Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Princess WHO of WHERE?!? ❯ Who's That Girl ( Chapter 16 )

DISCLAIMER: I don't own DBZ, nor any of the women's clothing descriptions. I got the ideas for clothes from my favorite historical romance author, Catherine Coulter. But if you really want to sue me, you have to get in line behind the credit card collectors!

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Goku trudged beside the wagon gaining what meager shelter from the sun he could get. He had been walking for five days straight, ever since he had discovered someone who had sworn they had seen a female fitting Bulma's description going this way. He had been furious when they said that she was inside a cage and unconscious and more determined than ever to find her.

When he had left their village a few months ago, he was sure that he would have no problem finding her and would actually be able to catch up with her to help her on her journey. Boy, had he been wrong. He began looking for her in the direction she had told him she would be going. He questioned people who seemed likely to have information and paid or coerced those who needed a little more encouragement to part with that information. Everyone he spoke to pointed him to another village farther on merely saying that she had gone `that way'.

It wasn't until the last town he got to that he became really worried. A man he had spoken to that lived on the outskirts of the town said yes he did remember seeing Bulma, but couldn't tell him which way he had gone. That wasn't what disturbed Goku, though. It was the bit of gossip that he had chosen to share as a warning to Goku. A few months ago, late one night, there were sounds of animals fighting in the woods. The sounds had caused a ruckus heard by everyone living on the edge of the village. The noise didn't last but a few moments, but the sounds produced were from no creature that anyone here could identify and went someone was finally brave enough to investigate the area, they found a massive amount of fallen tree branches. No one believed it was from a storm though because there hadn't been any storms recently, but because the earth that was torn up in the same place was extremely concentrated to one particular spot.

After Goku had seen it for himself, he knew that Bulma had gotten into a fight with `something' and possibly lost. No one he talked to had remembered seeing her after that, much less tell him which way she had gone. He left the town feeling depressed and really had no idea on where to go next. Going on a hunch, he traveled southeast and was surprised to find another town larger than the last. The number of people here was stifling and the sounds and smells highly offending to Goku's highly sensitive senses. It was here though that he got his next and biggest lead.

The town he had arrived at was one of trading. Everything imaginable passed through and were traded here whether it be food, clothing, beasts, or…………people. Using his usual techniques, Goku was able to learn where Bulma was headed. What he had put together from various pieces of information was that Bulma was captured and sent as a slave on a caravan that was traveling somewhere far south of here, farther south than Goku himself had ever been. The other thing he had figured out was that that particular caravan only came once a year and that the things they brought to trade were often wonderful and exotic. And the really strange thing was that no one knew where they came from. Anyone who inquired of their origin was quickly diverted onto another topic, almost as if they were trying to hide themselves. All they could say was that they came from the south.

Goku knew he had to follow them and there was no way he would be able to survive out in the wastelands they were sure to cross he was to follow. He found another caravan that was traveling in the same general direction and was immediately hired on as guard.

That was how he ended up in the situation he was in now. Dirty, sweaty, and smelly. He wasn't tired, but the sun beating down on him was making this journey harder than he anticipated. He did have a horse, but he chose not to ride it because he would need it later when he finally went his own way.

No matter how long it took, he swore that he would find his friend. Even he if died trying.

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It was nearly time for the evening meal when they had been spotted. The alert spread through the fortress like a wildfire, sending those on duty in a flurry of last minute preparations and those not, scrambling for a position in a window looking down onto the courtyard. Bulma had already been standing in a prime location to watch their visitors arrive without being seen. However, she still ended up being crowded by a few others.

The great double doors to the entrance into the fortress were thrown wide open as Lord Vegeta and his son strode through them. The both of them made a stunning pair dressed in their finest. Bulma had remarked to herself earlier that Vegeta was dressed quite handsomely. Actually, she had been thinking that even when he was at his grimiest. Bulma was afraid that her feelings of late were more than just amicable. Ever since Vegeta had kissed her that day, things, became a little more complicated. She always felt like she needed to examine her words before she said them, thinking that Vegeta might take something the wrong way. What was worse was that she often found him invading her dreams, the two of them partaking of the most intimate of relationships. She would often awaken sweaty with a dull ache in her groin. Dreams like those sent her on late night walks atop the crenellated outer walls of the fortress where the guard stood watch.

