Gokuu lacked any sense it seemed; he willing came to Vegita knowing that it would most likely cause his death, yet he didn't take any steps of precaution. No, Gokuu were acting just like...like her. Never did Radditsu think in a million years, after his mother's foolishness had finally caught up with her and caused her death, that she would rise up again in his long-lost brother. To make matters worse, Radditsu knew that Bardaku wasn't disgusted by Gokuu. His father may have been cold and disinterested on the outside, but Radditsu knew there was something else going on inside the Saiyajin. If that wasn't true, Bardaku wouldn't have left the bar when he did. After all, his son had returned and he leaves after a few words with him? Radditsu was highly suspicious; he wanted to know where his father went. What was more important than dealing with Kakarotto? Had his father not said that he was concerned about Gokuu making him look like a fool?
Radditsu glanced at his brother across the table from him, plates surrounding the human vacuum. There was nothing that he seem to take his time to eat; everything was consumed in relatively five seconds. And the joy on Gokuu's face as he ate¾sickened Radditsu. It sickened him so much that he ate little of what he had bought for himself. Radditsu didn't know a Saiyajin that didn't like to eat, but Gokuu like eating to the extreme. You would think that Gokuu hadn't eaten for weeks the way he tore into an animal he couldn't identify, yet was content to eat just the same. Radditsu didn't rule out that Gokuu may have been starved at such at place as Capsule, figuring no one in Capsule would eat an eighth of what Gokuu ate; however, if that were true he doubted Gokuu would have survived very long.
"M-oi."
Radditsu frowned, his thoughts interrupted when Gokuu addressed him. "Nan da?"
"Our mother, is she dead?"
Radditsu felt more of his appetite disappearing at Gokuu's questions. "Yes, thankfully," he said. He took a large gulp of his ale. "Crazy bitch..."
Gokuu completely ignored his food and stared at his brother incredulously. "How could you say that about your own mother?"
"If you knew her, Kakarotto, you'd say the same thing. Besides, it wasn't as if I cared for the woman. She were merely the person that carried me in her womb for a short period of her life."
"Saiyajins sure are strange..." Gokuu said, scratching his head. "I don't think I could ever say something about my mother even if I didn't know her."
Considering the double meaning in what Gokuu were saying, Radditsu eyed his brother carefully. "So, would you say the same about your father?"
"Ee?"
"What do you think of Bardaku?"
"...I just wonder where he went."
Radditsu glared at him for not only avoiding his question, but also reading his mind. He had too wondered where Bardaku had went to a such a crucial time. Radditsu knew that his father didn't have any duty right now, and he wouldn't be in a sparring hall; no, Bardaku only went there when he needed to release his anger. He wasn't angry right now; Radditsu knew when his father was angry.
"I probably need to get back to the castle," Gokuu said, quickly shoving all that remained on his plate into his mouth. He made a struggled swallow and beat his chest. "Oishii!"
"Kakarotto, your death will be in the name of our mother."
"Huh?" Gokuu turned to his brother only to be met with a disdainful glare. "What do you mean?"
"Our mother should have been killed several times on account of her insanity," Radditsu said. "Now that you're going to be killed for your insanity, it will be as if she were finally getting her punishment."
Upon the mention of their mother, Gokuu's curiosity rose again. "How'd she die?"
"Unfortunately she had an honorable Saiyajin death," Radditsu spat. "She died in battle, at least that's all Bardaku would say about it. He's the only one who would really know, and he'd never tell you. I asked him once about it, and he told me it was none of my business. I asked again and a second later we were fighting, and I was unconscious. Word of advice, 'little brother,': don't question Bardaku about his mate. He hates when people get into his personal business."
Gokuu rose from the table and his brother a strange look. "Sou ka," he said. He put his hand to his chin, rubbing it, as if he were thinking hard. "Well, I guess I better be going. Jaa."
Radditsu's eyes trailed the younger Saiyajin as he left, wondering if letting Gokuu travel alone in the Saiyajin kingdom was such a good idea. Not that he cared too much for his little brother's welfare, but he had a good idea that Gokuu could easily cause trouble without getting himself killed. However, it was an opportunity for Gokuu to get hurt that allowed Radditsu to let him go, more than the fear that Gokuu would cause trouble and Radditsu would be blamed for it. He had a good feeling that Gokuu was stupid enough to, as the Saiyajin saying went, "use his own sword to cut himself."
