As Vegeta waited for the other occupants in the room to respond to his explanation of what had happened earlier and the deal that they were now involved in, he let his own thoughts wander. 'This has definitely been one of the more interesting, if not annoying, experiences I've ever had on Yapisha.'

The day had been completely unexpected considering that it was supposed to be a simple matter of receiving payment for a job. He, more than anyone, was aware that he'd dug his own grave by claiming that he could make inventions far better than the mystery scientist Frieza was looking for but he couldn't miss the chance to tick Zarbon off. Luckily for him he had found a solution to his grave digging, even more so that his solution had been the very woman Frieza was obsessing over.

After Bulma had collapsed, Kakarot and the woman he'd bumped into earlier had appeared. Given the panicked behavior she had expressed it quickly became obvious that this was the 'Chichi' that the Woman had mentioned. Deciding to find a quiet place for her to rest before discussing the deal they had made, he followed Kakarot back to the sleek ship hidden on the rocky outskirts of the city.

It was impressive, to say the least, to see such an advanced ship given that Frieza had expressed that Earth was previously unaware that space travel was even possible. Upon entering the ship though he was surprised to see the lackluster, bare-bones design. Exposed circuitry and unfinished touches everywhere contrasted harshly with the perfectly finished exterior. 'More than likely Frieza attacked before they finished.'

"I…," Vegeta was brought out of his musings when Chichi spoke, "I can't believe she agreed to this."

"I'm sure she did what she felt was best," Kakarot answered her, trying to ease her impending fury.

"She should have at least contacted me before making such a decision."

"Time was of the essence. It was either agree with my terms or become a slave," Vegeta answered.

Chichi turned her glare to Vegeta. "If you had any sense of decency you wouldn't be forcing her into this."

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes at the comment, Vegeta just raised a brow and smirked at her. "What a naïve little planet you must have come from to expect someone to do a favor without getting something in return. You won't be finding that behavior very often, especially on Yapisha."

"Goku was very decent, more so than you. He didn't ask anything in return for the directions to Namek."

"Go…," Vegeta rolled the name on his tongue before he remembered. "Oh you're talking about Kakarot's pet name he'd gotten on that planet of weaklings."

Chichi jumped up, furious with Vegeta's comment. "That's exactly what I'm talking about. Such a sadistic bastard you are to consider a planet that doesn't focus it's livelihood on killing and selfishness as weak. It's people like you that reinforce Dr. Briefs' paranoid ideals." She whipped around to look at Kakarot. "Do you know how many times Bulma has been out in public?"

"Um…," Kakarot's answer was cut off as she whipped back to glare at Vegeta again.

"I'll give you a hint. The first time was five days ago when we landed in this hellhole."

That answer was not what either of the Sayians had been expecting. It made sense though considering the fact that Frieza was completely unable to find any precise information on her. Surely Frieza could have found someone willing to sacrifice Bulma for their own safety or personal gain, even though the promise would have been broken without a second thought. The only reason that he couldn't have gotten a detailed description of her would be because no one had seen her but still the very concept was bizarre.

It was Kakarot that broke the stunned silence Chichi's tirade had brought. "How… Why has she never been out? I mean it's good since Frieza doesn't know what she looks like but there's no way anyone could have predicted that."

Sighing, Chichi sat back down before answering. "Like I said, it's because of Dr. Briefs', Bulma's Father, paranoid delusions. Dr. Briefs was a brilliant man. His inventions revolutionized the world and made even the government's top scientists' work look severely outdated. I suppose that knowledge would be the envy of scientists everywhere and there would have been a risk of theft, but Dr. Briefs took caution to an insane level. Only a third of his work was released to the public, the rest was hidden away for fear that someone would steal it for their own purposes. His only friends were my parents and it was through them that he met Bunny, Bulma's mother, a woman that was so obviously oblivious to anything scientific that it'd be impossible for even Dr. Briefs to be threatened by. The four of them lived together in the country far away from anyone that would try to steal his inventions. Years later, they had Bulma and when Dr. Briefs discovered her talent he decided that she'd be the only person worthy sharing his inventions with even going so far as making her his vice president. So much like he did with his own life, he hid Bulma away, telling her the horrors of the greedy human populace and passing his paranoid delusions onto her."

