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 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. If 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 18

The Big Showdown! The Final Countdown

[Hallway]

"Well? Are you joining me or not?" Launch asked.

"You're fucking crazy if you think I'm going to help you kill them all!" Yamucha said angrily.

"Oh well," Launch shrugged. "It's your life." she smiled. The smile on her face disappeared when Yamucha started laughing.

"What makes you think you can kill me?" he asked. "I can defend myself, you know." he stated. "I'm stronger than you, so what makes you think that you can put that knife through my skin?" he asked. The obvious statement made Launch laugh, seizing Yamucha's laughter and his face turning into a confused one.

"What makes you think I'm using a knife?" she smiled. Yamucha's eyes widened as she withdrew a gun from her sweatshirt. "Good-bye," she paused and thought for a while. "What was that nickname that Bulma used to call you when you guys where going out?" she asked and continued smiling as she pin pointed the gun to his heart. "Oh yeah!" she said remembering. "Goodbye," she said again in a sweet voice. "Ya-chan!"the smile turned into a sinister laugh and Launch pulled the trigger.

Yamucha went down with a hard thud. Launch laughed all the way. She advanced towards him, sure that he is dead. She kneeled down and took his hand, she gently placed her gun in his hand, making it look like he committed suicide. She smiled and stood up straight. She took out another gun from her back that was tucked in her shorts, and headed out to the front of the hotel.

[Front of the Hotel] {two minutes before the cops arrive}

"What was that!?" 18 panicked as the familiar sound echoed.

"I hope I don't think what I think it is!" Goku cried.

"Holy shit!" Vegeta whispered.

"What?" Bulma asked. Vegeta had been holding her hand ever since they left Paolo and not once did he even thought of letting it go, which made Bulma feel safe.

"Where's Launch?" he asked. "And Yamucha?" he said afterwards.

"They're still inside!" Bulma panicked. "Oh, no!" she cried and tried pulling away from Vegeta to run back inside, but Vegeta pulled her back. "We have to help them!" tears flowed down her blue eyes. "We have to get them out of there." she continued crying.

"Bulma!" Vegeta shushed her. "Paolo's outside." he stated. "Who do you think's inside to kill them?" he asked.

"But the gun shot." Bulma stated slowly trying not to figure out what Vegeta was trying to say: one of her friends is behind this all.

"Launch is behind this all." Vegeta said.

"Oh my god." Chichi whispered. "Why?" she sniffed.

"We don't know." 18 said, trying to control the tears that threatened to fall.

"Yamucha?" Bulma asked Vegeta. Vegeta looked away from her. "Oh my god!" she cried and Vegeta embraced her as she buried her face on his chest. "I can't believe this. Why would she do such a thing?" she cried.

"Because I hate you!" a voice joined into the conversation. Bulma withdrew from Vegeta and looked out to see Launch.

"You bitch!" Chichi snapped. "What did you do to Yamucha!" she cried, Goku was trying to contain her.

"Um,.." Launch though for a while as she dangled the gun in her forefinger. Everybody stared at it and gasped. "I don't know." she said as if she was a little innocent child. "I think I killed him." she smiled with a laugh.

"Why are you doing this!?" Bulma asked angrily.

"Because all of my life I hated you and you took everything away from me!" Launch said as she advanced towards her with the gun pinpointed at her head. Vegeta tried advancing to her but Launch noticed it quickly and pointed the gun to him. "MOVE!"she yelled.

"What are you talking about?" Bulma cried, tears flowing down from her eyes.

"You took everything away from me! That's why!" Launch snapped.

"Launch," Bulma sighed and gave her a smile. "Whatever it is that you're mad at me, please, let's talk about it." she begged. "Don't hurt everybody else." she continued. "I'm the one you want so please don't hurt them." she finished.

"You always think that this is all about you, don't you?" Launch asked.

"What?" Bulma asked confused.

"You heard me!" she growled. "You think that the whole world revolves around you, don't you!?" she cried.

