Chapter 15
Ghosts of the south

Vegeta

The South. At last. Vegeta had longed to be here so much that he almost couldn't believe he was actually here now. Despite all their careful planning for a slow, safe trip- they were here. In just days. It almost didn't feel real.

This place was so warm and welcoming. Even the air smelled sweet. Bright warm sun peaked at them from the horizon, despite the still glowing moon above them. It seemed as if everywhere he looked there was a pleasant pop of color, from the pink trees, to the brightly painted blue and yellow doors of the towns homes.

He was reluctant to follow Bulma inside as she lead him into a set of very grand rooms. However as soon as he was inside, the pull of the ape eased as he was free of direct moonlight. It was such a relief, that he could look around and properly enjoy the beauty of the south, though his back ached from the new addition of a tail wrapped carefully around his waist, under his many layers.

Now wasn't the time, but soon he would have to tell Bulma what the transformation had meant for him. How it had forever changed him.

The ceilings were high and arched, while plush rugs sat underfoot. A huge bed with a thin white canopy around it dominated the room- but Bulma didn't linger here. In fact she seemed eager to be out of these rooms, because she lead him through them, into an open corridor with more high ceilings and elegant archways. He looked out at the river below and the lovely foliage along it's shores.

The architecture was so different from what he'd known that it actually hurt his head a bit to take in all this new information. It was as if whoever built this place had never once felt cold in their life. He hardly noticed where she was leading him, as they turned away from the open corridor into another, and another until he was very sure he would never have been able to find his way back to the big rooms they'd first entered.

They finally stopped in what had to be some sort of lounge. It was a beautiful, small, many windowed room stuffed with overly plush looking chaise lounges and chairs. The pillars framing the door were adorned with skillfully painted carvings of vines and flowers. The sole table in the room was piled high with fresh fruit and many tiered plates carrying delicate, pastel colored pastries. The many windows gave way to a grand view of the beautiful river on one side, and the town on the other.

Bulma plucked a cream topped pouf of some sort off the top of the many tiered dish and began eating as she gracefully fell into a pillow covered chaise. Curious, he looked over the offering of fresh fruit and sweets and had a bite of a small jelly like yellow square. It was a burst of sweet and tart lemon flavoring, like a thick custard with a delicious flaky crust on the bottom. He sank into a plush chair, and melted.

They didn't speak for a few minutes. They just ate. Vegeta was delighted by the array of fresh fruits and kept scooping up handfuls of blueberries and dumping them into his mouth. Each little sphere burst with flavor when he bite down on them. He was so enamored with the bright flavors that he forgot about conversation completely.

He hardly noticed the small parade of servants bringing in more food. Soon, the sweets were pushed aside and there was a whole other host of savory treats- from perfectly spiced salmon served on crackers, to cold soups, and pastas with fresh tomato sauce. At some point, smoked lamb appeared and Vegeta ate, and ate until he felt light headed. Lamb, he decided. Was his favorite food. Especially when they served it with those salty little fish and berries baked into the skin.

When he looked up, Bulma was smirking knowingly at him.

"What?" He asked defensively.

"You enjoying the food?" She asked with a barely contained giggle.

Without shame, he nodded and took a fresh bright red strawberry and plucked it into his mouth.

"Mm. Those are my favorite." Bulma mused, and took one as well.

After the meal, they were whisked off to put on some southern clothing.
"We should rest first." Vegeta complained as they were lead through the maze like castle again. With a full stomach, it was even more difficult to keep his eyes open.

"I know, but we need to address the people and I've- I've a lot to do." When no one was looking, Bulma slipped her hand into his and squeezed it gently. He squeezed it back, and smiled reassuringly at her.

Vegeta and Bulma were dressed in separate rooms. A disgruntled looking man measured him. "It's an honor to dress you! Sire! I simply wish i'd had more time to put something together that was more- worthy, of you!" He bustled and ran around Vegeta in circles with his measuring tape.

"Oh! Sir, pardon but in the north- men aren't expected to remain - erm- Virginal, before marraige are they?"

"No." Vegeta scoffed.

"Very good! Blue than, I think!" And with that, he was having his help drag in rolls of blue fabric. They attempted to dress him, but he held up a hand and insisted on dressing himself, else they see his new tail.

In the end, he was dressed in a the typical southern style of draped silks, held on by pins at the shoulder, and a belt around the waist. The hem of these elegantly draped silks stopped just at his knee, which he noted was the typical style for the men. They had carefully draped his toga over one shoulder, and the belt they fixed on him was of gold and leather. While very fine looking, it was simple and it held his sword well enough.

