Disclaimer; I do not own DBZ, it would be pretty cool if I did though
A/N; I finally have a new chapter up, and I know it took like, forever but I was busy. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter and I'll try and get the next one up soon. ~D.B
And Then You'll Know Chapter 33The King sat at the long table in the dining hall – alone. Breakfast was due to be served almost 10 minutes ago, and still, his children hadn't arrived. He was beginning to wonder if he was going to have to send someone to fetch them, when the doors were pushed open and Vegeta and Krillen strolled through. Both still half asleep, neither wearing shirts and sharing a quiet conversation. They both took their spots at the table, before greeting their father.
"Good morning boys. I trust you both slept well"
"Fine thank-you father" replied Krillen, he had no intention of sharing with his father – or anyone else for that matter – the goings on of the night before.
Vegeta only shrugged his shoulders, he really didn't pay any attention to how well he slept, he either slept or he didn't, it was as simple as that.
"Where's Princess Bitch this morning? I'm hungry" said Vegeta sarcastically. He wasn't at all impressed with Chi-chi right now, she had upset Bulma, which in turn had pissed him off.
"Vegeta!" scolded the King. "You will not speak about you sister in such a way. Is that clear?!"
"Talk about me in what way?" Chi-chi asked as she entered the room, flashing Vegeta an icy cold glare as she walked past him, towards their father so she could give him a kiss on the cheek "Good morning daddy" she said as she sat down.
Breakfast was served almost straight away, but Krillen wasn't hungry. He only pushed his food around his plate. "What's the matter son?" asked the King, picking up on his sons uneasiness.
Krillen sighed and forced himself to swallow something in order to try and hide the obvious fact that something was indeed wrong. "Nothing" he lied.
The King didn't believe him at all, yet he chose to say nothing more.
Everyone was quiet for quite sometime after that, they were all buried deep in their own thoughts and personal problems to be worried by what everyone else was doing, however, it was eventually Vegeta that spoke up.
"Krillen"
"Yeah?"
"Interested in having a spar later on?" he asked.
Krillen pondered the question for a moment; it would probably be good to spar with Vegeta. "Sure" he replied
Chi-chi dropped her fork onto her plate, but no one noticed. How dare Vegeta offer to spar with Krillen. She had always been his sparring partner – always! For as long as she could remember, even before their mother died, and now here he was, not even looking at her. What a traitor.
She got up and stormed out of the room. No one made any special efforts to chase after her. Why should they bother? She would either hate you because you didn't chase her, or hate you because you did.
***
Bulma leaned back in her chair and took a much-needed sip of coffee. This was the downside of science, the many hours in front of a computer screen. Calculating formulas, organizing data, researching, and worst off all, writing reports. Right now, she was working on an article she had been asked to write for a very high profile science journal, discussing the findings of her latest research. It wasn't that she had nothing to write about, after all her findings had been rather extraordinary. But she was a scientist, not a writer, and she had great amounts of trouble trying to put her thoughts into words that actually sounded professional and worthy of the planets top science publication.
Later that afternoon she was going to a photo shoot – her, Bulma, a photo shoot. She was going to be on the cover of one of the planets most popular magazines 'Vegeta-sei Weekly' it was a typical gossip magazine with trashy articles, puzzles and the weekly T.V guide, plus about every second week the latest celebrity fad diet. It was stupid, but they were doing an article on 'Inspirational Women of Vegeta-sei' and funnily enough, Bulma had been asked to take part and Chi-chi had been totally overlooked.
Bulma was brought back to reality then by the sound of a gentle tapping on the lab door "it's open" she called.
Chi-chi pushed open the door and slowly walked into the room. She saw the look on Bulma's face, and it wasn't a pleasant one.
"What do you want?" Bulma asked as she turned her attention away from Chi-chi and back to her work. Chi-chi sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the desk and looked at Bulma with puppy dog eyes and a pathetic smile.
"I said, what do you want?" Bulma repeated herself not even bothering to turn her attention away from her computer screen this time.
"I've just come to talk" said Chi-chi
Bulma rolled her eyes "I'm busy. Unlike you, I have to work"
Chi-chi turned away from Bulma, that hurt her. "Well I'm sorry my father happens to be the King, but that's really not something I can control" she said.
