Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ do ut des ❯ the confrontation ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

People stopped walking and were staring at us weirdly. But as soon as Bulma leades us through the crowd - head up, proud as the blue haired woman was - they started to back away and bow for us. Showing the proper respect for us Vestal Virgins, well.. proper? If they only knew the thruth they wouldn't bow for us, than they would do anything to disgrace us even more. It took us quite a time to get through the crowdy Forum Romanum, and we even had to stop twice to explain what we were doing here. I didn't blame them, it would be surprising to see four of us Vestal Virgins - we managed to catch up with Chichi - dressed in only mere tunica's, none of us were wearing our lightgreen stola's. And the fact that Philippus wasn't here to accompany us, we weren't allowed to leave the altar without his permission and usually he was here to check if everything was alright, got the people curious. Though most people didn't dare to ask anything, they figured out that they would hear it from gossips sooner or later, some actually had the guts to ask us. And those who did, were left clueless yet flattered. You see, Bulma had this strange ability to change a question in a complement, making them forget what they we're actually asking for.

The sun was starting to retreat, just as the people who no longer crowded the Forum. We could already see the altar distance, I could hear Chichi sigh. I suppose we all were relieved to be home again. It looked like Claudia was sitting by the fire, she was the only one with blond hair, so it was pretty easy to recognise her. Bulma and me both have an exotic blue color. Some people say that's why we were chosen to be a Vestal Virgin. Because we simply caught the eye with our extraordinairy hair color. But those are just gossips, it's a fact that Bulma was chosen because she was a daughter of the famous Dr. Briefs, a nice scientist. Though nobody really knew what the scientists were talking about, they envied them for their talents, that's why they got their own library given by the king himself. Dr.Briefs comes to visit his daughter quite often. In the beginning I was jealous because of that, but I got used to it.

Nobody has spoken much through out the whole journey, this time it was red-haired Albruna to disturb the silence.

"Does she know?" she asked. I could understand how important that question was. For some reason Claudia was always mocking us, acting as if she was high and surpreme, we all couldn't stand her. And if Ganna somehow told her, she would definitely tell Philippus. And what if Philippus knows?

Claudia must have seen us coming, because she quickly sprinted away in the opposite direction of us, towards out house behind the altar. We all stopped dead in tracks. This was it, she would get Philippus, and it would all be over. Would he hesitate to kill his own baby?

My thought was interrupted as I saw Claudia coming back, dragging somebody with her. It was.. Ganna? Yes, I recognised her dark raven black hair, as she rushed over to us. She pulled Albruna in an embrace. She had tears in her eyes as she hugged her 'big sister'.

"Is everything okay? Are you better? Is the baby okay? Where is he? Is it safe? Why did it took so long?" The youngest Vestal Virgin asked in one breath.

Claudia was just standing next to her, not really knowing what to do about this whole situation. She never really was one of 'us'. She was staring at the ground. Her blond hair, hiding her face, and head bowed. I suddenly felt sorry for her.

"I'm fine!" Albruna smiled. "A bit drowsy though." The older woman's smile faded. "The baby is staying with a soldier in the army." Once again her smile adorned her face. "I'll call him Justin! He is such a cuttie!" she exclaimed.

"Are you talking about the soldier or the baby?" Claudia joked.

"Where is Philippus?" I asked with a blank look on my face, it was really nice to be back again and to talk with eachother like this, but honestly there was no time.

"He is in the closet." Ganna said, putting some black strais of hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, knocked out!" Claudia added.

Bulma grinned. "So what happend?"

"That's a long story!" Ganna answered. "Go and sit by the fire, me and Claudia will make some dinner, and we'll explain everything."

/ - - ^ - - /

And there we were, six teenage girls sitting around Vesta's fire. Claudia made us some tasty potatoes, and Ganna poured in some wine. None of us spoke.

"Justin, ne? Aint that a beautiful name." Bulma said in attempt to cheer Albruna up a bit.

Her differents moods were replacing eachother every five minutes. One minute she is smiling, and the other she was at the edge of tears. I don't blame her, she must be very tired, mind and body.

