Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Veil ❯ Soaring ( Chapter 9 )

Bulma sighed and stood up, she began pacing the dark and bleak room with nervous energy. It had been fifteen minutes and Radditz still had not come back. She was beginning to wonder if he had run off and deserted her. She sat down in the nearest large chair and tapped her foot impatiently in a rhythmic beat.

The creaked open and Bulma looked up from her seat, shocked to the core to see a younger version of Bardock standing before her. She gaped silently at the uncanny resemblence. "Bardock?" She asked in a unsure quiet tone.

The Bardock look-alike chuckled and shook his head, "I am his youngest son. You may call me Kakarott."

She was speechless from the Saiya-jin's personality. Weren't all Saiya-jins apart from Bardock and Radditz supposed to be complete dickwads? She mused to herself as she analyzed the tall Saiya-jin in front of her.

She shook herself out of her thoughts, "I didn't know Bardock had another son. How is it that I've never met you before?"

Kakarott shifted his weight on to his right foot, not particularly liking the way she was gazing at him intently. "We chanced upon meeting, as you and my brother have. I take it that you two are, friends, of some sort."

Bulma nodded, not knowing what to say.

Kakarott smiled slightly, "Not many people are lucky enough to acquaint themselves with my brother. He must really like you if he keeps your company."

Bulma blushed at this, she realised that this Saiya-jin didn't have much tact when it came to conversations. "Do you live here with him as well?" She inadvertedly switched the subject, not knowing the full extent of Radditz's feelings towards her.

Kakarott was ignorantly oblivious to her tactics, "Yes."

She stood up motioned for him to sit on the chair, making her way to the bed she was sleeping in. "Please sit, you don't have to stand, this is after all your home. Where is Radditz?"

Kakarott sat down uncomfortably on the chair that Bulma had occupied. He waited for her to take her place before beginning, "He is out acquiring food. It is the evening meal time, he should be back any minute."

She wanted to chuckle as she remembered that Saiya-jins didn't have names for certain things. She shook her head to herself, not bothering to tell him that it was called 'dinner'. She didn't think she could take any more odd looks.

That sat in silence for a moment, before Bulma found herself filling the void. "How did you know I was here?"

Kakarott shrugged, "My brother told me to look after you while he was out. I did not come sooner because I thought I might disturb you."

Understanding graced her features, "I see.." She trailed off as she caught him staring intently as her face. She frowned in a questioning manner.

Kakarott noticed the look and tilted his head. "Why do you have blue hair?" He asked curiously, like a five year old child.

Bulma raised her eyebrow, "Why are you so strong?" She countered his own question with defiance.

He found himself wanting to laugh at the tiny female. "No wonder my brother enjoys your company. You have a spirit that not many Saiya-jins possess."

She scowled, "Yes well that didn't do me any good, because I'm stuck on a planet with people I hate, against my will!" Her voice was bitter.

He mirrored her scowl, "That's not a very nice thing to say." He said quietly.

She breathed out a weary sigh, "Ok, I don't hate everyone on this planet. You, Radditz and Bardock are the only ones that I can actually stand to be around."

His face brightened at her comment.

She looked at the handsomely chiseled face watching her and saw the uncommon kindness he had within himself. The face reminded her so much of Bardock that it was quite unnerving. She bit her lip, "Can I ask you something?"

He sat patiently, waiting for her to continue.

She pushed on, "Why does Bardock live in the palace in the servants' quarters when you have a home here?" She could tell he was startled by the question.

Kakarott's brow began to twitch, underlying the hidden anger. "It is not my place to tell, if you wish to know question my brother about it," he growled as he remembered how his father was forced to live in the palace with the corrupt King of the Saiya-jins.

Bulma withdrew from her interrogation, her head snapped towards the bedroom door as they heard rustling from somewhere in the house.

Kakarott heard more acutely, "It is my brother. He has returned, come I will take you to him." He stood from his seat and walked slowly out of the door, looking behind to make sure if she was following.

Bulma followed without hesitation, she felt her stomach growl and grimaced at its impatience and yearning for food.

She followed Kakarott, walking through the small yet cozy home. She narrow passageway branched out into two other rooms, she frowned when she noticed that all the walls were made from rough stone.

Kakarott slowed his pace as he realised that she was inspecting their home. This small Chikyuu-jin was very intriguing to him, and already he felt a brotherly protectiveness over her which could not be helped.

He could tell that she possessed a great deal of intelligence, but he couldn't help wondering why Vegeta no Ojui never mentioned her to him. After all, he considered the proud Prince his friend.

The reached the end of the short hallway, with a front opening, she found herself abruptly turning right. Descending a shallow slope, Bulma slowly walked into another adjoining room which had a large window and table placed in the middle, already set with barbaric looking wooden plates.

She could see another room which branched off the present one and assumed that it was the kitchen, this was most probably that dining room and it was here they were greeted by Radditz who was standing over a closed large pot.

Kakarott sniffed the air and spoke eagerly, "Did you get?" His stomach began growling even louder than Bulma's did.

Bulma held back a giggle.

