~* Regret Nothing*~

By Zaria

"Sometimes I feel like a cat among tigers"

-Katherine Mansfield

Chapter One: Only Morning

I listen to the sound of voices outside my window, the words indistinct but the hastiness unmistakable. The clatter of hooves and sound of metal on stone gives the fact that horses, no doubt harnessed to carts, are present. A few moans uttered from wounded soldiers as they are hurriedly moved from the carts, in to the house and away from their dead comrades.

I shudder at the thought of what condition these men are in and the fact that I will have to aid in healing them. I don't like healing; I don't understand how anyone could. But I will, for bed, board and food I will.

After about an hour and a half of the ominous sounds carrying effortless over the moon-less night I drift into an uneasy sleep for the pure sake of having enough energy to get out of bed tomorrow.

~*~

"Bulma-chan, pay attention, your dressing that wound incorrectly." Izamami broke through my trance of thinking about the nightmares of the life that I used to live.

"Gomen nasei!" I uttered quick but sincere apology as I re-cleaned to wound on the soldier. For the first time I glanced at the faces of the samurai- the all looked about the same with only minor differences except for the fact that even I must admit that they all are well built. All but one had spiky black hair, that one was bald. One had hair down past his waist and a face similar to the shortest one, whose hair stuck up like a flame or a pinecone. If the short one didn't have so much hair he might be shorter then me.

Come to think of it most of them had the same facial expression expect the one with hair pointing in about seven different directions, he looked almost kind. As I gazed over the line once more I realized two others had hair like that, must be related in some way. I empathize with 'their' women remembering how Yamcha had left me for the army, I can only hope he returns in one piece.

They all appear to be different ages the short one and nice looking one are almost defiantly the youngest and the bald one appears to be the eldest.

~*~

As I followed Izamami out of the room I obtained the sensation of eyes burning my back. I whipped around and saw the room unchanged.

~*~

It was late at night or early in the morning when I returned from a sad excuse for dinner because Izamami had wished that I would check on the warriors again. Truthfully I am exhausted; I have been slaving over a boiling pot to make a type of salve to heal superficial wounds more rapidly. The point of checking up on them I do not see; it would take another few days for anyone to wake up after the conditions they have been exposed to but then again they do appear to heal faster then others I have known. But on the other hand all the others I have known didn't come to Izamami to be healed.

Slowly opening the rice paper door careful not to make a sound as I stuck my lantern in, and gave the room a once over. The only sound was the wind at the window and the deep, slow breathing of the sleeping occupants of the room coming from the sleeping bag shapes on the floor all lined up like something on display. I start to turn around when movement catches my eye- not everyone in the room is asleep. The short one is sitting up- attempting to redo one of his bandages.

"No, no, no!" I sighed out, exasperatedly, as I approached him.

His head whips around and his steely eyes burn contempt in to mine at the frustration of being caught. I grab his arm from him and kneel beside him to assess how much damage he has inflicted on himself. No matter how reluctant he is, he complies.

"It will be fine and set correctly if you don't move it so much, I'll have to bring in some more salve then I expected tomorrow. but it would be best to treat it now to be sure you didn't infect it. I have some more salve that may be ready by now, hold on." I got up and headed blindly for the kitchen where the ointment sat in a large bowl. Squinting through the darkness I spot it sitting innocently on the counter. I stumble over there the best I can.

When I reenter the infirmary I have to squint to see him leaning crossed armed on the wall, my lantern must have burned out. "I have the ointment." I announced as I approached him, guided by moonlight.

"Go away girl, you are not needed."

"Nani?! What do you mean?" He's seriously injured and is about to learn the hard way that a few of his ribs are broken as well as his arm.

"You heard me, slave, tomorrow I will lead myself and the rest of my company away from here." My jaw drops as all fatigue is replaced with my infamous rage.

