Round and round and I never know why

Round and round and it will show us way out

It's my delight

As day goes by you hold on tight another day

You're wondering why but you know why

No other way

- Round and Round (Heize)


Episode 11

Round and Round


It has already been two weeks since Vegeta let go of Sadara's relationship with Bulma and with that, it seemed like his life turned back to the way it was before he found her on the Barracks. He would train all day long, with a few breaks to eat, bathe, and attend royal assemblies. As he kept himself busy, focusing entirely with his goal to become the strongest in the Universe, he understood that no matter what he do, he couldn't really rid himself of Bulma entirely. Even if the pain of heartache had subsided due to his high ego, he still couldn't get her out of his mind. He was completely wrong about forgetting her. About letting her go. But he didn't regret telling her the truth to his real identity. His only regret was the fact that he was unable to convey the entire truth because he lied once again. He thought it would be better if she hated him so he could rid of her easily. But his guilt and the memories he shared with her were like demons in his head. It made him unable to sleep as peacefully as he normally would. It came worse that day he decided to dismiss his friendship with Bulma and accepted his father's plan to select his future mate.

He roared furiously as he wildly let out a series of potent and deadly punches and kicks in the breeze as he passed around the spacious room. His fluid and graceful movements were powerful and exact. Combos made to cause fatal damage against his enemies. He released his impediments and ferocity with each attack as if it would destroy these annoying feelings he was being conscious of.

A few minutes later, he decided that he had enough training for now so he went to get a towel to wipe the sweat off his chiselled body and a cool bottled water to drink. He heard Kakarot screaming outside like something so urgent just happened.

"Your highness! Your highness!" Those were Kakarot's annoying cries as the anxious General sprinted in panic towards his training room where he just completed his training session. The prince was wiping the gleaming sweat off his bulging muscles with his white towel.

"What's that incessant noise about now, Kakarot?" Vegeta quickly demanded with an annoyed face, not really focusing his gaze up the anxious warrior.

"Hurry! You must come! Quick!" Kakarot was panicking.

The royal's eyes narrowed instantly as he pulled his lips away from his gritted teeth, irritated. "What is it?!" he snarled.

"It's about Bulma, hurry!"

Vegeta coldly glared at his General, he doesn't show any sign of concern or panic as Kakarot does but deep inside, he became bothered. "What about her?" he stated carefully, not giving any interest with the clown's words. His expression was guarded and quite calm.

"Bulma is going to die! Hurry!" Kakarot was really causing a fit by now, jumping around and waving his hand in the air. He seemed to be desperate to just drag Vegeta out of his training room to go to wherever Bulma is. The prince wanted to laugh at his antics but he rolled his eyes in disgust instead.

"Save her yourself if you want to, Kakarot." he told Kakarot still with that bored tone. "I'm busy. I'll continue training."

"If only I could I would gladly do it, you know! But only you could stop Lady Kinoko from killing her!"

"Kinoko?" Vegeta mumbled, making out the name. His second degree cousin on his mother's side, Kinoko?

He let out a breath and stared at his General. Kinoko was known to be a really cruel and ambitious lady, so he heard. And that she would do anything to have everything her way. Vegeta understood, because they have the same personality. Since they were kids, she already showed great interest with becoming a future queen when she always tried to be as close to him as possible. After all, their mothers were close cousins. So there were times when she would come by and play with him, Tarble and sometimes Cabbe. However, after his mother passed away, when Vegeta had shut everyone out, he told her to get lost and that he didn't want to see her ever again. This was because Kinoko looked almost just like his beloved Queen Mother. He didn't want to be reminded of her whenever he sees her.

Now that thirteen years had gone since he last saw her in person, he's heard of rumors (as Sadara) about how Kinoko has changed and her spoiled rotten attitude had become worse. He supposed that she applied for the Selection to become the Princess Successor to make her childhood dream of gaining political power come true. She takes in many connections, aside being his second degree cousin, probably his father's choice too, and the fact that Kinoko's father is a member the traitorous opposition in the royal Council, Nasu.

He smiled a cruel grin to himself before disappearing to thin air via Hibiktus.

He made it in time just as Kinoko fired what it seemed to be a finisher blast. That made his fury explode and he quickly lifted his hand to reduce the powerful beam into yellow sparks that flew into random directions.

He icily glared back at Kinoko and furiously roared, "JUST WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!"

Everyone's eyes widened in surprise at his unexpected appearance and immediately put their heads down to bow in respect and honor. Well, everyone except Bulma, who just stared at his back with a blank look.

"Your highness," Kinoko muttered. "I am merely punishing a stupid slave who spilled Chili sauce on my gown for tonight's ball."

Vegeta coldly gazed at his second cousin, "So… Just because of that stupid reason, you dared to spill blood on the royal grounds? Not just the blood of an alien slave but of someone of your own race as well?"

Kinoko took a long time to respond. "Yes, your highness." she muttered softly.

The crown prince snorted. "What is your right to do exactly just that?! You are nothing but a mere guest in the royal palace and you dared to do that in my territory! Just who do you think you are?!" the prince roared. His indignant shout had made everyone quivered with dread. "Has anyone ever informed you that what you just did is against my slave protection decree? This slave girl is working at my royal palace as one of my royal cooks! If she did anything wrong, you should have informed her superiors, or my Generals! Only when I order it could someone punish her and no one else! And accidentally spilling sauce on your gown seems hardly a crime punishable by death! Don't you think?"

Kinoko could not say anything but an apology, "My apologies, your highness. I was not informed."

Vegeta stared at Kinoko for a bit, before he commanded to Raditz, "Raditz, tell the Minister of Rites and the Minister of Royal Discipline to come in here now."

The long haired Saiyan immediately bowed down and obeyed his order.

"It appears to me that these Selected Girls are misinformed of the rules and laws in the palace!" Vegeta announced as soon as the two Ministers were bowing down before him. "Someone dared to go against my Slave Protection Decree by punishing a slave who accidentally spilled chili sauce on her gown and claims she knows nothing about it. Don't you think it's your job to teach them how to act right when inside the Royal Palace? And the laws and strict rules too?"

"Yes, your highness." muttered the Ministers in submission.

"Then do your job right! One more time these foolish young women try to act insolently in MY territory, I will punish you both severely!" the powerful prince scolded.

"Yes, your highness! We apologize for the trouble!" cried out the two elders.

Vegeta snorted quietly and sauntered forward towards Kinoko. He slowly lifted his hand and ordered her in an icy tone, "Give me that gown she spilled with the sauce."

Kinoko reluctantly handed over the gown and he looked over it. He snickered at how it turned out.

"You could have asked someone to dry clean this for you. You don't need to spill blood because of a mere accident. How could you become my crown princess if you behave like that? You should patch up that annoying attitude of yours first. It overshadows your beauty."

Vegeta then proceeded with ripping the gown and burning it to ash with his ki. Kinoko's eyes widened in shock at what he just did.

He suddenly peered at her, as he leaned close to her ear and released a warm breath that made Kinoko's spine tingle. "Don't act cruel and haughty around here, Mushroom girl. Because I'm crueler and haughtier than you. Don't be so sure about your aces. You don't have the right to pretend like you're already the crown princess. Next time you do this, I will eliminate you from the Selection myself." he whispered in her ear before he drew away and gave her a sardonic evil smile, taking delight at her dismay.

He turned around to leave along with his four Generals. His dark eyes flicked towards the reeling blue haired girl who was looking away from him. She looked absolutely terrible, her body badly beaten. He gritted his teeth together, feeling angry about her injuries. But he was able to stop himself from going to her, reminding himself that he shouldn't bother. After all, the girl who tried to help her would take care of her.

He walked past her, which seemingly happened in slow motion for the both of them. Once he was gone, Bulma raised her head to stare at where he had gone with a sorrowful look.

Why did he bother to save her despite knowing that she would never take gratitude for it?

Caulifla told her servants to help Bulma once the prince has left. Kinoko silently glared darkly at Bulma as the slave girl was led away by Caulifla's servants, with hot, furious tears falling in her eyes.