Radditz looked at Kakarott with brief disgust. He sometimes wondered if he was really related to the moronic oaf before him. However there was no doubt that he was a strong fighter, his brother's power almost matched the powerful Prince's. He didn't bother answering the stupid question, instead he looked at Bulma in mere exasperation.

Bulma laughed at the look on Radditz's face, "What are you hiding under that pot, Radditz?" She asked teasingly. Warmth spread through her body as she thought she saw him blush slightly.

"It is this evening's meal." Radditz stated gruffly.

Kakarott eagerly took his place on one of four seats surrounding the table, Bulma followed suit.

She looked expectantly at Radditz, "What are we having?"

Radditz opened the lid to show her.

Bulma's face paled considerably at the contents of the pot. In the extremely large pot was some sort of skinned animal, that looked like an overgrown turkey. The meat was bubbling away in a thick red liquid.

Bulma gulped, "Is that red liquid made from tomatoes?" She asked quietly. She still couldn't get used to the eating habits of Saiya-jins, it was as if they lived in the stone age sometimes.

Radditz raised an eyebrow, "It is marinated in the animal's blood."

"What is a tomatoes?" Kakarott pondered, not realizing he had to transform 'tomatoes' into the singular form.

Bulma ignored him as she felt a considerable amount of bile rise up, she knew that instant that she wouldn't be able to eat what was presented to her. "I don't want to be rude, but do you have any kind of fruit?" She pleaded silently with Radditz, hoping he wouldn't force her to eat the vile looking food.

Kakarott didn't notice her hesitation, so he used the wooden spoon in the pot and began placing the chinks of marinated meat onto his plate.

Radditz growled at his brother's lack of courtesy. He turned back to Bulma and noticed that she looked rather sickly. "Yes we do. Do not worry, I shall not force you to eat that," he gestured to the pot.

Bulma breathed a sigh of relief and cocked her head, "Did you cook that?"

Radditz looked at the floor slightly embarrassed, but nodded in affirmation.

As Kakarott began to eat with full force, she continued her conversation with Radditz, "I didn't know Saiya-jins could cook."

He folded his arms, "They can't, but when one is alone, one has to learn the basis of survival. I have yet to obtain a mate and therefore I am subjected to making my own meals, for the time being."

Kakarott continued eating, oblivious to the conversation occurring around him.

Bulma chewed on her bottom lip, "Why don't you already have a mate? In my opinion, you're one of the few Saiya-jins' that actually have a personality, aside from the blood lust."

Radditz didn't like the direction this conversation was taking, "I have yet to find a mate worthy of me..." he glanced at her under hooded eyes so she wouldn't see the intense emotion simmering in them. He walked away quickly into the adjoining room and returned with a basket of edible fruits.

Radditz slammed it on the table, "That is all the fruit we have as of now. If you want more then you shall get it yourself. You have already caused enough upheavel as it is."

Bulma was surprised at his agitated tone, but she nodded and quietly began to pick at the beautiful looking fruit. They ate silently for the duration of the meal. At the end of the meal, Kakarott squelched a burp emitting from his throat, as he caught the deadly glare of his brother.

Bulma noticed that they had finished eating and stood up, retrieving their plates. She noticed the perplexed look on Kakarott's face and confusion on Radditz's.

Radditz stood up from his seat, next to Bulma, and growled. "What do you think you're doing?"

Bulma shrugged, "I'm clearing up. It's the least I can do." She offered him a small smile.

Radditz was taken aback by this. Never had such a small gesture made him feel so complete. He bowed his head in understanding, feeling pride that the female Chikyuu-jin honored him enough to oblige with the cleaning. Yes, she would make a perfect mate. He couldn't deny his feelings for her any longer, as sickening as they felt to him.

Kakarott was silently amazed and sat rooted to his seat. This was the first time he had ever seen his brother be so submissive to another being. Normally when outsiders touched their belongings without consent, Radditz would have blasted them to the next dimension.

She walked into the kitchen with the dirty wooden plates and frowned when she couldn't find a sink. She turned around to Radditz who had followed. "Where is the sink?"

Radditz shrugged, "What is a sink?"

Bulma shook her head, "My Kami, you people are strange. You have the technology to have healing machines and yet you do not have the technology for a simple sink?"

Radditz was now confused, "Some of the technology is not ours. We aquire it from different planets we have conquered."

Bulma's mouth formed a tiny 'o'. "I see.. So, where do I put this for washing then?"

He pointed to the counter. "We leave it there. Once a week a fourth-class Saiya-jin comes to clean everything."

Now it was her turn to be muddled, "Ok, so you don't let anyone cook for you and yet you have someone that comes to clean for you every week?"

He nodded, not understanding the expression on her face.

Bulma sniffed, she still had a long way to go before she understood Saiya-jin culture. A known voice rang out from outside of the small home, one she recognized all too well. Vegeta. The plates fell from her grasp and landed with a thud on the stone floor.

"Radditz! Come out here this instance, I know you're in there. I demand that you come out at once!"

Bulma looked fearfully at Radditz, she shook her head pleading with him not to answer to the Prince's calls.

Radditz looked back in regret and began to make his way out of the house. He knew that he hated the Prince with a passion and that if he went outside then he would lose Bulma to him, but his loyalty to the throne came first.

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