Disclaimer: I do not own this program.

((A/N: I'm going to be introducing some Japanese words from now on. Definitions can be found at the end of the chapter. ^^))

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'Old Vegeta' thought.

'Present day Vegeta' thought.

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What We Knew

Chapter Two: Recovery, Realization

"Suiitohaato*?"

Light...

Bulma frowned mentally. It had been dark last time she-

Panic rushed through her. Last time?? Where was she? What was going on?

Mr. Briefs let lose the breath he had been holding as he saw his daughter's eyes flutter. "Bulma dear!" he exclaimed as she groaned. Her forehead was wrapped in a bandages, and all she could see was white sheets and her father's face hovering over her bedside. Her vision swirled as she tried to straighten her fogged sight. Raising an aching hand to her cheek, she turned her eyes to Mr. Briefs. "Daddy...? What happened...?"

Mr. Briefs smiled daftly, places a cool cloth on his daughter's head. "Don't talk. You've got to let your body recover from the shock. When you wake up next time I'll tell you what happened, okay?"

Bulma sighed, closing her eyes. "But Dad..." she argued, "I'm not sleepy..."

Mr. Briefs chuckled as he watched his daughter fall into slumber once more. She reminded him of the young girl she once used to be. Now she was a young woman and an aspiring young scientist. Stroking a few strands of her brilliant blue hair behind her ear, he breathed a sigh of relief. Her wounds were not serious, though her right side had been damaged more than her left. He was weary from the terror that had gripped him when he had found Vegeta's and Bulma's bodies on the floor of Lab 2, along with an extensively damaged Freezer.

The saiyajin prince was in better condition, which Mr. Briefs found unnatural. Indeed, HE had been the one to receive most of the explosive power of the Freezer. This worried Mr. Briefs to such an extent that he rose to go check on the saiyajin for the fifth time today. He had been placed in one of his special emergency rooms, recovering from burns along his left side and back.

But Mr. Briefs was stopped when the looming shadow spilled through the door. Looking up into the black abyss eyes, Mr. Briefs gasped. "Vegeta?"

The prince had tape along his cheek, his left arm in bandages. His clothes were a bit worn and burned but otherwise okay. Vegeta snorted in his usual greeting to the good doctor. "Of course it's me. Who else would it be, human?"

Mr. Briefs straightened his glasses, regaining his composure. "You shouldn't be up and about at such an early stage in your recovery, Vegeta. Who knows what damage you've received..."

Vegeta smirked. "Only minor flesh wounds, old man. I'm perfectly PERFECT. Now stop pestering me. I came to check on that foolish onna** to see if she was in any condition to speed along the update of the GR."

Mr. Briefs was about to make a comment on how rude that was, even against his better judgment, when his wife made an appearance. She was still humming, his Capri pants and sunflower shirt blending with her binned blonde hair. She was carrying a tray of hot cocoa, even though it was not cold outside. "Oh hey dearies!" she exclaimed merrily as she walked by Vegeta, handing him a cup. She then gave one to her husband, setting the tray on a table that stood on her sleeping daughter's side of the bed. Mr. Briefs coughed briefly. Besides Bulma, his wife was the only other person Vegeta never really disrespected in a serious manner (though he pretended to with Bulma, or so was Mr. Brief's observation). She seemed too happy to be bothered with any of the saiyajin's snide comments.

Vegeta wrinkled his nose at the liquid presented to him, but said nothing as Mrs. Briefs questioned her husband.

"Is Bulma going to be okay, dearest?" she asked, concerned. "What a nasty cut..." she added as she stroked her daughter's forehead.

Mr. Briefs shook his head, though not in a negative manner. Mainly in disbelief. "Amazingly she's doing fine. No serious wounds. Just a little shock in her nervous system and some minor burns. Seems the electrical output from the combustion of the Freezer was massive- amazing Vegeta came out barely scratched as well-" Mr. Briefs didn't acknowledge the prideful gleam in the saiyajin's eye- "- even though the charges released were immense. The Freezer's in bad shape, it might be impossible to reconstruct it. Bulma will be awake tomorrow and ready to begin work in another day or so."

Mrs. Briefs sighed happily. "Wonderful! And oh, it's so nice to see this handsome young man coming to check up on our daughter!" Mrs. Briefs stated as she motioned toward Vegeta.

Mr. Briefs nearly choked on his cocoa as Vegeta allowed a single sweat-drop to roll down the side of his face. "I only came to see if she was in the shape to update the GR," Vegeta growled defensively.

"And she WON'T be in shape until at least three or four days," Mr. Briefs responded curtly. "I'll work on it in the meanwhile." The scientist paused, fearful of his own hostility toward the young prince. "Surely you can make yourself useful somewhere else? Perhaps find some other way for you to train?"

Vegeta snorted again. "Whatever it is, it's certainly not going to be around you humans..."

With that, Vegeta marched out the door.

