Hi Everyone! Claire here bringing you the very next action packed chapter of Learning to Love! Many thanks to those who reviewed and emailed me! I can never thank you enough! So, in honor of you all, this chapter is extra special, LOL. My beta-reader and I enjoyed it and I hope you will too.
1,001 thank you's to Super Saiyan Shadow! Thanks so much for all of your help!
Learning to Love: Chapter Eleven
*** The Queen's Laboratory ***
"Dear God," Malachite uttered as he peered into the microscope. "You are right, Your Highness. I can have a toxicology team identify specifically what this is if you'd like."
Bulma chewed her bottom lip thoughtfully as she considered this option. "That should work, as long as they can be discreet about this."
Her quirky lab assistant guffawed as he grabbed his clipboard and the blood sample; nearly leaping out of Bulma's chair. "Are you kidding? We're all terrified as to what the King would do if he ever found out we had spilled the beans to anyone." He grinned at Bulma as he walked out of her office, whistling.
The Queen yawned as she shut off her microscope and put her hands in her lab coat pockets. I have never been so exhausted in my entire life. And all this for that stupid, overly proud Saiyan.
She grinned ruefully as she walked over to where Vegeta lay hooked up to an IV, a slight frown on his face. According to the machine readouts, his body was 78% toxin free. So he should be waking up and feeling better soon. Back to his old self. Bulma put the back of her hand on his forehead. His temperature is back to normal…for a Saiyan. Her hand strayed from the King's forehead down to his high cheekbones and Bulma felt her heart melt as Vegeta unconsciously turned his face toward her hand. A shame he wont' be this cuddly forever, she thought, laughing softly as her fingertips brushed his closed lids.
"Your Highness."
Bulma turned quickly, her cheeks flushing pink. "Yes?"
Malachite didn't seem to notice her discomfort. "Toxicology has identified a specific compound in the poison, ethidium bromide, which as you know is responsible for the slight mutation in Vegeta's cells, and if he wasn't a Saiyan, well, he'd probably develop cancer and have a lowered immune system and all that jazz," he told her in a light tone of voice, tapping his pen on his clipboard. There's also another chemical in this poison…it specifically attacks the nervous system."
"So you're saying…" Bulma said slowly, her voice giving way as she realized with dawning horror what the man was implicating.
The lab technician sighed and for the first time showed signs that he too was worried about the King's condition. "There are going to be some neurological effects which we cannot determine right now."
Wonderful. Bulma turned her back to Malachite so he couldn't see the trembling of her bottom lip. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Bulma looked down on the sleeping Saiyan. "Will he be…I mean…do you think--"
"We're not honestly sure whether it will be his intelligence that is affected or something entirely different. Only time will tell."
The Queen of all Saiyans sighed as she gazed down at the peaceful expression on Vegeta's face. This would be so much easier if I didn't hate your guts, mister. Wake up so I can tell you just how much I hate you…please, just wake up normal.
*** Room #96 ***
(That same day)
"If I had gone with him, this never would have happened!"
Chichi looked up at her pacing mate, an expression of exasperation on her face. "Don't be ridiculous Kakkarot. Your not going with Vegeta had nothing to do with this. He was obviously poisoned before he left Vegetaseii, or at least that's what I've determined from what you've told me."
Kakkarot paused mid-step. "My gods Chichi, I never considered that. Someone poisoned the King…but whom?"
"Correct me if I'm wrong wonderful, but isn't that your job to figure out?" she said, gently mocking him.
He grinned at her, sitting down on the couch beside her. "Yeah. I guess I should try to calm down and think about this very carefully."
Chichi patted him reassuringly on the knee. "Well, you know what they say about two heads being better than one."
"Huh? Oh! I see, you want me to get together with other people on this. Wow Chichi, I keep thinking to myself how lucky I am to have someone like you in my life."
She gave him an affectionate peck on the cheek. "And don't you forget it mister," she teased.
*** Back in the Lab…***
(A few hours later)
Bulma's head jerked as she heard the rustling of sheets from her patient's bed. At last! She thought, feeling a bit of the weight lifting from her shoulders. At least now he was conscious. She walked over to him a bit hesitantly, noting that he sat up rather slowly a look of irritation beginning to dawn on his face.
"Vegeta, you're finally awake. How are you feeling," she asked softly so as not to startle him.