***
Gokuu had thought he knew where he was going, but somewhere along the way he became sidetracked. He expected to see the tip of the castle on the horizon as he had when they were near it, but he lacked to see anything like it. In fact, he didn't think the villages he passed looked anything like the ones he had passed on his way to Radditsu's village. He let out a sigh and brought his horse to stop. Surely one of the Saiyajins in the village could help him out, but there weren't as many about as there were in the other village he had been in. The first person he found ignored him and walked away as if he hadn't spoken. Another merely laughed in his face, again leaving Gokuu without any aid. Gokuu's brows came together, and he stood in the middle of what seemed to be some kind of large plaza for fighting. That was obvious by the sword marks left and the remains of blood that caked the crevices of many of the flat stones. He scratched his head and tried to think clearly about his whereabouts. Gokuu remembered going south from the Vegita castle, but now it seemed that he had been wrong about the direction entirely. It must have been the similarity of the towns surrounding the castle.
"Sou ka…" Gokuu sighed, folding his arms over his chest. "Demo, what am I going to do now? I hadn't planned leaving Bulma alone for this long…"
"Hmm? Bardaku?"
Gokuu blinked and turned around to see a Saiyajin with short spiky hair, staring at him. "Iie, I'm Son Gokuu," he said, fighting to smile. He was so accustomed to looking pleasant when introducing himself, but while in the Saiyajin kingdom he thought it was helpful to try to abide by some of their strange customs if not only to get one of them to help him.
"Nani? Son Gokuu?" the Saiyajin said, taking a few steps toward him. He stared at him a few seconds longer before realization filled his face. "Aa! Kakarotto da!"
"Well, that's what the Saiyajins call me," Gokuu said, thinking he might as well introduce himself as that if he ever wanted anyone to recognize who he was.
The Saiyajin grinned and approached him. "I heard that Bardaku's son was coming," he said. "So, 'Lost Saiyajin,' how do you like Vegita?"
Gokuu rubbed the back of his head and grinned. Old habits were hard to break, regardless of how much effort he put toward it. "I'd like it better if I could find my way around here," he said.
The Saiyajin chuckled and folded his arms over his chest. "You live up to your name, huh?" he joked. He only grinned when Gokuu gave a blank look, missing the jest. "Amazing, you resemble…her too."
Gokuu's brows lowered. "My mother?" he said. "You knew her?"
"Aa, unfortunately."
"Who are you?"
"Toma. Bardaku and I know each other well."
"Sou ka," Gokuu said, raising a brow. *Toma doesn't seem like the type who would be the friend of Bardaku…* he thought. *Demo, I wonder if he knows anything about my mother…*
"Anyway, where are you headed?" Toma said, interrupting his thoughts.
"Vegita Castle," Gokuu said.
"Hmph," Toma said, closing his eyes momentarily. "Intent on dying, Kakarotto? I hear the Prince is out to kill you."
"Wakatta," Gokuu said, finding the comment more amusing the more he heard it. He wondered what the point was pretending to the Prince that he were clueless when he was sure everyone knew, including the Prince, that he were aware of what the royal family wanted to do to him. "Demo, I'm a knight of the kingdom of Capsule. I've promised King Briefs that I would protect my Princess who happens to reside at Vegita Castle. It wouldn't be very noble of me to not do my duty because my life was danger. Besides, the danger's what makes life more interesting, desshou?"
"That's what she used to say…" Toma muttered with a smirk at the corner of his mouth. "Well, if you head straight from here for a mile you'll reach a graveyard. From there go east and you'll be on the course for the castle."
Gokuu just stared at Toma, desiring to ask him more about what he knew about his mother. No one seemed to ever address her by her name, which was one of the most curious things, besides that Radditsu and Toma kept comparing her to himself. What was it about his mother that no one dared to call her by her name? Gokuu were pondering this a good minute before Toma pointed in the direction he had instructed and started off.
"Ma…matte!" Gokuu said, raising his hand.
"I'm sure I'll run into you again, Kakarotto," Toma said, tossing his hand back at him. He made a soft chuckle. "That is, if you're still alive later."
Gokuu watched him go, frowning in slight frustration. "I don't think protecting Bulma will be the hardest part of being in Vegita…" he mused.
