Chap3

The gravity machine was fixed. Vegeta did his pushups cheerfully. He had been getting edgy and fighsty, but now he could release all his energy and train. He still hadn't reached the level of super-saiyajin yet, but he was determined to accomplish it soon. He would be ultra powerful and defeat Goku. His thirst became stronger for revenge against the third class saiyajin. His pushups intensified. Nothing would slow him down. Nothing! Not Kakerotto, not Yamcha, not Bulma!

He stopped suddenly. A sharp pain shot through his ribs and he collapsed instantly. He shook off the unusual pain and slowly stood up. He figured that he was just hungry. He'd been training since early morning and was starving for lunch. He couldn't smell anything with his acute sense of smell and he could feel his anger raise a little.

'Bulma's slacking. She'd better have lunch ready by the time-'

WHAM!!

Vegeta flew back and hit the wall of the ship. Blood poured freely his nose and through his fingers as he cupped his hands around the wound. He realized he was on the ground and off-guard so he leapt to his feet and got into a protective fighting stance.

' An invisible enemy?' He thought.

Vegeta prepared himself for another attack, but nothing came. What the hell happened? The bewildered saiyajin wiped the blood from his nose and exited the ship. Bulma watched him enter the snowy yard as he made his way to the back door. She saw his hand up to his face and noticed his confused expression.

'Oh great,' she thought. 'He probably knocked himself senseless.'

She greeted him at the door with a wet cloth in hand.

" So where's the pain?"

Vegeta uncovered his nose and Bulma sighed and gave him a sad smile.

" You need to take it easy. I seem to remember about a month ago when your little capsule ship blew up with you in it. You have to stop beating yourself up like this."

Vegeta snorted angrily. "Funny, I didn't even do this to myself."

Bulma stopped cleaning the blood from his face and stared at him. The androids? No, they wouldn't arrive for another three years or something.

"Someone attacked you?"

" Or something," he replied. " All I know is that I was training and suddenly an unseen force attacked me."

'Wow,' Bulma thought to herself. 'He really must have beaten himself up. He's delirious.'

She put her hand on his shoulder.

" Go to bed. You need rest."

Vegeta glared at her. He had been confused by the whole incident, but now he was angry with Bulma.

" You think I'm nuts!" He backed away from her. " You're just like all the others. You can't-arrggg!"

He suddenly clutched his stomach and fell to his knees. Bulma stepped forward, her hand outstretched to him.

" See," he gasped. "It's happening again."

"No," Bulma whimpered. " You're just a little paranoid right now. I'm sure that you're just more injured than you look or think."

He glared at her with dark eyes. "Bulma-"

Wham!!

His head snapped back. Blood flew from his mouth and onto the wall. Bulma stared in horror. He looked as if he was getting beaten to death. He wasn't faking it, she was sure. Something terrifying was happening to him.

Vegeta was slammed into the corner of a wall and was then thrown through the door, into the next room. Bulma stood in shock and then slowly followed the trail of blood that lead to the fallen warrior, collapsed on the floor.

" V-Vegeta?"

He was silent, then, "Yeah?" he replied softly, his voice was clouded like he had a cold.

" What's going on?"

Quiet, then.. "How should I know?"

Why is she asking me all this shit? He asked himself.

A sharp pain ripped through his head and he groaned miserably.

'What should I do?' Bulma pleaded silently.

"Can you move?"

The saiyajin prince stood up slowly, wincing in pain. His face was bruised and blood flowed from his mouth and nose and trickled onto his chest and shirt. Bulma held back tears as she gazed at him with pity. He wiped his mouth and turned away from her.

" I'm going up stairs," he muttered.

He staggered and stumbled out of the room and up the stairs. Bulma looked down and saw the blood streaks all over the floor and some tears fell from her eyes. She was terrified; a cold fear clung to her heart. She didn't know if Vegeta was dying, or sick, or just taunting himself. His pain always made her so sad..it confused her so much. She glanced at the telephone nearby and sighed.

.......

Yamcha picked up the ringing phone and grinned when he heard Bulma's panicked voice. He told her that he'd be over right away.

The anxious human skipped out to his hover car and hopped in behind the wheel. He blasted off toward Capsule Corp whistling. Yes, he did feel bad that Vegeta had to lose in such a way, but he didn't deserve Bulma, he thought. Arriving at the Brief's home made him even happier, but he made his face serious. Once again Bulma welcomed him in. She sat on the couch and stared hazily at the snow outside.

