Bulma was coming to learn that she really hated school. The rumors she could deal with, it was those who tried to prove them wrong or were sure they couldn't possibly hold truth that bugged her. She had made more than one dent in the lockers over the months. Some from being shoved into the metal containers, others from shoving people back, a few were from her fists or boots.

Really she was a sweet person, when she chose to be that was. School was not the place, nor was it filled with the people. Very few people knew the real her, it was preferable that way. Stepping into the bathroom she silently groaned at the sight of the three twitty birds that loved creating the rumors, she was a favorite topic. It didn't help that the leader of the bitch brigade was the daughter of the city police commissioner. The man had breathed down her neck for far too long, he was a major factor in her little trip of adventure with her ki fighting friends. To get away from the oppressive hun that was the man.

The man hated her, there was nothing she could do about that, he just didn't like the fact that she had gone from beneath pond scum, in his mind and many others, to super elite. The fact that she had the brains and abilities to keep up with her paper scores irked him as well. It truly didn't matter to her; she could get along just as well with or without the paper verification of her education. She could be dropped almost anywhere on the planet and survive pretty well, it wouldn't be easy and in many circumstances she could easily not survive, but she was by no means a wilting flower. Besides, she had practically cemented a position at Capsule Corp with what she had made in her lab. It didn't hurt that she had the ingenuity of a street kid. There was no forgetting where she came from, and quite frankly she didn't want to.

Shaking her thoughts from her head she listened to the golden trio of twits comment on the darker parts of the city. "It couldn't possibly be as bad as daddy says, I mean look at her." She cast a slashing look to the blond princess. "Yeah I'm talking about you, you just want to sound tough but I bet you just hid in your room." Bulma lifted the hem of her shirt, bringing to view several scars, some from blade, others from burns or bullets. Their eyes were glued to her belly, amusing as it was she ignored the twinge that might have been shame. She wasn't grossly disfigured, a few scars. She had liked them; scars didn't make for a good hooker or call girl. But she had never thought that she would be found repulsive. 'Well at least to my own kind, Vegeta doesn't seem to care and kami knows he's seen more of me.' She wasn't quite sure what she thought of that. Hearing the bell she grabbed her bag and breezed past the girls.

Whether or not they believed the stories of her youth meant nothing to her. Arriving at shop she continued the work on her new bike, the pieces were all ready all she was doing at the moment was constructing the engine, a tedious and technical think since her vehicle was made for three surfaces.

She worked well past the final bell, not something unusual and she was far from being alone in that matter, it wasn't until she felt someone watching her that she looked up. No it wasn't any of the boys, they were all so drawn into their projects that the boom box was the only thing using vocals.

Turning to glance in the shadows she saw the flame haired figure. Oh killjoy. She knew she had forgotten something, she was supposed to baby-sit the prince, somehow that hadn't made it to her list of things important. Couldn't he bother someone else, since the girls moved out he expected her to actually cook such a funny little pipe dream.

As if her noticing him was his cue he began moving towards her, he cast a glance to her oblivious fellow workaholics before returning his focus to her. Returning her focus to piecing together her puzzle she made sure the air compressor was in place, it involved her arm to be in the still hollow sections of her masterpiece.

"Yes?" She drawled the one word, making it several syllables rather than just one.

Her tone and actions spoke of how little she thought of his answer, and he hadn't even given it yet. He didn't like what he saw when he found her, boys all around the room and none of her foolish weapons in sight, though he was sure that she had them, she always did, or she would use whatever was handy. The mess she had surrounding her was in a shape this time, where previously it had only been many small pieced and a frame it now seemed the construction of her vehicle was taking place. He wondered what made it special, for Bulma would not make something simple, it wasn't how she was.

Following the arm embedded in her machine he looked over the filth from her work and saw that she had changed since she left this morning. Gone was the skirt and blouse and in place she was wearing pants that hid the shape of her legs and a top that covered her breasts. She dared to wear these around so many boys, had she no fear? No. They hardly acknowledged him and each seemed intent on his project. "You are to arrange dinner. The Briefs have left."

"I guess the problems with the Sanderkin quadrant were more serious that they thought. Did they say when they would get back?" She cast him a short glance before reaching for another section of her engine, this time she moved beneath the construction to piece it in. "I'm sure they've left me a note Vegeta, why are you here?"

He wasn't going to tell her he had been bored and she wasn't on the property when he sought her out. "I'm hungry."

"Supposedly you're intelligent, I'm sure you can read the directions on the frozen food packages. You also know I can't cook. As you complain quite vocally each time I do brave the kitchen." She silenced when one of the boys came and leaned against the frame of her creation.

"Bulma, baby, beautiful, wonderful-."

"What do you want Rick?" He glared at the weakling, she was amused by the flattering words, who did this human think he was?

