I shouldn't love you anymore
Shouldn't get any closer
Shouldn't give my heart anymore
But when I open my eyes, you're in front of me
What if I'm not your last love?
I'm afraid of that so I've been hiding, that's all
Even though I want love
Even though things change easily
My love, my heart is you
I've never been allowed this love
But I'm starting it alone
Some day, you'll know how I feel
What if you shed tears because of me?
What if I hurt you? So I pushed you away but it's still only you
Even though I want love
Even though things change easily
My love, my heart is you
I've never been allowed this love
But I'm starting it alone
Some day, you'll know how I feel
Again today, from one step away
I'm quietly looking at you
Can you see my love?
There's one thing I want to say
One thing I want to hear
I love you, I love you more than I love myself
Every day, just one more day, if I wait
Some day, that day will come
- Zia, "Though I Want You"
(Ruler: Owner of the Mask OST)
Episode 17
Done For Me
The Prince of all Saiyans turned his eyes to the taller Doctor standing behind Bulma's father. He has a slightly tanned skin, sharp narrowed blue eyes, a large bushy white mustache, a bald head and long white hair, which goes from the lower half of his head to the middle of his back. He wore a white long sleeved collared shirt with a khaki dress vest and a red tie, khaki dress pants and black leather shoes. He was tall, at around six feet and two inches.
Doctor Gero smiled humbly at the Saiyan Prince, bowing his head down slightly to show respect to the powerful royalty. "Greetings, your highness. I am Doctor Gero. It is a great honor to finally meet you in person."
Vegeta turned his body to face the older man. His fearsome and dominant expression as a Saiyan royal appeared and spoke volumes in his poise. His charcoal eyes hid the immediate dislike to the man's presence. Something in his energy tells his senses that this man is someone you cannot trust. Something he could sense with Paragus as well. Is Gero the rebel leader he was looking for or is he just disgusted with old men having sinister expressions?
He turned his eyes towards Bulma for a moment, his mind considering. Could she really be the rebel's savior they were talking about? Were Zorn and his father correct after all? But Vegeta could sense that something was off. She could be the savior but she knows nothing of it as of now.
The prince darted his icy dark eyes back suspiciously to the tall, frail looking scientist. For a few moments, their surroundings were filled with tension. Vegeta's expression was frighteningly calm, like an incoming destructive storm but his cruel mind filled with several merciless ways of murdering this man in all gruesome ways possible. The tension eventually dissipated when the corners of the Saiyan Prince's mouth crooked upwards into a broad, pleasant smirk.
"Hmph! You should be. After all, I am the most powerful warrior in the universe." The proud Saiyan Prince gave the old man a cocky grin. "So I heard that you and Briefs here are colleagues. Are you two teaming up with some project?"
"Yes, your highness." Gero responded. "You see, Briefs and I were actually creating something to present to the Ministry of Science and Technology to aid you and your people with advanced training and battle equipment. We are in gratitude for your efforts when you saved my friend and his family from being executed by his Majesty and would like to thank you for your mercy."
"Ooh, is that so?" The prince looked amused but one could not miss the sarcasm in his tone. He didn't like people shoving to his face his being merciful. It made him sound soft and pitiful. "I am specifically curious about your projects. I hope to see your presentations once Minister Nasu has approved it."
"Yes, your highness." Gero then looked at his wristwatch and saw the time. "My apologies, your highness but I need to take my leave now. I have a lot to work on my laboratory. If you may dismiss me…"
"As you wish." the prince said calmly.
Gero bowed down and turned around, he bid his goodbye to his friend before walking away. The prince watched at the doctor's back with a suspicious glare. If he was to present to the Ministry of Science and Technology, he knew he cannot trust Nasu and Paragus' approval of Gero and Briefs' projects. It could be sabotaged and be used against him as well.
"Is something the matter, your highness?" Doctor Briefs asked, concerned of the way the royal heir glare at Gero.
The prince turned his eyes to Doctor Briefs. "It's none of your concern, doctor." The prince replied coldly. He turned his sights towards Bulma who audibly gulped.
They just stared at each other for a moment. Vegeta was obviously angrily at her distrust of him while Bulma was unsure whether to take back her words and apologize or heed the King's warning. After a minute of silence, the prince decided to walk away without a single word but a last hateful, silent glare. Bulma, who was about to open her mouth to speak, was taken aback by the piercing look from his onyx eyes. Her guilt and regret hitting her heart like the sharp, cold steel of a knife. Vegeta silently approached Raditz and Kakarot and harshly ordered that he be taken back to where his father was.
Not far away, Gero was abruptly pulled away by an unknown man wearing a dark blue shinobi shozoku gi from behind and was taken away by the stranger.
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta, Kakarot and Raditz materialized in front of a completely displeased Saiyan King. The two sovereign men stared heatedly at each other for a long moment before the king finally seethed.
"Where is the woman?!" King Vegeta harshly demanded his son.
"Can't you see that she's not with me?! Leave her alone already! I ended it with her! I hope you're satisfied!" the prince retorted bitterly. The dark look in his eyes was full of hatred and bitterness about what happened today.
The King's expression softened up as he was taken aback at his heir's hateful words while Kakarot and Raditz stared incredulously at the furious Crown Prince. What does he mean by that? Did he finally end his relationship with Bulma? Was that the reason for his foul mood?
"Well, aren't you supposed to take this annoying thing off me?! I cannot train to become stronger if this would keep my ki restrained!" The prince roared impatiently as he raised his left wrist, showing his father the ki restrainer Zorn has locked on it.
King Vegeta glanced at Zorn and told him to release the Crown Prince's powers. Once the restrainer was off, Prince Vegeta abruptly caught Zorn by his collar and mercilessly punched him in the gut, causing his father's general to drop on the ground in excruciating pain and vomiting blood and saliva. Zorn looked up to his cruel prince with betrayed and teary eyes. The prince just stared back at his sufferings with remorseless, crimson eyes.
"Yon! Just what the hell do you think you're doing?!" The king roared, taken aback by his son's unexpected violence.
"Y-Y-Your highness…" Zorn gasped in pain, his eyes flinching with tears.
"Don't be surprised. I told you I'll make you pay for what you did. Be grateful that I didn't just blast you to the next dimension." The ruthless prince told Zorn in an emotionless tone. He gave his father an irate gaze before he spun around and stomped out of the king's residence. Kakarot and Raditz gazed at the livid prince's back as he left. They humbly bowed down in front of their ruler before they followed their prince out, puzzled as to what actually occurred between Prince Vegeta, Bulma and his father.
The Saiyan Prince walked past several bowing palace guards and soldiers he met on his path who sensed and feared his obvious, fearsome fury. Nappa greeted him as soon as he found him on the way but immediately swallowed back his words when he found the deep, unpleasant scowl upon the prince's face. Vegeta ignored him as he marched towards an empty training room in the Elite Training Center since his own chamber was being fixed by the CPRD department for the Gravity Simulator Project. He imperiously commanded everyone to leave him alone.
As soon as he was all by himself, he took the pair of couple jewelry he was keeping on his pocket. He was supposed to give the necklace with the moon and star key to Bulma once she was free. He glared at the jewelry in disgust as he set them aside. He proceeded to his intense training session. His agitation was so great, ire towards himself, of Bulma, his father, his people and the stupid laws burned his mind and his skin. His ki poured out of his body like boiling, scorching lava erupting from a volcano vent. He let out fierce punches and kicks in the air, hitting invisible enemies his clouded mind created for him.
Damn laws! Foolish Saiyans! Curse his father! Stupid Bulma for believing his father's words than his! Why can't he make her trust him? Why can't she just forget the past?! Damn it all! If she didn't want him despite showing her his good side, what else can he do? He had enough of trying to pursue a woman supposedly lower than him, of trying to get her affections, of trying to prove her that he has a good side to him! Why the hell was he doing this anyways?! He's the Prince of all Saiyans, the most powerful warrior in the universe! He shouldn't be doing this! If she doesn't want him, then curse her! It's her loss for not taking the opportunity of being with the best man the universe could offer!
~=o-O-o=~
That evening, the opposition in the Royal Council discussed about the upcoming match set for the Crown Prince to assess his power and battle skills.
"Don't tell me that you are planning to finally make that kid fight the Crown Prince?" Kabu asked the Prime Minister.
Paragus smiled, "Don't you think it's already time to put that haughty brat to his place? It would be an interesting show to see the Crown Prince's high pride crumble under his feet once he meets his match against him."
"But how about Broly? Will he be alright with your decision? We all know how that boy is close to the Crown Prince."
Paragus turned a furious evil eye towards Nasu.
"Don't worry about Broly. He cannot do anything about it anyways. That foolish friendship meant nothing once Broly finds out what kind of pretending fool that arrogant Crown Prince is. You'll see."
A man wearing all black arrived in the banquet. The man whispered something to Nasu for a moment before the Minister of Science and Technology turned to the Prime Minister.
"He said that he already found suspicious alien scientists through the locator installed within Prince Vegeta's ki restraining device. He's probably the scientist the rebels were speaking about."
"Through what? Are you saying that Prince Vegeta already found them?" Paragus asked in surprise.
"It appears he knows of them directly but he has no idea that they were the rebels we were looking for." The man in black answered.
"I doubt that he doesn't know. He must already know the truth considering his shrewd and calculating mind." Paragus pointed out.
