TOMORROW?! What do you mean, TOMORROW?!

Disclaimer:  o_O …………

Author’s Shout outs:

Stef-chan:  Tough luck, girl…  ^_~  **Waves at her newly acquired Goku**  And thanks for the extra-long review!

a person:  I totally fell out of my seat laughing when I read your reviewer name!  LOL!  It is SOOO funny to me!  **Awkward silence**  Uh… ok.

Reikon:  Yes!  I remember your old ‘Warlokk name!  ^_^  Am I good or what?!?!

    Vegeta: **Rolls his eyes**

Roya:  Uh… how about a BELATED graduation gift?!?!?  **Grins stupidly**

jessica:  Here’s your “Sweet Caramel007” dedication.  **Clears throat**  EVERYONE, THIS CHAPTER’S DEDICATED TO SWEET CARAMEL007!!  ^_^

trunks babe:  o_o  Yamcha and Zoë get together and then they DIE?!  **Sweat drops**  Uh… o—k.  I actually like Yamcha.  He’s cool (to me).  **V/B fans start throwing fruit at Pudgoose, screaming “TRAITOR!!!”**  AHHHHH!  HELP ME MOMMY!!!

WOW!  SO MANY REVIEWS!  **Wipes a tear out of her eye**  I seriously love you all!  Thank you so much!

I actually have something else to say.  As some of you may have noticed, this story’s about to end.  (If you haven’t noticed yet… I don’t know what to do for you.)  I might just finish it in one or two chapters.  I haven’t decided….  Something to think about….

And something else to think about.  Just to let you know, I’ve been working on another B/V get together that I think you’ll LOVE!  I thought about some of the best B/V stories I’d ever read, took parts of them, and combined them all with my own unique twist.  ^_^  **Grins broadly like an idiot**

Steal after my heart, would you?

Chi-Chi glanced over her lovable Sayian’s shoulder.  He was trying to work out a math problem that she had set up for him, but at the moment, all he was doing was absent-mindedly chewing his pencil eraser and staring into space.  Chi-Chi couldn’t blame him, though.  She didn’t even know why she was trying to tutor him tonight.  Neither of them could focus on schoolwork.  They were both too worried about Bulma.

After Chi-Chi had sent that letter, she had fixed both of them dinner.  They ate in stiff, thoughtful silence, and then went strait to studying.  Chi-Chi glanced at Kakarroto again.  Not only was math definitely NOT his forte, he was also too distracted to concentrate.

She sighed.

“Kakarroto… I think we better just skip the tutoring tonight.”

He looked up at her and nodded.  “Ok,” he said, extremely relieved that he didn’t have to hold the guilt of not really trying to figure out the math problem.  He picked up the paper and handed it to her, standing up.  She gave him a small, tired smile.

“Thank you.”

Kakarroto frowned.  “You ok?”

She sighed.  “Just tired, Kakarroto.  And worried.  Oh so worried….”  Chi-Chi looked like she was on the verge of tears as she spoke.  “I mean, first there was the dream I had, and now this—”

“What dream?” he asked, sitting down beside her on the couch.  She looked up at him, and slowly told him about the dream she had had last night.  He frowned, wrapping her into an embracing hug.  He rubbed his fingers up and down her back soothingly.

“She’s going to be ok, Chi-Chi,” he said.  “She’s bound to be ok.  Just relax.”

“Relax?” Chi-Chi repeated, her upset voice quivering slightly.  “Relax?  Look, Kakarroto, from what you’ve told me some jackass is planning on smuggling Bulma off the planet, and who KNOWS what he might do to her in space!  I can’t ‘relax’!”

Kakarroto winced as he felt a sudden wave of guilt.  That was right.  That Phoenix guy did say that he was in love with Bulma….  Kakarroto swallowed, but, other than that, he kept silent.

Chi-Chi sighed.  “I just wish there was more we could do about this emergency.  The feeling of hopelessness is KILLING me!”

Kakarroto blinked.  Emergency?  Where had he heard that word before…?

He could swear that he’d heard it somewhere….  It rang a bell down in the depths of his mind.  But then again… was it really that important?

Yes…

“Kakarroto,” Chi-Chi whispered.  He looked down to see that she was looking up at him.  “You alright?  You seem a little… concerned.”

“Just lost in thought,” he replied softly.  Chi-Chi nodded, assuming that she knew what he was thinking about.  Damn that Zoë!  How DARE she try and hurt Bulma?!

“I gotta go,” Kakarroto said, standing up, his normally cheerful, carefree face contorted into a concentrated expression.  (AN  Lots of ‘c’s in that sentence.)  Chi-Chi watched him as he headed softly towards the door.

“Kakarroto,” Chi-Chi said softly, standing up herself.  He stopped halfway and turned around.