"So she's never been outside before?" Kakarot asked.

"No she's been outside. The Briefs' lived with my family in the country so we played together outside. She's just never been introduced to more than 5 people her entire life."

"What about you?" Vegeta was the one to break the silence this time. "You don't seem to be wary of talking to others."

"Even though I'm Bulma's friend and lab assistant, Dr. Briefs didn't control my life. I went to public school and enjoyed shopping in the city."

"Yet you never tried to take the Woman with you?"

"Her name is Bulma, you misogynistic jerk."

"I asked for the Woman's name and she refused to give me it so to me she's the Woman," he cut off Chichi's rebuttal before she even opened her mouth, "and, given the situation we're now in, it's better that her name not be used outside of private. Frieza doesn't know her name but it doesn't mean that he won't eventually come across it."

"Fine. And yes, I tried to take her out when she got older. She was even close to gathering enough courage to go the city with me but…," she reached up to put her hand on her head. "But one day, while Bulma was working in the lab, a thief broke in. Somehow he had cut off the power and broke right through the sky light above Bulma's work desk and grabbed her when she screamed to silence her. She was saved by the security bots and the man was arrested but the damage was done. Bulma became even more withdrawn than she had been before. Yes this place is crowded but people like us can reason that just because someone bumps into you it doesn't mean that they're going to attack you but to Bulma… well you saw the result for yourselves."

Chichi looked up quickly as a sudden thought hit her, "Ah, but don't think for a second that she's always frail and timid. Just because she doesn't do well in public doesn't mean that she can't hold her own when she's trying to get her point across. If she hadn't been hidden away her whole life she would have been the most feared businesswoman on the planet."

Kakarot laughed aloud at Chichi's determined explanation. "I'm sure she is."

Looking back to Vegeta, she finished, "For that reason alone I'll go along with this deal of yours. If Bulma agreed to it then she must have her own reasons."

'That explains a lot,' Vegeta thought to himself as Kakarot and Chichi waited for him to answer. 'I thought it was odd that she suddenly lost that bravery and became timid. It wasn't because she had been faking her courage earlier but because I forced her against me.' Vegeta didn't want to admit that it was quite a blow to his pride that a woman didn't enjoy being close to him. However more than that he didn't want to admit how panicked he'd been at seeing her in that state. 'I wonder, if I hadn't tried to shake her and check her pulse would she have eventually regained her senses.'

"Earlier when we were making the deal she showed that stubborn bravery you're talking about. She was even willing to walk directly to the slave market when she thought that she wouldn't get anything out of working with me."

"I could see that. When Dr. Briefs told her that he wasn't going to release the new project they'd been working on for years she got angry and said that she'd install an emergency chip in them that would self-destruct at the push of a button in case they got stolen. That was a little extreme even for him and he finally relented when he discovered her actually designing them." She laughed a bit at the thought. "It's amazing that she can debate and discuss so well when she hasn't met others before. I always assumed that she learned it from watching TV or reading. She's always had a talent for learning how to take something and apply it to benefit herself. Debating, demanding, joking…,"

"Seducing?" Vegeta supplied the next answer in Chichi's list.

"Se-Seducing? No, Bulma's never shown any initiative to fall in love, let alone seduce someone."

"Before we started discussing things seriously, before she knew that I had already caught on to who she was she tried to flirt with me, trying to make me believe that she wasn't as smart as she really was. Twisting her fingers in her hair, looking at me from lowered lashes, giggling like an airhead: it would have been quite convincing had I not been able to tell that she wasn't actually interested in me sexually."