"Do you think he's on it with them? Or he's denying and ignoring that fact because of that blue haired bitch?"
Paragus became impressed at that great discovery. He has another thing that he could use against the great and mighty Prince. "Very well then, we should go and meet them. I have a favor to ask of them first."
"Yes, Prime Minister Paragus. About the special serum ATIK-903…" Nasu smiled. "Do you think these scientists could alter the elements of that serum to make the next batch worth fighting for that kid?"
"We shall see just how smart these fools think they are. If he fails then I could just kill him. It wouldn't hurt if we try to persuade them to join us in dethroning that arrogant Saiyan Prince! I'm sure they would want that, not after what the prince has done to their people and home planet."
"Yes, you are right there, Prime Minister Paragus." Kabu agreed as he chuckled. "If they join us then we'll have plenty more on our side and the Crown Prince would have a problem on his part considering he'll have to deal with the woman he's fallen for."
"The very thing he cherished the most would be the cause of his own downfall. He should have taken the law by heart and not let foolish emotions make him weak. But he's indeed a stubborn, half-witted spoiled brat. I cannot wait to see him regret his fatuity soon!"
The opposition laughed boisterously as they cheered for their upcoming victory. Not far away, Kinoko's mother heard the commotion.
~=o-O-o=~
The following morning, Kinoko's mother, Kyuri visited her daughter at the Royal Palace. She unexpectedly crossed paths with the King of the Saiyans, she bowed down slightly before the ruler but they deliberately ignored each other. She continued her way to her daughter's temporary quarters at the building where the selected girls stay.
"How have you been? I haven't seen you in a while. Are you doing well?" Kyuri asked her only daughter.
"Yes, mother. I am well."
Kyuri smiled back at her child. Kinoko looked very much like her late cousin, Saya, whom she used to adore so much.
"You look so beautiful, dear daughter. Very much like your aunt when she was your age." Kyuri commented. "I am sure His Majesty and His Royal Highness will see her in you. I am confident that you can win this Selection just as she did."
Kyuri reminisced the old times she spent with the late Queen. They were close cousins since there were little children, and even as Saya became the Selected One and later, King Vegeta the Third's Queen, their closeness never faltered. That was why she was deeply angered when she learned that Saya was killed by an assassin in order to protect her coward of a husband and her beloved children. Even until now, she has never forgiven the king for that sin. The King stubbornly believed that Saya chose her own death, and that he should not be blamed for what happened to her. Their first born son, the Crown Prince, agreed with Kyuri's judgment. She knew how much the boy hated his father for years because of what he did to his mother. For some reason, despite looking identical to his father, Kyuri could see Saya in the Prince's bold and rebellious personality. Because of this, Kyuri was confident that Prince Vegeta was different from his father. He was strong, powerful, fearless, straightforward and impish. He will protect his future Crown Princess with all his life, just like how Saya fiercely protected her man and her sons.
Kyuri leaned towards her daughter and said in a low voice, "I heard from your father that the King has set up the Crown Prince's Power Assessment this year. The council was already planning to use their ace against him on the match."
Kinoko's eyes widened at her mother's words. "What? This soon?"
"Yes. I also heard that they have already found the location of the rebels through the locator placed on the Crown Prince's ki restrainer. It appears that Prince Vegeta directly knows them, because the blue-haired woman he was involved with in those scandals was part of them but he wasn't aware that they are the rebels he was looking for. The council believes that his highness was only trying to ignore his suspicions about them because of his fondness for the woman."
"So Bulma really is part of the alien rebels?"
"So I heard... The opposition is currently trying to get into the rebels and force them to join forces against the royal family."
Kinoko's brows furrowed. What must she do in this situation? If it was true that the blue haired girl is part of the alien rebels then the Crown Prince has to be more wary around Bulma. She cannot understand why he cared so much for that woman despite suspecting her as a traitor? If the alien rebels and the opposition of the royal council would join forces against him, then the royal family would deal with a dangerous threat. His feelings for the woman would indeed become their enemies' ultimate weapon against him.
Of course, she wouldn't want her soon-to-be fiancé to be dethroned from his position. Despite her thirst for power to become Planet Vegeta's future Queen, she does care about him. He's her second degree cousin after all. Downright telling Vegeta the plans of the opposition would be risky for her. If she tries to warn him about Bulma, he might kill her before she could say another word.
Then an idea came up on her mind. Though she has to swallow up her noble pride, there was no other choice for her. In order to save her beloved Crown Prince, she has to befriend the woman he loved and use her to protect him.
~=o-O-o=~
Bulma returned to the palace. She was unable to sleep the whole night because of her guilt, overthinking about Vegeta, the way he glared at her with his intimidating eyes, the hateful words he spat towards her. She knew she hit Vegeta's sensitive feelings with her lack of faith through her words yesterday. She berated herself for questioning his loyalty. After all he did to show her he's not as bad as she thought him to be, she still doubted him, even suspected him of lying to her. She decided to come to the Saiyan Royal Palace to apologize. She even brought a peace offering gift for him. She dressed a lovely, ruffled black and white dress to impress him today. She hoped he could still forgive her.
When she arrived on the Crown Prince's palace, she found Vegeta strolling regally on the hallway, followed by his four strong Generals behind him. It seemed to her that he just came from his training chambers and was about to take his morning shower.
'Well, here goes.' She took a deep breath and let out a broad, friendly white smile. But it immediately melted when she found that scary look on him. His eyes were piercing hard and cold like icicles, a deep displeased scowl etched on his face this early in the morning. Bulma gulped fearfully, it looks like she made it at a wrong time. He was obviously in a terrible mood until now. He sauntered past her, completely ignoring her. It felt as if the time had dramatically slowed down for her as he passed by. Bulma just froze in there, feeling as if her heart just skipped a beat or two the moment he was next to her. She failed to notice that she was trembling out of her own fear of Vegeta's presence, or was it due to her guilt? She wasn't even able to utter a single word to him at all!
Once Vegeta was gone after he went in his private room, Bulma let out a breath she didn't know she was holding back.
"W-What? Did he just ignore me? H-He didn't see me at all?" she asked herself in surprise.
"Hey, Bulma! What'cha doing in there?" she heard Kakarot asked him with his usual cheerful greeting.
"H-huh?" Bulma's jaw dropped.
"Why are you just standing there, woman! Get on with it!" Nappa commanded her.
Bulma reluctantly nodded as she took a fresh set of Vegeta's royal armor from Nappa's big hands and anxiously went inside Vegeta's room.
Inside his shower room, Vegeta coldly stared at the mirror in his peripheral vision where he could see Bulma's timid reflection. She put a fresh set of his royal armor down on his bed quietly and anxiously waited for him in there.
"What is she doing in here?" He frowned to himself, not really wanting to see her today.
"Maybe for work," a voice answered in his mind. His scowl deepened and he turned to angrily shut the door using telekinesis, causing Bulma to jump in surprise. Boy, he sure was still angry.
About almost an hour later, Vegeta finally came out of the shower. Neither talked to each other as Bulma silently dressed him up. He just stared straight away with his piercing, military look, the way an imperious Crown Prince would not look into his subjects.
Feeling awkward at the deadly quietness, Bulma cleared her throat and decided to open her mouth to say something. Vegeta's silence, the way he was ignoring her and that scary look on his face made her feel extremely anxious and uncomfortable. "Uhmm… About yesterday… I'm so-…" but her words were immediately cut off by a piercing gaze that could have stabbed her guilty heart.
"I don't remember commanding you to speak, woman." he said to her in a wintry tone, still not looking at her. Instead, his sharp eyes fell to the scarlet cape in her hands she was supposed to pin on his armor's shoulder pads. Bulma stared back at him with afflicting emotions.
After a few tensed seconds, Vegeta let out an irritated growl and abruptly shouted at the door, "Nappa! Get your filthy ass in here right now!"
"Y-Y-Yes, your highness!" Nappa hurriedly came in, stood next to Bulma and bowed down before his angry Crown Prince.
The Saiyan Prince unceremoniously and irately snatched the cape off Bulma's hands, causing her to become startled. He still refused to even glance at her even as he spoke imperiously.
"Proceed to the CPRD department, finish the Gravity Simulator and get out of my sight, woman. That is a direct order." Prince Vegeta frigidly commanded, then he hurled the cape at Nappa's face.
Bulma just gaped back at him with a hurtful and pitiful gaze. Nappa took the red cloth away from his face and turned to her with a questioning look, wondering what the hell just happened and the prince was acting so cold and vexatious towards her all of a sudden. She turned to the General with a downcast stare. Nappa silently told her to just go before Vegeta gets more upset. She bowed down towards the Crown Prince - as a silent apology, before she laggardly left the prince's chambers. Nappa continued to dress the ill-tempered heir to the throne without any word.
Once she was out of the room, Kakarot, Raditz and Broly looked at her with commiserate gazes as they noticed how crestfallen she appeared. They overheard Vegeta's apathetic treatment to her and wondered what just happened between them. Bulma ignored them, feeling chastened and hastily walked away from them. She tried to stop her tears from flowing out of her stinging cerulean eyes but was unable to. She dropped her peace offering gift for him on the floor but she didn't bother to pick it up. She didn't notice the girl she passed by until the girl stated something.
"Hey, you just dropped something. Aren't you even going to pick it up? Prince Vegeta doesn't like to see litters inside his royal palace."