“Yea?”

Chi-Chi walked up to him, threw her arms around his neck, and brought his lips down to hers.  Kakarroto blinked once, before returning her passion, kissing her back and wrapping his arms around her protectively.  The bliss they were in was indescribable and so great that both of them felt absolutely lost with each other, forgetting, for the moment, every negative thing that had happened and was happening to them.  If only they could stay that way.  Forever.

But it ended all to soon, neither of them knowing nor caring which one pulled away first.  Chi-Chi swallowed as her lovebird held her tight, smiling softly down at her.  Then, slowly and gently, Kakarroto leaned closer to her and brushed his lips against her ear.  She shivered, her mind just barely able to make sense of his words in all its bliss:

“I love you.”

Chi-Chi’s breath caught, and her heart ached wonderfully with the passion and love it yearned to return.  But, before she could reply, he let her go and left, shutting the door softly behind him.

~*~*~

Vegeta woke up the next morning in his usual time.  His mind had acquired something of an alarm clock early on in his princely childhood, and it had just stuck.  He headed into his bathroom, took a quick shower, dressed, and then headed strait to the hospital wing, not even bothering with breakfast.

He opened the waiting room door to find Bardock, his head bent over his chest as he slept, sitting upright in a chair.  He had a stack of papers in his hand, and a pen that he had previously held had fallen to the floor.

Prince Vegeta smirked.  “Bardock,” he said.  Bardock’s head slowly rose, and his eyes wearily fluttered open.

“Huh?  Oh!  Oh my goodness—how long have I been asleep?”

Prince Vegeta crossed his muscular arms and shrugged.  “No clue.  May I see Bulma?”

“Um….”  Bardock rubbed his hands tiredly over his face, as if trying to wake himself up more.  “I… think so.”

“Good enough for me,” the prince replied, and headed into the room that housed the blue-haired female.

Prince Vegeta stepped in slowly, closing the door softly after himself.  Bulma lay still, sleeping peacefully on the hospital bed, her chest evenly rising up and down.  Vegeta watched her silently, unable to tear his eyes away.  She was just… mesmerizing.  He had a strong urge to crawl into bed with her, wrap the sheets and blankets around both of them, and fall into a peaceful, everlasting sleep.

Yes… that would be just wonderful.

So I’m in love… not that bad of a feeling, actually.  Not that I’ll let anyone know.

Vegeta took a deep breath and opened the door again, heading out.  Bardock was in the waiting room, his head down, scanning the floor.

Prince Vegeta stopped.  Normally, things like this wouldn’t amuse him.  But… this was just too odd of a sight.  “Commander Bardock?”

The “brilliant” doctor looked up.  “Prince Vegeta.  Sorry, I’m just looking for my pen….  I seemed to have dropped it somewhere….”

Prince Vegeta pointed it out to the older Sayian, and Bardock sighed with relief, picking it up.  “Thank you, Prince Vegeta.”

“Hn.  Anyway, Bardock, you may go home now.  Your presence is no longer required, and besides, you have a job tomorrow, do you not?”

Bardock nodded.  “Yes sire.  I do.  And thank you, sire.”

“I’ll expect you gone by noon,” the prince said, turned, and walked out the door.

The halls were empty of people as Vegeta strolled down them.  He supposed that this was because everyone was down at breakfast.  It was about that time, anyway.

“Vegeta?”

The prince stopped and turned around.  He smirked.  “Father!  Great, I was looking for you.”

King Vegeta grunted in his throat, and hurried over to his son.  “About the open job Phoenix once had: I’ve found someone to take the position!  He’s an old fellow, can’t hear to well… in fact, he can’t see to well either—”

“Father, I don’t give a damn!” Prince Vegeta interrupted.  His father cocked an eyebrow.  “You can dispose of him!  I’ve decided who is to become my queen, and I want the ceremony to be held tomorrow!”

King Vegeta’s eyes grew as wide as saucers.  “You’ve already chosen Vegeta… in one week?!”

“Why not?  It’s not the shortest a decision has ever been made, as you know.  Vegeta IV chose his mate in what?  Three days?”

“But…” the king seemed utterly surprised.  “A week?  And you want the ceremony held tomorrow?!”

“What’s the problem father?  I want to gain my mate as soon as possible, take over the throne, and assume my position as King of Vegetasei!”

“Well… yes… I know son, but—”

“No exceptions.  I’m holding it tomorrow, whether the preparations are ready or not.  I shall have announcements printed up and posted all over the city.  I want EVERYONE to know what’s in store for them tomorrow!”

And with that said, and a quick smirk, the price turned on heel and stalked off to fulfill his claim.  King Vegeta’s expression of shock slowly faded away, and he smiled knowingly after his son.