The problem was that this southern toga was so lightweight he felt almost naked. It was almost too light. He felt like if he wasn't careful, he'd end up flashing his genitals to some lucky but unsuspecting handmaid- though they weren't called handmaid's here, he supposed.

Bulma entered without warning, and smiled up at him. She was also wearing draped silks, though hers were deepest black, pinned at both shoulders and hung to the ground. Her shoulder pins, and her belt were finely crafted golden mesh. And the way the fabric draped off her breasts and hips made Vegeta glade for this loose toga, that adequately hid how he was feeling.

"The southern style certainly suits you." He said, smirking at her as she approached him with an outstretched hand. He took it, and kissed it before stepping off the small stool, and following her out of the cluttered fitting room.

"Thank you." She breathed. "I wish we could go to bed- but there's so much to do."

And she hadn't been joking. Krillin joined them again, this time followed by another bald man. This one very tall, with a third eye tattooed on his forehead. Vegeta made a mental note to ask him about it later, once he was sure doing so wouldn't be offensive.

First, Bulma gave a short speech to the people of her capitol city. Announcing her own safety, and well being while promising revenge on the colds. Then she said a bit about her father and all those who died when the Colds attacked. She swore revenge yet again, and promised them all her fathers funeral would be held the day after tomorrow, starting in the throne room and ending at the grand temple, and that all who loved him may attend.

While she spoke, Vegeta looked down at the many faces looking up at them. Every face was pointed at Bulma. Every eye filled with resolute determination, or pure unashamed grief. These people were all rather thin, he thought. Beautiful, but too thin. Hardly any of the men had any real muscle. They all wore draped fabrics as well, in various colors. The men all had short hair, while the women all had long hair, artfully piled on their heads in a vague cone shape. There were so many of them. So many that he hardly believed they'd all fit inside any temple for a funeral.

"That's… a lot of people." Vegeta pointed out when Bulma finished her speech. "How grand is this temple?"

"It's fairly big, but most will have to sit outside. They'll still feel a part of it though." She explained, looking more tired now than she had all day.

The rest of the very long day was spent in a blur of planning. Person after person came to Bulma and presented her with questions. What foods should they serve at the reception? What flowers should they bring? What will she be wearing? What will silks would they put her father in? What path would the carriage with his coffin take to the grand temple? Would it be a traditional ceremony? Would the kings estranged brother be allowed to attend?

At least this was all happening during daylight, when the ape wouldn't be pressing as much to burst free. He knew if he was forced to stay awake past sundown, he wouldn't have the energy to keep the beast inside. He was almost too tired to care about this though.

With each new question, and each new decision she made, Bulma looked more and more tired. Each new decision seemed to take something out of her. Vegeta put a hand on her shoulder, and gave it a gentle squeeze as a short wheezy man ran off with a stack of papers. She returned his smile, sleepily.

As they headed back to the lounge, blessedly alone Bulma paused by the library and ran her hand over the carved wooden door. Vegeta frowned at her. "It's all very odd." She muttered. "This place is as beautiful as ever. You would never know… that something so terrible happened here."

Vegeta still didn't understand, until she looked around the wide all as well. "You'd never know. BEcause that's how the gas works. It kills everyone and does no harm to things, and walls. To weapons, and armor. To well fortified castles." She mused. And now, Vegeta understood why she was acting so oddly.

Dinner was a quiet, private affair in the same plushly furnished lounge as earlier. Bulma told Vegeta that he could go to bed if he wished. "I'll be up all night, and you made enough of an appearance to look supportive so it'll look good when we announce the merger." She explained. "No one expects you to stay up with me." It was a tempting offer.

"You're done for the day, Bulma. Tell the staff to wait with these questions until morning."

"I need to do a lot more before bed though. Some things take days to finnish and we need to give the craftsmen as much time as possible." She pointed out, and poked at a strawberry without taking it.

"What can't wait until tomorrow?" Vegeta demanded, and Bulma fell silent. "Exactly."

"I'll just- send the bards out, and have them announce that everyone who died at the attack will be honored, right alongside my father at the funeral. They'll be given a hero's send off. So they can… prepare."

"Okay, then do that- and then we go to bed." Vegeta insisted. Bulma, despite her tiredness, smirked at him.

"We?"

"Yes, we. I want to share a bed with you tonight." He said- than as if he'd said something dirty or fowl a handmaid- he still didn't know if they were actually called that here- gasphed and dropped a plate. Bulma laughed loudly.

"Oh, Vegeta- you are funny." She kicked him under the table, and watched as the girl scurried to clean up the plate shards and rushed out of the room. When they were alone, she spoke again.
"Why? We've never- we've never shared a bed. Why now?"