Bulma said nothing for a few minutes, then when she did speak she said; "Maybe you should just go Chi-chi, I really don't have anything positive to say to you right now"
Chi-chi took a deep breath and stood up, "Ok" she said, and walked away.
***
17 was quietly humming to himself as he worked out in the garden, under the warm mid-morning sun.
"You right there dude?" Nison asked with a laugh.
"Huh? Yeah, why wouldn't I be" he replied vaguely.
Nison shook his head, "Don't worry about it"
17 dropped his tools and lay back on the grass, gazing up at the fluffy white clouds floating lazily above him. Nison joined him. It has been a long time since the two friends and spent any quality time together, since all of 17's time had been consumed taking care of his pregnant girlfriend, Tarie.
"Nison, what's happened here?" he asked suddenly, breaking the peaceful silence.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, how it is possible that so much has changed in the past year?"
"I dunno man"
"Think about it, I got my sister back. Tarie and me got together and now we are having a baby. 18 managed to get the prince to fall in love with her! It's crazy. I keep expecting to wake up and find out this is all a dream, a stupid crazy dream that I can't control"
Nison sighed, "When you put it that way, it has been pretty crazy hasn't it".
"Sure has," agreed 17 and he stood up, "I have to go, can you finish up here?" he asked.
"Ok, catch you later"
"Will do"
~
17 quickly made his way down the palace halls; he was trying to get through all of his work, and Tarie's as well. She mostly worked inside the palace, on general cleaning duties and such, whereas 17 – like most of the male slaves, worked out in the palace grounds on maintenance duties, he cleaned window, repaired broken things, mowed the lawns. Right now though, he was trying to tick a job of Tarie's list. He had to clean the floors in the Training Complex.
Tarie always complained about how much she hated this job, she had never had a very strong stomach, and got rather sick from looking at anything unpleasant. 17 grinned to himself as he thought of how she was going to cope changing the baby's dirty nappies.
He walked into the foyer and straight away, noticed it was relatively clean. Hopefully it wouldn't take him to long to get all of his cleaning done, he really didn't like to clean, he was more of a handy man. He got a great amount of joy from fixing things; he loved to mess around with the insides of machines and whatnot.
17 noticed that 2 of the G.R's were already in use, but he gave it no more thought than that. He took the broom out of the utility closet and quickly set to work.
"17," he head someone call his name about 5 minutes later. He blinked, looked up and turned around only to see Krillen walking towards him.
"Oh, hi Krillen" he greeted him. He felt a certain gratitude towards Krillen, he knew he owed him a great debt after all he had done for Tarie and himself, and the way he had helped his sister, he really would never be able to thank him enough.
"What's up?" asked Krillen as he sat down on one of the chairs in the foyer and motioned for 17 to do the same.
"Nothing much," replied 17 as he sat down. He couldn't get in trouble for it, he was under strict rules to follow and act upon the royalties every whim, "How's my sister?" he asked. Krillen had seen more of 18 than he had lately, so it made sense to ask him.
Krillen paused, should he tell 17 about what had gone on the night before? He had a right to know, but then again, he also had to respect 18's privacy and the fact that she may not want 17 to know what she had shared with him the night before. "She's fine. I think she might have a slight cold though".
"Uh, listen, Krillen," 17 fidgeted in his chair and played nervously with his hands "I want to say thanks to you for everything you have done for Tar and me. If it weren't for your generosity, our baby, it just wouldn't stand a chance"
Krillen blushed, "hey think nothing of it, it's the least I could do"
"No, it really means so much to us that you would do this for us. But enough is enough, we've talked about this, and we want you to have your room back. We'll be out my the morning"
"What? No, I couldn't ask that of you"
"You didn't ask, we insisted"
"Well if you insist, what else can I do? But you're not going back downstairs. I won't have it"
"Well what else do you expect us to do?" 17 asked
"I've been staying in the guest rooms, it's practically deserted down there. I think it would be perfect for you. You wouldn't have to be so sneaky, or quiet" explained Krillen
"Really?" asked 17
"Sure," replied Krillen, "You can move down there tonight if you want to"
17's face lit up in a happy smile. "That would be great. We both win that way"
Just then, the door to the complex swung open and Vegeta walked through the door, dressed in his blue spandex with a towel flung across his shoulders.
