Hey. Well, I know an update every three months is a shame, especially when I promised regular updates. Either way, I have some chapters in store, so I'll try to mend myself and be a better girl from now on.

Thank you for all the nice things.

Chapter 17 - Tour and detour

The driver wasn't Guy. Nor was he any of the other ones Vegeta had met before. He was a tall man with dark skin and little desire to talk. It fitted perfectly the Saiyan's mood. Even the Heiress sitting in the back of the car was silent as they were heading for some unknown destination. Goku had said they were supposed to go spend a few days at Paprika Bay with the baseball player, but Vegeta knew better than trust blindly his information.

Bulma had ordered the driver to play classical music and the track she'd picked up was awfully gloomy. The rain pouring outside added some bleakness to the atmosphere and Vegeta actually assumed that it didn't exactly match a departure for a romantic week-end on the shore - Not that he was much of an expert in romantic week-end anyway.

His instinct was proved right as he gave a better look at the streets they were driving through and realized they weren't taking the right direction to Paprika Bay. He repressed a huff of annoyance. Had Goku been fooled once again? Vegeta couldn't help but wonder if Lunch had somehow tried to swindle them. That damn woman would do that without a second thought. Bulma Briefs' unexpected change of plans was also a possibility, but either way Vegeta had to know in order to warn Goku one way or another.

He forced a smile on his face and turned around to the backseat. "What are we up to today, Ms Briefs?" he asked.

Bulma Briefs was sitting with her knees folded against her body and watching through the window. She didn't grant him a single glance. "I told you could call me Bulma," she said absently.

He repressed a sigh at her lack of reply. "I'd rather not."

She shrugged and pressed the button to close the window between the backseat and the front seat.

Vegeta turned back to the road with a huff. She was a real bitch. No doubt.

"She's nervous," the driver stated against all odds.

Vegeta arched an eyebrow. So, this driver was gifted with a voice. "How is that?"

The driver pointed at something further on the road. "See where we're going?"

The Saiyan looked at what he was showing. A panel was claiming they were entering Shinobe's Hospital. "Hospital? Why are we here? Is she sick?"

The driver shrugged out of ignorance and drove up the alley to the entrance of the Hospital. It was a luxury private place surrounded with endless lawns neatly mowed. The driver parked near the main door of the building and when he killed the motor, the music sounded even more depressing. The man grabbed an umbrella and climbed out the car to go open his boss' door. Yet, before he knew it, Bulma had exited the car regardless of the rain and she was making her way to the steps leading to the entrance of the hospital.

Cursing her under his breath, the Saiyan dashed out of the car and rushed in her wake. She ignored him and stepped along a large corridor with a marbled floor. Except for the medical staff wandering around with white coats and stethoscopes, the place looked more like an old-style hotel than like a hospital.

He followed her without a word. She looked like she knew exactly where she was going and Vegeta concluded it wasn't the first time she was coming. He sought his memory for anything Goku had mentioned that would tell him why she would visit such place. As far as he knew she wasn't sick and neither were any of the few people close to her. This mystery made him even more watchful and curious about her.

At some point, she sneaked into an elevator ready to go and Vegeta had to hold back the door at the last minute to enter the cabin with her. He glared at her. "Ms Briefs, are you trying to lose me again?" he asked while trying hard to hide his annoyance.

She frowned and diverted her eyes. "I just forgot about you," she grumbled.

Vegeta didn't reply. The story of her former bodyguard she had locked into the men's toilets came back to his mind. His presence obviously bothered her more than ever at that moment and he had to be careful if he didn't want to be fooled the way the previous bodyguard had been. Yet, what mattered right now was that he might discover something new about her today and he'd deserved that reward enough after enduring her wimps.

She kept her eyes glued to the ground until the doors of the elevator slid open. She exited the cabin and walked up another corridor, Vegeta still close behind.

She stopped at last before a closed door. Only then, she looked up at him. "Wait here," she said.

"I have to check…"

"Not this time. Not in this place. Wait for me," she cut off.

Her voice was commanding and stern. He didn't insist and nodded. There was a hint of gratefulness in her eyes when he did. Her acting was quite unusual to him. In normal time, she was loud and bossy, always trying to tease him, but it seemed she had no will to fight today. He definitely craved to know what all this was about.

