Enjoy ^_^

Chapter Ten

Entry 09;

Sorry to break the news to you diary, but there's nothing terribly exciting I have to write in you today as well. I know, sad huh?

I learned the first time that my line of work wasn't meant to be skipped and I had so much work to catch up on but it's all good now and there's an almost steady pace to things. Actually, it's been the same routine for a straight week. I wake up, eat breakfast, go to work and then come home or take a few hours off to watch Vegeta train.

And, believe it or not, watching him is the highlight of my day. That's probably the only time I see him throughout the day unless he decides to join me for breakfast but that only happens rarely. Normally, he's already fed and out to the GR before I even crack open an eye.

Although it doesn't seem like it to others, things have changed between us. Yes, we still yell and argue and throw insults around like its nobody's business but...I don't know...I feel almost....connected to him. As if we're...friends, on a very peculiar level. He's softened a bit and I think it's because I watch him train. I think he likes when I do that. He doesn't even argue with me about it anymore.

Why, one time, I peeked outside and saw him setting up the laptop and laying out a blanket.

PS: Yamcha still hasn't called, left a text, dropped by or asked my friends about me. But...it's not bugging me so much anymore. Actually, it's not bugging me at all. Okay fine, just a bit but it's slowly fading and becoming nothing but a dull ache.

PSS: Vegeta still hasn't brought up the kiss and I'm much to chicken to. Well fine, I'm not chicken but...I don't know...I kinda want to wait for him to say something about it. The last thing I want is to make a move and have it rejected. How embarrassing would that be?

PSSS: I really wish he'd kiss me.

PSSSS: Diary, I think I have a crush on our Saiyan Prince. God can only help me now. *sighs*

*****

Thick clouds gathered in the sky, sending a gloomy shadow across the sky. Rain poured from them, gray and dull as it spattered against the windows.

Bulma watched the downpour from the living room window, a slight frown on her face, a defeated slump of her shoulders. Normally, she would have welcomed the rain. She would have curled up in her room, got out a book and enjoyed the piece of quiet.

But now, she wasn't as joyous. Because rain this heavy meant that she couldn't lay out in front of the Gravity Room, plug up her laptop to the camera installed and watch a certain flame haired male work his butt off.

So the blue haired heiress let out a deep sigh, flopped onto the couch and watched a sitcom on the television that wasn't funny but still had the audience laughter in the background. One man and two halves, it was called. She had just arrived back from meetings and was of for the rest of the day so she was lounging around in grey sweatpants and a grey tank top, her hair was left to cascade down her shoulders and she had a fleeting thought to cut it.

"Bulma dear?"

The blue haired woman turned slightly to see her father walk in. He wasn't dressed in his usual white lab coat and pants but had on a long sleeved black shirt with jeans and she smiled up at him. Apparently, he was off duty for the rest of the day as well.

"Hey dad, what's up?" She asked as he took a seat beside her.

"Nothing really. It's raining pretty bad outside so I've decided to continue my inventions tomorrow. I always think better when it's sunny." He smiled and she rolled her eyes playfully. "What about you?"

"Just watching T.V."

He noted her sad look. "Hm. I thought you'd be watching Vegeta train."

"It's raining, as you pointed out so I can't."

Dr. Briefs noted her sharp tone and slightly narrowed eyebrows and tried to hold back a smile with no prevail.

"What? Why are you smiling?"

He shrugged. "You seem bummed about not being able to watch him."

Bulma narrowed her eyes slowly and knew immediately what her father was getting it. It wasn't a secret that she spent most of her nights observing the Saiyan. Why, most of the workers often asked her jokingly when she walked past them, 'GR time?' right before they winked suggestively. Up until now, she hadn't really thought anything of it and played along with her own laughter and winking but now, as she stared at the doctor's expression, she got the impression that he thought something was going on between the prince and her.

Something as in a 'relationship'. And that made her angry. If only for the fact that information like that was personal and that no one else had any business trying to pry.

And because it wasn't true even if, deep down in a part of subconscious she'd rather not acknowledge, she wished it was.

So she just mumbled, "I guess."

