Hello! I'm finally back with a new chapter. I've struggled way too long writing this. So, instead of posting nothing, I tried coming up with something decent. This chapter's main focus is KaxChi. As much as I wanted to come up with something for BuxVe, the ideas weren't rolling out. I will say, though, they're a thing now. ;D The rest of the story will focus on their struggles and their relationships. Many thanks to those who have stuck around. I hope you enjoy it!

I don't own db/z, Akira Toriyama does.

Budding love

It was morning, and the weather had taken an unexpected turn. All other lands were delighted with the warm weather they were granted. Unfortunately, that was not the case at the Kingdom of Light. At noon, there was a warning that snow would fall over the kingdom. Some considered stocking up and making sure they had plenty of firewood. Others paid no heed. They believed the harsh winter wouldn't arrive early. Ignorantly, they carried on with their day as usual. When midnight hit, those awake saw small flakes falling from above. The predictions were true, and so the amount of snow steadily rose. By sunrise, the lands were blanketed with snow. Those who lived in the wealthy areas didn't mind. But those who lived in the outskirts were worried. Fortunately, the locals were generous and selfless. They distributed their supplies among themselves. The ruler only disregarded that location in the Kingdom of Light. Only the powerful and wealthy were important to King Vegeta. It made a certain someone happy. Sneaking away was a daily thing, and they didn't want the King to know. Walking in six inches of snow was difficult. However, this individual was determined to reach their destination. Who might this individual be? We shall soon find out.

At the break of dawn, there was an announcement from the King of the Light castle. They invited the Ox King and his daughter to a private meeting. He issues orders to prepare for their arrival. Kakarot and the prince were not on speaking terms. The guard instead asked everyone else if he could assist them. Many gladly accept. Things got done much quicker. Many of the maids had nothing to do and decided to prepare the midday meal early. This leaves Kakarot no choice but to gear up. The king ordered the guards to dress appropriately. Knowing that he wasn't in charge anymore, Kakarot gave in. If only Carn wasn't so obedient, he wouldn't have to wear the bulky armor. Once he finishes, Kakarot casually walks to the front doors. At any moment, the royals would be arriving. He looks down at his chest piece, adjusting it from the side. His mind wanders to the chance of seeing the princess again. He frowns, frustrated, trying to fix the metal piece. It snaps as he sighs heavily. This seemed to always happen when he'd think about her. He puts the piece of metal in his pocket and heads to the window. From the corner of the window, he could see a small part of the courtyard. Memories flood back from the last meeting.

He and the princess had spent an ample amount of time together. Most of it was brushing his horse's mane and speaking about the female creature. The princess was fascinated by Ludy's color and her icy, rare blue eyes. Kakarot tells her the story of how he got her. The first month of being commander, he was asked to pick a horse to partner up with. All the horses were beautiful but didn't catch his interest. He wanted a unique and challenging steed to tame. Everyone would scratch their heads. Why would the commander want a challenging horse? They go on a search throughout the kingdom. The day he returned from a mission, he was given word about a rare beauty. Kakarot excitedly went to see the horse. He hoped his expectations would be met. When he arrived, the king and prince were in the shed that held the horse. He bowed to both and stood aside. Getting a good view, he fell in love with the horse's appearance. It had icy blue eyes, a shiny mane, skin that glowed, and neat hooves. It galloped around with a high-pitched neigh. It was most likely a female. He's knocked out of his thoughts when he hears the king telling his son to take the horse. Kakarot tries his best not to show his disappointment. The prince notices his guard in the back. He calls him over and asks if the creature is suited for him. Kakarot, despite wanting the horse, says that it was fitting. The prince raises a brow and turns to face his father. He tells him that the horse would serve Kakarot more and asks if it could be given to him instead. The king scratches his beard and agrees. It would be a waste since Vegeta rarely went on missions. The king tells them to hand the reins to Kakarot. The king praises him for achieving his first big mission. To receive the horse as a companion to accompany him on the many future ones. Kakarot bows and says he was honored. From that day on, he named the horse Ludy and trained her. It took all his free time, but he finally gained the creature's trust. When long-distance missions came along, he would take his trusty steed into battle. The princess is so invested in the story that she accidentally brushes Ludy a little too hard and makes her jump. Chichi falls backward as Kakarot shoos Ludy aside. He offered the princess a hand and asked if she was okay. Dusting her dress off, embarrassed, she shyly laughs, saying she is fine. She then goes up to Ludy and smooths her mane, apologizing. Kakarot sighs in relief and says to be careful. Seeing that the prince and the princess's lady aren't around, he offers her a ride. Chichi's eyes grow, and she shakes her head. She had never ridden a horse before. Kakarot says not to worry. That he could help her if she'd like. Chichi hesitates at first but gives in. Kakarot gives some commands as Ludy lowers to the ground. Kakarot helps her sit right and snaps his fingers. The horse rises as Chichi holds the reigns like Kakarot shows her. He stands next to the horse as it slowly moves around. The princess shakes a little but holds the reins tight. After getting used to it, she gleefully enjoys the ride. Kakarot watches her from the corner of his eye. She had a big smile with gleaming eyes. Her bright, shining eyes made his heart skip a beat. He focuses ahead, trying to shake the unusual feeling away. Once she finished, she thanked him and sneaked back to the table.

