Hey minna-san; it's definitely been a while, hasn't it? I have a demanding job now, so I've been way too exhausted to write. This chapter is going to be shorter than my others, but it will safely remove you all from the cliffhanger from chapter eleven. Just a little info: if you've noticed I haven't updated in a while, check my profile. I usually keep that pretty updated with how things are going so you know I'm not dead.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all who reviewed and/or emailed me!!

Please enjoy this chapter of LTL! I'm hoping to get some more MG back up soon, and I've actually started another story.

Learning to Love: Chapter Twelve

It was the best of times; it was the best of times. As she gulped down her mug of lukewarm beer, she couldn't help but smile at her luck. Soon now, things would come to a head and she could complete her plan. She stood up slowly, leaving a few bills behind her on the counter as she walked out of the bar. I must wait until the right moment. But my only fear is that if I wait too long, they'll bond. The woman scowled as she turned the corner and seemed to disappear into the shadows. If that were to happen…all hell would break loose.

Quarters of the King and Queen

(Two weeks later)

"I need some time to think about this Vegeta. Please understand that however I choose, it will be what's best for you n-not me."

Those words haunted her now as she sat across from the Saiyan, half-listening as he related his memory of a battle on Psyalem. Well, at least I know for certain that what's best for me is not necessarily what's best for him, she thought glumly, smiling as Vegeta met her gaze in the midst of his story-telling.

"What is it?" he asked, concern mirrored in his dark eyes.

"Nothing, I'm just…well, I was thinking about your situation and I can't imagine how I'm going to come up with the right answer."

Vegeta looked away from her and shrugged. "There is no right answer," he said simply, his tone darkening a bit.

I have to remember that this is even more important to him than it is to me. It may have to do with my so-called happiness in this marriage of sorts, but this is his whole life. "I'll decide soon," she told him, a smile on her face as she put her hand on his gloved one. "But either way, no matter how you end up, I'll stay with you until the end. And that's a promise."

The King met her gaze, searching her eyes for something as if he thought this was all too good to be true. "Bulma, the day we found out about this…I was going to tell you that I…I--"

"I know Vegeta," she interrupted quickly, ignoring the pang she felt in her heart as she saw the emotion in his eyes. "You don't have to tell me."

He frowned slightly reminding her of his old self. "But I want to. I've been trying to tell you this for the past week Bulma and every time I try, you change the subject. Why don't you want me to say how I feel?" he implored her, his onyx eyes full of confusion.

The human female winced away from that look and would have pulled her hand away from his if he didn't catch it. Because it's not right. This isn't fair that I have to decide to keep you how you are or how you were! How can I choose to get rid of a man I love for a man for whom I merely lust after?! "It's just-I-I want to be safe, just in case the best thing to do is to…choose the old you. If you tell me you love me, it'd make things so much more difficult."

Vegeta's expression lightened softly and he squeezed her quivering hand gently, his voice soothing her. "And why is that Bulma?"

"Because I love you too!" she said, laughing bitterly as she said it, unable to meet his eyes. "I suppose to a certain extent I deserve this. I was horrible and I—"

"That doesn't matter," he broke in, taking her chin gently between his fingers and making her look at him. "What matters is that we share similar feelings. If the man I used to be can't love you as I do," Vegeta hesitated slightly as if what he was about to say was painful. "Then he's not the man you want to spend your life with," he finally said softly.

Bulma's eyes welled up with tears. "You mean that you would sacrifice your power and your reputation…for me?"

The King smiled at her disbelief-in Bulma's eyes never having looked so wonderful as he did just then-and brushed the tears from her cheeks with infinite tenderness. "Of course, Bulma."

It was then, listening to his resolve that she came to a realization. "I've made my decision Vegeta."

The Vegetaseii Science Labs

(That same day)

Bulma absent mindedly chewed on the end of her pen as she checked over the machine reports on her mate's physical condition. He seemed to be doing well under the circumstances. She'd decided that she wanted the old Vegeta back. He's a Saiyan. He may say he loves me (and I don't doubt him) but I know that inside, it would kill him to know that he gave up his superior strength for me, she thought ruefully. I can't live knowing that I did that to him. If we are not meant to be, then there is nothing I can do to make it so, she told herself, sighing deeply. Bulma looked up from where she had written Vegeta's blood pressure down (it was normal for a Saiyan, 100/60) as she felt a peculiar feeling, as though she was being watched intensely. "Vegeta!" she said, surprised to see the man she'd just been thinking about languidly leaning in the doorway before her. "I-I didn't hear you come in."

Vegeta smirked in such a way that her heart skipped a beat. "Well, that's obvious."

I guess the vaccine Malachite gave him a few hours ago is starting to work. Which means that soon…Bulma slowly got to her feet, feeling dread start to sink in. Soon he'll be back to his old self. It's for the best, she told herself, wishing she could believe that.

He walked toward her slowly, never breaking their eye contact. "What are you up to?" he asked in the light tones of "Amnesia Vegeta."

