(Bulmas POV)

As soon as the gong rings out, it's mad chaos. My legs start to move but my brain keeps me where I am so I end up doing a kind of awkward side-to-side jog. I can hear Vegeta's voice over the chaos but I ignore him. I saw Goku running for the bag he glaced at me and nodded. The green hairs boys who named Piccolo ran close to Goku. ChiChi, tripped and Vegeta sent a fire bomb towards her but Piccolo saved her. Goku looked at me again I know he wants me to run but I just can't leave the Base empty handed. I sprint forward and scoop up the closest thing to me, a loaf of bread. A flash of red catches my attention as I bend dow I have to jump and jolt in all directions to avoid being hit by fire VEgeta's was throwing at me. I didnt know how powerful Vegeta had became. Thankfully no one is really paying attention to me but Vegeta who was determind to kill me.

I looked own as I was running and saw something a satchel. Suddenly the attacks stops. I look up to see Cell, from district 2 attacking Vegeta. Vegeta fought back with perfect speed and control. My hand grips the strap of the satchel but so does another hand. I glance up and meet the pink eyes of the boy from district 1. Frezza, I think his name is. I pull hard, attempting to rip it out of his grasp. I'm about to pull free when suddenly he gasps and falls forward. Blood splutters across my face. I stagger back, gaping as the boy falls to the ground. That's when I notice the knife in his back. It's a clean shot, perfectly executed to paralyze. Frezza might not even be dead. Suddenly I feel like I might throw up. But then I look up and see Lunch, the girl from district 3, sprinting in my direction with a handful of knives. Damn. This must be her specialty and explain how she scored an nine during the practice session. Prey and predator, I force myself to think. I reach down and yank the knife out of Freza's back and swing my satchel overhead. The Purple haired boy's cry of pain lets me know he isn't dead but I can't afford to pity him. It's either me or him and since I'm not paralyzed I have a better shot. I have to be the predator here. I have a knife, but then again Lunch has at least a dozen. "Run. Always run when in doubt. You damn fool! RUN, Woman!" I looked behind her to see Vegeta screaming out to me, He cared. I ran as fast as I can, sprinting toward the woods. I pull the satchel behind my head protecting myself from flinging knives. The woods aren't far and it only takes me about twenty seconds to reach them. I can hear the sound of blades whirling past me as I weave through the trees. I know Lunch won't want to waste all her knives on me, and probably won't come after me alone. Not when all the good stuff is back at the Base. When I no longer hear the sound of whistling metal, I pause and turn.

I was holding in a scream at the sight. Vegeta had been stabbed in the shoulder and was fighting with a sword with one hand. He was breathing hard, I could barley see. I was about to run back when, I head a voice. I looked around, nothing. I start to move again when I heard Piccolo's calm voice behind me "No. If you go back, you will be killed." I looked back to see Piccolo he was a handsome tall man i knew he had black eyes, Green hair, small nose, he was wearing a Bulma shirt and pants, and a white cape. He looked towards the fight then he turned and ran off. I looked back at the fight scared of it all.

For the next hour or so, I alternate between jogging and walking, putting as much distance between me and the Base as I can. This is an advantage I had coming into these Games. I have a pretty high endurance level, used to spending hours hunting down food back at home or running away from bears in the woods by the town district. The boots Yamcha gave me are comfortable too, and this makes it easier for me to keep going. I refuse to think about Vegeta, about Goku and even Piccolo. I can't afford to think about anyone other than myself right now. I stopped by a tree, it was almost. Actually I should probably see what's inside the satchel now that I have a moment of rest. Night will be falling soon and I need to figure out where I'm going to sleep. I flip open the flap and carefully pull out the items inside: one thin black sleeping roll. A bottle of what looks like a minor healing medicine. Strips of some kind of dried meat jerky. And a single bar of soap.