He finds himself smiling as he hears a cough. He turns and sees the prince leaning by a wall, holding a pocket watch in hand. Kakarot watches him shut it and raises his gaze at him. They stare at each other. Kakarot holds a serious look. The prince knew the man didn't want to talk, but this needed to end. He stands straight and heads over to Kakarot. Kakarot looks away without uttering a word.

"We are all childish in our unique way. Some more than others. A quote I heard from someone."

Kakarot listens and thinks back to the last time they spoke. He then realizes he mentioned something about the prince acting childish. He thought the prince was long gone before saying that. No wonder he didn't want to see him. Kakarot rubs his neck awkwardly, not knowing how to respond.

"Let's leave this in the past. I don't want my father to get involved. I tried to convince him to give your title back, that you had more potential than that Carn fellow. Told me not to interfere. So take that as you will."

Kakarot gets the picture. This was the prince's way of apologizing. He chuckles a little, then starts laughing. He hits the prince hard on the back, making him almost fall. Vegeta growls and faces him, about to go off, but stops. Kakarot had a smirk on his face.

"Little payback for the push you gave me that day."

Vegeta scoffs and looks away. Things were finally mended between them. He wouldn't be alone, locked up in his room, or walking beside his father. It also meant he could ask Kakarot to keep an eye on the princess. He could play the facade of being angry at Bulma for disappearing and going to look for her. They could share at least a moment alone. He definitely would have to come up with an excuse if Kakarot began to question her disappearance. But that could wait. Now, his mind was occupied with thoughts of the enchanting, cerulean-eyed woman.

Thinking back at the last meeting, he remembers the energetic young lady. They were alone by the pond, watching the koi fish swimming. Vegeta feels a yawn coming when he hears a squeal at his side. He then feels Bulma's hands on his arm, shaking it. A gasp slips from her lips as she crawls over to something on the ground. He grows curious and makes his way over to her. She was muttering things to herself as he looked down. His eyes grow as he falls back. There on the ground was something crawling. It looked like some kind of worm. He backs up as Bulma peers back at him over her shoulder. He wore a disgusted face as she began giggling. She gently picks the insect up in her hands and moves over to him. He tells her to keep that away from him. Bulma pouts and says it wasn't harmful. She begins explaining what it is. It was a caterpillar; it was much larger than normal. A rare gem from the books she would read at leisure. It would go through phases, and in the final stage, it would grow into a beautiful butterfly. Even after hearing this, Vegeta would tell her to keep it away. Bulma sets it down and playfully pushes the prince's arm. This was unusual behavior for a young woman. She was very touchy, but he didn't mind it. Her gentle touches would set off sparks inside him. He liked this assertive side of her. She smiles at him and says This is their pet. He shakes his head. If that was what she wished, then so be it. They move over to the flowers. Bulma picks a few out and sits on the ground. Vegeta does as well as he watches her. She starts to weave the flowers together. When finished, she lays it over his head. Tells him that this was a better-fitted crown for him, laughing. He tells her not to speak nonsense and removes it. He places it on her head. The flower colors fit her aqua hair nicely. She curtsies while sitting. At that moment, the dream of the dancing woman flashes in his mind. He finally remembered the dancer's hair color. It was a tad lighter than Bulma's. This display before him, with her surrounded by all these flowers, felt so familiar to the dream. A feeling of dread came after. Why though? He's snapped from his thoughts as Bulma falls back on the soft grass. Vegeta knew this woman didn't care about acting like a proper lady. Something only she could pull off. She pulls him back as he gives in. After talking the afternoon away, Vegeta got up and looked out to see if the princess was back. She wasn't, and so he decided to go inside for a brief moment. Tells Bulma to come out later so nobody would be suspicious. She gives him a thumbs-up as he leaves.

