Chapter 9 – Running from emotions

Her panting stabilized, and tears were falling no more, she looked out of the window to her right and saw that the storm had passed and that the sun had penetrated the thick layer of dark clouds that were too evident the last day. She closed her eyes and began talking to her inner self. 'What have I done? How could I let myself be so naïve?' Her beautiful blue eyes opened and widened abruptly hearing Goku knock on the door with a concerned voice.

"Bulma are you alright?" Sweat was appearing on her forehead. Her heart began to tremble with each upcoming breath that she took, how could she ever again look into his deep onyx eyes with the same conscious as before? She couldn't and this was all too bitter to be true, but reality was an animal few wanted to face, and she knew this too well. Yet something inside her kept pushing, neglecting what it felt inside and trying not to flee from the everlasting mist surrounding the one question she would never dare to ask herself, did she really love Son Goku? She started the cold water in the shower and jumped in to forget her worries, the cold water strengthened her cold side within, she thought: Goku can't be in love with me! He just can't I won't let him I won't ruin the most perfect person I have ever known in my life! ´, she was furious with herself yet she couldn't help but run from emotions. A faint hope in her emerged, if she didn't pay attention to him, then he would certainly lose interest. A grin appeared on her lips as she unlocked the door and walked out while cold water was dripping down her body, it was covered with what seemed to be transparent blue night gown, but she didn't care for the moment, looking like a wreck was what she needed to scare him off, weaken his passion, yet it failed miserably, she felt a pair of strong and warm arms wrap around her and Goku's warm breath in her neck that made every hair on her body raise. He had sneaked up behind her and made her turn around where their lips met with a perfection that made Bulma think that what was taking place was meant to be. She closed her eyes relaxing and giving in to his embrace. Goku led his hand up to her face caressing it while at the same time brushing off some loose wet strands of turquoise hair which was seemingly resting on her cheeks. As they both opened their eyes and pulled away it was apparent that Goku had made up his mind about the subject.

"You're beautiful…" His truthful and clear voice ripped through her.

"What?" She looked in awe as she saw Goku's warm and loving expression almost caressing her soul, if looks could kill then this would be it.

"Stop it, you are killing me!" She tore herself loose from his tender grip and took a few steps backwards.

"I'm just telling you how I feel about you." He said and smiled to her, he had no concerns what so ever.

"Listen to what you are saying!" She attacked yet again and clenched her fists in anger.

"I know… it's wonderful." He said with a warm voice and took a step towards her, but she held her hands up against him rejecting his approach.

"Why are you so mad? I love you…" Tears burst and rolled down her sweet cheeks.



"I hate you! Why do you have to destroy what we have together?" Goku felt a pain build up inside his throat.

"I thought…" He mumbled and Bulma took her chance to humiliate him.

"No! You don't think! What did you think that I love you? You must be crazy, we are friends nothing else…" The coldness of her casual tone was heart shattering, and Goku felt every bit of it.

"Best friends…" He attempted to construct a sentence but to no avail.

"Not anymore!" Bulma had regained control over her feelings; merciless ignorance was all that it took.

"But how can I see you as a friend? You mean everything to me?" He asked and looked puzzled.

"You stupid little boy, did you really think that a little crush on me would change everything in your life? It won't because I don't think it means anything since it doesn't mean anything to me. Just get over it" The expression on Goku's face was priceless it was almost as if she had ripped out his soul leaving his body as an empty shell.

"Bulma…" She looked at him and scowled, but didn't expect too much.

"You are the most childish person I know!" His distinguishable harsh voice was free now.

"Excuse me?" Bulma snorted and giggled sarcastically while looking away.

"That's right, why can't you just look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't love me?" A concerned expression painted itself on her face she looked down at the floor.

"You see…" Bulma only shook with her head.

"See what?" Goku sighed and walked past her not bothering to have eye contact.

"I always thought you were the grown up one, but I was wrong. You are still a child." Bulma frowned to this and crossed her arms.

"Sounds real cute… coming from a teenager." Goku slipped into his shorts and sneakers before heading to the main door.

"So what, you are only three and a half years older than me. Bulma you always run away from responsibilities, it has always been like that why won't you acknowledge that you belong somewhere?" Bulma was about to object but got distracted when the TV turned itself on with the weather forecast, the volume was cranked all the way up. Bulma fumbled around the couch searching for the remote Goku looked inpatient and turned his gaze towards the kitchen table and saw an orange light emit from inside a round holster.

