Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Unfaithful ❯ Part Three: 13 ( Chapter 13 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

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................................................................ ...................Rhapsody~*



________________________~* Part Three*~: Diplomacy
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Nataliah was awakened from her pleasant dreams of her home back in Russia by the sound of the salty breeze opening and closing her bedroom door.

The handmaiden, adapted to taking such short naps, was instantly awake and alert. She slid off the bed and crossed the room to see if perhaps Bulma needed anything. The first odd thing that she noticed was the lack of steam coming from the bathroom and the strange silence that was quite unusual.

Worried that her mistress had somehow drowned, the handmaiden rusehd to the room, only to find the tub drained and the room empty. When she exited the room, she noticed the second odd thing-- the doors leading to the balcony were ajar. Thinking that maybe the sea-loving queen had gone out to look at the water, Nataliah proceeded forward onto the balcony. But the woman was nowhere to be found.

Bewildered (after all, if Yamcha returned to find his wife missing, the blame would be placed on her!), the handmaiden walked to the railing. It was no secret that Bulma had always entertained the idea of taking her own life, but ending it in such a messy way hardly seemed her style. Nevertheless, Nataliah mustered up her courage and looked down.

At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. That is, until the girl looked to the coastline, where her mistress could be found. Nataliah gasped in horror at what she was seeing.

Bulma shed her robe and entered the turquoise water, her body exposed and hair free to float on the surface behind her. But what was even more alarming was the company she was in. The human queen grinned in a way that Nataliah had never seen before as she allowed herself to be held close to the chest of the Saiyan Prince Vejita. What was even more scandalous than the affair itself was how perfect and happy they looked together.

Prince Vejita pulled away first and beckoned for his companion to venture further away from the coastline with him. Bulma hesitated, then began to swim slowly out after him. If she had not known these people, Nataliah's romantic's heart would have warmed right over at the sight. Her queen had found love in the oddest place imaginable-- in the arms of her husband's enemy.

Nataliah could only bear to watch one more kiss, one more honest embrace and playful splash before she had to turn away. Her conformed, closed mind struggled to fully grasp the situation and decision at hand.

What Bulma was doing was clearly dangerous, but her duty first and foremost was to be loyal to her queen. To what extent, however, she did not know.
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When Bulma returned to her room an hour later, aided by Vejita's flying abilities, the chambers were thankfully empty.

The queen snuck past Nataliah's locked room like a teenager past curfew, though she had never done it herself. Once in the bathroom, she stepped into the shower to wash off the smell of the sea and the layer of salt that encrusted her hair. As she cleaned herself up, she hummed, more contented than she had been in a long time.

When she exited the bathroom, still singing under her breath, she found her handmaiden waiting for her.

"Hello Nataliah," Bulma greeted pleasantly. "How was your nap?"

Nataliah seemed to still be tired. Her face was pale and drawn. "It was nice, m'lady."

Bulma studied the girl closer, her cerulean eyes concerned. "Perhaps you should rest a bit more," she suggested. "You look like a zombie, if you forgive my saying so."

"Queen Magdalene has requested your presence," Nataliah said, ignoring Bulma's advice as politely as she could. Her lack of sleep was turning out to be the least of their problems. "She expects you in a half an hour, out in the gardens."

Bulma's heart skipped a beat. Did the wise woman know what had been happening right under her nose, when nobody was looking? With shaking fingers, she motioned for Nataliah to assist her in dressing. "Thank you for relaying the message."

As Nataliah followed her lady to her dressing room, she could not help but hope that Queen Magdalene would expose the affair, therefore saving her the trouble.
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Magdalene arrived at the gardens first, so that she would have time to think in peace for a bit.

There were several reasons why she had called Bulma to meet with her today. First of all, the queen wished to simply enjoy the girl's company and lift her spirits a bit. Seeing her beautiful face was a perfect way to brighten up even the dreariest of days.

And secondly, she had a more important matter to discuss. She had witnessed Yamcha's angry and resentful reaction to Bulma's speaking out at the previous night's dinner, and knew for certain that she had had to face the consequences soon after. Her own husband had been the same way. If Bulma wanted to get out of this in one piece, without remaining completely silent, arrangements would have to be made. The queen clearly had a natural political ability that should not be wasted.