~*~*~

The beaten and battered Phoenix held his hand, palm up, right next to Philip Halimanger III’s head.  The frightened Sayian male picked up the phone receiver, glaring at the disgraceful Sayian with all the hatred he could muster around his fear.

“Just dial the number, damn it!” Phoenix hissed, glancing briefly at the colorful, eye-catching sheet of paper in his other hand.  Philip swallowed, and slowly punched in the phone number for King Vegeta’s palace.

After a few brief moments, someone picked up.

“Hello?”

“Yes,” Philip said, clearing his throat.  “This is Philip Halimanger.  I’d like to speak to my daughter, Zoë.  Could you get her?”  He glanced at Phoenix, who mouthed the word “quick”.  “Quickly, please,” the frightened Sayian added.

“Is it an emergency?”

Philip nodded, even though the secretary he was talking to couldn’t possibly see him.  No one could, spare Phoenix.  “Yes ma’am.”

“Hold on one moment, I’ll be right back.”

Philip wiped sweat off his brow, Phoenix growling.  “Don’t move unless I tell you to,” the tail-less Sayian threatened softly.  “Or there will be hell to pay.”

There was a soft shuffling on the other end of the conversation, and a female voice answered.  “Hello?  Daddy?”

“Hello, sugar,” Philip said, smiling weakly.  “How are you, baby doll?”

“Just fine Daddy.  Why do you ask?”

“Give me the damn phone!” growled Phoenix.  Philip swallowed, and stood up quickly.

“I can’t have you hurting my daughter!” he said bravely, crouching into fighting position.  “You can’t just walk into my house and do this!”

Phoenix chuckled, a beam of light slowly forming in the palm of his hand.  “I’m not going to hurt your precious, little girl,” Phoenix spat.  He acquired a sadistic grin.  “And yes, if I’m stronger than you, I can do this.”

Moments later, Phoenix had the receiver in his hand, alone in a stranger’s house.

“Hey Zoë—”

“PHOENIX, WHAT DID YOU DO?!”

Phoenix snorted, waving a hand in front of his face, the hand containing the colorful poster.  “Nothing, nothing.  As a matter of fact, he’s right next to me, not saying a word in his peace.”

There was a pause on the other end of the phone line.

“Phoenix, if I find out you’ve done something to him, I’ll—”

“Please Zoë, give me a break!  He’s fine!  Now, I’ve got something EXTREMELY important to tell you!”

“What, Phoenix?”

“Prince Vegeta is claiming his mate tomorrow!  Right outside the palace walls!”

There was another pause.

“WHAAAAAT?!  YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME… wait, this is some stupid joke, right?  Right, Phoenix?  TELL ME THIS IS SOME STUPID JOKE!”

“’Fraid not.  This is the real thing.  I’ve got a flyer in my hand that says it all.  I actually couldn’t believe it when I first read it, but it’s really happening.  Notices have been spread all throughout the city.”

Zoë cursed on the other end.

“Damn… but Prince Vegeta would have told us, right?  Why hasn’t he told us?”

“Maybe he will later.  It’s only a little before lunch, you know.”

Zoë sighed.

“Alright.  So are you all set with the plan and everything?  Wait… what time is the ceremony occurring?”

“Uh…”—Phoenix checked the flyer—“eleven hundred hours, sharp.  It even has the word sharp written here.  It’s kind of funny, actually—”

“SHUT UP!  THIS ISN’T FUNNY AT ALL!  THIS IS SERIOUS!”

“Sheesh, for a young bitch, you sure are really bitchy.”

“Shut up, dumb ass.  No one asked your opinion.  But anyway, you need to go through all the details one of those notice things says, and we’ll talk about where we’re going to meet and when.  This is all going to have to be timed perfectly, you realize.”

“I know Zoë.”  Phoenix sighed.  “I know.”

~*~*~

Kakarroto wearily answered the door, still wiping sleep out of his eyes.  He grinned dazedly at Chi-Chi.

“Hey!” he said, yawning with that wide mouth of his.

Chi-Chi blinked, looked him up and down, and then blushed.  She looked away.  “Uh… why are you dressed like that… Kakarroto?”

“I just woke up!” he exclaimed, grinning in only his boxers.

“This late?!  Kakarroto, it’s almost lunchtime!”

The nearly naked Sayian grinned broadly, stepping out of the doorway to let her in.  “But it’s a Sunday!  I always sleep late and relax on Sunday!”

“Uh-huh,” Chi-Chi said, walking into the house, carrying three or four large picnic baskets.  “Oh, Kakarroto, I’ve got to tell you something that I just found out!  It was on this big sign outside in the street.  They’re going to hold Prince Vegeta’s mating ceremony tomorrow!”

Kakarroto’s face darkened immediately and he frowned.  He cursed lightly.  “Figures.  I always had really bad luck.”

