Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Price You Pay ❯ Chapter Twenty-Six ( Chapter 26 )

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The Price You Pay: Chapter Twenty-Six

Bulma didn't know how long she'd been soaking in the tub but as she examined her prune-like fingers and toes she figured it had been long enough. She eased her way out of the now lukewarm water and reached for the robe she'd brought in with her. The smooth material was very welcome against Bulma's sensitive skin as she let it slide across every surface of her exposed body. She could get used to this.

She reached her hand into the scented water and pulled the plug, allowing the water to escape. The tile floor was cold and she hissed as she walked across it and back onto the soft, less obtrusive, carpet.

It was still dark in the room even though Bulma could tell that it must have been at least 9 o'clock in the morning. The only light provided at all came from the open bathroom door and the window just beyond. There was a tall drapery that Bulma assumed covered a window off to the right and a gold drawstring hanging at its side. Feeling weary of the darkness, Bulma approached the tasseled rope and pulled on it. Immediately the drapery pulled to the side, buckling in its middle to expose two large, floor length windows that opened onto a balcony. The sky on this vivacious planet was still, to Bulma, extraordinary. The sun was relatively low on the horizon and some of it was still hidden behind the mountains that were off in the distance.

The balcony, she realized as she opened the doors and walked outside, was at least 30 feet above what she assumed to be ground level. The steep drop itself led to rough looking rocks and a lake that extended as far as her eyes could see. The sunlight reflected off its smooth surface leaving shimmering diamonds of light extending for miles. It was lovely. It was like home.

~~~~~<(((((|||)))))>~~~~~

The council room was unbearably stuffy, and the Nobles were only contributing to the suffocating atmosphere. Not one of them had any idea how complicated it was to run an empire. All of them had been high born and handed over their positions as if it were their right. He on the other hand, as the Saiya-jin Heir, would have to eradicate his father and all his guards before ever succeeding to the thrown of Vegeta-sei. Half the other men in the room were the result of incestuous family relations. An unfortunate side effect of the struggle to keep their bloodlines 'pure'. The flaws of their erroneous breeding habits were expressed most clearly in their complete and utter lack of intellect. There was only one purifying factor in the House of Vegeta-sei and that was death.

"We cannot handle a war on all fronts, sire," one of the Senators addressed Vegeta's brooding father.

"These politics have left us tip toeing in a political minefield for nearly a century now. War, at this point is inevitable, gentlemen. The Saiya-jin Empire is one of the strongest in the galaxy. The Cold family has lost interest in us so we no longer need fear their conflicting power. We need to smash these people like the insects they are before other Associate Worlds decide to rebel." To anyone with the intellect of an ant it would appear that the discussion was closed. Sadly, no men of such caliber sat at this particular table.

"But, sire…" continued the presumptuous Saiya-jin noble seated to the left of the King.

"Do shut your mouth, Nappa before you give reason for me to do it for you," said Vegeta before the noble had the opportunity to make some other ridiculous comment that would only lead to further self-incrimination. Despite the trouble he was having quenching his Saiya-jin pride, Nappa decided it was better to be quite and live to see another day.

The King sat at the head of the table, back rigid, for some time. He was formally attired, as were all the other Senate members. Vegeta cringed at the sight of the hideously flashy rock of a pendant the King wore around his neck as the symbol of his supremacy and rule. If there was one thing Vegeta didn't look forward to about becoming King, it was being weighted down by that ghastly, ancient stone that was nearly two millennia old.

Hideous decoration.

Thought Vegeta, letting his mind wander. The banter going on in the room didn't interest him in the least. They were going to war and no matter how the other Senators tried to talk the King out of it, the decision had already been made.

These men are an insult to the Saiya-jin race.

All of them should have been destroyed centuries ago. There was no use in maintaining this shell of an aristocracy and democratic political system when they all knew that formidable ki was the real ruler here. These men, with the exception of Nappa who had served several years in the Saiya-jin military, held little ki ability to their name other than flying. Of course, this could be considered to some a dramatization but to Vegeta, these men were like expendable, defenseless rodents just waiting to be put to the slaughter. He was the one they feared. He was the one who would one day rule with an iron fist. He was the Saiya-jin of legend and none of them could contest his awesome power.

Vegeta absently clenched and released his gloved hand as a form of amusement. He had had enough.

"Enough, you fools. Enough," he finally growled, forcefully pushing back his seat and standing. "You will respect the decision of the King and stop this ridiculous quarreling immediately." There was complete silence as all the men around the room gazed up at the vexed Saiya-jin no Ouji, some in fear, others in contempt. His father glanced at him coolly.

"This meeting," began his father, "is adjourned." All the Senators glanced at each other in confusion. The case was closed and they all knew it. No one contested the opinion of the King and the Heir and lived to speak of it. All rose, gathered what papers they had scattered before them, and hurriedly exited the conference room.

"You shouldn't have done that, brat," the King addressed the younger Saiya-jin. "Now there will be talk of the monarchy overthrowing the Senate all over Vegeta-sei. Not very wise considering the war we are about to begin." His voice was still cool but Vegeta could sense the malice there. The anger was just waiting to explode on him in a flurry of ki energy. He had undermined the King, made him appear weak.

"So, let them talk. We have been the rightful rulers of Vegeta-sei for millennia. Let them say what they wish for if they create a quarrel with the House of Vegeta-sei it will only bring death and destruction upon their own." He was right in his own way. It was for this reason that the House of Vegeta-sei had been in power for so long. No one dared disturb a family that could completely destroy everything that mattered to them.

The King's eyes narrowed. "Do not take your power for granted, brat. I was once called the Foreseen One too and do not doubt that the same miserable fate that befell me will also befall you. Do not let your ambition get ahead of you." It was a slap in the face. Vegeta hated being reminded of his father's failure to fulfill the prophecy and the dishonor and pressure it brought upon himself.

Mark my words, Father, someday I will revel in your suffering.

Thought Vegeta after the King left. The man was intolerable but Vegeta refused to be associated with his father's weakness. He would become the Legendary. He could feel it inside him just as surely as he could feel his own steady heart beat.

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Bulma was startled out of her peaceful reverie by a loud knock at the door. Not wanting to leave the unknown visitor waiting for terribly long, she hastened into the room and to the large door. After adjusting the robe that was her only clothing, Bulma cracked the door open and peered into the dim hallway.

"Good afternoon, m'lady," greeted the large Saiya-jin before her. It was the one from the lake. Wasn't his name Radditz?

"Good afternoon, Radditz," she responded calmly. Though she no longer feared him the way she had at the lake, he was still a large and formidable soldier who could easily overpower her. There was a moment of awkward silence.

"May I enter the room, m'lady?" he asked in an almost irritated, but respectful tone after shifting his weight from one leg to the other in an uncomfortable way.

"Yes, of course." Bulma mentally slapped herself for her lack of courtesy.

"I've been asked by Prince Vegeta to escort you to your new chambers, m'lady," he said in a monotone.

"But I thought…" She was confused, accustomed to staying in her mate's quarters. Radditz gave her a questioning gaze. Of course, she reminded herself, there was no way he could have any idea about her connection to the Saiya-jin no Ouji, if it even existed in this warped dimension. At this point she was beginning to doubt her sanity. No one seemed to be aware of their past histories except for Bulma, and her only link to this connection was the lone mark burnt between her shoulder blades.

"These are the Prince's quarters, m'lady." He must have mistaken her meaning. It was for the better she supposed. The less people knew of her connection, the less people thought her mad.

"Yes…. And please, don't call me `m'lady'. My name is Bulma and I won't be offended if you refrain from using any sort of formal title," she said with little passion in her voice.

"Of course, Lady Bulma," replied the burly Saiya-jin. Bulma shook her head, but decided to let it slide. She wasn't in the mood to explain herself again, especially to a Saiya-jin. Bulma walked to the chair beside the bed and grabbed her undergarments. Apparently the rest of her PJs were still MIA.

"Alright," she sighed, "I'm ready to go." She gave the room one last look, trying to burn the feel and scent of it into her brain, and then, without glancing behind her, followed Radditz out of the comfort of her mate's room.