"Ah I bet she was just mimicking her mother in that case. Bunny was always the type to get a little too close for comfort."

'Too close for comfort, huh? That wouldn't exactly be how I'd put it,' Vegeta thought as looked towards the room where Bulma was resting. There definitely wasn't any sense of threat that normally had him on his guard. He wasn't paranoid enough to think that everyone was trying to attack him but he'd had more than one occasion met a woman trying to seduce him in attempts to cause him harm. This woman though, 'I wouldn't mind getting closer to her,' he thought amused.

His amusement was quickly cut short as he remembered what he'd learned in the short time he'd known her. Her constant trembling, her inability to speak, fainting when he'd gotten too close to her, not to mention what had happened to her when she was young: everything together concluded that there'd be little chance of having her willingly. 'Oh well, no need to bother myself with it. So what if she smelt good and has a fiery attitude? I've never been into older women anyway.'

"Anyway," Vegeta started again, pushing through his distracted thoughts and more towards the original conversation, "you will be staying in Kakarot's extra room. You'll be acting as his concubine only in public. I know that you're the Woman's assistant but can you do anything else of use?"

"I did most of the chores around the household, even more so when my parents died and I came to live with Bulma's family. Cooking, cleaning, sewing: if it needs to be done I can do it. Bulma though, I taught her the basics, simple recipes and ways to keep house, but she never really had as much interest in housekeeping as I did so I wouldn't expect too much from her."

Vegeta had to resist the strong urge to roll his eyes when Kakarot suddenly showed rapt interest in the fact that she was a cook. Sure all Sayians required large amounts of food to balance out their high metabolism but even for Sayians Kakarot was a bottomless pit.

"I have a question about that." Chichi stated and both men gave her their attention. "It's just… I know that a concubine is supposed to be a side lover and not a permanent partner but do Bulma and I look like the types to fit that role? I mean, Bulma maybe, she's exotic, for a human at least, but I'm pretty plain," she said with an undertone of sadness, "but both of us aren't very Sayian-like, are we?"

Vegeta let his eyes travel the form of the brunette sitting before him. She was pretty plain but then in a universe full of beings with scales and fur she at least looked similar enough to a Sayian to not be disturbing to bed so plain wasn't exactly a bad thing. Not that he had much of an interest in this one sexually. She wasn't bad but she didn't do anything for him.

Kakarot tilted his head to the side with a look of confused concentration on his face. "Actually you're pretty Sayian-like."

Vegeta made no attempt to hold back his disgust at such a comment as he scoffed. "So you're saying she's mannish and completely unattractive, Kakarot? You really know how to woo the women."

"Ah, no, I just meant that her hair and eye color are similar."

Chichi looked confused by the exchange between the two, "Mannish?"

Rubbing his head, Kakarot laughed, "Well, Sayians are a warrior race, right? We're naturally born hunters and are trained in the art of combat at a very young age, the women included."

"So I do look like one then," she pushed up a sleeve to reveal her toned arm. "I've been practicing martial arts so I've got more muscles than most men would want to see."

"Not at all," Kakarot laughed again. "Sayians love strong women though it's not attractive to us in a sexual sense but instead we think about how good they would be at having our offspring. You on the other hand have just enough muscle mass that it's still attractive."

Vegeta raised an eyebrow as he noticed the woman blush and look away. 'Seems she's a fan of the dumb, innocent type. She probably thinks he's a smooth talker but 10 to 1 that idiot doesn't even realize what he's saying.'

"But… but you said that muscle mass on women isn't attractive in a sexual sense."

Vegeta spoke before Kakarot had a chance to unknowingly woo her more. "You don't seem to understand. All Sayians are trained in combat; gender doesn't make any difference in our society. In fact, it'd probably be easier just to say that there aren't any women and that we're just a race of men, some of which just happen to give birth."

