If I Knew Then
Chapter 1: Good to be Back
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Should I open my eyes? Should I chance it? If I do, will I find myself in a different time? A different place? A different life? Or will I find myself in front of the grand desk of King Yema, giving my name as they send me off to heaven? Or worse, I could have punctured the space-time and lost myself in limbo. I can hear voices. Are they the dead like I may be?
The joys of my plan working would be too good to chance falling into limbo. And if I am indeed back, then people will be wondering what the hell I'm closing my eyes for. So I must open them… and yes! Success! Namekians! GLORIOUS Namekians surrounding me! Oh, how I miss them. How I miss this time. When I was here the first time, I felt as if I couldn't wait to grow older, when all the world's problems would be gone. I was foolish to think that such a time of peace was possible.
But I must remember my mission. I have to find Vegeta.
"Hey Bulma!" I can hear someone calling me. Father? "Bulma honey, what are we going to do with all these Namekians?" Dear, Kami. I just want to hug him! How I've missed him so!
"D…Daddy?" I hear myself stutter. I laugh in reflex. How long has it been since I've laughed? That damned kitty is there, perched atop his shoulder like a pirate's parrot. That kitty is always faithful to him. It was even there when he…
No. Those things that happened to me long ago will not come to be for a long time. I look around, trying to remember what I'm supposed to do next.
"What happened? I feel kinda faint," I explain to him.
"Oh, they've just wished you all back to Earth with the dragonballs! Everyone's here!" Everyone? Which means-
"Okay!" I stand atop a rock. "All of you can stay in Capsule Corporation until your planet is wished back!" I declare, remembering the few months the Namekians stayed with us. I remember last time they stayed I had grown annoyed at the large number of them. This time I know I will be much happier to receive them.
"But Bulma, dear-"
"Don't worry, Dad. They don't eat. They just drink water!" I remember I had to go over this with him last time as well.
"Well, alright. We do have a lot of space," he says. He turns to show them to the living quarters. Once the Namekians clear out I might be able to find him.
"It's so nice to hear we're going to have company! Such a shame I can't cook for them though!" That high pitched squeal can only belong to one person.
"Mother?" Yes, it is her, watering away at the plants. If I recall correctly, she drowned the damn things a year and a half from now.
"This is too good to be true," I whisper. I'm having a second chance. This is my chance to set things right!
"I know, isn't it wonderful Bulma honey? Now we won't have to have all that space to ourselves!" She scurries into the kitchen, probably making acquaintances with the Namekians.
"Bunny!" I hear my father call to my mother. "I think I'm going to need some help locating our guests."
This is so surreal. Everything is here. Everything is okay. There are no androids yet. Frieza has been defeated. The only bad thing is that Goku is gone. Nobody knows he's not dead, but he's coming back all the same.
Which reminds me, I really should go and find him.
I look around, spotting a black flame. "Vegeta," I breathe, heading toward him. Time seems to go in slow motion as I approach him, seeing his face again for the first time in thirty years. He looks so… young. He knows I'm here but makes no effort to acknowledge my presence. And that's how he will remain: ignorant of me.
But that's why I'm back. .
"Vegeta," I say, remembering to be loud and clear so he can't ignore me. He cocks an eye open and looks at me impatiently.
"You're invited to stay too," I explain, motioning toward the complex. He snorts.
"There's nothing you have here that I can't obtain on my own," he says smirking at me.
"Oh, but I think there's something in there that you would very much appreciate," I retort, mimicking his smirk and crossing my arms. He waits for my elaboration. Always was the impatient type. No bullshit for him.
"I know you're going off to train somewhere, but I think you'll soon find that our gravity is a little too… shall we say… light? I can fix that. I can build a gravity room for you. You can train at hundreds of times heavier gravity than what you would call this "brain-mashing" vacuum." He looks at me, clearly confused. I laugh mentally; his facial expression hasn't changed, but I can read him by now. It's always hidden in the direction of the twitch of his left eyebrow.
"The idea sounds… intriguing. Show it to me and I'll consider it." I hold my hand up. Can't let him off easy, can I?
"Ah, ah , ah! I'll cut you some slack and just GIVE you the gravity room, seeing how you just helped my friends, sort of…. But knowing you, you'll probably want improvements and repairs." I look at him for any sign that he agrees with me. Must he always glare like that? Whatever.