Chi-Chi nodded, her eyes unfocused as she stared out into space.  “I just hope Bulma gets my letter before tomorrow….”

Kakarroto nodded, then smiled hopefully at her.  “Don’t worry Chi-Chi.  I’m sure she will.”

Chi-Chi looked up at him, smiled, and nodded.  “Yea, I guess you’re right.”  She looked him over, and frowned playfully.  “Now go put on some decent clothes while I set the table, alright?”

“You brought lunch?!  That’s great!”  The excited Sayian almost giggled with delight.  (AN  I can see Goku giggling now… ^_^’)

Chi-Chi snickered and nodded toward the stairs with her head, as her hands were weighted down with food.  “Go,” she said, smiling softly.

Kakarroto nodded and began bounding up the stairs, exclaiming, “Yea!  Lunch!  Lunchie lunch!  I love lunchie lunch!” over and over again in a singsong voice.

Chi-Chi shook her head, laughing softly.  Kakarroto’s good humor and silly attitude almost brought her out of her depressed state.  It was odd, but in his presence, she felt safe and reassured, like she knew everything was and would be all right with him around.  Chi-Chi welcomed the feeling.  She didn’t want to become too over-anxious with depression and worry and then have a serious breakdown.  That was the last thing she needed.

Chi-Chi placed all her food on the large table, which was difficult, as she barely had enough room.  She didn’t mind, though.  Cooking was wonderful fun, and when others enjoyed the results of her work, that was an even better reward.  She loved to watch Kakarroto inhale her food like a vacuum cleaner, even though his manners were a bit… inappropriate.  Well… very inappropriate.

Chi-Chi frowned, realizing what she forgot.

“Kakarroto!” she shouted, hoping her voice would carry all the way upstairs and to his room.  She waited, and heard him call back.

“Yes?!”

“Where are the spoons?!”

“The what?!”

“SPOONS!”

“Oh!  Those are in the second closest drawer on the right of the stove!”

Chi-Chi processed this information quickly and then headed towards the kitchen, stopping when she noticed a note on the door.  She blinked.  It would be rather rude to read it… but… curiosity was so convincing….

Chi-Chi walked slowly towards the door, twiddling her fingers.  Kakarroto wouldn’t know if she had a quick peek….

I mean, it could be something really important!  What if it’s… a letter from Kakarroto’s brother!  He had once mentioned to me that he had a brother… somewhere.  In a really high ranking, if I remember correctly.  Or what if it’s from some girl Bardock was dating… hehehe.  Or…

Chi-Chi’s eyes widened, and she grabbed at the note roughly.

What if it’s from another girl Kakarroto’s secretly having an affair with behind my back?!  (AN  We always get rather paranoid with our boyfriends, don’t we girls?  ^_~)

Chi-Chi read through the note quickly, her shock so great that she didn’t even hear footsteps coming down the stairs.  She didn’t notice, either, that someone had moved right behind her and wrapped his muscular arms around her waist.  She jumped at the sudden touch and hit his jaw.

“Ouch!  Damn it, Kakarroto!” Chi-Chi scorned, pulling away from him and rubbing the top of her head.  He looked unfazed physically, but a little confused.

“What Chi-Chi?  I only wanted to hug you!”  His eyes fell down to the paper in her hands.  “What’s that?” he asked.

Chi-Chi’s eyes flamed, and she bit her bottom lip to keep from exploding.  “Kakarroto…” she said slowly, “this is something from your father.  Something I presume he left yesterday?”

The Sayian’s eyes widened.

“That’s where I remember it from!” he exclaimed.  “Emergency!  That’s where I reme—”

“YOU—” Chi-Chi paused, unable to find the words.  “YOU… FORGETFUL PERSON!  ARRGGGG!”  She threw her hands up in the air, and headed past him and into the living room.  “I cannot BELIEVE you Kakarroto!  All this time we could have called the palace, and you didn’t tell me!”

“I forgot!” Kakarroto argued, blushing, as he followed her into the living room.  “It’s not my fault!  I’m sorry!  I really am Chi-Chi!”

“Oh, it IS your fault!” Chi-Chi said through slitted eyes as she picked up the receiver.  She reached out to dial the number, but hesitated.  She looked up at her boyfriend, blushing.  “What’s the number?”

“Now look who’s forgetting things,” Kakarroto teased, heading over to her.  Chi-Chi scowled.

“You just shut up.  I didn’t even know the number in the first place!”  She sighed.  “Ok, let’s not get too carried away in a fight, or something.  Just… tell me what the number is.”  She expressed a smile much too wide for the situation’s atmosphere.

“Just give me the phone and I’ll dial it,” Kakarroto said.  Chi-Chi shot him a confused glare.

“Why?  Just tell me the number!”