I set up the sleeping roll up in a tree and layed down falling asleep once I hit it. Snap! My eyes snap open in a flash. I have that uncomfortable feeling that you get when you've been asleep and wake suddenly. Still slightly a bit dazed, I peer from my branches toward the source of the sound. I don't see anything. Maybe I imagined the snapping sound. But I can hear something else. Something like…ruffling leaves. And yet there's hardly any breeze. Snap! Okay, now I'm sure I didn't imagine it that time. Fully awake, I sit up as quietly as I can. My eyes scan the darkness, searching for any movement. I still see nothing but... There! About thirty feet away I can make out a shadowy figure. Crap. They're coming in this direction. I slink back into my bedroll. I squint as the shadowy figure comes near me. Whoever it is, he or she is moving silently aside from the two snaps from the twigs. They're really close now—I can make out the height, which looks too short to be any of the boys I've seen so far. I duck down just as they pass under me, managing to catch the back of her short hair. It's 18, she was from 8. It has to be. She moves quickly and I'm amazed by how stealthy she is. She's alone too, and if I had a bow and arrow I could maybe shoot her from here. She walked closer. Shit!. 18 is out of my sight in seconds and this relaxes me somewhat, I waited about 30 minutes before falling asleep once again.

"Good morning Bulma." My eyes open. My head whips around so fast I nearly break my neck and I almost cry out in alarm. My eyes land on a pair of deep black ones. It's Goku. He holds up his hands, eyes wide and concerned. "Sorry! I didn't mean to scare you." He said sitting down on the tree branch next to my head. "What do you think you're doing?" I hiss, immediately maneuvering myself in a semi-fighting stance. Or well, as much of a stance as I can in this damn tree. "I saw you and I thought…" he blushes and rubs his head. "I thought we could work together. For now. If you want…that is." Goku smiled his goofy smile. "I won't be any trouble," he says quickly. There are dark circles under his eyes and I wonder if he got any sleep last night. "I can even be a lookout from above. I don't eat much so you don't have to share your food. But I know how to live off next to nothing. Please." I can now see the desperation in his eyes and hear it through his voice. "I can be useful. I promise I won't let you down." Goku looked sad. "Goku! YES! we can." I say with a sigh. "We can stick together. For now at least."Relief washes over Goku's features. "Thank you, Bulma. I won't slow you down or get in the way." I smiled thinking of his score. Only one point better than Vegetas. Amazing.

"What is the plan?" Goku asked and I glaced at him. "Find Piccolo, kill any thing that gets in are way that can harm us." Goku nodded and Jumped from the tree. I climbed down after packign my stuff and putting it in my satchel. "This is really hard on you, isn't it? I mean, it's hard for me too but…" my voice trails off as I struggle to finish what I'm trying to say. What am I trying to say? "How many are with them again? The Army with The Princess?" I asked looking at him, The capitals Kings daughter is fighting against us here. "There at the lake and I think 6." Goku answered. "At least 6," I say back. "Not counting Vegeta, Piccolo, ChicHi or Krillen." I looked down thinking about Vegeta. "Why do you think Vegeta isn't with them?" Goku asked looking at me. "I just got a hunch." Goku smiled at me.

It's so silent it almost bothers me. "Water runs downhill," I say, thinking back to what Vegeta told me, the first time he took me into the Woods. He showed me the waterfall, the strem. He was my first crush, my first love. "But…we're sort of going uphill," Goku points out. "I know." I grimace. "We'll need to find another source or some animals. They'll have to drink somewhere." I answered. "What about —" Goku pauses, mid-sentence as a twig snaps in the distance. I looked up to see Vegeta, in a distance we watched as he shoved a knife through Tien, from 9, and then kicked him to the ground. He locked eyes with me before he took off into the trees, running from on to the other. Out of sight. "wow..." Goku said looking at the body, He got down and started to loot the pockets. Finding nothing. "I got to pee, be back." Goku said running off into a bush. "Surprise" I heard a whisper in m ear warm breath on my cheek, someone grabs me from behind, their arms already in position to snap my neck in half.

In a second I can tell whoever is behind me is big, and probably stronger than me. Rather than try to wrestle them off—because I know when it comes to a battle of strength I'll lose—I tuck my arm and elbow them in the stomach, hard. The groan I'm pleased to hear sounds male, but I've already subconsciously figured that out. The blow is enough of a distraction for me to wiggle loose, and I take off at a run. Although I hit him pretty hard, he's quick to recover. I know my size doesn't have to be a disadvantage if I don't allow it. I rely on my senses to judge my predator's distance behind me. Just as I feel him about to grab me again, I duck, and in a swift motion, launch him over my back and let his own momentum carry him forward. He lands gracefully, and virtually silently, on his feet. HE had a coat on with a hood covering his face. I breathe hard trying to fighter out who it was. Clearly, I'm dealing with some sort of silent predator. My mind whirls as his silhouette turns to face me. We eye each other warily, and I can tell he's calculating his next move, each of us no more than a shadow to the other. I wish I could see his face clearly, see who I'm up against. "Perhaps I've underestimated you." The tone, the deepness, and the raspy quality I recognize immediately. Putting a face to this shadow somehow makes it all worse, despite that I had been thinking just the opposite only moments ago. I can't let him see that though, the panic that's rising within me.

