Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Dark Duke ❯ What A Folly! ( Chapter 20 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I do not own DBZ, or the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Warnings: Cussing.

A/N: You guys rock. When I have a chapter come out of nowhere and I put it out there, worrying that it won't fit in with everything else I've written, you guys all give me the love/support I need to continue writing. Honestly. I love you all!

Lilpumpkingirl, way to deal with my crazy! Mwha ha ha...No, but seriously, you are awesome, and I'm glad there's now someone for me to actually talk to (and develop!) this story with. You're amazing!

Finally (look away for anyone who doesn't like it when author's get too personal!!), I want to dedicate this particular chapter (hell the whole story) to my Grandmother. She's the one who introduced me to my love for romance novels at a very young age, and without her, I don't think I would be sitting here writing this story (well that kinda goes without saying, but you get the point, hopefully). She was a beautiful and wonderful woman, who lived a very full and exciting life, and she will be extremely missed. Love you G-ma.

Chapter Twenty: What a Folly!

Vegeta was the first one to arrive at the folly the next day. Though his appearance had drawn some speculation among those at Hyde, no one commented on it as he walked alone through the park. To them he was just another peer making his way through the popular park--the only oddity being that it was the Dark Duke walking through the park like he had not a care in the world.

He hated to admit it--but Bulma had been right. People were glancing at him for only a second before moving onto to watching the rest of the aristocrats in the park, hungry for juicier gossip than the Duke of Vegetasei out for a stroll. This was much better than what he had been planning.

Dammit.

If he had shown up with Bulma to the park at the same time, the polite interest he was receiving now would have turned into a downright gossip frenzy of societal piranhas. He shivered at that thought. He hated being the center of attention, and if he was seen walking through the park with Bulma, even if she had a maid (and it would be rather plausible, their walking together, as they lived together--hell, maybe he was just escorting her somewhere), he might as well have been announcing their engagement, the way these people would be taking it. He snorted at that thought--no way in hell was he going to let that happen.

He walked through park at his leisurely pace, his leisurely pace being on par with most people's regular pace (Vegeta did not do anything leisurely, that was for damned sure), and arrived at the folly about ten minutes early. It did not take him long to find Basil sitting on a bench by the folly, reading a newspaper, looking very relaxed, as if he had nothing better to do in the world than read the paper in the middle of the day. Basil did not look up as Vegeta watched him from across the expanse of green; rather, he curled his pinky finger and touched it to his forefinger, signaling acknowledgement. Vegeta flashed him the same symbol back, then slowly began to walk around the folly, taking his time.

Vegeta would not approach Basil nor would Basil approach Vegeta until Bulma got there. It was just too conspicuous for the two of them to be talking than for Bulma to make her appearance and join them in conversation as well. Especially since Bulma would be showing up sans brother, and, knowing Bulma, sans maid--the height of impropriety, and if not done the right way, would be sure to draw everyone in the vicinity's attention. No reason to attract any unnecessary notice, since Bulma showing up was sure to always draw some form of attention--this had to be done carefully. He was sure once she arrived they would signal, find some more secluded, private spot to meet and have their conversation.

So all he could do right now was wait for Bulma.

So he waited.

And he waited.

And.........

..........

......

...Waited.

And finally when it seemed he could not wait anymore--Vegeta thought to go to the Serpentine and find Bulma himself, dragging her here by that infamous blue hair--Basil made a hand movement and Vegeta grumpily went back to waiting, feigning great interest in the folly that he still thought was quite ridiculous. Why would you build something to look like it was crumbling and decaying? Damn useless, that's what that was.

Maybe he was too convincing of his interest in the folly, though. The longer he stared at the damn monstrosity, the more he began to notice other people on the mostly empty path watching both him and the folly with fascination. Oh great--knowing his luck people would think he was thinking of getting one and would buy one for themselves, trying to beat him in starting the new (old) fad of having a folly. He was probably inadvertently starting the whole damn trend all over again.

Heaving a frustrated sigh, Vegeta turned away from the folly itself, and walked into the dense copse of trees that surrounded it. He would just take a roundabout walk that would put him back by the ruins--hopefully by then Bulma would have found her damn way to it already and they could get this meeting over with.

She better--or else he might have to kill her.

Vegeta hated waiting.