She entered the room and closed the door behind her. He sighed and noted the number of the room. She was visiting someone. Who? Why? He was seething, having no mean to warn Goku or to ask him to investigate about this place. He thought about asking someone for a cell or try to find a phone somewhere at the reception desk. It was much too risky though. The rule was clear. He wasn't allowed to give personal calls during duty and Bulma Briefs might be too glad to have an opportunity to fire him. Furthermore, if he was gone when she would come out of the room, she wouldn't hesitate to leave him behind.

He watched around him. People were scarce in the corridor and no one was paying attention to him. He leaned to the door in an attempt to hear what was on inside the room. However, everything was still except for an inaudible whisper. He sighed and gave up. It seemed there was no way he would learn anything today. Goku would search the information later.

He leaned his back against the wall and crossed his arms. After a while, a bulky nurse walked by him and entered the room without even knocking at it. He had no time to say anything as she shut the door behind her. Once again, he came closer to the door and tried to catch the talk inside. He could only hear meaningless words "fine", "doctor", "time". Nothing consistent.

Yet, when the nurse exited the room Vegeta grabbed her arm to stop her. "How is she?" he asked with the lower voice he could.

The nurse blinked at him and remained speechless for a while.

"I'm her friend. You can tell me the truth," he resumed by hoping he'd picked up the right word. He was half referring to Bulma, half referring to whomever the nurse would like.

"Well, still the same. In such case, it's always hard to tell when people will wake up."

Vegeta gave a concerned nod. "But… She will… wake up, won't she?"

The nurse pinched her lips. "Only the doctor can tell. You should ask him," she replied.

"Did Ms Briefs speak with him?" Vegeta carried on by pointing his chin at the door.

The nurse pulled her arm away from his loose grip. "You know, you should see that directly with her because she handles all the medical matters," she utters with caution.

Vegeta knew she was reluctant to tell more and if he insisted she would turn suspicious. He let go of her. "Thank you for your kindness," he ended, forcing a hint of sadness in his voice.

She gave him a thin smile and walked away. Vegeta rubbed his chin. So, Briefs was visiting a woman. Said woman was in coma and her state wasn't likely to improve. Said woman was also dear enough to the Heiress' heart to have her handle all the medical matters. What the hell was this about?

Bulma stayed in the room for about half an hour before she went out, her face even more closed off than when she'd entered it. She ignored Vegeta and made her way past him and back to the entrance of the hospital.

The Saiyan didn't let her baffle him and he kept following her in silence. When they stepped out the building, the car was gone.

This time, Vegeta wasn't caught off guard by the detail. He was getting used to the Heiress liking for unexpected plans and he fathomed much better why Goku had such a hard time tailing her at the time.

As they stood under the rain in the empty parking lots he turned to her. "So? What now?"

"Wait," she said.

He considered her. Her light trench coat was already half soaked and she was shivering at the damp air. He arched an eyebrow. "Under the rain?"

She gave him a weak smirk. "I assume a Saiyan wouldn't shrink from a drizzle but if you're cold you can go back into the hallway. I won't mind."

He repressed a scowl at the pique. "We're in the open again," he stated.

"I love the open, don't you? It's thrilling," she replied.

He shrugged. "It's dangerous," he mumbled.

"Life is dangerous. You are annoying, Mr Ouji," she sighed. She had uttered his name with care and he took it as a hint for her irritation at the fact he didn't want her to call him by his first name. He was amused by this detail as it pointed out that she wasn't used to people refusing her anything.

"That's for us," she claimed as a cab drove into the parking lot.

Vegeta studied the driver with some wariness. It was a fat talkative guy with an awful pink shirt hardly able to contain his round belly. The car was a decaying banger. Wherever Briefs was intending to go into such thing, she wasn't sure to arrive anywhere.

They took place in the backseat and the driver turned to them with a beam. "So, Lady and Gentleman where do I take you?"

"Central Station," Bulma replied.

"Here we go!" the driver exclaimed with more pep than the statement deserved.

All their way through the town's traffic, the engine kept roaring in agony. The windshield wipers were hardly able to chase away the rain pouring down and the seats were so weary Vegeta had the feeling to be sitting directly on the floor of the car. The Heiress seemed to enjoy the trip though.