Mrs. Briefs rubbed her nose. "Oh my, he won't look very homely with those bandages on his arms, dearest!"

As if Vegeta could read her mind, he tore the bandages off his arm and dropped them on the living room floor as he exited Capsule Corp.

-_-_-_-

After an hour of searching for nearby groups of forest, Vegeta found a suitable spot. It was a bit closer to the Son's house than Capsule Corp, it was a peaceful glade with plenty of silence for him to train his mind.

Damn it, if I can't train my body I will train my mind! Baka onna, had to keep that moronic clump of metal a secret from me! If it hadn't of been for that, none of this would have happened and that weakling wouldn't be laid up in bed. Now the GR can't be upgraded until at least three more days! Vegeta thought angrily. He had a mind to blast the nearest tree, but in doing that he would be releasing ki energy. And if he did THAT, then one of the other Z senshi would probably feel it and...ugh.

Vegeta grumbled, his sharp-eyed glare sending forest creature scattering to get away from the strange creature that dared invade their forest. Landing quietly, Vegeta stood regally in the middle of the open patch of woods that surrounded him. It was well in the middle of the afternoon- the sun's rays were bathing the ground and treetops in the golden glow. Vegeta stood silently, closing his eyes but his scowl remained. His senses were keen, and he was indeed alone.

Or so he thought.

Why the hell do you put up with this?

Vegeta frowned at his thoughts. Why did he put up with this?

What, you're agreeing with me now? Can't you make up your mind? How very stupid. Can't even keep your damned thoughts straight. Or should I say my thoughts?

Vegeta snarled, whirling around to search for the source of the familiar voice that echoed through his mind.

Nothing but the sound of birds lifting from their perches in the trees was heard.

Warily (and agitatedly), Vegeta resumed his previous position- standing straight, arms folded. Whoever possessed the telepathic voice heard in his mind, they would have to show themselves eventually, and he was in NO mood to be toyed with. Hell, no one toys with me, Vegeta thought snidely.

Exactly, yet I'm doing such a good job.

The voice, far too familiar to be comforting. Cold, hard and wickedly twisted into some kind of sick humor...

Vegeta did not lack intelligence. He knew the voice was coming from him, from HIS mind. But he didn't want to face it. And that only made his anger mount to the peak of its levels. But it was masking something- confusion.

A twinge of fear.

What the hell have I turned in to?

-_-_-_-

Bulma sighed dreamily, her eyes lingering to the movement of the white curtains swaying in the breeze that traveled through her open window. Diverting her gaze once more to the book in her hands, she snuggled comfortably under the covers.

Mr. Briefs chose that moment to walk in to check on Bulma, and he was rewarded with her alertness. "Bulma! You're awake!" A smile lit his features.

Bulma peered over her book, an eyebrow perked in mock-anger. "Of course I am, Dad! Think one little incident could keep me down?"

Mr. Briefs seated himself on the edge of her bed, chuckling. "Well, I should have expected as much from you. By this rate you should be able to work on the GR in just a day or two!"

Bulma rolled her eyes. "Mighty Veggie's request?" Her aqua eyes then narrowed in a frown. "How is he doing, anyway?"

Mr. Briefs rubbed his nose. "Fine, I suppose. Left before I could do a complete test. You know how he is. Went off to train somewhere nearby with the GR out of order. He hardly had a scratch on him."

Bulma scoffed. "That's Vegeta alright! How much longer until I can get out of bed?"

"Wait until morning. Then we can take a peek at the Freezer and see what damage was applied. I still want to check on you before I announce you healthy. We don't know if there are any effects that might pop up later..."

Bulma nodded, understanding. "Okay otokooya***."The blue-haired woman winked. "Thanks for leaving the book by my bed."

Mr. Briefs chuckled. "I'll come back in a moment- I've got to go inform your mother of how well you're doing!" With that the scientist left the room, leaving his daughter to wallow in her romance novel.

"If only life were like this..." Bulma mumbled dreamily. Her thoughts drifted to Yamcha. Their relationship was resting on a fence at the moment. She wanted to patch it up, but she wanted to let it slide as well. And as she thought of Yamcha, her thoughts drifted to Vegeta.

Why think about Vegeta? Bulma thought roughly. Bah. But I do wonder what he's doing...

The blue-haired beauty submersed herself in her reading once more.

-_-_-_-

Vegeta had a hand resting against the rough and rotten bark of a tree, his teeth clenched.

This is impossible! I cannot be two different people!

Hmph- hard for me to take in too. Stop being so emotional.

I want you OUT of my head- NOW.

You and I both.

Vegeta growled, his thoughts whirring. Confusion overcame him. He didn't know what to think, what to do.

What's your purpose?!

The 'other voice' mentally shrugged.

Akunomichiheizanau****? It replied snidely.

*sweetheart

**woman

***father/male parent

****to lead astray/to lure a person to evil ways