"Because…" And Vegeta realized that he hadn't really known why he wanted to so badly. But he knew now. "It's your first night back in the place your father was murdered, and I don't want to leave you alone." He said softly. When he looked up at Bulma, her eyes were swimming with tears.

"Thank you, Vegeta. It's not worth the risk. If anyone saw us…" She shook her head. "It would ruin everything. I can't actually be with a man before I'm wed, or I would be seen as unworthy to rule." She took a small bite of the strawberry she had been poking, and got to her feet.

"I'll stay with you." Vegeta said as he too got to his feet and followed her from the room. "So, for my sake you'd better hurry up." She tossed him a puzzled look, but nodded.

After another three painful hours of stupid details Bulma declared they would actually be able to go to bed. She escorted Vegeta to the rooms that would be his, and found them quit as grand as hers, with poufs, and overly padded chair set around a short legged table, and a massive bed with sheer cotton hangings surrounding it.

"The squire will tuck the hangings once you're in bed, and I suggest you let him." Bulma warned. "When you were here before, it was an oddly cold winter. Now, there will be bugs, and while there aren't any in this area that would have a deadly bite, they can hurt rather a lot." She ushered forward a black haired youth.

"This is Cabba. He'll be your squire." Vegeta raised a brow at the boy. His name sounded familiar. Seeing his curious expression Bulma answered the unasked question. "He's Lord Paragus' son."

"Ah, the Saiyan ambassador to the Isle of life." He mused, and looked the skinny boy over, skeptical.
"Sadly, Cabba and I have a lot in common now." Bulma said and stroked the boys head kindly, making him flush and stare at the ground. "We're both orphans now. His father, and mother died when the colds attacked the castle."

"I want to serve you! My king!" The boy bowed, in the northern way, clapping his left fist against his right shoulder- but it was clumsy. Vegeta realized with a start that Cabba- had never been in the North. Never seen his own home. "I want to assist you my king, and the Princess Bulma in destroying the Colds so I can avenge my father."

Impressed by his guts, Vegeta smirked and nodded once to him.
"Alright. Start with getting me a hot bath, and than preparing my-" He looked over at bed, the hangings were drawn and the blankets were already folded over welcomingly.

"Yes, sire!" Cabba said right away, and turned on his heel to run off down the corridor.

"He'll also be able to guide you around the castle so you don't get lost." Bulma explained. "I hope you don't mind. He wanted to serve you so badly."

"He's fine. Speaking of Paragus- have you word of his other son?" Vegeta asked.

"No, I heard he'd joined the northern army. I haven't heard of where he is, but last I spoke to Paragus he bragged about how well he was ?"

Vegeta shrugged. "Heard he was pretty strong. Thank you, and good night princess." He bowed, and Bulma bit her lip and covered her mouth with her hand.

"What?"

"Toga's a bit short for such a low bow, don't you think? You're a King now. Vegeta. You out rank me, even if you are a guest."

Flushing, he stood up straight and counted his blessings that his butt had been pointed at a empty room.

Bulma bid him goodnight, curtsied, politely and left with a small parade of servants on her tail, and Krillin- sword hilt gleaming in the torch light. Vegeta closed the door, and went to sit on his little balcony and look over the beautiful river- but the sun was setting, and he didn't dare risk direct moonlight while this tired. So, he went around the room closing the curtains tightly.

It struck him how very open this castle was. No wonder the Colds attacked it with gas. He couldn't help think that it would have been painfully easy. They would just crouch along the shore, and shoot the gas bombs in through the many open windows. In the north, such an attack would be far less effective. Every room and every door was sealed tight from the cold outside air, while here they welcome the breese and fresh smell of those pink trees into their rooms.

Part of him calmed when he realized that the guards must have some sort of patrol set up to defend the castle. And as he thought it- he saw it was true. Peering across the river as he closed the last curtain, he saw on the opposite bank guards patrolling, and he doubted very much this river was open to anyone who decided to ride down stream.

Behind him, Cabba ran in, with a few other boys hauling a huge copper lined tub, and buckets of hot water. It was apparently so hot they had to use protective gloves to carry them.

Eventually, it was full and they set a table beside it with an array of soaps for him to use.

He almost fell asleep in the bath it was so relaxing, though he thought longingly of the hotspring at home. It was impossibly hard to force himself to wash properly. His tired limbs felt like weights. When he was clean, he climbed out of the tub, toweled off haphazardly, and went to bed in the nude.

As he lay sleeping, vaguely noted Cabba tucking the cotton hangings under the mattress so the bugs wouldn't get in before he drifted into sweet blissful nothingness.