"Ready for a little romantic trip?" the driver asked playfully.

Bulma chuckled at the question. It was the first time Vegeta saw her smile that day. "Sort of," she answered.

"Sort of? I don't wanna know what you mean by that. Where are you going?" the driver resumed cheerfully.

"Parsely City," the Heiress said.

Vegeta gritted his teeth at that. Man, that wasn't Paprika Bay at all. He really needed to call Goku. This moron would get stuck in Paprika Bay waiting uselessly for them while the job had to be done elsewhere. Yet, Vegeta wasn't even sure if Bulma's aim was to join Yamcha at all. She was indeed exhausting and restless.

"Parsely City is a nice place," the driver pointed out. All by talking, he took a brutal left turn and Vegeta was shoved against the passenger door with Bulma crashing on him in the process. The door looked utterly insecure and for a split second, the Saiyan dreaded to be dropped out of the car.

"Hey, sorry for that. I almost missed the turn," the driver laughed with a glance at them. "Ma'ame, take this towel you're soaked," he added while handing an old rag to her.

She took it politely but figured out it might be the rag he used to whip his windshield. "Huh, it's okay, thanks."

Vegeta was tense at the car's speed. The driver was talking and turning to them every minute, giving the road a very slight attention and it made the Saiyan even more nervous. He definitely liked it better in the Heiress' luxury cars with a real driver. Bulma had gripped the seat with all her strength. "We have time, you know. No need to hurry," she stated.

"I don't want to get stuck in the traffic jam when I'll be back from the station. That's it. You'll have time for a coffee there," the driver replied with another stupid chuckle.

Vegeta couldn't take it any longer. He grabbed the guy's shoulder forcefully and leaned forward to have his mouth at his ear's level. "If you don't slow down now, like she just asked you to, you won't have to worry for your trip back from the station. Just slow down and for God's sake, shut up," he groaned.

The Saiyan's grip was firm enough to call for a silent reply. The car slowed down and Vegeta leaned back in his seat. Bulma gave him a grateful look, but the stillness in the car seemed to drag her back to her stern mood.

When the guy dropped them at the station the rain had stopped.

"I'm soaked. I'm gonna get new clothes in the shops inside the station," Bulma claimed.

Vegeta didn't ask any question and followed her as always. As she was chatting with a seller in the clothes shop he started to wonder if she really intended to take a train. He knew by now everything was possible with her. Maybe everything she'd said to the taxi driver was bullshit and maybe her only aim had to come to this shop.

"You like it?" her voice interrupted his meditation. He looked up at her. She was wearing white trousers and a stripped top sailor's type. The seller and her were giving him expectant gazes.

"Sure," he answered absently.

"You don't care," Bulma stated, "he doesn't care, does he?" she asked the seller again.

"I'm sure he does," the seller replied with a comforting smile.

Bulma grinned at her. "Don't worry . You don't need to cover him. Any of this is for him anyway. I just wanted an outside opinion but I forgot I don't pay him for that. I take the complete outfit."

Vegeta repressed a growl of despise. "At what time is the train anyway?" he asked.

"Soon enough, Mr Ouji," she replied cryptically.

So, there was indeed a train. How weird for a person as rich as she was. Vegeta hadn't taken a train for a very long time. The last he'd boarded had made his way throughout the frozen Mountains separating Vegitasei from the Ice Empire and it wasn't a pleasant memory.

As they stepped out of the shop, Bulma headed straight to a platform and climbed into a train. The Saiyan had just enough time to spot the destination before they entered the wagon. "Paprika Bay".

Relief washed over him as he took place in his seat. Lunch's tip had been right after all. They would go to Paprika Bay. Bulma sat next to him with a magazine she had bought on her way and the train departed.

They slowly left the town behind and the concrete gave way to endless meadows spreading under a grey sky. The sight was monotone, yet somehow soothing.

"Mr Ouji? Would you mind lending me your jacket? I think I've been somewhat rash to pick out short sleeves. If you're not cold yourself that is." Bulma asked.

He diverted his eyes from the landscape and looked up at her. "Sure," he grumbled.