She found out from her father about how Prince Vegeta had an affection for this certain slave that is why the Marriage Restriction Order has been issued by the King.

So that's the girl.

Kinoko vowed to herself that she would win the competition and once she becomes the Crown Princess, she would make that pathetic trash's life a living hell.


Daizu and Nagaimo returned to the Royal Council's office, looking like they were completely worn out after that tensed moment. Once they were inside the office, Paragus immediately demanded what it was about that the crown prince summoned them.

"It's about Minister Nasu's daughter. Kinoko made a scene in front of everyone, humiliating and almost killing a slave working in his palace and a fellow Selected because the gown she was supposed to wear at tonight's ball was spilled with Chili Sauce. Prince Vegeta was furious."

"She did what?!" Nasu roared, slamming his hands over the table. Paragus immediately glared at the furious minister of technology. Noticing the Prime Minister's gaze, Nasu exhaled a long breath and calmed himself down.

"Aaaaaye," Paragus made a disgruntled growl through his white teeth. His displease was obvious on his face. He flickered his gaze away, silently telling Daizu and Nagaimo to leave him and Nasu to talk.

Once the two Ministers left, he slowly leaned towards Nasu, gazing into his dark eyes directly with an ill intent and told him in a quiet voice: "Talk to your daughter, tell her to do her best to get Prince Vegeta's attention. She is our only chance. We have to use her as a pawn in this game. If she becomes a Crown Princess then we'll have an alas at our fingertips. Otherwise, we have no other choice but execute our secret plan."

"Yes, Prime Minister. I will do as you told." Nasu said as he bowed before the Primier and left the office to see to his daughter.


Bulma felt awkward. She was surrounded by noble Saiyan girls who were being kind and gentle with her. There was a dark skinned beautiful girl tending to her wounds. Her facial features told Bulma that she seemed shy and timid. Very different from her friend who seemed to be fierce and talking almost endlessly.

"Damn that Kinoko! Just who does she think she is? Does she think she has already won this competition for her so act like an arrogant fool. Hmph!" The girl who saved her growled in the corner as she paced angrily.

Bulma flinched as the dark skinned girl gently applied healing cream to the wound on her face.

"Like I care about winning this stupid competition anyways but if our future queen will be that bitch, I'd rather either win or die! I just couldn't stand her!"

"Aneesan, please calm down." The dark skinned girl muttered. The way she addressed the other girl made Bulma wondered if these two girls are actually sisters.

The wild hair girl sighed. "Yeah, I guess I should." she mumbled before she disappeared and appeared in front of Bulma, making the blue haired girl reel back in shock.

"Hello!" She grinned. "I'm Caulifla. These two over here are Kale and Mizuno. What's your name?" she pointed to the timid and shy dark skinned girl to the cool and collected ponytailed lady.

"My name is Bulma." Bulma replied shyly.

"Cool! I know Kinoko was harsh but you should just forget about her and avoid her as much as possible. She has a reputation."

"A very bad one." Mizuno muttered in a flat voice.

"I'm afraid Kinoko-sama would have her eyes on Bulma-san after what happened." Kale said.

"Don't worry about it. I think Bulma has a lot on her sides. That includes us, right?"

"Yeah."

"Eh? What do you mean?" Bulma asked.

"Though Kinoko has such reputation, you are going to be safe. Since you have us on your side, we will fight with you."

Bulma wondered if these girls are in an anti-Kinoko group or Kinoko-haters. Was she supposed to trust them? But… they saved her.

Which reminds her how he saved her again. Bulma's expression turned melancholic once more.

"And you also have the Crown Prince's Generals on your side." Mizuno said.

"And even the Crown Prince himself." Kale smiled a little.

"Did you see how he humiliated Kinoko? It was funny. Hahaha." Caulifla laughed.

Caulifla, Kale and Mizuno's voices faded as Bulma was lost in her thoughts, being filled with images of Vegeta saving her life for two times already.

Why is he doing it? Why does he care? She already told him how she doesn't want to see him anymore.

Seeing him again only brought her heartache back.

Why?


Why?

Vegeta sat on his cushion seat on his private quarters. The question "Why?" repeating on his head like some annoying demon. Why did he feel worry upon seeing Bulma in such a terrible state? He shouldn't have felt that anymore!

Why is there a guilt in his heart?

"Your highness, it's me, Raditz." he heard his General said outside the door.

"Come in," he commanded. The doors opened for the long haired General to enter and bowed before him.

"Report." he ordered once again.

"I've found them, Your highness."

Vegeta's lips gave in to a smile of relief. "Really?"

Raditz responded respectfully, "Yes, your highness."

"Then bring me to their location." The prince commanded imperiously.

"Yes, your highness."

After changing from his royal armor to his black armor, Vegeta told Raditz to lead him the way to those people he asked to be searched.

Once outside his palace he heard of some girls giggling and found the group of Saiyan girls who took care of Bulma earlier. Bulma was with them, surrounded by them. They seemed happy. Once they found him, they immediately quieted as they bowed down before him. Bulma didn't bow down though. She just stared at him awkwardly.

Vegeta stared back at Bulma quietly. It was a sorrowful moment for the both of them, gazing at each other's eyes.

When Raditz cleared his throat, their gazes broke and Bulma had to look away. Vegeta frowned and wondered if he could punch a hole on Raditz or not. Vegeta glared at his General and silently ordered for him to go.

Raditz led the Crown Prince out of the royal city, floating and flying into the sky surrounded by their aura and leaving a trail of energy on their path.

On the day that Vegeta had decided to accept the fact he and Bulma had gone seperate ways, he ordered Raditz to search for some people for him.

They descended into a small, obscure island where a big dome-shaped house stood at the center of lushes of green trees.

Once they were in front of the main entrance, Raditz announced, "The Crown Prince is here!"

The door slid open and three people came out of the house in a hurry and bowed down before the Saiyan Royalty.

"Your highness, it has been a long time. What has brought you in here?" said the elder man.

Vegeta stared at the man bowing down before him, "I brought you something good." and then he smirked.

Learning of what happened to Bulma, Celerie became worried of her. Her junior was brought back to her quarters to rest for five hours. She told her to take a break for a while until her injuries are cured. Bulma felt extreme guilty and apologized for what happened.

"I'm sorry, I've been an inconvenience to you lately. It was my fault."

"Don't worry about it. If anything bad happens to you, I would be responsible to his highness."

Bulma looked up to her superior with wide eyes. "Eh? What do you mean?"

"Whatever you're going through, please don't let it affect you entirely, because everyone around you will be affected too. You must become strong. You were a strong woman. I'm sure that's what made his highness attracted to you." Celerie told her. "I want you to be the strong willed and energetic woman I used to know. Whatever happened to you, it will pass. Just think of the happy memories you have."

"But…"

Bulma wondered if there were any happy memories left. After all, the only time she became happy was when she started to spend time with Sadara. That revelation sure changed those memories into animosity.

Celerie smiled at her as she lifted her hand and put it gently on Bulma's shoulder. "Rest for a while. You may return and help us when your wounds heal in a few hours."

Celerie stood up and left Bulma in her room. She sighed as she remembered that night Bulma was burning up with fever and the crown prince has come to her aid to take care of her. She assisted him when he did that.

After Vegeta made sure that Bulma was asleep after that tenseful moment, he sat on the porch and looked up into the stars. He found Celerie sitting nearby and he decided to have a seat not far away from her.

Celerie turned to see the prince's sorrowful eyes looking up the stars and decided to speak.

"Are you worried about her, your highness?" she asked in a low voice so to avoid anyone but him to hear her question.

The crown prince could only nod and mutter quietly. "Yes."

To Celerie, it was quite surprising for him to answer that kind of question. But then, it was pretty obvious to her by the way he acted earlier.

"So it's true that you like her?"

The prince nodded once again but he didn't say anything. She could see how much the prince was trying to contain his feelings. After all, he was forbidden to show any soft emotions in front of other people. She couldn't help it but be awed at how he endures his pain. She realized the truth on the saying 'No matter how hard and cold someone's heart is, it would soften once it learns how to love.'