Bulma

Bulma woke the following morning to her new lady in waiting pulling the hangings from around her bed.

"Good Morning, Princess! Did you sleep well?" She asked cheerfully.

Bulma glared at her. She had very much forgotten how rigid the schedule of her castle had been. So much that her own staff were waking her while the sun was barely up. Reluctantly, Bulma sat up and pushed her messy hair out of her face to take a look at the girl. Her new lady-in-waiting. She was a curvy, yet muscled young woman with straight black hair. She curtsied low.
"You must be…" Bulma tried to think back to last night when she'd been advised to take this girl as her lady in waiting, to remember her name. "Videl, right?"

"Yes, princess! Thank you for having me. I'm told you had a bath last night, so I've just laid out your dress for the day, black, of course. I thought you'd like a privet breakfast so I've had the scullions bring your breakfast to your private lounge so you can eat in peace, before tackling the day." She said cheerfully. Bulma pressed her face into her hands and rubbed in an attempt to wipe away her sleepiness.

"That's good. When he's dressed, please have King Vegeta join me in my lounge."

"Yes, Princess." She curtsied again. "Master Roshi arrived last night, and would like a word. I've told him you'll be available mid morning, is that acceptable?"

"Yes, yes. Thank you Videl. You're father- he's um- Hercule, right?" Bulma tried to remember the man but she couldn't. She just had a sense of profound dislike when she tried to remember him. She nodded.
"Yes, princess. My father is i Lord/i Hercule." She said, gently correcting her.

"Bulma!" Krillin called from outside. "Are you dressed because I need to speak to you! It's urgent!"

Videl turned to glare at the door and began angrily crossing the room towards it.
"Sir, Krillin I told you that the Princess needed her sleep and-"

"Fasha-" Bulma groaned and rubbed her face on her hands again. "Videl! I mean. Please let him in." She said tiredly.

"Of course, Princess." She said with forced politeness and opened the door to let the armor clad Krillin in.

"Yeah hi good morning bows- moving on!" He crossed the room without even a glance at Videl and stopped a few feet away from Bulma, who still sat in bed.

He opened his mouth to speak, than turned to look at Videl. "Please wait outside."

She glared at him, as a lord's daughter and the princess's lady in waiting Krillin had no authority to remove her from the room- but she politely complied.

"What's up?" Bulma asked when they were alone.

"The people are- eager, to see you. Word is that they've heard of your healing powers and they want you to heal the sick- and wounded and they are gathering outside. I know you wanted to finish planning your fathers funeral- but I think you should devote the day to healing the people. If you don't they might just riot." He said all this very quietly.

"But if I delegate planning my own father's funeral the temple elders and many of the people will be displeased with me too. I don't know, Krillin." She flopped back down in the bed and sighed. She wanted to heal the people, and make them well- but she also didn't dare take the risk of just walking amongst them.

"Have the guards bring me all those injured who would die in the next few days if they weren't healed. I'll heal them today, and than finnish planning my father's funeral, and than after tomorrow, I will heal them all until no one in my city has so much as an achy back."

Krillin tapped his chin. "Maybe let the high priests handle the religious ceremony parts of the funeral this morning while you heal those near death. That way it's not lost time, and you'll still be seen as in charge of the more personal touches." He suggested. Bulma sat up, and pushed her hair out of her face to smile at him.

"Yeah. Do that. Tell the high priest that i'd like him to do that, he'll like feeling important- and than I'll go heal the near death."

"Okay. I'll have words sent to the priest, and we'll go collect the sick. You won't be close enough for them to stab you or anything, just incase it's a trap. We'll use the throne room. I'll send for you when we're ready."

"Thank you, Krillin." She said again, and reluctantly threw the blankets back and stepped out of bed. Krillin, suddenly red, rushed from the room without another word. Videl came back in and gasphed.

"Princess! You're night dress! Did you- did Sir Krillini see you in that?!"/i She squealed, making Bulma look down. She yelped, and slapped her forehead. In the north, the night dresses had been all thick cotton, for warmth. She'd completely forgotten about the usual sheer, and completely see-through thin fabric of the usual southern night clothes.

"Yes, Videl he did." She groaned.

"What on earth prompted you to show him-"

"I'm used to northern wear, and I'm very tired." She snapped- and instantly regretted it from the startled look on Videls face. But the girls tone had angered her. She was the Princess, and sitting Queen! "Tell me, did Valese parish in the attack, or is she injured?." She asked coldly and shuffled over to the chamber pot to empty her bladder before getting dressed.

"Princess, I'm sorry to say your last Lady in Waiting did parish in the attack." Videl said, her tone carefully kept between politeness, and sadness.
"Shame. She was rather good." Bulma mused, cruelly as she started getting dressed.