He looked up at the sound of her voice and frowned as he realized what she was about. "Remove this shit from my arm."
The human female frowned in confusion. She wasn't quite sure whether to chalk up Vegeta's asshole tendencies to his annoyance at having been injured or to the fact that maybe…well, maybe there was something wrong with him. "Do you know who you are Vegeta?" she asked him slowly, nearing his side.
The Saiyan male gave her a look of disgust though for a moment there was confusion mirrored in his orbs. "Of course…I am Vegeta, the Prince of all Saiyans, and future ruler of Vegetaseii."
Oh dear Kami, why does it have to be this way? Bulma had to count to ten and close her eyes for a brief moment so that Vegeta did not see the alarm in her expression. "All right then, what's the last thing you remember?"
Vegeta snarled at her angrily. "Who are you to question me, woman?"
"You don't remember me." It was not a question. "I'm Bulma Briefs. I'm a lab technician, and I'm…I am your fiancée."
The Saiyan's face momentarily mirrored his surprise at her statement. "You?" he said roughly, giving her a once over. Once he was done his expression hardened. "You?" he said again as if the very thought of being engaged to her unsettled him.
Bulma held his gaze proudly. "Yes, me and if you don't like it, then that's too damn bad. You're not exactly a prime catch." Remembering her professionalism, she removed the IVs from his arm so that he could move about freely. "Vegeta, as your care provider I am obligated to inform you that you have lost a substantial amount of your memory. Malachite and I will--"
He held a hand up to silence her, his brows furrowed as he contemplated something she said. "I've lost memory? How is that possible?" he asked her slowly, uncertainty in his voice.
She felt a stab of sympathy for him. Kami knows, it wasn't his fault he was in this position, and it had to be less than desirable to depend on someone you did not know. "You are the King of Vegetaseii. I can ask your father to come in and attest to the fact if you like."
He shook his head. "I will not have him see my…like this."
His mate sighed. "In order to regain your memory, you have to be constantly surrounded by things and people you are familiar with so that your brain will have the chance to make the proper connections. Therefore, as someone you knew before this incident, I am going to stay with you at all times and make sure of this."
Vegeta stood up shrugging his shoulders in an attempt to appear nonchalant. "Do as you will, then."
For some reason, seeing Vegeta like this, still so vulnerable, made her feel more compassionate toward the man. He doesn't deserve this…well, maybe he does, but I still can't enjoy it, she thought, making a few notes on her clipboard to hide the turmoil in her blue eyes.
She looked up finally, a slight grin on her features. "Well, I can only assume that you wish your memory loss to remain a secret. The first person you'll have to fool is Kakkarot. He's your Royal Guard."
Vegeta sniffed disdainfully. "That idiot is my Guard? It's no wonder I'm in this mess with that low classed garbage under my employ."
"You are the one that gave him the position," Bulma reminded him as she paged the Saiyan under discussion. The King had no more snide remarks after this bit of information was given to him.
A few moments later and an anxious looking Kakkarot appeared. His eyes widened as he saw the scowling King staring at him. "Your Highness, you are well! This is good news."
Bulma gave Vegeta a reassuring nod as she saw him hesitate for the slightest moment before responding. "Of course I'm well, Kakkarot. I am the leader of all Saiyans, not some simpering weakling." His brows lowered as he continued. "Where are…where are my other advisors?"
The younger didn't seem to notice anything amiss in the King's tone. "They hold counsel now, sire. Lord Vegeta expressed his desire earlier that you attend, but I made your excuses."
"So no one knows but you…" Vegeta said pensively.
Bulma broke in before Kakkarot could respond. "There are a select few in the lab who know, but none that would breathe a word of this information for fear of forfeiting their lives." She paused as she heard his grunt of approval. "Perhaps you'd like to return to our rooms now…?"
"Very well, woman."
The exhausted scientist turned off her lab equipment and followed the two Saiyan men outside. "That's all for now Kakkarot. Thank you."
He nodded at her. "Sure thing Bulma, oops, I mean Your--"
"Never mind, Kakkarot," she interrupted loudly. "Just go." Once he was gone she returned her attention to the sullen man standing before her with his arms crossed over his bare, muscled chest. "This way then," she said, tearing her eyes away from his perfect body.
