The Little Orphan Girl
Janet's death had brought Susie closer to her new family. She actually let Bulma stay with her, accepted anything that Trunks offered and just sat silently with Vegeta, who really didn't seem to mind her presence. Pan was sweeter than ever before. Although Susie felt it was all due to sympathy, she still couldn't be angry at them. After all, her new family and friend had proved that they cared. In all honesty, Susie cared about them too. She didn't want to imagine a life without them. But then she had never imagined a life without Janet but…
No, it was too depressing a thought. The girl was now sitting on her chair, staring at nothing in particular when the door opened and Bulma walked in. Susie smiled at her. She had been smiling a lot at Bulma now. After all, they were close.
"How are you, honey?"
"Fine," Susie replied although she didn't like being asked this question.
"Susie, I was thinking that the two of us should go shopping. Like a mother-daughter shopping. It will be fun! What do you say?"
"I-" Susie started but stopped. What was she about to say? Yes? No? But Bulma looked at her too hopefully so she nodded although she certainly didn't want to go.
However, unknown to the two of them, the other daughter of the family was listen from behind the closed door. And she was not happy about it.
Bulla had packed her big duffel bag, tears blurring her vision a bit. She went on shopping trips with her mom! She was the one who was loved! And now, she was the one whom everybody neglected. After Janet's death Bulla tried so hard to warm up to Susie but the girl paid no attention. No, why should she? She was here to snatch everything from Bulla! The blue haired girl hated her so-called sister. Nobody loved her anymore. Nobody!
Her suspicions were confirmed that night.
Dinner was ready and Bulla didn't go down. She was crying and yet hopefully waiting for her mom. A while later, Trunks' voice came in through the crack under the door.
"Bulla. Bulla come down kiddo. Dinner's ready."
"I don't want to come," Bulla replied, trying to make her voice steady but failing at it miserably.
"Bulla-"
"JUST GO AWAY! Leave me alone!"
She heard her brother sigh, then his slowly fading footsteps. He was gone. He didn't even ask what was wrong. But the girl waited for her mother. She would come, right?
Wrong.
Bulma didn't come to call her. Enough was said and done. Bulla had no more patience left. She had to do something.
By the next morning, she had disappeared from the house.
"She's gone…" Bulma whispered shakily, "She's gone."
Bulma had visited Bulla's room early in the morning to tell her how much she loved her, that she was not neglecting her. But when the door swung open and nobody was found, she guessed what had happened. That her daughter had run away.
And now she was at Gohan's place, telling the Sons all about it. Susie and Pan had been sent in another room to watch TV so that they could not hear the conversation.
"Maybe she just felt left out" Goten said.
"Why should she? Susie has been with you for quite some time. I think she would have adjusted by now," Videl reasoned.
"They don't get along…" Bulma whispered.
"I've noticed," Gohan said, "The two obviously don't like each other. But I have also noticed that Bulla seems far more willing to interact with Susie and it's the latter who is pushing the other away."
"Susie has always been alone," Bulma said defensively.
"That may be so but she has stayed with you all for a few weeks now. I feel she should at least try. In fact, I feel as if she plays Bulla on purpose and actually enjoys the feeling of negligence that she goes through," Goten said.
"That was harsh," Videl muttered.
"I agree with Goten," Gohan said intensely, "Bulma, you need to give that an ultimatum. She has to adjust and treat Bulla properly."
"GOHAN!" Videl yelled.
"What? An adopted child can be a part of the family only if every member of the family is willing to accept them. And I mean every member!"
"But we can't return her-" Bulma started.
"I don't want her to be sent back to the orphanage either but you must understand! If she continues like this, well, I don't see any other solution."
"She has gone through so much Gohan!"
"I know but don't you see that Bulla is miserable and the cause of this is Susie? We need to either make them friends somehow or you'll have to send her back."
"I can't send her back!" Bulma almost screamed, "She's my daughter!"
"And so is Bulla!" Goten said, "And you've known her for a long time! We all know for sure that Bulla loves you too, but Susie? Does she care about you or your family? If so, then why has she not agreed to change her surname?"
Bulma stared at Goten and then turned to Gohan, her eyes becoming bleak once more. But when she thought about it, it did seem that Susie was the root of it all. She was unwilling to befriend Bulla, the family had paid her more attention that its own daughter.
Own daughter…
Why did that thought come into her mind? Susie was her daughter too! But… but Bulla was closer to her, however hard she tried to deny it. She hated herself for it, but she did love Bulla more than Susie, although she tried not to accept it.
"I'll talk to Susie about that," she said slowly.
The brothers nodded and Videl just looked at her sadly. The television was still blaring something upstairs. Hopefully, Susie and Pan had not heard the commotion the adults had made.
"And ask her directly," Gohan insisted, "Being too sweet will not be a good idea."
Bulma bit her lower lip. She didn't want to be mean to Susie.
But maybe a direct approach was needed here.