Title: The Strength of One's Own Heart

Author: Kirusuchinu Ransu

Disclaimer: Me only own Kiru

A/N: I was sort of disappointed I only got the bare minimum of reviews for the chapters, but I still do none the less love those who did review for the chapter. Ok so now it's time for the third chapter and I am very sorry that the first chapter was underlined, I didn't know, something about the link to my website that I tried to put in there but I want you to know that you can e-mail me and ask for the link to the site so here is the e-mail you can reach me afraid to put in the link because it might not work and it might underline the entire chapter again so cope with me and also if this story gets kicked off of then you will find the story on my website so it is good if you get the link now.

Chapter 3

Once again it was a very dark and stormy day, Bulma was going to go out with her friends but the truth was she couldn't get Vegeta out of her head, ever since the first day of school when she had seen him in her weight lifting class, she was sure he hadn't noticed her looking at him but as soon as she walked in she was distracted by his flame like hair, she managed to turn away just barely before he saw her ever since then she wasn't able to train, I mean sure she did little things here and there but she couldn't focus and she didn't think tonight with her friends would be any different. It was 4:31 in the morning, Bulma was currently meditating, that usually worked to clear her mind, suddenly the phone rang, she knew who it was instantly, who else would call at 4:31 in the morning.

"Mushi mushi."

"Hi Bulma, you want to get together and train?" It was Kiru, she was always training when she wasn't at school or doing something with her friends, and Bulma didn't even think she got that much sleep at all

"Sure, where do you want to meet?"

"How about your gym, it's much better than anything I got."

"Not true, you have the gravity chamber you stole from Freza's ship remember?"

"Yeah but it only goes to about 500 times earth's gravity."

"You really need someone to upgrade it, why don't you bring it over here and I'll look at the schematics and I'll see what I can do."

"Ok, I'll be right over."

"Se ya."

"Ja ne."

It didn't take long for Kiru to get here, even with the gravity machine, as soon as she landed Bulma was outside to greet her, her gym was another building all of it's own, she loved her gym.

"Hey, so what do you want to do first, train, eat, or tinker with the gravity chamber."

"I want to train first then we can eat and do more training until about 8:30."

"Ok, so do you want to do combat, weight room, or swimming first."

"Lets stretch in the weight room first then swimming and then ki combat."

"Ok."

They quickly went inside her gym and in to the weight room, Bulma had a gravity machine hooked into the weight room, she brought it up to 300 just to start off and they did their stretches, then after about an hour of that they went into the locker room where there where many swim suits, Kiru had learned long ago to have half of her work out wardrobe here, Bulma was always training and as long as she was training Kiru would come over for more training most of the time. Kiru had on a simple black swim suit that crocheted down her chest; she also had on a pear of black spandex shorts. Bulma had on a black swim suit with like a blue and purple crisscrossing shadow pattern that was really fairly simple, it wasn't made to make anyone look sexy but Bulma pulled it off nicely with her tight abs and her firm muscular body, she had bought it at one of 18's swim meets, it was made for someone who was supposed to swim fast, someone in these competitions. Both Bulma and Kiru had their hair tied back tight so it wouldn't get in their faces; they both walked out to the pool and dove in swimming laps of all four strokes.

"So Bulma what's wrong?" Kiru asked once they got in to the hot tub.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I was wearing much more drag than you and I still managed to lap you, you have something on your mind now what is it?"

"Nothing, really I was just going slower because my hair is really thick."

"It's not any thicker than mine; as a matter of fact my hair has always been much thicker than yours."

"But still, nothing is bothering me, I'm fine." There was a long silence as Bulma looked down into the bubbly water, she let her thoughts be captured once again by the hansom boy who always seemed to penetrate her mental wall when suddenly in a flash she found herself pinned to the wall of the tub with Kiru's forceful hands gripping her arms, her face was now inches from Bulma's.

"Bulma you of all people should know how weak I am being right now, it's not vary common for me to lower my guard low enough to ask even a friend like you what's wrong, so when I do ask you what's wrong you of all people should know I wouldn't ask unless I knew for sure that there IS something wrong and it would do you a lot of good to tell me what it is." Kiru still didn't let her go there was another deadly silence between them.

"Ok, I met another sayan." Kiru slowly eased her grip off of Bulma's arms and sat down across from her.

"That's better now tell me more, what's his name."

"His name is Vegeta I met him at the club 18, Chi and I went to last Saturday, we danced, kissed, then danced some more, he wanted me to come home with him to his apartment but I couldn't, I was driving Chi and 18 home, but I did leave him my number, but that's not all, he is also in my 3rd and 6th period classes."

"But you have 6th period with me. Tell me what he looks like, I may have remembered him."

"He has black hair that sticks up like a flame."

"Oh yeah I remember that guy, I guess the rumors where true than."

"What rumors?"

"There where some rumors flying around Freza's ship before I left, Vegeta had a twin brother named Victor, he was forced to pose as Vegeta because Vegeta was the older of the twins therefore if they where both to be traded as slaves Vegeta would pull in more money because he was the one who was to claim the throne, Vegeta had gotten away from the destruction of Vegeta-sei, but Victor was captured and brought on to Freza's purging crew."