And third-- Magdalene wanted to at least inquire about what had happened during Bulma's absence at the dinner. Bulma had come back with a totally different aura, and a new hairdo, which was an extremely odd detail indeed. Why would Bulma need to let her hair down if she were merely going for a walk? And why had Vejita been hiding his ki signature? Magdalene wasn't trying to jump to conclusions, but it was easy enough to put two and two together and get 'danger'.

When Bulma came around the corner, Magdalene was waiting for her. As usual, the human queen was dressed to the nine's in a rose-petal pink wrap and carefully wrapped and braided hair. The kind of beauty that that girl possessed could hold the power to demand the respect of millions, which was probably why Yamcha had married her.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," Bulma greeted pleasantly. "I am sorry to have kept you waiting-- I came as quickly as I could."

"You look lovely this morning," Magdalene complimented. "It is too bad that you did not meet my son sooner in life. You would have made a magnificent queen of Vejitasei."

Bulma blushed a little, for more than one reason. "Thank you. How are you this morning, Your Majesty?"

Magdalene smiled humorously. "Oh-- same shit different day, as Vejita would so charmingly phrase it. And enough with your formalities. From now on, I am Magdalene, and you are Bulma. How does that sound?"

Bulma did not know how to respond to the outgoing queen's outlandish idea. But she did know that it was something that she could get used to. "Wonderful-- it sounds wonderful."

"Alright then," Magdalene replied. "Let us move on, both literally and figuratively. Follow me, if you would."

"Where are we going?" Bulma asked as she followed the Saiyan woman deeper into the maze-like gardens.

"Not to look at flowers, to be sure," Magdalene scoffed. "I love roses, no mistake, but if everyone tells me that a lady's time should be constantly spent among them, let me assure you, I will do just the opposite to spite them. We are going to watch my son, your husband, and some of the other men spar. After that, we'll have a nice little chat over tea. This is merely a shortcut to the training facility."

Bulma's heart raced. How would she and Vejita conceal their doings from his keen mother? "Do you suppose that its safe?" she asked, hoping that the queen would change her mind. "I understand that Saiyans train with their ki's, and that it can get unruly sometimes."

"Nonsense!" Magdalene exclaimed. "That might happen with inexperienced fighters, but my son is the strongest man in Saiyan history, and possibly the universe. Everything is very controlled."

Bulma tried not appear disappointed. "Then this is a rare opprotunity indeed."

Magdalene led her through the garden paths to a set of large doors on the side of the palace. She knocked on the door once, and the doors were opened smoothly and without delay to reveal the training facility, or at least part of it.

The vast room before her was unlike anything Bulma had seen before. What they were seeing was actually only a small division of the facility, unaided by gravity gauges. On the main, padded floor, the men, including Prince Vejita, Kakkarott, Nappa, Raditz and Yamcha warmed up. The walls were surrounded by mirrors so that the warriors could see their actions.

"Good morning, boys," Magdalene greeted as they approached the men. "Do you mind if we watch?"

Vejita eyed the vulnerable Yamcha, then glanced at Bulma impassively. Bulma was relieved that he could act so effortlessly. "No, as long as you don't mind witnessing the human getting murdered."

Nappa and Raditz guffawed at the ballsy comment, then shut up when Magdalene and Bulma did not join them.

"Sometimes I wish that I had given birth to a girlchild," Magdalene said, throwing up her hands. "Come along Bulma-- I am going to pretend that you are my child instead."

Bulma smiled and followed Magdalene up a set of stairs that led to the balcony-type area designated for spectators who wanted a clear view of the fight and a safe place to watch. The human queen took a seat next to Magdalene, who seemed a bit worried.

"I'm afraid that my son might do something drastic," she confided. "And no offense intended, but your husband has no place in this. He can't even fly, for goodness' sake!"

"Perhaps not," Bulma allowed, watching her husband through steely eyes. "But he'll just have to learn the hard way. It is the only way to teach him."

Below them, the men finished agreeing on rules and, with the exception of Yamcha, began powering up with a flash of multi-colored light. Bulma's husband was soon lost in the glow of the stronger men's ki's, and was clearly not happy about it.

