A/N; I do not own DBZ. And I hate Disclaimers, such a big waste of time, OF COURSE NONE OF US OWN DBZ!
A/N; I'm sorry for the delay of this chapter, but I have been super busy lately, but to make up for it, here is a nice long chapter for you guys. And thank-you to everyone who is reviewing this fic, it means a lot to me.
And Then You'll Know
Chapter 11
"Krillen wait". Krillen stopped and turned around to face 18.
"Yeah?" he asked quietly, obviously still hurt.
"Krillen I'm sorry I snapped at you, I don't really think of you like that. It's just, I'm having a bit of a hard time at the moment that's all. Forgive me, please" she begged, suddenly her legs gave out from underneath her and she fell to her knees.
Krillen walked over and kneeled down in front of her, he dared to take her hands and give them a gentle squeeze, knowing full well she wasn't the type of woman who liked emotions or affection.
"Of course I forgive you, how could I not? 18 you've got to understand that I want to help you and your friends, please, let me help you".
18 could only nod her head meekly, she was too weak to do anything else, lack of food was really starting to get to her.
"Good," Krillen smiled. "The first thing I'm going to do is get some antiseptic and bandages for your brother. I'll be right back ok".
18 nodded again, then she watched as he stood up and walked off. 18 soon as he was out of sight she breathed a sigh of relief, then her eyes rolled back in her head and she passed out.
***
Bulma pulled a pair of faded blue overalls over her black tank top and picked up her pink toolbox. She was on her way to do some work in the G.R, since some one had broken it – again.
"Hey B" Bulma heard Chi-chi call form down the hall, she stopped and waited for Chi-chi to catch up, then they both headed down the hall.
"So where you headed?" asked Bulma.
"To see papa" Chi-chi rolled her eyes as she spoke and Bulma had to laugh. Her friend had such a spilt personality, one minute she could be sweet as pie, and the next as evil as the devil himself, there was just no telling what kind of a mood she would be in.
The chit-chatter continued for another 3 or so minutes as the girls made their way down the many big fancy corridors of the palace, it was Bulma who came to her stop first, she said bye to Chi-chi then entered the room which contained the G.R.
As usual Vegeta was in there. Bulma banged on the window for a good 5 minutes before Vegeta noticed she was there, and when he finally opened the door, she wasn't in a good mood.
"What?" he asked.
"What?" Bulma repeated, "I'm here to fix your stupid G.R that's what"
"Ok, fine, whatever," Vegeta was in no mood to argue with her now "How long will it take".
"Come back in an hour".
Vegeta stomped off out the room, Bulma briefly wondered where he went, but dismissed it quickly and set to work on the G.R.
Vegeta wanted the gravity increased again, to her it seemed that every 3 weeks he wanted his stupid gravity increased.
She dropped her pink toolbox to the ground with a very loud thud, which echoed through the whole room, then she dropped to her knees beside the box, opened it up and began to pull out random tools. Spanner, hammer, drills she had it all. At long last she found the one item she had been looking for, right at the bottom of the box, she used the chisel to pry open the metal panel on the floor, then she slipped into the hole she had revealed in the floor.
***
"Father how long has it been since you visited the slave quarters?" Krillen asked. The king looked at his youngest son oddly, but answered his question anyway.
"A good few years since I've actually been in there, I'd say about 7 or 8".
"Have you seen the living conditions down there? No Sayian should have to live the way they do". The king's loud deep laugh echoed through out the throne room, as he tried to make sense of what Krillen was saying.
"Krillen my boy, the slaves living conditions are of no importance to us, they are nothing more than the reject Sayians who's only purpose is to serve us. You need not concern yourself about slaves, what they think and feel is not important".
Krillen was fuming, how could his father be so heartless, turning on his heel, he stormed out the room, slamming the door behind him.
He quickly arrived at his room, and picked up the phone, grabbing a phone book as well, he took them both down to the kitchen.
Krillen had a plan.
***
"17, 17 are you awake?" 18's gentle voice slowly woke him up and brought him back into the real world.