“They’ll only let me talk to him!” argued the goofy Sayian.  “I’m his son!  They won’t think you have any business speaking to Dad!”

Chi-Chi blinked at him, then consented and handed him the receiver.  He punched in several numbers, taking deep breaths.  There was silence in which neither of them dared to breathe.

Then there was a steady, beeping noise.  Kakarroto growled (which startled Chi-Chi a bit) and slowly hung the phone back up.  Chi-Chi stared at him with rapt, eager eyes.

“What?” she finally asked.

“It’s busy,” Kakarroto said slowly.  “Some dumbass is on the phone.”

“No!”

Kakarroto looked at her, and stiffly nodded.  “Yes.”

“SssssssssshhhhHHIIIITTTTT!”

Chi-Chi was shaking with fury, upset tears flowing down her cheeks.  “Why does this always happen to us?!”

Kakarroto wrapped her up in a hug, rocking her back and forth.  He couldn’t stand to see her this… tortured.  “Remember, we can try back again in just a little bit.”  He kissed the top of Chi-Chi’s head.  “Don’t cry.  It’ll be all right.  We still have the rest of the day.  Don’t worry.”

But Chi-Chi worried.  She worried a lot.

They tried over and over again.  After what seemed like ten minutes, Kakarroto picked up the receiver for the fiftieth time.  He dialed the number once more, fearing he’d hear that dreadful beeping sound.

But it didn’t come.

Kakarroto’s breath caught as he heard someone answer the phone.

“Hello?”

“Yes!  Hello!”

“What is it?”

“I need to speak to Captain Bardock, please!  Tell him this is his son, Kakarroto!  And please hurry!”

“Is it an emergency?”

“YES!”

“Oh.  You know, I’m starting to get the feeling that half of the emergencies people say they have aren’t REALLY all that serious—”

“Uh ma’am,” Kakarroto interrupted stiffly, Chi-Chi’s eager eyes on him, “PLEASE hurry.  Now!”

“Right.”

There was a long silence, in which the anxious Sayian drummed his fingers on his knee.  Chi-Chi was biting her bottom lip so hard it almost started to bleed.

“Well?” she whispered.

“There’re going to get my Dad.”

“How long does it take them to find someone?!” Chi-Chi hissed.  “Sheesh, it’s been something like five minutes already!  If they don’t hurry up, I’m going to—”

“Shhh!  Chi-Chi!  Someone’s on the other line!”

Chi-Chi hushed, watching him with bated breath.

“Hello?  You still there honey?”

Kakarroto’s face fell.  This wasn’t the voice he wanted to hear.

“Uh… yes.”

“Listen, I just found this out.  Your father left about five minutes ago, the same time you called.  But he said he was coming home, so if you’re home dear, don’t worry, he’ll be right there.”

Kakarroto’s mouth moved silently, like that of a fish.  He finally inhaled a deep, steadying breath.

“All right?”

“All—all right,” he said, swallowing.  “Thank you.  Bye.”  He hung up before he heard the secretary’s response.

“What?” Chi-Chi asked, sensing something not right in his face and in the conversation of that call.

Kakarroto looked at her and, much to her surprise, began laughing.  Chi-Chi blinked and backed up slightly as he laughed harder, clutching his stomach.  She didn’t know whether to be mad or afraid of him.  She felt a little closer to the latter.

“WHAT KIND OF A HELL AM I LIVING IN?!”

Chi-Chi blinked.  What was he talking about?  She desperately wanted to know, now more than ever, what her boyfriend had heard on the other end of the phone line.

Kakarroto looked up at Chi-Chi and began laughing harder.  “AND NOW MY GIRLFRIEND’S AFRAID OF ME!”  He laughed, and laughed, and laughed… and then began to cry.  He sank to his knees and buried his face in his hands.  Chi-Chi thought about comforting him, but, out of concern for her own health, she stayed back.

“Kakarroto?” she said timidly.

He looked up at her, and Chi-Chi thought her heart would break.  He never looked more pitiful than now, and her she was, standing cruelly away from him like he was a rabid dog.  She swallowed with a lot of difficulty, and walked over next to him, crouching down so that they were eye-level.

“What’s wrong?” she asked him.  “What did the person in the palace say?”

“The secretary?”  Kakarroto gave a bitter laugh, causing Chi-Chi to really feel uncomfortable.  She hoped that he would never act like this again.  It was unnerving.  “She said… she said that Dad left about five minutes ago!  So… so while two jackasses were talking on the phone, he left!”  Kakarroto wiped a tear out of his eye.  “I don’t know what else could not go our way, Chi-Chi!  We must be living in some sort of hell, or something!”  Chi-Chi looked at the ground, taking in everything he had said.  He sighed.  “And it’s all my fault,” he said softly.  Chi-Chi looked up at him.