Nappa and Raditz seemed especially pleased with his confusion and began to flash their ki's in order to blind him. Prince Vejita did not have to do this-- his glowing yellow ki was enough on its own. Bulma could not tear her eyes way from his Super-Saiyan transformation, which was even legendary to the fighters on Earth. Kakkarott seemed torn between stopping them and staying passive. It was Magdalene who finally put an end to the madness.

"Enough, you two!" she ordered, her voice somehow carrying over the smug laughter of the two Saiyan men. "We came to watch sparring, not your rendition of fireflies during mating season!"

Nappa had the decency to look ashamed of himself, while Radditz did not. He looked as if he might burst holding back his laughter. Prince Vejita, who had powered down upon his mother's orders, slapped him on the back of the head, and then he shut up. Kakkarott looked ashamed that they were related. Bulma could hardly blame him.

"How about this," Magdalene began. She moved out of her chair and started down the stairs to the main level. Bulma followed quietly, avoiding Vejita's eyes as they honed in on her. "You all can spar without ki's, you know-- hand to hand. That way, Bulma and I can watch, and King Ymahca over there can compete."

Kakkarott grinned. "All right! I haven't boxed in a long time."

Vejita smirked and moved to get some tape for his knuckles, while Nappa and Radditz pouted. Yamcha looked infuriated at being babied like a weakling, though that was what he was. Magdalene stood out of the way, near a mirrored wall, and watched the men prepare themselves. Bulma moved beside her.

"You all act so strangely, if you'll forgive my saying so" she commented, watching Vejita joke around with his Saiyan companions. "Like a big family. So informal."

Magdalene nodded. "Its such a shame that all these restrictions are placed on the nobles and royals these days, especially on planets like yours. Thats why I choose to live here, where its not so uptight, and one can escape from protocol."

"It is a pleasant change," Bulma agreed. "Its too bad that this trip is for diplomatic reasons. I would love to come here on vacation."

"Then you must," Magdalene enthused. "Soon. I would be delighted to have you."

Bulma did not mention that it would be highly unlikely that that would ever come to pass. Especially if their planets went to war, which was looking like the probable course of action.

In the middle of the room, the men finished preparing themselves and stepped back to the walls beside Bulma and Magdalene until only Kakkarott and Vejita (the two most closely matched fighters) were left in the middle. Yamcha purposely positioned himself right next to Bulma, who, after being with Vejita, felt sick at his touch. It was getting much harder to fake now.

"I've got a hundred on Vejita," Nappa proposed to Radditz. "Your soft brother has no chance."

Radditz shook his head. "Vejita is technically stronger, but Kakkarott's got the willpower. Vejita's cocky as hell, and that affects his fighting."

"We'll see," Nappa allowed doubtfully.

The two fighters began to circle each other, each harboring totally different combat styles. Kakkarott grinned and seemed to be in a more defensive position, while Vejita's arrogant half-smile and ready fists made him look like a winner already.

Not surprisingly, it was Vejita who threw the first punch, directly into Kakkarott's gut. The other Saiyan wavered a little, then recovered, no worse for wear. Vejita attacked again, this time receiving a response. Soon the two were lost in a flurry of quick blows.

Bulma watched Vejita's swift movements raptly. Beneath his tanned skin, corded and sculpted muscles constricted periodically, a sight that she found extremely difficult to tear her eyes from. The little part of her that was growing more independent secretly wished that the Saiyan Prince would go after her husband and show him real fighting.

"This is ridiculous," Yamcha complained as the two men assaulted each other. It was clear even to him that he didn't stand a chance. "There is no referee, no rules, no nothing! Its unfair."

Nappa chuckled. "This way, only the strongest and swiftest win."

"Are you getting cold feet, human?" Radditz taunted.

"Of course not," Yamcha lied. "I was just pointing out how easy it would be to cheat."

A concept that you commonly make use of, Bulma thought to herself. "Who do you fight first?" she asked softly.

Yamcha seemed to notice her for the first time. "Nappa."

Bulma looked over to the 6'5", burly man and then to her more conservatively built husband, and felt her stomach drop. They were about to witness a massacre.

Out on the floor, Vejita nearly had Kakkarott cornered. He was smirking, and by the gleam in his eye it was apparent that he knew he had won the fight already. And sure enough, in one fluid motion, he unbalanced Kakkarott and landed the winning blow, which set the other warrior back on his hindquarters.

