To Catch a DragonBall
Chapter 14
The Moment
Title inspired by Selenity Jade ^_^
Disclaimer: Just look back at a previous chapter and you'll see that I don't own dbz and am making no money from this. The only compensation I get isn't monetary; it's reviews. ^_^
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
"Damn it Bulma! You just got home and I just finished healing. I don't want to go back into this so soon."
"Then don't come with me. Just stay here, enjoying mine and my parent's hospitality while I go off to fight by myself. Clearly I'm the only one with any courage around here."
Yamcha shook his head at her and sighed, not getting angry, which surprised her. She had thought that all guys got really insulted and defensive when their bravery was questioned. Either Yamcha knew she was just trying to manipulate him or he really didn't care about her doubting his courage.
"Listen Bulma. You can't beat Vegeta, no matter how many little toys you make. It's pointless to try. Besides, I already told you that Goku would be fine."
Bulma turned away from Yamcha in disgust and went back to her latest invention, concentrating on getting rid of the small problems she was having with it.
"You think I'm just going to leave him to that monster?! He'll grow up to be every bit as warped and inhumane as that bastard is. I can't allow that! Even if he wasn't my friend I would feel guilty about letting such a sweet kid get taken like that. There's no point in trying to dissuade me Yamcha. Once I feel prepared, I'm going."
"Fine then! But don't expect me to come just because you're trying to make me feel guilty. I know what Vegeta's like, better than you do and I know what will happen if you do this. You'll be beaten and then killed. You're lucky that he doesn't believe in torturing women and always kills them quickly. It's better than most people but you're going to die anyway that you cut it."
"Well then, I'll die. It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. Yamcha, he never would have been caught if I hadn't dragged him from his home. I owe him. I need to at least try."
Yamcha sighed once more in resignation, watching Bulma's blue head as it was bent over her work. He could see that she was a great girl, and under most circumstances he would have tried to get together with her, but after all the times he messed up, he didn't think he'd be given the chance.
"Ok, just make sure that all of your inventions work perfectly. Especially your escape vehicles. There's no point in going there and rescuing him if you're only going to get stuck because your engine died."
"Hehe, I'll definitely remember to do that."
She didn't look up at him again after he first walked into the room. Her father had become quite chatty with him once he woke up from the painkillers that were given to him. He had been in the infirmary for several days and during all of those Bulma had locked herself in her lab, coming out only for meals and sleep. Her mother just took it for granted that this was Bulma's normal behavior, and her father was behind her decision completely. He was even helping her with her designs.
Since he was the only voice of reason among these people he had felt a need to talk to her quickly and stop her from going forward with her plans. It seemed so very pointless to him now and he regretted dragging himself out of bed and down the seven flights to her lab.
Bulma was so engrossed in her work that she didn't even notice when her lab doors slipped silently open, and he walked out.
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Bulma walked from the dark building and across the equally dark complex grounds. It was late at night and all the employees had left hours before. The darkness in the buildings suited her somehow. Lately, since she'd gotten home, her mood had been rather dark and depressing. She pretended to be cheerful but most of the time she didn't think she was pulling it off very well. She was just too upset at not being able to stop Vegeta to be happy.
Her plans at least were going better than she had expected. With the advice and additions her father kept giving to her she was certain that she could be ready to put operation 'Bulma's Turn' into action in only a few more days. She knew that Yamcha thought she was taking Vegeta too lightly, overestimating her chances. She also knew that she was one of the most brilliant women on the planet, hell, one of the most brilliant people on the planet, and that even if the odds weren't good they were better for her than they would be for anyone else.
Her slow walk eventually brought her into the family's living compound and to the stairs that led to her room. She stumbled up the first step before she heard her mother's voice calling her. There was one light on in the living room and from where she was standing she could barely make out her mother, perched on one of the couches on the far side of the room. Her mother waved her over and Bulma let out one exhausted sigh before doing as asked.
Once she was seated on the couch she leaned her head back and almost felt herself drift into sleep. Almost.
"Yamcha's such a sweet boy. You really ought to consider listening to him Bulma. I think he's worried about you because he likes you."
"Gah! Mother, I'm tired, I just want to collapse in my bed and you dragged me over here to discuss Yamcha's marriage ability and interest in me? Couldn't this have waited till some other time?"
