Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Wages of Sin ❯ Prologue ( Prologue )

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Wages of Sin

Prologue

The desert stretched for miles, open plains of sand broken only by the road. Even with all the windows down, there was still little air in the overcrowded car, and that was thick and hot. They were alone, they'd seen no cars for miles, and actual felt safe, but it was far too hot for anything other than rest. Although sleep was hard to come by in the stifling heat, Goku had no problem. His snoring filled the car, broken only by the rattling of the paper Chichi read. Bulma turned her face to the window, letting the breezes blow across her face hoping for some relief, but there were no cooling breezes.

Chichi suddenly let out a growl, and folded the paper around an article, "Did you see this?" she cried, shoving the paper over the seat into Bulma's face.

"I haven't seen anything in that paper yet, you haven't let it out of your sight since we found it." Bulma sighed.

"Where is Goku's name? They mention everything that's happened, but say nothing about Goku! He's just as much a part of this as everyone else!"

"You get half the money, what else do you want?" Vegeta growled, glaring at her in the rear view mirror.

"Some recognition for Goku!" she flung back.

Goku yawned, and patted her on the shoulder; "It's better this way, Chi."

"Do you even know how old the paper is?" Bulma tried to soothe things over, Vegeta and Chichi had been at each other's throats for the last few days. Bulma knew it wouldn't be much longer before Vegeta lost what little patience he had left, and she was worried about what would happen.

"Sure that could be it." Krillen chirped up, also hoping to ease the tension.

Taping her finger, impatiently on the front page, "It was three days ago! Goku should have been mentioned!"

Vegeta's hands tightened on the wheel, his knuckles white, and Bulma laid a gentle hand on his thigh. "It's a good thing if they don't know who Goku is," she told Chichi, "There's some deniability in that. Don't forget what will happen if we're caught!"

"See," Goku told her, "Bulma's right, look at it that way." He patted her shoulder again, catching Vegeta's eye in the rear view mirror and giving him an apologetic shrug. He leaned back again hoping to catch some more sleep.

Chichi crumpled the paper and tried to fling it to the floor, but Krillen caught it, "Let me read it!" He did his best to smooth out the paper while Chichi folded her arms, and with one more, "Humph!" flopped back against the seat.

Satisfied that the argument was settled Bulma leaned over wrapping her hands around Vegeta's arm, resting her head on his shoulder, hoping for a nap.

"Driving, woman." He growled and with a sigh she sat up and arranged a blanket against the car door for a pillow.

The smooth rhythm of the car lulling her to sleep, Bulma wondered if this was really what she wanted out of life. Not that there was any going back now, that chance had been shot to pieces when she agreed to go with Vegeta six months ago. Although if she were honest with herself, she would have to admit the beginning of the end really started when she had first laid eyes on Vegeta.