I'll close my eyes
So I can't see
Even if it hurts, I won't be in pain
As I bite down hard
I'll hold back the tears
Don't worry
Just go on your way
I'm alright, I'm used to seeing your back
You've gone so far
Looking at you is my place
But why
Do I keep wanting to call out to you?
Can't you look back just once?
I know that this goodbye
Has already been decided
But why am I like this?
I'll turn my head away
So I won't be shaken
Even if it hurts, I won't be in pain
As I bite down hard
I'll let go of you
Don't worry
Just go on your way
I'm alright, I'm used to seeing your back
You've gone so far
Looking at you is my place
But why
Do I keep wanting to call out to you?
Can't you look back just once?
I know that this goodbye
Has already been decided
But why am I like this?
Just go on your way
I'm alright, I'm used to seeing your back
You've gone so far
Looking at you is my place
- "I'll be Fine" by Suran
(Hwayugi OST)
Episode 8
First Kiss
For several days this past week after the day he consulted with the royal doctor slash love advisor, Vegeta mentally argued with himself about finally revealing his true identity to Bulma. He was afraid and it made him feel disgusted of how he foolishly acted and the realization of him being scared by the consequences of his actions. He is Vegeta, the Crown Prince of all Saiyans, one of the most powerful and ruthless warriors in the universe. The feared Legendary Destroyer of Worlds and the Grim Reaper, Sadara! Entire civilizations tremble in fear at the mere sound of his name and titles. He was a straightforward person with a strong heart, mind and sense of pride! No matter what the consequences may be, he will face it courageously with his pride! He will not live on a lie forever for it's even more humiliating to his pride!
He also thought of several ways on how he should reveal the truth to Bulma, and after a few tries of imagining and practicing stupid and lame lines like some theater actor on how to properly tell her his secret, he decided to simply be himself. Not as Sadara, the Grim Reaper but as Vegeta, the Crown Prince of all Saiyans.
"Uh… Bulma…" he muttered quite awkwardly.
What the fuck am I doing? Stop stuttering, Vegeta! He mentally slapped himself for feeling awkward. He swallowed, as means of getting courage from deep within himself. He turned his head to Bulma's direction and said,
"I have something to-"
But his words were suddenly cut off when Bulma abruptly took his face in between her warm hands, pulled him towards her and pressed her soft lips against his.
At that same moment, something within him just snapped and then he found himself lost in a void of blurry and confusing visions. He could not exactly tell which was past, present or future but all these things somehow didn't just belong to him alone. It was from both of them. That something turned into invisible strings, connecting every bit of his being with hers. His every fiber sparked to life as if they were live wire, zapping with electricity that tingled across his skin. And he was on fire. He felt his heart pound inside his chest, loud and hard. Every cell in his body ablazed with this new sensation, something he has never felt before.
For the first time in his life, Vegeta, the Crown Prince of all Saiyans was completely frozen in shock and disbelief at his own helplessness at this unexpected turn of events.
A myriad of different, confusing emotions ran through him at that moment and he could not understand any of it. It was overwhelming him. He felt like his chest would burst anytime soon.
And so he desperately grabbed her arms and pushed Bulma off him, looking at her with huge, wide eyes blazing with anger and… and… what is this?
"Just what do you think you're doing?!" he growled indignantly through his gritted white teeth.
Bulma's wide eyes stared back at him, surprised at her own nerve to kiss a man, much less a Saiyan. "He's right…" the angry thoughts ran through her baffled mind. "Just what the hell am I doing? Why did I kiss him all so suddenly like that?" What possessed her to kiss Sadara? Does she really like Sadara that much?
The look on Sadara's face said it all. His eyes were filled with a cold look of rage being suppressed. Bulma wanted to shrink back in embarrassment. For several days, she tried to forget those growing feelings that she was developing for him by focusing on her training with Cabbe. The nights she barely saw Sadara was unbearable for her. She did miss him a lot. She wanted to be with him, just the two of them, even if he was sometimes a jerk to her she still likes him. But why does she like him? He was not different from the crown prince she loathed the most. He is as ruthless and scary as the heir to the throne. Though, eventually after knowing Sadara, he quickly became one of the few Saiyans who was so close to her. She saw a side of him that was greater than his deathly image being the Grim Reaper.
Sadara let her go and angrily walked away. Bulma didn't want him to leave her. She needs to tell him how she feels even if she was unsure why she likes him or she might break. She couldn't take it alone anymore. She has to let it out.
"I like you, Sadara-sama!"
Vegeta abruptly halted upon hearing those unexpected words coming from Bulma. The words he had dreaded to hear from her have finally been revealed, cutting through the wind to pierce his hardened heart. Knowing how this revelation would change how they would see each other depending on his answer, how was he supposed to respond?
He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. He didn't want to give a definite answer yet. He cannot love her. She shouldn't be falling for him either. But he knows that deep inside, he wanted it - if only she was saying that to his true self.
He smiled broadly to himself before turning around to look at her.
"Well, who doesn't?" he said in his usual conceited way, giving her a smug smirk. He strolled towards her and leaned his face on hers, looking up to her eye to eye. "With my good looks, irresistible charm and genius skills, who wouldn't like me?"
Bulma blinked her eyes awkwardly at his high handedness, completely amazed at such arrogance he has.
"Plus, it's only natural for a pet to like her own master, right?" Sadara winked.
Bulma grinned sheepishly as she averted her uncomfortable gaze away, feeling awkward at her saying such words. How stupid of her to expect him to be more of a romantic? She mentally slapped herself at her stupidity.
"Y-Yeah, perhaps, you're right…" she mumbled uncomfortably.
Vegeta pulled away, still with that mischievous grin of his. His smile immediately melted upon seeing Bulma looking so hurt.
"Come on. Stop looking like that. You make me feel bad." He told her.
"It's just that…" she muttered before her eyes flared up with rage. "Why can't you take things seriously?! You think I was joking around when I told you that?! And I'm not your pet, you creep! I hate you!" she yelled at him angrily.
Vegeta stared at her ranting about his playfulness and he cackled loudly. "Hahaha! Okay, you just admitted you like me and now you hate me? Wow, that's rich, woman."
"Damn it, Sadara! Stop playing around!" Bulma hissed indignantly, annoyed at how he took her words as being a joke. "I'm serious-"
"-Forget it, Bulma." Vegeta finally said those words in a serious manner, cutting her off. It sounded like an imperious order from a royalty. It cut through her heart like icicles, making it feel as if it was bleeding from the inside.
"W-What?" Bulma gasped, feeling the piercing pain on her chest.
Sadara continued, his face had become expressionless as he said, "Emotions like love are a downfall. Warriors such as myself are not allowed to love another being for it could become our greatest weakness. If you continue this, then you're going to die. And you know I wouldn't want that."
Bulma's jaw dropped in disbelief at his words. What does he mean? Why is she going to die loving him? Why would loving someone a weakness for him?
"Why?" she could only mutter hurtfully, tears were about to fall from her pained blue eyes. Vegeta felt a piercing sting within his chest at seeing her tears.
"The truth is… I feel the same for you, but I cannot allow this foolishness to go on any further. It would only hurt you so much I cannot bear to see you suffer that heartache you would experience if we dare continue this game…" Vegeta wanted to tell those words to her but he found himself unable to let it out as he thought it to be very sentimental for him to say.
He turned around, completely upset of himself for being a fool about letting their relationship go to this point. His body became engulfed by his blue aura as he teleported himself back to his own private quarters, leaving Bulma alone, shocked, in tears and overwhelmed in the middle of the leaving crowd.
~=o-O-o=~
Not so far away, Kakarot was strolling around to look for something to eat. A wonderful scent brought him to stalls selling street foods. There he found a raven haired girl selling octopus balls. He bought his snacks and came in as a hungry customer. He was satisfied by her food and ordered lots from her.
"Excuse me, but do you have enough money to pay for everything you're eating?!" She demanded him angrily.
He grinned as he complemented her cooking.
"Your food is delicious! You cook well. You would make a good mate for a Saiyan!"
The raven haired girl abruptly blushed shyly as she asked, stammering, "A-Are you proposing a marriage with me?"
"Marriage? Sure! That would be good!" Kakarot exclaimed cheerfully.
The girl's face flushed as red as a tomato at his answer, she was only kidding with him at first. "Are you really serious?"
"Of course, I am! Heehee…" Kakarot chuckled. He sure do look forward to marrying the girl he just met. "By the way, my name is Kakarot. How about you?"
"My name is Chichi… Mao Chichi…" the girl replied brashly.