His mate forced a smile as she put her pen in her pocket and tapped his medical reports with one clammy, almost imperceptibly trembling hand. "Just making sure everything's going as we planned." His nearness was making her slightly nervous. "You're still feeling okay, right? You're not experiencing any side effects?" she asked, tearing her eyes from his and looking back down at his charts instead. Anything to keep him from being able to see the regret in her eyes.

"Actually, that's what I came to talk to you about," Vegeta said, his tone dead serious.

Bulma looked back up again in alarm, surprised to see the somber expression on his face. "What's wrong? What side effects are you experiencing?" she asked anxiously, putting down his files and starting to look for her medical bag. "I'm no doctor, but I know a thing or two about medicine."

"Fever," he said, suddenly right in front of her. Bulma gasped and leaned against the edge of her desk in surprise. Vegeta's smirk was back in full effect. "What are you going to do to cure me?" the King said seductively, putting his arms on both sides of her so that she had no escape.

"V-Vegeta," she protested, her blue eyes wide in alarm. Her head bumped the cold steel wall behind her and her knees were shaking as she groped frantically on her desktop for something-anything-to help her out of this situation.

Her patient easily caught her hands in his and pinned them against the wall, his eyes alight with what the human scientist could only describe as animal lust. "It would seem my strength is returning to me, which means," he chuckled lowly, pressing his body fully against hers and whispering against her lips. "There's no way you're going to escape me."

Bulma was so terrified that she could say nothing; she merely closed her eyes and turned away. He's right. If Vegeta wanted to rape me right now, there would be nothing I or anyone else for that matter, could do to stop him. Why is this happening? Why didn't I just ignore my heart and choose Amnesia Vegeta?

Room #96

"So, I guess it would have to be someone higher up if they were somehow able to get into the castle with the proper security codes."

Chichi nodded. "That's right. Now, all you have to do is make a list of the people with this kind of access and question them all to see who could have done it."

Kakkarot scratched his head. "Damn. This is going to be tough. I mean, it's not going to be easy deciding who isn't truly loyal to our King."

"Maybe for some people, but it should be simple for you. After all, you're one of the most loyal people on Vegetaseii," his mate said, yawning widely as she pulled the blankets up. "Now go away so I can sleep," she said closing her eyes, a smile on her face.

Kakkarot paused in the doorway of their bedroom. "I'll be back soon."

Chichi smiled as she heard the front door close. You tell me that every time you leave. I really am lucky to have you. I still wish, she thought, opening her eyes, her smile quickly fading, I wish there was more I could do to help Bulma and, well, even the King.

As he walked into the meeting area, he tried to hide his disappointment at not seeing Vegeta there. The King had off handedly said something about attending this meeting and in Kakkarot's mind, this was one of the first signs that his monarch was getting back to his normal self.

Things hadn't been bad with "Amnesia Vegeta" as Bulma had once jokingly called him, but they just weren't like they used to be; he wanted the old rapport back.  Nowadays, Vegeta was nowhere near as "bad" as he used to be. Some of the men had even suggested that he was actually nice. And if that wasn't bad enough, the King of all Saiyans always seemed to be deep in thought or daydreaming, and Kakkarot knew how much the old Vegeta had hated it when people seemed lost in their own worlds or "with their heads buried up their asses" as he had so eloquently put it time and time again.

"Hey, Kakkarot!" Radditz called to his younger brother. "I thought you said King Vegeta would be here." He made a face as he jerked his thumb towards the person across from him. "All we got is the other one."

Lord Vegeta laughed at Radditz's taunt. "Your fool-hardy brother has a point, Kakkarot. Where is the fruit of my loins, so to speak?" the older man chuckled. "I haven't seen him for a long time…it's almost as though he's avoiding me."

The Royal Guard laughed nervously as he remembered Bulma's order: not to tell anyone, especially Lord Vegeta, that there was something out of the ordinary going on. "Guess that concussing he got was pretty bad," he said quickly.

"You mean concussion?" Bardock drawled, crossing his arms over his chest, a frown on his face. "Why do I get the feeling you're hiding something from me boy?"

His son shrugged, his face completely blank. "I have no idea, Father."

"Don't let that innocent tone fool you. Kakkarot is hiding something, I can feel it," Radditz declared, tossing his long hair angrily. "Now out with it"

Kakkarot donned a fairly neutral expression. "Ah, you know me better than that brother. I can't keep a secret; especially not from you two."

Bardock rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he considered this statement. "Well, he has a point there. In the past, no sooner had you told the boy something in "secret" than it was common knowledge," he drawled, shaking his head as he met his older son's eyes.

Radditz opened his mouth to say something else but was cut off as they read a familiar ki approaching. "King Vegeta," he said, showing his respect as his monarch entered the room with his old haughty air.

Vegeta sat down heavily in his chair, a harrowed expression on his face. "Forget all that," he barked as his other soldiers moved to follow suit. "We have pressing matters that need to be dealt with decisively. We've no time for formalities at the moment."

He's back Kakkarot thought, immense relief written all over his face. But on further examination of the Saiyan ruler, he found himself wondering under what circumstances. On more than one occasion, he'd witnessed that familiar look of elation on the Queen's face as she spoke with the new, "Amnesia Vegeta" (though whether she actually knew of her happiness at that time was unknown to him).