"I'll do that for you if you agree to act as my personal, um, what's the phrase? Security guard?" I offer, smiling slyly at him. He grins at me. Oh, how I miss his smile.
"Woman, you would have made an excellent businesswoman on Vegetasei. If I see the room and like it, then I'll accept. These weakling humans wouldn't be able to get within' a mile of you without me knowing," he boasts, following my lead into the complex. Yes, it seems my presence here has already made a traumatic difference. How could I have been so weak-minded around him the first time? It seems he will agree to stay with me this time. See! There's nothing scary about him at all.
"Okay. I have to have it set up in the backyard first. It's a bit large to have in the building. So you have a whole day to just do whatever you want," I lie, buying myself time to build the complex. "But," I say, noticing him preparing to take off. "You must be hungry." He grunts affirmatively, touching back down. Ah, I'll take that as a yes. It seems I came back directly after he was killed and brought back to life. He probably hasn't eaten the entire time he's been on Namek.
It seems that my strategies of handling him in the future work just as well in this past. Knowing what happened the first time, I'm surprised he's staying.
"Here," I say, showing him the refrigerator as we walk into the kitchen. Where'd my mother go? Oh, no matter. "Help yourself."
"Come back here!" he calls after me as I start to leave. "Make something for me!" he orders.
"Do I look like a slave girl to you?" I ask. For a moment I forgot how bossy he can be. He looks me over.
"As a matter a fact, you do."
"If I am indeed a slave girl, where's my master?"
"You're looking at him!" Now it's my turn to look him over.
"Impossible," I decide. "You're much too ugly to be my master." Hmm. It seems the Saiyan no Ouji takes pride in his appearance. I don't ever remember seeing him this outraged unless it was in battle. I'll have to write that down somewhere so I can remember to tease him with it.
"Woman, you should watch yourself before you mock me!" he hisses. I fight the urge to laugh. Him and his tests! He's always dealing tests. Now, this is important. However I answer this will mark his impression of me. I should answer calmly but collectively.
Had I been the regular Bulma, I probably would have been cowering in fear, begging him in a high pitched tone to spare me. In fact, I wouldn't have even been able to convince him to stay in the building. Vegeta has a talent for sensing who will take what. And this time I will teach him that I DO NOT tolerate his bullshit.
"Or what?" I say defiantly. Can't stop these bad habits! I mustconstantly fight with him, even when I haven't seen him in thrity years. Great! Now he's going to think of me as pushy and annoying.
"Enough," I declare, putting my hand up before he can speak. I must remember the idea of 'calm and collected'. I'm not going to have more than a few minutes to erase the results of his test. "If you want something to eat, ask my mother. I'm not a very good cook, so you don't want to ask me," I explain. I look at my wrist. If I'm right, there's a communicator watch that links with my whole family and certain security guards. Looks like I'll need to get Vegeta one of these.
"Mother!" I call, tapping the second 'speed dial'. "Vegeta would like something to eat." Vegeta rips the watch off my wrist, peering into the screen.
"NOW!" he barks.
"Ooo!" she squeals, appearing back in the room at light speed. Was I angry at Vegeta for something? Whatever it was, I just forgot.
"Oh Mother," I sigh. How I'm so very fond of her. If only she had lived…no. The androids attacks would have devastated her happy-go-lucky personality. I think that's the only personality she's ever known. But still, things would have been so much easier. I'm still glad that she went when she did though. If only my father had received the same blessing…
"He IS a cute one isn't he?" Must she investigate his rear end like that? It's not like he's a statue! I love her, but she is so embarrassing. Like Vegeta gives a fuck anyway. Yet. O.O
"At least SOMEONE respects a prince's appearance," Vegeta mutters under his breath. We may not have as good a hearing, but we're not deaf!
"Ah, so this is Prince Vegeta!"
"You obviously don't take after your mother," Vegeta says to me as Bunny starts the oven. "You have no respect for those who are above you!" Calm down, calm down! It's not that big a deal. Just count to ten, Bulma! 1…2…3…4…
"You arrogant son of a bitch!" Whoops. "I make you the deal of a lifetime and you throw it back in my face." First he looks pissed. VERY pissed. Then he looks thoughtful. And now, now he just looks damned amused.