It's a shame they were only holding a meeting. Since snow fell, it would be harder and longer for the carriage to get through. Maybe some other time, they would get a chance to be alone. Vegeta sees a hand waving in front of his face. He looks at Kakarot, who has an eyebrow raised.

"You're dazing off. Something on your mind?"

Vegeta smacks Kakarot's hand away. He folds his arms over his chest. "Stop talking nonsense. This is just taking longer than expected. The roads were cleared, right?"

"From what I heard, yes. I could take a look outside if you'd like?"

"No need. I think that's them."

Kakarot glances out the window and sees the carriage. He goes over to the front doors and looks back at the prince.

"You should head back to the private room. Your father must be waiting for you."

Vegeta watches as Kakarot opens the doors. He heads out and walks down the stairs. For once, Vegeta wished he was in Kakarot's position. The prince sees Kakarot helping the guests out of the carriage. He sees the tint of aqua hair. A smile appears on his face as he turns and heads to the private room. When he arrives, he knocks twice and waits for his father to say come in. Minutes passed with no response. Vegeta quietly opened the door and saw his father wasn't there. Checking his pocket watch, he sees it's past time. He walks in and shoves his pocket watch into his coat. Strange for his father to be late. He sits down and waits for the others to come in. When they arrive, the Ox King steps in first, followed by the princess. Behind her was her lady, wearing a well-fitted dress. Vegeta tries acting uninterested to avoid drawing attention. The princess sits on the opposite side of the prince. Kakarot takes his place behind the prince.

"Odd. Where is your father?" the Ox King asked as Vegeta replied, "I'm not sure. I haven't heard from him since morning."

Thirty minutes later, the Ox King tapped his hand on the table. The silence in the room was becoming deafening. King Vegeta being tardy to his meeting wasn't a good sign. The Ox King gets up and heads to the door. He turns and says, "I will go search for him. Guard, stay here and protect my daughter."

"There's no need. I will go-" Kakarot is cut off by the Ox King, saying, "No, I will go. All of you stay here."

The Ox King heads out, leaving the two young ladies with the two Saiyans. Kakarot turns around, his back facing them. Bulma scrunches Chichi's hair up a bit and then turns around. The only two face-to-face were the prince and princess. Chichi looks up and sees Vegeta staring at his watch. She rolls her eyes. This wasn't a surprise. He rather stares at his watch instead of speaking to her. She looks up from him and sees Kakarot. He was still facing away. It was a shame she couldn't talk to him. Bulma told her before leaving the castle that she needed to start conversations. To not lean on her all the time. She sighs and then taps the table. She caught the prince's attention as he looked at her.

"Your father must be doing something important. He's normally not late."

"I know nothing of his whereabouts. I couldn't care less."

"That sounds a bit heartless."

"Just hush already."

"Sorry, oh mighty prince," Chichi says, dropping the conversation.

They all remain silent until, finally, the kings arrive. The Ox King steps aside as King Vegeta appears.

"All of you may leave. I want to speak to the Ox King privately. I know, Kakarot, why don't you show the princess around the kingdom to pass the time?"

