Couples Retreat

Chapter 3

"What the hell did I just agree to?" Vegeta thought to himself as he chewed on his dinner.

"This is such a stupid idea! One week with the woman on some dull planet? Why did I say yes?" Vegeta gripped his fork tightly as he looked down at the bowl of noodles sitting in front of him. He took another bite as Trunks rattled on about his summer activities.

"There isn't a single thing the woman could want to talk about that we couldn't address and solve in a day... NO. The woman has intellect I cannot deny that but when it comes to these emotional matters... Well...She doesn't think logically like I do..."

As the family began to finish their meal Dr. Briefs retreated back to his room for the night as Panchy offered to take everyone's plates into the kitchen for dishwashing.

"Well Trunks" Bulma began. "I almost forgot, your Dad and I have been meaning to tell you something."

"Yeah?" Trunks replied, curious what this could be.

"Sometimes Trunks, grown-ups need some alone time, you know to enjoy each other's company and relax. So, your Dad and I are going on a trip next week."

Trunks paused and took all the info in. "Ok? And what about me?"

"Well, I think you'd get bored coming with us..." Bulma started.

"Hmm... I don't know about the boy, but I know that I will certainly be bored." Vegeta thought to himself.

"I asked Chi Chi if you can stay with her and Goten for the week... and she said yes!" Bulma finished, trying to generate some excitement. Fortunately for her, it worked.

"Alright! I haven't stayed the night at Goten's in forever. There's so much to do over there. Maybe we can train with his Dad too!" Trunks exclaimed leaving Vegeta incensed.

"Ha! Are you sure about that, son?" Vegeta finally spoke up. "The only thing he knows about more than me is how to be a clown. So, if you are looking to join the circus and become an expert oaf, then I suppose he would be the best teacher for the job."

Trunks snickered. Even at his young age, he knew not to take his father's competitive relationship with Goku or his father's penchant for trash talking at any opportunity too seriously.

"Well, what about you Dad? Are you excited for your trip?" Trunks asked to which Vegeta shrugged, earning him a scowl from Bulma. Not wanting to confuse the boy or make him worried, Vegeta quickly corrected himself.

"Ah... yes. It will be a wonderful time and I am sure I will have a wonderful time too." he said flatly, erasing the glare Bulma was giving him.

"Say boy, you never got yourself dessert. Why don't you fetch yourself something?" Vegeta asked as Trunks dismissed himself quickly in search of chocolates in the kitchen.

"Well Vegeta, thank you for at least pretending you want to go for Trunks. I don't want him to get upset thinking about us." Bulma said, less annoyed than she was a couple minutes prior. She got up and pushed her chair in.

"Don't worry about helping me get ready. I'll take care of everything. I'll start packing now and making a few other arrangements. I haven't left Earth since we went to Namek! I forgot how much preparation this takes!" Bulma said as she left.

Vegeta got up and looked outside at the night sky outside the dining room window. He had difficulty seeing any stars, they were all drowned out by the lights of West City.

"Blast!" he thought to himself. "There's no backing out now. The woman clearly has her heart set on this expedition. I suppose I will endure this whole thing... for her..."

Feeling energized from how well Trunks took the news of his parent's journey, Bulma was in good spirits as she finished loading the last piece of luggage inside the ship sitting outside the Capsule Corporation building. They were only staying a week and she thought she had everything needed. Sleeping bags, tents, outdoor wear, food, drink. Swimsuits too, it looked like this planet had a good number of rivers and lakes. Hopefully Cascadia Terra really had no life forms even on the level of insects, she didn't want to worry about dousing herself with bug spray. After obsessively listing supplies she thought they would need again and again in her mind, she felt like they finally had everything they could possibly need.

Bulma had been studying weather patterns on the new planet as well on her star chart program. It looked like currently Cascadia Terra was in the midst of one of the extreme storm cycles, but it was about to end. She figured by the time they arrived they would just be getting there during a calm period. She felt relief reading the weather data. Everything seemed to be working out. Only one more night left on Earth before they left.

