Nappa immediately alerted the others about the most recent casualty, telling them that Bulma had seen it. When they tried to get answers out of her, she was still too shocked and panicked to reply. He stepped in, urging them to back off until she calmed down. Word had already made it back to the king, by the time they had returned to the palace.
He breathed a sigh of relief, when he saw his daughter-in-law, again. "Oh, thank the gods you're okay. Nappa, thank you for helping her, when you did; it was a miracle that you were there."
"No thanks are necessary, your majesty."
"Bulma, do you think you can tell us what happened? If you saw the killer, it could help us put a stop to all of this."
She breathed out. "I don't really want to think about it, your majesty. Maybe another time, but not now." She was still firmly glued to Nappa's side, where she felt safe.
"That's alright. When you're ready, I'll gather the council and let you speak your piece in front of them. I don't know what you were doing out there, all by yourself, but I'm glad you're okay."
She frantically shook her head. "No, no I wasn't alone. I-I was out with Vegeta, a-and it all just… happened, while we were down there, together."
"Vegeta was with you?" The king blinked in shock and looked at Nappa. "Did you see him, when you found her?"
"No. When she ran into me, she was alone," Nappa looked just as surprised as the king was. The rumbling he felt might have come from him. Though it was much unlike him, to just up and abandon Bulma, if that were the case.
The king thought the same thing. "I'll be going out. See to it that word of this doesn't get out until I return. I don't want to cause panic so soon."
"Will do, your majesty."
"I shall return by daybreak. If you learn of anything new, hold your tongue until I am back." The king walked past them, and out of the palace doors. He powered up and flew away, in an unknown direction.
"Where is he going," Bulma asked.
"To find Vegeta, I'd suppose."
She gasped. "Oh god, Vegeta. I forgot about… I have to go with him. I have to make sure he's okay."
Before she could run out the palace doors, Nappa stopped her. "Bulma, Bulma, stop. Vegeta wouldn't want you to run yourself ragged, for his sake. Let the king handle this, for now. When he gets back, then you'll see that he's okay."
"But I…" She sighed, and relented. "Okay. I won't."
King Vegeta was grateful that he had learned to sense other's energies, in his past year of training. Otherwise, he wouldn't know where to start looking for his son. He had flown off deep into the badlands, leaving the palace and the city far behind him. When he looked down below, he saw a large crater had been formed in the dirt. When he looked up, he saw a small figured standing on the edge of a cliff. The king landed several feet behind him, and approached him. He did not turn around or acknowledge his presence, as he did so.
"Well, at least I know that you're alright," he said.
"You know."
He sighed, exasperated. "Yes, yes, I do. I figured that was why you were all the way out here." He didn't respond. As he looked over the landscape, he chuckled. "This place brings back memories. Your mother and I used to sneak out to places like this, under your grandfather's nose. Oh, we'd spar, and feast, and-"
"Okay, father, I get the idea." Vegeta shuddered in disgust just thinking about what he could have said.
The king smiled for a moment, before frowning, again. "Now, Vegeta, we must return to the palace. I promised Bulma I would have you back by daybreak."
Vegeta exhaled, when he heard her name. In his rage, he had forgotten about her. She was probably worried sick, over him. Not that she didn't have reason to feel that way – he did leave her without another word. "Is she safe?"
"Yes, but she's lucky she ran into Nappa, when she did. Poor girl might have been in hysterics."
He finally looked over his shoulder. "Did she see it?"
"That's not in my place to tell you, my son. You can ask her yourself, when we return."
Father and son returned to the palace in the early hours of the morning. Vegeta was rushed by the scientists as soon as he entered the gates, wanting to know what had happened. He pushed past them, not caring or wanting to deal with them. For the moment, he had other priorities to attend.
When he reached their room, he saw that Nappa was standing guard at the door. The general nodded at him, stepping past to let him inside; he left to go greet the king, once more. Vegeta opened the door to his room and shut it just as quickly, making sure to lock it behind him.
Bulma was reading a book in a dark corner of the room, trying to keep herself calm as she slowly read every word in her head. An hour had passed since she returned to the palace, and she was still freaking out about everything she had seen. She didn't even notice when the door opened and closed, trying to focus on the book and keep her hands from shaking so much.
She jumped in her seat, when someone touched her hands. She let out a breath of relief, when she realized it was Vegeta. She dropped the book and stood up to embrace him. He returned it in kind.
"Vegeta," she said. "I… I saw it."
He nodded. "I know," he muttered. "I shouldn't have run out on you, like that."
"No, not just that. Not just the murder." She pushed herself away from him, to look him in the eyes. "I saw the person who did it."
His jaw dropped. "You what?"
"After you flew away, I went to the scene, and… he was standing right there, staring at me. He didn't do or say anything, but I was so scared. And when I blinked, he just disappeared. He could be anywhere, Vegeta. What are we going to do?"
It was no wonder why she was such a nervous wreck. If he had that same encounter, he'd be watching his back constantly. A thought occurred to him: if the killer had been there when Bulma checked up on the scene, then he must have been there before he flew off. He hadn't even felt his energy. The coward had been right under his nose the entire time, and he hadn't done anything. Dammit, if he had stayed, then he could have put a stop to it all.
"Bulma, do you remember what he looked like?"
"H-he was dressed all in black. None of his skin was showing. He could have completely blended in with the shadows. The only thing that was uncovered were his eyes. They were… they were completely black. I couldn't even see any light in them."
"Are you sure that was him?"
"Who else could it have been," she screamed at him. "All black ninja get-ups aren't really in style, this season!"
He put his hands on her shoulders. "Alright, alright, I get it. Bulma, you have to tell this to everyone. It might not be much, but it might lead us to more clues, later on."
Bulma was getting obviously frustrated with this. "Your father told me the same thing. I know. I just don't want to think about it, right now."
"Fine. But you'll have to do it eventually. Delaying it won't make it go away."
"Yeah…" She leaned her head on his shoulder. "I just want this to end."
"When I become the legendary again, it will end."
Bulma only nodded, knowing she couldn't talk him out of this. "Just… be careful. Please."
The young couple held each other in silence, as dusk turned into dawn. This threat had come too close to them, this time. And as long as that killer was out there, no one was safe.