A/N: I'm trying to update fast guys. I'm actually running low on ideas… Well, review replies now!

VegetaBulma Fan (guest) ; I haven't watched GT, to be honest! But I've seen some funny clips. Thanks for being sooo nice, by the way! I don't think the storm will hit me, but if it does, it'll just be heavy rain. I'm super glad you like my story!

Lintu-lvr4; I haven't watched all of Dragon Ball, but I definitely think DBZ carries the whole franchise. Thanks for the compliment on the chapter, I try, haha. C:

Lucinda26; Thanks sooo much for all of those reviews! You're fantastic. Thank you, I've been told I'm good/above average in writing for my age.

LunarSinner; Ah, I'm always excited for your reviews xD Thanks for the good luck, by the way! It's only 9th grade, though, aren't you in college? I think you need the luck more than I do lololol.

BulmaB69; I'm glad you like this story, and I hope you enjoy this update!

daughterofrisingsun; Frieza's a crazy fool. So are his evil minions. Thanks for the review and for being super nice and cool!

; Thank you! Your review means a lot to me, seriously!

Fate (guest) ; I try to update a lot. School gets in the way, though; some of my classes are college curriculum courses. Grrrr. Thank you!

FYI: This story's short name is Rislis if you don't feel like typing the whole thing in a review, or something. Just saying. Also, I'd like to thank everyone who followed me and my stories, as well as anyone who favorited me as an author and favorited my stories. If it wasn't for you guys, I'd probably be normal and well-rested. But who likes normal and not-sleepy people, anyway? Alright, enough of my A/N. Time for the story, lovelies.

Alright, last thing; power levels are NOT correct at ALL. It's A/U. I do what I want.

IMPORTANT: I lied, not last thing. I'm on vacation currently and I can't get wifi unless I turn my phone into a mobile hotspot. If I can, I'll upload this asap and start the next chapter even if I can't upload this immediately.

Chapter Eight – Love Is Lost

Bulma knew the gravity room had made him strong, but not this strong. He must have been going easy on her during their training. Vegeta landed blow after blow, Zarbon bleeding and gasping already. She wondered what their power levels were. She thought Raditz had mentioned once that Frieza's main men were in the fifty-thousand range. If this was true, than Vegeta must have been at least at a power level of sixty-thousand…at the least. He was barely tapping into his full power. How high was that?

"You should be ashamed of yourself, Zarbon. Failing your 'mission' and getting your ass kicked," Vegeta stepped on Zarbon's chest, seeming to crush the alien's ribs. Maybe he was. "Last words before you're blasted to oblivion?"

"Stand back," Zarbon spoke loudly.

"What?" Vegeta pressed harder.

"I warned you," Zarbon mumbled, his body rippling and changing before Bulma and Vegeta's eyes. He grew bigger and seemed to be more durable. Vegeta jumped back, observing the transformation. He felt the spike in the reptile-like man's power level. He had to have jumped to at least sixty-thousand.

"Well, well, well," Vegeta smirked. "Showing your true colors, hm?" The transformation had finished. Zarbon was no longer the handsome creature he'd once been. He was now large and disgusting in appearance. Vegeta was happy to have a challenge.

"I don't like to use this form because it looks bad," He complained, his voice changed. "But if this is what it takes to beat you, so be it."

"You're so ugly! Yuck!" Bulma shrieked from nearby. She was enjoying being a spectator until Zarbon had transformed.

"Shut up!" Vegeta and Zarbon growled in unison. Vegeta was irritated that she hadn't fled the scene yet and gone to her precious Raditz.

"Are you ready, then?" Vegeta asked, getting into a fighting stance. He had the upper hand because he wasn't hurt, while Zarbon still was. He also figured he'd be faster.

"Yes," A sly smile came across his face as he charged Vegeta. The two engaged in hand-to-hand combat, neither gaining the upper hand. Vegeta was beginning to become frustrated. He lost his focus for a split second, something blue catching his eye. Bulma had wandered to close to their fight. Zarbon drew his arm back and sent a powerful blow to the Saiyan's stomach, causing him to double over in pain and lack of breath. Before he could even breathe, the monstrous alien kicked him into the air, phasing above him and knocking him right into the ground. Zarbon landed on top of Vegeta and laughed.