Albruna looked up. A huge smile plastered over her face. "Yes! It indeed is a very beautiful name! I wish.." Her smile faded. "I wish I could hold him. Tears starting to form in her eyes and she looked pleadingly up to Chichi. "When will I see him again?"

Chichi seemed lost in thought and didn't respond.

"Chichi?" The red-haired Vestal Virgin asked once again. Chichi looked up confused.

"Ow.. ehm.. I'm sorry Albruna," she said as she realized that she was supposed to answer her question. "I''l pick the baby up next week, but then we'll have to find another home for him."

Albruna bursted out in tears. Bulma looked at the scene and turned to me with a puzzled expression.

"Well, why don't you ask the father to take care of it?" Ganna innocently asked. Except for Albruna's sniffing it was death silent. Ganna looked around as if saying 'what did I do?'. In those few seconds was the tension unbearable.

Albruna didn't seem in a state to answer, and Bulma was staring to the ground. Chichi and Claudia had their heads up, not knowing about this and curious to hear. It was my turn to explain.

"It was Philippus." I said, my words as silent as whisper, "He raped her."

At this time even Albruna stopped sniffing. She looked up to see our expressions, blank and confused. Shocked she bowed her head and continued to stare at the ground once again.

"When?" Ganna asked, it seemed so loud through the disturbed silence. But it was just a mere whisper.

"Ever since I was fifteen." Albruna spoke without looking up, her voice was harsh and it didn't seem to belong to her. "I tried to stop him." She looked up. "I really did!" She looked around the room shotting a glace at each one of us. "I tried!" she begged us to believe her. "I really did!"

"Ssshh.." I hushed her as I pulled her in an embrace. "We know you did." I said, letting her face bury in my chest. "We know you did.." I repeated.

/ - - ^ - - /

"That basterd!" I slammed the door behind me. "I'm going to kill him!" I yelled. "I swear I'm going to rip his ugly head of!"

Chichi and Bulma ran behind me, trying desperately to catch up with me.

"Where is that basterd!"

"Lunch calm down!" Chichi exclaimed.

"You might get hurt!" Bulma added.

Get hurt? Me? Hah! "Who? Me? He is the one about to get hu-ha-ha"

Chichi quickly clogged my nose to prevend me from sneezing, knowing I'd become my 'other side'. Just imagine me being even more furious..

"Damnit Lunch! Calm the hell down!" Bulma yelled, having enough of this situation.

I stopped dead in tracks. Calm down.. calm down.. gah! "Don't you think that bastard has to suffer!" I asked them. "He raped her!"

"But this won't help it! Beating the shit out of him won't help us any farther!" Chichi tried to convince me.

"We'll have to get rid of him." Bulma stated. Causing me and Chichi to look up. "Philippus doesn't know about Albruna's baby right?" the blue haired girl continued. "And he is now senseless, so we can just pretend and act as if nothing has happend and -".

"And how in the world is that supposed to help us?" I interrupted her. God I wanted to sneeze.. I wanted to sneeze so badly and release all my anger and frustration.

"The prince will help us!" Bulma said, smirking. "I'll convince him to send Philippus away!"

I looked questionly at Bulma. The prince?! What the hell? What had Vegeta to do with it? That absolutely didn't make any sense at all.

"Think about it!" Bulma tried. "If we kill him, or if he dies 'at a sudden death', people will get suspicious. They know we hate him! And after the scene we made today! If he is send away it all seems far more naturel. And we wouldn't run the risk of being killed."

So it did made a little sense.. well killing him would be a lot more delightful.. mmm.. the pleasure of sneezing..

Chichi nodded understandig. "I understand, B-chan." the raven haired girl said. "But what makes you think Vegeta will help us?"

Bulma smirked. "I'll find away.."

/ - - ^ - - /

I rubbed my temples as I closed my eyes. Today's events passing my mind. So much happened in such a short time it was confusing, it almost seemed unnaturel. I sighed as I opened my eyes to watch the fire struggle, flames clashing to eachother untiniting in order to absolve the air around them. It was around ten o'clock. The othere were inside, sleeping as if nothing had ever happened. We had dragged Philippus in his own bed, disgust written over my face as I wondered what he had done to Albruna on the exact same bed. But I let it pass, knowing that if I upset myself even more I'd sneeze, and than I'll become unruly. We had all decided to act as if nothing had happened. And next week when Bulma and Chichi will go and pick up the baby at the army. Bulma would go and ask the prince to help. I still don't know how she can convince such a obstinate man. But I'm sure Bulma has a way of convincing the stubborn prince.