"I gotta go now ok, what time should I come by?"
"Anytime after everyone else is asleep"
Krillen nodded at 17 then flashed him a smile. Then he walked over to join Vegeta
"What were you doing talking to the freak?"
"Leave him alone Vegeta"
***
"Don't you get bored sitting around in here all day?" 18 asked as she rummaged through Krillens closet. She was his girlfriend, she felt it one of her rights to poke through all of his belongings.
"Yeah, but I get used to it. I suppose that's the price I have to pay"
"For what? You did nothing wrong" stated 18
"I guess your right"
"No, I know I'm right. Trust me"
Tarie was about to say something else, but a knocking on the door interrupted her. 18 offered to get it. It was Bulma.
"Hey 18, have you finished working?" Bulma asked as she walked through the door, "Hi Tarie"
Tarie waved and 18 replied, "Na, I'm taking a break. I'll have to get going soon"
"That's too bad," said Bulma.
She walked back out the door, but appeared only seconds later pulling a cart full of food with her. 18 stared in amazement; she had never actually seen the food delivery before and she was quite shocked by the amount of food there was. There was no way two people could get through all that in one day.
"So, how are you feeling?" Bulma asked as she pressed her hands against Tarie's stomach
"Fine. You?"
"Fine. I'm really excited, I'm going to a photo shoot this afternoon"
"Really, why?" asked Tarie
"I'm one if Vegeta-sei's 10 most Inspirational Women. I have no idea what I did to earn that title, but I get to go on the cover of 'Vegeta-sei Weekly'. Cool huh?"
"Yeah," replied Tarie eagerly "isn't that cool 18?"
18 nodded her head and smiled.
"Is Vegeta going to the shoot?" she asked
Bulma sat on the bed and looked at 18, "Yeah. He doesn't like the idea of some strange man taking my photo. As soon as he found out the photographer was a male, he suddenly became interested in what went on at magazine shoots. It's cute really"
18 rolled her eyes, it was clear that her idea of cute was vastly different from Bulma's idea of cute. "Chi-chi?' she asked, as in, was she going as well?
This time, Bulma rolled her eyes, "I hope not" she replied.
Tarie and 18 looked at each other in utter confusion "Excuse me?" asked 18.
"She is just being so horrible lately. Ever since the boys got back something hasn't been quite right with her, and now Vegeta and I are together, it's become 10 times worse. You must notice it 18, you have to see her more than anyone else"
18 thought for a few minutes "well, she's always hitting me, I really don't think it's any worse now. Though if she ever found out about me and Krillen, I don't even want to imagine it. Although, she was going absolutely mental and Kakkarot the other day, I don't even know if they're together anymore" she said with a smirk.
"Really?" Bulma sounded very intrigued by this "What caused that?"
"Oh, Kakkarot came to the palace to see Krillen and not her, and she just lost it"
Bulma burst out laughing, 18 cocked her head in confusion, she really didn't see the funny side of it. After all, she had had to be Chi-chi's punching bag while she vented her anger. "What's so funny about that?" she asked
"It's just that, just as all of our lives gain something good, her 'perfect' world is crumbling around her"
A smile found it's way to 18's lips, when you put it like that, it was kind of funny.
***
Vegeta's gold tipped boots clinked against the wooden floor as he walked along. He had been training with Krillen for the past hour. Frieza may have been dead, but his empire most certainly was not, and even though Vegeta highly doubted it would happen for quite some time, it was almost a guaranteed fact that in time, someone would rise up and take Frieza's place. Vegeta was not going to let that happen to his people again, they had been enslaved by him for more years than Vegeta could count, living in constant fear of the tyrant. And when a new evil finally did rise up, Vegeta would be ready and waiting to blow it's ugly head off.
