A/N: Thanks for the lovely reviews! Hope y'all like this chapter…

Chapter Three: First Impressions

"If I can but see one of my daughters happily settled at Netherfield," said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, "and all the others equally married, I shall have nothing to wish for."

Mr. Briefs began to regret his decision to let his family know that he had visited the new neighbors. Into every room he went, he was then followed by at least one member of the female species (which, coincidently, was the entirety of his family), and bothered about the juicy details of Mr. Son. He would not be moved, however, to tell them anything about the young man, not even if he were a kind, handsome fellow, etc. Mrs. Briefs had only one choice, and thus relied on the second-hand information from Lady Sakai. Her husband, Sir Jinchiro, had found Mr. Son to be a most agreeable sort of fellow, who was handsome, and very fond of dancing.

And of course, to be fond of dancing was the key to falling in love!

…or, so claimed Mrs. Briefs. With this in mind, all the young ladies began to wonder just what it would be like to start off life together…dancing.

"I will certainly be happy if one of our lovely daughters were settled at Mt. Paozu," she said the following morning to her husband. "And to have the others married as well, oh! What a blessing that would be. With this sort of security, I shall live out the rest of my life in bliss." Mr. Briefs merely continued to drink his breakfast coffee, choosing instead to pay more mind to his paper.

Bulma turned to Chichi with a knowing look. One of them would certainly get pushed towards this Mr. Son. If it were up to Bulma, she would much rather help her sister secure her happiness. Then again, knowing Chichi's sweet disposition, Bulma was more liable to get stuck with him. She could only hope, for their sake, that Lady Sakai's information had been true to the very last detail. Or she would have one very angry mother on her hands.

A few days after this declaration, Mr. Son was kind enough to repay Mr. Briefs visit. They sat in library for about 10 minutes, discussing whatever gentlemen usually discuss. He had, admittedly, looked around anxiously on his way in and out of the house, wanting to catch a glimpse of the daughters whose beauty he had heard much of! But he wasn't as lucky.

"Oh well," he sighed, riding off towards his home.

The ladies, on the other hand, managed to spy on him enough to know that his coat was a decent shade of blue, and he rode a white horse.

By the time Mr. Son had made it half-way down the drive to exit their park, Mrs. Briefs began making plans to invite him to dinner. She reminded Hill that two courses were to be served, because, well, he was quite the gentleman, and wouldn't want him to think that they were poor. Immediately the invitation was dispatched, and just as quickly a reply was received.

Shrieks of nerves and people flying about could be heard from below. Bulma approached Juu and asked her just what on Earth had their mother in this state.

"Mama says that Mr. Son had to go to town, and can't accept the dinner invitation." Juu placed her hands on her hips as she walked away. "Not that it matters much anyway! Mama would only feed him till he bursts out of his jacket, and Papa would have too much fun annoying him."

The blue-haired woman couldn't help but laugh at her younger sister's comments. 'So, we do not have the pleasure of Mr. Son's appearance. Hmm, all the better! It will be easier to analyze his character in a more public place.'

Lady Sakai had put Mrs. Briefs nerves at ease. Apparently, Mr. Son only went to town to pick up a party for the ball. The group was to be large, with twelve ladies and seven gentlemen. The Briefs girls (the younger ones anyway) cried about the injustice of it all.

And, the day before the ball, better news was received. Instead of the surprising twelve ladies, only six were to come.

Bulma had always loved balls. Even small little country dances allowed her to feel a bit younger, even if she wasn't quite an old maid…yet. The thought caused her to blush a bit. It wasn't the fact that she wasn't pretty, indeed, she was probably the second prettiest in the room. Her personality had, in many instances, brushed off a few would-be beaux that were captivated by the exotic creature. She was not a snob, nor was she empty-headed. The only problem she had was her mouth.

She loved to speak her mind; to say the truth. Her words were never glossed to be sweet and settling to an absolute buffoon.

Gentlemen did not like ladies who could think.

Not at all.

And so she became an object of attraction, a great conversationalist, and most definitely a desirable dancing partner. Bulma danced and danced, smiling brightly at her agreeable partner. He was slightly older than she, with a small shop in town that sold the "latest" fashions of respectable ladies. The music was lively, and she almost felt as though she were in heaven.

Immediately the room fell into a hush, and the dancers became still. Three men and two ladies walked into the room, and were just as quickly greeted by Sir Jinchiro, who went on and on about the honor of having such distinguished guests at their humble ball.

Mr. Son was a tall, handsome fellow, with the darkest hair and friendliest gaze. He seemed at ease with everyone and talked with those around him as though he had known them since birth. His sisters were the two ladies that accompanied him, one being Mrs. Kobe, married to Mr. Kobe, and the other, Ms. Son. Both seemed pleasant, though their looks were guarded, and each had a look of self-righteous pride. All eyes, were however, more presently locked on Mr. Son's friend.