Knowing of the strict rules of the royal house, there is no way for a crown prince like himself would ever marry an alien slave. There's nothing more painful than knowing that no matter how powerful he is, he won't be able to be with the woman he liked.

"When you are in pain, it's okay for you to let go of the tears. If you wish for me to leave you alone so you could let go, I will do as you wish of me. Just please don't try to contain it inside, your highness."

Vegeta's eyes narrowed at those words. He longed for his mother, a person to talk to when it comes to problems like this. Someone who would not dare to judge him as being weak. Someone who would listen, who would rub his back as he let out his tears. A shoulder to cry on. Someone he could trust.

But he could not trust anyone. If he breaks down then his enemies might see this opportunity to attack him. He cannot break the wall he built and lose to them.

"If I do, would you see this as being in a state of weakness?" he asked.

Celerie shook her head slowly, "No, your highness. Everyone has his own limits. Even the most powerful and the strongest has his breaking point. It is not a weakness, but a sign of breaking through that limit. Just like how Zenkai power works, after letting go of all the tears, you will have a stronger and tougher heart."

"Then would you listen to me?"

"She was a strong woman, not in physical strength but in will and in heart. But I broke her. Now I see what I have done. I broke her heart and her will. The strong woman I learned to love became like this because of me. It breaks me too. And I don't know how to bring her back." The prince cried. Celerie watched as the crown prince let out his tears that night and was unable to control herself from coming close to him and pulling him in a warm embrace. Just like how a mother does to her crying child, she comforted her son with a hug and a rub on his hair and back.

A son? It was surprising of her to think of the crown prince as if he was her son. After all, she has been serving the Crown Prince for most of his life.

Vegeta didn't care about anything else aside from Bulma, their broken relationship and a mother figure he found on Celerie. That moment, he felt thankful.

"Take care of her. Help her return to her usual self."


She could not forget how the crown prince pleaded her, with tears in his usually proud and cold glaring eyes. However, the following day after that, he's back to his usual cold, temperamental and bossy self as if nothing had happened. What surely did change was that his ill mannered behavior had become worse.

Now that the King released the Marriage Restriction Order to begin the Selection of the upcoming Crown Princess, Celerie wondered why Prince Vegeta had agreed to that easily. Was it because of his enemies? To prove them wrong about the rumors? Was it to gain more political power?

Kinoko lowered her head in respect for her father who just arrived at her quarters. Nasu doesn't look impressed after hearing what just happened earlier. He invited her to come and talk to her privately on a small room that only contained a small oak table and two cushion seats.

"I heard that the Crown Prince was furious at what you did earlier," Nasu told her coldly. Just like most Saiyans, he was a strict father. It was clear that he was displeased at his daughter's irrational behavior. After all, they are noble blood.

"Yes, papa." Kinoko replied with a pout, looking like a spoiled rotten girl who had her favorite doll taken away from her. "It was because of the blue haired slave bitch. He rescued her."

"Of course, he would. You dared to hurt his love interest."

Kinoko's black sharp eyes quickly looked up to her father, "She is the one, correct?"

"I already told you that he has affections for that blue haired bitch but he has the nerve to deny it and acceded to his foolish father's plans to makes us think that he feels nothing for her. That is why he has agreed to the Selection. It was a pretty obvious plan but we could not find a suitable reason to dethrone him using just that. He has his damn 'Slave Protection Degree' as his alibi for rescuing her." Nasu mumbled.

Kinoko's eyes went wide, "What? Dethrone him? No way!"

It appears as if she has no idea of the opposition's plans.

"Don't worry, as of now that is impossible considering the circumstances this Selection had." Her father assured. "Kinoko, I want you to do your best to give a good impression to the royal family, especially Prince Vegeta, and win this competition. Huh." Nasu told her.

"But how am I going to do that if my best gown was reduced to atoms by his highness?" Kinoko pouted.

"Wear anything you want. You have other dresses, don't you?"

Kinoko looked down, frowning. Nothing among her other dresses could ever match the gown the prince had reduced to ashes earlier.

She raised her head to gaze up to her sire and said, "Father, I really want to become the crown princess. Please, do something to make me win this competition."

Nasu's lips stretched into a smirk.

"Don't worry about it. You will win. I will make sure of that."

Kinoko smiled at that assurance.


When Prince Vegeta returned to his private quarters in the palace with Raditz an hour and a half later, he immediately sat down his cushion seat and took a piece of his dark blue paper and golden inked pen to write a direct order.

"I will make preparations whether they decide to leave or not. But for now, I would want to speak to the woman first before I take her to them personally."

"Are you really sure about this, your highness?"

Prince Vegeta's eyes turned icy as he gazed up to his General. "Of course." he answered calmly before he finished his writing. He folded the paper and put it inside a blue envelope before sealing it with the Crown Prince's Royal Emblem. When he was done with that, he handed the order to Raditz and commanded him, "Give this to Bulma. And secretly, as much as possible."

Raditz accepted the letter as if it was something holy and slid it under his black armor before bowing down to the crown prince respectfully and walked out.

When he was finally alone, Vegeta let out a breath he was holding back and smiled to himself. Once whatever this plan was done tonight, he will have a good night's sleep.

Hopefully.


Bulma was rudely awakened by an unwelcome presence near her. She hollered in shock when she found Raditz staring down at her with his dark, menacing eyes. Her hand shoot up to her chest, feeling as if it had stopped beating because of her surprise. "Oh my goodness! You scared me, Raditz!" she gasped.

The General's frown immediately melted as he howled in boisterous laughter at her funny reaction. "I like that look you got on your face! Bwahahahaha!"

Bulma just glared back at him, feeling very offended and waited until his laughter died. She remembered Raditz being there earlier when Kinoko's servants were beating her. He tried to stop Kinoko's orders along Broly and Kakarot.

"Uhm… About earlier… Thank you." Bulma muttered awkwardly.

Raditz stared back at her for a moment before he turned away, "Don't get the wrong idea. We only stepped in because of the Crown Prince's decree."

At the mention of the crown prince, Bulma expression changed. "Why did he do it?" she muttered softly.

Raditz answered her question, "Kakarot pleaded for him to go because Kinoko wouldn't listen to anyone but him."

That's not the answer she was looking for. Though it is a possible answer to one of the questions boggling her mind since the incident this morning.

She stared at Raditz, who she haven't had the chance to talk to since the night Sadara revealed himself to be Prince Vegeta. Up until now, she could not get over that revelation.

"I'm sorry…" She muttered.

Raditz misinterpreted her apology as a misunderstanding to Prince Vegeta's reasons for saving her earlier.

"You don't need to. Just stop feeling so special just because the Crown Prince has saved your ass twice." Raditz huffed.

Bulma frowned. "You!" she pointed a finger at him, shouting. "Are you hiding something from me as well?! Tell me now, are you an Emperor or the son of a Prime Minister?" she suspected.

Raditz glared at her like she was crazy. "You already know the truth, why are you asking me?!"

"How dare you guys make a fool out of me!"

"Made you a fool about what?"

"That Sadara is -."

"That Sadara is actually Prince Vegeta?" Raditz questioned.

"Yes!" Bulma bellowed.

"Because I am not in the position to precede his decisions. He is the Crown Prince, for goodness sake!" Raditz reasoned.

"But still, you guys fooled me!"

"Nobody made a fool out of you. The Crown Prince disguises himself under that cloak just to conceal his true identity because he didn't like how others treat him for what he really is. Did you ever think of that?"

Bulma's brows furrowed, taken aback by those words. "What do you mean he didn't like how others treat him?" she asked curiously.

Raditz let out an annoyed grunt, "He has the reputation of being the most powerful and most ruthless among all Saiyans, and because of that he was feared, respected and sometimes, hated by those around him. In order for him to see the true nature of the people in his surroundings, he decided to conceal himself under the cloak of the Grim Reaper, Sadara. Being Sadara made him more comfortable to be more of himself. Of course, being the heir to the throne and the most powerful among us, he has to hide most of his true emotions because he was never allowed to have them in the first place."

Bulma suddenly remembered Sadara's words during the lantern fest.

