Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Attachments Detached ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3

Bulma entered the mess hall through the double doors, dodging a couple soldiers who looked as if they would just shoulder her aside. She grimaced as she carefully made her way through the throng, slipping past boisterously laughing men and gossiping females to where the kitchens were. She hated large crowds and while dinner hadn't been served yet, everyone was already in the room, getting choice seats and waiting for fresh, hot servings.

As Bulma got to the doors, she couldn't help but notice how every table seemed a different category of people. To the left of the room, closest the door she had just entered was her group: scientists, fighters, and anyone else here on treaties, all female.

She scanned the crowd quickly and pinpointed the warrior's table at the far right in the back. Vegeta and Kakarott said side by side on the end, distanced from the other warriors by choice and rumors. Kakarott spied her and waved wildly only to shrink down when Vegeta cuffed him on the back of the head. Kakarott looked to be whining something and that was probably Vegeta answering snappishly. He did not acknowledge her.

Bulma stifled a chuckle and entered the kitchens. In here it was even more of a dodge-and-duck. Plus the smells of all the various meals being cooked for so many different races mingled together into one unappealing scent. If she weren't so hungry, Bulma would've lost her appetite.

She quickly glanced around, finding the special orders just a bit further back, slightly removed from the bustle all around. She had just about made it to where they were when a big, broad stomach positioned itself in front of her. She looked up and stepped back at the immense size of the chef standing before her.

He looked down at her with green cat eyes, "What're you doing in here, girl? No one's allowed back here!"

She didn't have to pretend to cower, "I'm sorry. I'm just so hungry and I thought I might get an apple or something."

The man's face softened slightly, "Ah, you're that human aren't you? Must be pretty lonely being the only one of your kind here, eh?" He stretched his hand to the side into a basket, pulling out a red, round object Bulma hoped was an apple. "Here, eat this in here so no one outside sees it. Wouldn't want that whole gang out there begging now would we?" He grinned down at her.

Bulma smiled back, feeling a twinge of guilt for fooling this man. But the ends would be worth the means. She'd make sure of that.

The huge chef went back to overseeing the food care and Bulma munched on the food she had been given. It tasted surprisingly like a combination of a pear and apple. She grunted in approval of the choice of food and moved casually over to the special orders again.

The men and women working around her ignored her since she stayed out of their way. She looked down at the many plates of food that were special order and saw Vegeta and Kakarott had special orders. She supposed that since they were the only two Saiyans, they would have special orders, or maybe Vegeta had just demanded it; he was that arrogant.

Kiwi's plate was just to the right of the two Saiyans, probably because he was going to be eating at their table. She put her back against the table and circumspectly reached into her pocket with one hand while taking a big bite out of her fruit. As she chewed and swallowed, making sure no one was looking, she pulled out a tiny vial and sprinkled its contents into Kiwi's soup bowl, not having to look back as she stirred the powder until it dissolved. The soup bubbled for just a moment before calming, the same light tan color it had been before.

Bulma slipped the vial back into her pocket and pushed herself off the table, licking the last of the juice from her fingers and throwing the core into the trash just as a chef picked up the tray the specials were on and carried them out.

Bulma herself left the kitchens, keeping her face carefully neutral. She glanced over at the warrior's table to see Kiwi sit down across from Vegeta with a couple of his buddies, a regular clique. She could see Vegeta's grimace from here.

Bulma grimaced at the people sitting at her own table. It looked as if she'd have to sit beside the voluptuous pink-skinned, blonde-haired female that liked to think herself Kiwi's, more like Kiwi's whore; one of several.

The older woman sneered at Bulma as Bulma sat down. She made sure to not even look at the slut. She was barely wearing anything and every male in the room was making sure she knew it.

The older woman; Bulma didn't know her name, leaned over and began to whisper to one of her clique while glancing from the corner of her eye at Bulma. The other girls giggled and Bulma rolled her eyes only too happy when the food was finally served.

She didn't eat much of what was put before her, making sure instead that Kiwi was eating his own. She couldn't see the purple alien, but she did hear his whiny voice rise up above everyone's chatter to complain that his soup tasted chalky.

Bulma couldn't hide her grin, and didn't stop grinning until a commotion from the warriors' table had everyone standing up, trying to peer around each other and see what was going on.

Bulma peeked between two huge men to see Vegeta standing, his chair thrown back, towering over a smirking Kiwi, who looked as unconcerned with Vegeta's anger as he always was.

Kakarott had wide eyes on both warriors, tensed to tackle Vegeta if he decided to jump Kiwi right here. Any attack would cause a huge fight in the mess hall and Frieza would not be happy.

Instead, Vegeta did something that stilled every person in the room with tense expectation. With measured movements, Vegeta removed one glove and flipped it so that he held it by the end. It dangled before Kiwi's smirking face.

Kiwi seemed as unfazed from the deliberate show as he was of Vegeta's stony face, "What? Need to prove your manliness to me?"

Vegeta snarled and swung the glove with all the force he could muster. The resulting blow snapped Kiwi's head to the side with a harsh crack that died away in the still room only after echoing.

