Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Prince's Captive ❯ Chapter 9

Celestial Princess: To clear up any confusion, Kakarot (Goku) wasn't sent to Earth as a baby in my fiction. This is an alternate universe fic. ^_^

Vegeta: I'm sure they all ready knew that, baka onna!

Celestial Princess: I was just trying to make sure. (Breaks down crying and runs from room).

Goku: Hey Veggie, I sure seem different in this fic.

Vegeta: Of course, you baka. You're at Celestial Princess's mercy. She changed everything around.

Goku: Oh okay. (Doesn't understand, but decides not to ask.)

Vegeta: And don't call me Veggie. And without any more idiotic remarks from Kakarot, here's…

CHAPTER NINE

Once inside the palace, Bulma took Chi Chi, Gohan, and Amara to her room to talk. Radditz went along with Kakarot and Vegeta to the Prince's quarters. Radditz leaned against the wall near the door; Kakarot and Vegeta were sitting on the couch.

"What is it that you wanted to talk about?" Vegeta asked.

"I wasn't living on Earth all this time," he said. "I only stayed on Earth for about three months, then I took Chi Chi and Gohan and we went somewhere else."

"And why's that?" Radditz asked.

"I noticed a bunch of people walking the streets in uniform," he continued. "Occasionally, I would see them threatening or beating up earthlings. Naturally, it made me curious and I went to investigate. I found out the one in change of them all was Freiza. He was using the Earth for its resources, though he wasn't on Earth himself. I threatened some of his men and made them tell me all they knew." He looked at Vegeta. "They're on their way here. Apparently, the King has been speaking with Frieza, indirectly."

"What?" Vegeta exclaimed. "He didn't mention anything to me." He looked at Radditz, who shrugged.

"I just wanted to make sure you knew," Kakarot said. "We should inform the others and you should talk to the King."

Vegeta grunted in reply and got to his feet. "I'm going to talk to him now."

He left the room and Kakarot and Radditz shared a look.

>>>

Vegeta stood in the doorway and spotted his father. It had only taken him fifteen minutes to find him. Luckily, when Vegeta came upon Nappa, he knew where the King was.

He stepped into the room and King Vegeta turned.

"Can I talk to you?"

"Sure," King Vegeta said.

"I heard from a reliable source that you've been talking to someone named Frieza."

The King was clearly stunned. After a moment he answered, "Well, yes."

"Funny, you never mentioned it to me."

"I don't have to tell you everything," he said.

Vegeta frowned. "When it's something this serious I'd like to think you would have the dignity to tell me."

"This serious?" he fumed. "Nothing has happened!"

"Frieza's on his way here!"

The King's anger faded a little. "What!"

Vegeta nodded. "Have your men check up on it, but I heard he's coming. And if the rumors I've heard about him are true, then he's not coming here just for a nice chat." He looked hard at his father. "You didn't promise him anything, did you?"

The King frowned, but didn't say anything. Vegeta crossed his arms and waited. Finally, King Vegeta spoke, "When he comes he may want you."

"Me? For what?"

"To work for him. When I talked to him last he kept mentioning that he needed new recruits," he said. "But that was such a long time ago."

"And you wait until now to let me know that some lizard wants me to work under him?! What the hell is wrong with you?"

King Vegeta advanced towards his son. He grabbed him by the shirt and lifted him off of the ground a little. "Don't forget your place, Vegeta. I'm still in charge, got that?"

Vegeta's eyes widened. "You're not doing a very good job as King."

As soon as he'd said it, he wished that he hadn't. King Vegeta's expression was blank, but he loosened his grip on his son and he set his feet on the floor. Then Vegeta found himself on the floor after his father had punched him in the face.

He looked up at his father and touched his hand to his face.

"Get out," King Vegeta said. "Now!"

Vegeta got his feet and left the room. He stormed down the hallway and passed Nappa.

"Prince Vegeta?"

He turned. "Have some men go check on the progress of Frieza."

"Frieza?"

"He's coming to Vegeta-sei. Just do it!"

"Sir." He walked down the hall in opposite direction.

Vegeta kept walking until he reached his destination. He threw open the door to his room and closed it behind him.

Radditz and Kakarot looked at him, taken aback. Radditz opened his mouth to speak. "What happened?"

Vegeta turned his eyes to him. The look in his eyes made Radditz glance at his brother, but Kakarot was watching in silence.

Vegeta laughed. "I found out that I'm going to be given to that lizard when he gets here."

"You can't be serious," Kakarot said.

"I am," he said. "Why the hell would I joke about something like this?"

"Who would have promised him such a thing?" Radditz asked.

"My father, that's who."

Radditz and Kakarot exchanged glances.

"Just leave," Vegeta said.

The brothers got up without any more questions and did as the Prince had asked. When he heard the door close, he went to the window. He opened it and looked down at the city.

