Mizu Bulma, Kachi Vegeta, Kaze Goku, and Chikanji Chichi

Princess Buruma

The woman has grown more foolish than I had imagined, Kachi thought. He was pacing the floor of his home deep within the Earth's core.

How could this have happened?

Vegeta became angry with himself. He knew it was partly his fault that Bulma was acting strangely. With a groan, Kachi's fingers found their way to his hair, pulling at it in frustration. Every thought of Mizu made him want to scream. She was not the good-natured girl he had loved. She was tainted sin and hurt and cold.

Then Vegeta remembered when he had first met her...

(Taken back about 900 years or so.)

A young man named Vegeta rode swiftly to the palace of the royal family. He was not sure of the reason he had been summoned. Usually, his father, general of Japan's most elite forces, would be called in for meetings in discussing the safety of the people. Recently, though, Vegeta's father had contracted a sickness that left him bed-ridden. So, Vegeta was going to the emperor on his behalf.

"Commander Vegeta, sir!"

Vegeta slowed his horse and turned to growl at whomever had called him.

"What is it, Kakarrot?"

The soldier became uncomfortable under the intense glare.

"I was sent to direct you to the palace, sir, but I see you have found your way quite well."

Vegeta rolled his eyes at the younger warrior. It was hard to believe that the moron was one of his family's most trusted friends.

"Why are you really here?"

Kakarrot groaned.

"Your mother threatened to kill me with my own sword if I did not go and, how shall I say it- accompany you."

Vegeta responded with an angry grunt.

"My mother seems to forget that I am an adult now."

Kakarrot cringed slightly.

"Do not kill me- I am only the messenger."

"Go home, Kakarrot. It was not your place to come. The emperor is expecting only me."

Without a word of protest, Kakarrot went away, not wanting to be in Vegeta's presence anyway. Vegeta only sighed and gently nudged his horse in the ribs. The creature whined and started to gallop.

In a few hours, Vegeta had reached the entrance to the palace. Several guards eyed him warily, but let him pass into the dimly lit home. He was anxious to get his job over with. Whatever the emperor wanted him for, it would not be pleasant.

"I see you have come just on time, Vegeta..."

The frail, aging emperor was perched on an elegant throne-like chair. A few female servants waved large fans and the young empress sat below him on his right. Her hair was a strange bright yellow, and she was said to be from a country to the Far West. The emperor's gray-streaked hair was even more unusual. In the candle lit room, Vegeta could see wispy strands of lavender falling into the older man's eyes.

"Your majesty, I am at your service." Vegeta bowed graciously kneeling down to one knee. His eyes never met the emperor's gaze.

"The reason I have summoned you into my presence is to ask of your services."

Vegeta's hand twitched. Services? Surely I am of no importance to this man?

"All of my family is heavily guarded, as you already know. Yet, there seems to be no one who can offer full responsibility for my youngest daughter, Buruma. She is in need of protection since she is always venturing off palace grounds, and so I figured, who better to do the job than the son of the great General Vegeta? You are to be at her side at all times and your duty is to protect her with your life. I hope you will accept the position as her personal bodyguard."

Vegeta wanted to fall over in shock. He had been called to the emperor of Japanto play caretaker to some little girl for the rest of his life! Not only that- the child was the princess and was said to have a problem with holding her tongue. No matter, Vegeta thought. This should be of no challenge to me.

"Yes, I accept, sire."

"Very well. You are dismissed."

Vegeta left the palace in a hurry, feeling a bit queasy. Such a responsibility was unnerving.

"Let us go to the springs, Old Girl."

The horse, Old Girl, neighed in response to Vegeta's command, and they moved in huge galloping strides until thick brush forced them to slow to a slow trot. When the air became foggier, Vegeta knew just how close he was to his destination. There was no other place for him to relax. Besides, he had heard that the little princess was often spotted frolicking somewhere around the area.

"Whoa, Girl."