"Oh, did you know him?"

"Yes, there where maybe only a few sayans on Freza's ship but we had to stick together, and I bet even to this day Victor still pretends to be Vegeta, that's why I need to kill Freza or know that either you or even Vegeta will kill him, for Victor's sake, because he has gone through nothing short than what I have been through."

"That's not true, you watch your sister get killed as she was raped, and there is no way he could have had to deal with that."

"Don't be too quick to assume what he has been through, you see Freza was kind of gender confused, but he never laid a hand on anything other than a sayan, he was another one of Freza's sex toys."

"Yeah but you had to watch your sister be killed."

"Yes but I know my sister is dead, at least I have that, he doesn't even know if his brother is even alive." There was a long silence as Kiru was staring into the bubbly water, suddenly to lighten the mood she perked her head up to look at Bulma.

"How about we go get something to eat, its 7 o'clock now so I bet McDonalds is open."

"Sure, let's go get dressed." With that they both hopped out of the hot tub and flared their ki around them to dry themselves off and went to get ready for the day ahead of them.

It was now quarter till 6 as Vegeta combed his wild main of hair, Kakarotto had invited him to dinner at some Chinese buffet, he knew instantly that the manager would regret ever having an 'all you can eat' buffet, in the reflection in the mirror he saw a ruggedly hansom man with a black wife beater shirt on, with a silk shirt that he left unbuttoned, it had blue dragon silhouettes on it, he also had on a pear of black jeans with his tall black boots underneath the pant leg, suddenly he noticed a small figure standing in the door way.

"Where awe you goin Vegeta." Said a little boy no older than 2, it was Vegeta's little brother, in a desperate attempt to save his family, the king of Vegeta-sei sent his wife in one pod Vegeta in another but he could remember Freza's guards ambushing the docking bay just before his brother could get in the pod, when him and his mother landed on earth she instantly went into labor, Vegeta being 16 knew very little about delivering a baby but none the less he did, his mother died while giving birth but the baby survived, his mother named him Ookami but Vegeta just called him Ami, Ami was in a long white shirt that looked like it used to be his father's shirt, he was also holding a stuffed tiger, his name was Tora, Ami got it at the orphanage they where at until Vegeta got a job and turned 18, he worked at a hardware store in the lighting department making just enough to support him and his brother.

"WE are going to dinner with Kakarotto, so let's go get you ready." Vegeta looked into Ami's eyes and they lit up like obsidian diamonds, he really was the spiting image of Vegeta and their father, he ran to Vegeta's side and pulled on his hand as hard as he could, pulling him to his room, Vegeta walked slightly bent over as Ami still had his hand in his tight grip. Kiba was also fallowing them into Ami's room, finally Vegeta lifted his brother on his shoulders and they bent down to enter the room, Vegeta picked out a pear of black coveralls with a fuzzy monkey on it, the shirt was baby blue with little clouds on it, his shoes where Velcro, they where white with black Velcro straps, Vegeta brushed his hair and helped him reach the sink to brush his teeth, finally they where both ready, as they where walking out Kiba barked very loudly as if to say 'don't forget me'

"No Kiba, you can't come." Came Ami's response, Kiba sat and begged

"Don't worry Kiba, we will bring you leftovers." As if he where happy with the response Vegeta gave him, Kiba walked over to a big pillow that was his bed and laid down and just looked at the both of them, with that Vegeta shut and locked the door and headed for the car.

Bulma was now getting ready for dinner with her friends and she thought about who was coming for a moment, it was Chi, 18, Kiru and her, Bulma looked at her reflection to see she was wearing a navy blue silk Asian style shirt with a white floral pattern on it, she was also wearing a pear of black pants, she also had her hair down tonight, and of course she had the pants specially tailored to accommodate her tail, it hung loosely around her waist, suddenly she herd a knock on her door.

"Come in, it's open." The door opened to reveal Kiru, fallowed by 18 and then Chi, Bulma first noticed what Kiru was wearing, it was a lavender tank top with a pear of dark blue jeans.

"Good news, Kakarotto is coming with us and he's bringing a few extras."

"Really who is Goku bringing?" Chi piped in, Chi was wearing a red shirt that had long bell sleeves that flared at her elbow, the skirt she was wearing was black and almost skin tight, it came about three inches above her knees, her hair was up in a bun but she let loose some of it to frame her oval face.

"Don't know, he said it was a surprise."

"Well than let's go." She looked at 18 and saw that she was wearing a green dress with spaghetti straps that crisscrossed across her back, the skirt came just above her knees, and once again 18 let her hair fall to her shoulders, she hardly wore her hair up if ever

"Just what I was thinking 18." They all stepped out and Bulma locked the door, she went to her car this time, the car was black with red dragon silhouettes on the sides and on the covers of her head lights, it was a 1991 Geo Storm with 2 doors, a very old classic, she loved fixing up old classic cars, Bulma hopped in and started her car and once she pulled out everyone else fallowed.