***
A year could have gone by in the darkness she were in; though the void were a bit frightening, it also seemed welcoming. After all, what was there outside of the darkness? Sorrow? Pain? Loneliness? Why would anyone willing take these things? Sure, the darkness didn't offer the opposite of these things. There was no joy; there was no pleasure; there was no companionship. However, it was one of those times when nothing was the best option between two decisions. There might have been a third option had it seemed plausible, yet how could a mere woman change a society that was dominated by not normal males, but a race of super--egotistical males. No, it was better to stay where nothing could touch her. Not a single Saiyajin, not a single feeling, not a single ray of light. It was better that way, she thought.
Bulma felt the pain return before her eyes again viewed the world. *Iie,* she thought wishing it away, *I didn't choose to come back to this world, this world where people such as Saiyajins exist! I would rather live in darkness forever than suffer the life I have been given! Naze…naze am I forced to go back? I should just die… I wouldn't have to suffer anymore…*
The light poured into Bulma's eyes, and she slowly focused on her surroundings. The room, or rather the prison she were forced to stay in until Vegita decided he had made her suffer enough, came into vision. The pain was just an added treat. Bulma rolled on her side, finding that a painful motion. Her lips touched the sheets on her bed and slowly her mind came to the realization: she wasn't on the floor anymore. That was surprising enough to make her ignore her aches. Why hadn't Vegita let her on the floor after…after…
*Sou desu ne…* Bulma thought, staring blankly into the white sheets of her bed, *Vegita… He threw me against the wall like a…like a rag doll! I should have a concussion, or at least some kind of brain damage. My head does hurt, demo I don't feel like my mind has been affected.*
Bulma attempted to lift her leg. She cried out in pain, quietly cursing to herself. The feeling was akin to trying to lift one's leg when it is pinned down by a sword. Tears might have developed in her eyes had she not compared the ache to what was going on with Gokuu. This tournament thing was surely going to be…
*Wait a minute…* Bulma thought, stopping her analysis of the problem at hand. *Did I just cry out and curse out loud??*
"Sou desu ka??" Bulma said, her words halfway muffled in the side of the bed. She smiled and drew in a breath. "Yoshi! My voice's back! It must have been the shock to my system when Vegita threw me against the wall… At least there's one thing that I can be grateful for because of that terrible situation."
As if her brain was telling her she were overdoing it after such an ordeal, a sharp pain tore through her skull, making her cringe and close her eyes shut. It disappeared, came again a minute later, and finally went away again. Bulma took in heavy breaths; it was incredibly hard not to scream at the pain. She didn't want those guards she knew were surely at the door to come in to investigate on her. The longer she didn't see a Saiyajin, the better. Bulma drew her hand to her head where the pain had been focused, feeling for some kind of bump or swelling. There was none, and she realized for the first time that her head was cool as if ice had been laid there. Still, it seemed unlikely even if Vegita had given the order to take responsibility for Bulma's injury that merely the ice on her head could have prevented a swelling. Surely there was a bruise, but Bulma couldn't see it for herself, having no mirror in the room. She sighed and opened her eyes.
"Son-kun, where are you?" Bulma said softly.
Bulma blinked as she heard footsteps toward her door and heard the slight murmuring of the idiot Saiyajins at her door. Knowing who the visitor was likely to be, Bulma decided she needed to pretend as though she hadn't regained consciousness yet. She couldn't handle, mentally or physically, talking with Vegita at the moment. Besides, the thought of seeing him made her shiver on the inside. She kept picturing the way he picked her up, and then…
The door made a creak as it was opened, and Bulma quickly shut her eyes again. Her heart began to thump as she heard soft footsteps coming toward her bed, and she tried her best to lie as still as possible in the situation. The silence as she waited for her visitor to indicate he had left or wasn't going to cause her any harm, drove her insane. What was he doing? Just staring at her? That really disturbed Bulma.
Indeed Vegita were merely examing Bulma, a bit surprised she hadn't awoken yet. It was evening now, making it about three hours since she had passed out. Vegita wasn't concerned about the woman; he just found it strange she hadn't come to yet. How long did it take these "normal" people to get over something like that? He had merely thrown her against a wall; it wasn't as if he had beat her to a pulp or anything. However, as Vegita looked more at Bulma now, it seemed as if she had gotten beaten up. The thought that he had hurt her enough to be in that state began to make him sick. Vegita scowled, unable to shake the nausea he was experiencing. The Saiyajin no Ouji experiencing nausea? That didn't happen or even making sense happening. He was a Saiyajin, and Saiyajins didn't get sick, especially by the sight of a weak woman.
