Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Prince's Captive ❯ Chapter 5

A/N: I've come up with the character I'm going to use later in the fic. So don't worry about it anymore, but maybe you guys weren't worrying about it at all cuz I didn't get any e-mails. Tsk, tsk tsk! Shame on you! ^_^ Enjoy Chapter Five.

CHAPTER FIVE

The medics had worked a total of two hours on the Prince. Bulma had overheard them say that they were going to place Vegeta and Radditz in something called a rejuvenation chamber later on. Apparently, the chambers were out of commission at the moment.

Bulma woke up to the sound of rustling sheets. She sat up on the couch and looked over at the bed. Vegeta stirred, but remained asleep.

Bulma slowly rose from the couch and went to him. She sat on the edge of the bed. His tail was hanging over the side, thumping against it.

She touched the tip of his tail and it stopped moving. Bulma had heard of the Saiya-jins before, but she had never seen one up close. She'd heard that they were a ravenous, bloodthirsty race and it seemed true at first glance. But there was something different about Vegeta. His exterior was tough and arrogant, but it only served as a shell to hide his much gentler nature. Surely a murderous prince wouldn't have risked his life to save her.

She ran her finger up the length of his tail and was fascinated how soft the brown fur felt under her touch.

"Do you find interest in my tail?"

His voice took her by surprise. "Oh, I didn't know you were awake."

"Because you'd much rather fondle me while I'm sleeping?"

She frowned and changed the subject. "Who in the world were those guys in the city? And how'd did they get powerful enough to beat you?"

"They weren't strong, but plentiful," he said. "Each of them was a mediocre fighter, but they kept coming like mad."

"You didn't let the others help you?"

"I didn't need their help," he said, imperiously. "I didn't ask them to come."

"But you protected them?"

He turned his face away from her. "What's with all the questions?"

She ran her fingers along the edge of the bed. "I'm just trying to figure you out."

He laughed.

"How are your wounds?" she asked, sincerely.

"Hn. Not life-threatening if that's what you mean. I'm not a weakling."

"Of course not."

There was a moment of silence between the two. Vegeta broke it first. "Where are you from?"

"Hmm?"

"You're not a Saiya-jin."

"No, I'm from a planet called Earth," she said, finally.

"Then what are you doing here?" He looked at her, sternly.

"I came here in search of a better life."

He smirked. "Looks like you came at a bad time. They're going to revolt against my father. I will admit that his leadership has been…" He paused. "…He lets others sway him in the wrong direction. He's giving them too much say so in the way our planet is run. He's been this way ever since my mother died. To the person looking in from the outside, my mother was just an idol for women. Women tried to be as charismatic and beautiful as she was. But her role was much more than that. She made sure that my father was on the right track. He was a good leader and she was intelligent."

"Behind every great man there's an even greater woman," Bulma said.

He blinked. "I don't know why I told you all of that."

She smiled and touched his cheek lightly where the bandage was. "You can tell me anything."

"Why the sudden change of heart?"

"I saw something deep within you, that I don't think anyone else has seen, maybe not even you."

"Oh?"

She nodded and noticed that his eyes were beginning to flutter.

"I'm sorry that I woke you," she said. "Get some rest. They'll be coming soon to put you in the…rejuvenation tank…is that it?"

He nodded. "Good. These injuries are becoming annoying and I need to talk to my father about this…revolution…"

She smiled as he immediately fell asleep. He looked so peaceful, even with all the bandages. She laughed. There was a slight scowl on his face, even in his sleep.

<~~~>

King Vegeta sat at the head of the table. All ten of his councilmen had been called in to discuss the revolution.

"What do they want?" King Vegeta asked. "Why are they doing this?"

A man named Malem spoke. "Our soldiers have been disguising themselves as commoners to get information on what's going on down there. It appears that the people are revolting because they want equal class rights and a democratic government."

The King raised his eyebrows. "A democracy? Hn!"

"Yes, Sire. We can't let them get away with this, can we? They need to be put back in their place and we'll be the ones to do it."

Cole looked at Malem, suspiciously. "I don't think that's a wise idea. Are we sure we have enough information yet?"

Malem shot him a look. "Oh, perhaps we should send your infamous daughter to act as a rebel and get us information from the inside. It's not like she has anything important to do. All she does in hang around those soldiers…"

"I won't listen to you speak of Amara in that manner!" Cole said, heatedly.

Malem smirked and turned back to Kind Vegeta. "Sire, I suggest that we gather a group of some of our toughest soldiers and beat them back into the hole they crawled out of."