" What's wrong, Bulma?"

The blue eyes of the woman turned to meet his dark brown eyes. He was very surprised by the look of deep sadness.

" Something is wrong with Vegeta," she replied.

She explained what had happened and gave all the details. Yamcha felt a bubbling, fiery, triumph, but he also felt a little guilty. He convinced himself that the saiyajin was strong and he'd be able to handle a few beatings. Yamcha knew that he'd have to tell Vegeta about curse so he wouldn't eventually beat himself to death, but he decided to tell him later. All the prince needed to do was release his claim on Bulma and to never think about her again.

" I'm sure he's fine. He's probably just really stressed about becoming a super-saiyajin."

Bulma gave a small nod and suddenly looked toward the stairs. Vegeta trudged down them. His bleeding stopped but cuts on his face were deep and fresh. He had showered and fixed himself up a little, but his exhaustion was evident. Yamcha felt a wall of guilt hit him but he remembered all the horrible things the saiyajin had done and he hid a small smile.

" Training too hard?" Yamcha sneered.

Vegeta hit the base of the stairs and turned to the unwanted guest.

" I'd watch it, human. I might have to pound you into the ground."

Yamcha felt a little more comfortable than usual. If Vegeta decided to attack him, then all he'd need to do is try to focus Vegeta's thoughts on Bulma. This information acted like a fuel to Yamcha's ego and confidence.

" Whatever," the laid back human replied. " Why don't you just go upstairs and feel sorry for yourself like you always do?"

Vegeta growled and clenched his fists. Bulma was amazed at the mouthy comments of Yamcha but dared not to interfere. The saiyajin prince winced at the pain his side but stepped forward at the human. Yamcha felt his adrenaline go up. He wanted to see how his little scheme would work out.

" Wait!" He cried. " If you attack me, think of Bulma's house! She won't be too happy."

Uncertainty crossed over Vegeta's eyes as he thought about it and suddenly his head snapped to one snapped. He clutched his face as the two surprised humans watched the blood flow through his fingers. The arrogant prince shook with anger and shock.

' What's happening to me?' He asked himself in a state of almost panic. 'Am I being possessed?'

Yamcha watched with awe and glee. He felt a little bad, but he knew that Bulma would soon be his again. 'All is fair in love and war,Vegeta.' Yamcha thought evilly. Vegeta turned to face them. His eyes were black and brooding and old cuts on his face were re-opened.

" Vegeta?" Bulma whimpered. " What should we do?"

He stared in silence. The room seemed to hum with an uncertain tension and a clock ticked quietly as if it were timing how long it would take for Vegeta or one of the humans to freak out.

" What is that human still doing here?"

Bulma blinked and looked at Yamcha questionly, then back to Vegeta.

" I called him here," she replied. "I'm worried about you so-"

" So you called him up to make you feel better?" Vegeta snarled. "A weakling clinging onto an even bigger weakling."

Yamcha took a step forward. " Hey! You can't talk to us like that. You don't give a shit about Bulma! She's nothing to you."

Vegeta opened his mouth to reply but he was suddenly thrown into a wall. The plaster and brick fell all over him. He then seemed to be lifted out of the rubble and getting beaten in mid-air above the steps of the stairs. It was as if he were a marionette being held up by strings.

He coughed and spat up blood as a force continuously punched his stomach. The thick red rivers flew onto the walls and floor. His blue shirt was getting slashed and cut and streaks of blood flew from his arms, chest, back, and legs in every direction. He groaned in pain as his head dropped down to his chest. He was thrown down the stairs and landed with a thud on his stomach. He lay, gasping in pain as blood seeped out of him.

In all his years of fighting, he'd never really been this frightened. How could he protect himself from something he couldn't see, sense, hear, or smell? He couldn't figure it out. Maybe he was going insane. Maybe he was doing this to himself. Perhaps..perhaps..

His mind began to become foggy and vision blurred into a red haze. He welcomed the sleep and heaviness of his eyelids. He gagged on some blood and sighed to heavily, then closed his eyes and slipped into blackness.

....

He awoke in a dark room. A small lamp quickly added more light and shot blinding pain through his aching head. Vegeta found himself on his bed and facing Yamcha who was sitting on a chair next to him. The human gave him a pitied, sideways smirk.