Mainly because it gave him time to think about things he would rather not think about right at this moment. Things he had been putting out of his mind working on boring estate business that took up all of his time and thought. Here though, as he strolled through Hyde, he was unpleasantly confronted by all of the thoughts he had rather thought not to think about....

Yesterday, when he had seduced Bulma he had grabbed her with the intention of kissing her with every fiber of his being, showing her his real passion. But something had changed the moment he had touched her, something had made him go from grabbing her to holding her, from possessing her to joining her in a slow mating instead.

It had been an odd (and new) experience to say the least.

While Vegeta had always thought of himself as a considerate lover, who made sure that the woman walked away just as satisfied as him (if not more so), yesterday had truly been the first time he had put the needs of the woman first. His own climax had been secondary to showing Bulma what kind of desire flamed between them. He had gone slow, enjoying just kissing her, touching her--it had been unexpected, that was for sure.

As were the rush of emotions he had felt as he had held her, helping her ride him. Sex had always been sex to him, a physical release that was enjoyable with the right women. But it had never been an experience that focused solely on making a connection with someone else, of making two bodies into one. Yet, that was exactly what he had shared with Bulma last night.

It disturbed him...and if that was not enough, as he had sat there, holding her to him--he was pretty damn sure he had heard the dowager. Great, just fucking great. That was all he needed--the dowager finding out about Bulma and him. She would probably think he was just carrying out the plans she had set out for him, and that he was ruining Bulma. If he was not careful, and the dowager really had found out, the whole of the ton might find out and Bulma's reputation would be in tatters. He shuddered at that, wondering just what he would do if that ever did happen...

Before he could think further on that thought, Bulma's familiar voice broke into his thoughts. "Oh there you are Vegeta. Basil and I were just wondering where you were."

Vegeta felt a pulse start to tick in his temple at her tone, and he clenched his jaw as he saw Bulma and Basil standing not too far from him, Bulma giving him a chiding smile. After he had left her in the library yesterday, he had not seen her again, not had he tried to approach her. He did not want the dowager to get any satisfaction in seeing them together, in case his deepest fears about her finding out were true. So he had left their encounter yesterday with the resolve to put some space between Bulma and him, as he needed to figure out just what the dowager knew before he decided whether or not carrying on an affair with Bulma would be a wise move. Before yesterday's more involved sexual encounter he would have said yes...after it, though....

Vegeta took the slow walk over to where Bulma and Basil were standing, shielded from the path's view by a dense copse of trees, taking in Bulma. She looked--Kami-dammit. She looked beautiful--more than she usually did. As she watched him, her eyes were bright, and she was practically glowing as she gave him a smile. Not only that, but she seemed to have grown into herself even more...if that was possible. Vegeta's irritation grew--why was it when he wanted her the most, Bulma put up all of her defenses, but now that she wanted him right back, he had to take things damn slow? What the fuck, universe?!

Vegeta switched his glance over to Basil, who was watching him amused, and Vegeta flicked his eyes back to Bulma and glared back at her, his annoyance at her being late and waltzing in here all happy and glowing, growing to an irrational level.

Bulma ignored his sour look though when he finally joined the two of them, still smiling as she informed him, "I saw Basil, and introduced myself, but he said that you had wandered off. Really Vegeta, for someone who claims to be so punctual...."

Vegeta's voice was strangled when he answered, "I was on time. I was just trying to not draw too much attention by skulking around the folly for an extreme amount of time, so I was trying to make it less obvious that I was waiting for someone by going for a walk." Bulma gave him a disbelieving look and he glared at her as he felt his blood begin to simmer. "And where the hell have you been? It's almost twelve-thirty!"

Bulma had the grace to pinken slightly, though her voice was carefully neutral as she flicked her hand at him dismissively. "Oh I'm not that late, Vegeta. I had a later start than I anticipated, and it took a few minutes for me to dispense of Go...Kakarrot."

Vegeta was starting to realize that she only called Kakarrot by his real name when she was either trying to appease Vegeta or get one up on him. Not knowing what angle she was going for yet, he felt his teeth grinding when he spoke next, "Did you get rid of him?"

Bulma nodded, her wide eyes earnest as she informed him, "He's chasing after the model ship I lost down the Serpentine. We have about twenty minutes until it explodes, in which case we'll have about 5 more minutes for him to make it back to where I should be--which is about two minutes away. So we have twenty-three minutes." She gave a beaming smile to both men as she finished, and Vegeta's temper heated up further at her upbeat attitude.