King Vegeta pondered on this notion for a moment. "I'll think it over. Perhaps we shouldn't rush into things. I think that was what Cole was trying to say."

"Yes, Sire," Cole said.

"Everyone is dismissed for now."

The King left the room and the councilmen began to leave as well. Malem walked up to Cole.

"I still say we should send in your daughter, it's not like anyone would miss her if worst came to worst," he sneered.

Cole punched the other man in the face. His movement had been so fluid and swift that he hadn't detected it. Malem fell to the floor.

"Still angry that I wouldn't let you mate with her?" Cole asked. "Stay the fuck away from my daughter. I would rather have her mate with a third-class peasant than you." He stormed out of the room.

Another councilman by the name of Wayan caught up with Cole. "What was all that about?"

"I don't trust that guy," he said. "If the King didn't need him in the council, I would dispose of him myself."

<~~~>

"Bulma?"

Bulma bolted up on the couch as Amara came into the room. She looked over to the bed. "Where's Vegeta?"

"They took him to the rejuvenation tanks," she said. "They took Radditz first to test the machines out."

"Test them?"

"Oh sure, they couldn't put the Prince in something that might hurt him," Amara said, sarcastically. "If it blows up, it should be a low-class soldier that dies."

"Oh."

"I've come bearing gifts." She was holding clothes in her arms. "They're mine, but I think we're about the same size. You can't walk around wearing the same thing."

"I see," Bulma said, standing. "Though I was under the impression that you didn't like me…because of last night."

"Oh, I wanted to apologize for that. I was just angry and confused."

"It's all right. I understand."

"Come and try on the clothes, take what you like I have more at home."

"Thank you," Bulma said, walking over to her. She held up a few articles of clothing. "Wow, these clothes look really nice. What do you do for a living? Are you a guard?"

Amara laughed. "No."

"A soldier then?"

"Nope."

"Then what?"

"I'm a councilman's daughter?"

"And?"

"That's it," Amara said. "I don't have a job. Our family's got enough money to support me. I could take a trip around the universe and back and still be loaded with money."

"I see." Bulma held the clothes up to her body and looked at herself in the full-length mirror on the wall.

"I usually just hang around the palace and help out when I can."

"I noticed you came with Vegeta to rescue me," she said. "Are you a pretty good fighter?"

"I know the basics." Amara sat down on the bed. "Radditz has been teaching me, though."

"The long-haired one?"

"That's him," Amara said with a smile.

"Is he your husband?"

"Husband?"

"Yeah, you know. You had a wedding ceremony and now you're married to him."

"You mean, is he my mate?"

"I guess so," Bulma said.

"No, we're just having fun together. I will admit that I love him and I'm sure he feels the same way, but we're so different…"

"How do you mean?" Bulma asked, pulling off her shirt to try on another.

"I'm a first-class citizen and he's a soldier," she explained. "We, Saiya-jins, are really big on keeping the classes separated. It's completely intolerable for a soldier to mate with a councilman's daughter. I know it's stupid and I completely disagree with it." She sighed and averted her eyes. "That's probably why this revolution has begun. These rules are trivial and unfair. Nothing should come between true love." She looked up at Bulma again and met her sorrowful gaze. "Hey, it's all right, though. Maybe Radditz and I can hang in there until Prince Vegeta becomes King. Then he can change the rules and do away with anyone who opposes. I'd help, too!"

Bulma smiled. "Do you think the Queen would have been pleased with those petty rules?"

"The Queen? What do you know about her?" Amara's eyes widened with surprise.

"Vegeta was talking to me about her." She began to try on clothes again. "He seems to really be missing her."

"I can't believe it. He never talks to anyone about her." Amara raised an eyebrow. "He must really like you."

Bulma paused with a shirt over her head. She pulled it down. "You think so?"

"Mmm-hmm." Amara's feet were hanging over the side of the bed and she began to slowly kick them back and forth. "I was surprised that he wanted to spare your life in the first place. I didn't think he'd give you a second glance. It's not like him at all."

Bulma frowned slightly. "Really?"

"Maybe he'll even invite you to the formal ball tomorrow night."

"Formal ball?"

"Oh, I know just the dress you can wear!" Amara shouted suddenly, springing from the bed. "I'll run out and get it. You can have all these other clothes. I'll be back soon!" She ran out of the room.

Bulma stood in front of the mirror with a dumbfounded look on her face. "What just happened?"

<~~~>

A/N: Formal ball? What's up with that? Find out in the next chapter! What's that smell? It's faint, but it definitely smells kind of lemony… ^_~

~Celestial Princess