Later that night, Goku snuggled deeper into her blankets, trying to gather and keep the warmth of her body. But she found that it was next to impossible, as she was cold! Actually, cold is an understatement…she was freezing!! Kuso! It's so damn cold in here!! She cursed as she tried to sleep with her head under the thick covers, only ending up in nearly suffocating herself. Wrenching herself free from the tangle mess of blankets and pillows, she sat up with a frown on her face. Shimatta! If I don't go to sleep again, I'll be sleepy and cranky while 'Geta tries to teach me stuff! And I don't think I'll be able to get away from it! Goku peered over the side of the bed to see Vegeta lying fast asleep in his thick coverage of blankets.
Goku thought for a second, daring to do what she was thinking, but then decided she'd do it. Silently, she crept up on the bed, pulling her blankets with her. It wasn't because the floor was hard; in fact, the floor was softer than her bed! It was because of the cool breeze on the floor, as the floor under the rug was marble, so obviously it would be cold. She pulled the remains of her blankets and pillows up before snuggling in her little cocoon. She opened her eyes to take one last glance at Vegeta, who was lying on the far left-hand side of the bed. She could feel the warmth of the ouji; she could smell his hot breath. She could even see the small figure breathing under the mass of blankets in the dark. Goku always knew she was a little different from all her friends. She knew that ever since she met other ningens and found out that they don't have tails. But after some incident, they removed her tail for good, so that she would never be able to transform into that huge, ape-creature ever again.
Goku sighed as fond memories of her and the gang on Chikyuu flew through her mind. Wiping the last of them away, she closed her eyes and fell asleep on the far right-hand side of the bed.
Morning had arrived. The sun rose from the horizon, bathing everything in its path in a light of gold. One gold stream managed to find its way through the huge window of the ouji's room and onto the bed to reveal, to all those without night vision, two sleeping figures wrapped heavily in blankets. One on the left hand side, the other on the right.
Vegeta's brown furrowed as the golden light shone upon his face, blinding him even though his eyes weren't open. He snuggled deeper into the blankets, only to find it was warmer than before. Uncomfortable and wide awake, Vegeta rolled up to sit up. He blinked a couple of times before yawning and stretching up.
"Hmm…well, better wake Bubble…YIIEE!!!" he yelped. He was rolling over to lean over the side of the bed, when he nearly rolled over Goku! At the sight of her, he jumped back and fell off the bed. Goku woke with a start and sat straight up.
"DON'T BLOW UP THE REFRIDGERATOR!!!" she screamed as she sat up. Goku blinked a couple of times before she realised what had happened. Curiously, she leaned over and peered over the left-hand side of the bed, just to check if what she thought was right. There, lying on the floor in a tangle of blankets, was Vegeta, looking very pissed.
"Oh, ohayo gozaimasu, 'Geta!!" greeted Goku, totally oblivious to the glare Vegeta was giving her.
"Ohayo gozaimasu, Bubbles." He muttered. "Do you mind telling me what the hell you are doing on my bed?" Goku blinked a couple of times.
"Oh, that!" she blushed. "Well, you see, even though the spot on the floor was nice and comfortable, a certain cool breeze kept me up. Of course, I wanted my sleep, so I decided to sleep on your bed to get away from the draught." She explained. "I'm sorry if I didn't ask you first, but you looked so comfortable and fast asleep that I didn't want to wake you." Vegeta blinked at her a couple of times, trying to comprehend if what she said was true. But, because it was so early in the morning and Vegeta didn't want to sprain his brain in thinking, he let it go.
"Fine." He muttered as he sat up in the jumble of blankets. "Just don't do that again."
"Hai, 'Geta." Vegeta stood up and rubbed the sleep out from his eyes as he walked towards his cupboard. He took out the dress and tossed it on the bed next to Goku.
"Get dressed." He ordered. "We have a busy day today." Goku nodded. She clumsily clambered out of bed and nearly fell flat on her face. Vegeta cringed at the sight. Oh boy, have I got work to do! Goku stretched up, clicking a number of vertebrae as she did so.