Basil, it seemed, had no such problem with Bulma's peppiness. "Well done, Miss Briefs."

Vegeta felt the tick of his pulse turn into a full on pounding, especially as Basil praised her, and he could not keep the snarl out of his tone as he spoke, "Well aren't we all good and blessed then that you can get away for a full twenty minutes. Gee--lucky us." Vegeta waited a second, ignoring the hurt look Bulma was giving him, as well as the curious one Basil was watching him with, before he angrily asked, "And how the hell did you even know who Basil was? How were you sure you weren't just introducing yourself to some random man sitting on a bench?"

Bulma raised a brow and seemed to steel herself after Vegeta's tirade, looking to Basil. "You are Basil, the esteemed gardener, are you not?"

Basil gave her another kind smile, "Yes, I am Basil, Vegeta's gardener. You did not foolishly introduce yourself to some random man on a bench."

Bulma smirked as she looked back to Vegeta. "It wasn't as if there were scores of unaccompanied men sitting around the folly Vegeta. If you were there, you would have known that."

Vegeta growled, and had to stop himself from reaching for her and shaking her soundly for her impudence. How was it possible that the same woman who could get his blood boiling with lust, could make him angrier than any other living being?!

Bulma resisted the urge she had to stick her tongue out at Vegeta as he stared at her as if he wanted to murder her, and instead turned towards Basil giving him her best 'I'm ready to listen' look. She did not know what had changed in Vegeta from yesterday to today, but she was willing to admit in the few months she had known the Duke, the one thing she was coming to expect was his completely unreadable moods and mood swings. She had thought he would be happy to see her...especially after what they had gone through yesterday. Instead he was as surly and irritable as he always was. Men!

Bulma forced herself to ignore the conundrum that was Vegeta, and turned towards Basil, all business. "Well let's get down to it then. You wanted to meet with me, Basil? Is this the appropriate place to talk?"

Basil gave Vegeta a searching glance, especially after the tone Vegeta had used to speak to Bulma (where was the usual stoic Duke?), but then Basil looked to Bulma as she spoke. "Well this is as good a place as any to meet. No one ever comes out to this part of Hyde, but still, keep your eyes and ears open." Bulma gave a serious nod, and Vegeta rolled his eyes at her sincerity, muttering something that was most likely ungentlemanly under his breath. Basil just continued, ignoring the sulking Duke, turning towards Bulma fully. "Thank you for finally meeting with me, Miss Briefs."

Bulma gave him a bright smile. "Of course." She hesitated, then bluntly said, "I'm just curious as to why you wanted to finally meet. I've been working for you for over a month. Why now?"

"Did Vegeta fill you in on what he found at the Opera?"

Bulma shook her head, and they both turned to look at Vegeta, expectant. Vegeta, still in peevish mood at Bulma's waltzing in late and somehow making him feel the fool, forced himself to tamp his anger and irritation down. He knew when to let his anger show, and when it was time to be serious. Though he would much rather lecture Bulma, he switched back into spy mode, telling himself he would get the opportunity to lecture her good and sound about the necessity of good-time keeping (and maybe emphasize the point with a rather sound spanking).

"When I was searching the actors' rooms the other night at the opera, I found that the lead five actors had an identical pin that had the Russian eagle of the Tsar on it. Because of this, and their position as actors, we suspect they are a group of assassins and spies for Russia, who go by the name ÔThe Ginyu Force.'"

Bulma leaned closer to him, her interest shining through in her eyes. "And this is the same Ginyu Force that we think I overheard speaking to Zhelonie?"

Basil spoke up, "Precisely. When his grace brought us this information, we began to follow them and intercept messages they were sending."

Vegeta, anger forgotten as he heard the latest development, looked to Basil in full on spy mode. "What did you find?"

Basil's face was grim. "It's not good. We have strong reason to believe that the Tsesarevich himself is either on his way to London, or already here."

Bulma's face lost all color as she mumbled, "Frieza? Here?" She could just imagine the horrors he would unleash on the unsuspecting British society. Or just what this meant to what her and Vegeta had long speculated Frieza wanted with England. If he were here (or on his way) it meant big trouble for everyone. He was not just after some foreign land-holdings--he was most likely after the British crown on the whole. What better jewel to add to the already sparkling crown of the Russian empire than that of the British Empire?