Vegita turned his back to her and concentrated on making that weak feeling go away. "I am the crowned Prince of Vegita," he muttered to himself. "I, all of Saiyajins, shouldn't be showing these kinds of signs of weakness! No matter what, I must act like a Saiyajin!"
Bulma tried not to show any facial expression, knowing that would indicate that she was back to her senses. She was having a difficult time, however, doing so with Vegita talking to himself. Of course, she had done things like that before, but it was stranger to see Vegita do it. After all, he was one of the oh-so-perfect Saiyajins. The crème of the crème. And what was he muttering about? All Bulma could catch was something about "weakness" and "Saiyajins." The rest was like a growl.
Now that the Prince had gotten himself together, he turned back toward the "unconscious" Princess. "Hmm?" Vegita stepped closer to the bed so that he could examine her face better. *Her face… It changed. The change is slight, but still there. Her expression is tighter and more tense… Can she be waking up, or…?*
Vegita frowned and reached out to take hold of her chin. He fixed his eyes on Bulma's shut ones, waiting for some kind of sign that she wasn't brain-dead. Bulma had a hard time keeping up her act. Now she was sure that Vegita was just staring at her which made her want to shiver. The longer she lied there with the knowledge that the Prince was touching her and examining her with his unpleasant eyes, the more Bulma couldn't control her body's desire to show apprehension. Her face twitched and she swallowed. Immediately afterwards, she mentally cursed that he had such an effect on her, even though the effect was completely valid after what he had done to her.
"Yappari," Vegita said, fighting not to grin. He was slightly amused that the woman were pretending to be unconscious the whole time, but wanted to stand firm in the anger that he had for her. "You've already woken up, haven't you?"
Bulma, despite she knew Vegita knew she were awake, resisted opening her eyes so that he could confirm that. *Iie…* she thought, ignoring the bead of sweat that rolled down the side of her head. *I'm not going to look at that monster again! Son-kun, aren't you here yet?? I really need you right now…*
Now Vegita was getting annoyed. His first instinct was to shake her until she woke up, but in the condition she seemed to be in, he wasn't sure if that wouldn't do her more harm than good. Not that Vegita cared if she were more injured; he just didn't want her to become unconscious again.
"Oi!" Vegita said. His grip on her chin tightened slightly. "I know you can hear me! Don't you dare try ignoring me!"
Bulma swallowed again. *Damn,* she thought, *I have to do something to appease him so that he'll leave me alone. Demo, I refuse to look at him! I won't! And he doesn't need to know that my voice has returned…*
Vegita's anger descended a degree when Bulma nodded her head slowly. He glared at her, disliking the fact that she hadn't opened her eyes yet. However, for the moment he were going to let that slide.
"How long have you been awake?" He let go of her chin and folded his arms over his chest.
Bulma shrugged and cringed afterwards. She let out a sigh, wondering how long she were going to be in pain and just how she were ever going to move off the bed. Her legs, arms, and head hurt; there was no way she would be walking soon.
Vegita noticed her cringe and the sigh she had let out. "Hmph," he said, "are you truly that weak? I barely threw you against a wall and now you're acting as if I threw you off the top floor of this castle or something."
*You might as well!* Bulma thought. A frown appeared on her face, but she fought the temptation to tell him off. She didn't have enough energy to, nor wanted a chance for Vegita to get angry at her again. Bulma just drew in a short breath.
"…You're just faking your pain, aren't you?" Vegita said, pushing away a hint of concern that was trying to get into his voice. "You can't be that hurt from that one toss against a wall."
Vegita watched Bulma's lips move, indicating she were trying to say something. *Everything hurts,* she mouthed. *It's highly likely I won't be able to move for several days.*
"Days?" Vegita let out a growl and sat on the bed next to Bulma. He watched her body tense and held back a grin. He needed to concentrate on the business of her not moving for days. In two days they would have the tournament, and Bulma needed to be there when he killed Kakarotto. If she were going to be lying on her bed during that time, he might as well kill him any old place. No, he needed to take care of this business right away.