"You're nothing but a damn monkey, Vegeta," Zarbon punched him in the face again and again, laughing and enjoying himself.

"Stop it! Stop! I'll go with you, just…stop!" Bulma cried out, running to Vegeta and Zarbon. Tears were running down her face. How could Vegeta be beaten by Zarbon? She'd always thought of him as a hero; a Saiyan superman. She thought the good guy always won. But was Vegeta really the good guy? He was a better guy than the freak Zarbon.

"I can't kill him because Lord Frieza wishes to do that himself," Zarbon sighed, wanting to just end Vegeta's life. He didn't want to catch hell from Frieza. He slowly turned to Bulma, transforming back to normal before her eyes.

"Wait, can't I say goodbye before you take me?" Her lower lip quivered and she seemed to tremble.

"I see no harm in it. Just hurry up, wench." Zarbon turned his back and crossed his arms impatiently.

Bulma collapsed onto Vegeta, her necklace resting on his wounds and becoming bloody. She didn't care.

"Woman," He whispered roughly. "I will not die. Us Saiyans become more powerful after each time we're beaten to near death. This is the best thing right now," His voice seemed to grow stronger as he said the words. He didn't know why, but the pain in his body was beginning to subside. He almost felt like he was being healed. He looked down at his wounds where her necklace was lying.

"What!?" It wasn't loud, but it held a mixture of surprise and confusion. His wounds were healing!

"What is it?" Bulma looked at him.

"Your necklace! It's healing me!" Vegeta exclaimed. He worked hard to keep his voice quiet to Zarbon wouldn't turn around and notice what was going on. Vegeta remembered why Bulma's mother's name had sounded so familiar now. When Doctor Briefs had been alive, he'd made her a necklace with the power of a regeneration tank in the single large sapphire. It was subjective to where it touched, but still useful at times like this.

Bulma was surprised. She suddenly remembered when she had hurt her hands and only touched the necklace with her right hand. That one had seemed to heal faster. She smiled in pure excitement. What a necklace! She touched the sapphire to each of Vegeta's wounds. In less than five minutes, he was completely healed. It was simply amazing.

Standing up, the prince gathered a ball of energy at his side.

"Oh, Zarbon," He called. The alien spun around.

"Vegeta!?" He was surprised and couldn't even brace himself for the attack. "How did you –"

"Don't fuck with the Prince of all Saiyans, Zarbon," He stepped forward and launched the beam of energy at him. "Gallick Gun!" Zarbon's eyes widened and he screamed in fear. When the dust settled, he was on the ground with a hole through his midsection. Vegeta's whole body relaxed. Bulma was on the ground with her head in her hands. She couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen now that Frieza's henchman was dead. Would he come and retrieve her himself? Sure, Vegeta could beat Zarbon and had raised his power level greatly with the near-death experience, but Frieza had the highest power level she knew of. Needless to say, she was scared and fearing for their lives.

Vegeta squatted onto the ground to her level. "Woman?" He said uncertainly. She lifted her tear-streaked face, stroking her bloody necklace. It'd left streaks of blood on her neck and chest.

"What are we going to do, Vegeta?"

He looked like he was going to reply, but suddenly Zarbon's scouter started making noise. Vegeta picked it up hastily.

"Zarbon, you imbecile, I'm leaving without you. I've left you a pod that will fit you and the girl. There's a planet that needs purging and it's quite a while away; I've recruited Raditz for it. I'll see you on Planet Draven, and you better have that girl." The transmission ended and Vegeta quickly crushed the scouter. Bulma had heard the conversation, and she sighed in relief. She was a bit upset about Raditz leaving, but being safe overpowered any feelings of sadness. She was just happy she and Vegeta were alive and well.

"I likely just saved your life," Vegeta smirked, sitting on the ground across from her, paying no attention to the dead body a few feet away.

"And I likely saved yours."

After a few moments of silence, Vegeta uttered, "That was quite brave of you to sacrifice yourself for me," At first she thought he'd been saying something nice, but he continued, "Of course, it's expected of you since I am your prince and you are technically a first class warrior."

"I'm going to ignore some of that," She raised an eyebrow. "Of course I did that for you. But, first class? And can we please get rid of that body?" Bulma tried her best not to look at it.