Basil gave a solemn nod. "Yes. But it gets worse..."

Vegeta's frown deepened. "Worse?"

"Yes. We have reason to believe that there is a mole in the War Offices--or that the Ginyu have been able to find a way in. We fear the worst."

Vegeta felt something cold trickle down his back as he saw how worried his usually implacable superior looked. "What do you mean?"

"I suspect we have a leak...but that is not what is important to us. What is important is that they, the mole, seem to be collecting a list of the top ranking spies we have working for the crown...and either the Ginyu Force, or Zhelonie, are eliminating them one by one."

Bulma let out a whispered, "Oh my Kami." She slackened against the tree closest to her as she realized what he was saying.

Vegeta was not doing much better than Bulma. This was bad. Wait, strike that. This definitely went beyond bad. This went to straight up horrible, abominable, atrocious, and a whole host of other adjectives he could not think of as the depth of the situation hit him. Vegeta's voice was almost a whisper when he spoke next, "How many have we lost so far?"

"We have lost three men this past week alone, and about one a week since we suspected Zhelonie first arrived. We did not take much notice at first--Zhelonie, or Ginyu, whoever is carrying these killings off, are smart. They started with a couple of men who were further out and did not come to season, or were doing dangerous tasks for us already. It was not apparent they were being murdered either...but after what Miss Briefs heard, what you told us, and what we gleaned from the notes we intercepted--not to mention the three deaths in the past week--we cannot help but put them all together as a plot. The men who are dead are not connected in any way other than being spies."

Bulma was holding her neck as she spoke, looking very scared. "Were the deaths brutal?"

Basil shook his head, "Not at first. Like I said they were more subtle, seemingly natural deaths. A few seemed to be heart attacks, what we now suspect is poison, and others had horrible Ôaccidents'--getting kicked by a horse, falling off of a roof--that we cannot help but question how accidental they really were."

Vegeta's face was severely set. "The Russians must be getting closer to doing whatever it is they want to do if they are murdering them less slowly, and with less finesse."

Basil frown was etched deep on his countenance, and Vegeta really saw his supervisor's age as the lines around his face seemed to deepen with that look. "As I said, we are fearing the worst."

Vegeta started to pace, feeling his adrenaline pumping as he thought out loud, "So do we know how many names they have, or whose names might be on that list?"

"No. The notes intercepted have been helpful in letting us begin to understand the plot, but they are too smart to put real, incriminating information in these notes." Basil heaved a tired sounding sigh as he continued, "But they have been going after our top ranking spies, so like I said, we can only assume the worst, really."

Vegeta turned to face him, stopping mid-pace. "So what is our next step?"

"After reviewing what Miss Briefs overheard Zhelonie say about passing another list on to the Ginyu Force this week, we strongly believe this might be a list of English spies, or at least another clue of what the whole plot is. We need to search the Ginyu force's hotel, to see if we can get a list of the names they are working with so we can begin to see who exactly is compromised and how extensive the leak is. If we can discover who they are going after we can bring the compromised spies somewhere where they would be safe, or at least give them the heads up about what is going on."

Vegeta gave a nod. "Right. I can find out when their next performance is, and break into the hotel the night of their performance."

Bulma broke in after a lengthy, absorbed silence, her eyes worried as she looked at him. "You can't though, Vegeta."

Vegeta turned to her, having forgotten she was here while he had questioned Basil. "What do you mean, I can't? I can assure you I have been breaking into hotels longer than you have been walking, and will have no problem completing the simple task of searching a few rooms."

Bulma gave him a rather sad sort of smile that made Vegeta uncomfortable--it was chiding and pitying at the same time. "It does not matter how long you've been doing this, or how good you are at it. You still can't go." Bulma looked past Vegeta, to Basil. "That's why I'm here, isn't it? Vegeta can't go, because you think his name might be one of those who is compromised." Basil gave a nod, and Bulma looked back to Vegeta, who was staring at her in astonishment as the heaviness of her words set in. If Vegeta's job as a spy had been exposed the least of his worries were some sort of plot on his life, as it meant that all of his careful plans might be for naught....

