Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Facing it Together ❯ Surprise! You're Stuck Here! ( Chapter 2 )

Disclaimer: Dragonball Z is not my creation, that sadly includes its characters. That's okay, though. I have other goals…

Facing it Together

Chapter Two: Surprise! You're Stuck Here!

Bulma turned around to look at her surroundings. Was she lost? It wouldn't surprise her, this was the largest building that she had ever been in-even bigger than her own mansion. She should have stayed in her room, but she would probably lie awake on her bed, unable to sleep.

She passed a room where two guards were stationed. One of them smirked and hit the other's shoulder as he noticed her. The other glanced in her direction, and his face reflected his friend's wicked expression. "Lost, are you?" one of them asked.

Bulma glared at them. "Perhaps. But I can find my own way back." She tried to walk past them, but a guard blocked her way.

"You shouldn't be walking in these halls alone, missy. It's not safe."

Bulma's lips turned up into a smile. "You're right. It isn't safe for those who stand in my way." She patted the sword at her side.

The man in front of her laughed. "Do you honestly think that would help you?" He turned to share his laughter with the other guard, but turned back to her when he heard the sound of her weapon becoming unsheathed.

"What's the matter?" Bulma asked as she rose her blade. "Not so funny now, huh?" She swung it gently, to scare them off. She was aware of the other man standing behind her, but she kept her aquamarine eyes on the one in front of her.

She sensed when he was going to move even before he did, which gave her an opening to land a fist in his stomach, then hitting the back of his head with the handle of her sword. She turned and kicked the guard behind her.

"Is everything alright here?"

Bulma stopped her attacks to see another man watching the combat. He was tall, and like every other inhabitant on this planet, he had black hair and dark eyes. He stood facing towards them, arms crossed.

The man that she had just kicked rubbed his side. "No, Kakarrot. Nothing's wrong." He leered at Bulma. "We were just fooling around."

Kakarrot nodded. "I wasn't sure. It looked as if you were picking a fight with one of King Vegeta's guests. I don't think he would like it if that was the case."

"Excuse me," Bulma interjected. "It wasn't as if I couldn't defend myself." But the two conscious men ignored her presence.

"We weren't. We were just having a little fun." The guard knelt to pick up his friend and headed off.

Kakarrot turned back to Bulma. "Are you okay?"

"You're asking the wrong person," Bulma said as she sheathed her sword. "I was getting the best of them before you interrupted."

"I saw. That's why I stopped you. If you were to eliminate some of the Saiyan guards, that wouldn't look good, at least to King Vegeta."

"I wasn't going to kill them, I was just going to make them incapable of attacking me."

"Well, it's over now. Do want me to escort you to wherever it was that you were going?" Kakarrot asked.

In any other case, Bulma would have refused. But since she was lost, she decided to accept by a short nod and they started to walk. "I was only looking around. I couldn't sleep. I know Chi Chi is, though. She can fall asleep anywhere."

Kakarrot glanced at her. "Is Chi Chi the other woman that you came here with?"

Bulma nodded. "I guess that we haven't been properly introduced." She held out a hand. "I'm Bulma." She watched as Kakarrot stared at her through confused eyes and took his hand. "This is a custom of greeting on my planet. You say your name and shake hands."

"Oh." His hand gripped hers. "My name's Kakarrot." He shook her hand gently, as if he was afraid he would break it. "You speak Saiyago pretty well. Did Chi Chi teach you how to?"

"How would Chi Chi know how to speak it right off the bat? We both learned it together."

"I thought-when I saw her, I thought she was a Saiyan."

"Why?"

"Because she looks so much like one. Only thing different is that she doesn't have a tail."

"Oh. Well, no. We're both from Chikyuu," she told him. "That's funny. I don't remember seeing you on the way here."

"You didn't. I only saw you when you left the transport and went into the palace." They continued walking. "Everyone oustide the palace thinks you have something to do with King Vegeta, but all of the people in here know of the crash."

"One of the king's men walked us to our rooms." She turned to look at him. "You know, you look a lot like him-except his complexion's a bit darker."

