(Shuffles back onto DBZ)

Hello! SO... it's been an incredibly long time since I updated. No it didn't take me that long to read Harry Potter, I just came up with a Tekken story that insisted on being written. I'm really really sorry that it's taken the better part of a year for this chapter to FINALLY be written, please don't hate me!

Thanks to all of the awesome reviewers, Musette Fujiwara, yari, Morgain Croix, Shades of Crimson, Lady Dark Angel, Chronic Laziness and elenahedgehog.

"No."

"What?"

"No. You're not going to help us, you'll only get in the way."

"No I won't!"

Vegeta laughed at her condescendingly.

"I won't!"

"Woman you are definitely bound to get in the way and I'm not taking any chances. If you get killed then we're all screwed."

"So what are you going to do, huh? Hide me in a cave?"

Vegeta blinked and seemed slightly put off.

"Something like that."

"You-you're kidding! If he realises I'm here he's going to come and find me and I'd rather be in danger and with you than in danger and without you."

"It's safer to hide you away idiot, or are you really in a hurry to die?"

Bulma shrugged.

"It's no better to be safe than sorry."

"Clearly Kakkarot didn't knock any sense into you."

"If there's some freak who wants to murder me then I'm not just going to sit in a cave! It's so obvious, it's just asking to be killed!"

Kakkarot shuffled nervously.

"I think she's right Vegeta."

"It's not your place to decide who's right, what I say goes."

"I thought what Freeza says goes."

Bulma just couldn't resist the smart arse comment. However that didn't stop her regretting it the moment it left her mouth. Vegeta had told her his painful story and she had just rubbed it straight in his face. Vegeta gave her a glare which promised an early death if she didn't shut up. Kakkarot pulled Bulma away from the fuming Prince.

"Bulma maybe we should um... go and get Chichi and uh... "

"She's not going anywhere Kakkarot! Go and get your wife if you want, perhaps she can speak female to this idiot and explain why she is not going anywhere near Freeza.

"On second thought, perhaps I should stay here and-"

Vegeta raised an eyebrow challengingly.

"No, Chichi it is!"

Kakkarot let go of Bulma and practically flew away from the cave. Vegeta stalked forward and trapped Bulma into the corner of the cave. Jagged rocks were pressing hard into her back but she didn't notice as she started to panic. Vegeta looked angrier than she had ever seen him, which was quite an achievement albeit not the most desirable one.

"Vegeta I didn't mean it!"

"Really."

He closed his hand around her throat and gave it a firm squeeze.

"Really! I'm so sorry!"

"You will be woman because the way you're going, if Freeza doesn't kill you, I most certainly will. After we get out of here of course."

Bulma couldn't think of a response so she just gave a small nod of agreement. Vegeta smirked.

"It's so much nicer when you don't talk. Pleasant even. Shall we keep it this way in the future?"

Bulma nodded again and Vegeta released her and strolled out of the cave leaving a distressed Bulma alone with her thoughts. She didn't leave the cave for another two hours until she heard the sound of Kakkarot's voice and even then Bulma wasn't sure if she should.

"Yeah so Vegeta wants to keep her in here but Bulma thinks it's a bad idea, and I'd have to agree."

"That's a plan? What sort of a shit plan-? Oh nevermind. Where is she?"

On cue Bulma stumbled from the cave and into the glaring sunlight which temporarily blinded her.

"Well she certainly is pretty. I can see how Vegeta could like her... but Vegeta just doesn't like anyone. Are you sure you aren't being overly hopeful?"

"No, he was really worried!"

"Well I can't blame him if the first thing you do to our ticket out of this hell hole is concuss her!"

Bulma shielded her eyes from the light and stared at Chichi in disgusted fascination. The skin of her face was pink and dry but more interestingly her face was covered in large bumps which appeared to be a cross between warts and potatoes. Chichi caught Bulma staring at her and Bulma looked away feeling embarrassed for being so rude. Kakkarot turned to Bulma.

"So did you convince Vegeta that his idea sucked?"

"No."

Bulma didn't intend to sound so sullen but she couldn't help it. She was hungry, she was sore and she was more than pissed off at being bullied by Vegeta. Kakkarot studied her anxiously.

"He wasn't too angry was he?"

"He was just his normal self."

Chichi sighed and did what Bulma assumed was a smile. She couldn't actually tell as Chichi's face was capable of next to no movement.

"If it makes you feel any better Bulma, I agree with you too. The hiding in a cave plan is not a plan!"

Bulma smiled too.

"Thanks."

"Where is Vegeta though?"

"Who cares?"

Kakkarot frowned deeply.

"Well you might not like him, but Vegeta cares about you Bulma. He just... he doesn't know what to do. I'm sure once we get out of here you'll see what he's really like."

Chichi stared thoughtfully into the distance while absent mindedly picking at her face.

"You know you do have a point. He used to be quite tolerable before this mess happened. Charming even. Quite a hit with the ladies."

"Vegeta being tolerable? Charming?! That's a riot!"

Kakkarot and Chichi both ignored her.

"I suppose it is possible then dear. Perhaps Vegeta does like her."

Bulma groaned in irritation.

"Vegeta does not like me!"

"Correct woman, I'm glad to see that you at least don't delude yourself."

Vegeta strolled out from around the hill the cave was set in with a smirk firmly in place at having insulted Bulma. Bulma ignored him, staring out into the distance as if there was something more interesting on the horizon. Vegeta turned to Kakkarot and Chichi.

"Chichi! I see Kakkarot got you here without breaking you."

"See you're still as stuck up as your hair."

"Oh Chichi, your words wound me."

Kakkarot interrupted the conversation.

"Vegeta where did you go?"

"Over to Nappa's. He says Zarbon is travelling to meet Freeza. We're going to have to attack within the week."

Kakkarot nodded gravely.

"That's not a lot of time to prepare. We'll need to get the strongest warriors ready to move by tomorrow."

Bulma had no idea what the significance of Freeza meeting Zarbon was but it sounded pretty serious if they were going in under prepared. Chichi saw the blank look on Bulma's face and hastened to explain.

"Whenever Freeza and Zarbon get together there are invariably many celebrations and parties, most of which involve certain forms of human entertainment. Normally it would be like having a toy that never breaks but with you here..."

"They will die. If they die, he knows we've pulled someone through. If he knows that, he goes into hiding and lets Zarbon go to town with his army, slaughtering everyone until everyone stops dying. Everyone stops dying and the threat has been eradicated i.e. you're dead. He comes out of hiding, destroys our only hope of restarting time and we live here in misery forever."

With that pronouncement finished, Vegeta turned to Chichi.

"Anyway, I've been thinking and I've decided you and the woman are going to go and stay at Nappa's."

Chichi groaned in protest.

"Do we have to? She could come to our house, couldn't she? At least I clean once in a while. That old hermit hasn't even washed himself in years."

"Yes you have to! He might be old and disgusting but he's still a fine warrior who can protect you if need arises. Plus, unless I'm very much mistaken, you both disapprove of the cave idea. Well here I am generously giving you an alternate solution."

"Fine! Come on Bulma, I know the way."

Bulma and Chichi both bid farewell to Kakkarot and walked off towards Nappa's house. Bulma's complete refusal to look at Vegeta or even speak in his presence did not go unnoticed by either man.

"So what exactly did you do to her this time Vegeta?"

"Shut up Kakkarot! Now is not the time."

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