Bulma's feet halted from her hasty strolling and she anxiously turned towards the girl to see she was the same one who ordered her beaten over a month ago the day of the banquet for the opening of the Selection. (See Episodes 10-11)
"My my, you truly are one clumsy woman." Kinoko sighed as she picked up the blue paper bag Bulma dropped on the ground and approached her with a shocking friendly smile. "What is this? Something for Vegeta?"
"No. It's nothing." Bulma quickly denied as she looked away with an uncomfortable look.
"Really?" Kinoko was doubtful as she sniffed the bag. "Smells good." she commented before she handed it over to the blue haired girl. "Here. Don't you throw anything in here, especially something that looks so good."
Bulma shrugged uneasily, "Uh… I think I don't need it anymore." she mumbled.
Kinoko pouted in disappointment, "Really? What a waste. I was wondering what was inside." She took the bag and opened it up. "Oooh! Cookies!" She squealed. She took one and bit into it. After chewing for a moment and swallowing the food, her eyes brightened even more in amazement. "Wow! This is delicious!" she exclaimed. "Hmph! Since you said you don't want it back, I'll take it with me. I'm sure that it would be okay with you, right?"
Bulma just stared at the girl incredulously, wondering what just happened and she suddenly became friendly towards her. She couldn't forget Kinoko's ruthlessness towards her and Caulifla that day the Selection began.
"Hey, Bulma is your name, right?" Kinoko asked. "Why don't you come with me to the pond and let's have some tea together? It may go well with your cookies."
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta came to his dining table to eat his morning breakfast when he found the same Taihoto soup they've been serving him these past few days. Feeling completely aggravated, he scowled and hurled the soup along the bowl into the door where Celerie and the cooks are.
"What the fuck were you all doing serving me the same shit everyday?! Do you plan on serving me the same damn soup until the day I die?!" he roared at his cooks indignantly. Everybody jumped and flinched at his rage. "Get Celerie in here!" he commanded.
Celerie rushed inside and fell to her knees to beg for mercy and forgiveness.
"Our apologies, your highness, But... But you said -." Celerie was about to open her mouth to defend her subordinates, and remind him that he just told them the other day that he'll gladly eat the Taihoto soup they serve him everyday but Vegeta's intimidating glare made her unable to say anything but made her relent, "Our apologies, your highness. Please spare us. Do you have something else you wish for us to cook for you?"
"Forget it, damn it!" he roared as he angrily waved his left hand in front of him unleashing a destructive blade of wind that blew away all the food and plates over the table in front of him. "If you do this mistake once again, I will send you worthless females to the next dimension."
He abruptly rose and stomped his way out of his dining room. Nappa and Celerie exchanged glances, with Nappa shaking his head in shame, silently apologizing to Celerie and telling her that Vegeta was in one of his bad moods once again before he followed the Crown Prince out.
On the way to the royal assembly, he found his aunt Kyuri leaving the Palace. When she found him, she gave him a slight smile and bowed down before him in respect.
"It has been a long time, your highness." she said. "You've grown so much since the last time I saw you in person."
"I was still a child when you last visited," he said with a cold tone, his face devoid of any emotion.
Kyuri decided not to remind him that it was him who ordered for her and Kinoko not to show themselves before him again. But Vegeta remembered it as clear as day. He simply didn't wish to be reminded of his mother during that time. He was an uncontrollable brat back then.
But then, it was for his own sake that they kept their distance.
Fourteen years after his mother's death and his angry and rough relationship with his father, Vegeta had settled down his past grudges and bitterness about that event in his life after the night his father admitted to his sins and asked for his forgiveness. This also means that he's gotten over his enmity towards his mother's family.
"Have you visited Kinoko in the house of the Selected?"
"Yes, your highness. I am glad that she was doing well in the Selection."
"I think it is not something you should be worried about. We both know how this Selection would end, right?"
Yet, despite all that, there was something else he resented towards Kyuri and Kinoko. It was their relationship with Nasu. Despite their blood relationship, Vegeta knew he cannot trust his aunt and second degree cousin for being the family of one of his enemies.
"I wonder whose side is stronger for you. Was it your affections for your husband or your fondness for your beloved cousin and her child? Which side are you taking? Is blood thicker than water for you? Or are your emotions stronger than the bond you shared with my mother? In the end, the choice is yours to make. Let me tell you what I promised Kinoko when she entered the Selection. Even if she wins the Selection, she will never win any affection from me. I will never accept her as my mate."
"Your highness. You have probably heard how much I loved your mother. I cared for you and Prince Tarble as much as I did for her but it was you who pushed us away because you do not wish to be reminded of her. I did what was best for you and simply waited until you are able to cope up with your grief and anger. Kinoko also cared for you, even if she's obviously power-hungry like her father and desires becoming your mate and Crown princess, I can assure you that she will never betray you because I raised her to care for you just as I cared for your mother."
"I wonder if I should count on her to do as you said. I guess I'll look forward to it and find out which side is stronger for her."
With his cold gaze darting away from her face, the Prince walked away, leaving his aunt all stunned by his harsh words. He proceeded to the royal assembly.
~=o-O-o=~
Ten minutes later…
Bulma watched in skeptics as Kinoko eagerly ate her cookies and took a sip on her lavishly designed cup of warm tea. They were sitting on a small boat that floated at the middle of a pond on the left side of the Crown Prince's palace. There was a small bridge not far away, that connected the Crown Prince's residence to the King's residence. Bulma was still wondering why this girl became friendly towards her all so suddenly.
"Hey, why aren't you eating? Come on, girl. It's not poisoned or anything." Kinoko assured with a smug look upon her pretty face.
"Thank you," Bulma smiled timidly.
"You know what? Loosen up. You look like you have a problem with trusting others. It must have been hard for you to trust me after what I did to you back then. I'm sorry. Will you forget about that? I'd like to be your friend."
Bulma asked, "W-W-Why do you suddenly want me to become your friend?"
"Because of Prince Vegeta."
So does he want her to be friendly with her? Bulma wondered if the prince ordered Kinoko to do such a thing.
"As the upcoming future Crown Princess, I think I must become close to the people close to him as well. And I think you fit into that category. I heard he's taken a liking to you and I think you know him more than me or anyone else as he seems to become more open towards you."
So is she actually admitting that she wants to use her to know more about the Saiyan Prince?
"I don't think he's opened up to me at all. Plus, it's not right for me to say something that he's not willing to share with others if ever I do know something. You know, there is a rule in the Crown Prince's palace. 'Whatever you see, hear, feel and speak, leave it in the palace walls when you leave'." Bulma said as she remembered Celerie's lectures when she first entered the Crown Prince's palace.
"What?! He never did?!" Kinoko was appalled at her answer.
Well, he did but Bulma wouldn't really want to tell anyone that or it would greatly upset Vegeta even more. "Yeah, I'm sorry." Bulma said apologetically.
Kinoko sighed in disappointment. "And here I thought you could be a great help. Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter. At least, I know now that you are one whom I could trust to share my secrets with."
"Eeh?!"
Kinoko's eyes narrowed, "What? You don't want to?"
"I-It's not like that…" Bulma awkwardly denied.
Kinoko suddenly grinned and declared, "Then Bulma, from now on, you are going to become my friend, okay?"
Is being pushy and demanding a Saiyan nature or what? Bulma thought you cannot force friendships and relationships just like that. She guessed that this girl really has a similarity to Vegeta's militant attitude.
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta walked out of the throne room followed by his Generals and servants after the Royal Assembly was done. He passed by the small bridge by the pond where Bulma and Kinoko are having tea and cookies together. Nappa noticed the two girls having some funny conversations and approached his bad tempered Crown Prince.
"Your highness, didn't you command that Bulma go to the CPRD Department to work on the Gravity Simulator?" Nappa asked carefully.
"I did." The prince replied coldly without looking at his attendant.
"But… Bulma is… She's over there…"
Nappa pointed at the small boat and Vegeta turned his head to see Bulma laughing lightheartedly with Kinoko while they talked. Kinoko found him but decided not to let him know. The prince immediately gritted his teeth together at that cocky look from Kinoko's lips and in his anger, lost his control over his power for a very short moment. His rage caused a momentary earthquake that shook the bridge for a second.
"Your highness!" cried out his Generals and his servants as they suddenly collapsed on the ground. The water on the pond immediately surged upwards, causing the small boat to capsize. Kinoko instinctively saved herself by jumping to the bridge. Vegeta snarled indignantly towards Kinoko, thinking that she was planning something sinister towards Bulma.
"Your highness! Please calm down!" pleaded Nappa, thinking that Vegeta might attack his own second degree cousin anytime soon.
"Heeeeelp!" Bulma screamed just as she fell into the water.
Bulma's cries made Vegeta turn his head towards her quickly, seeing her drown deep into the pond. Against his wish, his body moved on its own accord despite his anger at her. He unceremoniously but gracefully jumped into the pond to save his dearest.
"Y-Your highness! Your highness!" cried out everyone who witnessed the stupefying scene that just occurred. Nobody expected that the Prince of the Saiyans would jump into the pond to save an alien servant.
Not long after that, Vegeta floated out of the water with a coughing blue haired Earthling in his arms. He descended into the ground where his servants immediately attended to him by offering him some towels to wipe himself and a robe to keep himself warm. Bulma stared at Vegeta with a dumbfounded gaze and he glared back at her lividly. He brusquely dropped her to the cold ground, causing her to fall to her back painfully.