I'd be replaced by Claudia in a while. Claudia.. I was so surprised that she was the one that turned out to help us. She was the last person I expected to help.

I just couldn't stand her, always telling tales to Philippus. Always wanted to be 'daddy's little girl' though none of us saw him as a dad. But I'm sure she did. The fact remained that she wanted to get his attention, she even stole one of my two dolls when I first came here.

She handed it over to Philippus saying: 'Lunch had a doll and I don't it's not fair!'
Untill now I hadn't realized she was just a jealous little girl back then. But then again, she never seemed to change.

Philippus had respond with a: 'It's okay, Claudia. We're all equel here, now be a nice girl and offer this doll to Vesta.' I was furious when I heared that! And I was screaming with rage, wanting to let all of my anger out, I sneezed. It was the first time that ever happened, and I had the feeling I could do everything I wanted to. Luckily Chichi and Bulma caught me yelling in front of Philippus door, and they dragged me in Chichi's room. And there I sneezed once again, suddenly, feeling very vunerable and alone. My hair was changed back to blue.

I don't really understand how this 'other side' of me happened. When I sneeze I go yellow, and I'm far more reckless and obstinate. And blue me is calm and patient. Except when I feel like sneezing and want to become yellow. It's all a bit weird... and now 11 years after the first time it happened I still don't really get it.

"Lunch?" I looked up to see where the ugly voice came from. My thoughts were confirmed, it was the blond haired Claudia.

"Yes?" I hissed, a bit annoyed. And again I was apt to sneeze.

"Is it okay, if I come to sit next to you? I know it still aint my duty but I couldn't sleep."

I eyed her suspiciously, what was she up to? "Sure.." I said, but not without adding some venom in my voice.

She must have noticed, for she was suddenly very nervous. But she did went to sit next to me. Rubbing her temples and closing her eyes in the exact same way I just did a few minutes ago. Suddenly she seemed even human.

"What a day, huh?" She tried, looking up at me with desperate eyes, begging forgiveness.

"Yeah.."

Silence.

Suddenly I remembered, that I still didn't know how they got Philippus knocked out. After the father subject at dinner we all kind of went our own way, after dragging Philippus in his chamber, the rest went to sleep. I had to watch the fire untill I was replaced by Claudia.

"So what happend-"

"So what happend-"

We both said at the exact same time causing her to grin stupidly, and me wondering how many wine she had drunk. Since when did I became so sarcastic?

"You go first." I told her.

"Well I when I woke up, and went to check on Albruna, she was sick so I thought to just check up on her to see if she was okay..." Claudia started.

Claudia? Why would she do such a thing to check up on her.. sure she wouldn't be that nice..? My mind told me still not to trust her.

"Well anyway when I went in I caught Ganna cleaning up the bloody sheets, and I asked her what happend." she continued.

"And she just told you?" I asked, not really believing that young pretty Ganna would trust such an evil creature as the blond haired Claudia.

"Well yeah.. so after she explained, Dad came in." She soon recovered herself. "I mean Philippus came in, and well we had to react fast and even though I didn't understand much about this whole situation I did understand that Philippus better not knew about it, so I knocked him out with vase. After that we dragged him in the closet and locked him up."

"Why were you helping us?" I suddenly blurted out, I couldn't understand why my enemy would do such a thing.

"I know I've been a bitch and all, but I don't hate you guys!" she barked at me. "We're just.. different. Besides it was for the sake of the baby!"

"Yeah.. yeah.. I'm sorry." Not really sounding convincing. "So wanna hear my story?" I asked her. Claudia nodded.

And I started to explain her what happend through out the day. At the ending of my story she was smiling at me and I was yawning. She told me to go to sleep, and that she would take it from here.

Without any objection I followed her orders. All the worries on my head could be thought about tomorrow. Right now I couldn't wait to finally let my head touch my pillow. Ow.. the bliss!