"Chichi, I sure do hope to marry you someday!" Kakarot exclaimed.
Chichi's face flushed even redder, "Do you promise?" She asked, blinking her eyes.
"Yep!"
Chichi laughed at how naive this Saiyan was. Though he seemed quite different from most Saiyans she has encountered before, she couldn't help but think he was making a fool out of her.
"Okay, mister Carrots, enough with playing around!" She abruptly yelled at his face, anger flashing in her dark eyes. It made him shrink back in terror. "Your payment, sir!" she demanded as she opened her hand.
Kakarot stared at the girl glaring daggers at him. The look of her fiery eyes made his chest pound hard and his body warm. What is this feeling?
He smiled back as he took his wallet under his chest plate and gave her bills to pay for his orders. "There. I hope this clears up your suspicions, Chichi." he told her, still with his warm grin on his lips.
Chichi huffed angrily, taking the money off Kakarot's hands and bossily turned around to do her work. Kakarot smiled to himself, he decided he likes this interesting girl.
Marriage, huh?
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta stared blankly at the dark skies of his home planet as he sat alone on the back porch outside his personal quarters. It was already late in the evening at around 2 or 3h. The night breeze warm as it blow gently against his skin. The sensations inside of him made it feel even warmer.
Despite returning to the palace after the sky lantern festival, the completely stunned Saiyan Prince was still under the shade of darkness of his Grim Reaper's Cloak. He was sitting quietly there, his mind off somewhere else as he think back at what just happened between him and Bulma.
That was his first kiss and he couldn't exactly tell how to feel about it. He was too startled to respond or even react to it. Deep inside him, he felt many different feelings and he could not understand any of it. Something snapped inside of him at that moment and he has no idea what it was either.
"I like you, Sadara-sama!"
That was what Bulma exclaimed when she pulled away. She had the most dazzling smile upon her lips he thought it could beat the brightness of the Alpha Centauri. Vegeta felt a flush of heat on his cheeks at those words and he found himself unable to utter a word of what he was going to tell her at all. Everything turned blurry for him, was it due to being blinded by her lively grin?
Vegeta growled silently to himself and put his palms over his face in aggravation. He cannot believe how he let this foolishness go on to reach this path. Now, there's no turning back.
Congratulations on your stupidity, Vegeta. he mumbled bitterly to himself. It's not like he didn't want Bulma to be his girlfriend. It's just that this relationship is so wrong in many ways.
First of all, the kiss… his first kiss…
Vegeta's lips curled as he snarled silently at the wind.
A Saiyan Royal's first kiss was sacred. It should only be given to the one he decided to become his mate during their marriage. Even though he knows he has a feeling that he wanted Bulma to become his mate, the knowledge that there was a little chance for her to reciprocate his emotions once she finds out the truth about him made him feel so mad. That was the second reason. She has no idea she kissed the Saiyan Crown Prince she loathed the most.
Third, was their racial differences and social status. It's not like Vegeta was concerned of it, in fact he didn't care if Bulma is a slave and a weak Earthling. He was a rebellious brat stubborn enough to disobey laws or the words of his own father. The thing is, it might affect his pride as the crown prince of all Saiyans. He shouldn't be humbling himself before someone lower than himself! If Bulma knew the truth, he knows he would lose her. It would be a huge blow to his pride if he dared to apologize to her or anything being the crown prince.
Vegeta let out a quiet scream at his annoyance at what kind of hell he had gotten himself into.
Raditz was strolling around, looking for his younger brother who has not come home yet when he found Vegeta sitting alone on his porch. The long haired General was taken aback by surprise when Vegeta opened his mouth to scream silently with a face contorted with extreme irritation at something. Raditz was bewildered because he initially thought it was Vegeta's doll sitting in there.
Raditz gracefully leapt towards the crown prince and bowed down respectfully, Vegeta's dark eyes glowered at him malevolently, looking like a hungry tiger.
"Did something happen, your highness?" Raditz asked, concerned.
Vegeta's scowl deepened as he fumed at his General. "Pervert!"
Raditz's eyes widened at that, "Huh?" What does he mean? Did he do or say something perverted for the crown prince to accuse him of such humiliation?
Vegeta's onyx eyes came to life as it became ablazed with scorching flames while he abruptly yelled, "How dare you ask me such a stupid question?! 'Did something happen?' What are you implying, you fucking bastard?! That I am a pervert?!"
The long haired general was taken aback by such accusation. Of course he didn't mean it to be that way. He quickly bowed down once more and said, "N-No, your highness! I didn't mean for you to think of it that way!"
Vegeta turned his head away from Raditz's direction with a haughty look and chin raised in the air. "Hmph!" he huffed angrily as he crossed his arms over his bared chest. His dark cloak hung loosely against his small frame.
"It's just that you look like someone who did something so regretful." Raditz mumbled, looking away.
Again, Vegeta made an annoyed expression as he hit his temple against the pillar he was leaning into.
"Your highness, please stop! Please have mercy on the poor pillar! It would get destroyed by a mighty billboard!" Raditz pleaded.
Vegeta's eyes shifted to him and glared at him infuriatedly.
"…And the engineers and the carpenters are fast asleep. It's late in the evening already, your highness."
"I don't care about the stupid pillar or the palace or the workers who would need to rebuild it! I have to destroy something! I need to… Hey! How dare you make fun of my forehead?! It's not like you have something better! Damn you!"
Before Raditz could respond to Vegeta getting up and preparing to beat him up like his own personal punching bag, Kakarot materialized in between them. Vegeta's strong punch ended up hitting Kakarot's face instead, who was sent rolling on the floor in pain.
"Itaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiii!" Kakarot cried out as his hands went up to his face where Vegeta's punch connected squarely. He thought he had broken a nose. Vegeta and Raditz gaped at him for a few seconds. When Raditz moved, Vegeta's maleficent eyes darted on his direction. He ended up chasing the long haired Saiyan until he was able to catch him by the hair and beat him to near-death.
(A/N: Itai – "It hurts")
While Raditz was almost black out, Vegeta turned his attention to the fool's younger brother, who gulped in terror and automatically stepped back. He realized the crown prince is in one of his terrible moods once again.
Before Vegeta could lunged himself for Kakarot's throat, the younger Saiyan raised his hand and said, "Please spare me, your highness. I understand how you feel."
Vegeta's eyebrows furrowed at those words. "What do you mean?"
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta sat together with Kakarot on the porch as the General told of him what he found tonight.
"She was interesting. She had a fiery spirit within her that has captivated me." Kakarot was saying.
Kakarot told the prince of his adventures during the lantern festival and about an alien slave he met tonight.
Vegeta frowned at the story, "So in other words, you told this alien girl that you want a marriage with her?"
"Yep, it sounded delicious so I agreed to marry her." Kakarot said with a grin.
Vegeta felt like his head was about to explode. This glutton imbecile actually thought that marriage is just about food! Ah, just what kind of stupidity did the clown do just now?
"Well, you know… She's like a Saiyan woman. She had a raven hair, dark feisty eyes and amazing cooking skills. She looks strong too. Beautiful…" Kakarot smiled, his eyes glazed with a look of someone deeply in love. Vegeta felt like he wanted to beat the living daylights out of this fool but then… what has made him different?
"You know that I will not allow you to have a mate! You've sworn your loyalty to me! You are mine!" Vegeta shouted furiously, feeling jealous and angry. He was being selfish, he knew that but to him, he should always be his generals' first and foremost priority.
Kakarot flinched at the sound and mumbled, "I know, your highness. That is why I said that I finally understand how you feel… You know… That love sickness."
Just like the Saiyan Crown Prince, a General protecting the heir to the throne is not allowed to have any attachment towards others for they have sworn their loyalty to the future king. Their loyalty should only be to Prince Vegeta and no one else.
But then, Vegeta thought he was no different at all, since the both of them fell for girls who would never be theirs, unless they give up everything that's been important to them in order to be with the one they fall in love with. He wondered if Kakarot would dare to defy him because of the girl. He felt angrier at the thought of that.
But Vegeta decided not to say anything about that. The two of them just looked up into the sky and watched at the stars sparkle like glitters across the darkness. The half moon hung above them, its reddish hue illuminating its position like a fiery light.
He stared at the half moon for a long moment, comparing its bright and dark sides to himself. The moon's bright side was Sadara, who the people see to be the mischievous and friendly one. The side of himself who would usually show his smiles and laughters with the commoners, the easiest to approach, the one who seemed to be righteous. The perfect disguise to hide away half of his dark side. Just half, because even if Sadara was bright, he was still as dangerous and terrifying as his real self.