"Ouch… Why'd you do that for?!" Bulma complained, shooting him a furious glare while she rubbed at her aching behind.
"Don't get the wrong idea, woman. I didn't save you or anything." he coldly declared. Bulma didn't say a word as she awkwardly turned away, trembling in the cold. "Just what the fuck do you think you were doing in there?! Didn't I command you to go the CPRD Department and finish your damn work?! I should punish you for defying my royal command!" Vegeta roared.
"Apologize to his highness and beg for his mercy," Nappa suddenly ordered in a harsh way.
Bulma gulped and immediately realized that it could be her chance to say it to him. But why the hell is she going to beg for his mercy? "M-M-My apologies, your highness. I… I…"
Vegeta realized that this was the first time Bulma had addressed him directly this way. And he didn't like it at all. He frowned then turned away as he mumbled. "Forget it. I went to the water on my own accord. Just get out of my sight before I decide to blast you all to the next dimension." he immediately relented.
"But, your highness -," Nappa was about to say something about punishing Bulma for her defiance of the Crown Prince's royal direct command but the prince immediately yelled.
"Didn't you hear my command?! Don't make me repeat myself!" The irate prince roared louder.
"Y-Yes, your highness!" Everyone immediately left, almost looking like they were running for their lives. Kakarot and Raditz dragged Bulma with them. Broly followed them timidly while Kinoko walked back to her quarters with a very upset look.
Once alone, Vegeta berated and mentally slapped himself for caring about her. What the hell did he just do and he just jumped off like that? Moreover, how could he snap like that and lose control over his powers, causing her to be in a dire situation?
He decided that he would just train once again at the Elite Training Center today.
~=o-O-o=~
"Seriously, woman. What the hell happened between the two of you and Vegeta suddenly acted that way towards you?" Raditz demanded to Bulma. Gine was sitting beside her, gently wiping at her with a towel.
"It's because I questioned him." Bulma muttered.
"Questioned him about what?"
It took Bulma a few moments before she responded in a low voice, "About his intentions. The King told me something. He said that his son was just playing at my emotions because he sees me as something useful for now and because of it, I doubted Vegeta's true intentions."
Bardock snickered in disapproval. "Then his Majesty truly doesn't know anything about his own son."
"What do you mean?"
"Vegeta and his father, they used to have a rocky relationship. The prince used to hate his father because he believed that it was the king's foolish greed that got his mother killed a long time ago. That's the reason why he did everything to upset the King greatly. All these years, Vegeta's troublesome nature is what the king sees and believes. That is why he has no idea what truly lies beneath that stubborn nature. Only those people who believed and gave Vegeta the chance knows the goodness in him."
"Despite the cold and ruthless reputation, Vegeta is actually sensitive deep inside. He gets offended and hurt emotionally easier than most Saiyans, though he doesn't usually show it. His pride is most likely the reason for this sensitivity. He usually projects his pain through violence, cruelty and harsh treatments. Seeing that he suddenly treated you that way could only mean that you have indeed hurt his pride by choosing to believe others' words more than his own." Kakarot pointed out.
"Whatever the king told you, you shouldn't have questioned Prince Vegeta's affections towards you. I already told you before how serious he was with you. He never did things he did with you. Being a man with high pride, I don't think he would even risk his life and his pride just to save and protect someone if he just wanted something from them." Raditz said. (See Episode 11)
"Just imagine that the notorious hardhearted and proud Prince Vegeta becoming soft because of a human girl like you. His feelings for you are what changed him from being the monster he once was. It was for you that he begins to exhibit a change of heart." Bardock told her.
"Yeah, you were right. I know how wrong I was that's why I came in here to apologize but I guess he didn't want to hear it…" Bulma muttered sadly.
"He wouldn't listen to you?" Kakarot was surprised.
Bardock, Gine, Raditz and Kakarot exchanged glances.
"This is worrisome…"
"Yeah."
"It's not like he's already treating her like she doesn't exist. He still saved her in the water though."
"Should we see how this will turn out after she's done with her work? If Vegeta starts to treat her as if she doesn't exist then that's when we should conclude this as something worrisome."
The four Saiyans spoke to themselves in their traditional language with a low voice and such inhuman speed, not allowing Bulma to understand their words.
After a minute of brainstorming, they all turned to her with seemingly hungry stares. Bulma gulped, thinking they would treat her just as Vegeta did. Kakarot sighed, his serious expression fading into an awkward yet friendly smile.
"Bulma, you have to do just as he says for now. Don't do something that would infuriate him even further. It would make things even worse for you. Instead, do something that might gain his attention once again. If he's in a better mood around you, then he would be more willing to listen to you. That's when you apologize." Kakarot suggested.
~=o-O-o=~
During the entire week, Bulma worked in the CPRD department along with the Crown Prince's scientists and engineers. Vegeta still has never looked or talked to her the same way he did before, but as a Prince who orders his servant to do his commands. She was forced to call him 'Your highness' everytime she would address him. Prince Vegeta remained as cold and uncaring towards her, as if silently telling her 'If you don't like me on my good side, I shall make you deal with my bad side from now on.'
Raditz and Kakarot tried to help Bulma gain Vegeta's attention again. Like when they offer to take Bulma's peace offering gifts to him. This only made Vegeta even more upset. He would throw them into the trash bin as soon as Raditz or Kakarot handed it to him.
"Would you two stop butting in someone else's business?!" Vegeta yelled at them at day as he hurled a box with another batch of cookies Bulma baked especially for him.
"It's just that… We don't want to see you treat Bulma so harshly…" Kakarot defended.
Vegeta shouted back, "It was she who lacked faith in me! What she did was completely unforgivable! If she doesn't want me on my good side then I'll make her suffer the true nature she believed in!"
"Your highness. Please don't do this to her." Kakarot pleaded. "She's only human. Everything about her should only be weak by Saiyan standards and yet you tried to pursue her heart before."
"Shut up!" The indignant prince roared as he stomped on the floor, causing it to crack upon the surface. "If you two continue to annoy me with you meddling in our business, I will kill you! She was the one who gave up on me! Why must I pursue a woman who obviously doesn't have faith and affections towards me?! I am the Crown Prince of all Saiyans! The most powerful warrior in the universe! I won't lower myself to her ever again!"
The prince scuffled away from his two Generals, leaving them very disappointed.
~=o-O-o=~
One week later, the Crown Prince's Research and Development Team led by Bulma and Doctor Huiston was finally done with the Gravity Simulator, much to the cranky prince's relief. Vegeta commanded everyone to leave him and Bulma alone. After he was done making sure the room wasn't sabotaged, making Bulma see on how suspicious he is of her work as pay back for how he felt when she lacked faith of his promises, he immediately ordered her to explain to him how the simulator works. She awkwardly did as she was told to. It was especially uncomfortable to be with him like this when he clearly hasn't forgiven her yet. Plus, his clothes too… Today, he was donning a dark blue sleeveless jumpsuit instead of his usual royal blue long sleeved jumpsuit under his royal armor. It revealed his awesome muscular arms, flexed when he just cross them over his white chest plate. Why does he have to show her that? Was he feeling hot or what?
Once she was done, he harshly brushed her aside. "So are you done now? Go to Nappa and take your pay check. You are dismissed." Vegeta said to her in an icy tone. His aloof demeanor remained.
Stunned by his cold hearted words, Bulma suddenly remembered the king when he warned her about Vegeta's change of attitude towards her when he finally finds her useless. (See Episode 16)
"When he wants something, he would stop at nothing until he gets it. However he is also childish and has a very fickle mind. Once he has a grasp of what he wants, he'll eventually throw them aside after using them. As his father, I know him very well. When he was a child, he would forcefully take away Tarble's toys and after a while of making his brother cry, he would eventually throw the toy away. You may even ask Nappa or Raditz about it if you wish to but I'm afraid this might also be the same for you. Right now, he sees you the same as those toys, something to entertain him. He loved to play around. He may find you useful with whatever you were working for him right now but heed my warning, woman. Once you're done with that thing, and your usefulness to him has come to an end, he'll eventually set you aside."
It seemed to her that the king was correct about his son after all. Why was he doing this? Was he so mad at her that he's acting like this? And here she thought he said not to believe his father's words at all. He only verified that his father was correct about him at this rate and it hit her heart like icicles.
She silently bowed down and walked out of the Gravity Room with a melancholic look.
Prince Vegeta knew he just proved Bulma's suspicions right, and somehow regretted it deep inside. He was still mad about her believing his father's words than his, so he decided to just show her what she must regret that she chose not to believe him.
He removed his armor and dropped it on the floor next to the machine that had the simulator. He did a few warm up exercises. Once he knew he was ready for an intense training session, he called, "Computer."
The flat, mechanical, female voice of the Artificial Intelligence programmed in his training room immediately responded to his word, "Yes, Prince Vegeta."
"Shut all doors and activate the Gravity Simulator to fifteen times normal Gravity." he ordered.
"Yes, your highness." As the engine whirled to life and the lights dimmed into dark scarlet, the female voice announced, "Activating Gravity Simulator to fifteen times normal gravity…"
Vegeta immediately perceived his weight getting heavier as the gravity within the room rose to crushing levels. He gritted his teeth together, groaning in pressure as he struggled to keep his tout posture. He bent his knees, flexed his arms on the sides and clenched his hands into tight fists. He began to release his ki to help him become stronger to overcome such overwhelming environment. Once he was able to regain his bearings, he shot up a glare at some holographic images of Frieza, Zarbon and Dodoria his mind came up with.