"Emotions like love are a downfall. Warriors such as myself are not allowed to love another being for it could become our greatest weakness. " (See Episode 8)

"Nobody was allowed to reveal that to anyone, you know. We will be severely punished by his highness if we say anything about it." Raditz continued.

"So is it true that you are the boy I fired at thirteen years ago?"

"Ah, yes. Did he also tell you that?" The long haired Saiyan spat with bitter sarcasm. "Now you know the reason why I do not like being with you."

Bulma's gaze hardened even more as she scowled deeper. What is he doing in here then?

"But Vegeta… He seemed serious with you. There is a reason why he's revealed you the truth to his real identity, even if he knew the consequences you bestowed upon him when you meet him in person." Raditz sighed, raising a hand and rubbing at his head. "So, did you try to kill him? How did it go?"

Bulma didn't reply. She just looked down in shame and disappointment. Raditz laughed, already knowing what that meant.

"Fahahahaha! Just as I thought! Wahahahahaha! Man, I'd like to see how you embarrassed yourself! Bwahahahahaha!"

"Shut up!" The blue haired human girl yelled, peering at him with blazing blue eyes.

After a moment of laughter, Raditz finally turned serious.

"As I was saying, Vegeta seems seriously interested with you. Because he wouldn't normally do many things he did with you. Like going to the lantern festival with you or letting someone like you to join us like you are a part of our little circle. You should feel honored that a lowly slave like yourself is able to eat his favorite Nokma with him and his Generals. He even let you do whatever you want with him. Anyone who dared to speak ill or threaten him would normally be blasted to the next dimension. But not you. For someone as prideful as him to do that… I'd say you are lucky. And I hated you for that luck…"

Bulma felt the bitterness Raditz spat with those words.

"Why?" she asked softly with a melancholic expression.

"Everyone close to him now had a hard time trying to make him open up his heart. We went through so much before he finally recognized us. You should know that Vegeta is very hard to please, getting through him is like passing through every corner of hell. You're lucky you didn't have to go through any of that."

"And here I thought that you are his childhood friend."

Raditz shrugged his shoulders, his lips twisted into a pout. "Yeah, but before we became that. It was really complicated. When I first met him, he was the most angry, most bitter, most troublesome and most detestable kid I'd ever known. There's no wonder nobody would want to cross his path…"


Fourteen years ago…

Six year old Raditz was ordered by his father, Bardock to take lunch to his pregnant mother, Gine in the public market when a boy wearing a black cloak hit him as he escaped a group of Saiyan bakers. The other boy seems like he stole the bread from the elders. Young Raditz was pushed down to the ground so easily by the boy who looks younger than him. His strength quite surprised Raditz.

"Get out of my way, you low class scum!"

Young Raditz gasped in awe and trepidation at the fierce glare the younger boy gave him. The invisible aura emanating off him was terrifyingly malevolent. It felt like he was being absorbed by those black orbs. The boy was like an alpha.

The noise of the elders cut off their staring match and the cloak donning boy disappeared into a nearby forest. Raditz was flabbergasted to find that his mother's lunch had spilled all over the ground and it made him angry. He decided to make the boy pay. He went after the elders and found several Elite Royal Guards searching the place. The elders were reporting the incident to the General, Nappa, who still have hair back then. According to what Raditz heard, the Saiyan Crown Prince went missing once again. It was a very common event by now. At least once or twice a week, Prince Vegeta would escape the palace and go missing. Raditz was wondering if he liked playing hide and seek with his guards. Nappa ordered his Elite men to search the forest for Prince Vegeta but he warned them to be careful not to set the forest on fire, only to see them get caught by traps set in the forest. Some were eventually knocked off and down. Raditz was amazed by how strong and fast the boy was. No low class kid would be able to knock the Elites like that. He must be a noble son, but why is he stealing bread if he's from a high class family? Maybe he was kicked out and had nothing?

He heard the boy's laughter not far away from where he was hiding. As he got closer, hoping to catch him off guard, the boy vanished from where he was sitting and cackling and -

Raditz collapsed to the ground on his behind in shock, gaping at the smaller boy who seemed to be towering him from his perspective. Those eyes held nothing there but endless darkness.

What kind of boy is he?

"Huh? Oh, it's just you…" the flame haired boy muttered boredly.

The way he said 'just' made Raditz feel deeply insulted. He shot up on the ground and shouted: "You!" Raditz roared, stabbing a finger at the younger boy.

But his words were eventually cut off by a domineering glare that made him whimper deep down his heart. He swallowed down his fear to continue after a while of reluctance.

"It's because of you that my mom has no lunch to eat today. You must pay it back!"

"Lunch?" the strange boy muttered. "Oh, you mean that mess you spilled earlier? Ewww… So that's the lunch of a low class trash."

Raditz's facial expression turned angrier. What a haughty kid! He pulled the boy's collar towards him.

"We may have come from the lower class society, at least I don't steal what isn't mine!"

The boy's eyes narrowed as his glare turned threatening.

"Foolish garbage. I didn't steal anything."

"Then what the hell did you do in the bakery?!"

"I just took some bread."

"That's stealing, you thief!"

"No, it's not!"

"Yes, it is!"

The boy gritted his teeth and slapped Raditz's hand off him.

"How was I stealing when I could have anything and everything in this planet when I want to?" he snarled.

"What?!" Raditz gasped in disbelief.

"I just said that everything in this planet is mine. That's why I didn't really steal anything."

Just who does this brat think he is?

"You think you're some royalty, huh? Well… If you say so, then I am also the son of the king! I say you should take back what you stole and I will forget that you spilled my queen mother's lunch." Raditz imperiously said, acting like he was a prince.

The boy was taken aback by his words, "What?!"

"…"

"…"

Breaking the awkward tension, Raditz quickly planted his hands over his hips and commanded the younger boy with a bossy tone, "What are you doing?! Get on with it before I order your death!"

The boy stared up and down at him with disbelieving and suspicious eyes that made Raditz feel very awkward and uncomfortable. He seemed to be taking a good observation of him.

"…"

Raditz shrugged uncomfortably at the keen and piercing look he was getting from the kid. He has such scary eyes.

If looks could only kill.

"Is he saying that he is my brother?"* the younger boy grimaced.

"…"

The two boys gawked at each other for several moments until it was broken by a loud shout.

"There he is!"

Their tensed stillness was once again disrupted when the Elite Guards found them. They hurriedly approached the two children who seemed to be having a glare match.

Raditz cleared his throat "Ahem… Ahem! See that? The guards are coming! Take back what you stole in the market before I order them to arrest you!"

A burly man came near towards the flaming haired boy and bowed down before him as he said in a low voice, "Your highness! You must return to the palace immediately. Your new literature teacher is on his way."

What?!

Raditz's head snapped towards the young boy, his eyes wide in utmost shock. Was he just addressed as 'Your highness'?

"Say Nappa, does papa have an illegitimate child I know nothing about?"

Raditz looked away in shame, "Aaargh! Damn it! I didn't know he's the crown prince!" He looked at the boy's clothing, he failed to recognize the white armor underneath the black cloak. "Why is he wearing that cloak anyways? And also why is he stealing bread in the royal market?" he wondered.

"The King only has two children, your highness. You and Prince Tarble." The man who seemed to be the prince's attendant answered.

"Then, whose son is he?" Prince Vegeta tilted his chin, looking at Raditz curiously.

Nappa looked at Raditz and recognized him, "Well… He's Bardock and Gine's son. His father is a third class soldier and a popular seer, while his mother is a butcher and meat vendor in the royal market, your highness."

"Their biological son?"

Nappa looked at his prince with a confused gaze, "Yes, your highness. Why did you ask?"

Prince Vegeta's expression turned cold as he stared death into Raditz's soul.

"He dared to claim that he is the king's son." The prince responded. Nappa and the Elite guards around them turned to Raditz with wide, surprising eyes. "That's fraud, to be exact. A crime punishable by death."

Learning of the situation he was in, Raditz dropped down to his knees on the ground and cried out in plea, "Your highness! I have committed a grave sin! Please punish me with an honorable death at your hands!

