Where so many hours have been spent in convincing myself that I am right,
is there not some reason to fear I may be wrong?
Jane Austen
***
Convinced
Chapter 3
"Go away," a little voice hiccupped through tears against the shadowed walls of the compound.
Vegeta stopped, crossed his arms, and glared.
"I said - Go Away!" A small rock came hurtling at his head, which he caught deftly.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you it's not nice to throw things?" he drawled.
"What? You don't give a fuck about what my mother taught me," the annoyed reply whipped back.
Vegeta grunted. "You're right. I don't. Quite some dramatics you displayed tonight. The tablecloth strangulation was a nice touch. New, I might add. Too bad you wussed out in the end and let him breathe again."
The pebble Bulma had previously thrown came skidding back to her feet. She picked it back up and turned it over and over in her hand. "Why does he have to be such a JERK all the time?"
"Hey, you pick 'em," Vegeta replied.
"Shut up, you overgrown monkey," Bulma said, but there a slight giggle to it. "Did you come here to cheer me up?"
"No, I, uh," Vegeta suddenly felt uncomfortable. Why had he come here?
"Oh, come off it! Every time Yamcha and I have a fight, you always come to check on me." Bulma pushed herself up from her seated position and walked over to him. "See those little boxes mounted on the tops of the walls there? And those over there?"
"Yeah, so what?" He asked gruffly, not liking the close proximity of her presence as she came to a halt right next to him.
"Those are security cameras," she said matter-of-factly.
"I KNOW what security cameras are, woman! I did arrive here in a highly advanced space ship, you know," he snapped.
Bulma put her hands on her hips and barked, "Then, if you know what they are, then you'd know that they follow every movement you make. See, Dad's security forces may be scared of you, but they're not stupid! And I'm informed if you happen to do anything that warrants their concern. The twice-daily report is now almost as thick as a phone book. And it seems that after every fight Yamcha and I have you end up somewhere very close to me, usually where I can't see you! So, HAH! Caught you red handed!"
Not only his hands, but his face as well as the Prince of the Saiyans turned a handsome tomato color. His mouth opened and shut as he tried to think of a response, but instead he turned and almost ran from her. A hand on his arm stopped him before he could make his escape.
"Listen, Vegeta. Don't go. I think it's sweet. I shouldn't have said anything. I'm sorry," Bulma softly said to him.
He violently shrugged her arm off. "Don't touch me, woman. You overstep your bounds."
"Oh, don't be like that! I'm not mad. Really! So, um, what did you think of Lunch tonight? Didn't she look great?" Bulma chirped.
Vegeta stared at her as if she'd grown a few extra heads, horns, and a tail. "Woman! Enough! Leave me alone!!"
As he blasted off into the skies where she couldn't possibly follow, Bulma wondered, "What the hell got into him?"
***
"So, Lunch, did you sleep well?" Mrs. Briefs asked at breakfast the next morning.
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Briefs, very well!" The girl enthusiastically replied.
"Mom, would you please tell Asshole there to pass me the marmelade?" Bulma glared at Yamcha.
"Bulma, language," Mrs. Briefs chided. "Yamcha, dear, would you please pass the marmalade to Bulma?"
"Come on, Bulma honey, you're not still mad at me are you?" Yamcha crooned, looking as innocent as could.
"Just pass the fucking marmalade and shut up!" Bulma yelled back.
"Bulma!" Mrs. Briefs exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock.
Bulma ignored her and angrily snatched the marmalade from Yamcha's hand. "Where's Mr. High and Mighty this morning?"
"Right here," Vegeta growled as he entered the room clad only in black sweatpants and a towel around his shoulders. He glared at Lunch. "You're in my seat."
Lunch could only stare at his chiseled physique and stood frozen to her spot. Vegeta said a little more forcefully, "Move!"
Lunch hurriedly grabbed her plate and moved to an empty location at the table. Everyone else ignored the situation.