"Perhaps you have," I say, taking a side step and drawing out my knife. He mirrors my step, his movements as graceful as I've ever seen. And silent. Deadly silent. "But you wouldn't be the first. Nor will you be the last." I said flipping my Blue hair out of my face. "You seem confident that you'll live to see the light again." His voice is deceptively calm but I still catch the minor amusement. I don't drop my guard for a second, ready to spring into a fight at a moment's notice. "It's not confidence," I say, sounding bolder than I feel. "It's a fact." Slivers of light filter through cracks from the ground above and as he shifts slightly, I'm able to catch the glimmer of gold in his eyes. He keeps himself hidden in the shadows though, so I don't know if he has some type of weapon—sword, mace, bow, some other type of Capital weapon I don't even know about. All I can see of him are his eyes those deep gold, What happen to his Black ones?

I looked towards the way Goku went then to the left were I saw a cave. "Run.." i whispered taking the ground. I ran straight for it doughing Rocks, dead trees, anything that would slow me down. Finally i got in there, there was no noise. I turned around to see him standing there. What is he doing here! how did he not make noise "There's only one way out," he spoke. Common sense tells me to kill him right now to fling my knife and hope it sinks into his chest. He's close enough now that I'm sure I can hit him. "Then I suppose you better get out of my way, then," I say. Vegeta remains still, so do I. It's only a matter of seconds before a fight breaks loose. I can't help but wonder if there are Elites down here, recording this exchange. If that's the case, I'm sure we're live front and center across the world right now. He must be calculating whether or not he should make the first move. I leap forward and swing my knife in a slashing motion. I catch him off guard, he evades the deadly blow due to his quick reactions, but I still manage to graze his cheek. He staggers back, and the light catches his face. Astonishment is there, and so is disbelief. A small cut is already visible on his right cheek, blood beginning to trickle down. I swung again. But this time he's ready for it. He grabs my wrists tightly with both hands and swings me around, crashing my back into the rocky wall. I let out a noise of surprise, and slight pain, my hand still gripping my knife. Vegeta pulls my wrists forward and then slams them into the wall, higher over my head. Over and over, until the beating causes me to drop the knife. He kicks it away with a boot and it's lost in the darkness.

I struggle in his grasp. He's strong, stronger than me, like he always been. My arms are no good in this situation. Thinking fast, I lift my knee and bring it crashing into his stomach. He staggers back, but doesn't let go of my wrists. "I'm not going to kill you, Woman" he smirk as he spoke out. Despite the irony of the situation, like how he's almost breaking my wrists, I can't help but laugh sardonically. "Right, because I'm sure you'd rather sacrifice your life so I can live." I said coldly. "Don't flatter yourself." He releases my wrists and steps back. The ground started to shake and the entrance was covered by rock. We were trapped. "Good thing I didnt kill you. There's only one way out of here and I need you to get out." I slapped his face as hard as I could then grabbed my hand at the pain. Vegeta's gold eyes darken showing the Black that was trying to come back as the color, with silent rage as he raises his hand and lights a ball of fire. "That can be arranged."
I remebered that he could bend fire, that was not good. "Why don't you Firebend your way out?" I settle on asking, eyeing the fire in his palm. "We're too far below the ground for it to make a difference," he says. The fire catches the harshness of his scar on his ear, neck and a little on the eye. I force myself not to flinch at it. "And even if I could, the walls would crash down and bury me alive. Not to mention that'd draw a bit of attention." Vegeta said. "That's your problem," I say without looking at him. My eyes search the dark, looking for another option. "My problem is your problem, Woman." Vegeta moves closer and I take an involuntary step back. He backs me into a wall and the rock digs into my back. "Either you help me, or I kill you right now. I don't even have to use any bending. I'll make it slow, painful, and you're throat will burn raw from begging me to stop. You use to think we were friends huh. Well Im your worst nightmare now." HE voice was cold, dark, and very painful.