"Ahh, that's better." She said. She picked up the robe and neatly put it on. She admired the dress for a bit in the light of day before turning back to Vegeta. He was dressed in his spandex suit with armor, gloves, boots and a swirling, black cape. Goku had to admit, he looked very kakkoii.
"Come." He said as he walked out the door, leaving Goku to follow.
Nappa was waiting for Vegeta as he came out his room.
"Ahh…ouji-sama." He greeted the ouji. Vegeta just nodded. Nappa's eyes then shifted to see a woman with midnight black hair wearing a royal robe in the ouji's Royal Colours. Vegeta noticed the glance and decided to introduce them.
"Bubbles, this is Nappa. The man who took you to my bathroom yesterday." Goku nodded as she gave Nappa a friendly smile. "Nappa, this is Bubbles. She's my new personal slave." Nappa looked quite shocked, in Goku's eyes. What is it with people when 'Geta says that I'm his new personal slave? Has he never had a slave before??! She wondered frustratedly.
"Oh, uhh…yes…" Nappa groped for words, not too sure of what to say. He had known Vegeta all his life, and not once did Vegeta ever consort with any women. Apart from his mother and the women in the kitchens, no other woman was allowed near him. Well, he wouldn't let them near anyway. "Well, sire. Are you ready for today's spar?"
"Not today, Nappa." He said. "Take the day off. We have some training of our own to do." He glanced at Goku, who in turn, looked very panicked. She kept telling herself that it was nothing, but she was still very worried about the tasks. "You may go ahead to the mess hall for breakfast. We'll stay here." Nappa gave him an unsure look, but shrugged and went off anyway.
Fifteen minutes later, after Nappa had left and Vegeta had ordered a double breakfast up, Vegeta seated Goku down in front of a large, saiyan breakfast. Something's, like eggs and toast and fruit, Goku recognised. But other thing like blue balls and a bowl full of some green mush, Goku didn't want to know what they were.
"Okay, first lesson," Vegeta began. "Your first lesson is to learn how to eat gracefully." Goku nodded, a little unsure of what was going on.
"Oh…kay." She cocked her head to one side and gave him a confused frown. "But, why 'Geta?"
"To show that you are of royal breeding."
"But I'm not, you know." She said as she picked up a fork and began to eat. Vegeta watched silently as he watched Goku eat, sweatdropping at her fast paced eating actions. Sure, they were fast paced, but they were still messy!
"Stop! Stop!" he ordered. Goku stopped at once, looking up at Vegeta with her cheeks stuffed full of toast. "Baka! You're not going to fool anyone if you eat like that!"
"What do you mean, 'fool them'?" she asked.
"You are my personal slave, right?" she nodded. "And I am royalty, right?" she nodded again. "Well, as my personal slave, I need you to know how to behave when attending royal functions or when in presence of the king. You cannot go swallowing everything when at the table of the king! My father can have you executed for that!" Goku swallowed hard, thinking of the incredible mess it would be if she got blasted at the dinner table. "And seeing as you shall be coming with me where ever I go…I suggest that if you want to live, you'll do as I say." Goku nodded as she put her fork down. She knew what this meant. It meant he was to teach her etiquette so that she wouldn't be an embarrassment to him. And so that she could live to see another day.
"Oh, okay." She said. Vegeta looked her up and down, checking to see if he had her full attention.
"Good, now, this is what you do…"
Breakfast had been a tedious affair, as Goku often forgot her manners as she increased the pace to keep up with Vegeta. Either that, or when she was using proper breakfast etiquette, she knocked things over and dropped her cutlery. Vegeta seemed a little annoyed at her, but he did understand after she explained to him that no one had ever taught her how to behave at the table, as she used to live alone on Chikyuu.
After they had finished, Vegeta keeping a constant eye on Goku's actions, they both flopped back, exhausted from the lesson.