Raditz knew he was pleading on the deaf ears of a merciless Saiyan so he didn't dare to plead for mercy. But he didn't expect that the prince would just roll his eyes at him, sigh and murmured in a bored tone, "Seriously?"

Raditz looked up, "Eh?" Didn't he just say he did a crime punishable by death?

"Do you really mean that?"

"Yes," Raditz answered quickly. "I mean no -," he bowed down again and cried out, "- No, your highness! Please have mercy on me! I beg of you! Please have mercy on me!"

Vegeta scowled bitterly at those words and snorted. "Let's go, Nappa. Fun's over." he said with a bored tone.

The tension and fear Raditz felt that day was beyond anything he ever had. He thought he was going to die that day. He felt bad for leaving his parents and not being able to see his sibling. But, somehow, a miracle happened. He thought he was lucky to survive an encounter with the most ruthless and most powerful Saiyan prince.

He could never forget that day. He thought that would be his first and last encounter with him. He wished he would never meet the Crown Prince again, he didn't want to be anywhere near him. But fate had a plan for him.

One day, his mother told him that they were ordered to deliver Nokma to the palace. Raditz was to assist her since his mother was pregnant with his sibling and his father was not on the Planet Vegeta. Once they were in the palace, the King's Attendant, Zorn told them that King Vegeta wanted an audience with them. This made Raditz extremely nervous, thinking that his lie reached the king's ears. There was no escape after all.

They were brought to the king's office. Raditz and Gine bowed humbly before their king and greeted him respectfully.

"So you are Raditz, the son of Bardock. I am looking for a suitable battle partner for the Crown Prince. I want it to be you." That was what King Vegeta told them. That news made Raditz extremely anxious and uncomfortable.

"Y-Your Majesty, how am I, a weak third class child, be the crown prince's battle partner?" Raditz pleaded. "I… I am nothing compared to someone as high as him. Why did you choose me?"

He's certainly not someone who could ever hold a candle against the might of the heir to the throne. Prince Vegeta is a one in one-point-five million prodigy, the only Saiyan ranked to be a Super Elite. Their difference in power is insurmountable.

"Because I believe that you are more deserving than any of my other choices."

"Eh?"

The doors burst open as a cranky flame-haired prince stormed in the room. Raditz jumped out of surprise of the sound of the banging door and caught the furious gaze of the mad boy.

"What did Nappa mean when he said you'll give me a battle partner?! I don't need such - " Prince Vegeta roared but his words were cut off by his father.

"Good timing, boy." growled the king who was clearly offended by the blatant disrespect his son gave him. "It's time for you to meet your official battle partner."

"What?!" Vegeta's malevolent eyes darted towards Raditz who felt like he's been stabbed in the heart by an icicle.

"You!" Prince Vegeta spat as he stabbed a finger at Raditz's direction.

Raditz quickly looked down in shame and bowed down to avoid the menacing glare he was receiving from the prince, "Y-Yes, your highness."

"Huh? Do you two know each other?" Gine asked.

Vegeta spun around to face his father, "What kind of joke is this? Why are you giving me a third class trash to be my battle partner? He's pathetic! I could destroy him just by looking at his ugly face!"

Raditz frowned, deeply insulted at his words.

"It's because I wish to equilibrate your team potential with the rest of the Saiyan duos in your age group, Vegeta. With him, you will learn to exercise control and teamwork when it's needed."

"Hmph! As if I needed any of that. He wouldn't be any help! He'll be a nuisance to me!"

The king tried convincing his first born son and the two argued for a while. Raditz thought he had a happier relationship with his father and was glad for that.

In the end, Prince Vegeta angrily relented, "FINE! Do as you wish! Don't blame me if anything bad happens to him!" he yelled before he stomped out of the office.

Raditz refused to accept at first despite any offer from the King. Gine made sure that she would try to convince her son.

Back home, Gine told him a hint about the visions Bardock had of Raditz's future. Raditz will become one of Prince Vegeta's greatest allies in the future, and that he would play an important role for the prophecy to happen. She told him that Prince Vegeta was prophesied to save the Universe from a great evil that threatened the existence of everyone.

Raditz relented after hearing that but he could not believe what his mother told him. Prince Vegeta will become the Super Saiyan of Legend? That spoiled rotten brat will save the universe from whatever great evil? He couldn't see how it's possible. That rascal was the most selfish, arrogant and troublesome person he's ever known.

When he began to work for Prince Vegeta, he realized how the brat despised him greatly. Vegeta was completely ignoring him most of the time, but sometimes, he would make fun of him through bullying and unfair criticism. Raditz felt the enmity the prince was clearly and obviously showing to his face. It hurts him deep inside, as if the prince was repeatedly stabbing his young heart with countless icicles.

One day, the prince was in a terrible mood and he saw Raditz as something to pound his fists into. Raditz was beaten up by the ruthless prince badly and left him alone in the cold, training room. He let out the tears he'd been holding back for months and cried his heart out.

For his entire life, he was bullied by the other kids for being so weak. When they learned of him working for Prince Vegeta, they just mocked him. They believed he wouldn't last in the palace. Everyday, they would grimace at the fact that he's come home alive. He told himself that one day, he would change Prince Vegeta. Just as his father and mother told him.

But after all he suffered from Prince Vegeta's cruelty, he had enough. He decided to stop believing his mother's words what he thought was a lie.

As he walked out of the palace, he overheard some Saiyans planning to poison the crown prince by mixing peopy powder with the milk cookies. Something the young prince was fond of. Peopy powder is a deadly poison enough to kill any Saiyan in mere seconds. It was white and looked similar to sugar.

Raditz debated within himself whether he should warn the Crown Prince about it or simply let it be. The prince was a detestable kid after all. Death would only serve him right.

However, his father's vision of the future made him reluctant to just leave it be. He didn't know what great evil it was his father had seen but he knows that no one would be powerful enough to defeat that but the Crown Prince himself.

Raditz darted towards the Crown Prince's quarters that night, miraculously evaded the guards and barged in. He saw that the Crown Prince's food were already presented before him when he entered, and that Vegeta was glaring daggers at him. Raditz ignored that as he pushed the table down, spilling the prince's food on the floor. To his surprise, Vegeta was able to snatch the plateful of milk cookies. Raditz snarled and leapt towards Vegeta to snatch the cookies. The two boys wrestled on the floor for a while. Vegeta easily dominated him like the alpha beast he is but to his surprise, Raditz used a trick to distract him by pointing behind him and screaming, "Worms!"

Raditz used the prince's distraction when he turned his head over his shoulder with a terrified look as a chance to snatch the cookies off the prince's hand. Vegeta reacted too late and he helplessly watched as Raditz put all the cookies inside his mouth and laughed mockingly at him. Vegeta's wrath exploded as soon as he realized he had lost to a third class child over cookies but it quickly dissipated when Raditz collapsed on the floor, convulsing and vomiting white bubble foam on his mouth.

Raditz didn't know how he exactly survived that incident again. He awoke in the medical bay of the palace with his worried mother on his side. She told him that the Crown Prince saved his life.

When the Crown Prince ordered to see him when he was feeling better, he was once again criticized for being a brainless fool when he ate the poisoned cookies instead of just saying anything about it.

"I can't believe what kind of brainless idiot you are! No wonder why you are ranked the lowest of the trash! If I'm a one in a one-point-five million prodigy then you are a one in a one-point-five million disastrous disappointment!"

Those were the cruel words Prince Vegeta spat at him.

"I thought you won't believe me, that's why." Raditz mumbled, looking disappointed that he was receiving a series of insults instead of thanks.

Vegeta didn't say anything about that though. However, it was obvious to Raditz that the prince's hostility towards him had somehow faded. From that day onwards, Vegeta softened up towards him bit by bit, though he still held that dominant, commanding and terrifying charisma of a true warrior prince. Raditz learned that after being recognized and accepted by the Saiyan Prince, someone would be able to see through the cruel personality and find that soft spot he actually has.

