If I Knew Then

Chapter 4: What It Takes

I'm terribly sorry it took so long! I'm so lazy... but anyway, it's finally here!

Trisha (anon): Your wish is my command! Much more you will get. Thank you for the review.

Debido: Thank you for a good critique of the story! I appreciate reviews like that. You actually took the time to look at my profile and find out my name? How cool! Unless I'm being stupid and stuck it I like you reviewing. Thanks! I'll do my best not to dissapoint.

Pearl3: That was my main concern about the last chapter: too rushed. Thank you for being understanding. I was trying to get across how old she was and how much of a haze those years were to her. I think after I'm done I'll go back to that and add more details or something. Thanks for reviewing and sticking with the story!

Raccly e.r: No problem. I'm lazy as well... heheh still gotta read your stories. You are definitely a 'someone' hahah. Thanks for telling me it cleared everything up. I'll tty online!

Tailameaisu: Thanks for reviewing another chapter of another story! I like you reviewing . Such a support! Well, I'll try not to disappoint!

"I can't believe you're making me go to this Earthling gathering." Must he always complain?

That's all he ever does when he's not insulting me. I had NO IDEA that a Prince had so much to complain about, or that he could complain so much. Had he been bitching about his past with Frieza and all the injustices he's suffered, it would be a different case. But he bickers about simple things. If I'd know that I would've made a silence policy when I first laid down the rules.

But then he still probably would've bitched about that.

Whatever. We're going to the party now and that's all that matters.

"Woman, what is this think around my neck?" he starts asking, tugging on his tie. "Why is this necessary? It serves no protection as armor, it doesn't help movement because it restricts it, and it can't even be used as a weapon. If I tried to strangle someone with it, it would probably rip in half first!"

Heheh. I made him wear an FBI looking suit. Black tux and everything. I even made him wear the sunglasses. I'll tell him to push it up above his forehead when we get inside or it gets dark.

(Sigh.) "It's a cultural thing. And it makes you look tough."

"Tough?"

"Yea. Special agents and stuff wear those kind of things. Gives you a 'high up' look, and people will stay out of your way and not question you."

"Blasted woman! If I'd known that I would've asked for one sooner!"

"Like the glasses?"

"Exactly."

Upon his request, I gave his sunglasses scouter capabilities. Now instead of wearing the watch, he can just use the glasses. Who knows what he would've made the tie do…

"Hey! You're lucky I let you use the glasses instead of the watch."

"The watch is obsolete. Now people won't be able to tell when you're calling me and I can turn them on or off with a single thought. AND it's safer because no one else can use it except for me and you. I was simply doing my job by suggesting it to you."

I hate it when he's right.

"Suggesting? More like demanding. But whatever. I guess you have a point."

Tonight is going to be interesting. I procrastinated my way out of making a plan. I guess I'll just try to have fun. What else can I do? It'll be entertaining teaching Vegeta about Earth customs and dances. (Giggle)

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing."

I can see it now, him tripping and falling across the dance floor, becoming outraged because people are staring, no, laughing at the prince of all Saiyans! Hahah!

"What?"

"(giggle) Nothing!"

I wonder what his reaction will be during the slow dances, when he actually has to TOUCH me. I can see the look of disgust on his face now. If he backs out, I won't have any trouble finding him. All I have to do is look for the tuff of hair!

"Stop laughing!"

"I can do whatever the hell I want!"

"Shut up and DRIVE!"

"YOU shut up and LET ME DRIVE!"

"Well then WATCH OUT FOR THAT TRUCK!"

Oh.

"EEEEEEEEEAKKKKKK!"

That was kind of close.

"YOU IMBECILE! PAY THE FUCK ATTENTION!"

"ARGH! You INSUFFERABLE, EGOTISTIC BASTARD!"

"INCOMPENTENT WENCH! Don't talk back to your SUPERIORS!"

"YOU are the one working for ME, so DON'T bite the hand that builds the GR!"

"Now that I'm a Super Saiyan I don't need your fucking GR anymore."

(Sigh.) He still doesn't know.

"How much energy does it take for you to turn Super Saiyan?"