But for today he had done enough training. Bulma was going to a photo shoot, and he would be dammed if he was going to let a strange man take photos of her, if this guy tried anything – anything at all, Vegeta would be putting an end to the whole thing in less than a heartbeat. Of course, Bulma didn't know this, as far as she knew, he was interested in what happened at things like this. He wasn't going to let her know he was just being over-protective of his woman.
"Vegeta!" he blinked when he heard the angry voice of his sister behind him. He didn't stop walking though, he merely slowed down.
"What do you want?" he asked his younger sister as she caught up to him. Chi-chi rolled her eyes, that was two people today who had asked her that.
"I want to talk to you" she snapped.
Vegeta picked up his pace again, "I don't want to talk to you"
Chi-chi narrowed her eyes and scowled deeply, she reached out and firmly grabbed onto Vegeta's wrist.
Vegeta stopped dead in his tracks. No one touched him without his permission – no one. "Get off me" he snarled.
"Are you going to listen to me"
"Fine, just get off me"
Chi-chi let go and placed her hands on her hips, akimbo style. "What the hell has gotten into you Vegeta?" she asked, he tone of voice anything but friendly.
"I don't have time for this, I have places I need to be" he turned to walk away, but Chi-chi quickly darted in front of him, blocking off his path "Answer me Vegeta!" she ordered.
"Fine, if you'll just get off my case and leave me the hell alone I'll talk to you"
Chi-chi smirked victoriously "What the hell is up with you Vegeta?" she repeated her first question, then added, "all this crap with you and Krillen is really starting to get old now"
"No Chi-chi, what's old is your attitude. If you just took the time to get to know Krillen you would see that you could learn a hell of a lot from him. We saw a lot of horrible stuff up on Namek, and I honestly believe that if it weren't for Krillen, I would be dead now. He helped me grow up while we were away, just because he is younger than you, doesn't mean he hasn't been through just as much shit. You really could learn from him Chi-chi" explained Vegeta "I have to go". With that, he walked off down the hall and around the corner.
Chi-chi stood there for a few minutes, dumbfounded by what she had just heard. So it was true, just like she thought – Vegeta really had gone insane up on Namek.
***
"There you are. I've been waiting here for like 10 minutes!" said Bulma as she reached up and pecked Vegeta on the cheek.
Vegeta eyed the vehicle in front of him. Bulma's car, her pride and joy. "Do you actually expect me to be seen in this?" he asked, never tearing his gaze from the hot pink convertible that he knew cost a hell of a lot of money.
Bulma rolled her eyes, clicked her seatbelt and revved the engine "Just get in the damn car".
He had barely even done up his seat belt before Bulma zoomed off down the driveway. He had never been driven around by her before, but she was like some kind of crazy, possessed, maniac driver who also happened to be unbelievably good looking.
Once they pulled up at the first set of traffic lights, he ejected the C.D out of the player and had to resist every urge in his body not to destroy it. What was this shit she was listening to anyway?
"Hey, what was that for?" she asked, glaring at him from behind her dark sunglasses.
"That was crap" he replied bluntly, as he tried to sink even further into the seat.
They were driving through a very up market part of town, and Vegeta knew that if anyone saw him in this car, with Bulma, it would be all over the papers tomorrow. Why didn't they just take the limo? Even if he flew he would of stood out less than he was right now. He tilted his head up and glanced at all the people zooming up above him. He couldn't remember the last time he actually flew anywhere. He probably never had.
Suddenly, he felt Bulma's hand resting on his leg and he snapped his head around to look at her. Bulma quickly remembered his rule, amazed she had forgotten in the first place and took her hand away, the traffic light changed to green, and she was thankful for the distraction. The rest of the trip passed in silence, and before they knew it, they had arrived in the magazines parking lot. Bulma cut the engine, but made no attempt to get out the car.
"Uh, listen, Vegeta," she began "about what happened before, I'm really sorry about that, I just wasn't thinking"
"Don't worry about it, woman" he replied.
Bulma chose to ignore that comment for the time being "so, you're not mad at me?" she asked
Vegeta shook his head, "not this time"
A bright smile broke onto Bulma's face and she returned to her normal happy self. "Great," she said as she jumped out the car and bounded towards the big building. Vegeta followed slowly behind her.