Videl tried to help, but after the layers and layers of complet northern clothing, the simplicity of the draped silk dress was a breeze to put on alone, except for the pins at the shoulders. Those needed two hands, and a good angle. Videl helped, but she did so wordlessly.

Once her hair was combed and styled she was finally able to go to the lounge and eat. Vegeta was already there, wearing blue again and half laying on a pouf while he ate little pieces of grapefruit dipped in sugar.

"Good morning!" She said, genuinely delighted to see him despite her tiredness. She glanced around at the blue chair in the corner, where her father always sat on the rare occasion he got to join her for a quiet meal, rather than the usual formal affair. It was empty.

Vegeta smiled fondly at her as he popped a grapefruit piece into his mouth.

"Good morning."

"You're looking very dashing this morning. I never realized you had such nice calves." She noted. Vegeta looked down at his own legs with a raised brow. "I've got nice everything." He said with only a hint of humor in his voice.

"True, and these silks really do show off your arms nicely as well." She added. It was the first time they'd been alone properly in days now, and would have time to talk. She sat beside him, and reached out to run her hand across his thick bicep.

He looked from his arm to her with a glimmer in his eye. He sat up and pulled her onto his lap with one strong tug. She let him do this, and settled into his arms. His calloused fingertips brushed her jaw, and they kissed for the first time since he was crowned.

"So, you like grapefruit?" She asked, tasting the bitter juice and sugar on his lips.
"Mmhm. I like all of this." He gestured to the tray of fruits and breakfast foods. "This fresh fruit you southerners don't appreciate."

"We do appreciate it." She scoffed, and took a strawberry. He shrugged.

"You seem to favor those." He noted.

"I do. When I was a little girl I wanted to have a pool full of strawberries. It's ridiculous of course, as princess I could have all I wanted and yet…" She shrugged. "My younger self had many foolish wishes."

Vegeta didn't say anything to that, but he did take one of the red berries for himself and popped it into his mouth and ate it all at once, his cheeks looking like a chipmunks as he did. She giggled.

"Vegeta, i've been wanting to ask you, since the coronation…" She trailed off. It was such a vague and big question. She didn't know where to start.

"Yes?" He leaned back against the lounge and pulled her with him, so she lay on his broad chest, his arms looped loosely around her.

"What- was that? What happened? What was the test? What does that… transformation mean for the future? Can you do it again?"

He chuckled.
"I knew you'd have questions. Honestly I was surprised you didn't start in the moment we landed in the forest." He took a deep breath and sighed. "The spirit of Vegetabilis lives in all saiyans, but only the king can take his form."

"How?" She asked, looking up. "Did you have to do something or-"

"God." he said simply. "When I beat my father in combat, I waited for the light to strike me. If I hadn't transformed, or if I had and I'd lost myself to the base instinct and forgotten why I was there- I wouldn't have been fit to be king."

"So- you need moonlight to transform?" She asked, looking up at him. "Did it hurt? It sounded like you were in agony."

"No, I don't need moonlight but it does make it easier to transform, and at the same time harder not too." He admitted. "It was the most pain I've ever felt in my life. And, yes. I can control it, though it's been a struggle. Most new kings avoid direct moonlight for weeks while they get a handle on the ape. But that very night we were on Ember and-"

"That's why you were so tense! I thought you were afraid of heights but you were trying to control that ape!" She gasped and pushed herself up to get a better look at him.

"Yeah." He nodded. She clapped her hand over her mouth.

"If I had known that! I would never have asked you to leave that night! We could have waited- we could have-"

"No, Fasha was right. Using the fog as cover was our best bet- and i'm glad we got here when we did. You'll be able to bury your father." He looked down at her, and she fell silent at mention of the funeral.

"So- now can you… can you feel him? The ape?"

"Yes. More at night, but it's.. Not a bad feeling. I feel stronger. More connected to the First King. I just need to be sure not to lose control at night. Especially in direct moonlight. But if I do need that power- it's a relief to know it's there."

Bulma looked at him in sheer amazement. "Wow. Kingship suits you." She leaned down, letting her chest press against his, and kissed him again. "I'm so sorry you had to suffer through two nights of flying like that, when this was so new. Does it hurt? To control the ape?"

"Yes."

He snaked his arms around her narrow frame and flipped them over, pinning her to the plush chaise and kissed her deeply. She loved this. The feeling of being pinned between the the cushion and him- while his mouth captured hers and his hands found her hips and pushed aside her silks easily to find bare soft breast.

She let out a soft moan that she muffled on his shoulder.

"God you are soft." He breathed hungerly and began trying to undo the pins holding her silks closed.