"Well, even if you're lying about this, I'm not going to take a chance," Vegita said. "I didn't think I'd have to do this, but I will even if Kakarotto gets suspicious. It will be difficult for you to communicate with him anyhow with your voice still gone."
Bulma might have snorted at his assumption her voice was still gone if she wasn't nervous about what he was talking about. What didn't he want to do before, but was now going to do to her? It sounded as if Bulma was going to be in more pain than she was at the moment if that were possible.
*What…what are going to do to me?* Bulma silently asked.
"Hmph, not that you don't deserve to be in pain after what you did to me…" Vegita said, his words feeling a bit false, but of course, that couldn't be possible for the Saiyajin no Ouji. "I don't really have a choice about it, since if you're hurt, it will ruin my plans."
*Na…nani?*
Vegita ignored her mute words and slipped his hand under her back. The alarm Bulma experienced when he touched in that manner completely made her forget that her motions were now painful. Eyes now open, she slid away to the left edge of the bed, more concerned with her fear than her sore muscles. Vegita raised a brow at her, mostly in surprise.
"I thought you said everything hurts," he said, watching her heavy breathing. "Why is it that you can jump over to the other side of the bed so easily?"
*That did hurt,* Bulma mouthed. She swallowed, noticing that she was close to saying that out loud. *I don't want you touching me again--ever.*
"Hmph." Vegita scowled at her, his temper rising instantaneously. He wasn't even sure why her silent comment made him so angry. A minute glaring at her and he concluded that it had to be the fact that she was getting in the way of his plan with her strange behavior. That had to be it.
"Fuzakeru na!" Vegita snapped, breaking the brief quiet. "I hate that I even have to do this for you…a woman that doesn't know her place!" He leaned over and grabbed her arm. "I have killed people for far less than what you've said and done to me! Slapping me--are you out of your mind??"
As much as it hurt and scared her for Vegita to hold her arm like that, Bulma had another sudden temper flare from Vegita's words. She didn't know what it was about him that made her so furious; surely it couldn't just be the fact he was a heartless, arrogant, pig-headed bastard. No, he was also violent, bloodthirsty, uncouth, and just plain unpleasant to be around. Yes, it was stupid to even dare to argue with him again after the wall incident, but Bulma couldn't help it; she wasn't used to being thrown around (literally as well) as if she wasn't important. She was a princess. She didn't need to prove that she, from birth, deserved to be treated in that manner.
*Me out of my mind??* Bulma's lips began moving rapidly at this moment, but Vegita was able to keep up despite that. *You threw me against a wall! I'm not a Saiyajin; I could have been killed or had serious brain damage! It's a miracle that I was even able to regain consciousness by this time! Don't you have any kind of regret of what you did to me??*
"You deserved it," Vegita said. He let go her arm immediately after saying that, a reaction of the alien feeling that invaded him again. His now free hand held his head.
*Maybe she's right about me being out of my mind,* Vegita thought, concentrating to push the weak intruder away.
Bulma simply stared at Vegita as he struggled with something with himself. Just as quick as her anger had appeared, it had gone. Now she was concerned with whatever was plaguing the Saiyajin Prince. She hadn't ever seen him like he was; he seemed extremely frustrated and if Bulma didn't know any better, confused. Besides the way he looked, as if there was a voice in his head telling him to do something he didn't want to do, there was the matter of him suddenly losing his grip on her. That had really made Bulma wonder what was wrong with him; he had let go as if holding onto her bothered him as much as it did her. It would have been pointless for her to ask him since she was still feigning no voice and he seemed way too occupied with his problem to notice she were trying to say something. Bulma watched him quietly, half with fear that his problem would soon become hers and half with wonder.
Vegita's breathing was a bit more labored by then. *What is wrong with me?* he thought. *First feeling sick and then this ridiculous feeling! It's all this woman's fault;it has to be! If this keeps up I'll be…I'll be denied the Saiyajin throne… That's it; I'm just going to concentrate on my plan; I'm not going worry about this woman even as much as my plan involves her. Kakarotto and she will be killed as I have thought it out to be. Yes, and for that to happen I have to get this woman in a better condition.*
Bulma internally jumped when Vegita snapped out of his quandary as fast as he went into it. He looked at her intently and grabbed her arm again. Bulma fought not to look away, fearing he was going to indeed turn his problem on her.
