I just finished the Twilight series yesterday, and now I'm obsessed with that, too. I'm such a sad person! But don't worry - Vegeta and Bulma will be together before I start posting anything else major. Unless I really feel like it or something.

Chapter Six

Deboarding

Vegeta had not seen her for a month. It wasn't that she was deathly ill, but between obligations and security, he could barely find a safe time to go without arousing suspicion. Whenever he could go to the hospital ward—and he would purposely get into fights in order to create a necessity—H'limke would refuse, citing the congestion during daytime hours.

This did not discourage the Prince; he tried vainly on a daily basis to see her. He also asked himself on a daily basis why. Vegeta had never missed anyone, yet this girl whom he had known for a mere three weeks had already conquered his thoughts.

His mind was full of her when there was a sharp rap on his door. He started, then, remembering his whereabouts, stood at attention. "Come in." When the door slid open to allow the doctor's entrance, Vegeta's façade instantly dropped. He managed to wait until the door closed before he eagerly asked, "Can I see her now?"

"Tonight, 2300," H'limke replied with a kind smile. "I'm the only doctor on duty and the only patient we have is under heavy sedation."

"Goseidant." The Saiyan cracked a small smile at this news. "Thank you for your help." He started to move towards the door, as if showing H'limke the way out, but the doctor stood his ground. "Is there something wrong?" Vegeta questioned, almost innocently.

"You never told me why you have a human on board. Frieza ordered the race terminated. She's supposed to be dead."

"So am I," Vegeta snapped back. "Just because we should be something doesn't make it a fact."

"Fine. But why her? Why a little girl?"

The Saiyan cast his eyes towards the floor. "She was the only human I met face to face. And she helped me, even though she didn't know me, even though I killed…." He left it at that.

H'limke sighed and asked gently, "Have you told her yet?" The boy shook his head no. "You'd better not until she's ready. She won't understand now." Vegeta remained silent. Again, the doctor heaved a sigh and patted the boy's shoulder as he opened the door. He left without a goodbye.

Snaking in and out of the shadows, Vegeta crept towards the hospital wing as quickly as he dared. He knew he might have problems on the way back with her without anything to cover her up, but it was better than being caught wandering around at night with an arm-full of sheets. He was less conspicuous without them.

Slipping into the doctor's office was easy enough, and soon H'limke came to meet him. "Ah, Vegeta, she can go with you today. Right now, she's in the back." The young Saiyan trailed behind, keenly watching for any signs of potential spies.

"Does anyone else know she's here?"

"Well, yes and no." The door slid open, revealing a sleeping Bulma. "There's a boy from earth here as well."

"I thought all the humans except her were killed," he whispered as he approached Bulma's cot.

"They were." The Prince stared at him, puzzled, compelling H'limke to finish his account. "On earth, we had a casualty caused by a young child. It turns out that he was, in fact, an alien. A Saiyan, to be exact."

"Very funny." It was then he noticed another head beside Bulma's. The hair jutted wildly in all directions, save a cowlick on the crown of the head. Vegeta pointed his finger at the child. "Are you talking about this kid?"

"Yes. He tells me his name is Goku."

"Goku?" The prince spat out the name with disgust. "That is not a Saiyan name."

"I wouldn't expect it to be. He hit his head when he was transforming back to a human. I was ordered to run some medical tests on him—"

"Who ordered that?"

"Lord Frieza, of course."

The Saiyan suddenly flew into rage. " 'Of course'! What do you mean 'of course'? That bastard will have him killed! Do you mean to tell me that the only other living member of my race is going to be slaughtered?" As he harshly whispered his protests, the girl beside him stirred.

"Vegeta?" she yawned. His attention immediately turned to her.

"What?" Seeing him for the first time in months, she grinned and jumped up, hugging him around his neck.

"It's you!" she whispered into his chest. Awkwardly, he patted her head and said, "Start getting ready because we're going back."

"Is Goku coming with us?"

H'limke stepped forward. "He is."

"Yay!"

"He is?" Vegeta's stare turned to H'limke. "Who says?"

"Lord Frieza."

Bulma started to nudge the sleeping toddler awake. "Come on, Goku!" she said brightly. "We're going now." He awoke with a massive yawn, rubbing his eye with his fist. When he saw Vegeta, though, he immediately brightened.

"My name's Goku! What's yours?"

So shocked was Vegeta from this display of warmth, he turned to H'limke again. "You call this a Saiyan?"