Bulma shook her head, telling herself that she needed to get it on straight. She didn't need to be falling for the son of the man who had brought her here and held her captive against her will.

`What a lame excuse,' she though, but still, she wasn't trying to form any permanent attachments to anyone when she had no intentions of staying here.

She continued watching Vegeta for a few moments longer. His tail was swishing back and forth languidly, as if it too was bored. Bulma was surprised that he had chosen to let it free today because normally he kept it wrapped around his leg, under his clothing. She had really been surprised when she found out he had one. Being that she kept up her act of modesty, she had never actually seen Vegeta naked. It had actually been a complete accident.

One morning when she was entering his room with breakfast, she had been shocked to find a very naked Vegeta rummaging around in one of his chests. His tail had been waving around behind, which caught Bulma's attention more than the rest of his naked form.

"You have a TAIL?" she had blurted out stupidly, forgetting her role of maiden innocence.

Vegeta straightened up and turned, but not before Bulma had a chance to compose herself and look away. Bulma could hear him turn towards her after closing the chest, then the sound of cloth over skin. She could feel him approaching her and then stop, held away by the immense breakfast platter.

"Of course I do, foolish woman. Very few Kylarians don't," he told her.

Bulma ventured a peek at his knees to make sure it was safe, and was relieved to find them adequately covered so she returned her eyes to his. He had his usual superior sense of amusement written across his face. He knew what he was doing.

"I hadn't noticed. It's not a habit of mine to stare at men's backsides," she replied tartly. She passed Vegeta and placed the tray on the table. Vegeta had followed behind her and began eating items from it.

"Perhaps you should. Some of them you would have to blind not to see," he told her his mouth full.

"Don't talk with your mouth full. Its bad manners and your supposed to be a nobleman. What kind of example are you setting for others?" she scolded him. "And I have noticed some people with tails. I just didn't know you had one."

"I choose to keep mine around my leg beneath my clothes. The dratted thing often gets in my way. I don't want it out waving around like some female trying to attract a male's attention."

Bulma was suddenly embarrassed, thinking of the looks some of the men gave her. She didn't try to curb her tail's activity being that it was subconscious, and now, here was Vegeta basically saying that it had been waving around giving the male's around here a `come hither look'.

She pulled herself from that memory with a shake, still feeling a vague sense of embarrassment from that moment. Ever since then, she kept closer tabs on what her tail was doing. Bulma tore her eyes from Vegeta and looked back to the main entrance into the fortress.

Soon four men mounted on horses came trotting through the gates into the courtyard. All four rode perfectly matched bays, who had on perfectly matched equipage. Bulma was sure that if she could see the hair covered by their caps, that one's head would be the same exact color and style as the next. Each also carried a banner. On the banner was some sort of brown feline on a field of sky blue. The feline was stretched out on its belly, its head at the bottom, with its right paw raised and claws unsheathed. Bulma had seen a lot of creatures in her life, but she couldn't recall seeing a `brown' feline before.

The four men quickly lined up two on either side of the gate, even the horses stood stock still. Bulma noticed that Vegeta was not at all impressed. His attention slid away from his guests impending arrival. He surveyed the courtyard as if he was checking to make sure everything was in readiness. His gaze traveled upward and Bulma found her eyes locked with his for the briefest moment.

`He can't possibly know I'm in this window,' she thought. Then just as quickly he looked away and Bulma wasn't sure that it was her that he had been looking at. He was probably just looking around.

The four men pulled horns from their sides' in perfect precision and blew a short, nine note melody. Shortly afterwards, a carriage drawn by a team of six more of the perfectly matched bays, came rumbling through the gates. It was beautifully made and ornamented. The wood was a dark, honey brown and the crest was carved on the sides. Bulma didn't study it too closely, but saw it also bore the feline that was on the banners the other men had been carrying. Immediately behind the carriage came more men, though they were not dressed as the first had. These men wore armor, though if Bulma hadn't been here as long as she had, she would never have recognized it as such due to the skill of Kylarian blacksmiths and armorers. These men were obviously the guards.