Raditz went through hell, even had his life at stake because of it. And for him, it was all worth it. He decided that he would prove himself worthy of the Crown Prince's recognition and win his friendship. He did it anyways. Well enough for the Crown Prince to address those other third class kids who bullied him. Since then, they became an unseparatable duo. They learned and grew together and with each other. Teaming up with making reckless trouble enough to make their parents do facepalm every time they meet and Raditz gain scoldings and spankings from both Bardock and Gine.


"… What others failed to see is that deep inside that cold and hardened heart, is a soft side that actually cared. He may not openly show it before other people because he has a pride and reputation to protect, but I could attest that he isn't as bad as the rumors said him to be. I couldn't count the lots of times he has saved my and Kakarot's lives when he could have just left us for the dead. Whatever he did, I know he has a good reason to back it up." Raditz continued. He faced Bulma and raised a blue envelope with the Crown Prince's seal.

"The order of the Crown Prince," Raditz said. Bulma glared at the envelope with disgust. Not that thing again. She looked at it suspiciously, being reminded of what happened the last time she received such a letter.

Noticing that Bulma does not plan to take the letter, Raditz put the letter on the bedside table and said, "Give him a last chance. This could be his last order for you." and after that, he left.

Raditz thought it was hard to convince someone who stubbornly refused to open up their mind. Perhaps, he'll try another way.

Bulma thought over what Raditz just told her for quite sometime. What was Vegeta's reason for what he's done? Is that something quite more excusable than just him being selfish? She turned her head towards the table where Raditz left the prince's order.

What is it?

Perhaps, that's a letter of apology, explaining whatever unforgivable and selfish reason he has. She didn't know why she was still expecting him to apologize despite kmowing his arrogance. She raised her hand and gently picked up the envelope, taking note of the golden intricate design over its blue paper and the beautiful anchor shape of the Crown Prince's Royal Seal.

After a while of staring at the envelope, she decided to rip it open to find the letter containing the prince's order.

She immediately regret it as soon as she found the words written on it. Her distrustful feeling made her imagine a picture of Vegeta's intimidating back. He abruptly turned towards her with a deep angry scowl and a scary look in his menacing dark eyes. He indignantly pointed a finger in her direction and yelled the words in the letter with his commanding and angry voice.

"Come and meet me in my quarters! I have something to give and tell you! I'll send someone to pick you up later! Prepare yourself!

"P.S. Don't make me wait for no one or I will hunt you down!"

ROOOOOOOOOAAAAARRR!

Bulma was taken aback by the scary thought of Vegeta roaring like a bloodthirsty beast. She crumpled the paper into a ball and put it on her pocket. She decided to return to work, she thought she could help out a little now that her injuries are healed.

Once outside, she halted from her footsteps when she remembered the letter. She took it out of her pocket and read it once again. What does he want from her? What is he going to give her? What would he tell her?

Suspicious. This must be some kind of trap. Like what happened with Horenso.

She crumpled the paper once again and threw it in the air as if it was some kind of baseball.

How annoying.


Kinoko was strolling around after she was done talking with her father. She found the blue haired slave she just wanted to kill earlier not so far away throwing what could be a dark blue crumpled paper. Is that the crown prince's letter? She waited until the woman disappeared before she picked up the girl's trash.

Yes, just as she thought. It is indeed a letter containing the Crown Prince's order. What is the meaning of this? Why does he want to meet with that bitch secretly and give her something? Kinoko was displeased and decided one thing.

She could use this to win the Selection. She let out a wide, malevolent smile.


Vegeta waited in his private quarters for Bulma. He couldn't understand why he was feeling nervous. It made him very impatient. He paced around the room like a hungry lion. Why the hell is that damn woman taking so long to present herself before him? Oh, she's probably fixing herself to become very beautiful and presentable since she would meet him, the Crown Prince. Not after what happened with Kinoko.

Vegeta broke into a giggle at the thought. She doesn't have to do that. Not like he cared about it anyways. But it made his face go red with the idea. How would she look like if she fixed herself to become more presentable? She would be totally gorgeous.

The sound of the door opening woke him up from his daydreaming, taking away the nasty thoughts in his mind. Vegeta cleared his throat and straightened his back. He put on his neutral expression, planning to intimidate her for making him wait this long. However, he immediately sensed that something was wrong in this situation. His brows furrowed at what he perceived.

What the hell is Kinoko doing here?

"Your highness," he heard her voice addressing him with respect and humility. "It is a great honor that you wish to meet me in secret. What is it that you wish to tell me and give me as a present?"

Vegeta turned around to face her with an indignant look on his narrowed and slanted dark eyes. Her head was bowing down, but he could see her smiling viciously.

What? How did Kinoko receive his order? It was meant for Bulma, not her!

"You! How did you -?! What the hell are you doing here?!" Vegeta yelled.

Kinoko shrugged a little, though the smile didn't leave her lips. "I received your order earlier." she showed him the letter she took from her pocket. The furious prince snatched it from her hands to find it crumpled. It made him very displeased.

"This order isn't yours to begin with! How did you get your hands on this?!" he demanded.

"Someone gave it to me." Kinoko said.

"Who?"

"Your attendant, your highness."

Vegeta's face abruptly turned cold with his ire. He knew it was a lie. He harshly grabbed Kinoko's shoulders, pushed her roughly into the nearest wall, making her grunt in pain. He indignantly hissed at her ear, "If you don't tell me the truth right now, I will kill you." His voice was deadly and dangerously low.

The shock and fear was evident on Kinoko's face but she immediately recovered. She let out a smile. She like that look on his face and that rough attitude of his. "B-But it's the truth, your h- ."

"I do not send Nappa on errands to deliver letters of my commands. Tell me the truth now or I might just spare your pathetic life."

Oh, the rage he showed on his eyes was intoxicating. Vegeta felt his wrath boiling further at that smile on Kinoko's lips. A snarl ripped through from his chest just as his hold on her tightened, his strength causing her smile to change into a grimace of pain, yelping.

"Fine, fine! I'll tell you! Just let me go!" Kinoko cried out in pain.

Vegeta cruelly pushed her away from him, glaring daggers at her. "What is it?!" he furiously demanded with a menacing glare.

"I found it being thrown away by that girl on the ground so I decided to pick it up!"

Vegeta's expression didn't change at all, Kinoko noticed. He didn't utter any word. He must have been shocked deep inside.

"She threw the letter as if it was trash! She ignored your orders as if she didn't care that you are the prince! Someone like her don't deserve to be given a chance to be at your presence today." Kinoko continued.

"And you think you deserve it?" The prince asked her with coldness on his voice. How dare she think that she deserved to be in his presence.

"I was just worried that you would wait for no one." Kinoko muttered softly.

"You have no right to come in here and take the order as yours! I did not wish to see your face! You didn't do anything to hurt Bulma again, right?! I swear if you lay a hand on her, I will make you feel my overwhelming wrath. "

Kinoko flinched at that. She cannot understand why he was acting this way towards her. Why is he worried and angry because of that girl? Why is he treating an alien slave better than his soon-to-be crown princess?

"Why?!" Kinoko bellowed. "What did you see in that slave whom I heard you are so obsessed of?! If I know better, she's the reason why your father ordered the Selection earlier than we expected!"

"It's none of your business!"

"It IS my business!"

"How dare you think that you have concern with whatever I do?!"

"Because I will be your mate!"

"And what makes you think that?!"

"I will win the competition, and become the crown princess whether you like it or not!" Kinoko answered. "You already know that! You know who your father and the council would pick to become your mate! That is me! And when I do become your mate, I swear the first thing I'm going to do is to rid that blue haired bitch so you would forget her!"

"If that happens, don't think that you can control me. Not even my father can do that. You may win the Selection but you will never win any of my affections. You will never be my mate."

Kinoko stared at him, her heart breaking into pieces because of those straightforward, cruel words he just soat at her. She sniffed, trying her best to hold back her tears as she said, "We'll see about that."

With a bitter face, she walked out of the Crown Prince's quarters being completely aggravated at him.

Vegeta stood there motionless, feeling torn and angry at both Kinoko and Bulma. He rubbed his temples with his hands, trying his best to calm himself down at what just occurred. Bulma, that stubborn woman. It's because of her that this exchange with Kinoko happened.