"Launch,..." Bulma started.

"No!" Launch cut her off. "I hate you!" she said. "We will not talk about this!" she said. "I'll kill you all, that's my new plan!" she told her, she then turned her attention back to Vegeta. "Did you not hear me earlier? I said move!" Launch commanded. "You two!" she pointed to Goku and Chichi. "Kneel down." she commanded. When Chichi didn't budge, she fired the gun beside her, only missing her a few inches. "I don't wanna repeat myself." she said. "Kneel down." she said more slowly. Chichi and Goku did what they were told.

"You won't get a way with this Launch." Goku promised.

"Really?" she asked, the sweetness returning. "Then why is this happening right now?" she laughed. She then turned serious and turned to the other couple. "Drop to the ground, lay on you stomachs." she command as she pointed the gun at them. The couple did as they were told.

"The cops are coming Launch, any minute now." 18 said.

"Y-you called the cops?" Launch stuttered.

"Yes." 18 answered as she laid on the ground, covering her head.

"It doesn't matter." she said with full confidence. "Once I kill you all, I'll be gone." she said.

"You won't." Vegeta said.

"Really?" Launch smiled. "Why not?"

"Because they'll be arriving any second now." he said with a smirk. This made Launch more angrier.

"This wouldn't have happened if you never came!" she cried and pointed the gun back to Bulma. A crazy smile appeared on her face, and she was ready to pull the trigger. The trigger was pulled and the bullet was on its way. Bulma's scream echoed.

But before she knew it she was pushed by somebody heavy. She saw on the corner of her eye Launch was standing shocked and her friends screams can be heard, sirens then entered her hearing. She landed on the cold ground with somebody heavy on top of her.

"VEGETA!"Goku screamed.

Hearing this she looked up and saw Vegeta's sweating face. Her eyes widened and she quickly sat up cradling his head on top of her lap.

"Vegeta?" she called crying. She looked at the shot, it was on the far left corner of his left shoulder. He'll live, just have to put pressure on the wound to help slower the bleeding down. The shot was almost near his heart. Tears continued building up on her eyes and it continued to flow freely down her stained, dirty face.

"I'll be fine." he managed to croak out. "Run." he suggested, but more like a command.

"No." Bulma shook her head. "I won't leave you." she cried as Vegeta slowly fainted. She looked up and saw a helicopter hovering above them. An officer with a microphone on his hand.

"Put the gun down and put your hands up in the air." he said. She looked in the distance, the main parking lot of the hotel, police cars are arriving, but not there yet.

"Bulma!" she could hear Chichi scream.

She looked at her ex-friend. She was shocked to see her just standing there, still pointing the gun where she was standing. Bulma blinked to let the tears fall, it was still cold, it was still raining, but at least they're safe now. Aren't they?

"YOU FUCKING BITCH!"she heard Launch screamed. Bulma's eyes snapped back to er to see her pointing the gun towards her. She started breathing faster and heavier at every second, she tried looking up but the helicopter's flashlight was blinding her, she then looked in the distance to see if anybody could save her, but the fist police car had just entered the parking lot. She turned back to Launch to see the awful smile on her face.

"Bulma watch out!" this time she heard 18's voice.

"I win this time." Launch said.

Bulma still held her eyes shut as she heard the gun shot but she didn't feel anything. About ten more seconds later she still didn't feel anything. She opened her eyes and looked at her. Launch was on the ground, and her head was bleeding, the wet ground absorbed her blood fast and it scattered quickly.

"Who?" she whispered.

"Yamucha!" she heard Krillen shout. She looked away from Launch to see her ex boyfriend on top of the stairs clutching his chest with one hand and trying to hold a gun on the other, he was leaning on a white post that supports the roof of the entrance on the hotel.

She smiled, knowing that she is now safe, she then turned to Goku and Chichi who were smiling at her. She then turned to 18 and Krillen who were running straight to Yamucha.