Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ A Rose for a Rose, A Thorn for a Thorn ❯ chapter 2 ( Chapter 2 )

A Rose for a Rose,

A Thorn for a Thorn

Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain't so far down - Creed ' One Last Breath'

Chapter 2

The last few weeks has been hectic for Capsule Corp. Not only the new agreement that has been ordained between them and Armin Inc. a month ago has caused a rush of adrenaline for everybody; It's now Dr.Brief's 60th birthday that has come up to show. Caterers bustled around preparing for this important and famous party. People from all four corners of the world would attend. This really made impact to Bulma Brief's already busy schedule.

Bulma rushed a few of the maidservants off from the Dining room to finish preparing the buffet tables outside. Only 6 hours left till this birthday bash would begin and Bulma already had the feeling of dread that something will screw up and leave her red-faced from embarrassment.

As Bulma stood there contemplating on how she should decorate the centerpiece for the buffet, a known voice called from behind her.

"Woman! Come here this instant!" Great, she thought, Vegeta.

"What is it now almighty prince?" Said in more of annoyance than in question.

"That piece of junk your father created has broken again and I demand you to fix it at once!" His voiced boomed back at her as he did his usual poise.

"Dammet, Vegeta, can't you see that I am in middle of a very important project. I have got only a few hours to coordinate this occasion and I don't need your 'I am the Prince, subdue my orders now' attitude." She turned around going back to arranging the fine flowers in front of her.

"It must be fixed now or I'll have to train outside in the yard. I would love to see how your important guests would react to that."

"Ugh! Fine when I am finished here I will fix the damn gravity room, Ok! Puh-lease, why do you have to such a sore-ass sometimes." Bulma replied.

"Fine, but it must be done promptly, I am the Saiyan Prince, my needs are more important than this ridiculous human party." With that he turned his heels and trudged towards the den. Bulma began to chuckle at the thought that he is obviously going to sit down and watch her soap opera's. Even though he doesn't admit it, he got very interested in the plot of 'As the World Turns'.

Yep tonight is going to be interesting.

Beautiful music flowed throughout the evening as orchestras played absolute masterpieces. The soft humming of voices from the guests soothed the nights excitement, yet, anticipation was found in their greetings. Bulma stood there examining her fine work at the décor'. She was truly proud of the way things were going so far and the feeling of dread had left her soul. Familiar faces came and congratulated her work. Even Son Goku and Chi Chi had showed up with little Gohan. His eyes were in awe at the view. Krillen and his recent girlfriend had come, and of course, her love, Yamcha.

She gave them a large smile and wave, a cue that as soon as she finished greeting the rest of the guests, she would join them for old time catch up, so to speak.

A short bald man with a heavy mustache greeted Bulma with a sly smile. He wore heavy glasses that made his unusually blue eyes seem larger than normal.

"Miss Briefs, how happy that we finally meet." The old man said. " I am Dr. Armin, founder of Armin Inc. I believe that was my son that you had persuaded into us joining with you. My wife was in the hospital at the time so I had sent my son in my place."

Bulma's eyes widened, "Oh, Oh! Well nice to have finally met you! I am so sorry about your wife, how is she doing?"

Frustration and grief crowded the man's face. "Well she is doing a little better, she has the cancer, you know."

"Oh I am so sorry, you have our prayers." Bulma assured sympathetically.

"Thank you Miss Briefs, where is your father? I would like to give him congratulations."

" Oh I believe he is over near the fountain. Talking to some relatives, I believe."

"Thank you, I hope we shall have more time to speak later on."

"I'm pretty sure we will, Mr. Armin. Enjoy your evening."

"You too," He replied and walked off.

Bulma let out a long sigh before the next group of guests walked up to her.

Streaks of orange light danced from the walls of the G.R. as Vegeta dodged the ki blasts from the bots that Dr. Briefs had built for him. He had been training non-stop for hours on end. Sweat poured from his body as it twisted and turned gracefully in a warrior's dance. Finally powering down, he shut off the large machine. He grabbed a towel and sat down at the metal bench next to one of the rounded windows. He had to beat Kakarott, no doubt about it. It was his destiny to become the first Super Saiyan, not that low-class loser. Growling at the thought he banged his fists at the metal, almost making a hole. He had to get away from this planet, but it was the only place he had at the moment. He was tired though, of the giddy doctor's wife, the doctor himself especially his freaking cat. And that blue-haired woman that stayed on his mind constantly. He had to admit, it has been a while for him to have had a female but damn he was used to this! From working with Freeza, he never really had the time to consider a mate. The whores who occupied the soldiers were pathetic. But he did need release of some sort, somehow. He could probably go out in this human culture and get him a suitable female, but it would be no different form the whores he had back then. Unemotional, purely to satisfy. Humph, ridiculous.

He looked over at the party that was going on. They sure did look like they were having a good time. Stupid. Just plain stupid. But something was different. His internal senses recognized something out of place, odd. Kind of blood-thirsty once he thought about it and this time it wasn't him. Interesting, he thought but soon shrugged it off as his total boredom and proceeded out the door for a long hot (or maybe cold) shower.

The party had died down and all was left were the close relatives and friends. Boy did they have a blast! Bulma sat down at one of the tables for one last martini, then she would help clean up and get ready for bed. Yamcha had to leave early, he said that he had a meeting with his team. It really bothered her because she had some needs to fulfill tonight. It had been too long for her theses days to go without, well you know. Yamcha was always so busy. He never had time anymore for her. She missed the old days when he was so gullible and shy, so innocent and all he seemed to care about was her. Now it was the team, or his buddies, or some other excuse to keep from spending time with her. What could possibly be going on, she wondered.

Bulma raised up at her father's voice.

" Honey I'm going to my office to sort some paperwork and then I'll be back to help with cleanup." The aging man said.

"Dad, please its your birthday! Come on we've all got it! Just go relax Okay."

"Okay honey if you insist."

Bulma chuckled as her father walked on. His birthday and he still wanted to help out. She got up from her seat to clear some glasses off the tables.

Vegeta stepped out of the shower as he sensed something. Something was definitely wrong around here yet, he couldn't pin point it. Drying his hair with a towel he heard a ear-piercing scream. He rushed out to the source to what it was and stopped, mouth agape. There was Mrs. Briefs holding her husband on the floor. Someone had slashed him across the stomach with a sword of some kind. Blood was everywhere, staining the white carpet. Mrs. Briefs sat there holding him, rocking back and forth, howling in grief. Vegeta couldn't believe his eyes. Of course he was used to this sort of stuff, but this was so unexpected. Who would do this? Then he felt her, yes she was running up the stairs. Oh this is going to be pleasant.

Bulma rushed up the stairs following her mother's scream. As she reached the top, she noticed the back of Vegeta. She rushed passed him to see what was going on. No, this couldn't be right, could it? This has to be a dream, a dark nightmare that I will wake up from in minutes. This is not reality.

She fell to the ground. "DADDY!"