"Mmm" he mumbled. 18 smiled softly, it hurt to do much more than that, after passing out the previous night, she had smashed her head on the ground, now there was a nasty bump on her head, and since nobody knew where Nison was, she had to put up with it.
"How are you feeling?" she asked as she helped him to sit up.
"Better," he replied weakly "Still a bit sore though". Krillen had brought him some bandages and already he was showing signs of healing. She reached out to touch the pre-mentioned wound, but 17 stopped her.
"Don't touch it" he said.
"Ok. Do you think you'll be able to get up soon?" asked 18. "You've been laying there for almost 2 weeks".
17 shrugged his shoulders, "Dunno". 18 reached out and brushed her brother's hair back off his face, then she began to gently stroke his forehead, just like she remembered their mother used to do when they had been young.
"17?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you remember the night we came here?" 18 asked, the memories of that night still sharp in her mind. 17 shuddered, how could he forget "Of course I do".
"We were so scared and young," 18 paused for a minute "and innocent" she was referring to herself with the last part, and how she was very obviously not innocent at all anymore. Everything she did, she did with a certain grace that only a harem girl could achieve. The way she walked, and talked and the way she danced. 17 had seen her dance a few times before and it was an amazing thing to watch, it wasn't the type of dancing you would expect a harem girl to know how to do. It was more of a ballet kind of dancing, the type you had to take lessons for years and years to be able to do.
"Do you ever miss mama?" 18 sounded like the 11 year old she used to be.
"Everyday," said 17 "every single day".
"Father is a bad bad man. Isn't he? Nobody else is like him are they?" 17 eyes widened, was his sister really doubting their 'fathers' evilness.
"18 out father is a terrible man and you know that, the things he did were wrong. There is no one on the face of this planet as evil and horrible as him. Tell me you believe me".
"The king and his eldest son are bad men to". 17 didn't know what to make of all this, this wasn't his present day sister in front of him, this was his 11 year old sister.
"18, snap out of it, you know damn well that no one can compare to our father" 18 blinked a few times and looked her brother right in the eyes.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me, I could hear me, but not control me. I guess it must be from the bump on my head". She stood up. "Are you sure you're feeling ok?"
"I'm fine" said 17.
"Ok I'm gonna go outside and take a walk"
***
Chi-chi had detoured the kitchen on the way to see her father and she was only just arriving now.
"Hi daddy, you asked for me?" Chi-chi said sweetly as she approached her fathers throne. She wasn't sure if she had been caught doing something naughty or not, so she had decided on a sweet and innocent act. She had even planned out her clothing, a flowing white skirt that fell to her knees and a soft pink tank top.
"Ah Chi-chi dear, I'm afraid I have some bad news for you"
'Kakkarot!' Chi-chi's heart rate quickened 'Please not Kakkarot'
"It's about Kakkarot"
"What about Kakkarot?" Chi-chi demanded to know.
"Don't worry, it's nothing major, he's still alive if that's what you're worried about. He's become unwell, I though you should know".
"Thank-you daddy. Would it be appropriate for me to go and visit him?"
"I think that would be a lovely thing for you to do".
She walked out the room and down the hall, practically getting undressed as she went. She arrived at her room and quickly changed into something more comfortable – a pair of dark blue jeans and a black singlet top, then grabbing her favourite apron she headed towards the kitchen to make Kakkarot some soup. Not many people knew that Chi-chi loved to cook, and that she was excellent at it as well.
***
Nappa pushed open the door to the training complex and headed towards the G.R, swinging his towel around in circles as he went, he entered the G.R and locked the door behind him.
"Hmm, that's odd," he said when he noticed the panel on the floor was open, he quickly shut it with his foot and walked over to the control panel.
Under the G.R Bulma suddenly noticed it got dark, thinking it was only someone realising the lights were on and no one was training she rested her spanner on her stomach and wriggle her way along the narrow tunnel. There was only enough room to lie flat on you front or back, she was glad she wasn't a fat person, or else she would have been trapped underneath the G.R forever.