"But I am a Saiyan! Mister Garnet said so!"

" 'Mister Garnet'? What the hell is going on?"

The doctor pressed a finger to his lips and shut the door behind him before replying, "I told them to call me 'Garnet', my name in Standard. They couldn't pronounce my real name." Vegeta rolled his eyes to reveal how much he cared before he turned to the children.

"Let's get out of here." He started for the door but was stopped by H'limke. "What do you want, Garnet?" Sarcasm oozed from his voice.

"There are still a few things I have to say. First of all"—he pulled a card from his pocket—"Goku needs a meal card to get food. I made it so he will also get enough to feed Bulma a proper diet. She needs more than just meat. Got it?" Vegeta nodded, seemingly apathetic. "Secondly, I've obtained an extra cot for you to have." He absently waved towards a folded one leaning against the wall, which Vegeta picked up.

"Is that all?"

"One more thing—Goku's training lies in your hands." The Prince casually saluted Garnet before herding Bulma and Goku out the door. H'limke peeked out after them, hoping that somehow, things would turn out well for them.

The trio ambled down the medical hallway, but before they left the wing, Vegeta took them aside. "I need you two to be quiet," he whispered. "No talking until we're in the room." He then opened the door and the three were on their way.

Despite the late hour, both Goku and Bulma were jittery from the excitement, creating a lot more noise than Vegeta would have liked them to. Nevertheless, they reached the room without trouble.

"This is where I sleep now?" Goku asked as he wandered into the room.

"Yes. Here's the cot." As soon as Vegeta had unfolded the bed, the younger Saiyan plopped himself down and immediately fell into a deep sleep, snoring loudly. Bulma giggled tiredly as she climbed into bed, followed by Vegeta. He felt her settle down behind him, but she soon started.

"Ooh, I almost forgot!" She pecked him on the cheek. "G'night, Vegeta."

He just humphed, even though he could feel his face flushing. "Silly little girl," was the last thing he thought before he fell asleep.

"All crew, prepare for landing and deboarding." Vegeta hoisted the cardboard box higher into his arms and tilted the lid open.

"It'll be about forty-five minutes until I can get you out of here. Be absolutely quiet and do not move out of this box until I open it. Understand?" Inside, he could barely perceive a blue head nodding yes behind his clothing.

Goku and Vegeta were at attention in their room, waiting to be dismissed. Arrangements had already been made for a bigger complex so Goku and Vegeta could be together, and—thankfully—there would be another bedroom so Bulma could have her own. As for now, though, there was a nervous silence.

Vegeta carefully shifted the box in his arms. He had spent three months with Bulma, and already he felt a strong attachment to her. This risk, although necessary for him to take, was unsettling. So many things could go wrong, it pained him to think about it.

Next to him, the small Saiyan was holding a sack over his shoulder. Since he had no garments of his own, he was carrying the clothes that Vegeta couldn't fit in his box. Goku passed the time by staring at everything—the tiled ceiling, the metal furniture, his new friend, nothing could hide from his eyes. Not even the loose floor tile.

"Vegeta, what is that for? That tile over there?"

"That's where Bulma hid during room inspections. You know that."

"Yeah, but didn't you have it before? What do you keep in there?"

"Just…boxes."

"Boxes of what?"

"My things."

"Like what?"

"It doesn't matter. Stop asking useless questions."

There was a knock. Both Goku and Vegeta snapped to attention just as the door slid open, admitting both H'limke and Dodoria.

"Ah, it's the apes' turn," Dodoria chuckled to himself. "Let me have your bag and box. The doctor will check to see if you are physically well to disembark."

"These two already are," H'limke cut in. "I checked them this morning." He had also given Bulma a vaccination to prevent her from getting sick.

"Fine. Hand over the baggage." Goku removed the pack from his shoulder and happily handed it over to the lieutenant, but Vegeta quirked an eyebrow.

"What are you doing with it?"

"Lord Frieza ordered us to hold on to personal items. They will be delivered to your room as quickly as possible."

"I can handle my own things."

"It's an order, Ape. Hand it over." Vegeta tightened his grip on the box, preparing for anything, but H'limke stepped forward.

"Vegeta, it's alright. I'll take care of it." There was a pause, and in that time, Vegeta slowly handed the box to the doctor.

Dodoria was highly amused. "Very good, doctor. Maybe Lord Frieza should have you make the Ape behave." H'limke cast a glance at the Prince, who had his fists clenched at his side, and smiled ruefully.

