After writing this, I got inspired to write a B&V fic ^_^ Still haven't done that yet, but maybe in the future… Luv, ~Vivi-sam

After writing this, I got inspired to write a B&V fic ^_^ Still haven't done that yet, but maybe in the future… Luv, ~Vivi-sama

Chapter four

"Gomen, Son-kun," Bulma whispered into his ear. She watched him, his still reply too silent for her liking. She lifted her hand from his solid shoulder, her eyes misting as she looked at ChiChi's lifeless body. "We'll all miss you, ChiChi," she said quietly. "I know we all will."

She picked up the bag which held what little evidence she could find. She sighed, knowing it was practically impossible to find the culprit. No clothing fibres, no footprints, no nothing. Clenching her fists, she willed herself to believe that this killer - this satsujinsha - was out there, and she swore she would find him...or her. For Gokou's sake. This was the first time she'd seen him like this, and she didn't want him to be this way ever again. "Ja ne, Son-kun," she whispered, trying not to disturb the painful silence. "I'll see you later."

Throwing a hoipoi capsule, wind rushed out from in front of her, blowing Gokou's hair forward. But still, he stood there, his anguish silently filling the atmosphere. Bulma sighed once more, and hopped into the hover car. With a turn of a key, she drove off towards Capsule Corporation, leaving Gokou standing by himself in never ending silence.

~***~

Typing into the computer, Bulma's hands blurred in her swift movements. Genetic info was divided, bands of DNA chopped and examined, and all the results appeared on the screen in front of her. "Kuso," she swore as the matchup for the hair strand proved to be Pan's. "This is hopeless! There's no positive evidence!"

Banging her fists against the desk, she leashed out a frustrated cry. She paced around the room, her mind swirling in profound thought. "Okay...okay...ChiChi was killed by a blow to the head," she told herself, knitting her eyebrows over in deep thought. "Most likely, it was either a blunt object or someone's hand or foot. And...and it had to have been a quick strike, killing her on impact. Hai...hai, that's it..." She made a couple notes on the computer before collapsing in the chair, her eyes closed in discouragement.

The door opened and a bulky figure stepped in, his blue fighting gi clinging on to his body tightly. "It took you that long to figure that out?"

"Vegeta?" Bulma opened her eyes, only to hold her nose. "Vegeta, I think you need a bath. You really stink."

"Shut up, woman," Vegeta snapped. "I didn't come here to listen to your pointless comments."

"Well, sor-ry. I should have known better than to talk to the all-mighty Vegeta," retorted Bulma. She glared at him, only to get the same look of arrogance from Vegeta. "Ooh, I'm sorry, should I call you Ouji-sama instead?"

Vegeta walked over to her in a confident pace. Bulma held back a gasp, then scolded herself inwardly for being frightened by him. He was just a proud, stupid monkey...right? Vegeta took her chin and tilted it upwards, looking straight into her frightened - yet poised - face, smirking. Gruffly, he said, "You talk too much. Stupid woman." He leaned towards her, giving her soft, gentle kiss despite his strong presence.

Bulma felt another shock ripple through her, but this time it was of delight. Vegeta pulled away, and Bulma's eyes opened up to see Vegeta's sneering face. "Maybe that will shut you up."

"Hmph." Glaring, Bulma pushed him away roughly with cold hands, but Vegeta kept his place with ease. "Chikusho!" she spat at him.

Vegeta sighed, eyeing the computer screen. "I guess nothing can shut you up. Sometimes you talk too much for your own good." He moved over to the monitor, studying the complicated display. The slight tip of his lips twisted upwards, half-smiling, half-mocking. "Oh, so Pan's the satsujinsha? You know, I have to hand it to you. You really are stupid."

"Arg!" Bulma's temper cut short, fusing out like a dead bulb. "Leave me alone, will you?! Can't you just stop with your stupid remarks for once? That's all you do - tell me how stupid I am! What kind of hobby is that?!"

Vegeta looked at her, a genuine look of puzzle scattered on his face. "Telling you how stupid you are isn't my hobby. It's telling you how ugly you are." He studied her steaming face, and smiled. "You really are stupid if you didn't figure that out by now."