"Wellllll, I have heard from various reliable sources."

"Eavesdropping." The human grinned broadly.

"No parents and you have lots of space…"

"And you want me to throw a party. How about this, there's one of our store rooms that's empty. It has running water and electricity. You do all the planning and the party can be in there, should keep damage to a minimum and out of the house."

"Marry me Bulma." She laughed and the boy walked off, muttering things for the party no doubt.

"Are proposals always so informal on this planet?" She glanced to him, amusement fading from her eyes but still prominent.

"He was joking with me, considering we're barely old enough to get married as it is. Besides, I've never thought about being married, can you imagine me as a mother?" She laughed. "I was raised for the majority of my life by a pair of lesbian prostitutes, not exactly a normal healthy breeding ground for an emotionally stable kid." She was casual about her statement but he knew there was insecurity about what she was saying.

He didn't understand it. He knew that any child she bore would be protected with her life. Bulma would never give her child away. Not like his father had him, he may have returned to his kingdom but there were still many years he had spent on Frieze's ships.

He recalled the night she came back with the scent of blood. Most likely having avenged the one she called sister. He hadn't asked her of her actions beyond that day, he could tell well enough on his own. No doubt she had used deception in her act; she had been dressed too provocatively for there not to have been. Still, the image she had presented remained in his mind, as a Sayain the fact that she had spilled blood in vengeance of family, it was not a repellant. Her classmates might find her frightening, he did not. He never had and never would. He found her desirable, the scars spoke of battles, that she was a fighter, they were not the scars of one too weak to protect herself.

A few nights later he was scowling at the dome that had music blasting and many foolish weaklings inside of it. Bulma was in there, with other males. Logically he knew she had very little interest in others outside of the few she left to visit. Sadly she nearly always came home with the scent of males on her, there was only one female and he knew she had just given birth.

Winding his way through the crowd of people he skimmed the room for the shocking color of blue-violet hair that was his target. He found her drinking something that smelled similar to what his men enjoyed, only it was stronger. It seemed humans, some if not all, did have one strength over his race. They could drink alcohol in higher percentages than his kind could. The girl seemed to do so more than others. Though not when any of the adults were there to see her do it, he had the feeling she wasn't supposed to drink in the quantity that she did. He wondered what affects it did have on her, she claimed to be able to hold her drink, he often saw her with her projects while she drank, it didn't slow her wit or intelligence like it did his men.

Moving to her side he saw that she was speaking with the males he had seen in the tech room she had been working on her bike with. They were discussing other vehicles, something he had noticed that most girls her age did not care much past the look of a car. Bulma seemed more interested in what lay beneath the surface, and only now he was realizing that didn't apply to just vehicles.

"It is noisy in here." His comment drew her attention and she flicked her hair over her shoulder, it had been some time since she last wore it down, he resisted the urge to touch it.

"Well this is a party Vegeta, we don't have ears as sensitive as yours, ergo louder music. I'm sure there's been more noise in battle, kami knows I've been through it."

"Battle? Bulma you lived on the streets."

"Bullets in the night, rule is that the bed stays away from the window and try to sleep where stray gunfire will find you. Sometimes during gang wars we just slept in the hallway. That and you guys remember the Red Ribbon Army?" She received many nods.

"My friend did a lot of the damage but I had my fair share of destruction in it as well." Her smile was arrogant; she wasn't speaking of everything, that was for sure.

"What you do?"

"Viruses and hacking skills, I have a well rounded education you know." The boys laughed at her comment, he was staring at her mouth, the arrogant smirk was a mirror of his own.

Her smile fixed and her hand reached for the communication device at her side. Quickly she excused herself and vanished into the crowds of people. By the time he was out the door there was a roar of an engine dying in the distance. The water in the air made her scent weak. But he would find it.

Bulma cursed the entire breakneck drive way to her old stomping grounds. The three dingbats from earlier in the week had thought to go on a fieldtrip. An old friend had given her a call, the commissioners daughter in the worst part of town was a bad thing. To say the least. If they didn't get shot she may do it herself.

By the time she landed she had one gun out and was able to make a few of the boys back off from the terrified tro. "You three in my car now!" Two scurried to do her bidding, sadly princess was in the clutches of Rego, leader of one of the gangs and a major pain in the ass as far as Bulma had ever been concerned. He had wanted her when she was barely pubescent, he was slightly older than her and she found him disgusting even if others thought him attractive. Princess was in tears and was sporting a bruised temple. Looks like someone had finally shut the bitch up. She knew that she was outnumbered. She had respect from many that surrounded her but that didn't mean they liked her all that much. She would have to play her cars to perfection, or risk a literal gang rape.

I KNOW long wait, been busy, can't wait for summer where I'll only have 40 hours of work a week and be very tired from being on my feet all day long. Wish me luck finals are less than a month away.

BUM