"What?"

"Is it hard for you to turn Super Saiyan? Cause if it is, isn't it logical to assume that the stronger you get without turning SS, the easier it will be for you to become SS? You wouldn't have to have someone buy you time because it takes an act of outrage or a ten-minute power up session just to transform."

Looks like that shut him up. I think I'll let him ponder for a while. Helpful hints like that shouldn't tip him off too much.

"Okay, now this party is important to get some investors, so try to be on your best behavior."

"Best behavior? You're lucky I'm coming."

"It was expected due to the deal. Besides, according to your thinking you've got nothing to train for now that you're Super Saiyan."

"Humph." He never likes to admit he's wrong.

"We're here." It's a nice complex. Very pretty! Obviously Mrs. Techlado enjoys homecare as much as my mother, unless of course they hired or build people to do that for them.

"How repulsive," Vegeta comments, wrinkling his nose.

"You're just saying that to annoy me."

"Well is it working?"

"Of course not. Now come on."

"Name please?" Aww! The guy at the entrance with the guest list looks like he's 15! How cute.

"Bulma Briefs."

"And who is this? Mr. Briefs?" How adorable! So professional.

"My bodyguard. Don't worry, I told them he was coming," I explain, shaking my head to inform the boy that no, Vegeta is indeed not my husband.

"May I still have his name so I can add him to the guest records?"

"Of course. Vegeta…uh…" Oh man. I just realized he might not have a last name and that even if he did, I don't know it. Vegeta, son of Vegeta? Hahah, I don't think they'll take that.

Can't he see the expectant look I'm giving him?

"Vegeta no Ouji." Well, at least he can take a hint. Or he just read my thoughts.

"How do you spell the last name?"

"N-o-u-j-i." At least he's a good bullshitter. Must come naturally as a prince, making announcements to the people and stuff.

"Thank you, sir. Please enjoy your evening."

"You're good," I whisper to him as I slide my arm around his.

"Of course I am. I'm royalty," he says slickly, choosing that moment to slide his glasses on top of his head.

"I just remembered that you don't need to do that. I think I made them transition glasses, so they should turn green like your scouter."

"You don't remember?"

"Hey I've got a lot of projects!"

"They're red," he corrects, sliding them back down over his eyes and turning them on. I can tell because his brow furrows whenever he does.

"Oh, that must mean its soft light in here. I think blue signifies black light, and in the dark they should still be green for night vision."

"My, my, my! You should mass produce those, or at least sell them to government agencies like the CIA and FBI." It's Mrs. Techlado!

Such a brilliant lady. When I was young (oh wait, I still am young) she was my idol and role model. She runs her company jointly with her husband: she invents and he sells. Such a perfect match! Sometimes I wonder if it was a business marriage… but the two seem to love each other so that's so great.

"Good evening Mrs. Techlado! Your get together of all the major companies looks like its going well."

"Isn't it exciting? Oh, who's this handsome young man? You finally settled down and married?"

"Oh no! This is my bodyguard and dear companion, Vegeta Nouji."

"Very nice to meet you," she says, extending a hand.

Oh, dear lord hear my prayer… let Vegeta not embarrass me…

OMFG. He… kissed it. I mean… he is a prince… but his holier than thou attitude doesn't account for kissing a lady's hand!

I feel kind of dizzy.

"Stop rambling in shock! Your thoughts are seeping in and overloading my brain," he snaps at me mentally. I must really be losing it or he's using his powers. "Oh, and what is this 'married'?"

"I'll explain later."

"Quite the gentleman! You've caught yourself a fine one, Bulma dear! Hold on to him," she advises, giving me a nudge and wink.

"I plan to."

"Well, I see the Bornees over at the entrance, so I'm going to run off and greet them. I'll come and catch up with you later, okay? You'll have to tell me what your brilliant father is up to."

"Of course! It's a date." What a great lady.

"Why would you go on a date with another woman? Is your species intrasexual?"

"No! Well, some can be bi, or completely gay, but it depends on the person. We're just like Saiyans. Actually, we're compatible, assuming Goku and Gohan aren't some fluke of nature." He nods his head to say that they are. Dumb ass. "Wait… why am I telling you all this now? It's just a saying. See that's why I wanted to bring you to this! To be exposed to stuff like that."