"From now on, we will have breakfast here in my common room." He said as she looked at Goku, who was slouching on the couch. He would've reprimanded her, as her was still teaching her proper etiquette, but then again…he should be last to talk. He was also slouching on the couch, tired from keeping a constant eye on her.
"Okay." She agreed, if not a
little glumly. "Are we done now?" Vegeta's eyes snapped up at her.
"Done? We've only just started. Come on," he said as he stood up. Goku gave a
little moan as she stood up as well. "The next exercise will be easier, as it
is fairly basic."
"What is it?"
"Walking." Goku fixed him with an incredulous stare.
"Nani!? What do you mean, 'walking'! I can walk!"
"Hai, but your posture is wrong. You tend to shuffle when you walk, I saw it yesterday when you nearly tripped on your robe." Goku blushed. "It shouldn't be too hard." Vegeta walked around the one side of the couch to the front of the fireplace where it was clear and open. "Come on." He said. Goku reluctantly followed, trying to imitate the way he walked. Vegeta smirked at her. "Hmm…well you have got the knack of it, let's just get you into the habit."
For a whole half-hour, Vegeta taught her how to walk with grace and poise. Sometimes, she would forget to concentrate and she'd trip over and fall into the arms of the ouji.
"Iie! Not like that! You must walk so that it looks like you're gliding. Gly-ding!" he emphasized the words. "Go back and try again." Goku found it a bit frustrating at the beginning, but soon found it quite fun when she got it. She walked up and down along the rug a couple of times before coming to a graceful halt in front of Vegeta. She smiled triumphantly at him and he smirked back.
"Is it satisfactory, 'Geta?" she asked.
"Hn. I could do better." He smirked. Goku gave a giggle.
"Well you are the Saiyan no Ouji!" she smiled at him. Vegeta smiled right back.
"Good. Now that you've learnt how to walk properly, let's now put it into practice by allowing me to show you around the palace." Vegeta extended a hand out to Goku. He half expected her to just grab it, but she didn't. Instead, she diligently and gracefully swept her arm up and gently lay her hand in his palm. Vegeta almost gaped at her in shock that she was learning this so quickly.
"Very well," she said airily, mimicking his voice. "Shall we?" Vegeta blinked at her a couple of times before a proud smirk curled up on his lips.
After three weeks, Goku had totally gotten the knack of walking properly and eating with the right etiquette. Now and again, she'd sometimes make a silly little mistake, but Vegeta always over looked it, as he remembered all the mistakes he made as well. But he knew she still had some training to do before she had completed her training. By the end of the fourth week, Goku had fully graduated from 'walking', and she now constantly walked in a gliding manner. Her table manners were a long way away, but she was improving everyday. Her room had been built into his wing, and was right next to his room. A door linking to each other's room was made as well, on special and private order of the ouji. Vegeta also often took Goku around the palace. He wanted to make sure that she knew the place so that she could go wandering on her own and he could get back to training. But even though he tried to leave her alone so that she could find her way back, she always somehow managed to find him! He never understood how she did it! Even though he hid, she still managed to find him! It was really because Goku could feel his ki, but she hadn't ever told him that. She found it was still too fun to see the ouji's very surprised face when she sneaked upon him.
Two months later, Vegeta realised that Goku wasn't going to leave his side. He could tell by the way she acted around him that she was afraid of all the other soldiers walking past them in the corridors. Every time a soldier walked past them, Goku would switch sides so that Vegeta was the one to pass them. At first, Vegeta found it quite annoying. But he got used it and found it to be quite cute. He also liked the idea that only he could make her feel safe and that she was the only person she'd ever confide in. Apart from Nappa, of course. Over the past two months, Nappa had accepted the fact that Goku was just a woman by Vegeta's side, and he began to act friendly towards her. In fact, he was just as protective over her as Vegeta was. Vegeta wouldn't allow any other male near her. Not the elite guards, not the workers…not even his own father!
Goku realised that Vegeta did truly care about her when King Vegeta came into the slave's chambers, asking Vegeta if he could borrow a couple of females. Goku noticed that Vegeta gave him a disapproving look, but allowed him to anyway.