*** Somewhere on Vegetaseii***
(A week later)
Damn. I have failed she thought angrily to herself as she heard a drunken lab technician chattering amiably to a houseplant about how he had seen the King taken aback by a powerful toxin. "We don't know where it's from or what it really is, or even who did it," he whispered to the half-dead ivy in confidence.
Stupid fool, she thought irritably, blasting the intoxicated individual with a ray from her left palm. As far as she was concerned, she had just done Vegetaseii, and the houseplant, a favor. Once she completed her mission however, she would be as hero; a living legend! She licked her pink lips eagerly as she slipped around a corner unnoticed and disappeared into the shadows. Soon.
*** The Royal Chambers***
(2 days later)
** A side note:
It had been an exhausting 48 hours. What all Vegeta remembered about his past would easily fit in a nutshell: the fact that he was Vegeta, a Saiyan, and the heir to a great legacy. Anything other than that he would usually draw a blank. Once, he got the two of them locked out of their chambers because he entered the wrong pass code. He didn't remember Lettuco at all (in an incident Bulma quickly covered up, saying Vegeta had received a mild concussion during training). Another thing he forgot was the fact that he had achieved the rank of Super Saiyan. If Bulma hadn't been so exasperated with the cranky Saiyan, she would have found herself wondering why Vegeta had been able to remember Kakkarot so quickly.
**
"You've come so far Vegeta! Can't you--just for a second--talk to your father?" Bulma pleaded, her clasped hands resting on the tabletop as she sat across from her impatient patient.
The stubborn man growled in warning. "I will not and that's the end of it woman! Besides, that old bastard always…" he trailed off as a more recent memory of his father came to mind. "He always tries to one-up me," he finished slowly.
"What are you remembering Vegeta?" she pressed, recognizing the signs.
He met her gaze from across the table for a moment and then looked away again. "It was…the day before Kakkarot's ceremony. He is talking to you about being joined with me and makes one of his typical annoying comments."
Bulma thought back for a moment and realized she too remembered that day.
*~*FLASHBACK *~*
"It's only a matter of getting used to being called 'Your Majesty' instead of 'hey you,'" Bulma joked.
Kakkarot chuckled at her statement. "You'll get used to it easily enough," he said comfortingly.
Bulma smiled slightly. "I hope so."
Lord Vegeta glanced at his offspring, a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he spoke. "Who knows? Maybe after a while you'll grow to like it."
The female shrugged, her thoughts drifting.
Vegeta frowned at his father, wondering what the too casually spoken statement was hinting at.
"After all," the older Saiyan continued, not paying his son any attention. "My son isn't quite as bad as he makes himself out to be."
"Would you, for once, just shut the hell up old man," the King growled in irritation.
Bulma smiled slightly at Lord Vegeta, disbelief in her voice as she spoke in an especially low voice to the Saiyan sitting beside her. "I find that hard to believe," she said so softly that he was the only one who heard her.
"Wait and see," he said aloud, chuckling.
*~* END OF FLASHBACK *~*
The only thing the King remembered incorrectly was whose ceremony it was taking place the next day, which worked out perfectly for Bulma. Something inside her told her not to let Vegeta know for some time about their being joined. It would probably be too much of a shock right now, she told herself for the 1000th time.
"You're right, that did occur Vegeta. You've made a lot of progress these past few days," she said, a smile on her face.
For the first time since this whole ordeal, the King looked at her as a person worthy of his attention. "I remember something else," he said in a low voice.
Bulma felt something in her stir to life upon hearing his husky tones. "What? What is it?" she nearly whispered.
His eyes gleamed in a swirl of emotions, though the most easily recognized was desire. "I can remember looking down at your naked body from on top of a table."
That night seems so long ago…
**Flashback**
He pressed his body against hers and chuckled softly. "Then tell me to stop, Bulma. Tell me to stop right now and I will." He sensually traced his fingers up her spine and then ran them through her hair, watching her face closely for her reaction.
She was literally shaking in an attempt to fight her body but she was unable to keep in the tiniest of sighs from between parted lips.
Vegeta kissed her then, gently, briefly and looked into her eyes again. "Tell me to stop now and never see you again, and I can give you my word that I will never bother you again," he said, his voice husky with an unspoken promise of a night of exhilarating passion. "Now's the time Bulma. Tell me that you are not attracted to me."