As optimistic as she felt, she replayed what she had said to Vegeta when going over the trip.

I know we will be ok after all of this... I love you.

Of course she loved Vegeta, she meant that. But was she so confident things would be ok between the two of them? Did she really believe it? Was she trying to convince herself that as much as she was convincing her husband? Bulma sighed. The sooner she left Earth and began this trip, the better. She needed answers. The anxiety and all of this overthinking was too much.

"Damn it Kakarot. I hate training here." Vegeta said as he slowly floated down after wrapping up another sparring session with Goku. This time in a grassy field on the outskirts of West City.

"Why's that? There's plenty of room here." Goku said as he sank down to the ground as well.

"Because there's no rocks. Which means no blocking exercises. Which means I can't throw rocks at you!" Vegeta replied grinning.

"Heh heh. Yeah, you were lobbing them pretty hard at me!" Goku recalled. "Come to think of it, you seemed more tense than normal today."

"Hmph! What of it?" Vegeta sneered.

"Come on Vegeta, I've been training with you for a while now. I can tell when something's off with you. What is it?"

"My personal matters are none of your damn concern!"

"Aw man, you gotta tell me. We're training partners now. We can't keep secrets!" Goku added playfully.

"I'll keep as many damned secrets as I want from you!" Vegeta snapped. "What good does knowing matters of my personal life do you in battle, hm?"

"I dunno. Wasn't it you that was saying we shouldn't allow ourselves distracted when we're fighting?" Goku asked as Vegeta sat down in the grass.

"Yes, and I am NOT distracted." Vegeta loudly replied.

"Whatever you say buddy. I just think it's better to air these things out." Goku said as Vegeta remained silent, creating an awkward lull in their conversation. Suddenly, a thought crossed Goku's mind.

"I bet it has something to do with Bulma and that trip you're taking, doesn't it?" he added as Vegeta started to turn red in anger at Goku's prying. "Chi told me about that a few days ago, Trunks is going to have a good time hanging out with us!"

"Hey, relax. Wife problems distract me too!" Goku said trying to diffuse the situation. "But I think you guys are taking the right approach."

Vegeta stood up and turned his back to Goku, his arms folded.

"I'm a warrior at my core, Kakarot. Sitting in the wilderness without purpose goes against my nature! This whole idea seemed stupid to me from the beginning, and it seems stupid now. A complete waste of time!"

"It will go by fast. I'm sure Bulma really appreciates you going with her too." Goku said, smiling. "It'll be over before you know it. And then we can get back to training! Who knows? Maybe you'll like it and won't want the trip to end!"

Vegeta unfolded his arms and clenched his fists. Damn that Kakarot and his optimism. Did he have any idea how irritating it is to be cheerful like he was all the time in every situation?

"Hey Vegeta, you have taught me a lot about combat during the years. You should take this journey with Bulma as an opportunity to learn for yourself. You can learn about leisure and how to relax. You're a smart guy but I don't think you know anything about either!"

Relaxation and leisure. Those two words made Vegeta feel sick just hearing.

"Gah! I can't take this anymore. I will not listen to your incessant babbling any longer, Kakarot. GOODBYE!" Vegeta shouted as he flew off leaving Goku chuckling in the field as he watched the Saiyan Prince fly off.

"That clown," Vegeta thought. "He may have a point. Instead of prolonging this voyage, I should just get it over with. Not much longer now..."

Vegeta looked out the window of the Capsule Corp spaceship. He had been the first to board, waiting on the main floor of the ship, practically sulking as he sat alone. The day had finally come for Bulma and Vegeta to depart Earth. He already felt uncomfortable dressed in his "camping" attire, a maroon shirt and grey shorts. He watched outside the ship's window as Bulma hugged her father and mother, assuring them afterwards that she would let them know once they had arrived at Cascadia Terra. Trunks had flown off with Goku and Goten who had arrived at Capsule Corporation earlier to begin his own vacation with that family. After saying her goodbyes, Bulma finally climbed into the ship herself.

