A/N: Thanks to every LOVELY reviewer that took the time to read and review my fics and ficclets! Without you, I wouldn't have had the motivation to even finish this chapter! This is for you guys!

Chapter Seven: Of Parties And Things

Bulma shifted in her seat again uncomfortably. The book she had decided to read was fascinating by all respects, but aside from the few laughs from the other couch, the room was eerily silent. Perhaps she was too used to wild females running through corridors and such. She turned a page, drawing nearly all the attention from the other occupants of the room. A frustrated scowl eased on to her face as she brought the book to cover up her face. "Buzzards," she muttered, soaking up the information in the book.

The rustle of a jacket brought her attention to the desk a few feet away. Mr. Ouji had, quite literally, plopped into the chair, drawing a glare from all, with the exception of Mr. Son and Miss Briefs. He shrugged it off, taking out a sheet of paper and a feather pen. His scribbles nearly echoed in the tomb of a room, sounding more like lost mice than a letter.

Miss Son took the opportunity to excuse herself from her sister, gliding to the other side of the room where Mr. Ouji sat, scribbling away. "Do tell me, sir, what sort of secrets you are plotting over here?" He glanced up once before finishing his sentence.

"Hn, there are not secrets. I'm just writing a letter to my sister."

"Oh, dear Selera! I do wish to see her soon; ah, but silly me, we'll see her in the summer. Please tell her that I send my warmest regards and that I simply cannot wait to see her again!"

Vegeta looked slightly put out, but didn't let it show much as he sat back, picking up the letter. "I would, but as you can see I'm nearly out of room on this sheet. Remind me for my next letter and I will include your greetings." Miss Son nodded, stepping away slightly from the desk. She then stood in front of Bulma, staring at her for a moment before stepping closer.

"Miss Briefs, let me persuade you to walk around the room with me. It is a nice way to stretch and is quite refreshing as an exercise." Bulma hesitated a moment before placing her book down on the table next to her. She stood, letting Miss Son take her arm and lead her around the rather large room.

It was awkward, to say the least, as everyone watched them move around the study. Bulma tried to think of a tune to hum, but remembered that all sorts of noise annoyed everyone. Blast it all! What she wouldn't give to be upstairs with her sister. Her eyes went around the room, landing upon a particular pair of ebony orbs. She nearly jumped back, but was tugged along by Mr. Son's sister.

Miss Son noticed the sluggishness in Bulma's walked and paused, turning to Vegeta. "My dear Mr. Ouji, what are you looking at? Did you not learn that it is very impolite to stare?" Vegeta only raised an eyebrow. "Or perhaps we are making too much noise, shuffling about the room. Should we stop?"

"No," he replied, feeling a smirk ease on to his face. "I find it very entertaining."

Mrs. Kobe and Miss Son let out such a gasp, as to waken Mr. Kobe from his slightly tipsy stupor. Goku just chuckled, taking another sip from his glass before returning to his book. Sometimes Vegeta was just too much.

"Whatever do you mean?" Miss Son asked, pausing in front of the fireplace with Bulma. The blue-haired woman had never felt so shy before. They had passed in front of the man many times, that there was no doubt he hadn't noticed Miss Son's true intention of gathering his attention. "I insist on knowing!"

"If you must," he began, "but I find that your partner and yourself walking in such a manner allows us to better…appreciate…your figures." The sisters again wailed at him for making such a dirty comment. Caroline then turned to Bulma, wringing her hands together in a ridiculous display.

"Such a declaration deserves to be punished. Do put in your word on this, as you haven't said much to his scandalous behavior."

Bulma's eyes widened slightly. Her mind became a blank. She might have been sharp and talented with words, but she hardly knew the man! How could she suggest anything without insulting him in his best friend's home? Absently she bit her bottom lip, stalling for a few seconds before answering. "Tease him."

"Tease?..." Miss Son tilted her head to the side.

"Laugh at him," Miss Briefs tried, looking at the seated gentleman.

"Nonsense," Carolina laughed, her eyes landing on Vegeta. "It's impossible to laugh at such a man as this. He is a man without any faults."

Bulma mentally reeled back. "A man without faults?" Could such a thing be possible?