~
"Oh isn't this exciting?" Bulma asked. They were sitting on an ugly lime green couch in the upstairs reception, waiting for Gigi, the editor of the magazine. There was several other woman sitting around as well, most likely the other 'inspirational women'. And almost all of them, were staring at Vegeta, flabbergasted that not only were they in the same room as Prince Vegeta – the man who killed Frieza. Yet of all places, he was at a women's magazine. Bulma found it quite amusing. She leaned closer to Vegeta and whispered into his ear: "Look at all these women, they can't take their eyes off of you"
Vegeta smirked and replied, "Well with a body like mine, can you blame them?"
Bulma slapped his arm and laughed.
"Ah ladies. Glad you could all make it" a pretty middle aged women announced as she casually walked out the elevator and into the reception room, "I'm Gigi"
Bulma looked her up and down, she looked to be about as old as her mother, early 40's. She had shoulder length black hair and sparkling brown eyes. Her shiny black hair was in perfect contrast with the white sweater and black leather pants she was wearing. 'Wow' Bulma though to herself 'This woman really knows how to dress'
It was about then that Gigi noticed Vegeta sitting on one of the sofas, his head resting in his hand. She seemed to stop dead in her tracks. "P…P…Prince Vegeta. Such an honor to have you in our presence"
Vegeta blinked himself out of his trance just in time to realize he was being spoken to "It's a pleasure to be here" he lied. "I'm just accompanying the wo-" he stopped himself "Ms. Briefs"
"Ah, very well then, well ladies, shall we get started?"
"Ah, ma'am," Bulma spoke up "there are only 9 women here, aren't there supposed to be 10?"
Gigi quickly did a head count, "Ah you're right dear. We're missing Liv"
Bulma's jaw dropped. Liv? She was going to be here? Bulma had to stop herself from screaming. "Shut your mouth women, that's not at all attractive" Vegeta said from beside her
"Did she just say Liv is going to be here?"
"Yeah, so? Whose Liv?" he asked
"Liv is only the biggest most amazing musician on the entire planet. She's amazing"
Vegeta had a blank expression on his face; he clearly had no idea who the she was talking about
"You almost threw her C.D out the car on the way here"
"Her!" Vegeta exclaimed much louder than necessary, attracting the attention of the other women in the room.
Gigi cleared her throat rather loudly, putting an end to Bulma and Vegeta's little conversation "if you all wouldn't mind following me this way?" she asked.
Bulma stood up and followed the rest of the woman through a small door and into hair, makeup and wardrobe, as always, Vegeta followed slowly behind
~
20 minutes later, Bulma was finished in hair and make up, and dressed in some of the latest designer clothing, and Vegeta had to admit, in the entire time he had known her, he had only ever seen her look more stunning once – at the Son Ball.
Right now, she was dressed in a black halter neck top and a pair of very short jeans shorts, which put her perfectly shaped, creamy legs on very obvious display. Her soft aqua hair had been straightened and now hung about halfway down her back and her eyes were smoldering with very dark eye makeup "What are you doing a shoot for, a women's magazine, or a porn mag?" Vegeta asked, far from thrilled with the idea that people everywhere would see his woman dressed like that.
"Relax Prince Vegeta," she said, trying to subtlety remind him that he wasn't supposed to care if she was 3 quarters nude or not, "it's only for a few shots, then I'll be putting some more acceptable clothing on". She playfully winked at him, then led him through a door and out onto the set of the shoot.
'Hmmm' Gigi thought to herself as she stood in the makeup room "Trista!" she called to her assistant, within seconds a pretty young woman was standing by her side.
"Did you happen to notice anything between Ms. Briefs and the Prince?"
"Uh-huh, she does look awfully friendly with him doesn't she?"
"Yes," Gigi said, more to herself than to her assistant "I think there is something going on between them. If you can prove it and get me some hard evidence we'll run it as the cover story week after next"
"Consider it done!"
***
A/N; Well what did you all think? Is Trista going to be able to get the dirt on Bulma and the Prince? Find out in the next chapter of A.T.Y.K.
P.S before you read the next chapter, please review this one. I love to hear what you all think.
~D.B