"What do you mean by that you shouldn't even be standing much less traveling, you alone have three broken ribs and a broken arm! And all your men are far worst off. AND I AM NOT A SLAVE!!!" I screeched at him, the idiot thinks he can leave here without even thanking Izamami-san.

I watch, as his eyes seemed to glow slightly red as the air became denser- even if it was my imagination. I momentarily regret shouting so loudly- the others and Izamami-san might have woken up.

"Girl do you even know to whom you speak?" He uncrossed his arms and started to walk towards me.

If I could actually think clearly when I was torn between rage and terror I would probably have answered that question differently. "No, and I don't really care about that or if your goddamn arm contracts an infection. Go to sleep jack-ass."

I turn swiftly around and walk down the hall to my closet of a room; it is bare save a small cot, a pile of clothing, a leather rucksack and my lantern- shit! I left it in the sick bay. The idea of going back across the hall momentarily crosses my mind but I don't need to risk making myself more enemies today. I collapse almost thankfully on the hard surface of my cot and welcome the dream deprived short 'sleep' that awaited me.

~*~

I awoke to the cruel, bright morning announcing its arrival and eagerness to begin the new day by shining, brightly on my eyelids. Mumbling incoherently to myself, I roll over and wish the sun to go back down for -oh say -a few more years.

Five short minuets later Izamami came urging me out of bed and down to the kitchen. I stumble over to the small pile of fabric I shamelessly dubbed clothing and slip in to my Favourite midnight blue or navy, deepening almost to black, kimono. My mother gave it to me saying it brought out the violet of my hair and mauve of my eyes, I also loved it because it was one of the few things I brought from home.

Standing up I straightens my outfit it the mirror while slipping on my personal insignia: my gold, snake-like armband. Luckily no one but I can see it as it is hidden behind the sleeve of my kimono.

By the time I arrive in the kitchen Izamami is cooking up a storm but before I can help I must do one thing. I promptly wrap a towel around my neck to protect my kimono, walk over to the basin that will momentarily be used for washing dishes and dunk my face in. This made Izamami laugh lightly while successfully waking me up as much as physically possible after my complete three and half-hours of sleep.

"Bulma- chan I don't know why you must do that every morning." she chuckled as she went back to stirring a large pot of ramen, leaving me to cut the fish.

As I grab a large knife from the rack Izamami spoke, "Bulma, one of the samurai woke up sometime ago and seemed to be mumbling something about 'vexing wenches with odd coloured hair'" she shot me a look knowing I'm guilty but not going to confess with only that. "What did you do to him?" That I would confess to, at least a little.

"When I went in to cheek on them last night he was up tampering with his bandages so I told him to quit it because he was making it worse and went to get the salve I made but when I came back he called me a slave and told me to go away and that he was planning of leaving today with the rest of his troop!" I ranted in one breath, more then I wanted to say.

"For some strange reason I think that he would not have been to angry at you for simply attempting to cleanse a lesion of his."

"He was!" I defended, "When I came in with the ointment he told me to go away and that I wasn't needed." It wasn't a complete lie.

Izamami threw me a 'I'm-not-buying-it-tell-the-truth' look and then made me feel like a guilty child caught stealing a cookie in the middle of the night, "if you don't want to tell me why shouting for that wing woke me up last night then don't." her cooled expression turned back to her cooking.

"I'm sorry Izamami- san but after he called me a slave and told me he and the rest were leaving I guess I sort of told him that he was in no condition to leave and neither were his men and I wasn't a slave then he asked if I knew who he was and I don't and he seemed sort of insulted.." I didn't really need to tell her I ordered him to rest; I work here if he doesn't want to get cured that's his problem.

"Bulma, that was the wrong thing to say just because you and I don't know to whom we are attending to is no reason to rub that in their face." Izamami reprimanded, "Now I would like you to go apologize and learn who those young people are."

My jaw must have hit the ground, "NANI!!!!!!????????"

