Disclaimer: I do not claim to own the Dragon Ball series or any of its related topics. Dragon Ball is the property of Akira Toriyama. In respect to its creator, this fan fiction is created for entertainment purposes only, and is not part of the official story line. The plot is mine and any other characters you do not recognize. No reader/reviewer is authorized to release/post/translate this story anywhere else without my permission.

A/N: If you'd check the date of when this story was published and completed, you'd note that this story was written some time ago. Therefore this story no longer accurately reflects my current and preferred writing style. This story remains up in this site for archival purposes. It is highly unlikely that I will make revisions and proof-read the story, and in no means will I add or delete chapters. I do so, I will give a warning at the start of each chapter if it was ever revised.

Please read and enjoy, and reviews are always welcome.

Chapter 12

Split Up

"Goku!" Bulma screamed as she ran to her friend's side. Chichi was already kneeling beside her boyfriend and holding Goku as red blood damped her clothes.

"Bulma, what are we going to do?" Chichi panicked. Paolo stood in front of the three teenagers, he was about to advance when another dark figure blocked his way, refraining him from advancing.

"You're going to pay for that!" Vegeta growled. He turned his eyes to Yamucha.

He just stood there, the scene played again and again in his head. He watched as Bulma took a white towel cloth that was placed in Cori's desk. She pressed the white fabric on Goku's wound. Trying and hoping to slow down and stop the bleading. But the white cloth quickly turned to red. It was already soaked in blood in a matter of seconds.

"Oh my god!" Chichi gasped as she watched Bulma's actions on her beloved's wound.

"Asshole!" Vegeta growled. Yamucha snapped out of his trance and looked in the direction of Vegeta. Paolo was standing about six feet away from vegeta.

"W-what?" Yamucha stammered.

"Help them and get him out of here!" Vegeta demanded as he looked back at the smirking Paolo.

"R-right!" Yamucha said as he went to Bulma and Chichi's side.

He helped them get Goku to his feet. Yamucha ordered the girls to place Goku on his back so he could give him the piggy back ride. He said that it would be easier for them to carry him like that and that they could ran faster. Bulma and Chichi didn't hesitate.

"Let's go." Yamucha said as he carried Goku on his back.

"Right." Chichi said as she dashed to the door first. Yamucha followed.

Vegeta waited for them to leave before he started his little bout with the Paolo. He never took his eyes off of him. Afraid that if he even let his eyes wander off that he would move to kill. He noticed that Chichi and Yamucha were already at the door. But why are they just standing there?

"Bulma!" Chichi called. "Come on!" she said.

"Bulma, what are you doing!?" Yamucha called afterwards.

"We have to go now!" Chichi said.

"Onna!" Vegeta growled. "What the hell are you waiting for? Leave!" he demanded.

"No!" Bulma shouted. "What about you!?" she choked in her sobbed.

Vegeta took the chance to look at her. She was to the brink of crying. And for who? For him. Vegeta looked at her, his onyx eyes gleaming in the dimness of the room.

"We can't leave you here all alone, especially with him!" Bulma pointed a finger at Paolo.

"Go!" Vegeta screamed. "I'll catch up." he assured her.

"Like that's gonna happen." Paolo said out loud while wiping Goku's blood off of his knife.

"Bulma go!" Vegeta demanded. Tears flowed down Bulma's eyes as she ran out after her friends and out of Cori's room. Leaving Vegeta alone with the killer.

"Where do we go?" Chichi asked as she help Yamucha ran along with her.

"Back to the lobby." Yamucha suggested. They continued running in silence for the next two minutes until Chichi finally broke the silence.

"B, Vegeta's gonna be alright." she assured her friend.

"How do you know?" Bulma sobbed. When she left Vegeta in that room alone with Paolo she can't help it but feel guilty, knowing that she will regret this any moment now.

"Vegeta's strong." Yamucha assured. "HOLY SHIT!" Yamucha exclaimed as he came to a complete stop.

"What?" Bulma and Chichi said together.

"Look." Yamucha whispered. But the girls heard it loud and clear.

"Where are they!?" Chichi panicked again.

"Wait," Bulma whispered. "The only way to go to Cori's room is to pass the main lobby."

"Then Paolo must've been here and–" Yamucha quickly stopped when he finally found out which his sentence will lead to.

"Oh no." Chichi whispered as she dropped to her knees. "They're all–"

"Don't jump into conclusions!" Bulma stopped her. "There's no blood or body!" she stated. "They could've escaped."

"Or Paolo could've discarded their bodies!" Yamucha said.

"Shut up Yamucha!" Bulma snapped. "Think positive!"

"Where could've they gone to?" Chichi asked as she continued sobbing.

"I don't know but we have to stay here and wait for Vegeta." Bulma said.

"We can't!" Yamucha protested. "It's too dangerous!"

"Then what do you suggest?" Bulma asked angrily. "Abandon Vegeta?"

"No, I'm saying is that, if Paolo found the others here, then he knows that everybody will be meeting back here. We have to go around and look for the others ourselves." Yamucha stated. Bulma hated to admit it but Yamucha made sense.

"Alright." she sighed. Another decision she knew she's going to regret.

"Who are you and what have we done to deserve this?" Vegeta asked the smirking Paolo.

"You have done nothing to me." Paolo said.

"Then why are you doing this?" Vegeta growled.

"That's easy," Paolo's smirk widened. "Because I was told to."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Who told you!?" Vegeta gripped his knuckles.

"A friend." Paolo answered.

"Why are you following this friend?" Vegeta asked, still calmly.

"Because it's fun to kill." Paolo answered truthfully.

"Pardon me, but," Vegeta said still calm. "HUMAN BEINGS ARE BEING KILLED HERE AND ALL YOU CAN THINK OF IS FUN!?" Vegeta screamed.

"Of course, that's not all actually, she's family too." Paolo stated. "Now, Vegeta Ouji," Paolo said as he extended the knife in front of him. "Are you ready to die?"