Vegeta's horse came to a stop as the sound of rushing water met their ears. Vegeta tied the animal's reins to a sturdy tree, and trudged through the thickness of pink and red flowers. The Sakura trees had begun to bloom in the early months of the year, yet the trees and their buds had sprouted rapidly.

Vegeta took in the soothing scent of the transformed forest. He rarely had time to relax because of the growing feuds of the land and the attacks of demons. He lay down, closing his eyes with a contented sigh. That was, before a high- pitched shriek disturbed the warrior from his peaceful moment. Startled, Vegeta bolted up and drew his sword from its sheath. In an instant, he had found the source of the noisy wail and nearly lost control by laughing at the sight before him.

A girl was dangling from a thick branch at the top of a tree. She was screaming at the top of her lungs for no apparent reason, considering that she was only a few feet from the ground.

"Woman, stop your screeching! Just climb down!"

"I will not! My kimono is stuck to the branches!"

Vegeta found that she was indeed wise by not attempting to move. Her kimono was tangled awkwardly in a mass of sharp limbs. If she tried to retreat below, her clothing would have torn or she would have been impaled. Everything depended on which way she came down. So Vegeta did the only thing he could do and climbed up to retrieve her.

Getting to the woman was more difficult than Vegeta had expected. Some of the branches were too weak to support his weight, he had to hang on to the body of the tree and slide himself up. There were all kinds of needlelike twigs to be aware of; one wrong move and he would have a deadly splinter.

"How did you get stuck there anyways? You must be stupid or something!"

The girl scowled at him as if he were an insolent, unworthy peasant.

"How dare you! For your information, I was trying to see that bird more easily."

Vegeta heard a chirp, and twisted slightly to find a nest lodged just above his head.

"You have endangered yourself for the sake of looking at a bird? That is more absurd than I would have thought. Hold on to me." Fool, he added in his own thoughts. He had always hated to see harm come to women.

Vegeta had moved close enough so that he could hoist the girl over his shoulder, and climb back down. She squealed, but Vegeta simply ignored the protest. After all, he had rescued her.

As soon as they were on the ground, the young woman slid off Vegeta. He only grunted in annoyance when she clasped his hand in hers.

"Thank you, my brave samurai! Now you shall be rewarded from the princess."

She planted a kiss on the startled soldier's cheek. Did she just say princess? Vegeta backed away to look at her properly. Only then did he notice how well dressed she was. Her silk kimono nearly touched the grass, and her hair was pinned up in a complicated design. Glistening gems were planted in various areas of her sky-colored locks. She held an air of wealth and prominence about her.

"And you are the Princess Buruma?"

"I am. Just call me Bulma."

"Bulma," Vegeta repeated, nodding slightly out of respect. "Your father, the emperor has commanded that I am to serve as your personal body guard."

With a curt nod, Bulma dusted herself off and tried gather up the little dignity she still had.

Vegeta stopped himself from asking her how old she was (for that would have been plain rude). She was definitely no little girl, he was sure. Her eyes and hair were strange for a royal of Japan, but were well suited for her. Perhaps her beauty and alluring nature were reasons for Bulma's need of protection. A woman was not to run about by herself where demons ran freely and evil men roamed undetected…

Then Vegeta smirked.

"I had always thought that climbing trees was considered improper for women."

Bulma only shrugged at him. Then she reached to her blue hair and removed the golden pins from them. Vegeta seemed appalled.

"What are you doing?"

"Taking out my hair, silly."

Vegeta stuttered in protest. What is with this princess? It is as if she has no sense at all! Vegeta admitted to himself that he admired the woman's insolence. He could get used to it...

"There." Bulma lightly shook her head, letting her long hair flow freely down her back. "I could hardly move with all that piled on my head." She tucked several golden ringlets into her outer kimono.

"What?" she asked.

Vegeta turned away. His face was burning from embarrassment for her. Although he could not help but to think that she was stupid, he was also secretly glad that she would prove to be an interesting character

"Nothing."

(Back to the normal time)

Vegeta sat on his throne with a sigh and wished that he had not been so stupid as to fall in love with the woman called Buruma.