"Oh no dear, you're working so hard lately that it's almost impossible to get time for this."
"Well, yes, but you could always have waited until the morning. But anyway Mom, I'm not interested in Yamcha so don't get any ideas about getting us together. And I know he has some good points about these plans of mine, but I have to do it, I can't give up."
"Well, if you say so dear, but I still think that maybe you two would be good for each other.
Bulma rolled her eyes and levered herself off the couch. She walked back towards the stair case, turning back when she reached the first landing.
"Good-night Mom."
"Good-night Bulma."
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Bulma finished dressing and turned to her inventions. She strapped the ones that she planned to carry into the harnesses she had devised for them on her clothing. The others were already in place on her chosen capsule jet and ready for use. All she needed to do now was to get to Vegeta and get back Goku.
She's show Vegeta not to underestimate her just because she wasn't a fighter.
Any provisions or other useful items were carefully stored in her capsules, which were held securely in her capsule case, which was in turn strapped in tightly to her pants leg. She checked her room once more for anything she might not have packed and thought briefly of doing another check of her lab. But she had already checked it four times and was certain she wasn't missing anything that she would want.
She strode purposefully from the room, never looking back to her room or the large building that held her long time home. She was determined to get Goku back or get slightly hurt in the attempt. She shook her head and smirked at the humor in thinking that.
She had said good-bye to her parents before doing her final checks and so felt no need to go hunt them down for another parting. She hadn't seen Yamcha, but she thought that maybe he was avoiding her a little since their last conversation. He had been working out in the complex's exercise room and she had sought him out to say that she was ready to implement her plans. He had urged her once again to reconsider and she had said no. After that he hadn't said a word to her.
So it was probably understandable when she went into slight shock at seeing him, leaning against her jet, dressed in fighting attire, and acting for all the world as if he had been waiting for hours.
She gaped at him several moments. He looked good like that and she casually noted that before switching back to the real concern.
"What are you-?"
"I reconsidered. You're going to need my help, even though it won't make much of a difference. We're still going to get our asses kicked, because there is no way that I can match Vegeta."
"Well then, let's quit talking and move off. I want to be there by nightfall."
"Sure thing."
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Bulma and Yamcha stood together outside her jet, looking out across the city. It was the perfect time for a surprise attack. She doubted very much that Vegeta would ever expect her to do something like this, but she also doubted that he wasn't prepared. She wasn't looking forward to another encounter with him, but Goku was the only thought on her mind right then.
"It's dark enough. We can go now."
She nodded her head in acknowledgment and climbed back into her jet. They took off and headed directly for Vegeta's humongous building. There was no turning back now, not that she wanted to. Bulma piloted the jet right next to the building and allowed it to hover while she turned on the voice speakers.
"Vegeta! Get your ass out here now and bring Goku with you. I've come to take him back and I am prepared to use force if necessary. So hurry it up you jackass."
Yamcha rolled his eyes from his spot in the passenger seat.
"Real nice Bulma. Let's just try to make Vegeta angry...or more angry than he's already going to be with use here like this."
"Yeah whatever. His royal pain in the ass can just get over it."
On the top of the building lights flickered to life revealing a landing space and two small figures walking along the roof. Both figures had tails whipping around behind them and the smallest one was struggling against the larger one, which was clearly Vegeta.
Bulma stood on the landing rail of her jet and held one hand inside the door, keeping herself steady against the wind rushing around the jet and glared down at the roof.
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Vegeta continued to drag the small child up on the roof. He had taken to bringing the brat with him everywhere, since none of the rest of his men could control him. It was with great annoyance that he answered the woman's demand to show up. He would have left the child below since he didn't want to seem like he was considering the weak woman's ultimatum, but there really was no other choice.
He hadn't wanted to see her again. There was no doubt that she was annoying, loud-mouthed, worthless and a pain to be around, but she was the only one who knew how to get the DragonBalls and he wanted her around in a year when he could make her collect them for him.
The woman was more of an idiot than he had thought though. She stood balancing tenuously on the railing of her jet. One hand was the only thing that was keeping her from falling, not that he would have really minded if she did. He couldn't make her out clearly at first because of the darkness that surrounded her but once he got closer to her hovering jet he had to shake his head in disbelief.