"Garnet, where are you taking her?" Goku asked loudly.

The reaction was immediate. There was a gasp from H'limke's direction. A gloved hand slammed over Goku's mouth. "Don't say another word," Vegeta breathed into his ear. Dodoria, of course, was completely in the dark.

"What is the boy talking about?"

Vegeta's eyes widened slowly as he turned to his superior. "He…keeps on using feminine words to refer to the box. I don't know why."

"I can explain," H'limke quickly added. "The child, as you may or may not know, has hit his head. He's still having trouble with language skills."

Dodoria just nodded, although he looked somewhat confused and vaguely suspicious. "Fine. These two are ready for de-boarding." He took Goku's bag with him and tossed it on a dolly just outside the door. "H'limke, put the box on here."

"Yes," he responded hesitantly, gingerly placing the box on top of the pile. "This is fragile, right Vegeta?" The Saiyan prince nodded, but Dodoria merely shrugged and continued down the hall, rolling the dolly in front.

Vegeta watched them go before he turned to the younger Saiyan. "Let's get going. We need to be at the house before the baggage arrives."

Bulma sat huddled into the smallest space she could take up, as the clothing around her had spread out during her journey. The constant motion and blackness made her ill, but she bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut, clutching the chain around her neck hard enough to turn her knuckles white. When everything was over, Vegeta would open the box and she would be safe. It was just like the hole under the floorboard. No one could find her here. She was safe.

The box slipped forwards a little and Bulma took in a sharp breath. The dolly was stopped somewhere. There was some talking in a weird language that sounded like grunting, and she felt the box lifted and moved somewhere else.

She was moving again, away from the sudden commotion behind her. It sounded like a fight was going on or something, so Bulma was relieved that she had managed to avoid it. Now the ride was a lot smoother and she began to feel more comfortable. There were many turns, like she was going down a long corridor, but she finally felt the movement slowing and, eventually, coming to a halt.

Bulma felt the box make contact with solid ground and she smiled. Vegeta would get her out soon. Above her, she heard some kind of knock before the clunking of boots faded away. She heard the door slide open and felt the box being dragged in. It took everything she had not to pop out of the box and surprise Vegeta.

The top opened and she looked up expectantly.

"Well, what do we have here?" A face smirked down at her and Bulma gasped. "A little girl with blue hair? This explains quite a bit." The man had hazel eyes that bored into hers. She willed her eyes shut and covered her face with some stray clothing, but she felt herself being lifted up.

"Stop it!" she cried, trying to kick him. He merely laughed, his eyes glistening with malicious curiosity.

"How did you get on the ship, little one?" he asked, still slightly chuckling. "A mere human child should never have been able to knock out two guards." Bulma held back her tears and hid behind a curtain of blue hair. "Come now, don't be so stubborn!"

"I want to go home," she whispered. "I want to go home."

The young man raised his eyebrows and smiled again. "You can't go home. The planet has been sold."

Tears spilled out of her eyes. "Then I want to talk to Vegeta."

This news greatly surprised the man. "Vegeta? You mean Prince Vegeta?" He laughed uproariously. "Oh, this is just too perfect!"

"Let go of me!" Bulma tried to kick again, but the man grabbed her legs and forced her to be still, holding her like a child.

"My name is Zarbon," he said to her softly. "Be nice and maybe I'll be able to take you to see Vegeta."

The two Saiyans tromped down the hallway to their room, keeping an eye out for a place to get their baggage. Unfortunately, they saw none, and they were fast approaching their quarters.

"This is getting ridiculous," Vegeta muttered to himself as he rounded the final corner. He suddenly spotted Dodoria on the other end of the hallway with the dolly and snapped to attention. Goku tried to mimic him but utterly failed, as he couldn't maintain the stoic stare. The alien walked up and laughed heartily.

"Can't you teach him to wipe that disgusting smile off his face, Ape?"

"Later," Vegeta said smoothly, ignoring the racial remark. "Do you have our luggage?" Dodoria shrugged but began to look through the contents on the dolly, finally coming up with the duffle for Goku.

"Here, take it." He tossed it to Vegeta and began to waddle away, but the older Saiyan stopped him.

"What about the box I had?"

"All fragile items must be checked by the commander for valuables that will further the cause," he replied automatically. "You'll get the box back eventually, if it's not in your room now." Vegeta paled and allowed the alien to slide out of his grip. He stood for a second, frozen to the spot with worry and fear.