~*~

About half an hour later I slid the door to the infirmary open with three portions of breakfast placed on a tray. Beady, black, shielded eyes snapped up to meat my own azure ones, which immediately swooped down with the thought of apologizing. It just seemed degrading for the daughter of the great Doctor Briefs to lower herself to apologizing, not that I ever wish to see that ass again. But still I must remind my self I am now no longer the daughter of him but only Bulma Catena Briefs ((A/N: Catena Davy is one of our moon's craters)). I haven't the slightest idea how Izamami manages to bend me to her will as if I was her child but I guess within the few months I have spent working here she has almost become that. Though my real mother never even managed to make me sink so low as to feeling guilty for merely yelling at someone.

Inhaling deeply I try to avoid the twin piercing eyes attempting to burn a hole through my skull, "I'msorryforwhatIsaidlastnightandwonderingwhoyouandtheothermenaresoIdon'tmak afoolofselfagain." (TRANSLATION: I'm sorry for what I said last night and was wondering who you and the other men are so I don't make a fool of my self again) I rushed out in a single breath.

I risk a glance at the samurai now with a masked but still clearly shocked face, whatever he had been expecting me to say it wasn't a request for forgiveness. His eyes are slightly widened and mouth cracked ajar a bit, I wonder briefly if I rendered him incapable of speech, but alas all good things but come to a close.

"Vegeta." The hard cold mask was back in place only with a rather arrogant smirk in place; he probably thinks he frightened me in to apologizing- the conceited ass! .. But why does that name sound vaguely familiar? I don't know but I think Yamaha said it to me once.. When?

I suddenly remember my lantern where is it? I look wildly around and spot it in the far corner- with a large dent in its side.

"What did you do to my lantern!" I practically shrieked while running over to retrieve it after putting down the tray, "what did you do? Kick it over here with a metal toe? There is no way I am ever gonna be able to hammer that dent out- you better be able to buy me a new one." I glared at him once I finally stopped ranting. It is quite apparent by the look on his face that any possibility there was of frightening me vanished from is mind.

Before he could answer our attention was draw to a murmuring from the sleeping mat of one of the other samurai; the one with the "kinder" face I believe.

My suspicions are confirmed as he rolls over with a somnolent expression. I was about to see if he had re-injured himself while rolling over but stop as a loud rumbling fills the air.

"What was that!" I asked bewildered.

"Uh. my stomach, sorry but do you have anything to eat, I'm starved." The newly awakened samurai asked while putting his not-broken hand behind his head while plastering on the silliest grin on his face that could melt the hardest hearts.

On that last note I am proven wrong- "Kakarotto, learn to control you hunger will you- its degrading to have a warrior whose stomach could give away our position to any enemy within a ten mile radius."

"Wait! Kaka- what! Kaka-carrot? And Va-get-a? Where the friggin' hell are you guys getting these weird names?" my genius's entire mind was thoroughly perplexed.

"Uh- I dunno, it think my kassan gave it to me but-"

"Kakarotto, learn to shut up as well."

"Gomen, Vegeta."

"Well, if you two are done arguing." I trailed off, Kami, men could be suck bakas. Then the carrot had to spot the tray of food on the floor were I left it, though he made no sound it was obvious because his eyes grew wide and he started to drool. He was so obviously younger then me it was hilarious, and the Vegeta character for that matter.

"Here, eat all you want without moving too much." I startled him out of his dream of eating by sliding the plate forward to the side of his cot. "I'll be right back with some food for you." I informed Vegeta coldly, while trying not to laugh at the way Kakarotto attempting to feed himself with his right hand, which was in a sling and inflexible.

I stumble through my clouded surroundings attempting not to run in to too many walls due to my half-awake state as I make my way to the scullery.

"Back so soon?" Izamami inquired as I slid the door open, what really is annoying about paper walls and doors is you can accidentally fall through them.

"Yea, another woke up." I stumble towards the counter with a tray now complete with sushi was situated on top of it.

