Pretty Baby

By Becky Sue

Chapter Six

Four Years Later…

Sitting at his desk, he looked around at his home, his office that had been his for the highlights of his career; it was dead. The dark, empty room was bare in soul, to say it bluntly, it was lonely. The award trailing the walls now no longer served its purpose, the great deeds were only little stepping stones for his great fall.

Hell was an exaggeration, living was the chore for the young hero. Now a thirty year old detective sat at his kingdom. Vegeta looked at his papers that lay in front of him, the sadden smile turns into a dreadful frown.

Dear Detective Ouji,

Due to the uncomfortable circumstances, we are sorry to inform you that the Detectives Bureau feel it best that you sign for an early retirement. This is not our wishes entirely, but due to your recent mental and physical stated, this act will be placed into action immediately…

Vegeta picked the pin from its spot, signing his name where the X states so; looking over his shoulder at the awards he lunged a picture at the wall with a roar. Throwing the papers to the ground he looked, he stared, there was nothing else for him to do.

Looking up from his furred stated, there were multiple pictures that lay silently in front of him. Once happy memories only now a terrible reminder of what was. Vegeta looked at a specific picture, one that was his happiest time. Holding it, he remembered the weeding and how happy he and his fiancée were to have finally gone through with it…

"ChiChi…"

.:Flashback:.

"Oh Vegeta sweetie, I am so happy that this day has finally come for you," Mrs. Ouji looked over at her son and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "I never thought you, of all people, would marry, and look at you now."

"Mother, please," Vegeta studied himself in the mirror as he adjusted his tie.

A knock erupted on the door, Mr. Ouji popped his head in, "It is almost time son." His wife smiled as she kissed Vegeta once more and with a giggle she left the room, "You know you have made your mother very proud of you today."

"I know father," Vegeta smirked.

"You have picked a good one; she is beautiful, talented, she is perfect for you," Mr. Ouji stated.

"I hope so."

"Sorry Mr. Ouji, but Vegeta, it is time," Goku smiled at his long time friend and partner as he was getting ready for his wedding.

"Let's go then," Vegeta smirked as her left the room.

Standing at the front of the chapel with the priest, the music filled the room. Vegeta's head lifted up as he looked towards the door. Opening slowly, his bride to be walked through and started towards him.

'ChiChi Mau,' Vegeta thought to himself. His beautiful bride, she was beautiful as his father had said. She was his, and only his.

.:End of Flashback:.

Vegeta snapped back to reality as he looked at the picture again; she had such a fragile smile during those times, he realized his first mistake in that moment.

They had met in a strange way and he had fallen in love in a strange way. ChiChi Mau was a young senior student that he and Goku had questioned during the Brief's case; she was still very much in her prime. Later that same year, around November, they had bumped into one another and sparks flew instantly. From that day on, they were inseparable.

It was only ten months later that they were married and were ready to spend the rest of their lives together, but sometimes, things get in the way.

.:Flashback:.

Vegeta drove up his long driveway and towards his beautiful home that was specially built for ChiChi and him. It was a beautiful beginning for what he thought would last him forever.

He parked quickly and walked towards his front door hoping to surprise ChiChi. Lately, ChiChi had been slightly distance and Vegeta believed that it was because he had been working day and night with a huge case. So Vegeta had gotten everything settled for one day and made a few calls hoping to treat his loving wife out for a special dinner for two.

Vegeta stopped mid-stairway, turning his head as he heard noises of moaning and giggling. Vegeta closed his eyes before he continued up the stairs and towards the bedroom. Stopping with his hand on the door knob, he heard a male's voice, 'Goku'.

Bracing himself, Vegeta walked into his bedroom. He laid his eyes on Goku and ChiChi lying in his bed in the middle of their sinful love making. Vegeta held his breath as they looked at him with a dreadful silence. Vegeta swallowed a shameful tear as he turned around and walked to his car, speeding off.

.:End of Flashback:.

A tear found its way to the corner of Vegeta's eye before he blinked it away. He began to think to himself, ChiChi and Vegeta were divorced only six months after the incident, no children, Vegeta was alone, again.

Goku and ChiChi, however, were married that following year and still kept in touch with Vegeta. He enjoyed talking to them and started to think that maybe if Goku had been the detective, maybe he would still have his loving wife. The last that Vegeta heard, they were expecting a child in late June.

Thinking now, Vegeta thought more about his situations he had seemed to place himself in. Maybe he shouldn't have neglected his wife so, and maybe he should have devoted more of his time to her. He drowned himself in his work the next three years, he lived it like he needed his job to live.

Only four years had gone by, and he was a living car wreck, many people could stop their driving just to sit down and watch him fall. He was confused, hurt, and lost. He never let it on though, it only made him stronger until that case. That one case that changed everything…

Vegeta stood up, grabbing his walking stick as he began to walk with a trembling limp. He was in a specific incident that would leave him to either walk with a limp for a few years or would cause him to be paralyzed. Vegeta looked at the newspaper articles, many were titled strangely, the Great detective brought to his knees, or things that reeked of weakness. Vegeta used his free hand to ripe the papers down, lookind at them were a painful memory.

.:Flashback:.

Vegeta walked into the bedroom where the child had been murdered. It was the tenth one that week, two children a night, the killer was on a roll. Vegeta called him the Backhanded Child Man, a serial killer and a rapist.

He would stalk children, boys and girls, wait for them to lie soundly in bed before his attack. Something like this could make a man famous you know, so naturally, Vegeta was the man to clean up the mess. He loved cases like these; it made him feel more power beneath his ego.

With a smirk, he looked the room, looking for clues, finger prints, anything that would lead him to the killer. Vegeta bent down towards the bed as he picked up a large hand knife that was covered in blood. Vegeta turned around as man jumped through the closet and started to choke Vegeta. Before he could react, the killer began to stab Vegeta in the side hard, over and over.

Vegeta felt the blood dripping out as he fell to the ground, weak, and dying. Laying there in his own blood as he watched the ceiling, the time flew by. He would pass in and out of conciseness, hearing the sirens or the talking of the doctors saying things like we might loose him…

.:End of Flashback:.

That was only eight months ago and Vegeta was in and out of the hospital for check-ups. It was hard work, but the worst part, Vegeta would have to refrain from any and all detective work for a year, and by then Vegeta knew his career would be over.

The door of his office slide open as someone, a young woman walked through greeting Vegeta with a smile. Vegeta looked at her carefully, "Can I help you?"

Next Time:

The look-in of our young Vegeta is not so much a happy fairy tale after all, and let's face it; Vegeta doesn't have the best of luck.

With his career falling beneath him, what is a detective to do? Maybe this young female stranger can help our hero in this situation, or is there a catch?

See what happens in the next chapter; one step closer to the truth.

Author's Note:

Hey there everyone! What is up? How did you like the sixth chapter? Exciting ain't it! Mawhaha. I hope everyone liked it and I hope everyone reviews a little more than every other chapter, tear. But it is okay. I still love this story. And this chapter was more of a catch me up, but I am sure you all are smart ones!

Anyway, the story will be updated in the next week or so, as you've noticed I have been working non-stop on my other story, trying to complete it and whatnot. Besides, I have other ideas I would like to embark on.

-BeckySue