The blue haired woman looked up at him and thought of all the reasons why this was happening: she was lonely, she needed companionship, not only that, but Vegeta was damned good looking and there was no denying the chemistry between the two of them. "Don't," she said, breathlessly without any sign of a tremor in her voice. "Don't stop."
**End of Flashback*
The Queen flushed, not in embarrassment but in sudden desire. "Maybe if you were to re-experience that it would help your memory a bit," she began, her eyes darkening with passion.
Vegeta was already holding her, touching her, stroking her as if he wanted to encode the memory of her body in his mind for always. "And if that doesn't work, we could always try again and again until I remember something," he agreed, unbuttoning her shirt so quickly his hands were a blur.
Bulma closed her eyes as he kissed her, savoring the intimate contact while it lasted. One thing I've learned from living with Vegeta is to never give up. I don't care if it takes all day…
*** Two Hours Later***
Vegeta lay quietly next to the slumbering female; his eyes closed yet his senses very aware of everything around him. These days he'd spent with Bulma since 'the incident' as he called it, had been something resembling heaven.
When he'd first come awake to see that blue haired female and then later heard that she was his fiancée he had been decidedly taken aback. After all, she was no ordinary woman, but then again, he was no ordinary man…or was he? He couldn't remember. But if there was one thing he had learned from the time they'd spent together (and not just the time they'd spent copulating on their living room floor) he found himself remembering a strange sensation he just knew he'd felt for her before. The odd protectiveness and desire never to let her from his sight felt foreign to him, as though he had never really known this 'feeling' before, but the feeling kept getting stronger no matter how adamantly he tried to deny it to himself.
Perhaps it's time I tell Bulma about it. Maybe…maybe she'll understand what it is if I can't put it in words. He exhaled softly as he felt the female beside him stir ever so slightly. She was such a fragile creature and he felt she deserved the best. Whatever the best is, he thought with some self-reproach. By no means did he consider himself to be the one who was worthy of her. Truth be told, he felt as though he was not man enough for her. But he had a feeling that somehow he could easily be man enough and then some…it was almost as though shadow of his old self was whispering to him and reminding him of his old greatness before this whole incident. Vegeta grimaced as he gauged his own strength. I am weaker even than my guard .In this state I am as useless and pathetic they come. I don't deserve the chance—his thoughts temporarily came to halt as he heard a tiny groan beside him.
Bulma forced her eyes open, reluctantly buttoning her top closed and putting her pants back on as she sat up next to the motionless Vegeta. It was fun while it lasted…I guess I better get back to the lab, she thought grimacing as she spotted her bra a few feet from her on the floor. Even now in his 'gentler' persona, Vegeta is a tiring lover. A whimsical smile came onto her face. I think I could love him as he is now.
"Wait," Vegeta said quietly, grabbing her arm as she attempted to get to her feet. His intense black gaze made her color slightly. "I remembered something else."
His mate smiled gently, and her voice was reassuring when she next spoke. "What is it Vegeta?"
The King's eyes held hers for a moment and then he forced himself to looked away. "Not an event," he said softly, his voice. "It's something different…I can't put my finger on it."
Bulma frowned slightly, unsure as to how to help her mate. "What made you think of it? Maybe if you tell me I could help you figure it out."
King Vegeta laughed softly and Bulma saw the amusement and bewilderment mirrored there in his tumultuous black eyes. His bare palm reached out and caressed her flushed cheek for a moment and he pushed a few loose strands of hair from her face with alarming tenderness. "You," he said huskily. "Something about you."
The human female caressed his cheek in a similar fashion, trying to ignore her heart's irregular beating. "It could just be affection…or maybe lust," she said, hoping against hope that neither was true. If he could only be this way forever, she thought, her mind racing with the possibilities.
Vegeta shook his head slightly. "No. Those are not the words I wanted to use."
The Queen looked away from him as something made her say the word that was echoing loudly in her thoughts. "Love."
He inhaled sharply, his hand dropping from her face and his expression darkening slightly. "That cannot be," he denied in a tone that lacked its usual unwavering self-confidence.
It was Bulma's turn to laugh, though hers was decidedly more bitter than her mate's. "You're right of course. After all, why would the great King of all Saiyans ever allow himself to lower himself to my level, just the idea—"
Vegeta forced her to look into his face, a scowl resting upon his strong facial features. "Don't speak in that way about yourself. Self pity is for the weak and you are better than that."