"Hey, Asshole! Pass the butter, you greedy pig!" Both Yamcha and Vegeta's eyes snapped to her face to see which one of them she was addressing. Vegeta smirked when he saw it was directed at the other guy and thankfully not at him. Yamcha tossed the butter to her as Mrs. Briefs sighed exasperatingly at her daughter's language.
"So where were you all morning, hmmm?" Bulma turned to ask Vegeta.
"Training, woman. Where else would I be?" he sarcastically replied.
"Well, you certainly weren't in any classes at charm school!" she retorted. "Anyway, I thought maybe you could use a break in training. Maybe show Lunch around town."
"Now, why would I do that, fool woman?" he rolled his eyes. "What's wrong with you doing it? What else do you do around here all day except make yourself a nuisance?"
Bulma threw a muffin at him, which he caught and took a bite out of much to her annoyance. "All right then, maybe all FOUR of us could use a break, if you're too intimidated by Lunch's good looks to go by yourself."
"Intimidated by WHAT? I'll have you know I'm not 'intimidated' by anything on this planet full of weaklings!" Vegeta shouted back, but Bulma only made chicken clucking sounds. He jumped to his feet and knocked his juice over which Mrs. Briefs hurriedly excused herself to the kitchen for some towels.
"Oh yeah?!" Bulma got to her feet as well. "Then maybe we should all go and see how Son-kun's training is going over at his house today? As I recall, he kicked YOUR sorry butt."
Vegeta's eyes narrowed as he digested her new tactic. He was deeply curious to see how Kakkarott's training was progressing as compared to his own, but he didn't want to seem too quick to acquiesce to her wishes. Instead, he just crossed his arms and "hmpfed."
***
Two hours later and Bulma was just beginning the decent of what she liked to call the "hover bus." It truly lived up to its name in that it was a spacious ten passenger flying vehicle that strongly resembled a bus and handled like one as well. But, today wasn't about flying in style, Bulma thought, it was all about comfort. And the bus had all the modern comforts of home, complete with a full bar, every game system and just about every game you could imagine, an entire home office with all the latest gadgets, and not to mention all the luxurious creature comforts that Bulma was used to.
Yamcha, for the first part of the trip, sat up front with Bulma and tried to worm his way back into her good graces. When that failed miserably, he slunk back into the back and fixed himself a drink. Vegeta stared out the window and cursed the day he was born silently as Lunch chatted mindlessly next to him. He closed his eyes in a silent prayer of thanks to Kami when she shifted her attention to Yamcha.
"So, Yamcha, how is Puar doing? I haven't seen her in a long time," Lunch asked.
"Puar? She's doing great. She's actually visiting Korin right now. She should be back home within the next couple of days. Just in time to go apartment hunting with me," Yamcha boastfully announced.
Vegeta's interest was suddenly peaked. "You moving out, weakling?"
Yamcha nodded. "Sure am. The sooner the better."
"Oh, Yamcha, why on Earth would you want to leave the Capsule Corporation?" Lunch plaintively cried.
Yamcha held up his hands to fend off her disapproval. "Oh, it's not that I don't like the Compound or anything. Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful for everything that they've done for me over the years. You know, watching my stuff while I played baseball the last couple of seasons. Treating me like family. It's just that I think it's time Bulma and I got our own place and put a little distance between her parents and us. I mean, if we're going to start a family of our own, I'd like it to be just us at least for a little while."
Lunch's eyes filled with happy tears. "That sounds wonderful, Yamcha- chan."
Yamcha sighed. "Yeah, I just hope Bulma agrees. Hey, where'd Vegeta get off to?"
***
Vegeta slid into the seat next to Bulma. "How much longer, woman? I could have flown to Mars and back by now."
"Cool it, Vegeta. We'll put down in about ten minutes. I'm sorry my hover bus isn't as quick as your speedy Saiyan flying, but then again you don't carry a full bar around when you fly, do you?" Bulma stuck her tongue out at him.
"Well, step on it. If I have to listen to that jackass yonder discuss any more of his life plans, I'm going to hurl over your precious hover bus," he groaned.