"Hey you!" Bulma said cheerfully. "Are you ready to get out of here?"

"I've been ready for some time, woman." Vegeta replied.

"Just hang tight. It should only be a few hours. This planet isn't terribly far from Earth!" Bulma remarked as she sat down and began entering in coordinates to Cascadia Terra. Soon after, the entrance to the ship retracted in and the ship began to hover above the ground, slowly building up speed and then eventually thrusting into the atmosphere of Earth.

Vegeta took a seat near his wife, sitting crossed legged on the ground. In all his years of traveling the universe how did he never once hear about this planet they were traveling to, this Cascadia Terra? Bulma mentioned to him that there was no life on the planet. So no people to oppress or enslave. Most likely no resources worth claiming either. That had to be the reasons that this planet was never on Frieza Force's sight. It sounded like a planet that the Planetary Trade Organization have had no interest in annexing.

Vegeta closed his eyes. The sooner they got to this planet, the sooner they get this nonsensical trip over he thought as he started to doze off, the white noise of the ship blasting through the cosmos lulling him into sleep.

Vegeta's nap was soon cut short as he felt the ship slowing down in his speed, stirring him out of his slumber. It must have just entered the atmosphere of this new planet. Vegeta stood up as the ship began the descent.

Bulma just finished texting her father letting him know that they were just about to touch down on the surface. She started texting Chi Chi next.

"We just made entered the surface. Can you let Trunks know that we're ok?" Bulma wrote, still thinking about the boy. She put her phone down on the ship computer console. She loved interplanetary cellular phone service but decided she'd try to stay off her phone for this week. She set her phone aside as the ship finally landed on the planet's surface, kicking up dirt outside. The entire planet was an extremely dense forest, a mix of coniferous and deciduous trees with lakes and some clearings scattered throughout. Bulma chose to land the ship at one of the dirt clearings in the middle of the woods. A large, cerulean lake was only a short hike from the ship. Time wise, it had to be late afternoon as the planet's sun just past the middle of the sky.

The hatch of the ship flung down as Bulma clad in a black tank top and beige shorts excitedly ran out, her sandals loudly clapping against the metal of the hatch as she zoomed down. There was a stillness to the planet very different to Planet Earth. There was a good possibility that the two were the first lifeforms to visit the planet, the first to disturb the forests and lakes. Though, how much were they really disturbing on the huge planet?

"Oh Vegeta..." Bulma said dreamily, taking in the clean air and serene sights around her. "This is... PERFECT! Am I a genius for deciding to bring us here or what?"

The Saiyan Prince followed her out, arms folded as normal, eyeing his new surroundings.

"This isn't the first planet I've been to like this." Vegeta responded, unimpressed. "At least on the others there were things to fight. I don't sense anything here." Bulma rolled her eyes.

"Though I must admit, I do find this place to be very pleasant. I never hated this being on type of terrain. " Vegeta added as he breathed in some of the fresh, forest air. Bulma smiled; a bit surprised Vegeta was saying something nice after all his complaining the last few days. She walked back in the ship quickly and returned with two lawn chairs and a basket with drinks inside, water bottles and some beer cans.

"Why do you Earthlings do this for pleasure?" Vegeta asked as Bulma set up the chair and sat down. "I spent years of my life camping all over the universe while serving Frieza. Why would you choose to be outside like this? I don't understand the appeal."

"It's different when you are camping for fun instead of survival." Bulma answered as she gazed off into the lake. "Or I guess in your case, when you're on the clock conquering planets. You don't get to take in and appreciate all this beauty when you are on the move or trying to fight and survive."

"And how would you know what it's like to be a soldier surviving on foreign planets?" Vegeta sneered, looking off himself.

"I'm just guessing." Bulma replied, she turned Vegeta's chair towards him. "Now, sit."

Vegeta sat down as Bulma tossed him a beer. She was already starting sip on her already opened can.

"Well..." she started. "Now that we're situated, let's get down to business. Are you ready to talk?"