"What? Who are you to tell my daughter what to do?" the Ox King stops as King Vegeta puts a hand up. "There's no need for that. This guard of mine was the one who rescued her, was he not? He will protect her. As for her lady, I don't know if she'd like to go or stay here."

Bulma freezes for a moment but then blurts out, "I will stay."

"My son, you stay inside the castle. I will call for you after speaking to the Ox King."

Perfect, it was what all of them wanted. They exit the room as the princess tugs Bulma's sleeve. Bulma takes notice and moves away with the princess. Once away, Chichi whispers. "Bulma, why do you want to stay here?"

Bulma scratches her cheek and says, "The King said you and Kakarot should go. If I go, it'll be too crowded. I'd prefer to stay inside where it's warm."

"Interesting. I assumed you could handle the cold weather. You're not wearing a coat after all."

Bulma looks up and presses her index fingers together nervously. Rats, now, what excuse did she have? She didn't want to admit it was solely to be with the prince. So, she decides to flip the script.

"Princess, I have a question. Why do you want me to go? The King himself said you'd be safe by Kakarot's side. Not only that, but he could give you a tour of the Kingdom. I have heard it is beautiful to walk here at night. The ground lights up with each step you take."

Chichi was glad her lady was pushing her to go alone with Kakarot. This whole pushing her to come along was for her not to suspect anything. Seems like it worked. She'd get to spend time with him alone. To find if there was a link between the look-a-like in her vision and Kakarot. She doubted they'd be out till night. Before she could say something, Kakarot had made his way to them. He bows and faces Bulma.

"I'm afraid this conversation you both are having will have to wait. We must be on our way, Princess."

Chichi takes Bulma's hands in hers and nods before following Kakarot out the door. This leaves the Prince and her alone. He glances at the door and then to his sides. No one was in sight. Eagerly, he gets close to Bulma and takes her hand. He leans in and whispers, "You and I should go visit my hideout."

Bulma giggles and pushes him back. "We can't disappear. You're father said he needed to speak to you."

Vegeta scoffs and runs down the hall with her. "No need to worry. He'll be in there a minimum of an hour. Now we must hurry. The maids will be arriving soon to clean."

"As you wish, your majesty." Bulma giggles as they take a turn and disappear hand in hand.

Meanwhile, Kakarot and the princess head to the shed. Kakarot tells the princess to stay outside for a minute. Chichi rubs her arms to warm up. Who would have thought snowfall would come early for the Kingdom of Light? Not only that, but on the day, she and Kakarot would take a stroll through the Kingdom. It would have been wonderful if it had been warmer.

"Princess."

The princess looks back and sees Kakarot coming with his horse, Ludy. The creature's presence made the Princess forget about the cold weather for a brief second. Thrilled, she takes big steps through the snow and finally stands by the horse. The horse lowers its head as Chichi pets it. Kakarot rubs her mane and holds the reins. He sees the princess's cheeks turning red. He ascends his power enough to engulf the princess. Chichi stops and looks around her. A blue flame surrounded her. Soon, she could feel the flame radiating heat. Astonished, she glances at Kakarot. He stops and looks at her. He gives her a confused look.

"Is there something wrong, Princess?" He questions as she shakes her head. "No, I'm surprised. I didn't know Saiyans could heat themselves with their powers."

"We have many abilities. This one is helpful in the bitter cold while on missions. The heat accumulates inside our bodies over time. When needed, we emit it out."

Kakarot takes something off Ludy's saddle. He hands it to the princess. Chichi checks it and sees it's a fancy cloak. It was a dark violet color with a headpiece. The fabric was soft to the touch. She guessed it was for her and put it on. It was a tad large, but she didn't mind. What mattered was that it shielded her from the cold. She sees Kakarot making a few adjustments before motioning her to come. She stands beside Ludy as Kakarot lifts her onto the horse.

"You'll be riding on Ludy. I'll walk beside her." Kakarot says as he makes a clicking sound. Ludy starts to walk down the clear path. Chichi looks down at Kakarot. "But won't you tire yourself faster?"

Kakarot pats Ludy and says "I won't. We aren't far from the central market. We'll pass the gates and head down the road. It's right around the corner."