"What life plans?" Bulma asked.
Vegeta smirked, "Something about an apartment for the both of you and starting a family. I didn't care to hear the rest. I say good riddens to the both of you!"
Bulma smacked him on the arm. "And where would that leave you, Mr. I'm- Without-A-Planet-To-Call-Home? If I go, my Dad would have you out on your ass so fast-"
Vegeta snorted. "That may be, woman, but your mother wouldn't. Besides, I have no intention of leaving once you're gone. The Gravity Room is too vital to my becoming a Super Saiyan. Besides, with your mother's excellent cooking, and your father's mechanical ability, you wouldn't be missed."
"Wouldn't be missed?!" Bulma yelled. "Listen, bucko, I'm the only friend you've got on this planet. And if you think Mom and Dad would just tolerate your rampages without my charming intervention, you are completely mistaken. They only let you stay because I told them that deep down you're a decent guy."
"YOU TOLD THEM WHAT? I am NOT a 'decent guy'!" Vegeta barked.
Bulma shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever, Vegeta. Besides if it's excellent cooking you want, did you know that Lunch can cook? I have to admit that she's ten times the cook I'll ever be."
Vegeta rolled his eyes and stood up. "That's not saying much, woman."
***
Finally, they arrived and de-boarded the bus. Chi-Chi and Gohan rushed out to meet them.
"Bulma! Yamcha! How nice of you to drop by! And, can it be? Lunch! Good gracious, girl, you haven't changed a bit! Come in! Come in! Oh, and hello, Vegeta." Chi-Chi shot the warrior a withering glance that told him exactly where he stood with her. Not that he cared in the least.
"Where's Kakarrot?" he coldly replied.
"GOKU is out training with Piccolo in the field over there. I'm sure you can find the way," she dismissively replied while ushering everyone else inside.
Bulma nudged Lunch and whispered, "Why don't you walk over there with him?"
Lunch looked startled. "Oh, but I couldn't! He didn't ask me to."
Bulma sighed deeply. "Newsflash, Vegeta never 'asks' for anything. Now hurry up before he gets too far ahead."
Lunch flashed her a nervous smile and trotted after the prince much to the disapproval of Chi-Chi. "Well, I'm sure you two would like some tea, won't you? I just hope Lunch knows what she's doing."
Bulma nodded and winked at Yamcha who just shook his head.
Lunch had to break into a short run, but she caught up with the Saiyan. "Hi, Vegeta. I'm surprised you just didn't fly on over there."
Vegeta didn't bother to look over at her. "Thanks for the idea."
Lunch forced herself to take hold of his arm to prevent him from taking off. "I, um, thought we might be able to talk some more on the walk over."
Vegeta snatched his arm away. "Haven't you talked enough, woman? You babbled the entire trip over here."
Instead of being insulted as he intended, Lunch laughed. "Yes, sometimes I do that, don't I?"
Vegeta clenched his teeth and scouted the area for the precise position of Kakkarot's ki.
"Bulma thinks you're a pretty decent guy," Lunch tried to begin a conversation. "And B-chan is usually right about these things."
"Hmpf," Vegeta replied, picking up his pace, desperate to get away from the girl.
"I mean she always liked Tien. Well, not always to be honest, but she liked him a lot more after he and Son-kun patched up their differences. Tien," Lunch sighed wistfully.
"That loser with the three eyes?" Vegeta found himself asking.
"Then you know him?" Lunch asked.
Vegeta looked at her surprised. "Know him?! Yes, he was one of the weaklings that Nappa sent-"
"Vegeta!" Goku hollered and waved. "Over here!"
He and Piccolo stopped their training at the sight of the two approaching them on the field. "And who's this with you? Oh, it can't be!"
Vegeta heard a sneeze and the click of gun being cocked next to his head. He looked to his right and noticed the barrel of a high caliber handgun being held next to his temple by a strange blonde woman wearing Lunch's clothes.
Goku and Piccolo stopped abruptly. Goku laughed and said, "Hey, Kushami! Long time no see!"