The dark side of the moon represented his true nature, the one feared by the entire universe as the Legendary Destroyer of Worlds. The ruthless Crown Prince of the Saiyans, Vegeta, the one known to be a heartless monster. It has been a long time since Vegeta decided that his savagery needed to be restrained, instead he ambitioned to become the one to overthrow the Galactic Emperor one day and replace him as the ruler of the entire universe. Since then, he decided to focus on that goal, to become stronger. He let his previously known callous reputation be the warning sign never to mess with him, but he didn't want to become as implacable as Frieza. He wanted to become a ruler who everyone fears but respected by his people, not just for his powers or his birthright but for who he is. A ruler his mother wanted him to be.
Which reminds him of the words the young girl told of him. The child back in the lantern festival, Eschalotte.
Vegeta turned his head to Raditz, who was lying on the floor in a bloody heap. He rose and imperiously commanded "Raditz, get up!"
"Huh? What?" Raditz mumbled in a low voice, still in a daze caused by the sore on his body after Vegeta has made a punching bag on him. He was not able to utter a word again but a painful cry as the maniacal prince harshly dragged him by the hair. Kakarot also yelped in pain when the prince firmly yanked at his right ear.
"Come with me, you two!" Vegeta shouted, the two taller Saiyans flinching and trashing in protest and misery on his hands. He became extremely annoyed with Kakarot and yelled "Shut up!" as he violently punched him on the gut, causing the younger Saiyan to cough out lots of blood. Satisfied with the bestiality he caused, Vegeta pulled Kakarot's ear once more and they disappeared to the air using his Hibiktus.
~=o-O-o=~
There were two doctors working in the public hospital that night, and they glowered at the young girl dressed in a dirty, white dress.
"So did you bring the money?" asked the older doctor with thick brows and white hair. He was short at about five feet and he was plump. His big, dilated eyes looked down on Eschalotte viciously.
"I have, Doctor Shito." Eschalotte said as she offered him the bag of coins she got from selling laterns on the festival tonight.
The other doctor, who was taller and leaner than Shito took the bag of coins and counted the amount within it.
"Hey, this is not enough!" He yelled as he violently tossed the coins back to the girl. "How can you expect us to continue treating your father if you don't have enough money?!"
Eschalotte flinched at his angry voice. Her lips quivered in fear but she decided to bite into it in order to keep her tears at bay. If it was true that the man earlier was Prince Vegeta himself, then these damn doctors will pay for this soon enough.
A hysteric man came in with two flinching Saiyans on his hands, one was badly beaten and bloodied while the other was throwing up lots of blood.
"Doctor, please help! My friends are dying! You have to help them!" the madman under that black shawl cried out.
Eschalotte gaped at the scene before her. Those clothes looked kind of familiar to her.
The two doctors approached the three newly arrived Saiyans like they were gangsters ready to cause trouble and Shito demanded, "Before we treat them, do you have money to pay for the hospital bills?"
The three immediately quieted.
"This is an emergency doctor," Sadara said, pleading. "My friends are on the brink of death. Could you please treat them first? I'll go find money to pay you later."
"That won't work, buddy. You have to pay us first before we treat your friends."
Vegeta stared at the two opportunistic medics. Hearing those words made him displeased.
"Then, I'll give you my money. I don't know if it is enough but please do your job for now." he said as he picked a few copper coins from his pocket and gave it to Piman.
The shorter doctor looked down on the coins and made an annoyed sigh as he rolled his eyes.
"What? This is all you have?"
"Yes, if it's not enough then I'll give you later. I'll go and get money from home. Just treat them right away." Sadara pleaded.
"Fuck you!" Piman roared as he threw the offending coins back to the stupid young one. Raditz and Kakarot's eyes grew in trepidation at that action and had the urge to step and protect the prince but Vegeta's pull on their hair and ear made them unable to do anything.
"You think this is enough for your stupid, low class friends to be admitted to this hospital?! Nothing is free in here, you know! We doctors did not finish our degree just to do charity to lowly peasants like yourselves!" Piman shouted as he pushed the coat clad Saiyan angrily, but he failed to realize that he was not able to make the boy budge from his position at all. Kakarot and Raditz tried to put themselves in between them to protect the prince but it only caused them to roll on the floor. "Now, get out of here before we are forced to throw you out like the garbage you are!"
Raditz panted heavily out of exhaustion and pain while Kakarot sneezed before the two of them looked up to the ice cold stony face of a crown prince suppressing his rage.
Vegeta raised his chin haughtily and imperiously commanded, "I'll leave these two in here. By the time I returned, I must see the both of you treating to these two and the girl's father. If you do not obey my direct order… You should prepare yourselves for the consequences."
Piman and Shito's brows furrowed in confusion, thinking what the odd Saiyan was trying to do. They broke out with laughter, seeing his words as a hilarious joke.
"What? Just who do you think you are to give direct orders to us?! You think you're some fucked up royalty?! Fahahahahahahahaha!"
They were too busy with their cackles they did not realize Sadara had disappeared via Hibiktus.
Kakarot and Raditz slumped helplessly on the floor. Just what the hell was the crown prince trying to do in here? Why does he need to bring them to a public hospital like this instead of coming to Malaka or any doctors at the clinic in the palace. The two public doctors shook their heads off the sight of the two bloodied Saiyans before they decided to simply blast them to the next dimension. People who have no money to pay doctors to treat them have no right to live.
However, before they could release their killing blasts, Sadara appeared out of thin air, with a disoriented Malaka, the Minister of health, Jogaimo, and Cabbe on his side.
"Just what do you think you're doing?" Sadara asked in a cold and imperious tone.
The two Saiyan public doctors' spines grew chilled at the sound of his voice and they could not tell why they were terrified from deep inside upon hearing it. They turned their heads to the direction of the voice and their eyes grew in trepidation at the sight of the two most amazing doctors on the planet beside the shadowy appearance of the Grim Reaper. But, why are they here? Aren't they supposed to be working in the palace?
"Y-Your highness, what are we doing here?" asked the elder Minister of Health in a low voice, who was rudely awakened by a frightening god of death in his sleep. A Saiyan in his mid sixties but he still looked like he was roughly in his forties. His dark hair was cropped short in a clean, military cut.
"Because we are going to have a nice long talk with these two in here." Vegeta smirked as he answered Jagaimo, gesturing to the direction of the two public doctors. "But first, Malaka! Treat Kakarot and Raditz. After you are done, see to the girl's father." He ordered his personal doctor and pointed to the watching young girl.
"As you wish, master." Malaka obediently bowed before he turned to do as the crown prince ordered.
"You two!" he bossily addressed the two public doctors who flinched at his bossy yelling. "Including you!" he glared at the cowering Minister beside him. "Lead me to your office, now!"
Shito and Piman looked at each other, both were discombobulated by the attitude of this brat.
"What are you waiting for?! Hurry up!"
"Why should we let you in the office? Just because you know Doctor Malaka and Doctor Jagaimo doesn't mean you can order us around!" Shito said.
"Watch your mouth, you two!" Jagaimo scolded, glowering at the two doctors indignantly. "You are at the presence of the royal Crown Prince. Show him proper respect!"
"Huh?" Piman's mouth dropped in question though his reaction sounded sarcastic.
Vegeta rolled his eyes and decided it was time. He slowly took his hood off and removed his black cloak, revealing his luminous white royal armor and red cape. The two public doctor's eyes went as wide as saucers it may fall out of its sockets while their jaws dropped to the floor.
"Y-Y-Y-Your… Your… Your highness!" Piman and Shito collapsed to their knees as if they lost the ability to stand. Almost everyone turned to their general direction and gasped in awe as they also fell down to kneel before the most powerful of them all.
"So, does that answer your question?" Vegeta said, his voice lacked any emotion.
"Y-Yes, your highness… Please spare our lives!" Shito and Piman pleaded.
The crown prince simply snorted and pulled out a bag of golden coins. "By the way, here's the money I promised to bring you back." and tossed the contents to the two public doctors who felt humiliated.
"So, are you going to lead me the way to your office or do you wish to be humiliated even further?"
~=o-O-o=~
The two public doctors quickly led the way to their office and then they began their meeting. Vegeta sat at the end of the long table, Jagaimo on his right while Shito and Piman on his left.
"Now then, first of all, Jagaimo, do you have any idea what was happening here?" Vegeta questioned the Minister of Health.
The elder Saiyan bowed down apologetically, "My apologies as I have no such idea, your highness."
