The Crystal in The Night
Vegeta and Bulma made it to their seats after being announced. Onlookers were bewildered by the crowned Prince to be walking in escorting, to them, the help. Bulma feeling very out of place felt as though she wanted to crawl back into her skin until she felt a firm hand on her leg. She looked to see Vegeta who was listening to his father's speech, all the while silently reassuring her she was where she needed to be. Bulma sat back up in her chair with her head held high.
After the speeches were given and the ceremony was over it was time for the royal dance. Bulma stood to her feet and took Vegeta's hand as he led them to the dance floor. He swung her around and softly placed his hand on her waist and she laid her hand upon his arm, just as they did in practice. As the music started it felt as though the crowded garden melted away and the only people there were them two. Vegeta fought the urge to grab her and hold her tighter. The longer they danced the more the crowd faded away and it only felt like they were the only ones there. The applause from the crowd broke them out of their trance. Bulma slipped her hand out of his, bowed to him and made a beeline for the bar.
"Chi, I need a shot." Bulma said right as she got to the bar. Chichi smiled and obliged her friend.
After handing her the shot she leaned on the bar, watching her friend down it then slamming the glass on the counter motioning for another. "You're at that point where you wanna rip each other's clothes off aren't you?" She said, smirking.
"We've been there." Bulma said grimacing as she took the shot.
Chichi chuckled, pouring her yet another shot. "Be careful this is Saiyan alcohol, it'll be a little harder on you." She said as Bulma took the last shot.
Bulma looked at her friend then motioned for another one. "I am not going to save you if you decide to make a stupid decision." She chuckled as she poured her fourth shot.
Bulma downed it and rolled her eyes. "Fine, but if this feeling gets worse I'm coming back and taking a whole bottle to my room." She smiled at her friend and walked away to go sit back at her table.
Before Bulma could get to her seat she felt a cold chill rush over her. "You are just as ravishing as ever Ms. Briefs." A silvery voice said behind her.
Bulma plastered the best fake smile she could muster and turned around. "Lord Frieza, as always it's a pleasure to see you." she said bowing.
"Oh please, I told you just Frieza." He said taking her hand and kissing it. Frieza was the crowned Prince of the Cold empire. He was a slimy man shorter than Bulma, with a tale that feels like it stretches for miles. He was wearing a full body black spandex suit with an equally as black chest armor with a purple trim. His cape was purple as well with an ice blue trim. His royal crest was sitting proudly upon his breast plate just like Vegeta's.
"I know you've told me many times but I just feel uncomfortable dropping the honorifics with his royal majesty." Bulma said, holding her hands in front of her.
Frieza smiled. "Always so respectful." He said while he licked his upper lip with his split tongue. "You know my offer still stands from the other galactic ball, to be Queen of the cold empire and rule by my side." He grabbed her hand and kissed it again.
Before Bulma could answer she felt her hand being pulled away by Vegeta. He was baring his teeth while also flashing an intimidating smile. "Woman, I was just looking for you." He grabbed her by her waist and pulled her closer to him. "I'm so sorry to interrupt Frieza but we have other matters to attend to, if you'll excuse us." Both Vegeta and Frieza bowed to each other and walked away.
Vegeta walked them to a walking path behind bushes which was sectioned off from the rest of the guests. "What were you doing talking to that slimy creature?" Vegeta said, scowling at the back of his head.
Bulma rolled her eyes. "He started talking to me, Vegeta, what did you expect me to do, ignore him?" Bulma said, crossing her arms.
"Yes," He said flatly.
Bulma scoffed. "Oh yeah and while I'm at it why don't I quit my job because I've decided to disrespect royalty." She said, looking away from him. "Now if you'll excuse me."
"Where the hell are you going?" He asked, watching her walk away.
"To the bathroom!" She yelled as she walked away.
Bulma was in fact not going to the bathroom, during late hours of the evening or when the royal family was entertaining guests she would sneak off to the royal library looking for information. In her 4 years working for the King she's gone through a little over half of the library. She always jots down where she left off on her organizer, but because of her heated moment with Vegeta she forgot it in her room. It was too far away to go get so she was just going to have to improvise.
Vegeta was holding a glass of champagne while leaning against the bar. "Will that be all your majesty?" Chichi asked, waiting to take another order from him.
"No, that's it." He said downing his champagne but not leaving his spot. Chichi grabbed the tip jar and placed it by his arm that was resting on the bar and smiled. "Don't I pay you already?" He asked while pulling out some money and placing it in the jar.
"But this money is for information." She said, giving a devilish smirk.
Vegeta turned to look at the woman. "I'm listening." He said leaning in.
"I know where Bulma is." She said smiling.
"Where?" He asked slightly annoyed. She looked down at the tip jar and back up at the Prince. "Am I really getting shaken down by my own chef? On with the information woman." He said angrily, putting more money in the jar.
"She's in the palace." She said smiling as she tapped the jar.
Vegeta let out a low growl. "Do I look like I carry money around, that was all I had." He said, crossing his arms.
Chichi rolled her eyes and sighed. "She's in the library." Chichi grabbed the jar and walked away.
Vegeta looks dumbfounded by the weird exchange that just happened. But he pushed that to the back of his mind as he walked towards the library.
As he entered the library he looked around until he saw her. Bulma sat at one of the many desks in the library with a stack of books. "What are you doing woman?" He asked, chuckling as he saw her visibly get startled by his sudden intrusion.
Bulma marked where she was in the book and closed it loudly. "How'd you find me?" She asked, leaning back in her chair.
"Your friend has some real shifty morals." He said, crossing his arms.
"She took your money didn't she?" Bulma said laughing.
Vegeta allowed her to have her little laughing fit. "Ha ha ha, very funny." He said with sarcasm dripping from each word. "Why are you here?"
Bulma sighed and looked up at Vegeta. "Since I've been found out I might as well tell you the truth." She said, then taking a deep breath to compose herself. "I'm looking up how to bring down Vegetasi." She started laughing again at the shocked face Vegeta made.
He stared blankly at her while she laughed herself breathless. Once she was done she wiped a tear from her eye and caught her breath until she was calm again. "I'm looking for my father." She said it completely serious. "After my mother got really sick, she sent me to live with my grandmother but not before she told me this was the last planet my father said he was before he disappeared." Bulma pushed one of the strands of hair behind her ear. "So I got a job at the royal palace after graduating university so I have better options of books to look through to try and find my father. He was a world renowned scientist, someone had to have written down something." She said opening her book back up.
Vegeta looked and saw her desperation to succeed in what she's been working to since she was a child. "Have you tried the visitors or immigration records?" He said walking to that section.
"What?" She said, popping her head up.
"Vegetasi has records of everyone who has come and visited the planet dating back centuries, if he was here he'd be in here." Vegeta said finding the section he was looking for. "What year did he come?"
"2151 that was 2 years before we found out my mother was sick, he was supposed to only be gone a year." Bulma said as she felt the hot tears start to sting her eyes.
Vegeta looked at her face then back at the book knowing she was trying to be strong. "Okay 48, 49, 50…here we go 51." Vegeta found the right section and handed the book to Bulma.
Bulma scoured the book until she found the long list of B's. It felt like she was looking for an eternity until she found it. "John Briefs came 8-22-51 but there's no departure date." Before she could celebrate their discovery they heard a loud explosion.
"What the fuck was that." Was all Vegeta said before he started heading towards the ballroom. Bulma quickly ripped the paper out the book and stuffed it into the pocket of her dress.