Jane Austen
***
Convinced
Chapter 3
"Go away," a little voice hiccupped through tears against the shadowed walls of the compound.
Vegeta stopped, crossed his arms, and glared.
"I said - Go Away!" A small rock came hurtling at his head, which he caught deftly.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you it's not nice to throw things?" he drawled.
"What? You don't give a fuck about what my mother taught me," the annoyed reply whipped back.
Vegeta grunted. "You're right. I don't. Quite some dramatics you displayed tonight. The tablecloth strangulation was a nice touch. New, I might add. Too bad you wussed out in the end and let him breathe again."
The pebble Bulma had previously thrown came skidding back to her feet. She picked it back up and turned it over and over in her hand. "Why does he have to be such a JERK all the time?"
"Hey, you pick 'em," Vegeta replied.
"Shut up, you overgrown monkey," Bulma said, but there a slight giggle to it. "Did you come here to cheer me up?"
"No, I, uh," Vegeta suddenly felt uncomfortable. Why had he come here?
"Oh, come off it! Every time Yamcha and I have a fight, you always come to check on me." Bulma pushed herself up from her seated position and walked over to him. "See those little boxes mounted on the tops of the walls there? And those over there?"
"Yeah, so what?" He asked gruffly, not liking the close proximity of her presence as she came to a halt right next to him.
"Those are security cameras," she said matter-of-factly.
"I KNOW what security cameras are, woman! I did arrive here in a highly advanced space ship, you know," he snapped.
Bulma put her hands on her hips and barked, "Then, if you know what they are, then you'd know that they follow every movement you make. See, Dad's security forces may be scared of you, but they're not stupid! And I'm informed if you happen to do anything that warrants their concern. The twice-daily report is now almost as thick as a phone book. And it seems that after every fight Yamcha and I have you end up somewhere very close to me, usually where I can't see you! So, HAH! Caught you red handed!"
Not only his hands, but his face as well as the Prince of the Saiyans turned a handsome tomato color. His mouth opened and shut as he tried to think of a response, but instead he turned and almost ran from her. A hand on his arm stopped him before he could make his escape.
"Listen, Vegeta. Don't go. I think it's sweet. I shouldn't have said anything. I'm sorry," Bulma softly said to him.
He violently shrugged her arm off. "Don't touch me, woman. You overstep your bounds."
"Oh, don't be like that! I'm not mad. Really! So, um, what did you think of Lunch tonight? Didn't she look great?" Bulma chirped.
Vegeta stared at her as if she'd grown a few extra heads, horns, and a tail. "Woman! Enough! Leave me alone!!"
As he blasted off into the skies where she couldn't possibly follow, Bulma wondered, "What the hell got into him?"
***
"So, Lunch, did you sleep well?" Mrs. Briefs asked at breakfast the next morning.
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Briefs, very well!" The girl enthusiastically replied.
"Mom, would you please tell Asshole there to pass me the marmelade?" Bulma glared at Yamcha.
"Bulma, language," Mrs. Briefs chided. "Yamcha, dear, would you please pass the marmalade to Bulma?"
"Come on, Bulma honey, you're not still mad at me are you?" Yamcha crooned, looking as innocent as could.
"Just pass the fucking marmalade and shut up!" Bulma yelled back.
"Bulma!" Mrs. Briefs exclaimed, covering her mouth in shock.
Bulma ignored her and angrily snatched the marmalade from Yamcha's hand. "Where's Mr. High and Mighty this morning?"
"Right here," Vegeta growled as he entered the room clad only in black sweatpants and a towel around his shoulders. He glared at Lunch. "You're in my seat."
Lunch could only stare at his chiseled physique and stood frozen to her spot. Vegeta said a little more forcefully, "Move!"
Lunch hurriedly grabbed her plate and moved to an empty location at the table. Everyone else ignored the situation.