"These two and probably all medics working in the public hospital force their patients or their relatives to paying admission fees despite having known that the purpose of this place is to treat the underprivileged for free. Tell me, what were you doing and this has to come up? Do these doctors receive enough payment and privileges from the government?"
"As far as I am concerned, they don't receive enough privileges considering that the government has not enough budget reserved to satisfy them."
"I was pretty sure the government has enough budget reserved for the poor." Vegeta growled, narrowing his eyes in suspicion.
He turned towards the two public doctors and asked, "And why force even those who have no means of paying and treat them as if they were mere trash? Was the purpose of being a medic to treat people or to become opportunists and extort money from the people?"
Piman and Shito already knew how this would end with their lives. Since they are both going to die either way, Piman decided to finally open his mouth.
"The truth is... We haven't receive any salary for the past six months, your highness!"
The Crown Prince turned his dark eyes to gaze back at Piman. "What did you just say?" he said coldly.
Piman reluctantly swallowed the sudden uncomfortable feeling knitting at his stomach, which came worse when he saw that murderous stare on Doctor Jagaimo.
Vegeta turned to listen to what Piman was saying. He was no fool. He saw how Jagaimo glared at Piman, as if he was giving an ominous warning for the public doctor to just shut his mouth. Just as he thought of earlier. Something was off, he was sure of it.
"I'm listening, doctor. Tell me everything. I'll hear you out. It's a royal command." he urged.
Piman was immediately reluctant as soon as he saw that scary look on Doctor Jagaimo. But nothing else was more terrifying than that perilous stare on their Crown Prince's ebony eyes.
Piman took a deep breath, seemingly drawing some courage from it. "Your highness... We have not received our salary for the past six months. We have no other choice but to force our patients to pay us or we'll starve to death without being paid for our hard work. As said earlier, we don't work for free. We have families to support too!"
"So is that a good enough reason for you to extort money from the poor? If you have complains then you should let the Ministry of Health know!"
Vegeta turned his glare at the Minister of Health. "...I am suspecting that the funds that were supposedly used for your and your patient's needs are being used for another purpose. What do you say about this, Jagaimo?"
Jagaimo visibly shrunk. His eyes lowered, obviously due to his guilt. Vegeta's eyes narrowed. Traitorous bunch of fools. He began to suspect corruption in the government funds for something the Ministers were planning.
There was a long silence in between them. Jagaimo didn't dare to answer his question. He let out an angry sigh as he rose from his seat infuriatedly. "Jagaimo, you know what to do. We'll finish this conversation tomorrow at the council assembly." he coldly ordered as he walked out of the office in a terrible mood.
"Yes, Your highness!" The Minister of Health bowed humbly.
When the crown prince left, Jagaimo glared daggers at the two public doctors.
"Officer Cabbe, please wait outside. I will have to deal with them myself."
"Yes, sir." Cabbe said as he stepped out of the office.
No matter how Piman and Shito begged for the forgiveness of the Minister, their pleas were not heard by the elder's hardened heart. Because of these fools, he was busted for his corruption in the goverment funds! And there's only one way to deal with such pests.
The punishment of death.
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta returned to where Malaka was treating Kakarot and Raditz to check on how his friends were doing. Raditz was submerged inside the medical tank while Kakarot just had his left cheek bandaged.
"Feeling better?" Vegeta asked.
Kakarot just nodded and mumbled "Yes, your highness."
"I needed to do it. Don't worry, you'll get stronger from that."
"You always say that as an excuse to beat us up."
"Oh come on!" Vegeta laughed. "I will just treat you both a snack. How does that sound?"
"Vegeta, we're not kids anymore for you to bribe as with snacks!"
"Have snacks with me. That's an order."
"I thought we're friends outside the palace? You always say 'That's an order', 'It's my direct order', is that what you call friends? Does a friend make a punching bag out of his best friends? No!" Kakarot cried out.
"Fine," the prince mumbled. "I guess I should just go and eat by myself then." He turned around to leave but Kakarot quickly grabbed his arm.
"Why is it so hard for you to say you're sorry?" Kakarot said before he let out a wide smile. "Vegeta! I'll forgive you if you let Chichi enter the palace as your royal cook."
"Let me go or I'll kill you! And who said I was seeking forgiveness? I'm not sorry!"
"Pretty please, your highness! I want to see Chichi again. Please!" Kakarot wailed like a child and Vegeta became annoyed with his childish noises…
"Okay, fine! Just stop being such an incessant crybaby!" he yelled.
"Wow! Really?!" Kakarot grinned. Vegeta grunted and he took it as a yes. "Yaaaaay!" The joyous general jumped around like a kid who had what he wanted for Christmas as a present. Vegeta sighed grimly. This clown was no different than the childlikeness of his younger brother. And why the hell is he jumping around like he's all fine now? He guessed he didn't do much damage to him tonight.
"So, Vegeta. Can I fetch her later? You can make the letter as soon as you are back in the palace, right? Right?" Kakarot was literally an inch before the crown prince.
"Stop spitting on me and get your garbage looking face off of mine before I decide to renovate it, clown! Don't test my patience or you'll join your brother in the medical tank!"
Kakarot pulled away and smiled, "Aw come on, Vegeta! Chill! Stop being so grumpy. I know you just had a great time in the lantern fest too."
At those words, Vegeta's eyes widened. Did Kakarot saw what happened between him and Bulma? That kiss?
"You! W-W-What are you-?" He stammered, his entire face flushing red from anger and embarrassment.
Kakarot just grinned childishly and Vegeta slapped his hand over his general's mouth. "You shut that mouth of yours clown!"
"Mmmmmmph! Ooooommmmph! Mmmmmmnnnph!"
Oh how he wanted to kill this annoying clown!
~=o-O-o=~
Five minutes later…
Vegeta ordered for Cabbe to buy some snacks in a nearby all-night konbeni store.
While waiting for Cabbe to return, he became a nurse to doctor Malaka. Though it made the royal doctor quite uncomfortable to order the crown prince around, he was told and rest assured it's okay. They decided not to just check on Kakarot, Raditz and Eschalotte's father but also all patients within that public hospital. He changed dressings to wounds, feed on the elderly patients, and he talked to the families or guardians.
Not far away, the Minister of Health watched as the crown prince played a nurse. He couldn't help but be pleased at the sight before him. Guilt crept within him, realizing that a crown prince was more than willing to do a nursing job for free than actual doctors who wanted to be paid for his services or someone who corrupted the government money for his own greed. He felt ashamed of himself and the other doctors for what they were doing.
He smiled to himself and decided to join Doctor Malaka and Prince Vegeta in treating patients.
Two hours later, Raditz was fully healed and was released from the medical tank. The Crown Prince decided to go home because he wanted to rest now. But before he could teleport himself home, Eschalotte approached him and bowed down before him.
"Thank you very much, your highness."
"Don't mention it. I will send for a new set of more competent doctors later. For now, I'll have to leave Malaka here. We'll have to look for some new doctors to fill in here. Okay?"
"Yes, your highness."
He turned to the Minister of Health who bowed down before him in obedience.
"Be a good girl, Eschalotte-chan." He said before he teleported using Hibiktus. Gone along with him were Kakarot, Raditz, Cabbe and Jagaimo.
~=o-O-o=~
Five hours later, Vegeta went to the royal assembly to speak of the incident to the royal court and his father. Jagaimo courageously appeared after thinking through it overnight. He admitted his corruption of funds in the Minister of Health to the royal court, much to the disappointment of King Vegeta, Paragus and the other members of the royal council. He willingly accepted the punishment of taking down his place as the Minister of Health and his own death due to his admission to corruption.
However, Prince Vegeta decided on one thing. To give another chance to the one who willfully admitted to his sins.
"You admitted to your sins and showed great courage with accepting your punishments for all your faults, without trying to run away. I was impressed because somehow, until this very moment, you showed that you still have the slightest honor of a true Saiyan in you. I will temporarily lift your punishment to give you your last chance to change your ways. Don't disappoint me, Jagaimo."
It was at that same moment that Jagaimo realized that he was wrong about the crown prince. The scene he found on the hospital, the way Vegeta treated his people there… The Minister of Health could only smile as he decided to follow the crown prince from now on.
The other Ministers, especially those on the opposition's side, glared at Jagaimo's direction. They knew that something was stirring up Jagaimo's mind, probably something which would lead to the revelation of their 'secret plan' to overthrow the royal family.
