Chapter Thirty-One

"Here." Bulma took a seat next to Caleb, as she extend her hand. "It's a pear, I know every part of this place. I've scouted it with my husband a few times, and a few other men." She glanced at the taller man from the corner of her eye, but found him still in a state of depression. Her eyes riveted to the pear in her hand, as she tried to decipher a way to pull him from his slump. What was she supposed to do? What could she say?

"I feel like the biggest idiot," said Caleb, laboriously. "Why was I never there when she needed me?"

Bulma felt winded, as she realized the reason behind Caleb's dismay. ChiChi. How could she have been so callous? "Don't blame yourself for not knowing, I didn't realize it was her either at first. If anything you should be happy, she's alive! Remember, you thought she was dead." Bulma gave Caleb a nudge in the arm, with a nervous smile. No response, nor attempt.

"When you left, and she needed me, I left too. I took someone else's word over hers'. When her mother died, I left to study outside of the palace. When I came to the camp, without word I punched her. I can still remember the look of shock in her eyes, and I should have known it was her." Caleb huffed out a breath of air, as he leaned against the stump of the tree. His eyes burned, and his mouth twitched. Why couldn't he have seen her needs once?

Bulma's eyes riveted to Krillen, who stood before her arguing with a few unfamiliar soldiers. She had been overjoyed when Caleb had walk through the prong of soldiers, which surrounded them, after Krillen's fall. However; she felt terrible that she troubled him with the revelation of ChiChi's secret. It had been her grave mistake to believe that Caleb would have been elated, to know ChiChi was alive. She forgot that Caleb and ChiChi shared feelings for each other once. Bulma's heart ached for her old friend, Caleb, because she knew the longing he felt. Also, she knew the taste of failure when it came to a romantic relationship.

"I remember when ChiChi begged me to give you a letter, and she was only seven then. I'm sure you never felt for her the way she had yet. However; she confessed her feelings to you and asked you to meet her by the palace lake. She waited so long, even when I pleaded for us to go in. I told her you weren't coming, and she had every right to be mad." Bulma raked a hand through her hair, as she relived the memory. "When it got unbearable cold, and I thought she lost her mind, she said something so moving. 'It doesn't matter if I freeze to death, or he breaks my heart, I'll forgive him.' She was only a child then, but I think that still stands."

Caleb dragged in a breath of air, then clenched his jaw. He was a complete idiot. "I…I have to make things right with her, I need to." Exhale. Caleb feigned a smile, then turn to Bulma. "Tell me, in what way did the princess believe, you could help."

"Well she believed that my weaponry would help, but things didn't go as planned. I was supposed to convince my husband to come with our clan, and help win this war." Bulma shook her head, as she chuckled. "I can't believe, I even thought that asking him would work."

Caleb cocked a brow. "What do you mean?"

"My husband isn't one to listen to me, or chase me down it appears." Bulma felt her heart ache at the words, and unconsciously she rested her palm against her chest. The pressure of her hand relieved the ache, slightly. She had told herself sometime along the ride with Krillen that she'd rid herself of her feelings for Vegeta, but it was evident she hadn't. "I don't have all the resources I had, but I can still help. Like I said, I know this place, and I know the Terioken's tactics. I can help get us into Teriok, but we have to work quickly. They'll attack at night if we stay here, and if we aren't prepared they'll win."

Caleb silently looked around at the handful of men that remained. He had lost much of his army. He knew upon return to Ox Kingdom many wives, daughters, sons, and families would be in morning. However; he knew that the only way to redeem the lost was to win the war. "The princess wanted you to help, and I think for once I'm going to follow her command. You tell me how we can help, and what we can do. We have to win this war! I trust you, because she trusts you."

Bulma could hear the remorse that tainted his words and posture, and it reminded her of her current state. She had lived for 4 years with the remorse of the loss of her unborn child, and the kiss shared with Yamacha. Suddenly sitting next to Caleb she felt comforted to know she wasn't the only person to feel ignominy. "Their walls are so tall, because they attack from above. I'm sure you may have already experience that attack, judging by the size of your army. You have to get them down from the walls, but you have to play their way."

"I'm listening."

"Good, because I'll tell you once," retorted Bulma, smirking. "We've dug a hole that opens at the mote. We place a cap at the apex of the tunnel, to keep the water at bay. However; once it's open the entire tunnel will be flooded. There is a rope that is tied securely outside of the tunnel, and they'll need to hold onto that, until the water fills. You need men that can hold their breath well, and swim just as efficiently."

"I have men perfect for that. Why don't I introduce you, and you can tell everyone." Caleb stood to his feet, and then extended a hand to Bulma.

"Are you ready to win a fight?"

"No, I'm ready to win a war," said Caleb, assertively.

"Are they still there?"

"There is a remnant hiding in the woods," said Demetrius "There aren't many."

Absalom chuckled, as he tapped his fingers on the armrest of his golden throne. His sinister laugh increased with the seconds, until his shoulders began to shake. "Tell me have you brought the body of my bride?"

Demetrius swallowed the clump of air that stuck in the back of his throat, and he could feel his legs shake. All his confidence depicted, and left him with fear. "Yo..You…Your majesty, there were problems," stammered Demetrius.

Instantly Absalom's laughter ceased, and his eyes narrowed at the bowed Demetrius. "A problem? What problem could there be, on a day like today? Didn't I ask for her body?"