She seemed to think about it for awhile before it finally dawned on her. "Ah so the women have a similar build to the men then?" Chichi seemed to think about that for a bit. "Ugh if it's anything like bodybuilding tournaments on Earth then I understand what you mean by mannish."

"Well not exactly the same, the woman are a bit sleeker than the men. Vegeta's just exaggerating a bit."

"When we get back to the ship she can decide for herself. In any case, to answer your original question before we got onto that disgusting topic, Kakarot has already declared you worthy of passing as his concubine and by your own declaration the woman is exotic enough that everyone will understand why I've picked her."

Of all the reactions he expected from his matter of fact statement laughter wasn't one of them. "By my declaration? Didn't you see enough of Bulma for her 'exoticness' to be obvious?"

If there was one thing Vegeta hated it was being laughed at but before he could snap at her for it he was interrupted by a new voice.

"No Chichi, I don't think he did. I was wearing that awful cloak the whole time, after all, so aside from my chin, my neck, and any hair that escape the hood I was pretty much hidden away."

Vegeta wanted to growl about being interrupted, to yell that he didn't accept others speaking for him but he couldn't. He couldn't speak. He couldn't move. He could barely even breathe. Of all the images he had pieced together in his attempts to give the cloaked woman a form that he could think of this was far from it. The vivid, slightly wavy blue hair that she'd flaunted at him before fell about mid back with the exception of a few shorter strands that framed her face. He'd been fascinated by her soft, pink lips earlier but now he couldn't seem to tear his eyes away from her no longer shaded bright blue eyes. There were no wrinkles or creases either so she couldn't be nearly as old as Frieza believed. When he finally was able to move his eyes away from her face he found that he had trouble moving them away from the shapely curves of her body. Much like the other woman she had a similar body type to the Sayians but other than that she was the very opposite of a Sayian woman. She was soft, feminine, and very, very exotic.

His chest suddenly felt tight and he coughed to try and ease the tension. It didn't help. Looking up he realized all eyes were on him as he must have sounded like he was dying.

"You… how old are you?" Vegeta asked with his hand still over his chest.

"I just turned 27 a few months ago."

Kakarot smiled at her. "Hey you're the same age as Vegeta. Oh but he's going to be turning 28 next month. Frieza thought that you were much older."

"Yeah Vegeta mentioned that. I suppose it'd be hard for anyone to believe the a seven year old was practically running a company, let alone responsible for many of the inventions put on the market," she laughed a bit as if imagining telling her story to someone before she looked back to Vegeta, her amusement leaving her. "Are you okay?"

Vegeta scowled at her. Not wanting to admit that he'd been so shocked at finally seeing her he decided to take a jab at her vanity instead. "Sayian senses are stronger than most. I was just temporarily overwhelmed by the amount of perfume you're wearing."

"Perfume? I don't have any perfume on. I've never had any reason to even own perfume before."

"Maybe it's just her natural scent, Vegeta," Kakarot suggested. "I don't think it smells bad but it is pretty unique."

The woman's confused expression turned to a glare of her own. "Well sorry that my unique sense is so offensive to you."

'Offensive is the last word I'd use to describe your scent, Woman, but if you want to believe that it's affecting me negatively then that's better for me.' He cleared his throat. "In any case, you two need to pack up anything you're taking with you. We've wasted enough time here waiting for you to wake up from your much needed beauty rest. You have a lot of work to do since Frieza will be coming to my Birthday celebration next month to examine the work I've done so in addition to what you make for me to train with you'll have to have something for me to present to him as well."

"Excuse me?" Vegeta inwardly chuckled as the Woman's headstrong personality reared its head again. "I don't even know where to begin pointing out the problems with what you've just said. First off, this is a partnership. We may be playing the parts as your servants but that's only in the public's eye. Here in private we're on equal standing so if you think you're going to get anything out of me from barking out orders then you're sadly mistaken."

