New Beginning

Dealing with her father in the morning was not easy, but Bulma had learned well how to manipulate people over the years. First she tried the reasonable approach. “Daddy, contrary to what you think, I believe it’s a good idea to keep Vegeta nearby. Remember the old saying: Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer? It means...”

“I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS!!!” Dr. Briefs yelled, “But WHY does he have to stay in OUR house? None of us can even hope to defend ourselves if he decides to go nuts and blow this place sky high!”

Bulma decided to try the puppy-dog eyes approach, but the only thing that worked in the end was for Bulma to throw a screaming tantrum, like the spoiled little brat she was. Dr. Briefs finally agreed to let Vegeta stay, as long as he didn’t harm any of them or destroy any equipment. She told him that she had already gotten Vegeta to agree to that.

Throughout the next few weeks nobody at Capsule Corp saw very much of Vegeta at all. He was very distant and highly antisocial.

Bulma eventually became used to the constant sound of him training in the gravity room. She began to wonder if he ever took breaks.

‘What drives him to train so hard for so long?’ She wondered, peering out her bedroom window at the GT in the backyard. He was constantly tormenting himself, day in and day out. She couldn’t understand how anyone could have such determination for literally ANY reason. She had always believed he was sadistic, but could he be masochistic as well? Her desire to understand him continued to grow.

Bulma managed to catch a glimpse of him one night about a month after he had come to live at the compound. It was three in the morning and Bulma was heading downstairs for an early morning snack. She froze when she saw him raiding the fridge.

All he was wearing was a pair of torn-up black and blue spandex shorts. He had been left so battered and exhausted from his training that he didn’t even take notice of her despite his highly evolved senses.

She watched his face closely as he set some sandwich ingredients down on the table. It took a good eye, but Bulma swore she could see hints of emotion flicker across his face. It was so quick that she almost missed it, but she could've sworn he appeared dejected.

After preparing about twenty sandwiches in less than five minutes, he promptly devoured one after another without leaving so much as a crumb on the table.

In her thoughts, Bulma compared Vegeta’s eating habits to Goku’s. They both ate with the same speed, but somehow about half the meal didn’t make it into Goku’s mouth, unlike with the smaller Saiyan. Vegeta was much cleaner and more refined. When Vegeta had insulted Goku before by calling him a low-class warrior, Bulma thought Vegeta was just being jealous. Now she was beginning to believe that wasn't the case—Goku really was low-class, at least in table manners. He was still a good friend though.

Bulma dashed back up the staircase and hid in roomroom when she noticed he had finished. About ten minutes later he came upstairs and disappeared into his room.

Bulma was surprised to discover that Vegeta actually decided to use his room that night, rather than sleeping in the gravity room as he did most every other night.

Bulma headed back downstairs with the intention of getting that midnight snack she had promised herself. The moment she reached the kitchen and turned on the light, she noticed that Vegeta hadn’t left a mess at all, unlike Goku. Bulma had always assumed that Royalty were spoiled rotten and always expected others to clean up after and take care of them.

She realized the irony. He had a rotten personality and was bitter toward most everyone he came across, yet he had manners enough to clean up after himself. Was it out of habit? If she mentioned it to him the next morning would he change his behavior for the worse? She was curious, but she decided not to chance it.

Bulma up up to prepare a snack. ‘Vegeta, Prince of all Saiyans…you are such an enigma.’ She mused.

She wanted to see him more often…to learn more about him. ‘How is that possible?’ She asked herself, taking the cheddar cheese out of the fridge, ‘He avoids peoplt’s t’s almost as if…no, it’s not possible. Vegeta’s a heartless murderer. He couldn’t be afraid of people…or be afraid to be around them. He’s not even human. He can’t have emotions…could he? He certainly claims not to…he che constantly demonstrates his lack of concern for others. No, it’s not possible.’

She got out a box of saltine crackers and sliced the cheese into sections. ‘Either he’s hiding something, or there really is nothing there under that dense shell of his. I don't know which to believe.’

Once she finished preparing her cheese crackers, she sat down and propped her head up with her left hand, feeding herself with her right. Bulma resolved to come up with a plan to be able to see Vegeta more often. ‘Maybe if I prepare a huge, delicious meal for lunch tomorrow…he won’t be able to resist. But, wait…what’s if he just takes off with the food? How can I get him to stay?’

Then Bulma remembered that tomorrow was Monday, and she had classes to go to at SCU. She sighed. Would this ever work?

Maybe she could intentionally try to start an argument with him…provoke him. Then again, that might not be wise. She would be breaking Vegeta's part of the deal, which was that he was not to be bothered by anyone, and she most definitely did not want him breaking her part of the deal…

Finally Bulma decided to turn in. She put away the cheese and cracker box, and ascended the stairs to her room.

As she was lying in bed in the darkness of her bedroom, she began to doze off. Suddenly, however, she swore she had heard something...a slight sound that had been just barely audible. She shot up in bed. ‘What was that?’

Bulma went silent, waiting to see if what her ears had told her was true. Yes…there it was again. It sounded like a whimper…or a moan. She was unsure of where it was coming from. Putting her ear to the wall, she realized it had originated from the room next to hers—Vegeta’s room. She was afraid to go check it out—she knew Vegeta was in there and he might be mad if he thought she was invading his privacy.

Being the light sleeper that she was, Bulma resolved to use earplugs so the strange noises wo’t w’t wake her up. Once again, her eyelids grew heavy and she nodded off into slumber.