Bulma did not notice Vegeta's self-crisis though, as she continued, "You need me to go, because you need someone they would never suspect. My name is not on any list in the war offices, and since you aren't sure how deep the leak goes, you don't know who is and who isn't implicated in your offices."

Basil gave a nod again. "I see that your intellect is every bit as sharp as we have hoped it is. You are correct. No one really knows about you--any mole in the War Offices would assume any correspondence taken to your residence would be for his Grace, and would never suspect an American heiress of working for us. Since we are not sure how many names have been given, or indeed, who is being watched, we cannot use any of our own people."

Bulma was nodding, a spark entering her eyes, but Vegeta, who had been brought back from his personal catastrophe as the two carried on the conversation, found himself growling as the two seemed to come to some wordless understanding without him. "Absolutely not! No way in hell am I going to allow you to do what you think you are agreeing to!"

The two of them turned to face him, Basil's eyebrows up with interest at Vegeta's uncharacteristic display of emotion, Bulma frowning at him. She gave him a consoling smile, speaking softly as she said, "Really Vegeta, it is the only way."

Vegeta stalked closer to her, his anger making him impulsive as he grabbed her, pulling her so they were almost touching. "The hell it is! You are in no way shape or form ready for whatever the hell you think this entails, Bulma! Are you even thinking of what kind of danger you are placing yourself in if you agree to do this?"

Bulma tried to struggle out of his gasp, but he only tightened his fingers around her arms feeling his heartbeat quicken as he imagined what kind of peril she was putting herself in if she agreed to do this. This went beyond dangerous...did she not realize how she was placing her life in peril?

Bulma stopped struggling, looking at him, pleading. "Vegeta, I am perfectly capable of sneaking around or breaking and entering. Especially into an empty hotel room.

He put his face closer to hers, completely forgetting they were not alone as he softly and menacingly told her, "You are a fool--you are not a spy, you have no training for this--you are no way, in any shape or form, prepared for this kind of thing. I doubt you could even disguise yourself so that you were not instantly recognized!"

Bulma frowned at him, her nose rising high as she haughtily informed him, "I tricked you, didn't I?"

Vegeta glared at her. "When? On the ship? I saw through your disguise in an instant!"

Bulma's eyes sparked with anger, and she opened her mouth to speak. Except when she spoke it was not her voice that came out, "Dinna tell me ye forgot me already, aye Vegeta?"

Vegeta let go of her, stumbling back a step as that Irish brogue, that of a lad, not of a girl, hit him like a physical blow. It only took a second for him to place that voice, making him remember that long-ago day he had stopped in a Capsule Corp. shop to ask for directions. The striking blue eyes of the shop keep, the small form of him--the hint of blue hair he had dismissed all struck Vegeta as he gaped at Bulma. "You!"

Bulma's smile was grim. "Aye, it was me you met in the shop that firs' day." Bulma switched back to her more polished American tone as she told him, "You didn't recognize me as a shop keep then, so I think I am fairly adept at fooling others." Bulma turned to look at Basil who was watching the whole exchange with uncharacteristic interest. "My brother and I have always turned to mischief when we were bored. Because of that, I can adopt a variety of accents and costumes and am quite used to sneaking around." She paused, then added thoughtfully, "I'm also the fastest tree climber in New York State, no matter what Goku says about the teacher always besting the student."

Vegeta turned away as Bulma spoke, trying to calm himself as he leaned on a tree, closing his eyes, squeezing them shut as if he could block out the anger he was feeling. That bitch had fooled him--and now, because of that, she thought that she could fool a group of murderer's?! Did she realize how lightly she was taking this? He did not even recognize that the hit to his pride had been minimal in comparison to the worry he was starting to feel for Bulma. She was completely serious in going through with this?! Was she an idiot?!

Vegeta turned back to the two of them, stalking closer, but restrained himself from grabbing her again. "You are the biggest sort of fool if you think a few pranks pulled with your brother have prepared you for what you can face in the world of espionage! Do you realize the risk you would be taking? Is it truly worth it to you, to prove that you could spy, to lose your life?! And that's a best-case scenario--what if the Ginyu, or another Russian spy finds you snooping?! Do you know what kind of hell and torture they can put you, a beautiful young woman, through?!" Bulma had the grace to look abashed, and Vegeta turned back to Basil. "This is not going to happen! There's no way this is our best option!"

