Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ do ut des ❯ the argument ( Chapter 8 )

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

So many things have changed, and so many things are about to change... and I'm just powerless to stop it. Life itself is just leading on its own.

When did I lose control?

I sighed as I realized I never had it. And would never claim it either.

I was sitting at the altar, staring absently in the waves of heat, close to the light that seemed to be the only light in this darkness. It was night and most candles were blown out. And apart from the chirping grasshoppers in the grass, the whispering of the fire was the only sound that filled the room.

"Ehem." I shot up as I heard somebody clear her throath. I recomposed myself as I saw Bulma standing at the entrance of the altar. "Mind if I join you?" she asked in a sarcastic way that reminded me much of Gabrielle. "Or would I be interrupting you and the sexy chair your sitting on?"

I smiled a bit as she said that, no matter what the circumstances were Bulma would always remain Bulma; sarcastic and strong-minded, a bit crazy with her own humor. "No, go ahead." I noticed that my voice was a bit hoarse because of the lack of speaking the few hours. "What are you doing up so late?" I asked as the young woman took a place next to me.

"Couldn't sleep." she said, looking at me with a smile on her face. "What were you thinking about?" It came out rather absent-mindly, as if she was already lost in her own thoughts as soon as those words passed her lips.

It took me a bit of time to answer that question. How can you describe your thoughts when your mind is nothing but a big bunch of confusion, barely able to register anything rational. "You know, everything... how things have changed and such."

"They have, haven't they?" I was shocked by the strange question that followed. "Do you think I am mature, like a woman now?" She looked up from the fire, and stared at me intently.

What caused her to ask that question I didn't know, and for some reason I found it hard to answer. "Why do you ask?" was all I could respond after a few seconds of silence.

She looked at me, considering her answer. "I don't know... it's just that- ough nevermind... it doesn't matter anyway."

I raised a question eyebrow as response towards her strange behaviour. "Explain, I'd really like to know."

Somewhat shy she looked up at me. "It's just that- I was just- you know like- wondering how Vegeta would see me and all. Not that I care or anything, heh... hey what did you think of Claudia's dinner today? Never though the bitch could cook so good. Apart from those patatoes of course... who am I to tell that anyway... I would let them burn myself too." A nervous laugh followed, as she looked up to meet my eyes. A bit scared of my response.

Vegeta? Tomorrow evening will be the day that we'd go to pay the prince a visit. Already a day had passed after my visit to Gabrielle.

"I don't understand what is going on between you and Vegeta... but I definitely think that he sees you as a mature woman. And how couldn't he? You really are grown up." she looked up at me with relief in her eyes. "Your breasts are even bigger than mine!" I added to cheer her up.

She laughed softly and combed her hand through her blue hair. "Well I guess that's just a fact we can't change." She bursted out laughing. "I can't believe Ganna's breasts are already bigger than mine, and she's only fifteen!"

"Well, Ganna is just a genetic wonder." I laughed along with her. "Listen to this!" I told her when I remembered an old joke. "When a man arrived at a symfosia, he noticed that most of the show girls were topless, all except for one who had just one breast covered. He asked a servant why only one breast was covered instead of both of them. Do you know what the servent answered?"

"No, tell me!" Bulma exclaimed between fits of giggles.

"Because she worked part-time!"

Another fit of laughter, and my stomic abs started to hurt. That's what I loved most about Bulma, she was always in for jokes. A sense of humor that Albruna, Chi and Claudia were missing. Apart from Ganna of course, Bulma rubbed it off on her.

"Having fun, ladies?" I stopped abruptly at the sound of his voice. And poked Bulma to stop her boisterous laughter, she hadn't noticed that our commander came in.

"Philippus." I stood up as I recomposed my stola. "What are you doing here?" by the time I had asked that question Bulma was also recomposed and backing me up. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?" questioned Bulma, who obviously had a double meaning behind it. I just hoped he would ignore it... I really didn't feel like confronting the problems, especially now that I had the feeling Philippus knew more than he showed.

"And I would be sleeping if it hadn't been disturbed by your laughing. Are you trying to wake whole Rome?"

"Actually we were just trying the surrounded houses, but I suppose your idea will do too. We'd just have to laugh a bit more louder." Bulma looked at me, with a faked expression on her face. "Can you manage that Launch?"

Even though Bulma pulled out such acts daily, provoking everybody, this seemed to be different. I shot her a look to quit it out, but she ignored it completely. Phil was edging closer, but as determined as Bulma was, she would hold her ground.

"We can always ask Ganna and Claudia to join us, it will do with the four of us".

Philippus was now standing in fron of her, and his hand reached to carass her face. But she slapped his hand away before it made contact. "Don't touch me." Bulma spoke with venom. "It would not be a wise decision."

I wanted to tell him that it wouldn't be a wise decision indeed. I wanted to back her up, just as she did to me a minute ago, but my voice didn't function.

He held up his hands, showing the white flag. "All I'm asking you is to keep your voice down." he took a few steps back. "And nothing more."

Not knowing if Bulma would respond in the right way, I took over the task. "We will, Philippus. Now go and enjoy your rest."

"And so I will." He made a short bow, and after a look in Bulma's direction he left the altar.

We started moving after we were sure he was inside. Bulma and I collapsed in our chairs at the same time, combined with a deep sigh. As relief was clearly visible in our actions. The atmosphere had changed quickly in those few minutes, and it took me a while to gather my thoughts.

"Why-" my question was stopped by a sneeze, as I felt the desire to change. My hair turned yellow, and I couldn't help but feel reborn. "Why do you always have to do that?" is continued my question rather snappy.

"Do what!?" she asked, not even a bit shocked about my appearance. She and Chi, were the ones that were used to my transformations.

"You're always provoking everybody, challinging each and every person to go against you."

"I do not!" she objected immediately.

"And how would you describe what your doing now?" I sighed and cracked my fingers. "I think I was wrong about you, you aren't mature at all." at that moment I meant every word that passed my lips. Bulma could be so stupid sometimes, not thinking about the consequences at all.

"Look who's talking!" she shot back. "Immature, ha! At least I'm not the one sleeping with dolls."

"Keep my dolls out of this... at least I'm not wishing to sleep with a murderer." I was referring to Vegeta at that point.

"He's no murderer, and besides, I may do as I please! If I'm in love with Vegeta, that I am in love with Vegeta! I can't see the immature part in that one!

But you wouldn't know, would you! You haven't even got a heart to give to someone."

I opened my mouth to respond but she didn't let me.

"I can't really blame you on that one, though. You're so ugly that nobody would accept you! If you weren't picked out to be one of the vestal virgins, you would be a used whore strolling on the streets right now. Offering to put a bag around your face, for the hope that they will accept you then. You would-"

"Shut up!" I yelled eventually, sick of the mind game she was playing. "Just shut the hell up." I had never felt so defeated in my life... and I sprinted away from the altar.

She was right... and that's what hurts the most.

"Launch! Wait!" but Bulma's cries were in vain as I continued my run towards the forest. "Launch I didn't mean it!"

"Come back Launch!"

But I wasn't even thinking of coming back... I can't even remember what I was thinking, or where I was going. Tears were running free down my cheeks, and it was long after they dried up that I realized that I was lost. I locked around from the position under the three I was sitting under, and got scared when I couldn't recall the direction I came from.

I was just a young Vestal Virgin, who lost her place in the world.

I'm sorry I lost myself.