Vegeta's eyes, ki senses and intuition don't lie, though. He already knew that Jagaimo's corruption has a connection to whatever the opposition was planning. What plan it was, he didn't know but he must find out about it.
The Crown Prince continued, "Papa, as penalty for the distress the royal court caused for the people, I advice that you cut down half of the monthly wage of every member in the royal court for the entire year."
"So be it." King Vegeta agreed.
Everyone's eyes widened at his direction.
"Don't look at me like that! I will not hear any complains! Just be thankful that I only decided to cut your wages in half as adviced by the Crown Prince out of our concern for your mates and children."
"But we've got nothing to do with this! Why the need to punish every single one of us?!" demanded the Minister of War, Kabocho. A burly Saiyan with wild, grayish hair. He has an intimidating yet calculating look on his face but was nothing more fearsome than that of the Crown Prince's.
"Watch your mouth, Kabocho or I'll have you silenced forever." Prince Vegeta warned with a growl, glaring dangerously at Kabocho, which quickly made the enraged Minister to immediately step back and relent.
(A/N: Kabocho - Pumpkin)
"Your highness... Your Majesty, it is utterly unreasonable to cut the wages of the royal court. Please understand." supported the Minister of Personnel, Tekamo to his colleague. A tall but slender man with a slicked back hairstyle which spiky ends that reached down his shoulders.
(Tekamo - Camote/Yam)
Vegeta's eyes narrowed, raising his voice. "Are you two hard of hearing?! This will serve as your punishment, penance and warning to every single one of you who would dare to make use of the people's money for their own personal gains. As of now, I am in the middle of a thorough investigation to find the reason why the salaries of those serving under the government were delayed for six months or more! While all you royal officials are enjoying the luxury of your monthly emoluments, those under your offices are enduring months of working hard while being unpaid, probably not knowing when they would receive their paychecks! So how could you, who proudly call yourselves as noblemen, whine to me about this?! Do you even think you deserve to live off the people's money?!" he turned his eyes towards the lanky, elderly Saiyan standing next to Horenso on his right side.
"Kabu, immediately find a way to pay the wages of all unpaid government employees! That is a direct royal command in the name of the Royal Crown Prince!"
Almost reluctantly, Kabu, Minister of Taxation, Budget Management and Finance said with an almost broken tone, "I will do as you command me, your highness."
Vegeta glared at Kabu, clearly suspecting him. He slowly shifted his gaze towards the Prime Minister, Paragus.
He was curious to find out what they would do now. He turned his eyes to Jagaimo, his perfect bait to use.
He glared at each member of the royal court with a deadly stare which was more than enough for them to take, causing them all to cower in fear. He told them in cold, calm yet threatening tone. "Now... If any of you make this mistake one more time, I will not show you the same mercy and send your rotten souls to Rushifa..."
And then like a sudden explosion of a landmine, Vegeta abruptly raised his voice, causing everyone, even his own father, to jump in shock.
"DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!"
The Ministers looked at each other awkwardly before bowing down and reluctantly replying with a yes.
~=o-O-o=~
After the royal assembly, Tarble presented himself before his father and older brother in the throne room once all royal council and scholars have left. He has been thinking about it overnight since he came home from the lantern festival. Truth be told, he was nervous and fearful of what might happen to him today. But he has decided to take the risk, a point of no return. Just like his brother always said, fight for what you want.
"Papa, Niisan… I have a favor to ask of you." Tarble muttered, as he put his fingers together to ease his discomfort.
The King raised a curious eyebrow at his young son and asked, "What is it that you wish for, Tarble? Tell me."
"Uhm…" he shifted his uncomfortable gaze towards his older brother and shrugged. "Uhmmm… I wish for you to give me your blessing to mate."
The king's jaw dropped and stared at him with outmost shock. While Prince Vegeta glared at his younger brother, silently warning him to stop.
"What? You want to… mate?"
"Yes, Papa… I wish to mate."
Prince Vegeta was shaking his head, silently screaming "No!" in his mind. Tarble raised an eyebrow on his brother, not getting what he was trying to tell him. Vegeta pressed his hands over his face.
The king laughed at his young son's words, "Tarble, you are too young to have a mate yet. Could you wait at least five years for you to decide about it?"
"No, papa. I have decided that I will not wait. I like her so much. I want her to be my mate as soon as possible."
The king blinked in shock at the words of his young son. This was the first time he found him speaking to him in that manner. He turned to his eldest son, who had his right hand over his face. Does he know anything about this?
"Tarble, do you even know what you are saying? If you mate with a woman, it will last for a lifetime. And being the second prince, you will have to leave the palace grounds."
"I know that, papa. I am ready for it."
"I don't think so, Tarble." Prince Vegeta growled. "I will not allow it! If you leave, I won't be able to protect you!"
"Niisan, I am no longer a kid. It was you who made me realize that I could be strong, too. I need to be strong in order for me to get what I want. To be with her."
"Says the one who was kicked like a dog by the kidnappers two weeks ago…" Vegeta mumbled to himself.
"Your brother is right, Tarble. Aside from being young, you aren't strong enough to protect yourself outside where me or your brother or Onio won't be able to protect you." said the King.
"Like I said, I need to be stronger in order to protect her." Tarble replied sternly.
"Who is this woman you seemed to be so fond of?" asked his father.
"Obssessed is more like it…" the crown prince mumbled.
Tarble bowed down before his family as he went to the door and called out for Gure. The moment the small bubble headed girl entered the door, the King fell down on his throne. Prince Vegeta quickly spun around to avoid her from seeing his face.
"Your majesty, your highness." Gure kneeled down before the Saiyan royalty. "My name is Gure. I wish for you to accept me into your family as Prince Tarble's mate."
"What kind of stupendous joke is this, Tarble?!" King Vegeta furiously roared as he rose from his throne that was sent hollering behind him. Prince Vegeta's eyes widened at the rage of his father and seeing the royal throne to pieces. Tarble immediately stepped in front of Gure in a defensive manner.
"She is the girl I wish to mate, papa." Tarble exclaimed. One could see the defiance and the fire burning in his determined eyes.
"Are you blind?! She is an alien! This… This thing is not even suitable to become a Saiyan's mate! Look at her! She doesn't look like she is even capable of producing an offspring for a Saiyan!"
"I don't care about it. I love her the way she is with all my heart." Tarble said sternly.
"Tarble!"
"Please papa."
"I forbid it! I absolutely do not allow you to mate with her! No!"
Tarble turned his pleading eyes to his older brother, seeking for his help. "Niisan?"
Vegeta turned his head to give his brother a cold, angry glare. "No."
Tarble felt betrayed for the first time in his life. Tears fell from his eyes as he shook his head in disbelief. "I hate you!" he roared before he turned around and scampered away from his cold hearted family.
"Tarble-sama!" Gure cried out as she followed him out.
Vegeta watched as his brother left angrily. The hateful and betrayed look on his eyes was unmistakable. He smiled to himself, a feeling of pride swelling in his chest. He knows that look very well.
His father turned to him, glowering at his eldest son. "He's really your brother. Now, he's beginning to look and sound just like you do, Yon."
"This is the first time I've seen him like that. Did you see how defiant he looked? I told you he could be like me if he wanted to." The crown prince told his father.
"Now that I think about it, I'm beginning to feel bad that I rejected his wish. I fear that he would really end up becoming as rebellious as you because of this."
"Well, he might. He is my brother after all. You should prepare yourself now, papa. You'll have one more fine addition to your headaches. Hahahaha!" Vegeta joked at his father.
The king could only sigh.
"I wonder why you didn't give him your blessing. The girl might not look impressive but I think she is a good natured one. He seemed to like her dearly." The crown prince asked.
"I have no problem with the girl. An offspring coming from Tarble doesn't matter anyways. What I was worried about was his protection. If the council learns of this, they might kill the both of them."
"A Saiyan of royal blood is not allowed to show such emotions towards another being." Prince Vegeta muttered.
"It is absolutely a disgrace, most especially if it turns out to be an alien slave. It is a betrayal to the royal family. If I give him my blessing, Tarble will have to denounce his royal blood and have to be exiled with no other connections to us and the entire Saiyan Race." The King explained. "Is it really okay for us to give him our blessing?"
"It was his decision, first and foremost. If you think he was being aggressive and wasn't thinking much about his decision, I'll go and talk some sense into him. I will tell him to come and talk to us after he has come to a more defined decision."
Vegeta bowed down before his father and teleported out of the throne room to come and talk to his younger brother.
The moment he was outside Tarble's Palace, he heard Tarble's incessant cries as he threw a big fit. Onio and his servants were cowering outside like scared puppies.