Nappa programmed the G.R to 275 times normal gravity. That would be a decent work out. The lights flickered, but Nappa paid no attention to it, the machine made a buzzing noise as the programmed voice of the G.R spoke.
"Raising gravity level to 275 times normal" Nappa rubbed his huge hands together and dropped to a fighting stance.
"Oh shit" screamed Bulma, as she began to pound on the section of the floor that should have been open.
All of a sudden Bulma's entire being felt like it was being crushed, her hands fell to her sides with a loud thud and the spanner on her stomach suddenly felt like it weighed a tonne. Bulma couldn't yell, couldn't cry, she couldn't even breathe. How was anyone ever going to know she was down here before it was to late. Panic and fear seized her and hot salty tears formed at the corner of her eyes, she was scared, so very scared. Her vision was getting fuzzy and her lungs were beginning to burn from lack of oxygen, and her arms and legs were going numb. She felt several of her ribs crack under the weight of the spanner.
'This is not a good situation!' her mind screamed at her 'DO SOMETHING!'
The spanner. Maybe if Bulma could just get it off her some of the breathing difficulties would subside and she would be able to inhale some much needed air. But try as she might, she couldn't get her arms off the ground, it was like a couple of 20 tonne brick's were sitting on top of her.
The burning sensation was getting more and more unbearable and she couldn't stand another second of it, she didn't want to give up, but it hurt to damn much to keep trying.
With thoughts of her family in her head, Bulma passed out
Vegeta looked at his watch, it had only been 20 minutes, why the hell was Nappa training in the G.R, there was no way Bulma could be finished, her repairs never ever took less than 45 minutes. Suddenly a horrible feeling invaded Vegeta's stomach, something definitely wasn't right.
Upon finding the door to the G.R was locked, Vegeta blasted his way in.
"Gravity returning to normal" spoke the slow robotic voice.
"Where is she?" demanded Vegeta, he sounded furious. Nappa looked extremely confused. "Who sir?" he asked.
"The woman who was making the repairs" he snarled by way of reply.
"The was a woman making repairs?".
Vegeta's eyes darted around the room, they very quickly came to rest on the panel on the floor, racing over to it, he lifted it up, only to be sickened at what he saw.
He had found Bulma all right, but she sure didn't look like Bulma.
"Fuck" Vegeta cussed at he hauled her out of her floor. Her face was on it's way to being purple and he could tell from the swelling and blood stains on her overalls that she had at least 2 broken ribs. This was not good.
"How could you be so stupid Nappa?!"
"I....I...I didn't know she was down there sir". Vegeta wasted no time, he layed Bulma in the correct position and began to preform CPR on her. It was something all Sayians were trained in at a very young age, being a warrior race, it was considered a very important part of their education"
As soon as Bulma's face was back to normal, Vegeta picked her up and as fast as he possibly could, rushed her down to the infirmary.
***
"What are you looking at?"
"Definitely not you, I have better things to do".
Chi-chi's eyes widened and she quickly turned back to her task before she threw her brother out the window. Never – not once, had Krillen answered her back, he usually just shrugged his shoulders or mumbled an apology, how was it that he had suddenly gotten so much courage?
"Where is that damn thermos?" mumbled Chi-chi as she rummaged through the kitchen cupboards. Eventually she found the elusive silver container and she poured the content of the pot she had on the stove into it. Then, without another word, she stormed out the kitchen.
Krillen rolled his eyes and shook his head, how was it that he was so unlucky as to have his brother and sister for a brother and sister, what had he ever done to deserve it?
Oh well, no use worrying about what couldn't be changed anyway. He had better ways to use his time. Looking at his watch, he decided he had time for a short walk in the garden before the delivery van arrived.
***
Chi-chi looked up the big house, took a deep breath and knocked on the door. A few minutes later she heard muffled voices from the other side and the door was opened.
"Oh hi Chi-chi, how have you been. I was feeling sick, but I'm much better now". Turles tried not to laugh as he faked his brother. Chi-chi would surely fall for it, after all they were identical twins. Why should Kakkarot get to have all the fun with the hot princess?