"You…Your majesty, it couldn't be found."

"Couldn't?" Absalom's fingers gripped his throne, and his eyes hazed with anger. "Get me my sword."

"Your majesty, your majesty! I beg you, I haven't retrieved for you the princess' body. However; I have completed another task you requested, until Yourichi returns with her body."

"What would that be?"

Demetrius signaled a short, pudgy man from behind to step forward. The man walked slowly, the large silver dinner plate clinking, with every nervous step forward he took. The air within the throne room was stale and cold, and everyone knew that death was no strange in room. The prince and every king prior was never afraid to take someone's life, and that made fear grow in every man.

"Open it," encouraged Demetrius, after the man bowed before the king.

With shaking hands, the man pulled away the silver plate cover, revealing the content. Absalom's anger melted away at the present that sat proud on the silver platter. Absalom's face parted into a devious smile, and his eyes twinkled with delight. "It seems you know how to ease my anger well, Demetrius."

"I'm pleased you like the present, your highness."

Absalom stood from the throne, and took a few steps forward. He examined the plate pleased. Before walking to a solider to his right. Carefully, he withdrew the blade from the soldier's sheath unbeknownst to the bowed Demetrius. He ran his eyes over the length of the shimmering blade, before turning around to face Demetrius, again. One step forward, and another and his distance between his long time servant shorten.

"As always you know how to get the second best thing to make me happy," said Absalom, ponderously. Before Demetrius could say a word, Absalom swiftly raised and dropped the sword, detaching Demetrius' head from his body. The blood gushing out, his body lingering for a moment, before joining its rolling head on the ground.

Absalom eyes riveted to the pudgy man that still remained bowed. The man's entire body was shaking, and the clanking of silver on silver gave away his nervousness. "I need someone that can get me the best, and that best is the princess. Place that platter on my bedroom dresser, and call the servants to prepare me for battle. I want to get my princess."

"Yes…Yes, your majesty," stuttered the man, before hurrying away.

"Radditz, you're the best swimmer. I need you to lead the men underground, and get to that mote. Your men and you, will be our way in to the walls of Teriok. Also, our way to get them out and onto the field." Caleb stood side by side with Bulma, as she informed every one of the battle tactics.

"I don't think I can do that," said Radditz, dreadfully. His shoulders stiffen, and his heart burned at the memories that flooded his mind.

"What do you mean? You're the best man we have to make sure this part goes through smoothly," said Caleb.

"I haven't had the best experiences with maneuvering through underground tunnels. The water I can do, but the tunnel is where I'll have a big problem," confessed Radditz.

"You really don't have to worry about the tunnel, I've checked it out plenty of times. In fact every fourteen day's time someone comes and checks it, and it hasn't fallen once. I have metals throughout the keeps its firm. I assure you that it won't collapse," said Bulma, assuredly.

"I'm not worry about it collapsing…I ju-"

"Radditz, you are second in command. Whatever this struggle is, you are going to have to face it. Ox Kingdom depends on you. I'm not the best swimmer so I can't go down there, and there is no one that lead better than you. You have to push yourself, you can do it." Caleb gave Radditz a pat on the shoulder, and firm gaze.

Radditz knew there was no time for protest, or memories to hinder necessity. He was a solider, and his past had no precedence over that. He dragged in a breath of air, as he drowned away the memories of his mother pushing him down a tunnel. Exhale. He tried to push away the images of her blood, and the look of pain that stretched over her face as she hid them, beneath her body. It wasn't time for memories, or fear. "Okay, Okay."

"Don't worry, I'll go down with you. I'm a good swimmer," stated Krillen, a matter-fact-ly.

"Sorry, Krillen. However; you're need here. You have to create a diversion, and you're the perfect size," said Bulma, cheekily.

Krillen squinted his eyes, his lips fell into a frown. "Why does my height always have to be the topic of every conversation? Hn! Wait what kind of diversion do I have to create?"

"I'll tell you in a bit" said, Bulma. "The sun is already falling, we need to get to work."

"Wait! I have one more question, before we do anything" exclaimed Krillen, his arms crossed over his chest. "I won't be a diversion unless you answer, because I was nearly killed several times!"

"What's the question?" barked Bulma, as she rolled her eyes.

"Where is 18 at? You didn't kill her?" asked Krillen, his eyes locked with Caleb.

Caleb held inside the smile inching to escape, at the smaller man's word. It was evident the feelings that Krillen had for the blonde, but what was surprising to Caleb was that she felt the same. "She is perfectly fine, in fact she may be able to help us. If she does, she'll have that as help for any sentence she may incur in the future."

"Really?" chirped Krillen.

"Really."

"Can we get things in motion now, time is our worse enemy at the moment," interjected Bulma, her hands on her hips.

"Lets!"

A/N: Hey, everyone! Sorry it took so long to write, this semester at school has been hectically hard! I have some of my bigger exams, because I'm almost done! Thanks for everyone that reviewed! Also, thanks Isha for continuously reviewing. I know this isn't what you may have been looking for, and I was going to extend it. However; I think I should at least put something out so you're not in suspense as to whether I'll continue this story or not. So this chapter really is to bring into light Caleb's relationship with ChiChi, so you know how deep/ not deep it was- also what is happening behind the sense before the battle. Thanks again, and review!