Bulma heard some of the men giving appreciative 'oohs' and some wincing in sympathy as Kiwi's head turned back to glare at Vegeta, smirk gone. The whole side of his face was an angry red.

Vegeta dropped the glove to the table before Kiwi. Bulma knew what this meant. She'd heard of knights of old on her world who had done this same thing with metal gauntlets in order to formally challenge a foe. It seemed Vegeta didn't need a metal glove to leave an imprint.

Bulma smirked as Kiwi picked up the glove. Whether he knew he was answering the challenge or not, Vegeta made it quite clear, his voice grating against the induced silence, "You and me in the arena in one hour."

As Vegeta walked away from the table, Kakarott hurriedly wiping his mouth on a napkin and following, the room burst out with conversation as everyone sat back to their meals to discuss this new and exciting happening.

Bulma sat back down at her table only to be greeted with the nasal voice of the pink alien beside her, "Kiwi's going to wipe the floor with that monkey."

Bulma took a dainty bite out of her sandwich, gears turning like mad in her mind. She swallowed and casually stated, "I don't know. I'd put my money on the Saiyan. He seemed pretty ticked."

The slut gasped in shock that the brainy geek beside her would dare to speak up. She turned fully on Bulma, "Oh yeah?"

Bulma turned to the impure one with a smirk, "Yeah. In fact, I'm willing to put my money where my mouth is." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a device that allowed her to access her money from Earth. "Look." She punched a few codes onto the device and held it up for everyone at the table to see, "500 zenni. I'm willing to bet 500 zenni that the Saiyan wins."

The other tossed back her blonde hair haughtily, "What makes you so sure that flea-bitten barbarian will win?"

Bulma shrugged, "I told you, he looked pissed. Plus, I heard he's masochistic. He gets off on pain. I don't think Kiwi's like that, is he?" She directed the question at the whore beside her with an innocent tone.

Some of the girls caught the undertones and snickered until the slut turned her glare on them. She looked back at Bulma and strengthened her glare. She pulled out seven hundred zenni from her bra and slapped it down on the table, "You're on!"

Bulma almost choked on laughter she quickly forced back down. So that was how-And the slut didn't even seem to notice her lopsidedness.

Bulma watched as one of the girls collected the money and began to ask for bets. Soon, everyone in the room was betting on the match. Although Kiwi was making sure that everyone who bet on Vegeta turned their bets around. He didn't want them to lose their money after all.

Bulma forced herself to sit patiently and wait for the hour to pass when everyone began to file out to the arena. It looked as if the whole ship was going to view it. She giggled triumphantly. This would be fun!

She managed to squeeze nearer the front and got a seat conveniently next to Kakarott, who pushed aside some of the men around him as if they were too close to him so Bulma could sit. Neither one spoke or looked at the other, though Bulma knew Kakarott was dying to ask what she had done.

Vegeta stood in the center of the arena, arms crossed in front of his chest, ignoring the crowd around him that was either jeering at him or cheering him on. His eyes flicked at her form then away as Kiwi ushered himself into the arena as well.

Kiwi strutted up to Vegeta circling him like a predator, "So, Vegeta, ready to be humiliated? Perhaps we can even show all these folks exactly what got you into such a huff, eh?"

Vegeta rolled his eyes, though they still managed to follow the purple alien's every movement, "Please, Kiwi. Our audience hardly wants to hear you speak. They want to see us fight."

Kiwi stopped in front of Vegeta and shifted into a fighting stance, Vegeta following not far behind with his own, "Then let's entertain them."

Vegeta nodded and immediately charged, his hand back for a punch. As Kiwi moved to the right and brought an arm up to block it, Vegeta changed tactics, his left foot going up for a roundhouse that would hit Kiwi's right side.

Kiwi switched his blocks just as quickly, smirking as he threw his own attack, grabbing Vegeta's leg and swinging himself under it, an uppercut aimed for Vegeta's backside.

Vegeta gave a colorful curse and twisted his body, driving an elbow into the hand that held his leg to release it. The punch still grazed Vegeta's side, bruising it, but Kiwi was now shaking his numb hand. Both men rolled away from each other, eyeing each other for any more movements.

The crowd was on its feet, roaring as one huge monster that wanted blood. Bulma stood as well, but it was only Kakarott that let out the hoots and hollers for Vegeta. Bulma was waiting for the sign that would tell her it was starting to work.

Kiwi took the initiative this time, taking one step before suddenly stopping. His face screwed into an expression of confusion that slowly gave way to horror. Vegeta stopped, wondering if this was some kind of diversionary tactic. His eyebrow went up as both Kiwi's eyes turned inward, as if he were trying to look at his nose.

It looked as if the purple alien was going to pass out right there, but instead, a loud and wet noise came from one particular region of the alien.

The whole stadium went totally silent; waiting to see what in the world was going on.

Vegeta started in surprise and smirked evilly as Kiwi's face turned a bright shade of maroon. He approached the alien only to back away as another loud noise passed through the alien. From the uncomfortable look on his face, that one was probably wet too.

