A/n I like this chapter. It's what I call a CBD ( chapter with a big development). So, read carefully. I'm also glad at the reader responses. Keep 'em coming!

Chapter 4: Understanding?

Do you understand the meanings of the words?

Her shadow on the ground started moving. She couldn't stop the shuddering of her puny body. Every fibre of her being wanted to rush over into his arms, but her damn pride wouldn't let her. She wouldn't jeopardise her self- respect, not for the scattered remains of a once revered relationship. She muttered under her breath. "I'll be damned if he gets the last word!"

With her willpower she forced herself to control her breathing and regain her senses. What was it about him anyway? She always got this feeling of rebellion whenever she was around him. He made her feel wrath, joy, loneliness; every single feeling attached to her personality. In the beginning it had made her nervous, but now she realised that she missed the sensation, which at the moment was overwhelming her body yet again.

"How so?" she blatantly asked. It was obvious that this wasn't the response he had expected. He didn't turn this time though. He wasn't going to show her his face and more importantly he wasn't going to show the longing in his eyes. Over those infamous two weeks they had shared every thought and that fact made him feel uneasy. Who knew how she would use his flaws against him? He quickly dismissed that thought when he realised that Bulma wasn't the type of person that would do such a thing. She never focused on the imperfections, but the positive features in a person, which also was one of the reasons she constantly got herself in trouble.

"The game is based on challenges and I'm the one to overcome them and win the grand prize." He stated rather smugly, ignoring his care for the blue- haired femme fatale behind him.

His statement puzzled Bulma. What did he mean by those words? The curiosity got the better of her and she couldn't disguise it: "Then what is the challenge and what is the reward?"

"I thought you were wiser than that," he haughtily expressed and continued: "You should know by now that you are both my challenge and my prize." Sincerity was apparent in his voice.

She felt the temperature in her face rise. She wasn't blushing and didn't take his comment like a compliment as one would have thought. She was repelled by his words and said: "Then you too see me as an object you can conquer and show off. Who was I to think that you were different from all the others? So in the end of the day I'm just another thing to boast your earth-is-not-worthy-of-me-ego, right?"

He was almost turning back to look at her. He was truly offended and couldn't believe that she would compare him to all the "others". The thought made his stomach cringe in displeasure. He told himself that he had more discipline than that, so instead he chose to pick his words wisely and ended the conversation with these words: "One should not attempt to read a book in which they are oblivious to the meaning of the words."

"Whatever," she huffed. At this point she was too exhausted to argue with him. Holding her strength had had its toll on her and she was slowly feeling the numbness in her chest enveloping her entire being. Suddenly she cringed with pain when the urge to cough was bigger than her self-restrain. Bulma's internals were practically screaming in suffering and protesting by ravaging themselves with fuel from the disease. She felt her knees weaken, she had to find something to support herself against; otherwise she would end up in the dirt.

In the blink of an eye two strong arms encircled her body, which tensed at the surprise. Her immediate reaction was to pull away, but she soon discovered that her futile struggle only left her more vulnerable to the attack at hand. The coughing began and there was nothing she could do about Vegeta being there or the attack she was having. Bulma completely surrendered to both and started heaving the characteristic blue substance. This time it only lasted about three minutes and slowly the numbness wore off. Instead she felt her body dragged into slumber, a painfully slow and tormenting lull. Before she felt her eyes close, his voice was brusquely heard: "You're ill" and her response was nothing short of "It's none of your concern".

He felt as her body went limp in his strong arms and could only whisper: "YOU never stopped being my concern."