Dr. Briefs noted the curt reply as well and let it go. Instead, he brightened said, "I know a way to cheer you up!"

Bulma watched with a raised eyebrow as her purple haired father raced out of the room and returned a few minutes later with a clear bag filled with jingling items. When he sat back down, she saw what was inside and couldn't help but grin.

He laid out the board and set up the pieces, a glint of a challenge in his blue eyes. "Care to play some chess?"

She made a big show of putting her hands on her hips and said dramatically, "Father, must I embarrass you so?"

The man laughed and brought up a chair to take his spot behind the white chess pieces while she slid behind the darker ones. Both father and daughter transformed to solemn faces as they begun the game. It was one of their favorite pastimes with each other and possibly the only time Dr. Briefs had gotten a chance to spend time with her. Although they both shared scientific brains, there was no getting past the most obvious fact that she was indeed a girl and most of her time was spent shopping with her mother and obsessing about boys. Aside from the times when she snuck down into his lab, chess was the only alone time they had together when she was smaller.

Now, as adults, it seemed idyllic and refreshing.

Twenty minutes later, with a giddy Bulma and a frustrated looking Dr. Briefs, the game was almost finished. One lone white King stood on the board surrounded by a darker King, Queen and two knights. The excitement in the woman's face was palpable. She was moving her legs, smiling widely and wringing her hands. In her whole twenty six years of living, she had never beaten her father at chess. 99 to 0 was the score, she recalled.

He made a lame attempt and moved his King forward but it was already over. Bulma placed her piece, called out 'CHECKMATE!' and then started to jump up and down and sing and giggle all at once. Her father sat back and sighed but smiled in spite of the situation. She had gotten smarter alright.

Ninety nine to One.

Unbeknownst to them however, was the short figure standing a few feet from their game, half his body in shadow with a towel around his neck, a quizzical eyebrow raised and a can of soda in his hand.

Bulma noticed him when she turned to do some sort of thrusting dance with her lower body. Her eyes widened and she stopped dead in her tracks, arms raised over her head, a blush already creeping onto her cheeks. From the corner of her eye, she saw her father smirk devilishly.

"Well don't stop on account of my presence. It was actually quite enjoyable to watch." Vegeta smirked, raising the can to his mouth.

She quickly straightened and tried to conjure up a glare but it was hard to with her cheeks burning so she turned to glower down at Dr. Briefs who had begun to laugh. The doctor covered his mouth in a sorry attempt to hide his smile and hurried out of the room. Bulma could hear his guffaws all the way up the stairs.

"What is this?"

Bulma turned to see that the short male had walked over to the chess set and picked up a white pawn with his free hand. She blinked, still pretty embarrassed. "Uh...it's a pawn."

"What does it do?" He seemed genuinely curious. His smirk had disappeared to be replaced with a slight frown.

"Well...it's a piece of a game. This game." She pointed at the board. "It's called 'Chess.' I guess you didn't have chess on your planet?"

He gave her a placid stare. "No, I did not." He set it down. "But I am familiar with what a pawn is. The lowest of all other warriors. Much like a peasant. On my planet, pawns were sent out before everyone else. They weren't meant to survive. They were just used for entertainment." Vegeta turned to give her a lopsided smile. "Kakarot could be labeled as a pawn."

She let it slide. "Yeah well, that's kind of what they're used for in Chess too." She set the pieces in their respected places. "See here? Pawns are placed before all others."

Vegeta mulled that over and then pointed. "And those other pieces?"

"Rooks, Knights, Bishops, Queen and King." Bulma told him as she pointed to each. She watched his concentrated expression, the same look he sometimes wore when he worked out and realized that he was intrigued.

"Play me."

The woman blinked and stood dumbfounded for a moment. "Huh?"

"Play me. In this game." He sat in the seat that her father had recently vacated, chugged down the rest of his soda, crushed it and threw it in the trashcan all in one swift movement. The towel around his shoulders thrown on the couch.

"Uh...you sure?" She smiled. "I'm pretty good. Maybe you should-"

"There is no one on this planet that is better than me at war." He cut her off harshly. "And this game seems to have the exact setup for a person going to war."