"I will become the Legendary Super Saiyan and send you all to your graves! I swear it!" he hatefully spat. He thought that once he was done with his mission as the prophesied one to destroy the Galactic Emperor, there would be nothing to stop him from doing whatever he wanted. Even the Saiyan Laws won't be able to control him once he becomes the Supreme Leader of the Cosmos himself!
~=o-O-o=~
Bulma let out a breath once she was out of the Gravity Room. She recollected her interactions with the Saiyan Crown Prince these past few days, which were unpleasant. His treatment towards her was especially hostile and it only made her guilt worse than ever. She thought of leaving and not showing her face to him ever again. After all, despite her growing feelings towards him, she was still unsure of pursuing their relationship. Being with him was especially dangerous. It might cause her greatly if she becomes his girlfriend - she guessed he doesn't want her now. Somehow, it made her heart break to pieces. After all the memories they shared together, it just ended up this way.
Why?
She did just as Bardock and his family adviced but despite it all, Vegeta didn't show the same warm treatment he did before this whole mess had occurred.
An alarm caused Bulma to jump to her feet and she whirled around to find the Gravity Simulator activated to 15Gs through the mini screen on the side of the heavily built door much to her surprise.
15Gs?! Isn't that too much for a first time use?! Is he crazy?! Is he suicidal or what?! In her worry, she hurriedly darted towards the watch room next to the Crown Prince's Gravity Room, ignoring the observers she surprised with her bursting in just like that. She unceremoniously deactivated the Gravity Simulator through the emergency control panel connected in the room.
Inside the Gravity Room, Vegeta ungracefully and unruly skid across the floor as he was doing some full force high kicks in the air when the Gravity suddenly returned to normal. Using too much force caused him to crash across the floor into the metal walls, causing it to deform under his full strength. He fell into silence as he was taken by shock, wondering what the hell just happened. Not long after that, he heard Bulma's irate screaming bursting through the speakers around the room.
"Just what the hell are you doing, Vegeta?! Are you suicidal?! Activating the simulator to that level could get you crushed like some pathetic insect, you idiot!" she screamed at a microphone she snatched from the counter.
He momentarily flinched at the unwelcoming sound of a woman screaming in a high pitched voice everywhere across the room. It made his ears ring. Has it affected his sensitive hearing? Meanwhile, everyone inside the watch room stared at Bulma in fright. How she could rudely yell at the Saiyan Prince just like that was beyond what they could comprehend.
"Get out of there right now, you jerk! And I have to give you a scolding!" Bulma ordered, like a furious mother scolding her naughty child.
…
…
…
A long, dead silence followed after that. The silence made Bulma realize what just happened. Vegeta bent his head down in his rage and pulled his leg off the completely mutilated metal wall. She turned to see that everyone was staring back at her with a dumbfounded face.
"Uhh…" Bulma trailed off, shrugging uneasily at the stares she was receiving.
She could hear Kakarot's words echoing at the back of her mind. "Don't do something that would infuriate him even further… It would make things even worse for you."
"Leave us…" She suddenly heard Vegeta's seething rage-filled voice behind her, making her gasp at the cruel sound. He must have teleported himself behind her via Hibiktus. Everyone scampered like mice out of the watch room as they ran for dear life. Bulma just froze there, not daring to face him. She could only imagine how deadly he could look after what she just did. She suddenly felt dizzy, her entire body stony, perhaps out of fear. Suddenly, her mind clouded and she couldn't concentrate much but to the ominous presence of the cold-blooded prince behind her.
After what it seemed like an eternity of deadly silence, he finally spoke to her ear.
"Learn to mind your own business, woman. I hated being interrupted while training because of some dumb reason like weaklings worrying about my well-being. I am a Saiyan Warrior bred to fight and with every pain, injury and near death instances I endure and survive, I grow stronger. I'm not suicidal; I'm just in a hurry to become the Legendary. Do that mistake once again or I'll kill you where you stand." he growled with a threatening tone. Bulma felt her chest tightened. She was trying her best not to break down before him but that is quite an impossible feat.
"I… I was just concerned about you. I'm sorry." she muttered.
"I don't need your concern. Keep your worries to yourself, woman. You will need it more from now on." he said. He finally pulled away from her. Bulma shut her eyes, trying her best to relax but finding it hard to do so.
"By the way, when you leave the Royal Palace today, do not ever come back here anymore. Don't ever show yourself to me again. I do not want to see you around any longer. That is a royal command."
"I never asked to be near you, remember?" she choked with a broken voice, trying her best to hold back her tears. "I was just working for you temporarily as a contractual engineer and your personal niehre. I know that I hurt your pride with what I said but you cannot fire me this way. You cannot just do whatever you want with people."
"The powerful man stands above and conquers all. The mighty survives and the weak shall perish. The strong will feed off the weak and the weak shall always serve the powerful. That is just how this cruel world works. I am the most powerful among the mightiest warrior race in the entire cosmos while you… are just nothing but an insect I could easily crush with one thought alone. It just happens that I am at the pinnacle of power and that gave me the right to do whatever I want. I could destroy anything I don't like and I could also fire any employee in my Royal Palace whenever I want. My father told you himself, didn't he? When you lose your usefulness to me, then you're nothing to me but trash to be thrown away."
He just told her the words she was dreading to hear from him. What made it worse was the fact that it was her fault that he's letting her go now.
"Are you running away now? After what you did, confessing your feelings to me and giving me those promises… Did your feelings change?" Bulma asked.
"Promises are meant to be broken, woman. Also feelings do change over time. People come and go, as well. Any relationship and whatever goes with it never lasts without the meaning of trust and respect. Whose fault was it again? I had enough of it. Not everyone has that kind of patience you know..."
After those cold and cruel words he told her, he teleported himself back to his training room, leaving her alone.
Bulma's tears fell on her cheeks and she finally sobbed as her heart break to pieces once he was gone. Those harsh words were so painful she couldn't take it anymore. With shaking legs, she stepped out of the Crown Prince's Training Center and broke down outside. Why is he doing this to her? Was he so angry at her for hurting his pride that he starts to change his treatment of her? Instead of trying to prove his father's words about him being wrong, Vegeta seemed to only validate them through the way he acted towards her.
Meanwhile, Vegeta released his burning fury in his training. He knew he's been hurting her feelings with his harsh treatment. He thought she deserved it for lacking faith in him after all he's done for her. But despite his cold heartedness towards her, he knew it pained him deep inside. Seeing her address him properly, her awkward and anxious actions whenever he's watching her with his sullen glare or completely ignoring her as if she doesn't exist hit his heart like a ki blast piercing through his hardened chest. These past days were especially gloomy for him, although he tried to hide his feelings very well with his pride and anger. He promised her that he won't be giving up on her, that he would fight for her no matter what. It's making him hate himself for not being able to keep that promise. But he knew he cannot do that if his mission as the chosen one is on his way. Even if he continued to pursue Bulma, his pride and his mission would prevent him from being with her. His people and the entire universe need him. They were counting on him to save them from the Galactic Emperor! If he failed on doing his mission, it would greatly endanger Bulma's life because of the laws. He wanted to protect her, which is why he decided to remain as harsh and hostile towards her in order for his father and the royal council to stop watching at her. However, even with his decision, he could feel the sadness gnawing at his hardened heart at seeing her afraid and hurt because of him.
As if it was some cruel punishment from the deities, he could feel her heart break and hear her cries in his own mind. And it broke him inside as well.
~=o-O-o=~
Two weeks passed by and Vegeta never saw Bulma in the palace again. Eventually, the rumors about his scandal with her died down and the prince was relieved that they finally left her alone. In the past fourteen days, Bulma fell into a bout of depression after being fired by the Saiyan Prince from her job. She felt like her whole world became suddenly empty. She did try to help her father in the laboratory but she wasn't as cheerful as she used to be. She looked like a moving corpse, lifeless and lonely, overwhelmed by guilt and grief. She could never forget the look on Vegeta's eyes that day. The hurt and the anger, it was more intense than the look he gave her when he brought her in the forest during the banquet of the first Selection night. It was calm and quiet, more fearsome than she had ever witnessed. He had let her go just as she wanted, decided that enough was enough. Her distrust on him hurt his pride more than anything else. Remembering his words to her at the prison, "I'll let you go. I told you I won't give up but if you'll be the one to do it then I'll let you go. For real once that happens." She realized that he just did his word to her.
And now that they have ended it, Bulma should be relieved that the prince finally stopped bothering her. But why does her heart ache this way? Why does her life suddenly felt lonely without him?
Even though Vegeta was over with his affection for Bulma, the Selection for his upcoming Crown Princess still continued. Despite being present on the various events and trainings held for the Selected as they get eliminated from the competition until they are down to the Finalists, Vegeta remained disinterested as any other day.
Finally, the three finalists for the Selection were presented before him. Prince Vegeta didn't say any word to his father or Paragus or the royal court and simply sat on the seat at right side of his father, staring with complete indifference at the three girls in front of him.