" Where's Bulma?" Vegeta croaked.

Wham!

Vegeta instantly curled up and clutched his ribs. He coughed up some spit and blood and gasped.

" Don't think about her," Yamcha spoke up.

Vegeta set his bleary gaze on the amused human.

" Vegeta," Yamcha said in a know it all tone. He stood up and paced back and forth. " I do feel bad for doing this, you know, but Bulma belongs to me. I'm afraid that you've been cursed."

The injured saiyajin stared wide-eyed at the little weasel.

" You're doing this?" He choked out.

Yamcha gave a small nod while not being able to hide his triumphant grin.

" I made a wish," he explained, "a wish so that every time you thought of Bulma, you'd receive a little beating."

Vegeta gasped and instantly regretted it. His ribs were bruised, possibly broken.

" You little piece of shit! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!"

The enraged prince leaped out of his bed, but his legs collapsed. He landed on his knees, his palms on the floor. His head down as he tried to regulate his breathing, but thin strings of spit and blood hung from his mouth.

Yamcha felt a twinge of worry. What if Vegeta couldn't stop thinking about Bulma? What if he really did care about her? No! He will have to leave. It's the only way he can live. Can live.

" All you need to do is release your claim on her heart and never think of her again."

Yamcha was surprised to hear the beaten fighter laugh.

" So you think you've won?" He growled. " You won't win until I'm dead." Vegeta stood up cautiously and slowly. " I think..I think I'll kill you now."

The furious saiyajin formed a small ki in his hand and prepared to fire it at the surprised human. Suddenly, they both heard the door slam downstairs.

" Hear that?" Yamcha yelped frantically. " Bulma's home! She was at the store for first aid stuff."

Vegeta's eyes widened then instantly squeezed shut as he waited for the oncoming beating. To Yamcha it looked as if someone had kicked him in the back. Vegeta went sprawling to the ground at Yamcha's feet. The two fighters remained motionless.

" Come on Vegeta," Yamcha said quietly. "You're going to kill yourself."

In a flash Vegeta had the unsuspecting human by the throat and against the wall. Yamcha choked and struggled to get away but Vegeta's knee suddenly connected with his stomach. Yamcha lost all his air and could feel himself fading. He clawed helplessly at the strong hands around his neck but he could not get loose. He thought that his life would soon be over when suddenly Bulma entered the room.

" Vegeta!" She shrieked.

His eyes widened and he was instantly thrown to the floor again. Yamcha stumbled over him and ran to Bulma's side.

" Come on, it's not safe for you here."

" But Vegeta is injured," she replied.

The saiyajin sat up and shook his head. His mind was groggy and everything ached.

" Don't listen to him. He's a liar. Bulma he-"

WHACK! Vegeta seemed to be smacked in the face. Red lashes appeared on his bruised cheek. He remained sitting, stroking his face and looking down at the floor.

'Don't think of her,' he warned himself. 'Think about Yamcha's destruction, being super-saiyajin, the androids, anything except Bulma.'

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Yamcha and Bulma watched Vegeta sag and pass out against the wall. Blood ran down his forehead and face, and his breathing was watery and shallow. Yamcha noticed tears well up in Bulma's eyes and he almost regretted the wish instantly. Then, he was struck with idea of trying to support and comfort her. 'Now's my chance,' he thought eagerly.

He walked over, picked up Vegeta, and placed him carefully in his bed.

" Bulma, it'll be ok. He's just-"

" I want you to leave."

" What?!" Yamcha demanded. Bulma stared with shadowed eyes.

" Vegeta was trying to tell me something. He said you were a liar, but a liar of what?"

" He's just delirious," Yamcha blurted. " He had no idea what he was saying."

" Just leave," she muttered.

Yamcha lowered his head and slowly made his way to the door. He stopped and placed his hand on the doorknob.

" If you need a shoulder to lean on..call me," he mumbled.

Bulma brushed away some tears and glanced down at Vegeta. She could barely recognize his usually handsome face. She walked to the first aid kit and sat down on the side of Vegeta's bed. The miserable woman wept silently as she tried her best to ease her love's pain. She thought desperately of ways to help him. She didn't even know what was going on. All she could do was cry and pity him.





* Ok. Phew, exciting, huh? I'll try to post the next chapter as soon as possible so don't give up hope yet. Make sure to read and review, thanks!