That was all it took to make her eyes well up with tears that threatened to spill from her eyes at any moment. Bulma threw herself into the half-naked Vegeta's arms, forgetting all of her old hatred for the King as those kind words deteriorated all of her old hatred for the troublesome monarch.
Vegeta awkwardly patted her head for a moment until her tears began to subside. "Bulma, I don't know why I haven't told you before, but I--"
"Your Highness! Uh, Bulma, no, boss, uh" Malachite broke in, struggling to remember what his supervisor had asked him to call her as he walked unannounced into their chambers.
Bulma pulled away from the King and stood up, unashamed, yet not anxious to have gossip circulating around the palace about her break down. "Yes?"
He didn't even seem to have noticed anything amiss about the situation, so intent was he on relaying his latest tidbit of information. "I've got some good news for you and some bad news. I'll start with the bad news just to get it out of the way. Upon further investigation of the tests we've been running on the King these past few days, I realized something none of us recognized before." He paused a moment for dramatic effect.
Vegeta stood up, a scowl on his face as he realized he was being talked about. "Out with it then," he said gruffly, not betraying his uncertainty.
The lab tech quickly bowed to the King. "Yes sire. What I found is that one of the properties of the poison fed to King Vegeta was destructive to ki. As of right now, the King has an abnormally low Ki signature. You and I might be able to take him right now boss," he said nodding at Bulma. He held up a hand as he saw her mouth opening in contest. "If I may, I believe I know what your question is: 'why didn't we notice this earlier' right?" At her exasperated nod he sighed disconsolately. "Well, it is well known on Vegetaseii that the King is able to repress his Ki to low levels to mask his might from our enemies so you can understand why when I did a scouter reading of his strength I wasn't too concerned."
So I was right in thinking I am now but a mere shadow of what I used to be, Vegeta thought grimly, keeping his expression neutral
Bulma glanced at her silent mate a moment before speaking up. "And what's the good news Malachite?" she asked softly.
The young man sighed. "We found a remedy to this problem. It'll fix his Ki AND we added a little bit of YSP solution which will make the King regain all of his lost memories."
The Queen sighed in relief. "That's great news," she said, a smile creeping onto her tired features.
Malachite shrugged, erasing a few stray marks from the scribbled notes made on his clipboard. "Possibly. Only thing is he'll forget this whole period of time... which is not necessarily a bad thing. A bit inconvenient, but you got to take the bad with the good huh?"
No…Bulma thought, feeling her chance at happiness slipping away from her. I was so close to having things how I wanted them. He was going to tell me he loved me! She kept her emotions in check however as she cleared her throat and turned to Vegeta. "So what do you say Vegeta? It's your decision to make."
The King gave the assistant lab tech a look that had him bowing and scrambling from the room before he finally turned back to her, his expression guarded. "I'll let you decide, Bulma," he said once they were alone again. "I don't remember how I was before this happened, but I want you to decide which Vegeta you prefer."
The stunned human looked at him for a long moment, her eyes wide in surprise. "You…no you can't make me choose Vegeta! What if I choose wrong?"
He smiled then-an odd expression to witness on Vegeta's face-and put his hands on her shoulders as if to ground her in reality. "If you feel about me the same as I feel about you then you can't choose wrong." He kissed her briefly on the lips; a kiss that promised everything and nothing at the same time.
Bulma struggled to speak for a moment as she realized just what he was saying to her. "Oh, Vegeta," she finally got out, her eyes wet with unshed tears. She smiled at him after a moment and took a deep breath as she decided what her next course of action would be. "All right, I've made my decision. I only hope after hearing me out you don't think that I'm entirely selfish."
Vegeta couldn't respond, so torn was he in his desire to be his old self and at the same time, be this Vegeta, who could love and appreciate Bulma so much more than the other.
The Queen felt a stab of guilt in her heart at what she was about to do, but she quickly dismissed it. This will be best for everyone involved, she told herself, not in the least bit convinced that this was true. "All right Vegeta, here's what I think about this…"
**End of LTL Chapter Eleven**
So what did you think? I know some of you might be wondering what was up with Vegeta, but keep in mind that he is not his normal self at this point in time. Oh, poor Vegeta-sama! All right, if you have any questions, you know what to do. Write it in your review or email me! If you don't have any, email me anyways! I really want to know what you guys think about the fic so far.
Until the next time!
Claire (Bulma16)