"Not exactly." Bulma said carefully, laughing nervously. "There are rules and restrictions to this game. It's not like-"

"So tell me what they are."

She huffed slightly at his sharp command but did as told, taking her original seat on the couch. Ten minutes later and Vegeta knew the rules and fundamentals for a game of chess. He had only interrupted once to complain about the Queen having more power than the King and how that was 'preposterous'. In his kingdom, the queen was always lower. It was only after she told him that the King was the key to winning did he accept it with a few grumbles.

"Still want to play?" A playful glint was in her cerulean eyes and he caught it.

"Ladies first."

Bulma frowned slightly and noted his intense gaze. He obviously was excited to play but she couldn't figure out why. To best her at it? To show her up? Or simply because it was the first thing on Earth that resembled and/or reminded him of his home planet?

He really wanted to play, she thought. The knowledge dug into her mischievous streak and a light bulb went off in her head. "Fine, I'll play you. BUT you'll have to follow one more rule."

He looked irritated when he asked evenly, "And what is that?"

A grin from her. "For each piece of yours that I take, you'll have to answer a question I ask."

There was a beat of silence where he just stared at her calmly as he took in the request. Then his face twitched into anger and he narrowed his eyes. "For what? Information about me is none of your business."

"That's true." She shrugged. "And if you don't want to then fine, I just won't play you. But then again," She feigned surprise. "If you refuse then that'll be like you admitting that you think you'll lose, correct?"

More silence and glaring from him. It was all she needed to know that he agreed with that she said. "Fine." He finally spat out. Then he smirked, "But for every piece I take of yours, you strip."

The horrified look from the woman made Vegeta smirk even wider. If she was going to force him to do something he'd rather not do then he would as well. His rule was made more for her aggravation than for his entertainment, however. Although the added perk of watching wouldn't be too bad either.

"My clothes!?"

He nodded.

"Pervert!" Was all she could think of to say.

Vegeta only shrugged, his smirk remained.

Bulma glanced down at her attire. All together she was only wearing four pieces of clothing; her sweatpants, underwear, bra and tank top. She wished that she had put on some socks.

"You don't have to if you don't want to." She heard him taunt from across from her. "Although refusing would be like admitting you'll lose, correct?"

She wanted to sucker punch him. While she was over here trying to get him to open up, he was busy trying to see her naked. Typical male. Although, she suspected that he had said it only to get her riled up. Vegeta just being Vegeta. But, instead of voicing any of this aloud or assailing him, she gave him an unimpressed look and said, "You're on. But make it every two pieces. I only have four items on."

He paused, considered it and then repeated, "Ladies first."

Bulma studied the board and moved one of her pawns up one position. He mimicked her movement with his pawn. They went on like that for a few turns, both working silently and carefully to keep their pieces out of the line of fire.

Then Bulma took one of his pawns and grinned. He growled and waited for her question.

"What's your favorite color?"

Utter disbelief crossed onto the Saiyan's face as he let the question sink in. Obviously, he hadn't thought she'd ask him that. She wondered vaguely what he had suspected she would ask. He avoided her gaze and said lowly, "Blue."

She blinked as he observed the board for his next move and then smiled softly and fiddled with her blue locks. Maybe she wouldn't cut it...

"Woman, it's your turn."

Bulma snapped from her daze and got back into the game. Just because she had taken one, didn't meant he'd let her do it again.

Yet, a few turns later, he still hadn't taken one of hers and she got a second pawn. "How old are you?"

"Three years older than you."

"How do you know how old I am?"

"That's two questions." Then Vegeta moved his rook and took one of her pawns. She gulped and glanced down at her clothes once more before continuing. One more and she'd have to either take off her tank top or sweatpants. Neither were very good choices to her.

They went on for a few more turns where he didn't take another one of hers while she took two of his; another pawn and a knight. She had asked about his favorite food. He replied with a curt, "Chicken and Rice." and then she had asked about his choice between flying and shooting ki balls and gotten a slightly confused, "Flying." answer from him before they forged onwards. He hadn't looked especially frustrated or angry or nervous throughout the game. It just seemed quiet and focused.