"I think, I'll take this one, and this one." He said as he picked out two very beautiful women. Vegeta nodded. Goku knew that he did have other slaves, and that they constantly threw themselves at him.
'Such a gentleman!' they'd gush. 'Even though we were given to him, he still treats us like real people! Even if his father doesn't…'
"And maybe…I'll add this one to my cart." He said as he stepped towards Goku. Vegeta immediately stepped in front of her; arms outstretched a little bit.
"Gomen nasai, ou-sama." He apologized. "But she belongs to me." King Vegeta was a little surprised at this, and so were every other women in the room. But he stepped back and nodded, before walking out with the two following close behind.
Goku then realised that Vegeta thought more of her than just his slave, but she said nothing. She knew one word pertaining to sappy emotions and the prince would somehow batter his pride and arrogance, so she just let it be, keeping it as her little secret. But she also realised that the king was out to get her. She could see it in his eyes!
And he almost did get her once.
Goku hurried down the corridors, gliding swiftly but quickly. Walking like a princess had become a habit and she rather enjoyed it. She had to meet Vegeta in the training room, as he wanted to show her how the soldiers fought. Or, more accurately, how he beat the shit out of them.
Goku had decided that she'd let Vegeta know about her fighting side as well. After all, it had been nearly six months now and she hadn't fought once! Fighting was in her blood, even if she did it just for fun. Vegeta had let her wander around the palace that day, saying he wanted to see if she knew her way around at last. Goku wandered through halls and broad marble corridors, visiting every room Vegeta had shown her. Goku grinned as she remembered all the times she used to sneak up on the ouji.
But she had completely lost track of time and was now hurrying to the training room. She had no idea where it was, as Vegeta hadn't shown her. But she could feel his ki and followed that. As she hurried by, she felt some other ki ahead in front of her. It was nearly as strong as Vegeta's, but not quite as high. Just before she passed two huge yellow wood doors, a very familiar figure stepped out in front of her. Goku skidded to a halt as she looked up to see the Saiyan no Ou. Doing what Vegeta told her to do when in presence of the king, she gave a deep curtsy before straightening herself up. The king was quite impressed.
"My, you most certainly do know your manners?" he asked. Goku almost blushed, but quickly caught herself as she lifted her head proudly.
"Hai, ou-sama." She replied politely. Goku didn't know why, but the way the king was looking at her freaked her out! She looked into his eyes and saw that he had same look Meijin Roshi had when looking at his 'books'. But this was just so…so…kitanii!!! "Uhh…sire?" she asked a little nervously.
"I'm sorry," he said smoothly. "I just couldn't help wondering what you look like naked." Goku blushed deeply as she took a step back. Now she was really scared! Sure, guys had spoken to her like that, but they never spoke to her like that again as Vegeta always beat the shit out of them, vowing that if they ever talk to her like that again, he'd blow their brains out! But this was the king! And Vegeta was no where in sight either!
"Gomen nasai, ou-sama." Apologized, trying to sound calm. "But I must go now. Ouji-sama is expecting me." But just she tried to walk past; he grabbed her wrist and jerked her towards him.
"I don't think he'll mind if you're a little bit late." He said. "Especially if you had something to do for the king." Goku's eyes widened at the very assumption, and her need for her master grew.
"Onegai, iie!" she begged.
"Sire!" both whipped their heads to see a soldier with long black hair standing quite near them.
"Raditz!" hissed the king; obviously annoyed that Raditz picked a time like this to come visiting. "What the hell do you want?" Raditz jumped, but took a few cautious steps towards them.
"Uh…Vegeta no Ouji is looking for…his slave." He stammered.
"Well, tell him she is a little busy!" he snapped.
"But the ouji is anxious to find her…" Goku knew that the soldiers attempts to get her out of the sticky situation she was in was futile.
"I'll take her to the ouji then…" he was about to finish with 'when I'm finished with her' when someone else spoke up.
"There'll be no need."