"Hardly," Vegeta said, crossing his arms. "No one is perfect, and I am certainly not without faults. Though I do try to stay out of matters that would have me censured in such a manner. It has been my study to avoid those weaknesses that would expose us to ridicule."

"Such as vanity, or pride?"

Miss Son cast glances between the two. Both adults were giving each other heated stares. She couldn't help, though, but wonder if there was something else brewing between the surface.

"Yes, vanity is a weakness…and pride is a superiority of mine. I have faults enough but I hope they are not of misunderstanding. I tend to be more resentful…my good opinion once lost is lost forever." Vegeta leveled his stare at Bulma, hoping to get his total meaning across. What a loss it would be, indeed, to have to think ill of her at any point in time.

Bulma mere blinked before crossing her wrists behind her. "That is a failing indeed, but I can't laugh at it."

Vegeta offered a smirk. "Every disposition has every defect. Such is mine."

"Yes, yes I see. You have the disposition to hate everyone."

"And yours is to willfully misunderstand them," he finished, though he continued to look right back in to her eyes. She stared back with the same intensity, her cheeks burning with a fury. Fortunately, she did not color under his gaze.

Both jumped as Miss Son cut in. "Perhaps I should play some music," she suggested, walking quickly to the piano forte before pounding out a tune.

"Are we to be invaded by every member of that family?" Miss Son squawked, taking a seat next to her sister.

Mrs. Kobe shifted slightly, placing her cup back on the tray. "It appears so."

At that moment, Mrs. Briefs and her other daughters walked in to the sitting room, soon greeted by Mr. Son and the others of his party. Goku asked after Chichi, expressing his hope that she was better than the mother had hoped.

"I'm afraid not," she replied. "She's such a dear child that she wouldn't complain at all. But I fear she is still too ill to move at the moment. I'm sorry to say that we will have to rely on your hospitality a little longer."

"Of course! She is always welcome." Goku added with a grin.

"You're so kind! Well, this is a pretty home you have here. It almost seems as though you would never want to leave!"

"If it were up to me, I think I would stay here forever. Wouldn't you Vegeta?"

The usually silent man looked up, eyes shifting over to Bulma for the moment, before landing on her mother. "Perhaps. I do find the country to be unrefined. Too dull." Mrs. Briefs then went on to retort that the country was much more livelier than any bustling city he had come from. Thoroughly embarrassed, Bulma had to jump in.

"Mother, I think you are misunderstanding Mr. Ouji's meaning." The last thing she needed was for the entire house to think that they were the rudest, most unrefined people in the village. Mr. Ouji's words rang back from the night before.

"Do I? He thinks that the country is nothing at all!" She huffed, taking the offered seat.

Marron then intervened. "Mr. Son!" He turned his attention to her, glad that the subject had a chance to be changed. "Did you not promise to give a ball once you had moved in? There would be a great scandal if you didn't keep your word," the youngest chided, bouncing on her toes.

Goku offered another smile. "I suppose we wouldn't want that. So, once your sister recovers, we'll announce a party. And you will get to pick the date for it. How does that sound?"

Mrs. Briefs and the younger girls nearly danced around the room. "What an honor! That is how true gentlemen act," she added as an afterthought, pointedly glaring at Mr. Ouji. Her anger only bounced off of his back, as he had turned to stare out the window.

"Oh mother," Bulma grumbled, turning to stare out the opposite window.

A/N: Sorry for the long delay! Classes you know…I hope this was long enough to compensate for the time ; . Anywho, please review, let me know if you love it, or if you feel like I'm rushing it. I sure do appreciate every review D . Here, I might as well give you a run down of what to expect:

Chapter Eight, Charming Trouble! The handsome Mr. Yamamoto, along with the cousin, Mr. Kouji, step on to the scene, causing trouble of varying levels. Will Bulma fall for Mr. Yamamoto (who's identity will be revealed!), or will she go after her cousin? What of Mr. Yamamoto's feelings on Mr. Ouji? Trouble surely awaits!

So review please, and hopefully the next chapter will come when finals are over. Thanks!

Ja Ne,

Pearl