"I don't think I could blame her if she wanted to keep Vegeta as he is now forever," Chichi had confided in him one day. "I mean, it was pretty far-fetched to believe she could stay in love with him the way he was: rude, crude, and mean as hell."

But Bulma had been in love/lust with the King as he had been; of that much, his mate was certain (though she didn't seem particularly happy with the knowledge of this). As his fellow Saiyans discussed key issues around him (like how they were going to expand their technology department and offer incentives for skilled technicians to work on Vegetaseii), the Royal Guard found himself wondering as he chanced looking at his currently silent, sullen looking monarch, what it would take for Bulma to realize she and the King were obviously made for each other. And more importantly: when will Vegeta figure it out?

The Queen's Laboratory

(A few minutes later)

Bulma clutched the pillow as tightly to her chest as a drowning man would clutch a life preserver, staring blankly at a spot on the floor as her mind raced with questions. Why didn't he just do what he said he could do? Not that I wanted him to, but still this is just so confusing that I don't know what to think or how to feel about Vegeta anymore, she thought morosely, her cerulean narrowing in confusion.

FLASHBACK

"I could do whatever I want to you and no one could stop me," he'd said in an amused tone as he opened her lab jacket revealing a plain black jumpsuit.

Bulma pushed against him as forcibly as she could, her lab coat flapping about her. "Vegeta don't!" she said, wishing she hadn't been so stupid as to follow her heart.

Vegeta paused a moment a frown on his face and the lust in his eyes diminishing slightly as he met her teary gaze. "You can't tell me you don't want this," he said incredulously.

"No, not like this, with you--" she closed her mouth as she felt sobs quickly working their way up her throat.

It was as though someone had flicked off a light switch. Just that quickly, the King was back to his regular aloof, cold self, walking away from her with his arms crossed over his chest.

His mate watched him go, tears finally running down her face. She wiped them away angrily, straightening her clothes and warily keeping an eye on his retreating back.

As if he felt her gaze following him, the King stopped in his tracks with the air of someone who was inwardly debating on whether or not to say a particular thing.

For a moment, Bulma almost forgot that this was not the man she had been so close to for the past few days. "Vegeta," she said hesitantly, taking a step in his direction.

He didn't move to look at her and when he spoke, it was so softly that the Queen wasn't even sure she had actually heard anything. "I am sorry."

And with that he was gone.

END OF FLASHBACK

Even this behavior isn't really like the old Vegeta. It's as though…his primal instincts are taking control of him or something, she thought, pulling her knees up to her chest. There has to be some explanation…maybe I should ask Kakkarot. But maybe it's just the simple fact that, in a sense, Vegeta's more vindictive nature has been locked up (so to speak) for so long. Bulma shuddered slightly as she thought back to her near rape incident. That could be true. It was like all of his passion and desire were taking control of him, which is weird because Vegeta has always been very good at hiding those feelings.

And then there was the apology. What to make of that? It could have been a lingering feeling of "Amnesia Vegeta" or maybe it was something else. Bulma yawned tiredly glancing at her watch as she stretched out on the couch, placing the cushion beneath her head. It's only 1 AM, but I'm already exhausted. I-I kind of wonder where Vegeta is. It's not as though he's afraid of anything in the universe, me included. I guess he had some business to take care of. And so it was with thoughts of the King of all Saiyans in her head that an exhausted Queen drifted off to sleep.

Somewhere in the Castle

(Two hours later)

"Sire! Sire, we have some information here from one of our operatives on Planet Freeze."

Vegeta raised his brows in surprise. "Let's hear it then."

The soldier saluted him. "Yes sire. The operative says that Lord Freeza has someone here on Vegetaseii giving him inside information, and that this person was recently supposed to attempt to kill you using some kind of poison." The soldier paused a moment taking another deep breath before continuing. "That was obviously untrue since no such event has occurred. At your discretion sire, we can have a team sent to the underground to find out who this spy is."

The King nodded. "That sounds within reason. Anything else?"

The yellow haired alien was doing a good job of hiding his nervousness around his monarch. "Yes sire, I saved the best for last. The operative told me that at the end of next month, Lord Freeza is planning to destroy Planet Vance in order to supposedly 'weaken our defenses' or something."

Vegeta picked up a discarded scouter, a thoughtful expression on his face. This could be false information purposefully planted in order to bring out our insider or it could in fact be true. My instinct says it's a trick but if I were wrong, losing Vance's resources would be a costly mistake.

"Investigate further on these rumors in order to determine their authenticity. In the meanwhile, I will come up with a battle plan in case we need to deal with Freeza."

The soldier saluted. "Yes sire. I will have our men look into it." He turned sharply on his heel and walked briskly from the room, anxious to carry out the King's orders.

End of Chapter 12

This is the end of this installment of LTL! I'm having a little trouble thinking up the next part, but I promise I will keep working on it! Wow, I've probably used about a million exclamation marks in my little AN's, LOL. Oh well. Hope you enjoyed it (uh, for the most part. I know the Vegeta/Bulma encounter was not sweet or romantic). Please review! And if you have any questions or comments just email them to and I'll get back to you ASAP!

Claire-Chan!