“Your fault?  How so?”

“Because I forgot about that note from Dad I read yesterday,” Kakarroto said softly.  “I’m sorry Chi-Chi.  I’m really sorry.  It’s all my fault.”

Chi-Chi wrapped him up in her arms and rocked him back and forth like a mother would do her child.  “No,” she replied.  “No, no, no.  You know whose fault this is?  It’s stupid Phoenix and Zoë’s fault, because they’re the ones who are doing this plan.  So we should blame them!”

Kakarroto looked up at her, and smiled.  “I love you Chi-Chi.”  She smiled.

“You know,” she said, “I didn’t get to tell you last night… but I love you too.  I love you so much, Kakarroto….”

They kissed softly, and Kakarroto’s tail wrapped around Chi-Chi’s arm, unable to find her tail.  (AN  Sorry, but I’ve just always had the impression that Sayian’s tails would wrap around each other like that, you know, when they were in love and stuff.  **Shrugs**)  She jumped slightly, but Kakarroto calmed her down, and continued to kiss her, his tongue shyly tickling the outside of her lips.  Chi-Chi sighed in his gentle embrace.

Both heard the door open, and they pulled away immediately, their eyes wide with anticipation.

“Kakarroto, boy?  You here?  I’m back.”

The pair clumsily scrambled to get up, Kakarroto wiping his eyes dry with the back of his hand and responding to his father’s call.  Bardock entered the living room to find them both there, and, after his momentary shock, his eyebrows slanted down.

“Kakarroto, boy, what is she doing here?”

“Don’t worry, we haven’t done anything,” Chi-Chi said, blushing slightly at the thought.  “I just brought him his lunch.  The dining room’s all set up, if you don’t believe me.”

Bardock studied her a moment, and then smiled softly.  “I believe you.”  Chi-Chi blushed even more.

“Why thank you—”

“Forget that,” Kakarroto interrupted.  “Dad, there’s something I’ve got to tell you, and it’s really important!”

Bardock nodded.  “Well go ahead—”  He broke off, studying his son’s face hard.  “Have you been crying?”

Kakarroto waved the question away.  “That’s not important now.  Dad, Bulma’s going to be kidnapped tomorrow!”

At first, Bardock was rather skeptical.  (After all, who wouldn’t be?)  But after some hearty, ten-minute-convincing, the x-commander began to believe them.  He frowned from his place on the couch, staring off into space, with Kakarroto on his right and Chi-Chi on his left, both of them not breathing.

“And you swear you’re not lying to me?” Bardock asked finally.  “Neither one of you?”

“Dad, why would we lie about a thing like this?!”

“Because you want attention.”

Chi-Chi growled in frustration, causing both men to quirk an eyebrow.  “No!  We do not want attention and we are not lying!  You’ve got to believe us, Commander Bardock!  I don’t want Bulma to get hurt!”

Bardock nodded.  “Yes, that would be dreadful… and you’re saying that Zoë Halimanger is doing this?”

“Along with some guy named Phoenix,” Kakarroto shrugged.  “You know, the guy-who-got-his-tail-cut-off-by-the-prince Phoenix.”  Bardock nodded, remembering him.

“Yes… but he always seemed like such a nice guy… I can’t believe he would try to take Bulma….”

Kakarroto was almost bouncing from foot to foot in his nervousness.  “Daaaad,” he whined.  “Can’t you do something about this?  They’ll listen to you!”

Bardock thought for a moment, then slowly nodded.  “All right.  If you two say so….”  He reached over, picked up the phone, and dialed the palace’s number.  As the phone began to ring, Kakarroto and Chi-Chi exchanged nervous glances.  Chi-Chi wormed one of her hands into his and held it tightly, clutching onto him as if she were afraid of suddenly falling.

“Hello?” they heard Bardock say.  “Hello?  Yes, hi.  Uh, may I speak to Prince Vegeta?”

There was a silence in which Chi-Chi and Kakarroto’s eyes never blinked.

Bardock’s face fell.  “All right then, may I speak to King Vegeta?  …Yes this is urgent!”

There was another silence.  Bardock looked up at the pairs’ eyes and he smiled hopefully at them.  Chi-Chi found herself taking in slow, deep breaths.

Bardock’s face looked rapt again, as if he were listening to the other end of the line intently.  He muttered, “uh-huh”s and “yes ma’am”s every now and then.  He finally cleared his throat.

“Listen,” he said.  “I have to speak to someone.  This is important!  Uh…”—he closed his eyes, racking his brain for someone he could talk to—“may I speak to Miss Bulma Briefs, then?”

Bardock rolled his eyes as he listened to the response, then he stopped, looking quite startled.  “Wait—wait, I must speak—”

Kakarroto and Chi-Chi watched with eager eyes as Bardock hung the telephone back up, looking sulky.