"We can't- not now." She whimpered- her hands finding his and holding them. He exhaled through is nose in annoyance.

"It also makes me a bit easier to excite." He explained. She nodded in understanding as he sat up, and pulled her back into his lap. She wriggled as close to him as she could get- and he winced as she hugged his hips with her thighs.
"You okay?" She asked, and worried she'd pressed against his manhood in a painful way.

"..yes." He said vaguely.

"What is it?" She asked, and climbed off his lap, and noted the little tent in his silks.

"There were… some changes, when I became king." He eyed her weirly. "Physical, changes."
Horror struck her- did he now have an apes manhood? She paled and looked back down at his groin.
"Did-"
"I've not got…" He sighed, and stood up. From beneath the hem of his toga came a long, brow furry-
i"Tail?!"/i She gasped, and clapped her hand over her mouth. He nodded and continued eyeing her. She was so shocked she didn't notice his worried gaze on her.

"Oh! Oh no!" She gasped. "And it hurts whenever anyone touches it? Will it always hurt like that? Oh Vegeta i'm sorry! I didn't mean to hurt you- Is there anything we can do to ease the pain?"

She looked up at him, and found him staring at her, wide eyed.
"...what?"
"You mean to tell me, the thing you're worried about… is how much pain i'm in?" He said in disbelief. "You're not at all repulsed by it? By me having a furry, long tail?"

"What? No… I mean, I'm not exactly turned on by it but it's not gross or anything- why? Doesn't it hurt?"

"What? No! I mean, yeah it's a little sore right now. My spine just got several feet longer I can't imagine this is unusual, but my father told me it would stop aching in a few weeks- but that it would always be a little sensitive, and if anyone squeezed it…" He trailed off and shook his head in sheer disbelief at Bulma.

"What happens if someone squeezes it?" She asked, her eyed flicking down to look at the swishing tail.

"I get sort of.. Paralyzed for a moment. I used to do it to my father as a child all the time. I thought it was funny to see him go all stiff and than fall over. He always wore it around his waist, where it couldn't be grabbed in battle- so I'm not worried about that- but it is a secret. We don't share this information easily."

"Oh! Oh! So… I had no idea that being King was so… painful. No wonder your father looked relieved when you took over. Did he lose the tail?"

"He did." Vegeta nodded and shifted his toga a bit as he wrapped his tail around his waist again. As he did so he flashed his entire lower front to Bulma without realizing it. When he looked back at her, she was so red in the face that he actually reached out to feel her forehead.

"Sorry- you just- you're supposed to wear something under that you know." She breathed. Realizing what he'd done, he just smirked and sat beside her again.

"I suppose now we're even." He kissed the bend of her jaw while she sat frozen in shock. "Don't worry." He added, noting a hint of alarm on her face. "I'm a skilled lover. You won't feel any pain on our wedding night." He said proudly. That broke Bulma's shock and she couldn't help but smile at him skeptically.

"The first time with a man always hurts though." She said. "Everyone knows that."

"No." He scoffed, and chuckled. "That's a bullshit lie spread by weak, unskilled, southern men to trick women into thinking it's their fault their husbands are hurting them."

She looked at him for a long time. He'd said something similar before, but she didn't buy it. It was just what happened when the hymen broke. But, she didn't say as much. She just nodded and smiled at him. At least he was proud of his skill, and would attempt to make her feel good. She'd heard so many horror stories from older women about their wedding nights being painful, and how they would bleed… But when she looked into Vegeta's proud, confident face she couldn't help but believe him.

"Once the Colds are dead- we'll be able to be together. Properly. Soon we'll win this war, and than merge the two countries into one- and the Northerners who want to can come live in the south. Who knows, maybe the young and hearty Southerners will move North, and the elderly will move South when the arthritis starts in." She joked. Vegeta chuckled and nodded.

"My people will finally have a chance at something beyond survival. The possibility comfort brings." He looked out the window, almost dreamily. He really did love them, Bulma realized. His people. Her chest filled with warmth.

There was a knock on the door, and Videl stepped in.

"King Vegeta, Princess Bulma." She curtsied. "Sir Krillin is nearly done having the sick brought to the throne room. He says they'll be ready for you in about half and hour."

"Thank you, Videl." Bulma said, relieved that she and Vegeta had managed to part before she'd come in. "You're dismissed for now. Thank you for your help this morning." She added, remembering how cool she'd been towards her.

Videl looked scandalized. It was not common to dismiss a lady in waiting until the end of the day- it was almost an insult.