Kakarrot chuckled. "That would be Turles, Vegeta-ou's right-hand man. I've had others tell me that before, but I don't see the resemblance. We're not even't related.He's a first-class warrior, and I'm only a third-class." They came to the guest chambers. "Well, I guess you know where you are now. I'll leave you alone."

Bulma smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Kakarrot. It was nice talking to you."

Kakarrot returned the smile. "If you-or Chi Chi-need anything, I hope that I will be of some assistance." He bowed before turning around. "Goodbye, Bulma."

Bulma stood, watching him as he strode down the halls. `Why did he keep on making comments about Chi Chi?' she asked herself.

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There was a knock at the door. "Bulma?"

It was in her native tongue-so it had to be Chi Chi. "Come on in!" She yelled as she threw the covers off of her.

Chi Chi entered, fully dressed. "My God, Chi Chi. It's not even daylight. Why are you dressed as if you're going somewhere?"

"Because we were summoned to the main hall. You might want to get dressed, too. I don't the king will be too happy to see you in your PJ's."

"Alright." Bulma walked over to her belongings. The Saiyans had brought their stuff from the ship only a couple of hours ago. She threw articles of clothing behind her, searching for a suitible outfit. "Kami…I do wear this color too often." She couldn't find any colors other than blue. "This must be fate's cruel joke."

"Well, everyone in the palace knows that you don't really belong to King Vegeta. I guess you can wear blue." Chi Chi said, propping her shoulder against the doorframe.

Bulma snorted. "Like I have any other choice." She grabbed a piece of clothing and began to put it on. "And why are you wearing red? I thought that stood for the third class."

Chi Chi looked down at her red shirt. "I guess I didn't think anything of it when I put it on. I'm not used to following color codes." She sighed. "Oh, well. It's too late to change it now."

Bulma nodded and smiled. "Yeah, well, hopefully you won't find yourself in the same predicament that I found upon coming to this palace." She smoothed out her blue blouse and her and strapped on her sword. Then, her and Chi Chi left the room to meet the king.

"I don't think so. There are mostly first class warriors here, I don't think that there are many of the third class roaming around."

"Yes, there are. I just met one only a few hours ago."

"Really? Do you think that it will become a problem?"

They approached the doors of the main hall. "Let's hope not."

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Vegeta tapped an impatient finger against the arm of his chair. Where were they? They had been summoned ten minutes ago-nine minutes more than it should have taken. But they were only guests here, and they wouldn't know about how he demanded promptness from all subjects-he was never one to enjoying having his time wasted. He turned to Turles. "I want you to go and check on the two. Make sure that they didn't encounter any trouble on the way here."

"If I may, Ou-sama," a third class warrior named Kakarrot spoke up. "I met one of the guests about five hours ago. She was lost, and they might be now. I think that might be why they haven't arrived-" He was cut of by the opening of the doors, revealing the two guests. Kakarrot's eyebrow raised as he noticed the one that Bulma called Chi Chi was wearing his color. It suited her well.

Vegeta stared at Bulma. She was wearing the royal color yet again. `She's using it to her advantage. How infuriating.' "What took you so long?"

Bulma blinked at the king's rudeness. "Chi Chi had informed me that we were supposed to be here, and seeing how I was to rest from our trip, I was asleep. I also had to get dressed."

"And it had to be in blue?"

Bulma's brow rose. What was up with him? Oh well, it was only until their ship was fixed, so she supposed she had to put up with him…for now. "It seems that this is the only color that was brought with me on the ship." Her eyes narrowed. "If I had any other color, believe me, I'd be wearing it."

Vegeta snarled at her insolence. She needed to be taught how to act in front of him. His expression changed to a smirk. As soon as their ship was repaired, they would be leaving, and he wouldn't have to worry about her insolence after that. "By all means, don't let me keep you." He turned to a group of men dressed in violet uniforms. "Techinicans, tell us your news."

The head technician stepped forward and bowed, a worried look on his face. "Um…It will take us longer than expected, Vegeta-ou. We believe it may have to do with the wiring of the ship's control panel, but as to the specifics…it is unknown." He then bowed to Bulma. "I'm terribly sorry, but it seems like you'll be staying here longer than you had expected."