“Damn bitch,” he muttered, “she hung up on me….”

“Well Dad?”

Bardock looked up at his son, and shook his head.  “The whole palace is practically busy with people.  They’re all getting this ceremony thing ready.  The prince is busy, of course; I don’t blame him on that.  And I suppose I don’t blame Bulma and King Vegeta for being busy, either, but—” Bardock scowled “—damn it, that witch just HUNG UP ON ME!  Said I needed to get a life and that she figured this was just some stupid prank call.”  Bardock sighed and rubbed his eyes.

Chi-Chi whined and buried her face into Kakarroto’s shoulder, her tears dabbing his clothes.  Kakarroto’s eyes were oddly blank.  Bardock finally looked up at them.  “Have you two done anything else about this?”

Chi-Chi looked up and nodded, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.  “We wrote a letter to Bulma last night.  We hoped it’d get to her before the ceremony!”  Chi-Chi wined, then looked suddenly furious, as if she suddenly realized that there was someone else she could blame for this.  “IT’S DAMN PRINCE VEGETA’S FAULT!” she screamed.

Kakarroto looked at her, horrified and slightly angry.  Bardock just smirked at her.  “Yes, I suppose it is,” he said slowly, and Kakarroto looked at his father with a hurt look, as if his father had just betrayed him.  “I suppose it partly is, Miss Chi-Chi.”

Chi-Chi’s face flushed in anger.  “He’s such an asshole!  Why’d the dumbass have to schedule the celebration for tomorrow?!”

“Chi-Chi,” Kakarroto ventured softly, “please don’t say that.  It’s not a very good thing to insult the prince like that…”

“Well he’s not MY prince,” she exclaimed, “so I can say anything I want about the loser!”

“Chi-Chi,” Bardock said softly, interrupting her.  She looked down at him and, under his gaze, almost felt guilty.  “You do have a limited right to say what you want about the prince.  Everyone does.  But stop and think about the situation, first.  I was up there in the palace’s hospital, trying to help Bulma recover from the”—Bardock paused –“unfortunate accident she had.  And I saw the prince up there most of the time.  He waited for her all night, Miss Chi-Chi!  You can’t blame our prince for setting the date so suddenly if he’s in love, because love is a very powerful and motivating emotion.”  Bardock smiled.  “I personally think it’s good that the prince has found love.  It’s very good indeed.”

“Yea,” Chi-Chi said, “but what if Bulma’s TAKEN AWAY?!  Then he won’t have anyone to love, now will he?!”

“No, I suppose he won’t,” Bardock said, standing up.  “But if the prince loves her enough, I’m pretty sure he’ll do whatever it takes to stop Bulma from being hurt.  And now,” he patted his stomach, “what do you say we eat lunch?  I actually haven’t had anything since dinner last night, and I’m starving.”

~*~*~

Bulma wobbled on the spot a little, still slightly dizzy.  And this persistent job of keeping her hands up wasn’t helping.  She wished the dressmakers would hurry up and finish.

I mean, the dress isn’t the whole ceremony, for goodness’s sake!

Only a couple of hours ago had she been woken up and told rather bluntly that she was to become Prince Vegeta’s mate tomorrow.  At first, Bulma couldn’t believe it, but several Sayians had explained to her how everything had been decided by the prince, and that his orders were going to be followed out.  Then, a second thought came to her mind.

Did she really love him?  And was she ready to become mated to him?!

I mean, I barely know the guy… I’ve only been with him for a little more than one week, after all!

But did she love him?  She had seen a total different side to him, that night at the ball.  He had been more… open and intellectual with her.  And then he had saved her from Phoenix, and he had waited for her all night.  That was enough to make any girl fall in love with the guy!  (AN  Just the mere SIGHT of him is enough for me to fall in love with the man!  ^_^  Vegeta: **grins smugly**)  But then she had woken up and had had a “disagreement” with him, and he ended up being very cold towards her.  But she wasn’t that stupid, and it didn’t take her long to figure out that he was covering up other feelings.  Just… which feelings, she didn’t know.

Did he love her, too?

Well he must, she figured, if he’s holding the “mating ceremony” for him and me.  And I’m not even Sayian!

But no matter how close or far away Bulma felt to being in love with the arrogant prince, she definitely knew one thing: the ceremony was way too soon for her liking.

~*~*~

Bulma had been assigned a different room that night, and she tiredly stumbled into it around 11:00.  Her whole day had been hectic, and she had had to plead and beg over and over again to be spared the time to use the bathroom.  Other than that, she hadn’t gotten any time to herself.

For the last couple of hours, they had gone over the ceremony and her part in the ceremony nearly 50 times.  Or it seemed like that much.  Bulma supposed that she might have been exaggerating.