"I see."

"Whatever. Come dance with me." I need to teach him that when you pull on someone's arm, they don't really mean to pull you, especially if the person can lift you up with one finger. Why won't he budge?

"Ugh. Must I?"

"I said 'at my side,' which means you'll have to be dancing to follow me onto the floor. C'mon, I'm going to teach you how to waltz. And don't bother grumbling; it won't save you."

"Fine." He looks rather concentrated as I lead him to an empty space between people, watching a couple couples waltzing around for fun like we will be.

"I assume it's like this, then," he halfway asks me, grabbing me close and leading me into a waltz perfectly. That was easy. I didn't have to do or say anything.

"You learned just by watching them? Impressive."

"Of course. How did you learn?"

"Same way you just did, only I was fifteen."

"Humph. Any other dances I should know?"

"Not now that you can't pick up on, but I think you'll make a great tango partner later."

"Is it difficult?"

"Comparatively. Nothing you can't handle."

"This dance isn't too different from the dances on Vegetasei."

"Really? What was the difference?"

"I'll show you."

Taking his hand off my waist, he pulls me into a hug like grip and puts his other hand on my shoulder.

"Where do I put my hands?" He takes my left one and sets it on the shoulder that has the arm hugging me, and then puts my right arm (the one that his hand is resting on) around his own waist, returning the hug. This is cool!

"Move your feet like this," he explains as he shows me the dance. The steps are pretty similar.

"Heheh. And you complain humans get too touchy."

"Saiyans who do this dance together are mated."

"Mated, huh? Oh, that's kind of like marriage here, to answer your earlier question. Marriage is basically the legal way of saying you're mating, only without the sex, Hahah."

"I see. That means we're married now."

"What?"

"This is the dance Saiyans do in the mating ceremony. It's one of two I remember."

"Woah. I'm kind of young to be married already," I joke with a grin. Surprisingly he laughs. I can feel his chest reverberating against me.
"Since the only other Saiyan left is Kakarott, and he doesn't care, it's safe to assume we don't have to follow up on the ceremony."

"What's the follow up? Is it like a honeymoon?"

"What's that?"

"Consummating the marriage."

"Then that's it exactly."

"I was about to murder you if you'd tricked me into a marriage," I say seriously. I can't help but break out into a grin. "You could've at least told me and forced me into it," I joke. Again, I'm surprised when he laughs.

"Saiyans don't find things like that honorable. Same goes for rape and leaving your mate."

"So when you mate, you mate for life?"

"Yes."

"So if by some fluke of nature we go and have sex now, you'd be stuck with me forever?"

"Correct."

"Interesting."

"But since we both decided this isn't a real mating ceremony, I would only have to stay if you had a child. Even without the ceremony, the two are officially mated when a child become a factor, born or unborn."

"No wonder you hate me and all other woman. If I had your kid you'd have to be stuck with me."

"Not to mention protect you," he adds, not even bothering to say that he doesn't hate me.

"Oooh! When you say 'stay,' you mean live with me and everything? I thought you meant you couldn't be with anyone else."

"No you got it right that time. I'd have to live with you and protect you both."

"This is so fascinating! On Earth, we have something called a divorce. Basically if either one of them, hopefully both, decide that it would be best to call the marriage off, they get a divorce. It's easier when they both decide, but if its just one then it take a while cause they have to give reasons."

"What kind of reasons?"

"O, I don't know. Abuse, sometimes. Or maybe child abuse by their partner, and then they apply to have custody of the children. But if it ends on good terms, like they fight a lot and they think the kids would be better off not exposed to stuff like that, then they get joint custody. Hopefully they live close to each other then. Or, if worse comes to worst, the family will split up. The children may have to decide which parent they want to live with."

"That's why if there's a child, there's no turning back. It would be too cruel to the brat."

"Unfortunately, sometimes it's best for the child anyway on our planet. You guys seem to have more 'honor' and stuff that holds back certain things, so that's good."