"If you say so," Chichi says as they head for the market.

When they arrive, Kakarot tells her to pull the headpiece up. He wants the princess to enjoy the sights and not draw unwanted attention from the people. They head down the market. Wealthy people walk around checking the stands. The majority of stands are of middle-class status. The same is done back home. The exception is that all people can hold a stand, rich, middle, or poor status. It makes her happy that her father doesn't have those rules. People should have the right to gather together regardless of their status. If only King Vegeta could see it that way.

Chichi focuses back at the stands. She sees people selling jewels, clothing, weapons, food, and animals. Families, couples, and children wander around. A few people would greet Kakarot and glance at her suspiciously. No matter what she did to conceal herself, all eyes were on her. This makes her uncomfortable, so she leans over and tells Kakarot to stop. He hears her and decides to take her to a nearby dark alley. There, he helps her off the dark horse. Once her feet touch the ground, she turns to face Kakarot.

"I don't think the cloak is helping, nor is riding on Ludy's back. Could I walk instead?"

"If you'd like, but you must stay by my side. It can be dangerous out here."

"Don't worry, I will. Now I want to go see the jewel stands first." Chichi says as she steps out. Kakarot pats Ludy's back. "Why am I not surprised? Well, Ludy, I leave you in charge of protecting Princess Chichi. If a fight breaks out, I'll have to intervene. For now, you stay behind us. Okay?"

Ludy nuzzles Kakarot as he pets her and leaves the alley. The day went on as Kakarot showed the princess around. Little by little, Chichi would get glimpses of each place. By noon, they had seen the majority of the stands. The only area left was the forbidden alley. Kakarot was hesitant about going in, but the princess insisted. Before they entered, Kakarot advised her to stay close and not touch anything. Some people would sell cursed items. Others were magicians who could use limited magic. They did whatever the buyer wanted within their range of power for coins. They were the most selfish and money-hungry of all. Chichi nods as they go in. The atmosphere felt much different. It felt cold and dark. A shiver runs down her spine. This time, she didn't want to leave Kakarot's side. As they walk through, the owners of the stands glare at Kakarot. Some of them began gathering their things. Chichi looks at Kakarot. He confidently continues onward.

"There's no need to be afraid. Go on and check the stands. We'll be right behind you."

Chichi snaps out of her frightened state and nods. She did want to come here. A few stands remain open. She went ahead and checked the items. Antique watches, jewelry, vases, paintings, and statues. The Kingdom of Light wasn't all about fighting. They had other talents as well. She stops by a stand with an elderly woman. Most of the items she had were jewelry-based. Her eyes land on a sapphire-colored glass box. Inside lay a stone that shined. She is about to open it but stops after hearing an argument going on. She turns and sees Kakarot walk off. He probably was going to stop the fight. She felt Ludy nuzzle her from behind. Right, she was still here. Chichi turns back and sees the elder smiling at her.

"Do you like it?"

"Oh, yes, it's pretty," Chichi says as the woman lets out a soft chuckle. "That's a favorite. I have a question. Do you miss your childhood days?"

Chichi is taken aback. She looks down and thinks about her younger days. She carefully spins the glass box around in her hands. Her childhood days were filled with joy. Being naive, carefree, doing whatever she pleased—yes, they were fun. She looks up and nods. The woman points at it.

"That box could bring those days back for a day. I can sense you miss it very much. All you have to do is rub the pendant. Would you like-"

A burst of wind stops the conversation. Chichi holds her headpiece in place. Kakarot has activated his power. The alley is lit up in a blue hue. He pushes two people forward. The two men straighten their clothes and go their separate ways. The princess sees Kakarot heading back to her. Chichi hears the woman tap the counter. She quickly turned back as the elder shooed her away.

"Take it. I'll give it to you for free. Just promise to use it." She says this as Chichi feels Kakarot's presence behind her.

"I think we should head back." He says as Chichi hides the box in her cloak.

