A.N. Hey all! So this is my first time publishing on this site so bare with me as I get used to formatting and stuff. Also, the original idea for this fanfic spawns from Ariel Brief's creation "Not for your ears" as that was never picked up and it's been many years, I decided to write my own version. The words are all original but my idea is not. I'm only going to say that once. Other than that, enjoy!

Was this some sort of sick joke? As Bulma surveyed the grim scene before her, those words kept repeating in her head as if the steady mantra would somehow make it all go away. As it were, that did not happen, and she was cradling the broken body of her best friend as he struggled to take deep breaths. She was too overcome with shock to pay any attention to the man that stood before her, face indifferent to the crime he had just committed.

Oh, Kami, why? Yes, she couldn't ride on the nimbus, but was her heart so impure that the dragon thought she deserved a murderer for a prince? If only she had known that her impulsive wish would have such drastic results, but she had to do something to keep Emperor Pilaf from making his wish, and she might as well have gotten what she came for, right?

That's what she thought…but the moment he appeared as a result and the dragon left, she knew something was very wrong indeed. With hair that resembled a flame and black eyes so cold it actually hurt to make eye contact, he resonated power…and evil. At first, he looked confused, but it was quickly replaced with anger and a, "What is the meaning of this?!"

He had incinerated Emperor Pilaf without any effort as soon as he dared to advance, and Goku, poor Goku, had jumped in front of Bulma protectively. He was so brave…and she didn't deserve it. Now, he was dying and there was nothing she or anyone present could do to stop it. The man, her "prince," had beaten Goku within an inch of his life, and what's worse, he didn't even look like he was trying.

And he was just standing there, watching the scene with disinterest and perhaps mild amusement. Bulma couldn't fathom why he didn't finish Goku off in the same manner as he did Emperor Pilaf, but she wasn't about to complain. Why he didn't just finish them all off, Bulma didn't dare ask. She spared him a glance and found that he seemed to be calculating something.

Oolong, meanwhile, had transformed into a tiny beetle the moment the man appeared. Not that Bulma could blame him. She'd have done the same thing. But Oolong had senzu beans…and if Goku was to live, he was going to have to transform back and he was going to have to do it soon.

But before he could do anything, the deadly warrior in the blue and gold armor would have to get the hell out of there. Currently, he was standing there pressing this communication device on his head and repeating the words, "Nappa…Nappa!" It didn't look like he was planning on going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, he looked very confused at his surroundings, as Bulma expected he would be.

Damn her and her childish wants! Okay, so she had only really done it to stop Pilaf, but eventually, she would have made the wish, and this monster would have still shown up. What luck!

"You there!" he barked, suddenly looking in her direction. Bulma gulped and tried to inconspicuously slide away from him while still cradling her injured buddy. He frowned at the action and stalked over to her before she could move another inch. "Listen here, wench, I've got some questions for you and you are going to answer them."

"M-me?" she squealed. "What do I know?"

"How was it that I came to this planet? I'm quite certain it wasn't by technological means, so what magic caused this to happen?"

Bulma thought about the dragon balls. There was no way she was going to mention anything about them to this maniac, but she didn't know how else she would explain it. And then, even if she feigned ignorance, wouldn't he just kill her for not being of use to him? Suddenly, an idea dawned on her, and she ran with it.

"They're called dragonballs," she started.

"Bulma, no…" whispered Goku, in her arms. She looked down into his pitiful and bloody face for just a second, before winking at him and looking back up to the man in front of her.

"You gather all seven of them and then you summon the dragon. He'll grant you any wish that you want, as long as that same wish hasn't already been granted."

"Anything?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow. "So why am I here? Did someone wish for me?" His expression had turned dark once more, and Bulma gulped. Goodness, did this guy have to be so scary all of the time? She was rethinking her plan, already, but it was too late for that. She would have to stay strong and stick to it.

"Uh…well, I wished…for my prince," said Bulma, looking down in shame. "And then you showed up."

"Ha! Well, I am indeed a prince, but not the kind little girls would dream of." He began laughing and the evil quality to it sent chills down her spine. So he was a prince, but why did she deserve one so evil? And what was she supposed to do to get him to spare her friends?

"Well," he said, startling her from her thoughts, "I'll need these dragon balls. I have a wish I would like to make, myself."

"It's not that easy," said Bulma, softly. She shrieked as he grabbed her by her shirt, pulling her up to his face. Goku tumbled unceremoniously out of her lap, but there was nothing she could do about it right then. Instead, she looked into the face of her tormentor.

Bulma couldn't help her blush when she realized just how handsome he was. Before, she hadn't really been paying attention to him, but now that they were face to face, she couldn't ignore it.

He was quite tan, with dark eyes and hair that contrasted attractively. He had a sharp, but well-sized nose above a set of full, delicious-looking lips. And she could tell through his armor that he was packing quite a bit of muscle, despite his lean stature. In any other situation, she might have attempted to flirt, but she wasn't an idiot and she knew it wouldn't be received very well. The fact that his eyes had a fire in him that would send strong men running helped tame her thoughts as well.

"What do you mean, 'it's not that easy?' Do the blasted balls work or not?"

"Th-they work. It's just, once you've made a wish, you have to go find them all because the scatter all over the earth. Sometimes other people have found them and you have to fight. And sometimes they're in dangerous locations. Also, they need a year to recharge completely before you can make another wish."

"Then how did you manage to get them all?" he asked dangerously. Bulma swallowed. Here was where everything would all come together.