"Where I'm going will be dangerous, and there's no need to risk getting you sick, or hurt." Bulma explained. "I'll need you again when I'm done, though. I'll send for you than." Videl nodded, curtsied, and left them alone again. Bulma pulled a bowl of mixed citrus fruit towards her and drizzled it with honey before tucking in. She'd have a long day and needed to get some real food down before getting started.

While she ate, she told Vegeta what her plans for the day were. He nodded, while he too ate mouthfuls of fresh berries and baked goods.

"This bread is so amazing." He said after gulping down a large mouthful of plain cake. Bulma sweetly pointed to the loaf of actual bread, and Vegeta frowned.
"Why wouldn't the cake have frosting?" He asked.
"Because most people eat it with berries and sugar so you don't need frosting."

Rather than waiting to be called upon, Bulma finished eating and went to the throne room on Vegeta's arm. As they passed the library, she looked inside, half expecting to see her father and his entourage. She snapped her head forward, and hugged Vegeta's arm a little more tightly.

When they got to the throne room, she paused just before entering to allow the Keeper of the Wardrobe to add a long elegant cape of black silk to her shoulders, and a brightly glistening tiara made to look like vines and leafs to her head.

Looking properly regal, she stepped into the highest balcony in the throne room. It was a place usually reserved for high lords and ladies to sit during speeches, and ceremonies so they would be able to see the goings on. From up here, she wasn't noticed straight away as Krillin was helping to usher people on stretchers into the room. It was horrible. She looked towards the Throne, but her father wasn't sitting there. He would never sit there again.

She forced herself to look at the people lining up, and at once, her heart began aching for them. One man cried out in pain as he was moved- and she wished she could have gone to them- but Krillin had be right. It wasn't safe. She should have waiting until Krillin gave the okay, but she didn't. She began healing each person laid out in a stretcher. One by one her eyes flickered over them, like she was counting them.

As she got further down the rows of people, the first ones she'd healed started to stand up and examine themselves in delighted wonder and amazement. The first man looked around wildly, his face split in a huge smile when
"PRINCESS!" He shouted and pointed to her on the balcony. "The Princess has come to save us!" Heads turned to look at her- and for a moment she lost her place.

"Be still!" Vegeta commanded, his deep voice echoing through the wide hall. The murmurs died down. "Allow the princess to heal you all before you begin moving about and thanking her. We don't want to miss someone."

Bulma squeezed his hand thankfully, and started again. It took a few minutes to do this, since there were at least 100 people spread out on the throne room floor. Than, for good measure she healed the guards, one by one. Even Krillin.

"Is everyone healed?" Krillin asked. There were murmurs of agreement throughout the hall.
"Good, than please everyone file out, and watch where you step just incase someone did get missed!"

"Thank you!" Bulma cried out, drawing their eyes to her. "Thank you for all you've done for our kingdom, and i'm sorry you all had to suffer so much! You honor your family's! All of you!"

There were wild cheers, but it did not distract them from doing as Krillin had asked of them- and filing neatly out. No one, it seemed had been missed.

"Well that was fast." Vegeta said softly.

"It was. I thought there'd be more." She admitted.

"There are hundreds of sick who inhaled a diluted version of the gas after it had started to dissipate." Krillin said, a few minutes later as he joined them on the balcony. Bulma felt sickened by this, and turned away from them.

"Krillin, Have the people who need healing line up. I'm going to heal as many as I can today, and I'm going to plan everything. At the same time. There's no reason I can't look up and heal some people as I make decisions." She turned to face him, expecting a frown, but instead found a wide smile.

"Alright." He beamed at her, and ran off to do as told.

A half an hour later, Bulma was seated on the smaller throne to the left of the Kings. It would be hers, after her coronation. But for now, it would remain empty but for a black crown that sat in it's seat, where her father should be. Vegeta stood beside her throne, a little ways back out of respect.

Around her, castle staff, Priests, and Lords gathered to ask questions and set up plans as Krillin had people filing into the throne room, in a straight line.

"The Princess is planning the Kings Funeral. She is busy, so she will not be able to address each of you. As you're healed, move aside and exit so she can heal the next person. Don't worry if it takes a moment." He was explaining.

All sorts of people filed in. Most were being helped by someone, or carried, or pushed on a wheelchair. Each time she looked up, she'd heal whoever stood at the head of the line, and than focus on her staff for a moment, before healing the next person. Some took longer than others to move out of the way, as their healing was painful. Guards stood between Bulma and the people, leaving just enough gap for Bulma to see. Outside each person was patted down thoroughly to make sure they had no weapons before entering.

Vegeta would sometimes sit in the throne beside hers to the left, and sometimes stand. But he seemed to be very board. If not for the never ending supply of cold sweet teas, fruits, and cakes he'd probably have gone mad. Bulma at least had something to do. Though not enough. Not enough to keep her distracted.