"Your mother was first class. But you're tainted with human blood, so…" Vegeta got up, preparing to walk away. He could sense an argument coming. He loved to argue with her sometimes, but this was going to be an argument he wasn't going to enjoy.

"Shut the hell up about me being a half-saiyan! I'm as strong as Raditz is, for Kami's sake!" Her face grew hot with anger. "If you don't like it, then don't fucking talk to me, Prince Vegeta. I do not need your shit."

"I…" To say the least, he was surprised at this outburst. Usually her face only took on an angered expression, but she'd never spoken out about the treatment she received like this until now. Her angry words only fueled his own anger.

"You don't understand, woman! I don't care that you're a half-saiyan anymore. You're Bulma the first class who loves a third class to me! As next in line for the throne, I can't do what I want. You don't understand because you have freedom. But everything I do, my father scrutinizes it." His anger faded away as he talked. "My brother's already a disgrace among Saiyans; how would he look if he had two disgraced sons?"

"Why would you be disgraced?" Bulma asked quietly, her anger fading away as well.

"For tainting the royal line with human blood." He avoided her eyes as he said this.

There was a silence.

"You don't really think I love Raditz…do you?"

"Don't you?" He glanced sideways at her.

"He's like my big brother, Vegeta," She crossed her arms. "Nothing more."

"Hmph."

Bulma inched closer to Vegeta. "And what was that about tainting your line with human blood?" Her fingers trailed up his arm, causing gooseflesh to appear. He abruptly stood and took a few steps away from her.

"Vegeta?" Her thin eyebrows mashed together in confusion.

"Just stay away from me. I never want to see you again. You're nothing but a damn mutt." His voice trembled a bit, and Bulma's eyes filled with tears. She couldn't grasp what had just happened.

"G-Geta?" She sniffled. "What did I do?"

"Too much," He spat out. You've made me weak. Whatever this feeling is, it's got to go. In his classic Vegeta way, he flew off with no more words, taking Zarbon's body to dispose of him, leaving the heartbroken and confused sixteen year old Bulma to her own devices.

Since she'd started living on Planet Vegeta, she'd learned not to cry very much. She figured that this would be an exception, though.

Bulma cried for a long time. It was well into the night, at least midnight, when Bardock and a twelve-year-old Kakarot arrived home. Bulma was sobbing a bit loudly and she was feeling quite lightheaded.

"Hey, Bulma! Are you okay?" Kakarot was concerned. He ran over to her.

"Fine, Kakarot." She smiled rather unconvincingly.

He looked at her in disbelief. "You don't look okay."

"You wouldn't get it."

Bardock eased Bulma up and walked her into the house. Vegeta hated her, Raditz was gone, and now she had the threat of Frieza coming to get her. Her heart was broken, she realized what she should have appreciated had been in front of her the whole time, and now she'd never get to love and be loved in return.

Falling asleep almost immediately after she lie in her bed, Bulma's dreams were haunted by images of what she thought to be her imminent future.

It was two-thirty a.m. and Raditz was walking aimlessly around Frieza's ship. Lately, he'd been having trouble sleeping, but Bulma had been around to fix that with soothing songs or words. Now she wasn't around, because Frieza had wanted Raditz to purge a planet that was a whole month away. Usually it took a couple of weeks, sometimes even days to go to the planet, purge it, and return. But this certain planet was supposed to be at least two months of a round trip.

"Having trouble sleeping, hm?" Frieza swished his tail.

"Yes, Lord Frieza." Raditz turned to the ruler.

"Is it that scientist girl?" His upper lip curled.

"No. I just can't sleep." Yes.

Knowingly, Frieza shook his head. "Zarbon overheard her saying that she hated you and she only used you to get closer to Vegeta."

Raditz crossed his arms. "She'd never say that. She and I are best friends."

"Are you really? Think of all the times she's picked that arrogant thing over you."

Well, there was a lot of times.

"And?" Raditz retorted.

"And," Frieza smiled cynically. "I know a way to make them feel as bad as you."

There was a small moment of silence. Raditz, in that instant, remembered every bad thing Bulma and Vegeta had each done. His mind was immediately made up.

"Go on."

A/N: Suspense. Happy endings are for SHORT stories. Review, even if you only say Raditz is an evil little Saiyan.