He picked up his scouter and harshly ordered Raditz to show himself in front of him. When his General arrived, Vegeta gave him one of his scariest killer glares which made the older Saiyan to quiver in fear.

"W-W-What's the matter, your highness?" Raditz inquired with a petrified look.

"How dare you ask me a stupid question?! What have you done with your unbelievable incompetence and Bulma failed to meet me?!" The prince hissed indignantly.

"Eh? B-but I handed over the letter to her personally, your highness." The General defended.

"You did?! So why didn't you make sure that she would come over?! Do you have any idea what just happened?! Bulma didn't come, instead it was Kinoko who shamelessly appeared!"

Raditz gasped in aghast, "But how did Lady Kinoko got her hands on your order?"

"Good question. It is because of your carelessness, idiot! Bulma chose to ignore and throw away my order, and Kinoko picked it up!"

Raditz's jaw twitched with disdain. Why does this have to be his problem?

"My apologies, your highness." Raditz bowed.

Vegeta gave him his back, puffing his chest with pride while huffing in the air and crossing his arms over his chest. "Forget it, just bring Bulma to me. Drag her if you must if she refused to come with you." The prince commanded.

Raditz frowned. Why is he asking him to deal with such woman who was as stubborn as this rascal prince?

"I'm sorry, your highness. But I refuse to do your order."

Vegeta abruptly spun around, "What did you say?!" he demanded.

"I cannot do your order, your highness. I will not force her to do anything she doesn't want to do."

"Raditz! You!"

The two Saiyans clashed into a heated glaring match. Raditz did his best not to be intimidated by the menacing gaze of his Crown Prince.

"What are you trying to say? Are you telling me that you -."

Raditz swallowed, "I like her, your highness." he quickly admitted. It took him seconds to realize his stupidity though, when he found out that Vegeta looked like he's about to go on a murderous spree and start with him.

Tensed seconds had passed before the prince broke the silence, "I see." Vegeta muttered as he finally relaxed his threatening poise. Raditz's jaw dropped in question.

Huh? That's it?

Raditz just openly and stupidly admitted he likes the same girl the Crown Prince had affections too and that's it? He expected Vegeta to get angrier. But what else could he do? He really likes Bulma. It actually started out the day they found her on Earth. Just like Prince Vegeta, he was amazed at her ability to dominate a Saiyan with just her smarts. Though he tried to mask his admiration with his bitterness of what occurred to them as children, he was actually glad to see Bulma again when Prince Vegeta made her his cook. He refused to recognize his true feelings for her because he knew how the prince has affections for the girl but he hated how Vegeta lied to her with his disguises. The reason why he suggested for Vegeta to tell her the truth is that he didn't want both people he cared for to become like this.

However, now that he has admitted it to the prince, he actually didn't mean that he likes Bulma for himself just like how someone likes a lover. What Raditz actually meant is that he likes her to be with Prince Vegeta. He expected a misunderstanding to occur between them and make Vegeta think that he is challenging him.

But to his disbelief, the prince just waved his admission off like it meant nothing to him. What's the meaning of this? Did he lost all affections he had for Bulma and he's willing to just let someone take her away from him like that?

"Your highness…"

"Don't worry about it. I understand." Vegeta coldly said.

"Eh?!" Raditz shrugged, even so why is he glaring at him as if he was about to eat him alive?

Vegeta's expression quickly softened after that threatening gaze. "I will do it myself then. Thank you."

Raditz stared at the crown prince in amazement. So he knew what he actually meant? He was able to understand that Raditz actually told him that to challenge him and make him go to Bulma on his own accord. (More like, If you don't do anything, I might take her away from you. So do it yourself!')

Raditz let out a long sigh. It sure was a relief that he was not able to provoke the prince's rage even further.

"I'm sorry, your highness."

Vegeta understood why Raditz refused to do his orders. He lost his temper and commanded a ridiculous thing that would end up with Bulma getting hurt.

"Hn…" The prince groaned. "It's just that I was upset about Kinoko. I think I wouldn't want to come to the banquet tonight. I don't wish to see her face."

"What do you plan to do with Bulma, your highness? You wouldn't wish to postpone it for sure."

"I am thinking of a way since you refused to be of any help!"

Raditz just shrugged his shoulders back and looked away.

A moment afterwards, the prince suddenly had an idea and he inquired, "Do you have any idea of the time table of special performances for the banquet?"

"I am sure Kakarot and Broly know something since they have been busy preparing the hall. Perhaps, I should ask Kakarot."

"Then go and return quickly."

"Yes, your highness."

When Raditz came back about half an hour later, Vegeta studied the Programme in the invitation handed over by Kakarot. There were seven performances of singing and dancing for tonight's banquet. The last one caught the Crown Prince's interest.

"The last performance is a Sword Dance. How amusing." He commented with a smug smirk. "Bring me the one to perform this. I will have to replace him."


Finally it was time for the banquet.

Vegeta had refused to come to the feast even as Nappa tried to plead with him that the King wants him there. In the end, Nappa gave up convincing the stubborn prince and relayed the message to the king. King Vegeta decided to let it go for now since he didn't want to kill the mood to enjoy. His son must have some reason.

Loud beating music reverberated through the air as drummers made powerful tunes before the king, the council and their Selected guests. Saiyans enjoyed the lavishly prepared food and drinks as they watch a few dance performers swayed their bodies along the beat of the drums. Their formality was quite different as Saiyans have mixed in their primitive culture to their social gathering.

Bulma heard that the final performance is what's everyone was waiting for. And it was already been three hours since the banquet began, it's about time.

"I wonder what they will perform." Caulifla mused. Bulma was serving her some food and drinks on their side of the table.

"It must be something special. The preparations look quite spectacular." Mizuno answered.

"He really didn't come, huh?" Kale said.

"Who?"

"The Crown Prince, who else?" Caulifla rolled her eyes. "It's not like he's interested with looking at any of us anyways. Not after what happened with Kinoko. Perhaps, he already knew what's supposed to happen. That girl has a lot of connections. Plus, I don't think he even cared for a woman or a mate. He's one cold hearted bastard. He must not be concerned with whoever becomes his mate."

"Hmmm…"

"Oh! There it is! The last performance!" Caulifla said.

Bulma turned her head towards the stage. A small Saiyan walked regally towards the center of the empty dais. He had a matte black mask over his face, and wore what it seemed to be heavy clothing that consisted of a simple, matte black armor vest on top of a dark blue chinese collared undershirt with long, wide sleeves that fluttered under his arms and royal blue linings on the rim. A wide, red sash wrapped around his slim waist. Below that crimson belt were four broad strips of black cloth with white edges and cherry red silk on the other side. They attached from his waist on his sides, front and back, its length goes down to his heels. Under those was a dark violet skirt beneath indigo baggy pants. A pair of white cotton boots were on his feet.

Bulma blinked in wonder, noticing the flame array of black spiky hair on the top of his head. It reminds her of Prince Vegeta's signature hairstyle.

Once the performer was on the center stage, the musicians begin to play music. The sound was undulating and tranquil at the beginning, with flutes, zithers and bass zithers filling the air. The Saiyan on the stage starts to slowly sway his arms on the sides in a graceful manner. The way he moved was serene and velvety. Not long after that, the beating of drums was heard, it was low and slow. He swirled his body around lithely, the skirt and strips of cloth spinning around along his exquisite movements and then abruptly coming to a halt as he dropped to his knee on the floor.

The drum pounded louder now, the earlier calm tune being overwhelmed by the beat. Vegeta gently picked up a katana resting on the floor before him by the handle with his right hand, raised it in front of his face and sliding his left palm over its black scabbard and abruptly and forcefully removed it from its sheath.

Shing!

The sound following that action was sharp. He quickly rose to his feet and started swaying the sword around, leaping and spinning in the air with such jaw dropping grace. He slashed and stabbed his blade against the wind, cutting through invisible enemies. His motions were smooth and fluid yet it goes perfectly symmetrical with the tune of the music.