The royal council members silently glanced at the Crown Prince's direction occasionally while King Vegeta would turn his head towards him to see if he had any interest with choosing his Saiyan fiancé, much to his disappointment, Prince Vegeta showed plain boredom. After all, his son had constantly showed no desire to any woman in the Selection. Vegeta didn't care about any of them. The Selected One would just be a tool for him to use to bear his heir. Nothing more.
Paragus announced, "These ladies are the final three, the three most intelligent, strongest and most beautiful of the Selected. They are critically chosen through several examinations and battle drills according to the law. Ladies, you may introduce yourselves to his Majesty and his Royal Highness."
"I am the daughter of the Minister of Rites, Daizu. My name is Mizuno. It is my pleasure to be in your presence, your Majesty. Your highness."
"I'm the Minister of Military Strategy's daughter, Caulifla. It is an honor, your Majesty. Your highness," though she really doesn't look like she's pleased with it. Not with her rival on her side!
"I'm Kinoko, the daughter of the Minister of Science and Technology, Nasu and the late Queen's cousin, Kyuri. It is truly a great honor to be chosen to be at your gracious presence. Your Majesty, your highness."
One of these ladies shall become the Future Princess Successor of Planet Vegeta while the other two shall remain as the Crown Prince's concubines. These three women would bear the Crown Prince's children in the near future. The Crown Princess will bear the next heir apparent to the throne to keep the powerful bloodline of the royal family.
Caulifla and Mizuno already knew how this would end, and they were proved to be correct when Kinoko was indeed the chosen one. Not just with her blood relationship to the Crown Prince as his second degree cousin but because Nasu is that close to the Prime Minister. Caulifla was unimpressed though. How could she lose to Kinoko just like that?!
After Kinoko was selected to become his fiancé, Vegeta indignantly stormed out of the throne room. He knew how this stupid shit is going to end and he was frustrated about Kinoko's victorious grin as she looked up at him with a smug look. Now, she is protected by Saiyan Law and he cannot do anything else about it!
~=o-O-o=~
"The Crown Princess has been Selected!"
The people heard the news that the Selection has ended and that their future Crown Princess is the daughter of the Minister of Science and Technology. Most were pleased to learn that the future Queen is the most powerful and ruthless woman on the planet. Some people thought she could be the Crown Prince's nightmare and the one who might put him into discipline. Some others were displeased at Caulifla's defeat and thought that her win was sabotaged by the King or the royal court considering Kinoko's blood relations with Prince Vegeta and her father being close to the Prime Minister. They still couldn't help but think that all these things occurred to prevent Prince Vegeta's dethronement after those rumors and scandals he was involved with the alien slave and defying the Law that forbids a Saiyan royal to have affections for an alien slave. Few Saiyans find Bulma beautiful and that there could be a logical reason why their odd heir to the throne became interested with her. They wanted to believe the mischievous Prince was only using her as a sex slave or playing games with her.
Despite having different opinions about their Crown Princess and the blue haired alien slave the Prince was involved with, they shared the same anticipation at the Annual Power Assessment Announcement. As most Saiyans don't really remember Vegeta's awakening transformation to the Saiyan beast form or how he destroyed the West Galaxy two weeks ago, they are excited to see the Prince's growth and development in both skills and power and his renowned sheer ruthlessness in battle live. The King was correct in his decision to give them something else to talk about and eventually, the rumors about his first-born's scandals died down.
But then, there was another rumor going around the palace. Something that was meant to die a long time ago was resurfacing once again.
It started with the incident with Garikku and Peppa two weeks ago. And after Prince Vegeta was locked up in the palace by the King's order, the guards on night duty would see him dash around outside and escaping his room into the forest for the past two nights. Of course, Nappa would command them to follow the Crown Prince. After a while of searching the forest, they would return to the General but Nappa would tell them that the Crown Prince was at his room after all. If that was the case, then who were they chasing in the forest?
Rumors say that it could be a doppelganger of Prince Vegeta. Some think the apparition tells of an impending bad omen about the Crown Prince and they dread that if the prince and the doppelganger would meet face to face, it could mean death for the impish heir.
Some others think that it could be Sadara, the Crown Prince's identical doll. After all, it wasn't only Nappa who finds the doll rather creepy. But then, haunted dolls moving and running around on its own is rather scary yet senseless.
Peppa, Garikku and three other guards posted near the Crown Prince's library were talking in hushed voices.
"Hey, could it be the Crown Prince's clone?"
"Clone?"
"I heard from my dad that there was some sort of project about cloning Prince Vegeta for military purposes fourteen years ago but the Project eventually died as it failed miserably. The king ordered the termination of everything about that project."
"REALLY?!"
"Pssst! Quiet down or someone might hear you! I heard the king would kill anyone who would speak about it! Do you want to get killed?! What if Prince Vegeta learns about this?"
"He doesn't know?!"
"Of course not! The king didn't want him to know about that at all! What the Crown Prince knew is that his DNA map samples were being used for research purposes to help him become a Super Saiyan. If he learns about this, imagine how mad he'll become. That is why the king made it a law to never speak about the project again. But of course, if you do, you have to be very careful."
They eventually quieted and bowed down when they found Prince Vegeta walking around the hallway towards the library. He was in a foul mood just as any other day during these past two weeks since he fired his niehre so the two Palace guards were especially fearsome to deal with him. The prince stopped at the door of his library and turned his head to the bowing guards without any word. Garikku and Peppa opened the door for the prince to stroll inside. Once the prince was inside, the guards sighed in relief.
"Goodness that was so close! I wonder if he heard anything." Peppa sighed.
"He looked at us as if he did! I was so scared I thought I was going to die!" Garikku moaned.
Peppa shrugged at his shoulders, almost panicking. "Uhh… hey Garikku, isn't that Prince Vegeta coming in here?" Peppa whispered on his ear.
As if waking up from a daydream, Garikku's eyes popped open. "What?!" how did that happen?
Indeed, the Crown Prince was walking his way towards them. He looked very displeased with that scowl on his expression. It was obvious he was not in a good mood.
"But didn't he just come inside the library?" Garikku asked Peppa, confused.
"Yeah... What the hell? Who was the one who came in first?"
The prince stopped at the front door of the library, waiting for the guards to open the door for him but Peppa and Garikku just stared at him with wide eyes and frigid postures.
"What are you two fools gawking at?! Hurry up!" Vegeta snapped at them with an irritated look. He was especially cranky today after what happened in the throne room. With the Selection being over now, there will be a celebration party in the Palace to congratulate his engagement to Kinoko tonight. He had no plans of joining the party though. So he decided to have some alone time to ease off his annoyance.
The guards darted their eyes on each other, unsure and confused. This one before them seems to be the real one though. Not with that kind of temper and intimidating charisma. They silently agreed to just open the door for him, "Our apologies, your highness."
Vegeta sent them a murderous glare. Why the hell are they apologizing for being so slow witted? He simply ignored them instead of blasting them just as his temper tried to tell him and entered the library in silence, like the calm before a cataclysmic storm. Boy, he sure was angry. The guards looked at each other in confusion, unable to understand what was happening. Not long after that, they heard Goyo freaking out inside the library.
"What the fuck are you saying I just came in a minute ago?!" the prince demanded.
"I-I have no idea, your highness. But you came in and ordered me to get you a book. See?" Goyo pointed at the lone book at the top of the Crown Prince's reading table.
Confused as well, Vegeta walked into the table and took the book in his hand. It was some science fiction novel entitled 'The Apocalypse of the Clones'. He raised an eyebrow at the title. Seems interesting.
"Fine. I'll take this and another one." he said. At the back of his mind, he was getting an odd feeling about it.
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta was at his meadow that afternoon, surrounded by the blue and white flowers he was named after. He was on the ground, reading a book similar to the story Bulma told him about. The other book Goyo gave him on the library was on the ground beside him. The story he was reading was about a rebellious Saiyan Prince falling in love with a beautiful alien girl and was willing to discard his Saiyan pride and identity just to be with her. He was forced to an arranged marriage with a strong Saiyan woman he doesn't even like. In the end, the prince in the story failed to gain the alien woman's affections and he died of a broken heart.
Somehow, Vegeta could relate to the prince in the story as he felt the same love for Bulma, and was engaged to Kinoko. However, clinging to his Saiyan pride torn him apart, knowing he cannot allow himself to discard his position as Crown Prince and allow his emotions get the better of him. He has too many responsibilities and missions to accomplish. He cannot afford to lose his crown and his pride just for the sake of one woman. He is his kingdom's only hope, the one who would end the opposition's plans and the prophesied one to save the universe from the Galactic Emperor. He only hoped Bulma could hold on and wait for him until it is the right time for them to be together.
His sensitive hearing picked up a movement on the grass but he ignored it. His dark eyes never leaving the pages of the book he was reading. Not long after, the steps came quicker as it approached him.
"Your highness!" she called cheerfully. Vegeta's eyes narrowed, as he tried to get a clearer vision of the words on the page he was reading. He was completely ignoring the girl who carelessly approached him.
"Woah, who did ever know you like being in a place like this?" the girl beamed. A minute of silence passed by, the soft wind and the blowing of the grass were the only sound around them. The girl stared at the reading prince below her. It was obvious to her that he was ignoring her. Knowing that he has no plan of talking to her, she unceremoniously snatched the book out of his hand.