He took care to take the gun out of the pocket. He realized he hadn't even loaded the weapon so far and it was reckless from him. Not that he was a real bodyguard anyway, but he wanted to look as such. He stuck the gun in his belt and covered it with his shirt. Then he handed his jacket to the Heiress. She slipped into it and gave him a smile. "You're not very social, are you? I'm amazed to find out you can be nice."

Nice. He'd been called many names before but he couldn't remember anyone calling him nice. He smiled at the thought. "You're the first person I meet who finds me nice," he replied.

"Really, it's worrying at your age," she retorted.

"Are you nice yourself, Ms Briefs?"

She gaped at the question. "Of course I am," she exclaimed.

"Well, you weren't this morning," he pointed out.

She scowled. "I was sad. That's something different."

He turned his gaze back to the window next to him. "Because of the hospital, right?"

"Yes," she breathed out.

Vegeta had never been the talkative type, but for some reasons words were coming easily at this time and he was aware that being stuck in this train for another two or three hours alone with her, he should seize the opportunity to learn a bit more about his target.

"You want to tell me the story?" he asked while looking back at her.

She had an instant frown. He could sense her suspicion. "I mean, since we're stuck here and all. But if you don't want to talk, we don't need to," he added.

Her features eased off and he was pleased to find out his words were right. "It's a nasty story. I'll tell you if you tell me something similar about you," she offered.

He chuckled. "I have tons of nasty stories to tell. Go on."

She scratched her head in hesitation as she was looking for the better way to say things. "Well, the woman I was visiting was my personal assistant and a dear friend of mine. My best friend. A confident. She was shot with a bullet destined to me."

He arched his eyebrows. "When did that happen?"

She bit her lips. "About a month ago. She'll certainly never wake up." She was clearly embarrassed and she couldn't bear with his gaze. She looked away and kept still.

As he was piecing everything up, Vegeta realized that this was likely the reasons why the Capsule Corps was suddenly in need for temporary secretaries like Giada and the person who shot the secretary was likely the very same who attempted to shoot Yamcha and her some days ago. Things sounded serious even though nothing had happened in the past days. He would have to pay his gun some serious mind.

"I lived the same thing with a friend of mine," he said as to break the silence.

She looked up at him with a puzzled face. "Did you? How did it happen?"

"Well, it was war. An enemy tried to shoot me and my friend got injured instead of me," he explained.

"Was it a dear friend?"

Vegeta smiled at the memory of Raditz. Raditz had always been a fearless prick. "We grew up together so I can say he was a dear friend of mine. He earned a terrible scar that day."

"Is he still alive?" she whispered.

Her question was somewhat bold considering most Saiyans were dead by now but Vegeta had stopped minding for bluntness. "Yes. He lives far away from here though. I don't know what he's up to."

He could read the relief on her face at his reply. A lively Saiyan was a rare thing.

"What happened in your country was terrible," she mumbled.

Vegeta gave a mere grunt and looked back at the window. "Where are we going?" he asked as to change the subject.

"That's a surprise. Let's rather eat something to cheer up the mood," she offered.

The trip was long and Vegeta felt lulled by the regular trepidation of the train. He needed to struggle hard to avoid dozing. Bulma had no trouble with that and she fell asleep right after the lunch. The story she had told him about the secretary was looping in his mind and as soon as he had the opportunity to leave the Heiress behind, he went to the toilets and loaded the gun.

When the train entered at last Paprika Bay's station the afternoon was well advanced. As always Vegeta followed his boss blindly as they climbed out of the train. He couldn't help but feel nervous as he realized Goku might be in town already. Vegeta and him had assumed the Heiress would travel in a luxury car with a driver instead of mixing with an unfamiliar crowd and taking the train. Paprika Bay wasn't very big and if Goku had the bad idea of strolling in the streets around the station they could bump into each other. Their whole plan would end in a total disaster.

The nice weather had attracted a fair amount of tourists from the towns nearby. People were swarming the hall of the station and Vegeta had to keep an eye on Bulma's unusual hair in order not to lose her in the crowd. She made her way to a car rental agency and turned to him. "There's a car booked in your name there," she claimed.

"In my name? Why is it in my name?" he questioned in surprise.

"Can you imagine I would book anything under my real name?" she stated.