A few moments after that, he picked up another sword and expertly whirled the two swords in his hands with various basic and advanced dual sword spinning and flowering techniques, some of his own variations. He was moving, leaping and spinning across the stage with amazing lithesomeness. The pounding of the drums at this point was loud and clear, other various instruments also joined in creating hair-raising music that flowed perfectly with the awesome performance of the sword dancer.

It was so astonishing that all who were watching his dance hung their mouths open in awe.

In the corner, Raditz and Kakarot smiled to themselves. As they expected of the Crown Prince, his Sword Dance performance was amazing. Kakarot even danced along, shaking his body along the music.

The drums faded as a more relaxed tune preceded, it sounded similar to the introduction song of this performance. With it, his movements slowed down. A few more dancers entered the stage, ten female side dancers to be exact. As they filled up the stage, Vegeta used this as an opportunity to invite Bulma with him. He put down one of the swords, faced her general direction, raised his free hand, and waved it hypnotically towards her.

Come to me…

Nobody but Bulma noticed though, they may think it to be a part of the performance.

Vegeta stepped a bit closer, still waving his hand gently.

Come to me…

Seemingly drawn to the hypnotic dance, Bulma subconsciously raised her right hand and stepped closer.

Closer…

Closer…

Closer…

Vegeta gently took her hand with his free hand and pulled her towards him. He suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist, danced her around for a while before he gently pushed her down. The action surprised her. At the same moment, the other dancers surrounded them, enclosing them into a bud of colors. The music faded to a halt.

Bulma looked up at the masked man with wide eyes while the prince underneath gazed down at her. Vegeta smirked to himself as tendrils of his blue energy enshrouded him and Bulma, teleporting them out of the banquet into a forest.

Bulma barely noticed the change in her surroundings. She was too mesmerized by this man's wonder.

"Am I really that awesome that you were gaping at me like that?"

The moment the man spoke, Bulma snapped herself back to reality upon recognizing that smug voice. Her first instinct was to escape but she realized he was grabbing her forearm. She frowned as she figured out that she won't be able to avoid him now. She looked around, finding that he just teleported her to an unknown place. A forest that surrounded them with old trees that spread around them as if it were a labyrinth of darkness. She became nervous at the situation she was in.

"Where is this? Why did you take me in here?" she asked him as she returned her gaze to him, scowling.

Vegeta removed the black mask on his face with his left hand, revealing his typical stone cold expression. "I think you know the reason why. I gave you a specific order to meet me in the palace but you chose to ignore it. And because of that, I was forced to do this."

Bulma shifted her gaze quickly, letting out a loud snort but looking quite displeased. If anything, isn't this kidnapping? Bulma shook her head in disbelief. He's such a pushy bastard. How annoying.

"You've been avoiding me…" he pointed out.

Her frown deepened. Of course, she was avoiding him. She already told him that she didn't want to see him ever again.

"…You keep on avoiding me. You even refused to obey my order. What you failed to realize is that no matter what you do, you won't escape me." he growled, looking very displeased by her disobedience.

"Why should I obey you?!" Bulma demanded. "I am not a Saiyan. I am not your person!"

Vegeta rolled his eyes. "Have you forgotten that you are currently on my kingdom and a slave working in my kitchen? Of course, you are my subject."

"I am nobody's slave! Especially not yours! Not a murderer like yourself - !"

Vegeta's temper suddenly snapped at those words. His earlier calm expression abruptly gave way to his rage. "You know nothing!" he roared.

His raised, indignant voice made Bulma jump back in shock. She stared at his furious expression in horror.

"How dare you judge me when you know nothing about me?!" he shouted at her.

Bulma snapped out of her shock. Her temper flaring and exploding as well. "Why?! What is there to know about you?! Everybody in the universe knows what kind of monster you truly are! You have killed countless of innocent lives and destroyed many worlds for fun! Just like what you did to my family and the Earth - "

That's it!

Blinded by his ire, Vegeta suddenly raised a fist at her, causing her to be stunned and her words to be cut off. He was able to stop himself and regain back his control before he could hit her or anything, having realized what he's about to do. However, his frustration continued building inside of him. He needed to release it, but he will not dare to hurt her. He swore to himself that he won't hurt her anymore. He needed to explain things to her and he won't let this opportunity slip away because of it.

"Why?" Bulma whispered out of her shock. She quickly snapped herself back and yelled at him, "See that! Now, you want to kill me too! Fine then! Go on and kill me! I think it would be better than staying in this hellhole you call your kingdom!"

Vegeta growled back. Why is this woman so damn annoying?! Why does her words anger him so much? He abruptly turned around, and with blinding speed he reached to the nearest tree he could find and unceremoniously punched into it, roaring his furor.

"Shut up!"

The gigantic tree, with its four feet thickness and titanic height, ripped apart with a deafening crack. It crushed into the forest ground with a powerful thud. The force of its impact caused the ground to shake and crack underneath the tree's thick branch.

Bulma stared at him in terror, knowing that she had angered him to the point that he just lost his self control and was about to hit her earlier. If anything else, she was reminded why he was so terrifying enough for people to fear his temper and wrath. She was glad she's not that poor tree though.

Vegeta glared at the fallen tree as if it was his worst enemy. His irises flashed from obsidian to crimson back and forth. His breathing was ragged. His body quivered and his brown monkey like tail bristled with his agitation. His canines had grown longer and sharper as well.

He shut his eyes, forcing himself to calm down. Ripping this tree had somehow taken away most of his ire and it was easier to cool down his temper. Once he had the hang of it, he slowly turned around to face her direction, his feral appearance fading back to his callous expression.

"Just shut up and listen to me!" he imperiously commanded her, looking at her with a hard gaze.

Bulma was too shocked to say anything.

"I did not bring you here to apologize or anything in the first place. Just so you know, I do not regret anything that I have done in my past. The reason why I wanted to see you one last time is because I needed to tell you things that I left out the last time we talked to each other."

She was simply staring back at him, forced to listen to his every word.

"I'm always a good liar. I could lie about almost anything without anyone ever knowing the difference between the truth and the lie. Perhaps, it's because I am good at covering up most of my emotions. I am the Crown Prince of all Saiyans, the most powerful among my kind. I had the reputation of being one of the most ruthless and most savage warriors in the universe. Yes, I am an evil monster, a heartless beast, just as you called it and I'm damn proud of it."

I used to.

"My pride made me uncaring and unemotional with everything around me. For a warrior of my calibre, I am not allowed to show any other emotions aside from my anger. It was because of my pride that I lied to myself and everyone around me about the truth, in order to uphold my reputation and all.

"However… That has changed when I realized how boring my life was. I do the same damn thing every time. Fight, train, kill, destroy, and study things I already know over and over again. And because I hated repeating things that I decided to do something else. I wanted to do all the things that I was not able to do because of the Saiyan Law that I, as a Crown Prince was expected to obey.

"I disobeyed the law countless of times, but in order to protect my pride and reputation, I decided to put up on a disguise. Being Sadara, I learned many things that I was not able to learn with being just the Saiyan Prince. And I find it was quite… fun. I was able to understand more of the world and I used that knowledge for my own good.

"That put up has given me a lot of experience. Also, I was able to gain things I was not able to have before. Trust, acceptance, true respect, friendship and…"

Love

"- A lot more… I was satisfied with it. However, one night, I realized that being Sadara wasn't being me at all. That continuing that disguise would… would make me wish that the lies I made up were real. Most of all, it made me soft."

It's all your fault. You made me soft.

"It wasn't like me at all. That's when I decided that I want to forget everything, to return to the way I was before. I did not regret any of it, but I needed to stop it as soon as possible."

Because of you. In order to protect you.

"I lied a lot so many times. But I wouldn't want to say the truth either, for the sake of my pride and all. But this one lie was a nuisance to me that it made me unable to simply ignore it and I wish to get rid of it. I ordered for Raditz to search for the truth for me and we found it."

For you.

"After this, I'm letting you go and you may do as you wish. As I said, I do not regret what I have done. Whatever your decision is, I couldn't care less about it at all but… If you wish for anything, I will give it to you. For now, let me give you a goodbye present, it's right behind you."

Bulma reluctantly turned her head over her shoulder to see what Vegeta was talking about and it made her heart drop and her eyes tear.