"Wow, you're reading a book! What is this?! 'Love Destined by the Moonlight?'" the girl read out loud. She frowned at the title of the book. "Tch! What kind of bullshit is this?! Who knew you liked this kind of cheesy stories?!" she commented.
Still, Vegeta was silent. He just lay down the grass with his arms above his head and stared away from the girl as if she doesn't exist. But it was pretty obvious how irked he was with that scowl on his face.
She frowned at the way he was acting towards her, and she put her arms across her chest, huffing "Stop ignoring me, would you? Aren't you even going to congratulate me after becoming your fiancé? I told you I'm going to win, right?" then a haughty smirk stretched across her lips.
The prince still ignored her.
"Don't be such a snob! This isn't the way a Saiyan Prince like you should behave!" Kinoko yelled.
That did it. The prince's hateful glare shot up towards her. In the blink of an eye, he effortlessly lifted Kinoko off the ground and shoved her on the nearest tree he could find. The tree's thick trunk broke with a deafening crack upon the impact. Kinoko grunted in pain and choked as she felt the hand of the prince around her thin neck.
Prince Vegeta growled dangerously at her, his fangs bared and eyes especially murderous. "I hate people who dare to step in my private territory without my permission. I especially hate people who would dare to interrupt me when I wish to be left alone to do something I deemed private. I chose to ignore all that but still you dare to berate me and snatch the book I was reading to gain my attention. Should I kill you for your insolence, Mushroom girl?"
"I am your fiancé, dammit!" she reminded him.
"And you think I care about that?" he told her in an icy and deadly tone. "Don't get so cocky about your victory. Being the future Crown Princess doesn't mean you can do whatever you want with me or step on my territory as you wish." he let her go, pushing her off him and causing her to roll on the ground, coughing. "I'll let this incident slip this once." he told her in an icy tone. "Don't ever come to this place again or I will kill you. Do you understand?" He gave her an intimidating look that told her he'll have no second thoughts about blasting her to oblivion next time.
Kinoko just stared up at him with hurtful eyes. The prince's gaze at her was full of hatred and disgust. Why does he hate her so much?
He stormed out of his meadow after picking up his books on the ground, feeling completely aggravated at the interruption on his reading. Kinoko was left on the ground in shock.
~=o-O-o=~
Losing his mood to read, he decided to go to his training room and do some intense training instead. He trained the rest of the day until Nappa interrupted him to remind him of the engagement party. At first, Vegeta snapped at Nappa and berated him for interrupting his much needed training. He thinks that the party is just a waste of his time. Vegeta didn't want to go. Nappa decided to give up though, so he relayed the message to the boy's father. King Vegeta was unimpressed with his son's behavior lately so he decided to go and force the boy to attend the party. After some arguments between father and son, Prince Vegeta finally relented when the King mentioned Bulma.
"Are you being like this because of that woman again?" King Vegeta asked.
King Vegeta knew he hit a nerve on his son and wondered if the Crown Prince was still too childish and stubborn to understand the importance of bearing an heir and protecting his name from the harsh criticisms of the people. He always had that no-care attitude. Still, he has to warn and teach his heir a thing or two.
Feeling insulted, the prince reasoned, "This has nothing to do with her! I'm not interested with these social affairs. I don't even care about Kinoko. After all, she is just a tool for me to use to bear me an heir."
Just as he thought...
"This isn't something you do because you want it or not. Yon! You are the Crown Prince of all Saiyans, you must learn to deal with lots of social affairs other than this. In the future, when you become the King, you will have to personally attend many social affairs, gatherings and press conferences whether you like it or not. It's just a matter of diplomacy and honor. I'm sure you didn't want your people or the other races to criticize you again because of such behavior." the King pointed out.
Prince Vegeta was somehow reminded of that time he violently tossed his father across the hallway when he forced him to welcome the Galactic Emperor. (See Episode 4) Those were almost the same words his father spat to him that day, but this felt different than that time. His father was only worried about him. He knew.
"Fine, fine. I will attend this so-called party. But it will only be for a moment. I do not wish to waste my time with Kinoko clinging on my arm the entire night." the prince relented.
The King laughed at his words. He clearly understood his son's dislike to social gatherings. He knew all too well where the boy got that attitude of his. He used to be that way when he was still a Crown Prince. He, himself hated such public show of affection either. For a moment, he suddenly remembered when he got engaged to Saya back in the day, he was frigid and awkward around her. Although he learned to love his queen dearly, he was never the type to show his affections so openly. Saya, on the other hand, was an open book when she finally realized her feelings for him. She used to be violent and harsh towards him at first, a fiery woman with a loud, disrespectful mouth and a rebellious attitude to boot, but when she fell in love with King Vegeta, who was still the Crown Prince back then, she showed just how loving and passionate she actually was. And he was quick to be flabbergasted about it.
But then, Prince Vegeta's personality was a mix of his and Saya's. He was cold, proud and aloof, just like his father. He was also stubborn, harsh and violent, with a fiery temper, loud mouth and a rebellious nature, but if he liked someone, he could be an open book to that person, just like his mother. They say that opposites attract, and this was the result of their attraction to each other.
~=o-O-o=~
While his attendant was dressing him up for the party, he noticed that Nappa was glancing oddly at his doll. He couldn't miss the fear and anxiousness upon his attendant's face.
"Is there a problem, Nappa?" the prince asked coldly, there was a slight concern in his obsidian eyes though it could be mistaken as annoyance.
Nappa immediately turned his eyes back to his young prince in surprise. He wanted to pretend that it was nothing, but once Vegeta noticed that something was going on he would not stop pestering him about it until he finally hears a veritable answer. There's no use in lying as well, as the intuitive royal could easily sense if someone was being mendacious to their words or intentions.
"Your highness, it's just about some ridiculous rumors I've been hearing for quite some time now." Nappa explained.
The prince gave him an odd look, "Rumors?"
"Do you remember that time when two royal guards didn't attend their first training session?"
The Crown Prince tilted his head, thinking deeply. "Hn, yeah, that one incident when they said they saw me returning here. I actually met them again over a week ago when I came to the Library. Even Goyo did mention that I came in moments before I actually did."
Nappa leaned down as if to whisper some secret to Vegeta. "So the rumors say that your doll is haunted and moves around on its own whenever you are gone."
Vegeta's expression changed. A bit shocked at Nappa's words. He glanced at the suspicious doll and tried to sense any demonic energy surrounding it. Of course, if something was haunted or moving on its own, there should be some sort of energy inside it for it to be able to move.
There was none.
The prince scowled and assured his attendant, "I don't sense any demonic presence inside the doll. Not even traces or left overs. That can't be it. Plus, how could Saiyans be afraid of a haunted doll? Tch! How preposterous!"
Nappa finally pulled away with an awkward look, "Y-Yeah… I guess you're right about that. Could it be some doppelganger?"
Vegeta laughed, "…Now that's even more ridiculous! Although I've heard of such races capable of copying a person for a short moment of time. But that kind of ability only mimics the appearance and not the ki power."
Nappa frowned; something behind his mind was reminding him of some old order from the King. Could it be…? But that's impossible. They were eliminated a long time ago. He looked over at his prince, almost wanting to say something but the King's strict royal command was making him hold back his tongue. If anyone is to say a word about it, they will be killed brutally.
"So what are you going to do if you do actually meet someone who looks exactly like you, your highness?" Nappa asked carefully. It was a rhetorical question for him.
The prince pondered over the question for a while. He snorted haughtily before he let out a cruel smile, one filled with bloodlust. "I will kill him on the spot! There is only one Crown Prince of all Saiyans, the Great Vegeta-sama, and that is me!"
~=o-O-o=~
That evening, Bulma and Taitsu were shopping. Taitsu decided to bring her sister with her in hopes of lifting her mood up. The girl had been depressed lately, making Taitsu wonder what Prince Vegeta did to Bulma to cause her such heartbreak.
While roaming the bustling shopping district, they heard the news report of the ongoing press conference and engagement party of the Crown Prince of all Saiyans. The Princess Successor had finally been selected and the live stream of the party was all over the screens across the planet. Taitsu gaped at the big screen displayed at a mall. Bulma watched with bleary eyes beside her, her chest suddenly feeling tight as someone announced the arrival of the Crown Prince and his Selected One. Everybody in the party, except for the king, bowed before him as Vegeta, dressed in his royal armor, entered the party with Kinoko clinging into his right arm. She looked so beautiful with her pink gown made with the best silks and decorated with expensive gems. The news reporter was introducing Kinoko being the selected one and was giving some information and trivia about the upcoming Crown Princess. The couple made their way across the crowd towards the podium where the Proud King waited, with cameras flashing into their faces.
Bulma didn't know that tears were already streaming down her wide, pained blue eyes. She was unable to take on what she was watching and her heart break to pieces once again.
At the same time in the celebration and press conference, Vegeta suddenly felt her heartbreak. Something he cannot explain just gripped in his chest, like a cold icicle breaking through his heart and crushing it to pieces. He tried his best to ignore the odd feeling as he kept his cold and stoic facial expression and intimidating presence as a Saiyan royalty while he faced the media. He would occasionally shove Kinoko off him when he felt she was being too clingy towards him. He had been answering the questions thrown on him from the reporters in a bold manner, which may seem crude and uncaring to others but the Saiyans expected nothing more from their Crown Prince. The media was grateful for the once in a blue moon moment he spent entertaining the media so they better make use of this chance.