"If a parent abused a child they'd be put to death."

"Yea, see, things like that. We'd just waste taxpayer money and stick 'em in jail. There's also something called an annulment. If within two weeks or so you decide the marriage was a mistake, you can get one. Sometimes people get married at these cheap places that do the ceremony in 20 minutes, like Las Vegas, and they aren't always… thinking clearly."

"Why wouldn't they be?"

"They might be drunk, or they could just be young and not think about the consequences of their actions. Here you have to be 18 to legally marry without parental consent, but some people still think that's too young. In other countries, though, there are still arranged marriages so they can get married as young as 14."

"That's ridiculous. How could they have children?"

"Exactly what I was thinking. I heard that the youngest parents were 8 and 9 sometime in ancient China."

"That's disgusting." He wrinkles his nose.

"Yea, our world is kind backwards. We rant of love and emotional stuff but it's all so temporary and fake sometimes."

"On my planet, 'marriages' were not completely arranged because you had some pick, but they weren't about 'emotional' things like 'love.' It was all about prospect. Who would be the best mate for someone else."

"Like marrying in class and stuff?"

"Exactly. Elite fighters were forbidden from marrying low class ones, in fear that the genome would have an elite fighter with a 2nd class child."

"That must've been hard on the royal family, having to chose and stuff."

"That's why I'm halfway glad I don't have to worry about that anymore. I can choose for myself. Usually the king would choose for the prince."

"That royally sucks."

"Sucks what?"

"It's a saying. There is an explanation but you don't want to hear it."

"Do you humans even remember where half your 'sayings' come from?"

"No. But that's partly why we use them. It's an understood communication thing."

"I see."

"Will everyone take their seats?" Looks like Mr. Techlado wants to make an announcement.

"Whoop! Looks like the dancing over," I comment, untangling myself from the lock. I keep my hand around his arm though.

We take our seats and Mr. Techlado starts his speech thingy.

"I would like to announce blah blah blah…." I can't help but zone out. I never did have much of an attention span.

So, I need to make Vegeta to fight the androids. It's not a matter of him staying long enough for them to arrive, it's about giving him incentive on this planet.

I knew the GR wouldn't be enough, considering he's already turned Super Saiyan, but I figured it would buy me enough time to think of something else. Whatever it is, I need to hurry.

"Blahde blahde blah Bulma?" Huh? What? I heard my name.

"Tell them why your father isn't here." Vegeta must've noticed me looking around wildly.

"Oh, nothing big. He needed a break so I decided to come instead."

"Well, we're glad to have you as well! Would you like to come up and get this for him?"

"I'd love to!" What is this anyway? A certificate? Dad'll probably know.

"Thanks Vegeta," I call to him mentally as I take my seat. I hope he hears it.

"You owe me, woman," he informs me.

"So you were actually listening?"

"Saiyans have long attention spans."

"Yea, unlike me. Maybe it's just him. His voice is rather dull."

"Yes, it is him because I suddenly feel really sleepy, a feeling Saiyans do not feel often when they're hungry."

"Don't worry, we're eating right after he finishes. I'm sure he'll be done in a little while."

"He'd better be or I'll MAKE him be done."

"Don't go blasting everyone, now. You said you'd be good."

"No I didn't."

"Well I said you'd be good, so you will be."

"I'm not your pet."

"That's right. You're my bodyguard."

"Grr… don't toy with me."

"Oh, but it's so fun!"

"Why the hell are you two looking at each other like that?" the woman across the table from me whispers suddenly to us, a weirded out expression on her face. Oh. We must've been making expressions like we were actually talking. She must've been watching us for the past couple minutes.

"Oh! Heheh. It's just that we know sign language and we forget some people don't know we're signing."

"Oh, okay," she whispers back, an understanding look crossing her features as her attention returns to Mr. Techlado.

"Sign language? Teach me it later, woman."

"Don't worry, Vegeta. I'll teach you everything."

Again, so sorry it took so long. I tried to make it pretty long to make up for the laziness I've been experiencing. Please review! Next time, at the party Part II.

Oh, I still have to edit this, so please excuse any stupid mistakes.