Then it happened. He swapped out her rook with his bishop and sat back with a smirk, waiting.

Bulma blew out a sigh and cracked her knuckles before sliding off her tank top. And although she avoided his eyes, she could sense them on her while she bored holes into the board to determine her next move. She wondered if he noticed her red cheeks.

He watched her take the fourth pawn of his with her rook and didn't make a sound. She bit her lip and decided it was time to dwell deeper.

"Do you ever miss your home planet? Get homesick?"

Her question had been low but from the silence that followed, she knew that he had heard her. She didn't want to look at him because, for one, she was only wearing a bra over her midsection but also for the reason that she didn't want to see his expression. She pictured him looking outraged from her nerve at asking him such a personal question.

But, to her surprise, his voice was calm and almost indifferent when he responded with, "I can't miss a planet that was destroyed when I was five." Then he claimed her other rook.

The game continued. With Bulma avoiding his gaze and him not making a sound. Neither had managed to take another piece for a few turns until Vegeta captured one of her pawns.

Her face fell into a grimace and she began to take off her pants but his voice stopped her. "Don't. And put your shirt back on."

She whirled to look at him and saw that he was staring at her with a guarded look. His eyes, however, were flashing slightly. They stared for a beat before she did as told and put back on her tank top.

He sneered to himself as she moved her knight. He hadn't known why but something had possessed him to say that, to let her off the hook with his part of the bargain. Maybe the reason had been because she hadn't wanted to look at his face. Or because she been clearly uncomfortable. Days ago, he liked when she was embarrassed. Now, he could barely stand it. What the hell was going on?

They played some more in silence and Vegeta took three more of her pieces but he didn't make a motion to signal that she'd still have to strip so she didn't. And when she took one of his, she didn't ask a question.

He narrowed his eyes at that. "Well?"

She blinked, confused. "Well what?"

"Ask your question."

"Uh...but I thought...well I'm not stripping anymore so-"

But he waved it off and said with a heavy sigh, "Woman, ask."

Bulma furrowed her eyebrows at him. Sometimes, he made no sense whatsoever. She twirled a strand of her hair while she thought and then asked meekly, "Have you ever...uh..." Biting her lip, she continued, "...back when...uh...a queen? Was there a queen you..?" She cursed at her own sloppy sentences.

He caught on anyway. "You're asking about my sexual history." It wasn't a question, it was a statement.

She knew her face probably resembled a cherry while she nodded.

Vegeta was amused. The woman could tell by his voice when he answered. "I've been to my fair share of brothels." It sounded as if he wanted to burst out in laughter.

Bulma wasn't sure if she felt angry, jealous or relieved. Maybe it was a mixture. So she remained silent as he went. More turns passed where he took some of her pawns and she got one of his as well. She asked something superficial and they kept going.

It got down to three white pieces on the board and three darker pieces. He still had his King, a knight and a rook while she had her bishop, King and a Queen. He moved his knight and she took it with her Queen.

This question would have to count, she thought. It was getting down to the nitty gritty and she wasn't sure if she'd get another chance at taking a piece. So, with that in mind, Bulma brought up the infamous incident, "Why'd you kiss me?"

She watched him stare downwards, his right eye twitching once before he answered. "Because I wanted to."

Bulma frowned. She didn't really know how to take that. Was it a good thing? Did that mean he wanted to kiss her because he liked her or simply because he wanted to get laid? She berated herself for her poor choice of words and watched as he moved his rook to take her bishop. With an overly aggressive grip, she swiped out the rook with her Queen.

"You're an arrogant jerk."

"That wasn't a question."

She simply frowned and he ignored her to move his King. It was in the bag, she thought matter-of-factly. All he had left was his King while she still had her Queen and King. So, she quickly trapped him and called out victoriously, "Checkmate."

He didn't growl. Didn't grunt, didn't complain. He just assessed it, glanced at her and said, "You've got one more question to ask."

Bulma blinked in confusion before she looked down and noticed that indeed she did. Using her Queen, she took his King to symbolize her victory even more. She was more then surprised at his reaction. Why, she had predicated he'd throw a temper tantrum. Yet, he hadn't. He was just waiting for her last inquiry.