All three whipped their heads to see Vegeta standing with his arms crossed, glaring very icily at the two males. Goku felt her heart give a little jump of joy as she smiled at her master.
"I was looking all over for you!" he snapped at Goku. But he held a certain tone to his voice, so Goku knew that he was only pretending to be upset with her. She knew what he really sounded like when he was really angry with her, but she played along and bowed her head in shame. "Thank you for finding her, father." He said. The king knew that was a sign that he had to leave them alone.
"Anything for my son." He said. Swinging his cape around, he couldn't help but smirk. He knew that his son knew what was going on in his mind. But he was also impressed with the fact that Vegeta actually gave a damn about this slave. He's too much like a woman. He thought as he turned the corner.
A few minutes after the king disappeared around the corner, Goku turned back to face Vegeta and leapt at him with a huge and happy grin plastered to her face.
"OH! Thank you 'Geta!!" she said as she snuggled into the nook of his neck, arms around his shoulders and hands gripping tightly into his back. Raditz was a little surprised to see Vegeta return the embrace.
"When you didn't show up, I sort of figured out what happened." He said, wrapping his muscular arms around her thin waist. What really happened was he suddenly got this uneasy feeling and followed his senses to outside the king's door. He felt incredibly relieved that nothing had happened. His little Bubbles was too innocent and sweet to be taken like that.
Raditz decided he had better get out of there before he got the blame as well. He had actually been following Goku just to make sure nothing happened to her. He didn't know how strong she was, but she obviously wasn't stronger than the elite soldiers that tried to have their way with her. Raditz saw her hurrying through the corridors when he noticed that an Elite was following her. He growled at the weaker Elite and managed to put him off, but followed her just in case something like that happened again. He pivoted on his heel and walked away. But Goku saw him and detached herself from their warm embrace.
"Chottomate kudasai!!" she called out to him. Raditz stopped and she ran up to him. She stopped a meter away and curtsied him. Raditz was…shocked. His little sister was curtsying him as though he were a royal elite! "Dom arigato. I really appreciate what you tried to do for me, even though it did look quite useless." Raditz stared back, unsure of what to say.
"Uh…well…thanks…I guess…" he muttered. Goku smiled gratefully at him.
"Bubbles," Raditz opened his eyes to see Vegeta walking towards them. He seemed to be addressing Goku. "Do you know him?"
"Iie, but he tried to help me away from the king." She said. Vegeta glanced at Raditz with narrowed eyes.
"You, what reason did you protect my possession from the king?"
"Ahh…for none." He said. "I was only doing my duty to you, ouji-sama." He said. The corners of Vegeta's mouth curled up as he forced down a smirk. He circled Raditz with a thoughtful look in his eyes.
"To serve your ouji, ne?"
"Hai, ouji-sama." Vegeta came back round to the front. He looked at Goku, then to Raditz before looking to Goku with a decided look in his eyes.
"Very well." He said. "From now on, you are Bubble's bodyguard." Raditz looked like the fairy godmother had flown down from the heavens and granted his wish.
"Oh…dom arigato, ouji-sama!!" he said, a little too ecstatically for a Saiyan Elite.
"But," warned Vegeta in a low voice. "Should I find you're doing more harm than protecting her, I swear I will make sure you rue the day you were ever placed in this miserable universe! Is that clear?" Raditz nodded his head.
"Hai, ouji-sama. Wakarimashita." He replied. Vegeta looked him up and down skeptically before looking to Goku.
"Come, my little Bubbles." He said as she looped her arm through his. Raditz was a little surprised by this gesture, but he was still very glad that Vegeta hadn't done anything to his little sister.
In fact, that's why he made the suggestion. He knew that the young ouji couldn't stand 'pleasure slaves' as they often threw themselves at their master. But when he and Goku met, she didn't throw herself at him. And Vegeta also held a certain respect for women.
"Well?" a voice brought him down from his thoughts. "Are you coming or not?" it was Vegeta. Raditz nodded as he jogged to catch up to them, still feeling glad that he finally got a chance to be near his little sister.