And then there was the whole ordeal with “not seeing the prince”.  She felt like she was in some type of human marriage.  Even the day before the ceremony Bulma and Prince Vegeta weren’t allowed to see each other, so they had to take turns going through the ceremony.  So when one practicing, the other was tending to some other ceremony-related matter.

Needless to say, Bulma was looking foreword to a good night’s sleep.

She glanced around the room nonchalantly.  Nothing too impressive.  A queen-sized, four-poster bed and a bathroom off to the side.  Bulma totally ignored the bathroom as she stripped herself of her pants and bra, and crawled happily into bed.  She pulled the sheets up over herself, laid her head on the soft pillow, and feel asleep not three seconds after.

~

*

~

“WAKE UP, GIRL!  WAKE UP!”

Bulma’s eyes shot open at the woman’s screeching, and she sat up immediately.  A very large-boned, Sayian woman was carrying a tray of wonderful looking food.  It took Bulma a while to calm down, and when she did, the maid placed the food in front of Bulma, not smiling at her.

“It’s not good for a lady to sleep that late,” she said, waving a finger in front of Bulma’s face.  Bulma glared at it as she stuffed a piece of toast into her mouth, a half-hearted craving to bite the woman’s finger off crawling inside her.  “No no no, it makes a woman sleepy and lazy the rest of the day.”

Bulma frowned at her as she walked out the door and came back in a second later, carrying Bulma’s dress.  “Well yea,” Bulma said, “but it’s not good for a person to not get ENOUGH sleep, you know.”

“You’ve gotten enough sleep for a girl your age,” the woman said curtly.  Bulma rolled her eyes, taking a sip of her orange juice.

“Your dress is hanging on the bathroom door,” the woman informed her, though it was rather unnecessary; Bulma could see the dress from her position on the bed, as it was only three feet away from her.  “When you’re done eating, take a shower and get dressed.  Be ready for the ceremony NO LATER than 9:00!”

“9:00?!” Bulma exclaimed.  “Why?!  The ceremony starts at 11:00!”

The woman shrugged as she headed towards the door.  “I have no clue, dear.  That’s just what I was told to tell you.”  And she left without another word.

Bulma sighed irritably and forced herself to get out of bed.  If she was going to look appropriate by 9:00, she’d better start now.  Bulma stopped halfway to the bathroom door, thought twice about the matter, and grabbed herself an apple.  She headed into the bathroom and shut the door behind herself, taking a large bite out of the delicious, red apple.

Can’t live without them apples, can we people?  x_X

Yes, I realize this is ALSO an odd place to stop (like my last chapter), but it’s the best place I could think of.  I’m still debating on if I can get the story finished up with just one more, REALLY big chapter, or if I’ll have to split it into two.  Hmmm…

And **cough cough** there’s a little matter that I have to **cough** deal with.

Vegeta:  **Rolls his eyes**

Pudgoose:  Uh, I’d like to point out the fact that, not one, but TWO of my LOVELY, LITTLE REVIEWERS has brought up something.  **Forces grin**  Thank you Ashley and Crystal Lily!  **Bashes herself on the head**  Ok Pudgoose, now you’re starting to be mean….  Well anyway girls, you saw the resolution to your problem, did you not?  And yes, I am going to be REALLY stupid and drag out this matter into a large paragraph, when they actually did NOTHING wrong!  ^_^’’’

Vegeta:  o_O’’’’

Pudgoose:  You all don’t have to read their reviews, because this isn’t a really big matter to tend to.  I just want to explain my plot to Ashley and Crystal Lily.  I, first of all, have to say that you’re very bright readers, girls, and you spotted something that even I didn’t.  …I actually think that’s why I’m being too freaky about this whole thing….  But anyway, when I was taking a shower, I came up with a lot of good excuses, and here are my best ones!  ^_^’’’’

Vegeta:  **Shakes his head at Pudgoose**

Pudgoose:  Ok, first off, Goku’s stupid.

Vegeta:  **Bursts out laughing**

Pudgoose:  Don’t mean to put it too bluntly, but he really isn’t the smartest person on DBZ.  Second excuse/reason: Goku was too absorbed in Chi-Chi to remember.  That also says something about how much he loves her, so that’s a GOOD excuse… I mean reason!

Vegeta:  **snicker**

Pudgoose:  ^_^’  And last, but certainly not least, I needed the plot to go the way I had intended it to go.  If Goku had been much smarter and remembered the note sooner, it wouldn’t have worked.  ^_^  So there.  I’m cool and guilt-free now.

**Reviewers throw fruit at Pudgoose AGAIN for having their time wasted**

Vegeta:  Oh yea baby!  **Catches the fruit in his mouth as it’s thrown**

Pudgoose:  Uh, please review!  **Gets knocked out by a watermelon**