~~~~~<(((((|||)))))>~~~~~

Vegeta entered his quarters. He was angry and looking for some solace. It was asinine that his father would be so angered by his interjection. He stopped and counted to ten. The last thing he needed right now was to draw more attention to himself. He was on edge and had been for the past week. The Khon'daia na had started and everything had just died from there. His body was beginning to deal with greater energies and more complex emotional states. All that had been aggravated even further when the onna arrived. He couldn't get his mind off of her.

He paced toward the bed. It was still unmade from earlier that morning; she must have only just recently left the room because the maids hadn't come yet. He could smell her everywhere. That delicate, feminine fragrance that was so new to him, but so familiar at the same time. He was utterly enveloped in it when he'd risen earlier that morning. He'd hoped not to have to take a shower before he went to his council meeting but the fragrance was so strong that he'd opted to take one nonetheless. The last thing he needed was for the Senators to catch the smell of a woman on him—led alone an alien one at that.

He quickly removed his cape and sat on the now empty bed. It seemed strangely lonely without her in it and for a moment he pondered how he could possibly think such an idiotic thing.

An image of the woman lying naked on black sheets, her hair splayed haphazardly around her, filled Vegeta's vision. How could it feel so real?

Hurriedly, Vegeta removed his shirt and walked into the bathroom. He needed another shower. A cold one. It would ease his aching head and muscles and hopefully wash away his lingering thoughts.

Swiftly removing the rest of his clothes, Vegeta stepped into the shower, turning the cold water faucet. The frigid water struck his body like a thousand icicles but he was used to it by now. He turned his back to the water and this time, hissed. The water did always sting when it hit the newly burnt mark…