"Hey, Asshole! Pass the butter, you greedy pig!" Both Yamcha and Vegeta's eyes snapped to her face to see which one of them she was addressing. Vegeta smirked when he saw it was directed at the other guy and thankfully not at him. Yamcha tossed the butter to her as Mrs. Briefs sighed exasperatingly at her daughter's language.
"So where were you all morning, hmmm?" Bulma turned to ask Vegeta.
"Training, woman. Where else would I be?" he sarcastically replied.
"Well, you certainly weren't in any classes at charm school!" she retorted. "Anyway, I thought maybe you could use a break in training. Maybe show Lunch around town."
"Now, why would I do that, fool woman?" he rolled his eyes. "What's wrong with you doing it? What else do you do around here all day except make yourself a nuisance?"
Bulma threw a muffin at him, which he caught and took a bite out of much to her annoyance. "All right then, maybe all FOUR of us could use a break, if you're too intimidated by Lunch's good looks to go by yourself."
"Intimidated by WHAT? I'll have you know I'm not 'intimidated' by anything on this planet full of weaklings!" Vegeta shouted back, but Bulma only made chicken clucking sounds. He jumped to his feet and knocked his juice over which Mrs. Briefs hurriedly excused herself to the kitchen for some towels.
"Oh yeah?!" Bulma got to her feet as well. "Then maybe we should all go and see how Son-kun's training is going over at his house today? As I recall, he kicked YOUR sorry butt."
Vegeta's eyes narrowed as he digested her new tactic. He was deeply curious to see how Kakkarott's training was progressing as compared to his own, but he didn't want to seem too quick to acquiesce to her wishes. Instead, he just crossed his arms and "hmpfed."
***
Two hours later and Bulma was just beginning the decent of what she liked to call the "hover bus." It truly lived up to its name in that it was a spacious ten passenger flying vehicle that strongly resembled a bus and handled like one as well. But, today wasn't about flying in style, Bulma thought, it was all about comfort. And the bus had all the modern comforts of home, complete with a full bar, every game system and just about every game you could imagine, an entire home office with all the latest gadgets, and not to mention all the luxurious creature comforts that Bulma was used to.
Yamcha, for the first part of the trip, sat up front with Bulma and tried to worm his way back into her good graces. When that failed miserably, he slunk back into the back and fixed himself a drink. Vegeta stared out the window and cursed the day he was born silently as Lunch chatted mindlessly next to him. He closed his eyes in a silent prayer of thanks to Kami when she shifted her attention to Yamcha.
"So, Yamcha, how is Puar doing? I haven't seen her in a long time," Lunch asked.
"Puar? She's doing great. She's actually visiting Korin right now. She should be back home within the next couple of days. Just in time to go apartment hunting with me," Yamcha boastfully announced.
Vegeta's interest was suddenly peaked. "You moving out, weakling?"
Yamcha nodded. "Sure am. The sooner the better."
"Oh, Yamcha, why on Earth would you want to leave the Capsule Corporation?" Lunch plaintively cried.
Yamcha held up his hands to fend off her disapproval. "Oh, it's not that I don't like the Compound or anything. Don't get me wrong. I'm grateful for everything that they've done for me over the years. You know, watching my stuff while I played baseball the last couple of seasons. Treating me like family. It's just that I think it's time Bulma and I got our own place and put a little distance between her parents and us. I mean, if we're going to start a family of our own, I'd like it to be just us at least for a little while."
Lunch's eyes filled with happy tears. "That sounds wonderful, Yamcha- chan."
Yamcha sighed. "Yeah, I just hope Bulma agrees. Hey, where'd Vegeta get off to?"
***
Vegeta slid into the seat next to Bulma. "How much longer, woman? I could have flown to Mars and back by now."
"Cool it, Vegeta. We'll put down in about ten minutes. I'm sorry my hover bus isn't as quick as your speedy Saiyan flying, but then again you don't carry a full bar around when you fly, do you?" Bulma stuck her tongue out at him.
"Well, step on it. If I have to listen to that jackass yonder discuss any more of his life plans, I'm going to hurl over your precious hover bus," he groaned.
"What life plans?" Bulma asked.