I swallow hard, weighing my options. Violence and ruthlessness is in his blood. I always knew. His father was evil is evil. Vegeta was so alone, I took him as a friend. Now look. I know he isn't bluffing. He will kill me if I refuse to help him. Actually, he'll probably try to kill me after I help him as well. Why did he turn like this? His eyes, they are gold now? Is it a drug or something. I loved his black eyes, these gold ones are so... cruel. "Try to understand," he rasps. "I don't want to kill you or anyone else in this game, but I will. I have to win in order to restore something I lost." I glance up at him, feeling his warm breath tickle my ear. "My honor. My honor for my family, for my mother. For my life back." I knew he was telling the truth. Everyone blamed him for his mothers death, all but the capital. They thought of him as the Prince. He was born in the hunger games. He was the only one that survived too. Everyone died but him, just a baby. His mother died at giving birth. If he wins he will be a legend. "Fine." I breathe deeply and popped my neck back to meet his eyes. "Once the world sees me help you, and then you killing me, they'll see how honorable you really are, Vegeta Kovu." I push past him, half expecting an attack from behind. I reach the mouth of the cave before Vegeta catches up to me. I step back and wordlessly let him lead. I could tell holding that fire so long to alot out of him. He was breathing hard. I could kill him but to tell you the truth, I still loved him. No matter how hard it is.

"You're staring at me." I made an uncharacteristic sort of squeak, my cheeks burning. "Sorry." I blushed deepen. "I'm used to it." His voice hardens like ice. "The scars makes people stare. The hate." He rasped out. "I wasn't staring because of your scars, You know I already got over that. 15 years as your old friend I...like your scars" I say honestly, and he glances at me with surprise. "Why...?" he asked me with out another glace. "I don know." I lied. We reach an open area about an hour later, a sort of circular space inside the cave. Light escapes the cracks above, and I can see a small opening that I might be able to squeeze through if I was taller. Or if I had something to climb to reach it. A ladder would be nice. "I'm going to boost you up, and then you're going to pull me up," Vegeta tells me, following my gaze. I turn and stare at him, eyes wide. "And you believe that? You think I'll pull you up once I'm on flat ground and not leave you down here?" That had to be the biggest gamble I've seen in the Games so far. "Yeah, I do," he answered looking up. "What makes you so confident?" I threw at him. "It's not confidence, it's a fact," he throws back at me. "Besides, I've known you for 15 years. I know the type of person you are." He smirked at me. "Really?" I crossed my arms and glare at him. "What type of person do you presume I am, then?" Vegeta's golden eyes turned Black for a split second, his expression unreadable. "It's a chance I'm willing to take. Lets keep it at that." I walked over to a small rock that had writing on it. "Monster come from the ground. Hunger games come around. Each year they kill. So dont run but hide in fear." I raised an eyebrow at the writing I just read. What monsters?

Vegeta cry of alarm snaps me in his direction. A beast shoved a paw forward, enclosing Vegeta in a coffin of rock. The swords that he once had on his back dropped from his grasp and clatter to the ground. I stand stalk still, hoping the monster will forget I'm here. Vegeta pulled a hand out from the rock, "ah.." He mumbled. It turned and looked at me then charged. I was scared. It raises a paw and then howls in pain, fire lighting up below its feet. I turn and see Vegeta, arms out and wielding the fire to his command. We're in such a tight enclosure that the smoke from the fire makes me cough, and I can understand now why he hadn't used it earlier. There just isn't enough space. Vegeta had almost no engery left. He was trying to breath and he couldnt hold his head up from the rocks. He lift his arms again and held his eyes closed. Vegeta pushes a hand forward and creates a wall of fire, separating us from the monster. The beast makes noises of protest and anger, and I can see its large figure moving back and forth, as though trying to figure out a way to go through the fire. I dug Vegeta out of the rocks who was struggling to hold the fire up.