The woman was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit that looked vaguely like human combat gear. The only real difference was that it was blue and that it looked to be spandex. Several pockets bulged with items he could only assume were weapons she planned to use against him. Her hair was being blown about wildly by the wind and she stood, with her legs placed shoulder length apart and one hand on her hip, glaring down at him in a manner that he found eerily attractive.
She was almost...beautiful. Well, she was beautiful, but the fact was that he was almost....attracted to her...he supposed it was her pose and the fact that she dared to demand he do what she told him to. It was almost comical, that such a weak woman would make demands on him and yet it was disturbing that he felt no desire yet to kill her for it.
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Bulma's eyes narrowed even more when she noticed that Vegeta was staring at her.
'What the hell is wrong with him?! He's acting like he's never seen me before. Ha! He must be slower than I thought if it took him this long to notice my awesome beauty. He's definitely strange. He didn't even stare like this when I was in my bathing suit!'
"I'm guessing no one ever told you that it's impolite to stare Vegeta! Hurry up and hand over Goku!"
Goku was staring up at Bulma in something close to complete surprise. He hadn't known that she would do something like this for him. Vegeta was still staring at her, although after her comments he was also muttering about idiot women under his breath. Goku wanted to try and run for her jet but Vegeta tightened his grip on Goku's arm, ignoring the slight hiss of pain that escaped from Goku's mouth.
"Hurry up Vegeta! I don't want to have to see you all night you know!"
Vegeta's eyes narrowed even more and right then she guessed he was probably as pissed at her as she was at him. And damn it if he didn't look even sexier than usual, not that that thought was going through her head, because it wasn't. At least that's what she told herself as she squashed it to death under her mental boot heel.
They stood there in their poses, which were oddly alike, defiant and angry while Yamcha sat back in the chair and waited for someone to make the next move.
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
AN: Look! I updated again quickly!! My muse is finally completely back from vacation and now she's trying to kick me into gear. ^_^ I think I'll let her for a little while. The battle lines are drawn and neither Vegeta nor Bulma seem like they're going to give an inch. Next time we'll see Bulma's plan put into action. ^_^
I have an ml for this fic and if you want to be on it then just e-mail me at hibari_heza@yahoo.com or leave your e-mail in a review and I will put you on the list. ^_^
Chapter 14
The Moment
Title inspired by Selenity Jade ^_^
Disclaimer: Just look back at a previous chapter and you'll see that I don't own dbz and am making no money from this. The only compensation I get isn't monetary; it's reviews. ^_^
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
"Damn it Bulma! You just got home and I just finished healing. I don't want to go back into this so soon."
"Then don't come with me. Just stay here, enjoying mine and my parent's hospitality while I go off to fight by myself. Clearly I'm the only one with any courage around here."
Yamcha shook his head at her and sighed, not getting angry, which surprised her. She had thought that all guys got really insulted and defensive when their bravery was questioned. Either Yamcha knew she was just trying to manipulate him or he really didn't care about her doubting his courage.
"Listen Bulma. You can't beat Vegeta, no matter how many little toys you make. It's pointless to try. Besides, I already told you that Goku would be fine."
Bulma turned away from Yamcha in disgust and went back to her latest invention, concentrating on getting rid of the small problems she was having with it.
"You think I'm just going to leave him to that monster?! He'll grow up to be every bit as warped and inhumane as that bastard is. I can't allow that! Even if he wasn't my friend I would feel guilty about letting such a sweet kid get taken like that. There's no point in trying to dissuade me Yamcha. Once I feel prepared, I'm going."
"Fine then! But don't expect me to come just because you're trying to make me feel guilty. I know what Vegeta's like, better than you do and I know what will happen if you do this. You'll be beaten and then killed. You're lucky that he doesn't believe in torturing women and always kills them quickly. It's better than most people but you're going to die anyway that you cut it."
"Well then, I'll die. It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make. Yamcha, he never would have been caught if I hadn't dragged him from his home. I owe him. I need to at least try."
Yamcha sighed once more in resignation, watching Bulma's blue head as it was bent over her work. He could see that she was a great girl, and under most circumstances he would have tried to get together with her, but after all the times he messed up, he didn't think he'd be given the chance.
"Ok, just make sure that all of your inventions work perfectly. Especially your escape vehicles. There's no point in going there and rescuing him if you're only going to get stuck because your engine died."
"Hehe, I'll definitely remember to do that."