"Actually, your Grace," Basil cut in, "Miss Briefs is not only our best option--she is our only option. Seeing as the suspected members of the Ginyu force are all performing tomorrow night one last time before they move out of London, and they are currently our only link to Zhelonie, let alone Frieza--we do not have enough time to try and figure out whom we can safely send in. We have to move now, before we lose this slim chance."

Bulma looked back at Vegeta, her eyes wide as she pleaded, "Vegeta, you must realize how serious this is, and how Basil is not making this choice lightly. I doubt he has any other option if he is coming to me--I have only been working for the crown for a little over a month. Hardly enough time for him to truly come to trust me. They must be desperate."

Vegeta's jaw was clenched, and Bulma saw a ticking muscle by his neck that belied his anger. But she knew he was smart enough to process her words carefully, and he did not say anything as he stewed silently, his eyes flitting between the two of them. If she did not know him better, the wounded look he was giving her would make her think...well...it would make her think that he cared about her.... But she was probably reading too deep into things, especially after the way he had made love to her yesterday in the library. Right now, his pride was probably more wounded that Basil had asked her to carry out this important task than him, rather than having actual concern for her well being.

Basil spoke again, "She is right. We really do not know what else we can do at this point, until we figure out who the mole is and how much information they have--we don't even know who we can trust right now."

Vegeta stared at them both, forlornly, the futility of fighting his superior, and the world's most stubborn woman sinking in. Some part of him, the part that could still rationalize even when Vegeta was at his angriest, that very small part that still had some sense whenever he thought to touch Bulma, was cranking along, realizing that Basil and Bulma were both right. Bulma was really their only smart choice, and without her, they would not have a chance. And she was smart enough to be trusted with this. Yet...

He turned away for a second, clenching and unclenching his fists, closing his eyes, and taking a deep breath as he fought to regain his emotions. When he opened his eyes back up and turned around he had gotten enough control of himself to speak clearly and to make his face as stoic as it could be in this situation. "What hotel are they staying at?"

Basil sighed, "The Regency." At seeing both of their stunned faces as hearing the most popular, opulent hotel in London named, Basil continued, "I'm sure they have both the Opera house and Frieza paying for them to keep apartments there."

Vegeta nodded slowly, thinking, absentmindedly muttering, "That works out better for us."

Bulma looked at him, surprised at his words. "Us?"

Vegeta was pulled from his thoughts at her words, and gave her a sharp look. "Did you really think I would have you do this completely alone?"

Bulma's mouth gaped for a second, and then she slowly closed it as she saw the completely earnest look in Vegeta's features. Warmth bloomed through her body at the bliss of hearing him call them an us, to know that he was going to be there tomorrow night. He had no idea how much pleasure she had wrought from his words, but seeing how protective he was being of her and how unwilling he was to leave her completely alone on this (though that could easily be attributed to his not trusting her (she chose to ignore this option)) had her feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. With the adrenaline that was pumping through her blood, this made an odd mixture that was making her buoyant and...happy. Rather than say something stupid (or something emotional), Bulma put on her serious face as she looked at Vegeta.

"What are you thinking?"

Vegeta began to pace again. "Well I can figure out a way to get us into the hotel, and even on the same floor as them--past that though, I'm still thinking." He stopped, looking at Basil as he spelled his plan out, "We go to the hotel and inform them I am renting a suite for my newest mistress, and ask for the luxury suites--I'm assuming they're staying in the best rooms."

Basil nodded to Vegeta's question, but then thoughtfully queried, "So you take Bulma in as your mistress? But what if they are watching you--we don't need Miss Briefs linked to you, as that would ruin her cover."

Bulma spoke up, already buying into this plan. "I will not be going as myself when I go with Vegeta as his newest conquest! Can you imagine the amount of scandal that would cause if word got out?! Forget my cover being blown as a spy--the ensuing humiliation would ensure that Vegeta and I would both never be able to show our face in proper society again! Forget about finding Zhelonie then! No." She took a deep breath, then explained simply, "I will go in a disguise." She looked to Vegeta. "A blonde wig should do it."

Bulma fell silent for a second, and Basil was going to interject, when Bulma's shoulders straightened, her eyes brightening. "I've got it! Can one of you get me a maids costume to wear as well? And a different colored wig than the blonde one?"