Despite his unnecessary comment, Bulma couldn't help feeling drawn to him at the smile. It was something he rarely did, and it always felt like she was discovering something new every time he did...discovering something precious, like a diamond buried deep into the depths of Chikyuu. "Vegeta..." Quickly, she shook her head, snapping herself out of her trance. "You're the baka here, now just leave me ALONE!"

Vegeta shrugged. "Iie, I think I'll watch for a while." He leaned against the wall, now silent, his eyes following Bulma's small movements. "Well? Are you going to get to work or just stand there all day watching me? I must admit, I am a prince of admiration, and you are extremely lucky just to be in the same room as me, but you probably should get to work." The half-smile still planted on his face, he crossed his arms and looked at her expectedly.

"You and your big ego," muttered Bulma, turning around and settling herself back in the comfy chair. "Now, let's see..." She continued to type more things in, but they were pointless and she sighed as the outcomes that came up were irrelevant.

Vegeta watched her type, the screen changing often but full of unrelated material. Nonchantly, he said, "You do know that the satsujinsha is probably someone we know, don't you?"

"Huh?" Bulma snapped out of her thinking trance and turned to look at him. "What do you mean?"

Vegeta sighed. "Baka. Obviously, the satsujinsha is someone who were around a lot with. Videl and ChiChi are both family members. The person has to be hanging around here somewhere. Maybe he's out for the Son family."

"Or she." Bulma almost slapped herself for not thinking of that obvious opinion; it made total sense. She couldn't believe that Vegeta thought of it...or that he was being so helpful. Well...part of the time, anyway.

"But it's also kind of strange that they were just killed by simple blows to the head, both of them," Vegeta pointed out.

"Uh...what do you mean by that?" Bulma felt stupid by not knowing what he meant and what he was trying to say, but at this point she was desperate to find out who the satsujinsha was. Remembering Gokou's look of sorrow made her heart feel hollow and empty...as Gokou's must be right now.

Vegeta looked at her, and sighed again. "You're a bit slow, but I'll tell you anyway. I'm just saying that it probably would have been easier to just kill those weaklings -"

"They're not weaklings!" Bulma hissed at him.

Vegeta glared at her. "Don't interrupt me, woman."

"Hmph." Bulma crossed her arms, Vegeta-style, and allowed him to continue on.

"It would have been easier for them to be killed by ki blasts." He shrugged. "But it would have made the satsujinsha more easier to find, since only certain people can use that."

"Ki blasts?" said Bulma. "But...but only you guys know how to use those!"

Vegeta looked at her silently, his eyes dark and intentional.

Bulma gasped at his assumption. "No...you must be wrong..." she backed up from her chair, staggering as reality struck her. "But...but it couldn't be Son-kun, I know that much for sure...or sweet Gohan-kun, or Pan-chan. Goten-kun would never do anything like that, and neither would Trunks-kun! Or maybe..." her eyes darted, a feeling of uneasiness overcoming her. "Maybe it was Piccolo... or Yamucha, or Ten Shin Han...or Kuririn!" She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the unwanted thoughts. "But no, none of them would do a thing like that!"

Vegeta remained silent, a blank look accustoming itself to his rigid face. Bulma jumped toward him, grabbing his hands in anxiety. "Vegeta! Vegeta, do you know who it is?" She looked down at his red, almost bruised hands, then back up to his face. "Do you?"

"Let go." Vegeta looked down at her worried expression, and something inside of his cold eyes softened. "No, I don't...not yet, anyway."

Bulma stole another look at his hands, and her face turned white with apprehension. "Vegeta-san...your...your hands..." she trailed off, fear dispersing across her face. "They're so...red...like you've...you've..."

For a moment, Vegeta was confused. Shrugging he said, "I've had worst bruises. Don't worry yourself about me." At Bulma's still pale face, he watched her curiously. Then a scowl deepened his dark features, and he answered harshly. "Kusoyaro! You think I'm the satsujinsha?! If you haven't noticed, I was sparring with Gokou for the last few hours!"

Vegeta growled at the sight of Bulma's unconvinced expression. "Baka! How ugly AND stupid can you be?! Out of my way!" He shoved her to the side, and stormed out of the room, calling behind him. "Stupid woman!"

"Vegeta-san..." Bulma trailed off as colour returned to her face. "It can't be...but I don't know what to think...oh, Vegeta...."

*gasp* Is it Vegeta-sama? Is –he- the satsujinsha? Find out next time, on ::Sayonara:: ^_~