"Good afternoon, may I help you?" a smiling woman asked behind the counter.

Vegeta had a second thought. He didn't like the way the Heiress was using him to play her cat and mouse obsessive game. He sighed. "I booked a car. Ouji," he growled.

"May I see your id card, Sir?" the employee requested.

He handed his id card to her. She gave a puzzled look at his Saiyan refugee card but didn't say anything. He noticed then that Bulma was perched on her toes and studying the card as well over the counter. Something clicked in Vegeta's head as he realized that her aim had been in fact to check out the reality of his identity. He was pretty sure Shienhan had done it already, but she clearly wanted to see it by herself. Was she suspicious about anything?

"Something wrong?" Vegeta asked as both women's scrutiny of his card was lingering.

"Everything is fine, Mr Ouji. I'll get your key and take you to your car in a moment," the woman behind the counter replied with a nervous smile.

She gave him his card back and led them to the parking lot. He was disappointed to find out the car was quite common. Nothing thrilling. He signed the papers and the woman handed him the keys. Bulma tried to reach out for them but he was quicker and snatched them from the employee's hand. "My name on the contract. My car. My wheel," he spat.

Bulma scowled at that but she didn't dare anything bossy while facing the employee. Vegeta climbed into the car and started the engine ignoring the greeting of the woman from the car rental agency.

The Heiress sat in the passenger seat and she had hardly time to slam her door shut before he drove away. After a whole day being driven anywhere he had to go, feeling the motor complying with his every order was a bliss extracting his mind from a kind of numbness.

"What was that crazy start for?" the Heiress complained. "You don't even know where we go."

"Tell me, then." He groaned.

She sighed. "Out of town toward Belladone Bay. Stay on the road along the coast."

He did as she told him. The landscape was wild except for scarce properties lining the shore and the road was completely deserted. He couldn't resist and sped away. Bulma had programmed the GPS which allowed her to focus silently on the mesmerizing sight of the ocean. Small waves were reflecting the sunlight, creating a thousand sparkling dots.

Their drive didn't last long before the car drove into a small park leading to a big house of stone and white wood. Vegeta recognized the house Goku had shown to him on Shienhan's pictures. He was relieved that everything was working out well so far. Maybe that mission would come to an end much quicker than planned. He had to admit that Goku was a terrific hunter. Teaming up with him had made everything much easier.

As soon as they parked the car, a fat woman with an apron stepped out of the house and welcomed them. "Good afternoon, Mrs Smith. Glad to meet you," she greeted Bulma.

"Good afternoon. I hope we're not late. Like I told you, I brought my assistant with me," Bulma replied by shaking the woman's hand.

"No problem. I'm Vera. I'll show you the house and leave you alone. The cook will be there in a couple hours just like you wished. Your luggage had been brought already," the woman explained.

Vegeta climbed out the car and contemplated the house for an instant. It was nice. Sort of fluffy and romantic. Perfect setting for the pictures Goku and him intended to snap. Not to mention the ocean and the beach. They wouldn't have picked up anything better themselves.

"Vegeta!" the Heiress called.

He frowned at his first name and turned to the women standing on the porch. Bulma bit his lips. "Mr Ouji," she corrected, "Come inside. Vera is going to show you where you'll stay."

He brought himself to join them and enter the house. The housekeeper was a middle aged woman with soft features. "I made you an extra room in a nice part of the house, just above the ocean. You'll be apart from Mr and Mrs Smith so that each of you can have their privacy."

"Great," he commented in a mere grunt.

The house was quite old. Everything was made out of wood and the smell of it was everywhere. The woman guided him to a big room with flowery wallpaper. The style was very old fashioned and would have rather fit a young girl, but Vegeta couldn't care less. He had to find a way to call Goku.

"Your stuff had been brought earlier. I took upon myself to hang the suits. I hope you don't mind," Vera claimed while opening the jealousy and allowing the mighty sunlight into the room.

"It's okay. Just tell me. Is there a phone I can use somewhere out of the house?"

"A public phone, you mean? Huh, I fear you'll have to go to the town for that," she replies. "Yet, we have a phone in the house. You can just…"

"Nevermind," Vegeta cut off.

She gave him a smooth smile. "If you have everything you need, I'll leave you alone. I still have to take care of Mrs Smith."