Mr. Ouji was very handsome, if not more handsome than his companion. He was tall to a degree, though still shorter than Mr. Son, with a well-built frame (much like Mr. Son). The room whispered about his "ten-thousand a year" wealth, finding him, most certainly to be more handsome than Mr. Son, who only had five-thousand a year. For half the night he was so admired, the men speaking of his contribution to their species, and the women exclaiming that he was indeed a gorgeous creature. That is, until his manners turned the tide of his popularity against him.

He was then claimed to be proud, above his company, and difficult (and above being able) to please. Those who had managed to come in contact with him steadily agreed that not even his large estate could save him from his ill manners and grotesque pride. Mr. Ouji was undeserving of his friend's kindness.

Mr. Son had soon been presented to all of the females that made-up the majority of the Briefs' family. He danced twice with Chichi, which made her blush, and once with all of her sisters. Then he was obliged to dance with nearly every young lady in the room. Fortunately for all of them, he was quite the dancer and handled the continuous exercise very well.

Despite his happiness and carefree attitude with his new friends, he couldn't shake off the whispers of resentment towards his dearest friend, Mr. Ouji. Yes, he was quite proud, and very guarded in his address. Naturally, he stayed close to his friends, preferring their company to those of an absolute stranger. But only one voice in the room could make him try to urge the old fellow into a dance.

Mrs. Briefs was most likely the harshest critic of Mr. Ouji. He was now an "odius man" because he had "slighted my poor Bulma!"

Bulma, had by chance alone, been forced to sit out two dances because of the lack of partners. She sat next to her sister, Launch, hearing her philosophies on the art of dancing and the like. The blue-eyed woman only rolled her eyes, looking for any means of escape. Fate smiled down on her as she overheard a conversation between the proud, handsome gentleman and his very agreeable friend.

"Come on Vegeta," exclaimed Mr. Son. "I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner."

Mr. Ouji let out a small snort, turning slightly towards Mr. Son. "I will not. You know how much I hate it, unless I am fairly acquainted with my partner. At such a place like this it would be most insupportable. Your sisters are already dancing, and there isn't another woman in the room that it would not be a pain to stand up with."

Bulma snickered, glancing about the room. There were many pretty girls, to be sure, but most of them were as air-headed as her younger sisters.

"Really now! I wouldn't be half so demanding as you are for a kingdom. There are many pleasant girls here that I have met. And several of them, as you see, are so uncommonly pretty." Both stole a glance towards Chichi who was currently talking to Lady Sakai.

"You are dancing with the only beautiful girl in this place."

Mr. Son smiled, leaning in closer to his friend. "She is most definitely one of the prettiest girls I've ever seen! But look," he pointed towards Bulma who immediately looked away. She couldn't help the blush that rushed to her cheeks. "There's one of her sisters, sitting right behind you. She is very pretty, and I dare say very agreeable. Let me ask her sister to introduce you."

"Which sister?" he looked around, then fully turned, catching her eye. Both held the other's gaze for a moment before he snapped around. Coldly he replied, "She is tolerable I suppose, but not handsome enough to tempt me. Kakarot, I am not in the lightest of humor to pay mind to women who are slighted by other men. Return to your partner and enjoy her smiles. You're only wasting you're time with me."

Mr. Son then went off, slightly saddened by his friend's rather harsh words. He only hoped that Ms. Briefs didn't hear it, or he'd die of shame at his friend's manners.

Bulma, of course, heard every word, and though she seethed about it, chose to be upset for only five minutes. 'I'm not going to let him ruin my evening. We're better off not knowing each other anyway. I'm sure he'll be gone in a few weeks, and all will be right with the world.' She did retell the story to Hikari Sakai, laughing at the absurdity of it all.

Mrs. Briefs came home a happy woman. Her husband, not at all fortunate, found himself charged by giggling females, who talked of nothing but dances and Mr. Son.

"My dear, Mr. Son is a most agreeable man! Did you know that he danced the first dance with Chichi, and the next with Bulma, and then with Hikari Sakai which angered me greatly. And then, nothing would please him more than to dance with Chichi again! And then Juu, and—"

"Oh, if he were to have broken his ankle in the first dance!" cried Mr. Briefs, tossing his book on to the table.

"And his sisters were such charming and elegant women! Their dresses were the most fashionable, beautiful things I ever laid my eyes on. I dare say, the lace on Mrs. Kobe's gown alone cost—"

"No lace! NO LACE! I beg you madam, please, no more details on lace."

The lady of the house sat down in her chair, her face flushing as she went on to relate the detail's of Mr. Ouji's ill-treatment of Bulma. "Slighted my Bulma, did he?"

"Haha, oh don't worry about it father. It matters nothing to me."

"Well Bulma," started her mother, "I wouldn't even waste my energy should he ever ask you in the future."

Bulma smiled triumphantly at her parents as she finished her glass of water. "I can promise you, mama, never to dance with Mr. Ouji!"

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A/N: I hope that was long enough for those of you that wanted length. There's just so much that happens in one chapter, but it seems short. Ah well, I will definitely be making chapters longer! So review, and thanks again to all those who have been reviewing!

Ja Ne: Pearl