"Is that what I think it is?" Goku said while keeping a close eye on the light. Bulma walked to the table and was about to investigate but heard the door slam shot and remembered a crucial thing, she ran out searching for Goku who was sitting on the grass not far from the Capsule House.

"Watch out Goku the security turret is going to rip you to shreds!" Goku looked over his shoulder bewildered and shrugged.

"What's a security turret?" He asked in his childish manner. Bulma walked to were the big machine gun was structured she noticed that it was offline a closer look revealed that its wires were damaged.

"The rain must have screwed up the circuit." She said and breathed out relieved.

"Not the rain…" A deep voice was present which echoed throughout her soul. Bulma and Goku both looked up at the treetop near the Capsule House it revealed a white cape that waved in the wind; it revealed the fiend that had followed them.

"No… it can't be…" Bulma's voice was hoarse while she shook from angst, his big eyes had cornered her and she felt the evil emit from his pupils.

"Piccolo!" Goku said and stood up looking up to his arch enemy. The fiend's green pointy ears twitched before he turned to face Goku. The tall green menace jumped making a somersault in mid air before landing elegantly on the ground just feet from Goku.

"Kami! He followed us! He is the one with the remaining dragon balls, that's why the dragon radar was shining just a few minutes ago." Bulma said while falling to her knees, terror had taken over her.

"Clever girl, but never say that name in my presence. I made you do all the dirty work I must congratulate you on defeating Mai and Hasky." Piccolo had a cunning grin whilst making sure that Goku couldn't make any surprise launch.

"But how couldn't I feel your presence?" Goku asked puzzled.

"I have learned to lower my Ki so that I no longer can be detected by morons such as you. And even if I hadn't you wouldn't have detected me since your mind has been clouded by this blue haired woman."

"Hmm… I have to admit Piccolo that was clever, so where are your dragon balls?" Goku had a provocative grin.

"Oh, how I yearn to smash your face out of existence. Yes I have the remaining three dragon balls they are inside of me, safe from unworthy scum as you two."

"Excuse me! But you are the one whose green guess you look more like scum than we do!" Bulma fired back; Goku was surprised to see Bulma fight her fears and confront them head on.

"Silence woman!" Piccolo turned to face her.

"Your little romance with Goku will soon be over, and you…" Piccolo turned to Goku once again leaving Bulma in a shockingly fearful condition.

"I must admit I feel sorry for you being so weak, now I am stronger than ever and you are heartbroken, pathetic but I should have seen this coming you won't be much of a challenge anymore now with this whore on your mind." Piccolo's manic grin fueled Goku's anger.

"I will defeat you again." Goku showed his battle stance and clenched his teeth while scowling at Piccolo.

"Look at her…" Piccolo led his attention to Bulma who was making a run for it in the woods, Goku sighed and looked disappointed.



"Is it that you want to fight for? A being that doesn't give a damn about you is well worth dying I guess, fool." Goku dropped his stance and ran to her, while Piccolo remained still and grinned evilly.

"Wait we can beat him!" Goku took a hold of her hand and turned her around so she could face him.

"Goku we need to hide, no escape!" She didn't make much sense to him so he let her go.

"Go ahead just say it... your leaving?" Bulma sobbed.

"I can't take this anymore Goku…" And she was gone into the forest.

"You'll just come back running!" Goku said in disappointment and returned to the Capsule House where Piccolo was waiting for him.

"Pitiful… just plain pitiful. I guess she won't be able to see you die?" Goku couldn't take his harassment anymore and launched an attack. Goku's fist was near its target before it got blocked and another fist returned forcing Goku to leap up and stay positioned in mid air, his eyes scanned the area yet Piccolo was out of sight. Goku made an effort to jump on top of the Capsule House and get a better look his efforts were rewarded as he finally spotted Piccolo sitting on a branch relaxing and grinning at the same time. Goku leaped forward and missed the illusive enemy.