Bulma quickly looked away as the door of the carriage swung open before a footman could open it.

"Why Vegeta, you old dog!" came a loud voice booming from inside the carriage. "You haven't changed a bit!" A large man stepped out of the carriage. He was easily the size of Lord Vegeta, but he was built big, like a bull. His brown hair and beard were cropped close and neat and his face was square, with sturdy-looking cleft chin. On more detailed examination, Bulma could see two tiny horns on his head, which confirmed his natural form and his bullish appearance. His clothing was as fine as Lord Vegeta's and he held himself with ill contained dignity.

The man approached Lord Vegeta and the both reached out to clasp forearms. "Yes, I must also say that time is being most kind to you, Gefen, and it is good to see you again," Lord Vegeta responded warmly.

`So they're actually friends,' thought Bulma.

"And here's you whelp. I see he's a sturdy looking lad, though he hasn't grown much taller," Lord Gefen commented as if Vegeta weren't there.

Lord Vegeta didn't even glance at his son to see the ill disguised contempt on his son's face that Bulma could see. "I assure you that what my son lacks in size, he more than makes up with his strength," Lord Vegeta defended his son. That seemed to annoy Vegeta more. Bulma figured that he acting like that because he felt he didn't need his father defending him.

"Well, I'll take your word for it," Lord Gefen said, though he sounded as if he didn't quite believe it. "Oh! Of course you remember my mate, the Lady Rouhani," Lord Gefen reached back into the carriage to assist someone out of the carriage.

The woman Bulma saw step out couldn't possibly be this man's wife. Why he was at least twice her size! The woman wasn't even taller than Vegeta and probably was probably smaller than Bulma. Her gown was very elegant. It was of burgundy velvet, offset with delicate ecru lace along the sleeves. The square neckline was bordered by the same lace. A little above it dangled a small necklace of rubies and pearls. Her dark hair was parted in the middle and drawn back into a chignon, which was decorated with ecru silk flowers.

Bulma had never seen such and elegantly dressed woman and knew that she would never want to be caught standing beside her with her plain servant's clothing. To think, she had been grateful when Vegeta had taken away her other clothing and had given her these!

`What am I thinking? I don't want to look like her. I just want to go home. Who cares what she's wearing!' Bulma thought.

"Ah, Lady Rouhani," Lord Vegeta purred, bowing and taking her hand in his and kissing it, "I see that your beauty never diminishes, it only amplifies with time."

Bulma's mouth fell open at the open flirtation and how the Lady Rouhani merely batted her eyes and giggled girlishly.

`What the heck is going on?' Bulma thought. `Isn't Lord Gefen going to rip Lord Vegeta's tongue out for flirting with his wife?' Bulma knew that she would have someone tried to flirt with her mate!

"Vegeta, you flatterer! You always had an eye for beautiful women. I'm glad to see you are in excellent health." She pulled her hand from Lord Vegeta's almost reluctantly, and Lord Gefen continued to stand there and grin like nothing was going on.

`These people are strange,' Bulma thought. She looked at Vegeta who was obviously still fighting the urge to just transform and fly far, far away.

"And Vegeta," the Lady Rouhani said, transferring her attention to the son. "I'm glad to see that you are doing well also. I see you've added some muscle to your frame. That's good. We can't consider a weakling for our precious angel."

Vegeta looked ready to punch the Lady Rouhani in her face, but a steadying hand on his shoulder from his father kept him from doing anything foolish.

"Oh course not, Lady Rouhani," Vegeta uttered smoothly and bowed elegantly and took her hand and kissed it. If Bulma hadn't seen Vegeta fight, she would not have known that he was capable of such grace. His movements were a great deal finer than those of his father or Lord Gefen.

"And here's someone I know you've been anxious to see. Valeria, my angel, come out and greet Lord Vegeta and his son." Lady Rouhani called into the carriage.

All eyes looked to the carriage door as Lord Gefen reached his hand back into the carriage and small, slender hand and petite foot emerged.

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Yup! I'm a bad girl for leaving you hanging again.

I'll take 5, reviews that is.

R&R