She didn't look up at him again after he first walked into the room. Her father had become quite chatty with him once he woke up from the painkillers that were given to him. He had been in the infirmary for several days and during all of those Bulma had locked herself in her lab, coming out only for meals and sleep. Her mother just took it for granted that this was Bulma's normal behavior, and her father was behind her decision completely. He was even helping her with her designs.
Since he was the only voice of reason among these people he had felt a need to talk to her quickly and stop her from going forward with her plans. It seemed so very pointless to him now and he regretted dragging himself out of bed and down the seven flights to her lab.
Bulma was so engrossed in her work that she didn't even notice when her lab doors slipped silently open, and he walked out.
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Bulma walked from the dark building and across the equally dark complex grounds. It was late at night and all the employees had left hours before. The darkness in the buildings suited her somehow. Lately, since she'd gotten home, her mood had been rather dark and depressing. She pretended to be cheerful but most of the time she didn't think she was pulling it off very well. She was just too upset at not being able to stop Vegeta to be happy.
Her plans at least were going better than she had expected. With the advice and additions her father kept giving to her she was certain that she could be ready to put operation 'Bulma's Turn' into action in only a few more days. She knew that Yamcha thought she was taking Vegeta too lightly, overestimating her chances. She also knew that she was one of the most brilliant women on the planet, hell, one of the most brilliant people on the planet, and that even if the odds weren't good they were better for her than they would be for anyone else.
Her slow walk eventually brought her into the family's living compound and to the stairs that led to her room. She stumbled up the first step before she heard her mother's voice calling her. There was one light on in the living room and from where she was standing she could barely make out her mother, perched on one of the couches on the far side of the room. Her mother waved her over and Bulma let out one exhausted sigh before doing as asked.
Once she was seated on the couch she leaned her head back and almost felt herself drift into sleep. Almost.
"Yamcha's such a sweet boy. You really ought to consider listening to him Bulma. I think he's worried about you because he likes you."
"Gah! Mother, I'm tired, I just want to collapse in my bed and you dragged me over here to discuss Yamcha's marriage ability and interest in me? Couldn't this have waited till some other time?"
"Oh no dear, you're working so hard lately that it's almost impossible to get time for this."
"Well, yes, but you could always have waited until the morning. But anyway Mom, I'm not interested in Yamcha so don't get any ideas about getting us together. And I know he has some good points about these plans of mine, but I have to do it, I can't give up."
"Well, if you say so dear, but I still think that maybe you two would be good for each other.
Bulma rolled her eyes and levered herself off the couch. She walked back towards the stair case, turning back when she reached the first landing.
"Good-night Mom."
"Good-night Bulma."
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Bulma finished dressing and turned to her inventions. She strapped the ones that she planned to carry into the harnesses she had devised for them on her clothing. The others were already in place on her chosen capsule jet and ready for use. All she needed to do now was to get to Vegeta and get back Goku.
She's show Vegeta not to underestimate her just because she wasn't a fighter.
Any provisions or other useful items were carefully stored in her capsules, which were held securely in her capsule case, which was in turn strapped in tightly to her pants leg. She checked her room once more for anything she might not have packed and thought briefly of doing another check of her lab. But she had already checked it four times and was certain she wasn't missing anything that she would want.
She strode purposefully from the room, never looking back to her room or the large building that held her long time home. She was determined to get Goku back or get slightly hurt in the attempt. She shook her head and smirked at the humor in thinking that.
She had said good-bye to her parents before doing her final checks and so felt no need to go hunt them down for another parting. She hadn't seen Yamcha, but she thought that maybe he was avoiding her a little since their last conversation. He had been working out in the complex's exercise room and she had sought him out to say that she was ready to implement her plans. He had urged her once again to reconsider and she had said no. After that he hadn't said a word to her.
So it was probably understandable when she went into slight shock at seeing him, leaning against her jet, dressed in fighting attire, and acting for all the world as if he had been waiting for hours.
She gaped at him several moments. He looked good like that and she casually noted that before switching back to the real concern.
"What are you-?"
"I reconsidered. You're going to need my help, even though it won't make much of a difference. We're still going to get our asses kicked, because there is no way that I can match Vegeta."
"Well then, let's quit talking and move off. I want to be there by nightfall."
"Sure thing."