I begin to make my way of the door when Izamami's voice stopped me; "your breakfast is on that tray. I want you to join them while eating breakfast."

"Do I have to?" I whine even though I know argument is futile.

"Only if you wish to stay employed." Kuso.

"Can't I just stay here and help you cook? You know I need to work on it." I hope playing little innocent apprentice will work.

"I'm not having my charges be your lab rats."

"Hey! My cooking is not that bad!"

"We will work on it another day"

Defeated I sulk my way out of the room. This is just not my day: start at quarter after midnight, shout at a few people above your station, nap, and wake at dawn, and dine with current adversary. Yup, just what I love to do, right up there with overly perky people in the morning.

Sighing slightly to myself I slide to door open and allow myself in, immediately cold eyes burn my form.

Placing one of the sushi plates on the floor not in the mood for anything warm, I walk over to hand the rest to the one named 'Vegeta.'

"So where did you guys get so beat up?" I decide conversation with them talking is the best way to avoid argument, though I probably could have phrased that better. While I walked over to him I failed to look down and tripped. Vegeta managed to save the food but I fell, backwards, right on to the large bald one.

"Shit!" I rolled of him to figure out what I tripped over in time to see a chocolate- coloured, fuzzy, snake like thing dart beneath Vegeta's blanket. "What the! What was that!" my childlike curiosity spiked, I, not having bothered to stand yet, crawled over to the cot in question and began to lift up the sheet knowing they're all fully dressed.

An entire arm slams down to prevent me from investigating what I tripped over.

"What?! I know you're fully dressed seeing as I would have been allowed in here it you weren't. Not to mention the fact I doubt you want some live animal living in your cot."

"No." Kami, why do men have to be so damn stubborn, at least all the attractive ones?

"If you want some snake living inside much less in your bed, that would be fine but I, however, do not want any living being crawling into my bed." His arm remains barring me from seeing what that snake-like thing was.

"No, slave girl, leave it." He knows he's touching a nerve.

"HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU I AM NOT A SLAVE???!!!!" I screech in to his ear watching him wince at the volume. I slam my fist down on his hand. I have no aim, I hit some where between his hip and arm. Vegeta convulses suddenly as if I actually did hit his wounded hand.

"What! I didn't even hit you! What's wrong?" Confusion can change any mood. He's still breathing heavily, attempting to control the pain. Damn it, I didn't mean to hurt him, I didn't think I could.

"Are you ok?" I tentatively voice.

"Girl, leave now." He rasped out between clenched teeth.

~*~

I made my way blindly, and guilty to my closet, leaning against a support beam I sigh to my self- what a fucked up day. What else could go wrong? Scratch that: famous last words.

Now what could that have been? Long, brown, fuzzy, Vegeta doesn't mind. it suddenly clicks. My eyes widen in fear, they are Saiyans!

(End Chapter One)

Well. how was my first chapter? Do you know what? Reviews would really give a lot of motivation to write the next chapter (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, cough, cough). About that whole 'at war' thing -the humans of the country of Chikyuu (yes, I am aware that 'Chikyuu' is earth in Japanese, but its my story so I can do what I want XP) they are fighting the Saiyans of the country Saiya (once again, I know Vegitasei is the saiyan planet but Vegeta isn't the prince so it wouldn't make any sense). The Saiyans could easily beat the humans if they weren't also fighting off Freeza's forces (the Meta- jins) and the human would probably take advantage of the fact the Saiyans are fighting off two sides if they were aware that Freeza existed. I believe this story takes place in a deformed version of ancient Japan but that might change.

I also messed with family trees a bit (if ya hadn't noticed). B and V are teens for now but in a few chapters in comparison to the rest of my fic they aren't for very long.

Please review, even flame me for all I care *grabs fire extinguisher* as long as you tell me exactly what is wrong- constructive criticism. If there are spelling or grammar errors flame my two friends who I blackmailed in to editing this for me, but while I was reading over this I caught a few errors that they missed, so tell me anyway.