"Listen you asinine little woman," Vegita growled in her face. "You are going to cooperate with me without any hindrance! Or would you prefer to lie on this bed in more pain than you already are??"
Bulma swallowed and shook her head. His erratic behavior was currently frightening her more than what he had done and could do to her. Saiyajins were bad enough without them acting like they were mentally unstable. She was surprised that they considered Gokuu insane; if they watched Vegita more often they might just change their definition of what was insane.
Vegita growled some additional incoherent words and once again tried to lift Bulma off the bed. Bulma didn't fight him this time, but he could feel every involuntary movement of her body. As he carried her out the room, he expected to feel himself smirking at someone's else fear of him, as was common with him, but he only frowned as he did when someone was annoying him or testing his authority. Although this was strange, Vegita did his best to ignore it. He didn't need to distract himself from his plan any more. Besides, Sukuwa and Pikaru were regarding him now with veiled suspicion.
"When Kakarotto shows up again, tell him that the woman is in my care at the moment," Vegita instructed.
"Uh, hai…Denka…" Sukuwa said, watching his Prince walk away with the incapacitated woman in arms. He looked to Pikaru who looked equally suspicious. "What do you think that is all about?"
"Saa?" Pikaru said, relaxing a little at his post. "The Prince has been acting strange lately."
"You're telling me…"
***
Bulma had thought the scariest matter she'd have to deal with the Saiyajin no Ouji was her killing or hurting her; however, she found out that when she was unsure what Vegita was going to do to her was even more scary than when she knew exactly what he was going to do. This was true when she had been promised she would be killed in the night, but instead was left alive to wonder when he was going to come and go through with his promise. This was certainly true when she had escaped from her room a second time and was visited by the Prince. That moment before she was thrown against the wall was one of the most terrifying moments of her life…and the situation she was in now, being carried by Vegita to God-knows- where was causing her level of anxiety to almost reach her recent "get- together" with the wall. Bulma wanted to scream her head off, kicking until she fell out of Vegita's arms. Damn the pain; she wanted to be nowhere near the bastard. She wanted to go home and be with her family and friends, maybe even invent something else that could benefit the world. Regrettably Bulma couldn't override her fear. It was set, at least with Vegita's hands touching her…the hands that had thrown her into a wall mercilessly. Now more than ever Bulma felt powerless, yet it wasn't Vegita that had her captured; it was her fear.
Vegita was feeling more relieved as he traveled to the room that would fix his current problem with the woman. Well, it would fix one of his current problems with the woman; the problems with her were far greater than the Saiyajin empire itself. He could still feel how tense Bulma's body was in his arms in spite of her disability, but the silence was doing him some good. Vegita's head was clearing, and his regular attitude about everything (especially Bulma) was coming back into view. Yes, he was going to help her this one time, but it was all for the sake of her suffering that he would produce in two days. Vegita smiled to himself and stopped at a locked door at the end of an empty hall.
Bulma eyed the door, that looked so common, yet was so terrifying. What was behind the door? Vegita's hinting that it may be something beneficial to her, was inconsequential to her. The Saiyajin no Ouji help her, even if it were to his own eventual gain? Bulma never would think it was possible. After all, he had thrown her against a wall. No matter how many times she thought of that, it would never get old.
Vegita dropped his left arm slowly, letting Bulma's feet touch the floor, but keeping his other arm around her back. Her shivering in this action was much greater than when Vegita had been transporting her to the room. Vegita grinned, but he would never admit it even to himself that his expression was almost completely forced. He pulled out a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. For a moment he thought of pushing Bulma along into the room so he wouldn't have to carry her any more, but each second he thought of it started to beckon that feeling that attacked him lately. Vegita growled, having to satisfy some unknown emotion as if he were its slave. If only he could make it disappear forever!
Vegita lifted Bulma up once again and carried her into the near empty room. There seemed to be only a small pool of emerald water inside. That eased Bulma only slightly. Why would a room with just a pool be locked up? Why did Vegita bring her there? Bulma concluded, drawing from all the events that had occurred in just one day, that Vegita were going to drown her or at least try to. Perhaps he wanted to play with her a while for his sick amusement. Her chest rose up and down violently as he laid her on her back on the tiled floor next to the pool. She didn't want to look up at him, to see him above her while she was helpless on the floor, but she didn't want him to be out of her sight either. Vegita's raven eyes locked with hers for a brief moment (Bulma figured it had to be he was thinking of exactly what he wanted to do to her), and he left her sight as he walked away from her left side. Bulma forced herself to turn her neck so her eyes wouldn't leave Vegita for more than a minute and discovered he were only locking the door. At first she was comforted by that before she realized that she was now locked inside this room with the horrible man. Her panic rose and she shuddered so terribly that she was sure she would roll over into the pool any minute. As if Vegita realized this, he sat her up and held her firmly in place. The dark eyes that were planted on Bulma didn't seem to have the glint they did when the Prince were set on something evil, but the annoyance expressed on his face was evident.