Vegeta threw back his head and laughed long and heartily. He brought his head back down to smirk gleefully at the embarrassed alien, "Here I wanted a fight and I'll I'm getting is a lot of hot air."

A huge ripple of laughter tore through the stadium, and Bulma was finally able to let go of barely contained humor with everyone else.

Kiwi glared daggers at Vegeta, clutching his stomach as another one let itself be heard and felt. "Ve-ge-ta!" The word came out with great effort.

Vegeta waved a hand in the air languidly, "No, no. I quite understand, Kiwi. You don't want to postpone this fight just because of a minor-problem."

Kiwi made to move toward Vegeta with the full intent of killing the Saiyan, but yet another tore through his body, causing him to double over. A large area of the stadium was quickly being cleared behind him.

Vegeta frowned, "Kiwi! You're scaring all the spectators away!" He advanced on the hapless alien, smirking all the while. "You look like you're very uncomfortable." He stopped right before him and widened his smirk, "Why don't you take a seat?"

Before the alien's eyes could do more than widen in horrified realization, Vegeta dropped down and swept Kiwi's legs out from under him. Kiwi landed on his bottom with a huge, squishing sound.

Everyone made disgusted noises while Vegeta rose chuckling. He leaned down and whispered in the enraged alien's ear, "I would give you mercy and knock you out, but I rather like you in this position. Perhaps you should be careful what you say next time, eh? Though if you want to stick your foot in your mouth again, be my guest. I much enjoy the results."

With that being said, and one enraged and impotent alien left on the floor to much laughter and discomfort, Vegeta walked out of the room.

<~>

Frieza's cold eyes glittered as he watched the monkey exit the arena, superiority etched in every line. The monkey was getting much too bold and confident. When Frieza had first gotten him, he had planned on having fun breaking the proud creature. He had even encouraged his defiance somewhat, allowing him the freedom to voice his opinions and refuse Frieza some things, although Frieza let him know how painful that could be.

The lizard made his way unnoticed through the crowd the same way he'd come in, his eyes piercing their way through the crowd to where the monkey Prince's companion was. The first two years, the change in Vegeta had been noticeable as Frieza constantly reminded the monkey of his father's 'abandonment', of his own race's weakness as they bowed and scraped to him. Then there was the little incident with the female that Frieza had 'given' him. That had gone well. When Nappa had died Frieza had finally thought that the monkey would be broken, but not a year later, the King had managed to send another monkey as the Prince's 'bodyguard'.

Frieza was truly confused by this one. Kakarott seemed almost immune to Frieza's taunts and deferred to his Prince in all things. It seemed that immunity was spreading to Vegeta, and the actions of the monkey today showed the danger of such immunity. Frankly Frieza was sick of the monkey's impudence. He wanted him broken, nothing more than a tool Frieza could extend to get more planets under his sphere of influence.

He smirked as he exited the arena and approached the monkey from behind unnoticed. He knew just how to take care of it too. Sure, the results wouldn't be fast, but the fact that they would be slow would actually be better.

"Vegeta. A nice performance back there." He smirked as the monkey's spine stiffened and he muttered something under his breath, probably a curse for not sensing Frieza. Vegeta turned slowly toward Frieza, face set in a cold mask. He merely raised a brow in question. Yes, Vegeta definitely needed some changes.

Frieza's tail seductively sliced through the air behind him, accenting his suave tone. "Unfortunately I can't condone the unprovoked maltreatment of any of my soldiers. Therefore, I think you and Kakarott should take a little time away." As Frieza's smirk grew, Vegeta felt a cold lump settle into his stomach.

A/N: I hope you all thought Kiwi had enough of a pain in the butt, and then sat down in it! Lol I loved writing that! (cackles) Well, I could've gone on…but I didn't want to. As a celebration of school being over for me after Tues, I may post either late that night or Wednesday night…. Look for it. It's starting to heat up people! Nobody got what I changed? Hmmm…. That shall be remedied…later.

Jen: Yes, that was something I added on the fly. I personally liked the whole 'rumors' thing.

moonsaiyanprincess: Well, he didn't really kick his butt. (snicker) Gravity Room? Whatever makes you think that? Heh

Lady Forseeker: Really? Cool! Thanks!

Moonlight152: K, done!

JadedBest: Ah, the joys of living on one's own. You shall taste of it soon, my dear! Only 13? O_o It felt like it went higher. You know, I don't get that much of an ego trip since I'm 2-3 chapters ahead of myself…. Heehee Kakarott is so Goku? O_O Ok, now I am confused. I just made him-himself. I have to have comic relief…otherwise this would be a dark fic…it's getting darker. I hate knowing what has to be done! (sob) Ah, waiting is the hardest part, but I do have one that seems-anxious on the bit. I don't want him though, he has a girlfriend. Dishonorable mutt! Mailing list as soon as school is over and I have the TIME! lol

SkittleKicks: Oops, sorry. Um, I'm deprived? Vegeta does not need a shrink! He's perfectly fine. No, Goku needs the shrink. It's okay to be anal, but not bipolar! Lol J/K of course!