It was still and silent. In fact, he hadn't heard or seen anything strange in the city for a while. What was going on down there now?

He heard the door open again and stood tall. "I thought I told you to leave."

"You didn't."

He turned to the sound of Bulma's voice. She stood in the doorway, looking concerned. "What happened?"

He didn't answer her. She pushed the door shut and stalked into the room. She went to him and ran her fingers over his cheek. "Who hit you?"

He shook his head.

She inched her lips towards his and lightly touched them. She opened her eyes and he made no move to respond. She closed her eyes again and pressed her lips to his. After a moment, he put his hands at her back and returned the kiss.

She broke away. "What's got you so upset? What was Kakarot telling you in here?"

He frowned. "Frieza?"

Her eyes widened. "What did you say?"

"He was telling me that Frieza's on his way here," he said. "And I had a nice talk with my father." Sarcasm was thick in his voice. "And it turns out that I might have to work for Frieza."

Bulma pulled away from his touch. Her eyes suddenly became painfully serious. "He's coming here? You're sure of it?"

"Pretty sure. Why?"

She bit her lip and shook her head.

"Don't give me that, woman," he said, grabbing her arm and pulling her closer. "Why are you acting so strange?"

"Well…why shouldn't I? I've heard about Frieza. I'm afraid."

He narrowed his eyes. "What are you hiding from me?"

"N-nothing," she said. "Please, Vegeta, let go of my arm you're hurting me."

He looked down at his hand. "That's only because you're pulling away from me. Why are you resisting?"

"Why are you interrogating me?" she yelled.

He let go of her so abruptly that she stumbled back and nearly fell.

"You go away too," he said, harshly. "I want everyone out for now."

"Vegeta…"

"Bulma, just do what I asked you to."

She went to the door and looked back at him. She opened her mouth to speak, but couldn't bring herself to do it. She shook her head and left him alone.

>>>

Chi Chi and Gohan had gone back to Kakarot's apartment. Amara suggested that they stay in the palace for Gohan's sake, but no one wanted to go and ask Prince Vegeta. Kakarot said it should be okay, the city wasn't in a state of chaos at the moment.

Bulma lie in bed, unable to sleep. She turned on her side and pulled the sheets tighter around her body.

Her bedroom door opened. She lifted her head and Vegeta walked in. He left the lights off and moved to her bedside. He knelt on the floor.

"Vegeta?"

He caught her chin in his hand and kissed her lips, softly.

She sat up. "Vegeta I…"

He slid onto the bed and touched the shoulder strap on her nightgown. He pulled it down her shoulder until it rested on her arm. He moved to the other one, but she caught his hand.

He looked at her and broke free of her grip. He went for the strap again and she let him. With the swish of silk the gown slid down to her waist.

She touched his face where a bruise had formed and he winced. He pulled her hand away and placed it over his lips. He tongue flicked out across it and she shuddered.

"Vegeta?"

He frowned and let go of her hands. "Why do you insist on talking? Can't you see that I'm trying to make up for before?"

She blinked. He was apologizing for before? She sighed. He shouldn't have been the one apologizing.

He pushed her back on the bed and she gasped. He tugged at the nightgown and she wiggled out of it.

He ran his fingers over her toned stomach. She smiled and reached upwards for him. He caught her hand and bent down to kiss it. He noticed something that he hadn't seen before. He brought her left wrist closer to his face.

"What's this? A scar?"

She gasped and pulled her wrist back. He frowned at her and reached for her wrist again. She fought him, but he easily subdued her.

"What is going on with you, woman?" he asked. "Are you afraid this scar will mar your beauty? Or…is it something else?"

"It's nothing," she said.

He let her wrist go. "Whatever it is, just go ahead and tell me. So that we can get on with this and I can enjoy lying next to you."

"I told you it's noth…"

"There has been something you've wanted to tell me ever since you saw me," he said. "I know it, I saw it in your face. So tell me. It's really started to bother me now."

"If I told you, it would jeopardize everything," she said, averting her eyes.

"Well, I don't like being lied to."

She nodded and moved to sit up. He pulled away so she could sit and scooted back on the bed a little.

"Vegeta, you're absolutely right, there is something that I've kept from you," she said. "And I'm sorry. I'm going to have to tell you now because I don't want you to find out the hard way."

A/N: Uh-oh. It just got serious. Talk about killing the mood! We'll come back to these two in chapter 10. Chapter 9 was going to be a little too long if I typed anymore. LOL. Plus, now we have some suspense going! (Dramatic music).

Vegeta: I thought I was going to get some for sure.

Amara: What, no singing this time?

Vegeta: What did you say?

Amara: (sweatdrops) Oh! Nothing. (Looks down at camera from last time). Hehe!