As they leave, she turns and sees that the elderly woman is no longer there. Instead, a man was there fixing a few things. She turns back as they step out. Did she imagine all that? She was still holding the box. No, the woman had disappeared. Kakarot said there were magicians here after all. But the woman wasn't selfish. She gave the box to her for free. Seeing the clear skies again made the princess sigh in relief. Besides the woman, that place was scary. She hoped she'd never have to come here with the prince. He'd make her stay there all day. It was the afternoon. She wanted to try the item out before dark. The safest time was probably right now. If something were to happen, Kakarot would know what to do. They walk alongside a frozen lake in silence. The wind was beginning to pick up, making the princess shiver. Kakarot raises his power a bit more. Chichi held the box closer as she spotted a bench up ahead. She cleared her throat, grabbing Kakarot's attention.

"Why don't we sit for a minute?"

"Where? Everything is covered in snow."

"How about at that bench over there?"

Kakarot sees the bench and stops. The princess heard his footsteps stop and turned around. She noted a change on his face for a second. He looked upset. Instead of questioning him, Chichi smiles and says, "Or we could find a different-"

"No, it's fine. I'll clear the snow for you." He says, walking right past her. He stands by the bench, staring down at the seat.

'It's been so long since I've been here. Mother brought Raditz and me here to pick something up.' Kakarot engulfs the bench with his power as the snow melts. 'I remember sitting here with him watching the birds catching fish. It's a shame how much he changed after that year.'

The last of the snow melts as he sighs heavily. This wasn't the time to think about the past. He steps aside and motions for the princess to come. She does and sits down. Kakarot remains standing. Ludy lowers to the ground.

"Kakarot, why don't you-"

"Sit? I'd rather not. I need to keep guard."

Chichi hears his tone change. He sounded quieter. She sees him look out at the frozen lake. She, too, turns to look out. Birds flew by as the sun was lowering. Chichi, from the corner of her eye, sees Kakarot petting Ludy. He was distracted. She turns away from him and pulls the box out. She remembers the words of the woman. She opens the box and takes the pendant out. Maybe this could cheer Kakarot up. Rubbing the pendant, Chichi begins to see it glow. In seconds, light shoots out, surrounding them. Chichi shuts her eyes and hears Kakarot's voice. She couldn't make out what he said. She felt her body tightening. After a few seconds, the tightening stopped. Chichi opens her eyes. Everything around her was huge. She looks down at her hands. They were tiny. Her arms and legs were small, too. What happened to her? She turns to look at Kakarot. Instead of seeing his tall figure, she sees a small boy. Big, dark round eyes stare right at her. They were children again!

"Princess Chichi, what's the meaning of this?" Kakarot stomps over to her. Chichi nervously laughs. "Um, I can explain. You see, a woman gave me a pendant-"

"A woman? From the forbidden alley?" Kakarot asks as Chichi nods. Kakarot runs a hand down his face. "I told you to be careful there! Now what will we do? We can't go back like this!"

Chichi tries to hold back her laughter. She couldn't take Kakarot seriously with his childlike voice. His eyes narrow as he puffs out his chest. He scrunches up his nose, making fists.

"This isn't funny! We have to go back and find that woman. She'll have to give us an antidote or reverse the spell." Kakarot says as he sees the princess get off the bench. She turns him around and then pushes him onto the lake. He slides over the ice and tries to keep his balance. He turns around and points at her, asking, "Why did you do that?"

Chichi slowly slides down onto the frozen lake. She wobbles a bit but steadies herself. Her shoes glide over the ice as she moves left and right. Once she gets the hang of it, she moves over to Kakarot.

"Let's not waste time worrying. This lake is all ours to have fun." Chichi takes hold of Kakarot's hand, pulling him along. When she notices him at her side, she lets his hand go. "Alright, if this is what you desire. But once the sun sets, we must leave."

Chichi gives him a big smile as she glides by him. She spins around, giggling. Kakarot watches her cheerfully moving around freely. Her headpiece falls back, and her hair flies around. He sees her rosy cheeks paired with her tinted pink lips. He felt the corners of his mouth rise. He wanted to join her. So he picks up the pace and circles around her. Chichi sees him effortlessly moving around her and tries chasing him.