"Uh, Vegeta, whassa matter?" Instead of responding, the Prince dashed the last few yards to his residence and quickly scurried in. He began to search all the rooms in his complex as Goku watched through the open door. "Prince Vegeta?" The older Saiyan muttered something that even Goku's ears couldn't catch. "What?"

"She's not here. She's not here. She's not…." He sank to his knees in the middle of the room, staring blankly at the wall in front of him. "She's gone," he whispered to himself. He felt a hand on his shoulder and started, but it was only the young boy.

"Dodoria said that we'd get the box back. Maybe we'll get it later." Goku's face was already brighter with the prospect of seeing his other friend, but Vegeta was confident he was wrong. Nevertheless, he sat up to wait.

Frieza was looking out the window in his throne room when the messenger announced the arrival of his commander. "Let him in," he said in a bored tone of voice. It took a minute or so, but Zarbon was soon led in.

"Lord Frieza," he said, performing a sweeping bow. "I have discovered something that might interest you."

"And what would that be?"

"A human girl." Frieza looked over his shoulder, surprise evident in his eyes.

"A human? Where did you find her?"

"In Vegeta's baggage."

The lord turned back to look out the window. "This purging mission gets more entertaining every day, doesn't it?"

"Vegeta, how long do we have to wait?" the younger Saiyan asked with a gigantic yawn. The clock read 2330, yet they were both sitting up and waiting for the box to arrive.

"How the hell should I know?" he snapped back. "They've never had this system before. I don't know how long it takes."

"Okay." Goku nestled up in a nearby chair and promptly fell asleep, but Vegeta was still wide awake. There was still a chance the box would arrive.

About thirty minutes later, his patience was rewarded. As soon as he heard the knock, he was on his feet, right at the door. It slid open and he looked up only to find the last humanoid in the world he wanted to see.

"My, Vegeta, you certainly stay up late. Shouldn't you be in bed?"

"Zarbon," Vegeta replied through his teeth. "Why are you here?"

The alien apathetically handed a package over to Vegeta. "Those are your clothes, I believe. They were in that box you had." Zarbon continued to talk, but Vegeta wasn't listening to him. He could only stare at the package of clothes that Bulma had been sitting in only hours before.

"Where's the rest?" he interrupted numbly.

"Hm?" Zarbon looked clueless for a moment before remembering. "Oh, right. Well, some of your items were too valuable to be in your possession. We took the liberty of—"

"We?"

Lazily, he blinked at Vegeta. "Why, I naturally had to report this to higher authority. Very valuable indeed. Lord Frieza agreed with me." When Zarbon glanced at the boy in front of him, he immediately smirked. He had hit a nerve. "In fact, Lord Frieza was struck by the girl's features. Apparently, blue hair isn't very common amongst earthlings and she may be in high demand when she matures. In the meantime, Lord Frieza has requested that I take care of her."

"You bastard!" Vegeta shouted. He threw the clothes aside and pounced. The flurry of punches and kicks that followed was difficult for even Zarbon to dodge, but he managed. It only took one hook to knock the Saiyan off-balance, and the alien used that time to pin him to the ground.

"Let me give you a piece of advice," Zarbon breathed in his ear. "Stay away from her. She's mine now." He loosened his grip, thinking Vegeta had settled. Instead, Zarbon found himself pressed to the floor, a knee on the back of his neck.

"You're wrong. You're wrong." The prince started to tremble—whether from fear, rage, or defeat, he couldn't tell.

"If you don't want to taste the floor, let go of me." Blue waves of energy began to radiate from Zarbon's body, and Vegeta found himself unwillingly pushed backwards, off his attacker's body and up against a wall. The superior rose and brushed off invisible dust from his uniform. "That's better. Now,"—he turned back to Vegeta, a glimmer of malice in his eyes—"touch me again and you will regret it. Understand?" Vegeta responded by spitting in his face and was immediately slammed to the floor. "Do you understand now?" Zarbon said. Laughing slightly, he gave the Saiyan a little kick before leaving.

When he heard the door close, Vegeta let himself go. He spit out the blood from his mouth and kicked the wall next to him, screaming in frustration. This was not supposed to happen. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Death was a better fate for her.

Vegeta was still fuming while he unpacked his clothes. When he came upon the small package of capsules, he silently slipped them into a nearby box and shoved it under his bed.