"What the hell are you shaking so much for??" Bulma almost raised a brow at his question. The better question would be why he seemed so disturbed that she was shaking. "Did I say I was going to hurt you? I thought you said you were a genius, yet you can't even distinguish between when you are safe and when you are in danger."
Bulma's lips twitched as she fought not to mouth the words she were thinking, but she couldn't help it. *You threw me against a wall,* she silently said. For a moment she thought about speaking aloud, but she thought the fact she could speak and Vegita thought she couldn't could be an advantage to her in future somehow. *Do you seriously think I'll ever feel safe when you're around me?*
"I'd tell you to shut up, but you're not really saying anything," Vegita said, hating her repetitiveness. She needed to get over what had happened and learn from her mistake: touching him without his consent. "Just quit acting like an idiot and let me get this over with."
*Get what over with??*
Vegita didn't bother to read her lips any more. He held her up with one hand and began undoing her dress with the other hand. Of course, Bulma began squirming like crazy, one of her worst fears coming true. Vegita truly was crazy, she thought; he was going to take advantage of her at a time like this?
"Grr!" Vegita almost was going to shake her, but all he did was tighten his hold on her. "Stop moving around, damnit! Would you rather get into this pool fully dressed??"
*Why do I need to get in this pool??* Bulma demanded.
Vegita was going to explode in frustration, but he repressed it and for once thought rationally. "You are going in this pool so you can heal," he said. He glared at her confused expressed. "What, do you think your stupid little kingdom is the only one that has advancements in technology?"
*De…demo…*
"We call it a regen pool," Vegita said. "Only the Elites know about this, however. If the low-classes want to get healed, they'll do it the hard way. Of course, I've never needed this." He smirked as if insinuated that she were horribly weak.
*So, I just sit in the pool and my injuries will be gone?*
"Yes, you stupid little woman," Vegita said. "Now that we've wasted more of my precious time explaining what's going on, will you stop acting like an idiot?"
Idiot, Bulma thought furiously for the few seconds before Vegita went back to undressing her. She forgot about her second time being called that and worried about the Prince's hands unbuttoning the back of her dress.
Vegita soon forget about his reasons for undressing Bulma and concentrated on merely the action. It slightly reminded him of when he had joined her in the bath the other day. As he caught a glimpse of her creamy- colored back from the split now formed in her dress, he thought of how he wouldn't mind doing that everyday. Bulma, feeling her exposed skin from behind, shivered and also recalled the little episode in the bathing hall. She couldn't believe after that she was allowing him to take off her clothes. Now more than ever she didn't want him leering at her body. Of course, that was exactly what Vegita was doing. He slid down her dress, but was greatly disappointed at what he discovered was wrapped around her back.
"What the hell is this white thing you're wearing??" Vegita said. He noticed that it was only covering her breasts.
Bulma felt herself flushing all the way to her collar. Even Yamcha hadn't been allowed to see her like this, and they had gotten relatively serious before they dissolved their relationship. Now she was sitting there on the floor, her dress down to her waist, having a lewd man gawking at her and inquiring about her undergarments.
*It's call a "brassiere,"* Bulma explained. *My mother invented this to eliminate the other cumbersome supports we women have to wear…* Bulma trailed off, growing hot with embarrassment. Why was she even explaining all of this to him? It was none of his business, and he shouldn't sound so disappointed about it in the first place.
"What a useless invention," Vegita said, tempted to rip it off. It was attached by two large buttons which the Prince began to reach for.
Bulma pulled forward and shook her head furiously. Vegita frowned and glared at her back. "Hmph, are you going to act meek again?" he asked. "I said you needed to get into this pool."