Vegeta smirked, "Something about an apartment for the both of you and starting a family. I didn't care to hear the rest. I say good riddens to the both of you!"
Bulma smacked him on the arm. "And where would that leave you, Mr. I'm- Without-A-Planet-To-Call-Home? If I go, my Dad would have you out on your ass so fast-"
Vegeta snorted. "That may be, woman, but your mother wouldn't. Besides, I have no intention of leaving once you're gone. The Gravity Room is too vital to my becoming a Super Saiyan. Besides, with your mother's excellent cooking, and your father's mechanical ability, you wouldn't be missed."
"Wouldn't be missed?!" Bulma yelled. "Listen, bucko, I'm the only friend you've got on this planet. And if you think Mom and Dad would just tolerate your rampages without my charming intervention, you are completely mistaken. They only let you stay because I told them that deep down you're a decent guy."
"YOU TOLD THEM WHAT? I am NOT a 'decent guy'!" Vegeta barked.
Bulma shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever, Vegeta. Besides if it's excellent cooking you want, did you know that Lunch can cook? I have to admit that she's ten times the cook I'll ever be."
Vegeta rolled his eyes and stood up. "That's not saying much, woman."
***
Finally, they arrived and de-boarded the bus. Chi-Chi and Gohan rushed out to meet them.
"Bulma! Yamcha! How nice of you to drop by! And, can it be? Lunch! Good gracious, girl, you haven't changed a bit! Come in! Come in! Oh, and hello, Vegeta." Chi-Chi shot the warrior a withering glance that told him exactly where he stood with her. Not that he cared in the least.
"Where's Kakarrot?" he coldly replied.
"GOKU is out training with Piccolo in the field over there. I'm sure you can find the way," she dismissively replied while ushering everyone else inside.
Bulma nudged Lunch and whispered, "Why don't you walk over there with him?"
Lunch looked startled. "Oh, but I couldn't! He didn't ask me to."
Bulma sighed deeply. "Newsflash, Vegeta never 'asks' for anything. Now hurry up before he gets too far ahead."
Lunch flashed her a nervous smile and trotted after the prince much to the disapproval of Chi-Chi. "Well, I'm sure you two would like some tea, won't you? I just hope Lunch knows what she's doing."
Bulma nodded and winked at Yamcha who just shook his head.
Lunch had to break into a short run, but she caught up with the Saiyan. "Hi, Vegeta. I'm surprised you just didn't fly on over there."
Vegeta didn't bother to look over at her. "Thanks for the idea."
Lunch forced herself to take hold of his arm to prevent him from taking off. "I, um, thought we might be able to talk some more on the walk over."
Vegeta snatched his arm away. "Haven't you talked enough, woman? You babbled the entire trip over here."
Instead of being insulted as he intended, Lunch laughed. "Yes, sometimes I do that, don't I?"
Vegeta clenched his teeth and scouted the area for the precise position of Kakkarot's ki.
"Bulma thinks you're a pretty decent guy," Lunch tried to begin a conversation. "And B-chan is usually right about these things."
"Hmpf," Vegeta replied, picking up his pace, desperate to get away from the girl.
"I mean she always liked Tien. Well, not always to be honest, but she liked him a lot more after he and Son-kun patched up their differences. Tien," Lunch sighed wistfully.
"That loser with the three eyes?" Vegeta found himself asking.
"Then you know him?" Lunch asked.
Vegeta looked at her surprised. "Know him?! Yes, he was one of the weaklings that Nappa sent-"
"Vegeta!" Goku hollered and waved. "Over here!"
He and Piccolo stopped their training at the sight of the two approaching them on the field. "And who's this with you? Oh, it can't be!"
Vegeta heard a sneeze and the click of gun being cocked next to his head. He looked to his right and noticed the barrel of a high caliber handgun being held next to his temple by a strange blonde woman wearing Lunch's clothes.
Goku and Piccolo stopped abruptly. Goku laughed and said, "Hey, Kushami! Long time no see!"