It was then when she realized that he liked it. All of it. He liked playing chess, he liked calculating his every move and he had liked when she asked him questions. He looked exactly the same way when she came to watch him train.

He's just lonely. He's not used to people being interested in him....spending time with him.....and he likes that I am.

Her realization made the last question that much more easier. There wasn't a single tremor in her voice when she asked, "Are you attracted to me?"

Vegeta stared. He looked to be contemplating, studying her expression, searching for signs of trickery. His words from weeks ago came back to her: I don't leave room open for betrayal. But he was right now, wasn't he? He was getting too close and she assumed that that scared him.

So she waited for his response and matched his gaze with one of her own that must have assured him because, a few minutes later, he said,

"I can show you better than tell you."

In a matter of seconds, she was pinned under him on the couch. His fingers wrapped around her wrist, his eyes narrowed and she saw lust coursing through them.

Déjà Vu, skirted through her mind right before he leaned down and kissed her.

The first word that ran through Vegeta's mind when his lips touched hers was;

Damn.

He was quite sure that the path he was heading down would come back and blast him in the ass. And that path was right there, lying in front of him in the shape of a blue haired human female with astounding intellect, a flawless face and an infuriating attitude that, on some level, turned him on.

Yet his disdainful notions didn't seem to hold him back as he consumed her mouth, savoring the taste as if this would be the last time he'd ever kiss a woman or better yet, this woman. Although, that thought would probably prove false. After all, this was their second kiss.

And if the first kiss shared between Vegeta and Bulma had been fast, hard and unexpected then their second was slow, soft and anticipated.

Bulma wrapped her arms around his neck to keep him in place even though he made no attempt to pull back. She felt his fingers trail the elastic of her sweatpants and then lightly move underneath the fabric, sending shivers down her back at his soft touch. She wondered what he was thinking because her thoughts were all jumbled up. Was she really on the couch, below the man she supposedly hated with their lips locking in the most intimate of positions?

Better yet, did it matter? Wasn't this what she wanted? What they both wanted? Hadn't she been fussing over this for the last few weeks or so?

He moved to kiss her neck and she couldn't help but note how he contrasted with himself at times. How he could touch her so gently and then still appear hard. How he could stare at her calmly and speak with layers of intensity. The abrasive prince she had grown to know could drastically change.

That only seemed to deepen her curiosity towards him.

A moan escaped from her mouth when Vegeta ran a hand up her tank top to trace his thumb around her nipple. He watched the look of pleasure on her face and it hit him then:

She wasn't going to resist and he wasn't going to stop.

Bulma seemed to realize the same thing so she wasn't confused when he hopped off of her and glanced around. He then commenced to lead her towards the stairs, his hands on her wrist, pulling so hard and walking so fast that she was almost looked to be getting dragged.

"Vegeta!" She objected, nearly tripping. "Would you slow down? We-"

But he wasn't listening. He didn't even hear her. He simply flipped her onto his shoulder and made it to the stairs in less then two strides. A man on a mission.

Then the door bell rang.

He stopped momentarily, the woman over his shoulder before she said tightly, "Go."

The flame haired man made it to the third step before the door bell rang two more times. Almost frantically. He heard her sigh, a heavy, long sigh and knew what she was going to say before she muttered, "It might be an emergency." She sounded disappointed.

Vegeta set her on her feet and she saw the tenseness in his muscles. "Five minutes." He was giving her a time limit. Jeez! She thought will a roll of her eyes.

Bulma rushed downstairs and made it to the door before the bell could be rung again and opened it swiftly, hurriedly. Her face slowly transformed into a look of astonishment when she recognized the person staring at her sheepishly.

"Hey Bulma."

With a dry throat, she croaked uneasily, "Uh...hey Yamcha."

I know, I know. If one person isn't interrupting, someone else is. Fret not, their time will come I hadn't even planned for this chapter to be so long, haha. Go me? *crickets chirp* Nice.

BTW: Thank you, my reviewers! I love the comments and I'm so glad you like my story. It means a lot to me. Hope you liked this chapter.