"What the hell is happening here?" he demanded imperiously.
"Y-Your highness, Prince Vegeta! P-Prince Tarble is going berserk inside there. This is the first time I've seen him go like this!" Onio cried out.
A loud, continual scream reverberated inside the palace and the ground started shaking. A burst of bright blue light exploded upwards into the sky. Everyone was taken aback by that power, even Vegeta himself!
What power is this? Who has ever thought Tarble possessed this kind of power? Vegeta guessed that the boy's soft hearted nature was indeed the reason for such power to be suppressed.
"Tarble!" He called out as he flared his aura and ran towards his younger brother. As soon as he was an inch near his brother's body, he quickly raised his hand to block a sudden punch. Out of pure instincts, Vegeta snarled and punched back, sending his brother rolling on the ground.
Tarble picked himself up on the ground, spitting blood as he glared at his older brother. "What do you want, Niisan?" he asked bitterly.
"Don't ask me when you know exactly why I'm in here, Tarble! Just what do you think you're doing?! Do you think doing this will get papa's attention in order to have his blessings for you to mate with Gure?!"
"Well, it worked for you."
"Hmph! Damn right." The older prince said. He didn't tell his brother that it only worked because he was the crown prince and the strongest Saiyan among all. He was always a priority and a feared one by everyone. "Come to my palace. I'll give you something."
With that, Tarble's earlier bitter expression softened. "What is it?" he asked.
"You'll know when you get there! Damn it!"
Tarble reluctantly followed his older brother towards the crown prince's palace. They sat on the cushion seats on the floor at his private quarters.
"Before I give you this, papa and I would want to hear your final decision after I make you realize the consequences of your actions in the throne room tonight." The Crown Prince began. "I have to make you understand the reasons behind why we forbid you from taking Gure as your mate. The Saiyan Law states that a Saiyan of Royal Blood is not allowed to feel or show any loving emotions towards another being from a low class or an alien, as it will be considered as betrayal to the Saiyan royal blood. If it does then the royal blooded Saiyan has to denounce his royal title and be exiled towards another planet, with no further connection to the Saiyans, the Planet Vegeta and the Saiyan Law.
"You see, if you continue with your plan to mate with Gure, papa and I will have to banish you on some other planet along with her. You will no longer be a part of the Saiyan royal family or the Saiyan race. You cannot go back to Planet Vegeta no matter what happens. I won't be able to protect you or even send you reinforcements. Do you really wish to have these punishments because of Gure?"
Tarble smiled at his older brother, feeling satisfied with his brother and father being concerned about him and his safety. Prince Vegeta was always such an overprotective older brother and Tarble grew up depending so much hiding under his older brother's strength, protection and reputation. But yesterday's events in the lantern festival made him realize that he needed to stand on his own two feet and learn not to depend on his brother or his royal status anymore.
"I have already made a decision, Niisan. I will not go back to my word. I absolutely wish for it so I am willing to take the punishment."
Vegeta stared at his younger brother with his cold, dark eyes. "I don't know why I feel betrayed. After all these years I have protected you, this is how you're going to repay me? By leaving me all alone? I deeply regret taking Gure in here and making her as your niehre. Now, I'll be lonely. I hate you too." he pouted as he made an angry, childish look.
Yet he saw Tarble's resolve. He was sure of his decision and no matter what he would say to stop him, the boy will be adamant about it. Vegeta saw that Tarble was indeed his brother. He had a part of his Saiyan Pride in him.
He angrily slammed a navy blue paper on the table in front of him, took his golden pen and started to jot down orders on the paper. He was writing in such an unbelievable speed.
"If that's what you want then fine, it's your decision. You're all grown up now, you can decide by yourself." he mumbled angrily. After he was done, he folded the paper and place it on a navy blue envelope and seal it with the royal crown prince's seal. "Come, let's go to papa and tell him your decision."
He grabbed his younger brother and teleported back to the throneroom where the king has been waiting.
"Papa, you may give Tarble your blessing now." Vegeta said.
Tarble turned to his older brother with huge surprised eyes.
"What's the verdict, Yon?"
"I think he is capable of protecting himself from now on. And he is absolutely sure with his decision. He is willing to take the punishment of being exiled from Planet Vegeta to be with the woman. That alone, proves his improvements of being a worthy Saiyan honorable enough to fight for what he wants and what he believes is right. It is also a proof that he is willing to get stronger and fight obstacles for her, which he has never showed before. Let him be and let him do as he'd like."
King Vegeta smiled. "Yes, you are right. Tarble has changed a lot. He's become stronger from what he used to be. I only doubt that he won't be able to protect himself from enemies after he leaves."
"Don't worry, papa. I'll take care of it."
The crown prince assured his father about the safety of his younger brother.
"Fine, I'll give you the blessing you want, Tarble." King Vegeta tried to get a hold of his emotions at sending away his youngest son. His voice was shaking from anger, disappointment, pain and regret as he told him his next words. "But from this day onward, you are no longer a part of the Saiyan royal family."
Tears once again fell from the young Saiyans' eyes. Were it tears of joy that he had his wish granted or regret that from this day onward, he won't be able to call the man his own father? He turned to his older brother who just stared him with an icy look, though deep inside, the crown prince felt sad and lonely at having his younger brother exiled. Tarble wrapped his arms around his older brother and cried, happily.
"Thank you very much, your highness!" he said. He turned to his father. "Your majesty!"
Vegeta kept his angry acting skills and didn't move at all. He pulled away from his brother said:
"Come to the deck for the royal pods at 26h with your things. I'll have Cabbe prepare a pod for you to take and program it to Planet Teketeke." the older Saiyan prince told his brother.
"Teketeke-sei?"
"That's Gure's home planet."
"I see."
"I wouldn't want to see you leave. I guess I'll send my regards with Cabbe then."
"Okay. Thank you, your highness." Tarble bowed down before his brother and walked out of the throne room. Vegeta watched at his brother's back for a long moment, his chest filled with jealousy.
Because Tarble is just a second prince, and was seen as too young to participate in politics, his brother can easily denounce his royal blood and title a lot easier to do whatever he wanted in life. He can do it easily to free himself from the strict and suffocating palace life, rules and Saiyan Laws.
Though known to be disobedient with the laws and rules, being the crown prince and the future king of the Saiyans, Vegeta had to suck up most of his rebellious side if he wanted to rule over his people in order to change them and fight against the opposition. He has the greatest responsibilities and plans that could not be thwarted by the foolish emotions he was developing for a certain blue haired girl. He has to win his battles, get stronger and achieve his goals. For his people, his father… and for her as well.
"Yon, you should know better than following Tarble's steps." The king warned. "You should not think of mating with an alien woman. Keep that in mind."
"I know that, papa…" Vegeta muttered, his mind wondering what could Bulma be doing as of now… Was she still mad at him for what he's told her on the festival? Will she be lonely now that Gure will be leaving her? Which reminds him of the promise he made with Kakarot.
"Papa, I have to go." he said before he teleported back to his quarters to write letters of his orders to Kakarot, Onio and Tarble.
~=o-O-o=~
The Royal Council had a meeting about Jagaimo's possible betrayal and the mysterious reason for Prince Vegeta's decision to lift his punishment. Seeing this as a threat to their heinous plans, they decided to take care of the traitorous Minister of Health.
Jagaimo knowing that his life would still be in danger even after what happened in the assembly today, decided that he would write a letter to the crown prince, which would reveal the truth of the opposition's plans against the royal family and their treachery.
Later that night, Jagaimo went out of his home to give Malaka the list of doctors the crown prince ordered for him to assign to the public hospital. However, something unexpected happened along his way.
A group of mysterious men wearing black shinobi clothes surrounded him.
~=o-O-o=~
Meanwhile… Vegeta stayed true to his word about not seeing his younger brother leave with Gure. Not even his own father has shown himself upon Tarble's departure. Only Cabbe and Onio were there.
Cabbe has revealed that Vegeta has ordered for Onio to come along with Tarble in order to attend and protect his younger brother. Vegeta also sent a letter for his brother that broke Tarble's heart.
The letter contained Vegeta's true feelings about Tarble's courage to fight for his loved one in the face of difficulties. He wrote how impressed he was of his brother's bravery and the way he has changed because of Gure.
"I'm so proud of you, Tarble. I wish you and Gure happiness. Send her my regards. I wish for us to meet somewhere, someday… Take care, my dearest brother. I will always be your big brother no matter what. Take the scouter, I hope to hear from you soon."