A reporter blatantly questioned him that while it was an arranged betrothal done accordingly to the Saiyan Royal Law, and with Prince Vegeta being notorious for being rebellious and going against such laws, why did he agree to the Selection despite having rumors that he was having affections towards an alien woman? Vegeta was visibly not impressed by the question. When his expression changed as he contemplated to himself how he must respond, the room temperature suddenly went cold as a creepy deadly silence filled the room.
Everybody thought that the foolish reporter was going to be reduced to ashes at any moment but when the prince calmly answered that while he was being forced to be betrothed to Kinoko, he knew the importance of his duties as the Crown Prince of the Saiyans and the Planet Vegeta and the chosen one to fulfill the prophecy of the Legendary Super Saiyan. He assured that he never had affections for the alien woman (or any woman in particular), and that he had already withdrawn himself around her for weeks after that night in the theater.
He was also asked about what he thinks and feels of Kinoko winning the Selection and becoming his fiancé, he bluntly responded that he had already expected for her to win the competition because of her strong connections to the royal house. While he admitted that Kinoko was a strong, beautiful and intelligent Saiyan lady, the epitome of the female populace of their race, he only saw her as a woman who would bear his heir nonetheless.
Not much time had passed when the ball finally started and thankfully, the noblemen, cameras and reporters had stopped bothering him with their congratulations, worthless questions that irked him inside or whatsoever, Vegeta impatiently excused himself to his father.
Since everybody was busy with the party, the prince decided to return to his training room where he could be left alone. He was annoyed at the questions he was forced to answer at the press conference, more so about the strange feeling he felt in his chest earlier and began to wonder to himself what it meant. It felt like his hardened heart was impaled by several thorns and broke it to several pieces. There was also grief and emotional pain. The feeling of hopelessness.
These feelings, he knew these were not his but someone else's. He closed his eyes and reached out using these emotions. He wanted it to stop bothering him anymore.
He teleported himself towards her to run away from his own engagement party.
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta suddenly found Bulma not far away from him, standing a few feet in front of him. She was donning a simple casual blue dress. She stood there with a blank look, with tears in her eyes and gaping back at him as she unexpectedly met him there. Taitsu was staring at her sister, looking at her like she didn't know what to do with her.
Seeing her like this made the feeling in his chest worse. He stepped closer towards her and Bulma simply gawked back at him.
"Come with me, woman." he ordered as he unceremoniously pulled Bulma's left arm. The bumptious royal bitterly dragged the turquoise-haired Earthling away from the middle of a bustling crowd, completely ignoring and leaving Taitsu there.
~=o-O-o=~
Vegeta and Bulma stared quietly at each other as they sat face-to-face on a coffee table at the corner of a coffee shop. Neither talked to each other as the alien waitress put down their orders of frappé and two plates of chocolate waffles. The prince was glaring unemotionally at his uneasy love interest.
"Fix yourself. You look pathetic with those tears." he told her coldly. Bulma sniffed as she picked a table napkin to wipe her tears away.
"So…" Bulma finally began to mumble when the waitress finally left after she gave the Crown Prince a small bow of respect. "Why exactly did you see me? Didn't you just fire me and now you're here? I just saw you in the news, congratulations on your engagement by the way."
Meanwhile, the waitress and the waiters on the other side were glancing and gossiping about them. The women actually swooned at how handsome the Saiyan Crown Prince actually was; considering they just saw him in the news earlier, while they also criticized at the alien girl he was with. They immediately recognized her to be the one on his scandals. Just what the hell are they doing here, especially the Crown Prince who was supposedly at his engagement party?
Vegeta sensed the commotion and he raised a hand towards their direction, charging up a warning blast. The gossiping folks immediately screamed as they jumped back in surprise. A menacing dark look quickly made them mind their own business and have them pretend they saw nothing.
Bulma just stared at him with a flustered gape as he dissipated his ki attack and put his hand down.
"Now that the pests are gone, I can finally talk to you. How have you been?" the Crown Prince finally said. The lack of expression on his face made Bulma wonder if he was being concerned at all or not.
"Uh… I guess I'm doing fine." Bulma responded rather timidly.
Vegeta didn't say anything about that at all. He already knew she was not telling the truth. He could tell by her ki and the feelings he felt earlier.
"Not really…" Bulma finally admitted at the sight of his withering glare. "Not after what happened that day."
"How do you feel?" he questioned, still with that icy stare and stony expression.
She stared down to the drink, wondering how she would answer that question. It took a few moments before she finally responded. "I missed you. I felt guilty for what I told you that day. I know you've been angry about what I did. I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry and I truly miss you but… I thought you wouldn't want to hear it."
"I told you to keep your faith in me and you still think I was lying to you? What has my father told you and you chose to believe his words than mine?"
"Because I was afraid that you would get dethroned because of me." Bulma admitted.
"Whatever political issues I have is no concern of yours. I will do whatever I wish to do and no law or any person in this entire universe could stop me once I set my mind into it. My dethronement is simply a ploy to make you believe that you will be responsible for it."
"I'm sorry." Bulma apologized sincerely.
The prince had kept on his cold hearted facade for very long and he thought it was too long enough.
"I missed you, too." the prince finally admitted. "I really missed you. No matter what I did, I kept thinking about you. I immersed myself with my training, overcoming harsher circumstances. I busied myself with political affairs. I went along the Selection and even attended that damn press conference and engagement party. I tried anything, but I still missed you so much. I waited for you to come back to me because I wanted to hear your apology. Instead, you asked for Raditz and Kakarot's help. That made me even more upset with you. You made it worse when you try to stop me from my training."
"Have you been eating well? Do you get enough rest?" Bulma asked in concern.
"Foolish woman, I've been telling you."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry, too. This didn't go well like I expected. These past few days when I'm not with you… I realized that no matter what I do, my feelings for you won't just leave me alone. I truly did miss you. I could not concentrate on my training or any of my work. It's annoying me to the core and I wanted to rid of it. That's why I ran away from my own engagement party to see you."
"Were you worried that you made me cry?"
"What do you mean by that?" he asked nonchalantly. "Don't get the wrong idea. I couldn't care less about how you felt."
"Tch!" Bulma scoffed in incredulity as she rolled her eyes. "That's why I cannot believe what comes out of that mouth of yours. You are such a Tsundere who cannot fully express your gentle side because of that high pride of yours."
"Were my actions not enough for you? Despite my pride and my stubbornness, I am a man of honor who keeps my word. But… Of course, there were circumstances that not even someone as powerful as I am, cannot control. After what happened in the movie theater, I was already getting this feeling that I won't be able to go to my word and protect you at all times. I have a mission to do for the sake of my people. So long as I am on that mission, I can't allow anything to hinder me from achieving the Legendary Status.
"Knowing how you feel about me doesn't change the fact that I like you, a lot. I was skeptical to be betrothed to Kinoko because I felt nothing for her as much as I did for you. But, if we continue this foolishness even further, we'll only get ourselves into greater trouble because of me. I am not the type of person to run away from anything, and yet here I am running away from my own engagement party because for the first time in my life, I was unsure of what to do. I was never as confused and reluctant on my decision making, so why am I hesitating now? It made me angrier. I have no idea where this annoying feeling came and then… you came into my mind.
"I have no idea how it happened, but I felt you in me. When I made my entrance at the press conference, with Kinoko clinging to my arm as cameras flash before my face, I felt you. I know you saw me with another woman who was betrothed to me by the Saiyan Law.
"I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?" she asked curiously.
"I'll come by your room later this evening. Until then, think deeply about how you feel about me. I will hear your decision then."
~=o-O-o=~
While Bulma returned to where she left her older sister who was probably waiting for her, Vegeta didn't wish to return to the Palace for now. He was not in the mood to do so. He simply sat on the roof of a tall shopping mall building, overlooking the streets below. He saw a few clips of his engagement party by the big screen across him when something unexpected aprubtly caught his senses.
"Hm? What's that?" he asked himself.
He could feel a ki not far away from where he was. A presence with similar power to his own. It may not be as powerful as his but there's no mistake. It's his ki!
He turned around to investigate this strange phenomenon. How come he could sense his own power moving somewhere else? He walked around, following where he could sense the movement. It was on the other street, he rushed forward.
"There's no mistake! That ki signature is mine! How come I could sense my own power moving somewhere else?! What the hell is the meaning of this?!"
His senses led him outside a sweet store. And there he found something shocking.
Not far away from the store stood a lone boy, facing away from him. He was wearing a similiar color scheme of armor as he is. The boy's tail hung lazily behind him as he looked up at the red violet skies of Planet Vegeta's night. The white aura engulfing him disappeared. It seemed he raised his own ki to catch the Saiyan Prince's attention.
The boy slowly turned around to face the shocked Crown Prince. His soulless, pale grey eyes stared at Vegeta with no expression at all.
Vegeta's jaw dropped as he stared back in both wonder and disbelief at the creature right infront of him. He looked exactly like him! From the points of his dark flaming hair, to his face, to his stature and physical attributes, to his clothes' color scheme to the feeling of his ki. Everything is exactly his, well… except for the eye color and his power level though.
"W-Who the hell are you?" Prince Vegeta quickly demanded the impostor he had no idea about.
And so, the unexpected meeting of these two triggered the beginning of the prophecy that would determine the fate of the Saiyan Crown Prince. Who and what exactly is this boy who appeared before him?