Wow. I miscalculated. He seems pleased to find someone who will stand up to him. I will have to recall this moment when I'm fighting with him later today.
"It seems the only one with guts on this planet is a female moron who has no fighting power. Figures." I think I'll let that one slide.
"Thanks for the compliment," I thank, smirking at him the entire time I leave for the bathroom. He won't like the idea of me taking that as a compliment. Whatever the case, I need to go to the bathroom! No matter what time period or what reality, bathroom trips cannot be avoided.
Is that what I look like? There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with this mirror. I look so young. I can't help but put my hands to my face and feel it, making sure its real. I look so beautiful. I had no stress in the world compared to what I came back from. I stand up on a chair so I can see the rest of my body in the bathroom mirror.
I'm skinny, but not the stressed, aging skinny I was before. I'm… healthy. How long has that word been erased from my mind? Ah yes, my hair is still a radiant blue. My eyes can still sparkle! What is this I'm wearing though? Oh yea. I remember this. The worst fashion statement I ever made: black body spandex and a yellow vest. Yuck! Not that I would normally care. Though my friends will blame any personality changes on my Namek experience, I really shouldn't give too much away. But now, I have to start acting young.
And to act young, I must feel young! It seems like I will have to start remembering what its like to have fun. Though I've got a lot to do now, I promise to live to my fullest.
But… is it really my life? What happened to the Bulma that used to be here? Is it like gaining memories to her? Am I her? Or did I… replace her?
I'm sure she would understand, knowing what's at risk. Even then, I would've done anything it took to save the world. I may be a whiner, but I get things done. I need to stop. Such thoughts are inconsequential to what's going on right now.
But why can't I stop feeling guilty?
Enough of this. I have to concentrate on my mission. I must speak to my father.
"Dad?" I ask timidly, finding him in his lab. Such a strange feeling, to look into the face of someone you witnessed die.
"Yes, pumpkin?"
"Uh… I'm going to build a gravity room for Vegeta, okay? I invited him to stay." He doesn't look pleased. I knew he wouldn't be, but still. He's going to question my decision. Surely by this point in time he realizes I am grown up. If not, I guess that's another thing I'll have to work on.
Wait, how old am I again?
"Are you sure that's such a good idea? Bunny doesn't really know the whole story, but, I got the gist of it..."
"Dad, I am totally confident I can keep him under control. I've already made a deal with him and I've got lots of things to bribe him with. That's why I'm building the gravity room." My father never was very fond of Vegeta. I don't blame him either. If it weren't for Vegeta… no. The Vegeta I knew then now has the potential to become a different Vegeta. A… good Vegeta.
"Well if you already made the deal, it would be foolish of me to have you break it off with him. But why do you want him here? He is our enemy." He doesn't have to be…
"It's like people always say, Dad. Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." Funny how smoothly I can lie now.
"You're smart enough to take care of yourself now. But how will you build the gravity room, dear? Are you going to give him the ship?"
"Um, no. It should only take me a day or two, but if I remember right…" Whoops. "Uh, I mean, I looked and I saw everything I'll need in the spare parts wing."
"Okay. Sounds good. Do you want any help? I'd love to take a look at your schematics-"
"NO!" I said that a little too quickly. I can't have him looking at my work yet. This time is advanced, but the improvements I plan to add to the GR are far before its time. "You've got so much work to do and I don't want to burden you. It's fine. It'll be one of my personal projects."
"Okay. If you insist. Now, I should go and find that Dragon Radar. Gohan has been asking for it. They're going to wish Goku back to life."
"Oh. Bye Dad," I say, smirking to myself. They'll find out soon enough.
Now to head to the lab. I've got a lot of work to do and only one day to do it.
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This chapter is kind of short, I know. After this, I'm gonna make them longer. A LOT longer. Try, like, twice as long. Please R&R! Complaints, compliments, I don't care. I can take it! .
Next chapter up when I figure it out.
ACK! Why won't the facial expressions come up on this thing? Sorry. I have to edit this AGAIN.
6/23/05 12:39 AM) Okay. I think it should be good now.