"I invented this device. The dragon radar. It tracks all of the balls, so that you can find them. All you have to do is follow the arrows…"

"Show me," he cut her off, impatiently. He dropped her and she stumbled over to her bag to pull out the dragon radar. She handed it to him and waited while he fiddled with it.

"How the devil do you work this thing?"

"I'm the only one who knows how to use it," said Bulma. He gave her a look, and she maintained her confident expression. There was no way she was going to give up that easily.

"Then teach me how to do it, as well." It was a dark command, laced with a thinly veiled threat. Fear crept its way into her heart, wrapping around it like a vine. Each beat felt constricted and she was suddenly finding it very difficult to breathe. Bulma knew what he was insinuating, but she was not going to help him until they came to an agreement.

"Listen. I know you'd just as soon kill me if I showed you how to use it. So you're going to have to keep me, and my friends, alive if you want to get your wish," said Bulma determinedly. For a few seconds he didn't move and neither did she. Her heart seemed like it wanted to make her well aware of the danger she was courting with every painful thud. Then an angry growl ripped from him so suddenly that she screamed and closed her eyes.

When she opened them, he was right in front of her. So close that she could smell him, and he smelled…spicy, somehow. Like cinnamon…and mint. Bulma didn't dare exhale. She kept the scent of him inside of her, swirling around and making her dizzy, until he spoke once more.

"You mean for yourself to accompany me to gather these balls, do you?" he asked. Bulma nodded in response. She didn't trust her voice.

"You do know, silly girl, that you are only prolonging the inevitable. Once we find these balls and I make my wish, I will destroy you, anyway. Just for being a nuisance. I've killed men for less, you know."

Bulma didn't say anything. Of course, she believed him completely. There was nothing about his tone that suggested he was lying to her, and she wouldn't be so foolish as to challenge him anyway. She did see what he did to Goku, after all.

"And how do you suppose you transport your broken comrade," he said, testily.

"Oolong," said Bulma, glancing at the stationary beetle. "I'd appreciate it if you transformed back now, so we can fix him."

With an auditory pop, the cowardly pig was standing before them. The man jumped back in surprise.

"What the fuck kind of planet is this?"

"A very strange one," said Bulma, walking over to him. "Senzu bean, please," she asked, holding her hand out. Oolong nodded and quickly reached into his pocket and pulled out a pouch. He handed her one.

"One left, Bulma," he said quietly. He also gave her a look that suggested that he thought she was absolutely out of her mind. She gave him a look back that said she didn't have any other plans and if he was so concerned, she was listening to other options.

"Here, Goku," she said. Bulma kneeled down next to her friend and place the senzu bean in his mouth so he could chew. He chewed and swallowed, then hopped up, shaking out the tension in his limbs.

"Thanks, Bulma," he said. "Thought I was a goner, there, for a moment."

"Me too, kid," she responded softly. With that, the three of them turned to face the prince. He was giving them all a very wary expression. "What?"

"You have talking animals that transform into beetles and magic beans that completely heal the wounded? As well as magical balls that grant wishes?" he asked incredulously.

Bulma shrugged. "You're going to see a lot weirder things than that, so you better get used to it."

"Very well," he snorted. "In what direction is the closest ball?" He peered over at Bulma as she stepped away to examine her radar. She wasn't going to have him looking over her shoulder the whole time. All the while, she didn't notice the curious and confused expression that had come over Goku's face.

"Hey," he said. "You have a tail, just like me." Bulma blanched as she swiveled to face them. It was then that she realized the furry belt he was wearing, was indeed a tail. He unfurled it from his waist and waved it about.

"That is the only reason I did not obliterate you completely, kid. It seems you and I are one in the same. Though why you are here, I know not."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you and I are both Saiyans. We hail from Planet Vegeta, and I am your Prince."

"So there are more, like me…I mean, like us?" asked Goku excitedly.

"Not really," he said softly. "Five that I'm aware of. Two more possibly, but as no one has heard or seen them in years, I cannot be certain."

"Well, what happened?"

"Drop it!" he snapped, suddenly, causing Bulma to drop the radar. They were going to have to be very careful to avoid this one's mood swings.

"Hey," she said, then. "What do we call you?"

"Vegeta. And listen to me, woman. I'm not interested in a band of children and animals following me around. You are the one who knows how to use that device, so you will be the only one accompanying me. Send the other two away."

"But…but, I can't just go off alone with you!" she protested.

"You will or you die," he answered, crossing his arms and turning away from them. Bulma turned to look at her friends. She motioned for them to come closer to her.

"Listen," she whispered. "I'll be alright for at least a year. Goku, just busy yourself with becoming stronger until that time. Then come find me. Oolong, stick with him and keep the Senzu bean on you, just in case."

She startled them by enveloping them both in a fierce hug. Feeling awkward, she stood up and wiped away a stray tear. "I'll see you soon," she mouthed.

"How touching…" Vegeta drawled. She whirled around to face him and shot him a nasty glare, not once thinking that she should watch herself. "Let's go, woman," he said, extending his hand. Bulma grabbed her bag and the dragon radar and walked over to him.

He extended a white-gloved hand. Bulma rolled her eyes and placed her hand in his. She was not prepared for the sudden way she was pulled flush against his muscled body or how nice it would feel to be pressed against him. She hadn't much experience with men at this point, and her stomach was flipping from the close contact. He did not seem as affected as they took off into the air. Bulma screamed.

"Shut your mouth," he snarled. Bulma did as he asked, but couldn't help the whimpers that were partly from her fear of heights and partly because she wasn't quite sure if she'd ever see her friends again.