"I thought you didn't know how to glide on ice." She says as he moves backward with his hands behind him. He smirked, moving quickly before she could catch up to him. "Mmm, what can I say? I'm a child of many talents."

Chichi huffs as she tries to catch up. No matter how fast she went, he'd get away. She pouts and stops, pointing her nose in the air. "Fine, you win. No need to show off."

Kakarot sways side to side, chuckling. "There's no need to be upset."

Chichi opens her eyes slightly. She sees him heading over to her. 'Now's my chance. I'll grab his hand and tell him to pull me.'

Right when he gets close enough, she grabs his hand. He looks at her, confused. "I got you! Now you'll have to pull me."

"So be it. Don't let go." He says as he picks up the pace. Chichi laughs as they move all over the lake. Time passes as the sun disappears. Night falls as Chichi sees a trail of light behind Kakarot. Bulma was right. The lake lights up as Kakarot slowly comes to a halt. "It's beautiful here at night. Isn't it?"

"Yes, it's been like this for years. This lake always glows at night. It's special." Kakarot says as he feels the princess grab both his hands. She turns them, catching him off guard.

He follows her as they spin quickly across the shimmering lake. The brilliant rays below highlight her facial features. Her eyes were closed as she let out a joyous laugh. His fingers wrapped securely around hers. The warmth emanating from her small, delicate hands made his heart race. She opens her eyes and notices Kakarot's dark round ones. He seemed so innocent and sweet. Nothing like the harsh expression he normally wore. She smiles at him, peering directly into his eyes. The spinning was slowed as he, for the first time, gave her a genuine smile. Her cheeks became heated. They release a hand as the lake emits a bright light. Both closed their eyes and held each other's hand. When it fades, they open their eyes. Their eyes widened as they saw each other. They were back to their old selves. They pause and find they are still holding hands. Chichi's the first to pull away. Kakarot glances aside and clears his throat. Chichi's shyness had returned.

"We should go." He says, facing away. Chichi then felt his hand hold hers. He guides her off the lake. A smile appears as she says, "Okay."

"We might get caught out here."

"Where is that adventurous side of yours?"

"It's melting alongside the snow."

"I doubt that. We're almost there."

Bulma's fingers lace up with the prince's. To think he was the rebellious one today. Having him take charge excited her. She was happy at how close they'd become. She wanted to continue living in this sweet fantasy. But she knew this would have to end. The princess was betrothed to him. The feeling of guilt would creep in. Bulma, though, would shake it off. She had heard the princess say countless times that she didn't like him. Maybe they would find a way to cancel this union. Then she'd be free to be with him. The only hurdle she'd have is explaining everything to the princess. The thought made her shake her head. It would take the princess a long time to forgive her.

"We're here."

Bulma feels the prince's hand slip from hers. They were at the hidden building. Vegeta's the first to head in. Bulma cleans her boots before entering. She closed the door and saw the prince had started a fire—the crackling sound of wood burning echoed throughout the building. A smoky scent reaches her nose. The prince rearranged a few things before motioning her over to sit. She accepts and sits beside him. Here she was again alone with him. The warmth from the fire reaches her skin. She felt her cheeks warming up. Vegeta glances at her. She had her hands in her lap. Her cheeks were a slight reddish color. Was she blushing? He shrugs the thought away. It was probably her skin warming up.

"It will soon warm up," Vegeta said as he got up. He headed over to the piano, gliding his fingers over the keys. He looked over his shoulder, asking, "Would you like me to play something?"

Bulma sits up straight and shakes her head. "You know I'll break out into a dance. It's a bit cold for that."

"Does all music cause you to react?"

"No, my body doesn't react to slow musical pieces. I instead relax. It brings me peace."

"Ah, is that so?" Vegeta raises a brow and sits on the bench. He rolls the sleeves of his jacket and sets his fingers down. "I have something you will surely like."