Chi-chi took a step into the house and looked the man in front of her from top to bottom, then she quickly dismissed him.
"You're not my Kakkarot".
Turles sweat-dropped and rubbed his head in confusion, "How'd you know?". Chi-chi turned back to him and smiled wryly, "Simple really," she said "Kakkarot is much more handsome then you" Turles eyes bulged outward, then he growled angrily.
"Fine," he said in defeat, "Let me show you to him"
Turles lead Chi-chi up the huge staircase and down a big hall that was covered with big fancy oil painting.
"In there" said Turles and he pointed to a door, Chi-chi thanked him and entered the room.
Inside it was dark and it didn't smell too fantastic. Chi-chi spotted Kakkarot lying on the bed in the corner of the room and she moved over to him. He didn't look good at all, he was pale and his usually spiky hair was hanging limp around his face. Upon resting her hand on his forehead, Chi-chi discovered he had a slight fever, yet when she took hold of his hand, it was cold and clammy.
"Kakkarot can you hear me?" Chi-chi asked, being sure to use her most soothing tone of voice. Kakkarot's eyes opened slowly and he smiled up at Chi-chi, "Hi" he mumbled.
"Papa told me you weren't well, I made you some soup. But if you're not up to eating it now, I can just out it aside".
Kakkarot did something that somewhat resembled laughing and he sat up as best he could, "Chi, since when am I not up to eating?" he asked quietly. Chi-chi laughed and opened the thermos, then she pulled a bowl and spoon out her bag – she always came prepared.
"Ok, tell me if it's to hot" she said as she held the spoon up to his lips.
"Wow, it must have been good, you ate it all," said Chi-chi as she peered into the now empty thermos "do you feel any better?"
"Much" said Kakkarot as he licked his lips. Chi-chi smiled. "Being fed something that delicious by someone as beautiful as you has got to make anyone feel better". Chi-chi blushed a shade of pink and turned away so Kakkarot wouldn't see, "You're so sweet" she said.
It didn't take long for Chi-chi's soup and presence to ware off, and Kakkarot began to feel sick again, but Chi-chi stayed with him. One hand holding his considerably larger one and the other gently stroking the hair back off his forehead, it didn't take long for Kakkarot to doze off again.
About 10 minutes later the door creaked open, Chi-chi quickly snapped her head up to see who was intruding. It was Kakkarot's mother, Neha.
"Ah Chi-chi, I wasn't aware you were here" said Neha, a pleasant smile on her face. She took another step into the room, and another man followed her, he was holding a black bag, so Chi-chi assumed him to be a doctor.
"Would you like me to leave?" asked Chi-chi.
"If you wouldn't mind waiting in the hall, that would be great" replied Neha. Chi-chi nodded and gave Kakkarot's hand one last gentle squeeze, then she left the room.
A few minutes later Neha stepped out as well.
"How is he?" asked Chi-chi.
Neha could only shrug her shoulders, "I don't know, he's been getting worse and worse for days now" her voice was quiet and shaky, she was really fearing the worst for her youngest son. Chi-chi took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Neha's shoulders "He'll be alright Mrs.Son. I'm gonna make sure of it"
***
No, none of this was really happening. It couldn't be, he was going to let it happen, it just wasn't possible.
Vegeta felt his knees get weak and he stumbled backwards, only to hit the wall. He watched on in absolute shock as a team of the palaces top doctors and nurses zapped Bulma and hooked her up to all sorts of machines.
"Clear!" one of them, shouted, and he saw Bulma's limp body jump of the bed.
"Heart rate stabilising" one of the nurses said, then she walked over to Vegeta and led him out into the quiet hall.
"Your friend is gonna be ok for now," she said "have you informed her parents, or would you like me to?"
'Shit' thought Vegeta, the woman's mother was enough of a pain in the butt when you didn't have horrible news to tell her. "No I'll do it," he said "will she be ok until I get back?". The nurse nodded her head and smiled warmly at Vegeta.
He arrived at the door and knocked, suddenly there was a rather large lump in his throat.