Tarble was glad to know of this and how his brother still cared for him. He asked Cabbe to give Vegeta his teddy bear, where he recorded a message for his older brother before he took off into the stars to live happily ever after with Gure and Onio on his side.
Or so he thought…
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta watched at the trail of his younger brother's space pod on his meadow. Bulma was on his side, not really talking much since he appeared before her tonight as if nothing happened between them the night before.
For the entire day after the night of the lantern festival, Bulma tried to avoid seeing Sadara as much as possible. It was uncomfortable for her to see him after he rejected her when he told her to forget her feelings for him. It was really awkward and upsetting to think about.
However, she later realized that she cannot actually avoid him. Not when he could find her anywhere and force her to come with him with his pushy and demanding personality. So when he did appear in front of her and literally grabbed her forearm after he noticed her planning to avoid him, she decided to just come with him. (Mostly because he was literally dragging her and she was helpless to free herself from his grasp).
"Hey, are you not really going to talk to me?" Vegeta complained. She didn't say anything. He growled at her, annoyed at the fact that she was ignoring him tonight and decided to think of some topic to make her talk.
"Now that Gure's gone, are you feeling lonely now?" He asked her.
"Hmph! Not really! Kakarot has brought Chichi in today in the kitchen so I guess even if Gure has left, I still have a friend to talk to!" Bulma mumbled, her tone was stern and angry, refusing to look in his direction.
"Oh, so you know each other, huh?" Vegeta said, amused.
"She was a co-worker back in Broco's barracks."
Bulma's way of talking to him doesn't seem like her usual self, Vegeta noticed that.
"Are you still mad about what happened in the lantern fest?" he asked. Now, that made her look his way with her eyes blazing with blue fire.
"What do you think?! You made me go crazy about you these past few days and when I finally decided to tell you how much I like you, you will tell me to forget it!" she hissed furiously.
"You understand nothing, woman." Vegeta said in a cold tone.
"Don't make an imbecile out of me!" Bulma suddenly yelled.
Vegeta pulled his lips away from his gritted teeth and growled angrily. He was offended at such blatant disrespect she showed him by that answer. "Do you really wish to die?! Did you see what happened to Gure? She and Prince Tarble were banished because of Saiyan Law! It's just because he is a royalty that the crown prince has decided to just banish them instead of killing them! We Saiyans are not allowed to have romantic affairs with an alien species, much less a slave like yourself!"
"I am not a slave!" She defended, screaming. She was offended of him calling her that.
"On this planet, you are a slave whether you like it or not." Vegeta said in an as a matter of fact tone.
"I'm not a slave, you creep!"
"Damn it, woman, will you stop being so delusional? You are an alien slave on this planet, no matter how much you deny it! You serve the crown prince as his cook, you served as a cook in the barracks for years. You think that isn't slavery?!"
"I told you I am not a slave!" Bulma screamed like a banshee that her voice could be heard across the meadow and the nearby forest, which made Vegeta flinch at the ear piercing sound.
"Hush, woman! You'll wake the entire planet with your loud mouth!" He hissed after a few moments of being stunned.
"Fuck you! I don't care about it any longer!"
Vegeta stared at the furious blue haired woman for a long moment. Heavens! Why is she being so difficult? Why can't she just accept the reality? Why deny it when it was the fact? He smiled. The pride of this woman is astounding and he doesn't seem to hate it, though he was annoyed at her audacity to scream with that terrible voice.
"Okay. Okay, fine." He muttered, raising his hands as if he was surrendering to the police. He decided to give her the explanation she deserved in order to make her stop pestering him with her heartbroken acts.
"Listen to me, Bulma… Don't look at me like that! Listen good and listen well because I won't be repeating these again for you."
Bulma's cold eyes softened as she listened to what Sadara was about to say.
"The truth is… I like you, too. It maybe different from what you think but I do like you and I'm serious about it. That is why I'm telling you to forget these feelings because we cannot be more than friends. You know it yourself, how this is all so wrong. I'm telling you this to save yourself from the trouble. I don't want you to be in a pinch or a death row because of me. So let's just stay as what we are now, okay? I cannot have you wasting my and Cabbe's efforts to train you to kill Prince Vegeta just for you to be killed because of a stupid damn law! Plus, remember what I told you before. That once you faced the crown prince in the battlefield, we will be enemies. Don't forget your true goal."
"Whatever, thanks for reminding me that, jerk. Now I think I would start to hate you even more." Bulma said bitterly.
Now that's good. Vegeta snorted.
"You think that you are ready enough to face me, the other generals and the crown prince by that time, huh? Let me see how much you have improved with your training these past few days!" Sadara challenged.
"Don't worry, I'll show you!" Bulma exclaimed with burning determination to prove herself.
And so, Sadara and Bulma started their sparring session for that night, both satisfied that the tension between them has finally eased. In her innermost thoughts, Bulma plans to prove Sadara that she is worth for him to love for and that he would regret that he denied his true feelings before her.
~=o-O-o=~
The following morning during the royal assembly, Prince Vegeta was obviously not in a good mood. He received a report from Malaka that Jagaimo has failed to submit him the list of names of the doctors they would assign to the public hospital. Other than that, the fool has not shown himself today.
"You really should have dealt with his punishment, your highness." Paragus said. "Who knows he could have betrayed your trust in him to change his old ways?"
The crown prince closed his eyes and concentrated his ki senses across the planet.
"Yes, you were right. I should have known better than letting a traitor go after what he has done." Prince Vegeta agreed as he opened his eyes. "For there were more traitors who might emerge in the shadows, fearing for their own downfall because of him."
Everyone turned to his direction, wondering what the crown prince meant with his words. Was he being suspicious that they did something towards Jagaimo? Vegeta stared at the ministers before him. If he knew better, someone among these backstabbing fools have silenced Jagaimo permanently in order to avoid any backlashes to their heinous plans. They may have believed his reasons for lifting the cruel punishment was to make Jagaimo admit to him of what he knows of the opposition. Well, they were absolutely wrong. He merely used Jagaimo to see through the opposition's ways. Since Jagaimo was a part of them, Vegeta already knew what will happen to the Minister once he lift his punishment of death. He wanted to see if the opposition would kill him by their own hands and make him think the Minister has betrayed him.
"What the hell is the meaning of this? What has happened to Jagaimo? How is this even possible? Whoever did this to him..." He turned his cold eyes towards the Prime Minister and smirked with obvious sarcasm. "Are they underestimating me? Hmph! They must think of me as a joke. Don't you think so, Paragus?"
The crown prince let out a maleficent smile. Just as he thought, blood would spill because of it and he won't be the one to do it but his enemies. They would kill each other off just to prevent backlashes. It seems that everything is still going according to his expectations.
~=o-O-o=~
An hour later after the royal assembly inside the council's office… The three traitorous councilmen were talking to themselves once more. Paragus was not with them, he was probably alone thinking about the arrogant royal brat's suspecting words that lashed out on them in the throne room earlier.
"Do you think Jagaimo has already told the Crown Prince about our plans?" Kabu asked.
"If Prince Vegeta knew, he wouldn't be talking shit in the throne room just to mock us. He would have attacked us already. Considering his volatile temper, there's no way he would still be as calm and arrogant if he knew. He would totally be enraged and would probably murder us all in the spot. Especially if he knew that it all began because of his own father." Nasu replied.
Horenso chuckled. "I wonder what would happen if Prince Vegeta learns the truth? Too bad he has just recently forgiven the king and both of them are in better terms lately."
"I think he would never forgive his Majesty for it. And also that includes every single one of us as well. It's good that the majority of our plan was a success. We just need a little more time so we will be ready."
"So it's true that Prince Tarble has been sent away due to having an intimate relationship with an alien girl." Kabu discussed.
"It has always been a rumor that Prince Tarble has been in a relationship with his alien niehre. It seems the crown prince has made a move to save both from the humiliation by sending them away." Nasu said.
"They say it was Prince Vegeta who brought the girl to Tarble. It looks like he's on with it with his foolish brother."
"Is it true he also brought another one to become his cook? I heard he usually see this cook every night in a disguise in order to cover up his identity so people won't see him. They say they even went to the lantern festival together." Horenso said.
"Prince Vegeta disguising himself is not all new but seeing an alien girl in that horrible cover up? Could it be the reason why he's not in his usual self the days before the festival? Do you remember how he's been suffering from insomnia back then? And that he seemed to be out of his own thoughts." Nasu said.
"Tch! Are you implying the crown prince was love sick?" laughed Kabu.