Bulma turned her head back so he could read her lips. *You can take off my dress, but not my undergarments.*
"Are you trying to order me around?" Vegita inquired, eyes narrowing. "I'll do as I please! If you don't like it, I'll just simply throw you into pool as you are right now!"
Vegita watched her eyes waver with concern of being totally exposed to him. He thought for a moment (falling prey to his foreign feeling again) that her eyes resembled the pool water. The water continuously shook in its square space as did the blue in Bulma's eyes. He supposed that was because of tears filming her eyes, but he finally got his senses together that he didn't need to think about such things in the first place. He growled, knowing that if her stupid look was effecting him, then surely humiliating her by exposing her most private areas would invoke the "invader" of his mind once again. He let out a low growl.
"Hmph, it's probably best if you leave some of your body covered up, Vegita said. "From what I saw in the bath the other day, you should never been seen completely naked."
Bulma clenched her teeth, but pacified herself with the fact that he wasn't going to leave her completely exposed. She was almost relieved when he took off her dress completely; at least now she wouldn't have to feel his hands over her so closely. However, though having her underwear and bra on, she hated that Vegita could freely look at the majority of her body. She wondered if this was what prostitutes went through.
Vegita tried not to enjoy the near-naked Bulma, but he couldn't resist it. He liked what he saw, and he liked the way Bulma was embarrassed to be seen by him. Thousands of thoughts raced through his head of how to take advantage of the situation, but he knew that he didn't have time for any of those things. Besides, he didn't like the woman enough to do any of them, as much as she had her appeal at times…
Bulma drew in a startled breath as Vegita grabbed her by her waist and lifted her off the floor. Being held above the ground like that only reminded her of the way Vegita had before he threw her against the wall. Though she fought it, tears began to weld up in her eyes. Vegita either didn't see them or ignored them. Carefully, he lowered her into the water, which was much deeper than Bulma would have guessed. He hadn't let her go yet, but she was nearly halfway in and it didn't seem like her feet were that close to touching the bottom of the pool.
"Hold onto the edge for a moment," Vegita commanded. "I know you can at least manage that in all your pain." He smirked a little at her perturbed expression and let her go once she had done as he had instructed.
Vegita pulled back one of the large tiles on the floor which had some kind of mask underneath it. He pulled it out, revealing a tube to be attached to it that was coiled under the tile as well. Vegita pulled it out so that the tube extended enough to allow him to attach the mask to her face. Bulma raised a brow and stupidly tried to ask him about the mask. She frowned, realizing that now he couldn't read her lips.
"You have to be completely submerged," Vegita said, figuring the prying woman would be wondering about the mask. "The mask is to help you breathe. Unless you'd like to see how long you can hold your breath?" He let out a three-second chuckle at her angry expression. "Yoshi, let go."
Bulma hesitated, nervous about being underwater while Vegita was above doing unseen actions. Vegita lowered his brows and fixed her problem on his own. He removed her hands easily, and the Princess wasn't able to move fast enough in her condition to latch on again. Gradually she sunk to the bottom where about two feet of water was above her. Vegita looked down at her, his left eyebrow twitching.
"Damn troublesome woman…" he muttered. He pulled back the tile next to the other he had already pulled, allowing him to view the controls of the regen pool. He punched a few buttons and waited for the screen to show it was activated.
The screen turned green and then showed the time remaining that Vegita had set. He figured an hour would be good for her or at least have her walking with ease again. Even though he hadn't ever used the regen pool, he had still been taught how to use it. He sat down next to the pool, one leg extended and the other bent so he could lay his arm on his knee. Vegita had the option of leaving her by herself, but he didn't want to risk anyone finding her there. Even if she wasn't going to be his mate, she was currently his property and he didn't want anyone to see her as exposed as she was. He let out a breath and closed his eyes, waiting for the sound that would indicate Bulma's time was up.
Bulma's eyes too closed while she was underwater, feeling more relaxed than she ever had been in the Saiyajin Kingdom (save the short time she was in Gokuu's care). The water had gotten warmer in about a minute after her feet touched the bottom of the pool. She wasn't sure if it were just the temperature, but her whole body was relived of it aches and tension. Bulma felt like she were floating…and her mind drifted away as if she were being beckoned by a wonderful dream.
*Michi's End Note: Yeah, it'll be another while till Chapter Ten. Sorry, I have a few other fics I'm simultaneously working on (along with school crap... Mou!!) ^_^