"Whew!" Kakkarott exclaimed. "That was great. I haven't fought without ki for a long time."

"Neither have I," Vejita said smugly. "Once again, it is obvious who is stronger."

Kakkarott got to his feet and smiled good-naturedly. "Wait until next time, Vejita-sama-- next time."

Nappa, after collecting his bet money from a grimacing Radditz, moved out to the floor. "Come and get me, human scum!" he coaxed, cracking his knuckles and neck. "I'm ready to clean the floor with your ass!"

Yamcha reluctantly moved out to face the larger Saiyan, sweating already. "I'm ready."

Before the words had even left his mouth, Nappa charged and pinned the weaker man to the floor, delivering swift hits to his face and chest. Radditz cackled at the sight, as well as Vejita, who had come to stand some ten feet from Bulma. She was painfully aware of his presence, and hoped that Magdalene would not notice.

"This is terrible," the Saiyan Queen remarked as Nappa continued to pummel Yamcha mercilessly. "The fight is already won-- what is the point in dragging it out?"

"Please don't end it now," Bulma insisted. "It would be far worse on him if you did. He would be so humiliated."

Magdalene sighed. "This should get interesting, then."

Much to Bulma's mortification, Vejita approached them. Magdalene smiled at her son, who did not return the favor. "If it weren't so pathetic, this could be considered first-rate entertainment," he commented. "Its too bad that I don't get to have a turn."

Magdalene rolled her green eyes. "How gruesome. I wish that Nappa would end it already."

"I think that the bastard had this coming," Vejita countered, with a sideways glance at Bulma. "Perhaps it will discourage him from wasting space and energy in the training facility while he's here."

Finally, Nappa exclaimed his victory and got off of Yamcha, who winced as he tried to sit upright. Kakkarott, always compassionate, moved to help him. Bulma knew not to approach him and increase his embarassment. Magdalene nudged her when Yamcha was safely on his feet.

"We shall leave now," she said. "I think I've had quite enough of this. I have had tea arranged for us out in the gardens. We can have a nice little chat."

"That sounds lovely," she said, following the queen out of the room. Before closing the door behind her, Bulma glanced over her shoulder, to lock eyes with Vejita. A wordless understanding of how risky the situation had been passed between them, adn then Bulma looked away.

"I normally don't indulge in things so cliche like tea," Magdalene confided when they stepped back into the gardens. "But I guess you bring out the lady in me."

"Is that good or bad?"

Magdalene considered. "Good in this case. Its good for me to get in touch with my hoity-toity side every once in a while. At least, thats what they tell me."

Bulma frowned. "Having a chat over tea is the most adventurous thing that I am allowed to do. Especially when its outside-- tan skin is acceptable only in the second and third class."

"So that's why you are so pale," Magdalene responded. "Though, on you, the look is lovely."

"Thank you," Bulma said. No matter what Magdalene said, she still hated her transluscent complexion.

They reached a courtyard in the gardens, and Magdalene stopped. In the middle of the open area, a small table set up with a pot of tea, small pieces of bread in an attractive dish, and two sets of china stood. Magdalene took a seat gestured for Bulma to do the same. Bulma, who had engaged in a chat over tea countless times in her life, was in her element. Across the table, Magdalene watched the human with bright green eyes, unique to her amongst her dark-eyed fellow Saiyans.

"I had wanted to discuss last night's dinner with you," she began casually, pouring herself a cup of the tea.

Bulma feared the worst and braced herself for it. "What about it?"

Magdalene's expression grew serious. "I'll get right to the point. I know that your husband punished you for voicing your opinion, and that it was an experience that you do not want to repeat. This cannot be allowed-- your opinion will prove to be vital in preventing war, I think. Special... arrangements are going to have to be made."

Bulma knew that there was no point in arguing Magdalene's correct statement. "Such as?"

"You and I, or perhaps you and Vejita, will have to meet on the side so that your views can be taken into account," Magdalene suggested. "That way, we can bring up your ideas at meetings."

Bulma was doubtful, but the excuse to spend valid time with Vejita was tempting enough to compell her to do some negotiating. "I wouldn't want to waste your valuable time," she said. "I'm sure that you have better uses for your day."