Vegeta was once again stunned by this Woman's suddenly turn in attitude. As infuriating as it was to have her talk back to him he couldn't help but like this version of her better than the shaking, frightened one. 'If only she had the strength to back up her threats.'

"Second, your level of taste must be pretty poor if you think I'm in any need of beauty sleep. Then again you complain so much about how bad the Sayian women look I kind of have to wonder if you're not just seriously in denial about it. Maybe you favor mannish women more than you'd like us to believe, if not actual men." Vegeta growled at that comment but she just ignored him. "Third: A month? Are you insane or has being a spoiled prince warped your sense of reality so much. Have you factored in how much time it'd take to get to your planet? Set up a workspace? Plan out and blueprint any inventions? Gather supplies? Yes I'm a genius but I can't instantly make everything you want just because you throw demands around."

Any appeal this turn in attitude had on him had quickly vanished with each word she'd said. "That's it." He pushed away from the wall and stalked right up to her. "Don't think I'm a pushover like your Father or your assistant, Woman," Despite her bravado she quickly backed away until she hit the wall behind her. "The universe isn't going to bow to you will just because you think it should. The only thing that justifies rank is power, not wit, not looks, and certainly not hollow threats from a frail woman that can't back her own words." She was already pressed as far up against the wall as she could be without becoming part of it but he punched the wall with his fists hard enough to dent the steel on either side of her just to make sure she understood.

"Stop it!" Chichi yelled, her attempts to interfere stopped only by Kakarot grabbing her arm.

"Yes we have a deal, Woman, and yes you're not actually a slave but don't think for once that you can tell me what to do especially when you don't know anything about the situation we're in. We don't have all the time in the world and regardless of what little time restrictions you're used to doesn't change the fact that Frieza will be coming in a month to see what 'I've' come up with."

Despite her violent trembling Bulma looked him in directly in the eyes. "Then we'll show him some of the stuff I've already made. If his expectations are similar to the garbage they're selling here then the stuff I made years ago will be more than adequate."

"What about the training equipment? More important than impressing Frieza is the need to surpass him."

"You'll just have to be patient and wait for that. In a month I should be able to fix up a few good things to 'Wow' Frieza with. After that's over with, we can work on making your little toys."

Leaning in to intimidate her further, he was once again interrupted by Chichi screaming. "Don't get so close to her! You've both made your point so give her some space."

"She's going to have to get used to being closer than this if we're going to fool anyone. It seems that in addition to you making something for Frieza we'll have to train you to not be terrified at my presence."

"I think I did pretty well earlier when those goons found us," Bulma reminded him.

"You mean when you were so terrified that you couldn't move or speak? Sorry to inform you but turning your head away so no one can see your terror won't fool Frieza." He reached up and ran his gloved fingertips along her cheek noticing with a sneer that her trembling was getting worse. 'Perhaps a different method of persuasion is needed,' he thought as a smirk crept onto his face. "Or are you saying that that's the most we can expect out of you and that you're incapable of succeeding in such a simple task?"

Bulma narrowed her eyes further. "H-how dare you!"

"Bulma, no, he's just trying to provoke you," Chichi tried to reason with her but Bulma just ignored her.

"There is nothing I can't master any challenge if I set my mind to it. In time I'll be so convincing even you will believe I actually have feelings for you. You'll see." And with that she once again held her hand out, as if making another deal with him.

Vegeta cocked his head to the side, the smirk never leaving his face. 'Master any challenge? That goes for both of us then. Soon you'll be falling for me like every other woman I've set my sights on.' He reached out to grab her hand but instead of just shaking it he pulled her close so that their noses almost touched. "Make any challenge you want, Woman, but I promise that I'll be the victor."

A/N: There we go. Now that everyone's on the same playing field I hope there will be less repeating of the same things over and over. I hope it also explains a little more about Bulma's personality. Much like Vegeta she's going to have to get used to not always getting her way. Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it. Please review as I love hearing what you guys think.