"I have become much faster!" Goku looked up to be greeted by a pair of hard hitting feet which pounded Goku on the head sending him to the ground, Goku quickly regained balance and landed on his knee before kicking himself off the tree and flying into Piccolos direction, Piccolo blocked with both arms which were like a shield, preventing Goku's hard hitting fists to come through, using this little gap Piccolo forced Goku back to a vulnerable position, while Goku was hitting he kept bouncing off his opponents precise reflections to the point where Goku was pinned to a tree Piccolo moved away and grabbed after Goku extending his arms to inhuman lengths grabbing Goku and keeping him pinned while preparing to deliver a fatal blow. Goku's arms were held by Piccolo and he awaited the next move, Piccolo opened his mouth and a light began to shine in the other end of his throat, Goku's eyes widened as he realized that he was in trouble, he quickly saw an option and kicked to the tree behind him severing it in the end and forcing it to fall directly on top of Piccolo who was dragged down from the heavy blow and was seemingly under the thick stem. Goku breathed heavily and landed on the ground looking for signs of his opponent. Meanwhile Bulma made it to a clearance she took a break and sat down on a rock only to be surprised by a horde of bandits who took a hold of her.

"No! Help!" Her high pitched scream echoed all the way to Goku who looked surprised in the direction it came from, not being able to concentrate on the task at hand Goku got distracted for a split second, but that was enough for Piccolo to place a swift and painful knife hand attack hitting Goku in the neck and sending him flying into a tree. Piccolo used the time to snatch Goku and throw him into the ground several times, blood dripped uncontrollably from Goku's nose while he received the beating of a lifetime, Piccolo accelerated his attacks and Goku felt like a thousand fists were hitting him at once, Piccolo smiled evilly while grabbing Goku's hair pulling him down to taste his knee, and then blasting him into the Capsule House. What once looked like a House was now rubble; the green fiend pulled his head back for a deep and manic laughter.

"What did I tell you that woman will be the death of you?"

"I guess I'll find your corpse amongst the dragon balls soon." Piccolo landed on top of the ruin and began moving some blocks he knew that the wish for world domination and eternal power was within his grasp. He moved some rubble aside and dug deeper he saw one dragon ball and grabbed it swallowing it instantly and continuing the search for the next.

"Why do they have to be so damn small?" Piccolo removed another piece before seeing a hand sticking out.

"Let me lend you a hand Goku." Piccolo said sarcastically and took a hold of Goku's hand, what he didn't expect was to be pulled down into the rubble and receiving thorough beating. An explosion followed and Piccolo jumped out of the ruin with purple blood running down his lips.

"I've underestimated you!" Piccolo turned to look at the blue sky only to see stars when Goku slammed him silly in mid air.

"You worm!" Piccolo took a hold of Goku's hair yet again throwing him into the ground and Goku's harsh wounds became apparent to him.

"Look at you, you can't even stand up let alone fight me." Goku wobbled into his battle stance but fell to his knees and panted, he was in a bad shape and was cut and bruised his t-shirt was ripped and soaked in blood.

"You heard that?" Piccolo asked amused and laughed from the top of his lunges, Goku looked through the corner of his eye.

"What?" His voice trembled but he seemed capable enough to talk.

"Wasn't that your precious Bulma?" Goku displayed bitterness.

"What have you done to her?"

"I made a plan B…" Goku's eyes widened.

"You see, dragon balls are hard to come by these days, especially ones that are located within the depths of the ocean, so I hired a gang of pirates to fetch me these, in return they would get rewarded with a ransom that would pay off." Goku scowled angrily.

"Yes Goku, Bulma Briefs is the member of the richest family on this planet, not that it will matter when I get immortal life, but I just wanted you know before you die Goku that she has served as a purposeful puppet in my game."

"Argh… I won't let that happen." Goku painfully regained his posture.

"I'll crush you like a fruit!" Piccolo extended his arms and grabbed hold of Goku then wrapped them around him beginning to squeeze like a python. Goku's High pitched scream could be heard from a long distance, Bulma looked in despair while being brought onboard a ship, she knew that scream all too well.

A/N: This chapter is a thanks to everyone who is still reading this story and liking it, I was pleasently surprised that my last chapter was favorable and therefore in spite of my one day break from school I have managed to write this entire chapter in less than 3 hours, not that it is any great feat what so ever but normally I don't do this, but I had an urge to give something back to my readers. I hope this chapter doesn't have too many shortcomings since it was written in a short time.

Thank you for reading!