They looked to her with interest, Vegeta wondering just what kind of plan she had already thought of....

"Of course Miss Briefs."

Bulma smiled. "Excellent." She turned to them both, excitement shining through in her words, "Once Vegeta and his 'mistress' are in their new room, I can change into the maid's costume and put the new wig on and sneak into the Ginyu Force's room that way." She looked at them, her blue eyes earnest and wide. "That way even if they are watching Vegeta they will know he went into the hotel room with a blonde. If I go to the room as a, lets say redheaded, maid--hopefully they would not put two and two together. From there, I can look through the rooms, find the list and take it. If I am caught, I can play the part and pretend I was simply cleaning."

Basil was thoughtfully nodding. "Good--except don't take the list. We just need a copy of it. If we take it, then they will know something was up. We want them to think we have not gotten a hold of their plan yet. The best element in our line of business is that of surprise."

Bulma looked at him thoughtfully, "Of course--so I copy the list, and go back to our room. We wait just long enough that it would not be suspicious if we left, and waltz out of the hotel looking like two satisfied lovers, no one the wiser." She smiled, turning to Vegeta for assurances as she finished, "I think we might have the beginning of a beautiful plan." Before Vegeta could agree with her, though, Bulma suddenly gave an exclamation, "Oh!" Then hurriedly pulled out a pocket watch from the pocket in her gown (she would have a pocket watch, Vegeta thought), and frowned. "I must get back before Kakarrot discovers I'm gone." She looked back up at them, all business. "Gentleman. Can I expect the costumes tonight? I need to practice getting ready as quickly as possible."

Basil gave a bow. "Of course. The War Offices wishes you the best of luck tomorrow." He hesitated before he gave another bow. "And thank you, Miss Briefs, for you cooperation."

Bulma smiled at him. "A pleasure, Basil." She looked to Vegeta, and gave him a dazzling smile. "Your Grace." Then she was gone.

Basil waited until he was sure she was gone, not just stopped, listening to them on the other side of the trees, before he turned to Vegeta, eye sparkling with interest. Vegeta could fathom why the interest was there, but rather than comment, he just looked at Basil, challenging him to say something. Basil, being a smart man, only mildly said, "Miss Briefs certainly is a force of nature, isn't she? I am glad to see she is every bit as smart as you told us she was."

Vegeta still felt a great unease at this whole plan, thinking back to everything that had been said between them during this eventful meeting. He muttered in response to Basil's rhetorical question, "She's not just a force of nature--she's a veritable natural disaster, she is."

Basil chuckled, supremely intrigued by Vegeta and Miss Briefs' relationship, but too smart of a man to question the Duke about it. Instead, Basil grew serious as he turned fully towards Vegeta. "You will keep an eye on her tomorrow? I do not think we need a dead American on our hands or our conscious' at this point."

Vegeta felt something cold clench in his gut at that, but he ignored it as Basil continued, "She really is our only hope."

Vegeta gave a terse nod. "I understand." He looked to Basil, his eyes clear and cold as ice chips when he spoke, "But I do not like it, and I am not in support of this plan."

"Fair enough, Vegeta. But you should understand, better than most, the sacrifices that must be made during a time of crises."

Vegeta's mouth tightened at that, but rather than comment he simply said, "I must be going. I have a sparring match at Jacksons I cannot miss." Vegeta did not even wait for Basil's acknowledgement before he turned and left the park for his fake appointment. He was in such a great amount of turmoil he did not even notice the excited chatter from the other gentry in the park about the rise of follies again....

~~&~~

As Goku walked Bulma to the front of the house, she smiled at him, conciliatorily. "Really, I am so sorry you had to spend so long chasing after The Heiress, only to see it explode!"

Goku, who was still dripping wet from diving into the Serpentine, only to have the model ship he had just caught up to explode in his face, stared at his sister intently. "Odd how it didn't explode for twenty minutes, but the second I catch up with it, it completely seems to decimate itself."

Bulma refused to meet his eye, and Goku frowned. That was all the proof he needed that all was not as it seemed with his sister. Fortunately for her, he was too soaking wet (diving into the Serpentine after one's sisters 'beloved' model ship tended to do that) to go through the front door, or to care about grilling his sister at that exact moment. So all he said was, "Go work on making another model ship, and this one better be named after me. I'm going to go dry off, then train some with Krillin. I'll see you at dinner." He paused, before he continued, "If you can eat tonight, that is." He looked at her, concerned, "Seriously sis, I don't like the fact that you're working yourself so hard you can't keep food down."