Eventually he sent his squire Cabba to fetch him a book on Southern etiquette, and sat reading quietly. Looking up only when a cry of pain broke his concentration.

"Princess." He said as the group of staff, Lords, and Priests finally left the throne room that evening.

"Hm?" She asked, without looking away from the line of people.

"The more I read the rules of southern etiquette, the more I think it's all a very elaborate plan to control the women. It says here a lady should always be escorted by a gentlemen when traveling at night. That just seems-" He gestured to the book. Bulma looked sideways at it and snorted. She'd had to read that as a child and she'd hated it.

"Yes, you're not wrong. Those aren't hard rules though. They're more suggestions, and my father and I have done away with many of those traditions." She explained, and turned towards her father's throne to ask if he knew about a more recent copy of the book- when her blood ran cold. He wasn't there of course. This was the worst part of being back. She kept seeing his ghosts everywhere- but this time was the most… painful. She masked her tone so no one would know what she was thinking.

"I don't think we have a more recent copy of that, come to think on it. I'll have to have an updated one written."

"Yes, you should because it also says a maester is supposed to witness a royal marriage consummation." Vegeta grumbled.

"Oh! That just means he's supposed to see the married couple to bed, and do a physical exam of the bride in the morning." She shrugged. "It's more to protect the woman from abuse."

"Southern men." Vegeta sneered, and didn't mind the dirty looks he got from the men around him at all.

"Need I remind you, that not all northern men as as chivalrous as you?" Bulma asked, carefully trying to reference Raditz' actions without announcing it to everyone in the throne room. She didn't want to give anyone a bad impression of the North if the merger was to go through smoothly.

With the funeral planning done, and everything in place, Bulma spent the rest of the day healing the seemingly never ending parade of injured. It seemed though, that the people shuffling inside were slowly starting to look less hurt. Now, they all carried themselves, and walked in, and out without help.

Krillin seemed to be masterfully organizing them so that the most hurt people went first.
"How many more?" She asked when Krillin came to check in with her.

"Not many. I didn't expect you to get this many done today." He confessed. "If I have them pick up the pace now that you're done with the funeral planning, we could finish them all in about an hour or so." He estimated.

"Yeah, do it. I'd like to have everyone healed before tomorrow." She said. He nodded once, bowed, and ran off.

"Alright!" He shouted. "You're all able to walk, so things are going to speed up a little! I want you each moving at a good clip! Don't stop at the end, just slow a bit, and keep going! We want to get everyone healed tonight!"

Murmurs of agreement filled the hall, and people began speeding up. Bulma healed them so quickly that most people didn't even need to slow at the end of the line before turning and leaving with smiles on their faces.

Finally, after ages, the line seemed to come to an end. Relieved, and thinking she'd actually done it- Bulma stood up and stretched her stiff back, but the doors hadn't closed yet. She stood there, waiting, staring at the open door as the last of the healed trickled out of the exit until the hall was empty of citizens. She turned to leave, but Krillin held up his hand to stop her.

A woman shuffled into the hall. She was limping rather a lot. A guard stepped forward to help, but she held her hand up to stop him. As she got closer, Bulma could see she had dark short hair. As she got closer still, Bulma could that she was filthy. Her bangs seemed to be very straight, and the hair framing her face was rather long, but the back was very choppy. Her leg was caked in dried blood and her clothes hung around her in tatters. Bulma couldn't tell what was caked on blood and what was dirt.

Without waiting for her to get much closer, she healed her. The woman stopped for a moment while her wounds gnit closed- and stepped tenderly on her previously hurt leg. Seeing it was fine, she marched forward towards Bulma, shoulders back, and chin high.

"ChiChi!?" Vegeta said in astonishment, and leapt from his throne. Bulma gasphed, and ran forward, Vegeta got there first, Bulma right behind him. She'd never meant ChiChi before, but that didn't stop her from taking the black silken cape from her shoulders and draping it over ChiChi's shoulders to cover her.

"Princess Bulma- King Vegeta." She said, her voice dripping with exhaustion. "Your guard didn't believe me- I was-" She staggered a bit on her feet, and Bulma wrapped an arm around her shoulders to steady her. "I didn't know King Vegeta would be here- I didn't know of the attack until this morning- I didn't know of- of your ability to heal- I didn't know Vegeta was King now. The guards didn't believe I was who I said I was- they only let me in because I was hurt, and you were healing everyone- I-" Her eyes welled up with tears. "Please, is my husband with you? Is Goku here?"

Bulma and Vegeta exchanged a look.