The Saiyan let her exit the room and closed the door behind her. He got rid of his uncomfortable jacket and took his gun out of his belt. He watched it an instant before throwing it on the bed. The tale of the secretary surged back in his mind. All the matter was weird. How could such event have gone unnoticed from Goku? What was that killer's business all about? Was it for real?

Vegeta had to admit he'd believed it was fake at first. The Saiyan still remembered the baseball player's eyes when he'd explained someone had tried to kill him. He'd been scared. He'd truly believed that someone had attempted to shoot him through the windows of his room back then. However, it hadn't prevented Vegeta from thinking the Heiress had organized that herself. Why would she do such a thing? He had no idea. She was crazy anyway. Maybe she craved for attention. Whatever. Now, the secretary lying in coma was definitely a new turn. As insane as she was, Bulma Briefs would never plot such a shitty scheme ending in her close friend being badly injured. Maybe Goku would be able to go see if the cops knew anything interesting about the event.

For now, Vegeta had to find a mean to reach him without arousing suspicion and although he hated the idea, caution told him to use Lunch's number.

A knock at his door snatched him out of his musing. He opened the door and found the Heiress standing on the doorstep. She cleared her throat in unease. "Shienhan just called," she said. "He was supposed to join us tomorrow night so that you could go back home but he got some business on. Would you mind working an extra day until we go back to West City?"

His first thought was to refuse the offer. The prospect of being stuck with Yamcha and her in that damn flowery house was already a chore and he had no desire to have it last more than 24 hours. However, his brain screamed something else instead. "No problem. I just have to warn my girlfriend. I need a phone," he replied.

She blinked. "Girlfriend?" she uttered in a puzzled tone.

Her blank face, reminding him how unlikely it was that he could have someone caring to know when he'll be back home, annoyed him to no end. "Well, yes. You hear it well. Why?"

"Huh. I didn't picture you - well, you can use the phone in the living room downstairs of course," she stammered out of embarrassment.

He scowled and cursed under his breath as he walked by her and downstairs to the living room. He wasn't sure if anyone would try to track his call. The Heiress was so paranoid that it was serious possibility. It was why he liked it better to call Lunch than Goku. He deemed it wiser to crypt their talk as well. He just hoped the bitch would pick up.

She did after four rings. "Yes?"

He felt awkward as he tried to figure out the way he was supposed to talk to her. "Hey, honey. It's me," he grumbled in a harsh voice.

"Let me guess. Guile? Chane? Yulan?," she answered with a chuckle.

The Saiyan cringed as he was caught off guard by her not recognizing him. However, she ended up resuming. "Relax Vegeta, I was just kidding."

He couldn't say why this woman always needed to have such vulgar humor. "I'm at work for now, but my boss might need me an extra day, so I'll come back home the day after tomorrow," he carried on.

"Huh. I see. Is everything going as planned?" she replied.

"Everything's fine. No need to worry," he confirmed.

"You should take a walk on the beach tomorrow. The weather will be very nice. Perfect to snatch some pictures of wild nature," she stated.

"Very good idea. We'll see that in time. I have to go now."

"Tell me something nice. I always wonder how it felt coming from you," she suggested with a mischievous voice.

He kept quiet. He was pretty sure Bulma was nearby and hearing his every word. Or maybe he was just imagining things. Anyway he couldn't take a chance. He had to play the game.

"Say it," Lunch purred on the line.

Hell, the Saiyan hated this damn woman. He was looking for words. He had to dig up some kind words a guy would tell his girlfriend.

"Dumbass! Come on, send me a kiss at least," Lunch laughed on the phone.

He gritted his teeth. Feeling clueless about the best way he was supposed to say goodbye to his so-called girlfriend, he just did what she hinted. "Kiss you. Bye," he hissed before hanging up in a hurry. He stared at the phone with a deep hatred.

"Is everything okay?" the Heiress asked behind his back. "I mean, she isn't mad, is she?"

Oh yes, Lunch was mad. Lunch was insane. He took a deep breath to regain his composure and turned to her. "No problem. I assume Yamcha is going to join us."

Bulma gave him a shy smile. "He'll be there in two hours or so."

ooo0ooooo0ooo