"Well, he seems to be having signs and symptoms of Limerence, Minister."
"Just how would a ruthless and hard-hearted crown prince be showing signs of love sickness?! Are you delusional?!"
"Still, if it is true that he is meeting up with this alien girl every night, this could be a good thing to use for us to dethrone him."
"However, Prince Vegeta could make excuses for his actions or deny it in the royal court." Horenso said. "We need a proof that he indeed has affections for the girl."
"But how do we do that, Minister Horenso?"
Horenso thought for a moment until an idea suddenly popped in his mind. It has been a long time since he's had a good lay. He let out a vicious chuckle. "I think I know what to do…"
~=o-O-o=~
It was evening and Bulma was returning to the kitchen after the crown prince was done with his dinner. A royal guard has approached her. He was tall and muscular, with dark hair that stood up in random directions. He has a fair skin and wore a navy blue and gray armor over black short sleeved jumpsuit.
"Miss Bulma, the crown prince has a special order for you." he handed her a navy blue envelope sealed with the crown prince's royal seal. He left immediately after she received the letter.
Bulma wondered what special order it was and she went out of the crown prince's palace, opening the letter and reading the beautiful calligraphy writing in gold letters over navy blue scented paper.
"Minister of Government Affairs?"
She bumped into Raditz on the way, who shouted at her, "For goodness' sake, woman! Look where you're going!"
"Sorry about that. Ah! Raditz! Have you seen Sadara-sama or Officer Cabbe?"
The long haired Saiyan raised an eyebrow. "No."
"If you ever see them tonight, please tell them I won't be able to go to training. The crown prince had a special order for me." she raised the letter.
"At this late hour?" Raditz asked, suspicious in his voice.
"Yep. See you then!"
Raditz watched as Bulma leave and then returned immediately, "By the way, where is the private quarters of the Minister of Government Affairs?"
Raditz pointed to her the direction towards Minister Horenso's quarters and she thanked him as she went on her way. The long haired General watched at her go, wondering why Prince Vegeta suddenly ordered for Bulma to go to Minister Horenso.
~=o-O-o=~
"Hey Raditz, why are you being so quiet now? Huh?" Vegeta asked, he was dressed in his black general's armor as Sadara. They were having a drink with Bardock, Broly and Kakarot on Raditz' residence. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was suspicious of Vegeta ordering his personal cook to come to the Minister of Government Affairs at this hour.
"It's about Cabbe, your highness." Raditz said.
"Cabbe? What about my cousin?"
"I have to tell Cabbe that Bulma is not coming to training tonight. Or, maybe you should be the one to tell him. He could be waiting at the meadow, you know."
"She's not coming to train? Why? Is she sick or what?" Vegeta asked.
That's it.
Vegeta raised an eyebrow at the shock on Raditz's face.
"Did I say something weird?" Vegeta wondered as he asked the others, who shrugged back as they have no idea what it was.
"Your highness… Didn't you send a special order to her tonight?" Raditz asked carefully.
"Special Order? What do you mean?" Vegeta muttered.
"Fuck!" Raditz hissed. Just as he thought, it was indeed suspicious. Vegeta's smile immediately melted and turned into a frown. A cold, deathly look replacing his good mood earlier.
"What are you implying, Raditz?! Speak!" Vegeta imperiously ordered.
"My apologies, your highness!" Raditz cried out. "I met Bulma earlier, s-she said she had a special order from you to… to… she even showed me the letter! It was from you! It had your exact handwriting and complete with the crown prince's royal seal!" he explained.
"What's the special order?! I did not send any special order today!" Vegeta roared.
Raditz's body quaked with horror at the sound of rage in the crown prince's tone. "I don't know... She said… She said that you ordered for her to come to Minister Horenso tonight-"
Raditz was unable to finish his words when Vegeta abruptly disappeared to thin air, enshrouded by his blue aura.
"Your highness!" Everyone screamed.
Raditz, Broly, Kakarot and Bardock immediately panicked. If they knew better, that look on the crown prince's eyes… could only mean death and destruction. His blood lust is about to be unleashed.
"Kakarot! Quick! Let's follow him now!"
Everyone quickly grabbed to Kakarot who focused his ki senses towards the indignant ki signature of their murderous crown prince. They teleported using Kakarot's Shunkanidou towards where the furious Saiyan prince went to.
~=o-O-o=~
Bulma stepped back in trepidation, away from a lustful Saiyan Elder who was busy taking off his clothes one at a time. He had an awful, lascivious grin on his horrible face. Bulma wrapped her arms around her, in an effort to protect her body. If she knew better, this lucidrous old man is thinking of violating her. What a disgusting creep!
Soon, she found herself cornered at the wall. A dead end, nowhere to go. She swallowed her fear and decided to make use of what Sadara and Cabbe taught of her.
"I-I'm warning you… Touch me or I'll punch your ugly face!" Bulma warned as she crouched down in a fighting stance.
Horenso simply chuckled at her efforts of threat. "Aw, come on! It's not like someone like you is strong enough to do damage to a Saiyan like myself." He said as he leaned his body towards her. Bulma's eyes flashed with red, hot anger as she summoned all of her strength to knee the perverted elderly on his precious manhood.
Horenso grunted painfully at that unexpected attack to his most treasured balls. Bulma used this as a chance to escape. She pushed him off her and scampered away from the horrendous man. However, before she could reach for the door, she found herself intimate with the floor. A throbbing pain hit her entire body. Horenso was on top of her, his weight bearing over her was too much for her. He grabbed her forearms and pinned them above her using his hands and overwhelming physical strength. She cannot move much, but she tried to protest wildly by violently shaking her head and screaming.
"Nooo! Stop it, you creep! Someone, help me! Sadara-samaaaaaaa!" She cried out. This can't be happening! She cannot let this old dirty jerk take away her virginity!
"Hahaha, no matter how hard you scream in here, nobody will be able to hear you. This room is made to be soundproof to prevent the outsiders to hear the pleasured screams of women I fucking destroyed from the inside!"
"Nooo! I won't let you!" she said as she spit on him. It made Horenso that he slapped her so hard.
"You bitch! Now, I see why the crown prince has taken a liking to an alien slut like you! You are a feisty woman! Just like how a Saiyan wants of his woman..." Horenso growled. He leaned his face towards her, gently caressing her soft cheeks as he chuckled, "Do you even know who you were always talking to? Fehehehehe…"
Bulma flinched away from the disgusting touch, "No!" she spat. He slapped her face once more.
"So you have no such idea. Poor girl. I heard you hated Prince Vegeta for destroying your home planet. Too bad you didn't know he was making a fool out of you all this time. Fahahahaha!" laughed Horenso.
"Wh-what do you mean? What are you saying?" Bulma muttered, confusion was clear in her blue eyes.
"You see… That guy… isn't what you always think of him to be." Horenso said.
"W-Who?"
"That one whom you called for help… That Grim Reaper, Sadara…"
A powerful explosion abruptly burst on their left side and destroyed the entire room as if a bomb has set off and was thrown from the outside. There was a flash of light that obliterated the entire wall, a potent wave of wrathful energy. The shockwave was enough to throw the both of them off. Bulma rolled roughly on the ground and hit her head on something hard. She saw a completely enraged Grim Reaper harshly pushing the laughing Minister off of her. Sadara's furious animalistic snarl reverberated in the air filled with violent rage and bloodlust.
"So you've come, your highness. Prince Vegeta…" That was Horenso's smug remark even as Sadara slammed him on a nearby wall that crushed to rubble upon their powerful impact.
Bulma's visions spun around and blurred, a cloak of darkness threatened to pull her consciousness away. Wait, isn't that person Sadara? She looked at the flaming haired Saiyan not far away from her. Yes, it was Sadara, indeed. That black armored Saiyan was indeed him. There's no mistake about it. She immediately flinched at the throbbing pain on the back of her head, something wet and sticky flowing out from there, making her dizzy and everything went confusing. All she could hear were ear-piercing panicked screams around her.
"Your highness! Please calm yourself! Calm down!" she heard several people cry out in alarm not far away from her.
"Bulma! Damn! Kakarot! take her away from here now!"
"Take her to Malaka immediately!"
"Prince Vegeta! Your highness! Stop it! It's us! It's us!"
"Don't kill him!"
"Don't do this, Vegeta! Calm down!"
"Kill me and you lose your crown!"
"Don't kill him, please. I don't want you to be dethroned because of her."
There was a loud ripping sound of pure animalistic rage and that's the last thing she heard before blackness has enshrouded her and pulled her down to unconsciousness.