"I'm coming" came Mrs.Briefs bubble voice from the other side of the door. "Oh hello, if you're after your sister, she's not here".
"No, I'm here about Bulma, is your husband in?"
Mrs.Briefs usual happy visage disappeared, "Sure, come on in, I'll go get him"
5 minutes later, Mr and Mrs. Briefs were sitting anxiously on the couch. Vegeta stood in front of them and for about the 2nd time in his life, he was nervous.
"Well I'm not going to beat around the bush, Bulma was in an accident in the G.R. She's in the hospital now. Her heart stopped, but the doctors managed to start it again" Vegeta spoke clearly and slowly. Why did it have to be him doing this? Bulma was his sisters friend and he had no feeling s for her...Did he?.
Tears welled in Mrs.Briefs eyes and she griped tightly onto her husband's hand, "Is she ok?" she asked as big fat tears began to roll down her cheeks. Her little girl couldn't die, her heart couldn't just stop. She had already lost one daughter and she didn't think she could stand to loose another.
"Come, I'll take you to her" said Vegeta and he left the room. Two very worried parents following behind him.
***
"Are you stalking me or it is just by chance we keep meeting like this?"
"Chance"
"Oh, not in a talkative mood today?"
"No"
Krillen sighed and sunk to the ground, underneath a big shandy tree, "How's your brother?"
"Alive".
Rubbing the back of his head Krillen looked up at the brilliant blue sky, it looked just like her eyes. Yes he was falling for her, and in a big way.
"Listen 18, I know you're probably gonna kill me for this--"
"Then don't do it"
Krillen didn't even stop to listen to 18's comment, he just kept right on talking "but I brought you a gift. Well it's for all of your friends as well"
Now he had her attention
"What have you done Krillen?" she asked.
"Come with me and I'll show you"
She followed him inside the palace and down many halls. Until the eventually reached Krillen's room. 18 was confused, what were they doing here, and what was Krillen thinking, trying to help the slaves. If the king found out, he would be toast. 18 felt her heart beat faster at the thought of not being able to see Krillen anymore and she felt like slapping herself. 'Cut it out 18, you are a grown women and you most definitely do not need a man to complicate your fucked up life anymore than it already is!'.18 double blinked, her subconscious had a point, but she pushed the thought right to the back of her mind where she wouldn't have to think about it, it was her life and if she wanted to screw it up then she would.
"Here you go. These are for you" said Krillen as he handed 18 a cardboard box full of capsules.
"Capsules" 18 muttered to herself, then she looked Krillen directly in the eyes, "What are these for?"
"Take them downstairs and find out then. I'll bring you the rest of your gift tonight"
18 nodded her head, she was eager to see what was in the capsules, which there was a hell of a lot of, the box was almost over flowing- and it was a big box! She briefly smiled at Krillen, before disappearing out the room.
***
"17!," called 18 as she pushed open the doors "You here?"
"Of course I am" called out 17. 18 shook her head – she should of known that. She walked into the room and saw 17, Tarie and Nison.
"What you got there?" asked Nison.
"What this?" 18 shook the box "No idea, it's a present for us from Krillen of all people"
"Well are you gonna pop one open or not?" asked 17, just as eager as his sister to find out what it was.
"Alright," said 18 as she put the box on the ground and pulled out one lucky capsule and threw it to the ground.
The was a bang and a small could of smoke which quickly cleared.
"Oh my..." mumbled 18
"Hmmm" was the response earned from 17.
"Oh my God" Squealed Tarie as she jumped up off the ground and landed straight on the brand new, perfectly made bed.
A rather large smile broke onto 18's face as she realised just what Krillen had done for them all. Beds! He'd gone out and brought every single one of them a bed to sleep on! It was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for them.
How could she ever thank him enough? Well she could think of a few ways, but they weren't very appropriate, 7 years in the harem had corrupted her mind.
***
A/N; He he he, 18 has a sick sick mind. And poor Bulma, will she be ok? Find out next time in And Then You'll Know! ~D.B