I stumble on the rocks, my heart pounding loudly in my ears and my lungs clogging with smoke. I'm coughing, my vision is blurry, and my hands are bleeding from the jagged rocks. The light is so close, if only I could just stay calm and get up there! Vegeta barrels past me, not shoving me out of the way, but moving much quicker. He reaches the top in seconds, and I hear the loud snarls of the monster behind me. No more fire to hold it back. Panicking, I try to move faster, but my foot slips. I scream, losing my grip and start to fall backwards. Something snags my wrist. I whip my head up, too shocked to breathe, and meet Vegeta's once golden eyes, they were black again. His expression mirrors mine shocked by his own action. He groans and hauls me up with all his strength, my body dragging on the rocks. The beast manages to clip my ankle with its claw but vegeta's hold is strong enough that I don't tumble back down. The momentum of his strength yanks my body up and out, causing me to land flat across him. We breathe heavily, the adrenaline still pumping in my veins. My mouth burns of rust and salt and sweat drips down the side of my face. I raise my head from the crook of Vegeta's neck and stare at him, still breathing hard. His face is smudged with dirt and earth, a cut just above his right eye dripping blood down his face. It seems to merge with the cut I gave him with my knife, like two rivers converging into one.

I roll off him before I do something weird and stupid. I land on my back and stare up at the sky. The beautiful, crystal blue sky that I just now realize I missed so much. I close my eyes, exhausted, and listen to the air. I try control my breathing, relieved I made it out alive, but not at all ready to deal with the threat that lies right next to me. vEgeta, my old friend. My love. I opened my eyes at hearing the second breathing gone. Vegeta had left. For some reason this amuses me. Maybe I'm so drained and exhausted that I'm going hysterical. Was madness and giddiness a sign of dehydration or starvation? Perhaps. I should probably be angry, or annoyed, but just thinking about Vegeta disappearing under my nose makes me crack a grin. He really is a silent shadow. I pride myself in my abilities to access every situation, to catch everything going on around me, and yet this so called prince has pulled one over me. More than once. I need to give him more credit. suddenly I heard a small noise behind me. "Bulma... what pleasant surprise." i turned to see cell there with a sword, stained with blood. "You will be fun to kill." His voice rang with darkness.

(End of Bulmas POV, Vegetas POV)

I layed back in a tree resting my head. The scars were starting to fade but they still showed. I rubbed then lightly before looking over where Goku and Piccolo were talking, a girl named chicHi was sleeping. I hate that guy. He thought he was better than me, he was more powerful, stronger. Ah, I was the best. I know I am, I knew was. My thoughts kept drifting to Bulma, my head hurt everytime I thought of her. Something was changing in me, every time I came near her my head starts pounding, my heart rate begins, and my eyes, they change colors. I dont understand... I never knew. My father said I use to do this when I was a young kid. Some how, im doing it again. Love, nah I cant love her. I have to kill her. The cold hard truth hit me a few days before the this started. I have been trying to distance myself from her, have no emotions towards her. Somehow, that just is not working. I closed my eyes, I was thinking to Leo.. my trusted pet. 'Leo... my friend. What is going on?' I waited for a answer, 'Bulma is in trouble' i sat up and looked around. I jumped threw the trees as fast as I could. Listening for any way i could find her. Then I heard it, a scream. I ran towards it on foot. Stopping at a near by tree and looked around it. There it was. Cell had a knife to her throat and was about to cut it. closing my eyes I lift my hands and began. He screeched as his body started to move. He turned the knife on himself and slit is own throat. I gasped and fell on the floor. "Vegeta?" Bulmas voice rang m ears but i had no strength to move. My breathing started to slow and I started to lost my sight. Soon, I felt myself fall, falling down.

"Vegeta?" i snapped open my eyes and grabbed the neck of the person hovering over me. "Veg-ve-veget-vegeta!" Nappa breathed. I let go and looked a the tall man, He grabbed his neck and rubbed it. "He is awake." He said and I saw Piccolo, Bulma, and Goku come. "Vegeta... thank you. uh you passed out from the lack of engery. You used the bending to much." Bulma said looking away. I rolled my eyes and closed them tight. Standing up I opened them glaring at them. I walked over shoving Goku out of the way and grabbing my spandex shirt, my over shirt and my coat. I notice bandages and medicine over the stab wound that cell gave me. "My swords?" I asked and Goku smiled. "Here." He handed me my light twin swords that I stuck on my back brace. "My assassin knife?" I asked and Goku handed me my cuff that had a hidden knife under it. "My spare knife?" This time Piccolo gave me the weapon. I took it and shoved it in my boot. I turned and started to run. "Wait..." I turned my head to see a nervous Bulma, she is so beautiful-AH what am I thinking. I shook my head and climbed a tall tree before taking off in the branches.

Aw, I think Vegeta cared about Bulma... ohhhh