Bulma watches him tap a few keys before beginning. She smiles as the peaceful melody enters her ears. Vegeta's eyes move from the keys to Bulma. It was just like she said. She lightly tilted her head from side to side. Her eyes are half closed, and her palms rest on her cheeks. Seeing a smile planted on her face made him happy. He continues to play until he hears a voice outside. He abruptly stops playing and gets up. Bulma, too, gets up, giving him a questionable look. He places a finger over his mouth to stay quiet. Pressing an ear up against the door, he hears the voice a bit distant now. He assumes his father sent a soldier to look for him—a pity he would have to cut their time short.

"Someone is looking for me. I must go, but you may stay. I'll return shortly." Vegeta says, standing by her side. He places a hand on her shoulder. "Do as you please while you wait."

"I will. Don't take long." Bulma says as she watches the prince leave. The door closes as she lies down. 'I might as well sleep until he returns. My feet are still sore.'

For the rest of the day, Bulma stayed in the hidden building. She explored the rooms and noticed the prince had moved his mother's things to a different room. She tidies up and comes across a vase full of flowers. They appeared somewhat dry, so she decided to water them. Once finished, she looks around, satisfied, and leaves the room. The rest of the day, she helped herself to a few treats stored up and lounged around. She checks out a window and sees the sun beginning to set. She sighs sadly. The prince wasn't coming back. She might as well head back unnoticed. She sneaks back into the castle.

A few maids pass by, greeting her. She waves and asks if the princess has returned. They tell her that she is still out with the prince's guard. Bulma takes the opportunity to ask if the prince has finished speaking to the king. The maids pondered for a moment. They then said he left about three hours ago. Bulma felt her heart drop. How could he just up and leave like that? He didn't even bother to say goodbye. She thanks the maids for informing her and walks off. Oh well, now all that was left was to wait for the princess.

The sun had set, and there was still no sign of the princess. Bulma paces back and forth. She grumbles to herself, staring out the window. The princess was lucky her father and King Vegeta were still conversing. If not, her father would be having a temper tantrum. She turns and slides down to the floor. At least the princess had fun sightseeing. She looks up at the ceiling. Here she was, alone in this enormous hallway. Her occasional anxiety rose inside. She tries shaking those feelings away.

'No, why couldn't this happen at home?' Bulma let out a shaky breath and hummed for comfort.

It takes a moment, but she manages to calm herself. She stands once again. Now she knew she had to head home. And so she tells one of the maid's to deliver a message to the Ox king. That she needed to leave and wouldn't join them. The maid nods as Bulma heads out on her own.

Moments later, the guard and princess arrive at the castle. They both enter and are face-to-face with the Ox King. Chichi scans the hall, hoping to see her lady, but she's nowhere to be found. She slowly looks up and meets her father's eyes. He was not happy.

"Hello, father," She says, trying to buy time. "How did you spend your day with the King?"

"Don't try that. I want an explanation as to why you're arriving late. Did you think we were staying?"

"No, not at all." She lowers her eyes to the floor. "I just wanted to explore every inch of the Kingdom, is all."

"I hope you saw every inch because from this day forth, you'll remain here at the castle. Now we must go."

The Ox King takes his daughter's hand and pulls her out the door. Chichi glances back at Kakarot before the doors close. He breathed out, glad that a fight hadn't broken out. He then realizes that the princess's lady wasn't present, and neither was the prince. He decides to speak to some of the soldiers. On the way to the arsenal building, Kakarot sees Carn. The young man stops and waves.

"Hello, Kakarot. What brings you here?"

"I wanted to ask if anyone knows about the Prince's whereabouts. He wasn't at the front."

Carn taps Kakarot's shoulder, saying, "Oh, that's right. You weren't present when the King sent Prince Vegeta off."

"What? Do you mean he was sent on a mission?"

"Yes, the King wanted to test if he was still capable of holding his own during battle. He made an excuse to keep you away."

Kakarot slowly processes the man's words. So, being the Princess's guide was to keep him away? But why would the King do this? Judging by the way he felt, maybe that was why. He knew he'd take the Prince's place. As Kakarot looks away, a slight smirk appears on Carn's face.

And we shall stop there! Hmm, what could be in store for these four next? Keep reading to find out!

Thanks for reading/follows/favs/comments!

*A-N-Lights