Magdalene could not disagree. "Then I shall arrange to have Vejita meet you somewhere. He will inform you of the time and place when we decide."

"I appreciate this," Bulma told her sincerely. "Its a miracle that you would be willing to even put up with me."

Magdalene found the perfect opprotunity to bring up Bulma's unexplained absence. "Speaking of things I won't put up with-- I'll have no more of you being gone during meetings. You have to be there in order to tell me your opinion. What kept you for so long?"

Bulma was shocked and unsettled at the woman's quick transition, and even more alarmed at her question. It was just as she had suspected-- Magdalene was suspicious. "I told you-- I went for a walk to cool off, and I got lost."

Magdalene raised an arched black brow. "And, by any chance, did you run into my son while you were gone?"

"No, I did not," Bulma lied. "Why do you ask?"

"No reason," Magdalene responded. She then chose to back off about it. Perhaps her son could be more easily prodded. If she pressured Bulma now, she would quite likely lose her trust completely. "It is just unlike Vejita to walk away from such an urgent affair."

"I see," Bulma said, inwardly relieved that the queen was not pushing any farther. "I wish that I could say the same for my husband."

"To each his own," Magdalene said with a knowing smile. "My husband was much the same. But let us not dwell on the depressing subjects. Tell me, what do you like most about Vejitasei so far?"

Your son, Bulma thought to herself. "Everything-- the ocean, the palace, the city, the piano, the magnolia trees, casual lifestyle-- shall I go on?"

Magdalene laughed. "I am glad to hear that! But some of those things could be easily acquired on Earth, you know."

"The ocean is polluted, the lifestyle stiff, piano banned from women... Everything here is kept from me on Earth," Bulma said, her tone bitter. "I am even limited when it comes to chocolate."

Magdalene reached across the table to pat the young woman's arm affectionately. "I can remedy at least part of that. Tonight, I shall have a batch of our finest chocolate sent to you personally. And feel free to use the piano whenever you desire."

Bulma smiled. "I won't be able to fit into any of my clothes by the time we leave!" she exclaimed.

"Don't worry about that." Magdalene eyed the girl's slender figure. "You could afford to gain the weight."

Bulma rolled her blue eyes and said nothing. She knew that it was true.

"Magdalene!"

Both ladies started at the shout, which eminated from Vejita, who stormed into the peaceful courtyard with Nappa and Radditz at his side. Magdalene sighed heavily, as if this happened all the time.

"I am your mother, Vejita," she said, exasperated. "Will you never acknowledge or respect that?"

Vejita ignored her and pressed on. "The damned gravity chamber malfunctioned again and that pathetic excuse of a technician is gone! Where the hell is he?"

"How did you manage to break it this time?" Magdalene questioned. "I know for a fact that only a direct blow to the control panel can break that machine."

"He smashed Kakkarott's head into it, Magdalene," Radditz interjected. "It was one hell of a fight! Its too bad that you guys left early."

Bulma was partially amused at the warriors comment, but also sorry that it had been Kakkarott and not her husband. "Will Kakkarott be alright?" she asked.

Nappa shrugged. "He remembers his name, at least. He had some trouble with the date, though..."

"The idiot always has trouble with the date, Nappa," Vejita growled.

Magdalene shook her head at her son's callousness. "The technician is somewhere along the northern coast," she responded. "He took a well-deserved vacation."

"A vacation?!" Vejita demanded. "What the fuck am I supposed to do now-- meditate?"

"You might try partaking in something else rather than fighting all the time," Magdalene suggested. She then turned to Bulma. "Since my son clearly cannot go on with life without training, I suppose I'll have to track down a good technician. Do you mind?"

Bulma shook her head. "Not at all."

"Good then," the other queen said as she stood up from the table. "Vejita, come with me, and Nappa and Radditz can escort Bulma back to her chambers."

Bulma met Vejita's eyes once before he left with Magdalene, and knew that he would catch up with her later. Especially now that they had a supported excuse.

"Always left out," Radditz complained. "Come along then, m'lady."

Bulma smiled at his awkwardness and followed them out of the courtyard and back to the palace, where the oceanic view (and hopefully a batch of chocolates) awaited her.
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Rhapsody~*
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