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Bulma and Yamcha stood together outside her jet, looking out across the city. It was the perfect time for a surprise attack. She doubted very much that Vegeta would ever expect her to do something like this, but she also doubted that he wasn't prepared. She wasn't looking forward to another encounter with him, but Goku was the only thought on her mind right then.
"It's dark enough. We can go now."
She nodded her head in acknowledgment and climbed back into her jet. They took off and headed directly for Vegeta's humongous building. There was no turning back now, not that she wanted to. Bulma piloted the jet right next to the building and allowed it to hover while she turned on the voice speakers.
"Vegeta! Get your ass out here now and bring Goku with you. I've come to take him back and I am prepared to use force if necessary. So hurry it up you jackass."
Yamcha rolled his eyes from his spot in the passenger seat.
"Real nice Bulma. Let's just try to make Vegeta angry...or more angry than he's already going to be with use here like this."
"Yeah whatever. His royal pain in the ass can just get over it."
On the top of the building lights flickered to life revealing a landing space and two small figures walking along the roof. Both figures had tails whipping around behind them and the smallest one was struggling against the larger one, which was clearly Vegeta.
Bulma stood on the landing rail of her jet and held one hand inside the door, keeping herself steady against the wind rushing around the jet and glared down at the roof.
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Vegeta continued to drag the small child up on the roof. He had taken to bringing the brat with him everywhere, since none of the rest of his men could control him. It was with great annoyance that he answered the woman's demand to show up. He would have left the child below since he didn't want to seem like he was considering the weak woman's ultimatum, but there really was no other choice.
He hadn't wanted to see her again. There was no doubt that she was annoying, loud-mouthed, worthless and a pain to be around, but she was the only one who knew how to get the DragonBalls and he wanted her around in a year when he could make her collect them for him.
The woman was more of an idiot than he had thought though. She stood balancing tenuously on the railing of her jet. One hand was the only thing that was keeping her from falling, not that he would have really minded if she did. He couldn't make her out clearly at first because of the darkness that surrounded her but once he got closer to her hovering jet he had to shake his head in disbelief.
The woman was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit that looked vaguely like human combat gear. The only real difference was that it was blue and that it looked to be spandex. Several pockets bulged with items he could only assume were weapons she planned to use against him. Her hair was being blown about wildly by the wind and she stood, with her legs placed shoulder length apart and one hand on her hip, glaring down at him in a manner that he found eerily attractive.
She was almost...beautiful. Well, she was beautiful, but the fact was that he was almost....attracted to her...he supposed it was her pose and the fact that she dared to demand he do what she told him to. It was almost comical, that such a weak woman would make demands on him and yet it was disturbing that he felt no desire yet to kill her for it.
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
Bulma's eyes narrowed even more when she noticed that Vegeta was staring at her.
'What the hell is wrong with him?! He's acting like he's never seen me before. Ha! He must be slower than I thought if it took him this long to notice my awesome beauty. He's definitely strange. He didn't even stare like this when I was in my bathing suit!'
"I'm guessing no one ever told you that it's impolite to stare Vegeta! Hurry up and hand over Goku!"
Goku was staring up at Bulma in something close to complete surprise. He hadn't known that she would do something like this for him. Vegeta was still staring at her, although after her comments he was also muttering about idiot women under his breath. Goku wanted to try and run for her jet but Vegeta tightened his grip on Goku's arm, ignoring the slight hiss of pain that escaped from Goku's mouth.
"Hurry up Vegeta! I don't want to have to see you all night you know!"
Vegeta's eyes narrowed even more and right then she guessed he was probably as pissed at her as she was at him. And damn it if he didn't look even sexier than usual, not that that thought was going through her head, because it wasn't. At least that's what she told herself as she squashed it to death under her mental boot heel.
They stood there in their poses, which were oddly alike, defiant and angry while Yamcha sat back in the chair and waited for someone to make the next move.
~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~+~*~
AN: Look! I updated again quickly!! My muse is finally completely back from vacation and now she's trying to kick me into gear. ^_^ I think I'll let her for a little while. The battle lines are drawn and neither Vegeta nor Bulma seem like they're going to give an inch. Next time we'll see Bulma's plan put into action. ^_^
I have an ml for this fic and if you want to be on it then just e-mail me at hibari_heza@yahoo.com or leave your e-mail in a review and I will put you on the list. ^_^