Bulma frowned at him, and shrugged petulantly. "You know I get like this when I'm really stressed."

Goku reached up and tousled her hair like he did when they were little, just to annoy her, stopping when he saw her smile. "Yeah, well you need to stop being so stressed. I can't go to another ton event without you!"

Bulma smiled at that, winked at him, then turned and entered through the front door.

Goku waited until she was inside, before he turned and continued around back of Saiyan Hall, shedding outer layers as he went. Now that he was no longer under the eyes of society, he stripped himself of his soaking outer coat, his vest, undershirt, until he was bare to his waist, his shoes and dripping socks coming off as well. He left his wet clothes drying on some branches (if he did not remember to get them, he was sure someone would), and considered going to find Krillin for a spar like he had told Bulma he would. When his stomach started to growl though, Goku quickly changed track from where Krillin was staying and made his way into the kitchens. They were probably empty now (or as empty as kitchens got between dinner and supper) and he would hopefully be able to find a snack in the larder.

When he entered the kitchens though, he felt a smile spread on his face as he saw Chi-Chi with her back to him, alone, as she hummed, cutting some potatoes it looked like. Goku did not know what it was about Chi-Chi, but he just felt so relaxed around her. Like she really just liked him for who he was, and saw no reason to try and change him. She just made him...happy. Simply happy. Something he had not been in an extremely long time.

Seeing her alone in the kitchen, though, something he had not seen happen since the night of his debut ball, Goku decided to play a joke on her. He quietly snuck up on her, thanking his lucky stars he did not have his shoes on, waiting until he was right behind her to grab her shoulders, screaming, "Hey Chi-Chi!"

Chi-Chi screamed, hands going wide. Just as Goku started to chuckle at a joke well-executed, Chi-Chi surprised him by whirling around, grabbing Goku's wrist with both of her hands. Before he could even process that, Chi-Chi gave a yell, then flipped him over her shoulder in one fluid, smooth movement that belied years of practice with that move. Goku landed on his back with an oomph, the air getting knocked out of him, dazing him as he stared at the ceiling, as Chi-Chi expertly pointed the knife she had been using to cut the potatoes at him threateningly.

Goku was only dazed for a second though, and as he focused back in, he saw Chi-Chi's horrified face as she recognized her Ôattacker,' her eyes large, her face pale as she dropped the knife to her side. "Goku! I'm so sorry!"

Goku, more stunned than anything, easily sat up, and then flipped onto his legs so he was standing. He stared at Chi-Chi in wonderment as she nervously wrung her hands, curiosity and amazement fighting within him.

Chi-Chi watched the man she had come to care for as he studied her, feeling so embarrassed at what she had just done--before she noticed that he was currently shirtless and grew distracted from her own embarrassment. It took her a second to process the muscular, wide chest in front of her, but when she did her face blazed instantly, and she turned her back to him. She had never seen a man shirtless before--let alone the man she was fairly certain she was in love with! She quickly tried to cover, her voice shaky as she asked over her shoulder, "What are ye doin' in here with nay clothes on??"

Goku ignored her question, though, staring at her turned profile. When he spoke, it was slowly, as if he were speaking to a child, "Chi-Chi, where did you learn how to fight?"

Chi-Chi froze at that question, before she turned her face so she was staring at anything but him. "Well...uhm...ah...uhm...." She let out a nervous giggle, but before she said anything else, she quickly grabbed her skirts, turned, and fled from the kitchen, as if the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels.

Goku just stared at where she had just been standing in amazement, before a slow smile spread on his face.

She could cook, she could fight, and she could make him happy. If that was not the perfect woman, Goku did not know what was.

~~&~~
A/N: Oh, ho! Seems like Chi-Chi might be more than just the Vegetasei chef, no? Wonder what skeletons she has hiding in her closet...

And what's this? Vegeta--scared? Is that what's going on with all of these emotions that he's feeling (we all know how much Vegeta loves emotions)? And what are these sacrifices/plans Vegeta has? Hmmm...

Up next--Bulma on her first spy mission!