"WHAT?!?!?" Both Vegeta and Bulma yelled.

The head techinican had taken a step back from the sudden outburst. "I-It will take us a while to pinpoint the exact problem." He scratched the back of his head. "We haven't exactly worked on these types of ships before."

"Then you will get familiar with them by the end of the week!" Vegeta roared at him. "Otherwise, you will have a one-way ticket to the next dimension!"

Bulma saw the poor man shiver. It wasn't his fault, his reason made sense. "That's alright. I suppose that we could stay here a…little while longer."

Vegeta's eyes flickered with anger. Was she trying to dissipate his exact orders? That would not be tolerated. "Woman, when I say that something will be done, it will be done! And what I said was that they will fix it by the end of the week. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, Ou-sama." The techinicians scurried out the room, afraid to face Vegeta's wrath.

His attitude was what made Bulma forget his stature. "Is scaring people half to death going to make matters any better? Those men are people! They aren't the naughty little dogs you treat them as! It's not their fault that our ship broke down in the first place!"

"I know that, woman. It was your fault."

"My name is not `woman'! It's Bulma! And it isn't as if I just decided to drop by here. I would have picked a planet less barbaric than yours!"

That was what sent Vegeta out of his chair to attack her. But Bulma's reflexes were quick, and her sword was drawn before Vegeta even got there. Vegeta stopped only inches away from her, making her back up against the door, and smirking.

"Our race is made of warriors. We are known throughout the galaxy to be barbaric."

Bulma raised her sword higher. "Then why did you take it as an insult?"

"Because, I've been waiting to do something about your contemptous behavior. And if you think your sword is going to help you-" He gripped the blade of her weapon and squeezed hard enough to shatter it into fragments. "-you would be mistaken."

Chi Chi watched in horror as her best friend was being attacked. She couldn't do anything, there was too many people that would see her if she reached for the dagger she kept in her right boot. `Bulma,' she thought. `Be smart. Find a way out of this.'

Bulma was speechless. He had crushed her sword into pieces, and he wasn't even bleeding! She had to find a way to escape. Obviously, the other occupants in the room weren't going to help. They were all just standing there, watching with amused eyes. Her free hand reached behind her to feel for the door handle.

"And what are you going to do now?" Vegeta said, his smirk turning more and more evil by the second.

"I'm…going…to…" She had it, but Vegeta had noticed what she was trying to do and pulled her away from the door and tossed her onto the floor. He began to walk towards her, but then her Saiyan friend stepped between them.

"Please, King Vegeta. I beg you to spare her life." Chi Chi glaced back at Bulma. "She didn't mean what she said."

Bulma knew what Chi Chi was trying to tell her without any words. Why should she apologize for stating the truth? But, she knew that Chi Chi was right in this case. She didn't have anywhere that she could run. Bulma looked down at the floor. "I would like to give you my apologies, King Vegeta. I was only a little upset that I wouldn't be getting home as soon as I had hoped."

"And yet you get angry when I order the process to be sped up." Vegeta said, crossing his arms.

Bulma let that one slide, feeling her throat swallow the comment that she actually wanted to say to him. `Lie, Bulma. Don't get him angry again.' "I was out of line, and I'm…sorry."

Vegeta looked at her form, resting on her hands and knees. He was one who liked to hear apologies-even when they were as pathetic as hers was. He gave a huff of neither reject or approval and left.

Chi Chi turned to Bulma. "What in the hell were you thinking! Taking on the king of Vegeta-sei!"

"I don't want to talk about it now, Chi Chi. Just let me go back to my room," Bulma said as she got up and walked out of the room, leaving Chi Chi staring after her.

Kakarrot stood next to her. He couldn't believe what he just saw, but at least it had ended well, thanks to Chi Chi. He turned to her. "That was brave, what you did."

Chi Chi looked at him. "Well, if I hadn't stepped in, Bulma would have been dead." Chi Chi rubbed her temple. "I think I'll go rest now."

"Would you like me to walk you to your room?"

Chi Chi thought for a moment and smiled. "Alright." The two walked out of the hall.