When Vegeta got to the place he un-buckled his brother's car seat and stood with him in his arms, he could see Kakarotto standing out front, Kakarotto saw them and waved at Ami, Ami waved back to him, once Vegeta got to where Kakarotto was standing and then noticed the surprised look on his face.

"What?"

"Nothing, I just didn't know you would be bringing your little brother."

"Why would I leave him at home, we are having dinner, I hardly see him with work and school and then to top it all off the babysitter got sick, now are we going to go in and eat or what?"

"We are waiting for more people."

"Whos comin Vegeta?"

"Some friends from school."

"Reawy, wow wen do dey get here?"

"Really soon Ami, oh here they are now." Vegeta looked to see a black car with red dragons on it park across the street, followed by a black car, a red car and then another black car, the red one was the one that caught his attention first but then he averted his eyes to the one with the red dragons on it, he could tell Ami was looking at that one too, he loved dragons, Vegeta saw the blue hair of the woman that stepped out of the car, it was Bulma, he looked at Kakarotto to find his daze was pointed at the woman who got out of the red car, he looked back at the woman with the blue hair as she capsulated her car and she started to walk towards him once they where on the sidewalk all four girls stopped in frond of the three boys.

"Ok Kiru, Chi-chi, 18, Bulma this is Vegeta and his little brother Ookami but we just call him Ami."

"Vegeta, I hav a secquet."

"What is your secret Ami?" Ami leaned closer to whisper into Vegeta's ear

"Dat girl is vewy pwetty." He pulled away and pointed at Bulma

"You think she's pretty?"

"Yah, Weally pwetty."

"Me too, why don't you tell her that?"

"Wats her name Vegeta?"

"Her name is Bulma, you got it?" Ami nodded in recognition

"Buwma?"

"Yes Ami?"

"Yow vewy pwetty." Everybody started laughing and thought it was so cute

"Why thank you Ami you are very hansom too."

"Vegeta, is it aw wite if Buwma howds me?"

"Sure thing Ami, but you have to ask her if it's alright with her to carry you, you do weigh a ton, what is it now, 20 pounds? She might not be able to handle carrying you like I can."

"Buwma, can you cawy me pwease?"

"I would love to carry you Ami." With that Ami started squirming in Vegeta's arms to put him down, Vegeta put him down and went to Bulma, this entire time everybody watched in amazement as the child instantly bonded with Bulma, even Kakarotto was amazed, Ami let Bulma carry him after just 5 minutes of knowing her an he's known Kakarotto his entire life of two years and he has never let Kakarotto hold him.

"We should go inside, I'm hungry."

"Ok, c'mon Ami, are you hungry?"

"Yah!" They all walked in and waited for someone to seat them, when Ami started pulling gently on Bulma's hair to get her attention.

"Yes Ami?" Ami leaned closer to her face

"I hav a sequet."

"What's your secret Ami?" Bulma pulled her hair behind her ear and allowed him to press his cupped hand to her ear so know one would know what he was saying.

"Vegeta thinks your pwetty too."

"How do you know that?"

"He toweld me he did." Just then a hostess walked up to the group.

"How many of you for tonight?" Kakarotto leaned against the table to answer her question.

"Six adults and one child." The hostess looked at her chart and marked it with a pensil

"And are you here for the all you can eat buffet?"

"Yes mam."

"Ok, right this way." She lead them to a table near the back, she got a high seat for little Ami, who was sitting in between Bulma to his left and then Vegeta to his right, next to Vegeta was Kiru and then Chi and next to her was Kakarotto and then 18 sat in between him and Bulma, they all took terns getting up to get their food but of course the girls went first because if the guys went first they would clean the buffet quick but of course Chi and 18 went first and then Bulma and Kiru, they did a good job restraining themselves from clearing a good part of the buffet but they still took a lot of food, then Vegeta took Ami and all the boys went to get their food, despite everything Bulma thought Kakarotto managed to restrain himself to only one plate but of course he would go back for seconds.

"So who wants to go catch a movie after this?" asked Chi as soon as everyone else got back to the table.

"ME! I want to see a mowvie, can we Vegeta?"

"You sure you can stay up that late?"

"Yes!"

"Than I don't see any problem with that."

"YAY, I wana see Gawfiewd, Can we Vegeta? And Buwma you hav to com to." At this point everyone was laughing in hysterics over the overly excited child, they quickly finished eating and when they got outside it was poring down rain, Ami hugged Bulma tightly in hopes she would protect him from the rain, she watched Vegeta as he pointed to a car across the street in the parking lot, she nodded and they both flared their ki around them, so did Kiru, Chi and 18 looked with jealous eyes, Kakarotto instantly flared his ki and grabbed Chi and Kiru grabbed a hold of 18 so they wouldn't have to walk in the rain, Vegeta and Bulma walked towards his car, Vegeta found his keys and opened the passenger side of the car first so Bulma could put Ami in the back with his car seat, Ami slowly let go even though he didn't want to.

"Why can't you wide with us?"

"Don't worry Ami, I'll be right behind you in my car, you'll see me really soon, ok?"

"Owkay." He let go of Bulma and she got out of the car, she waved goodbye to the two of them as she reached into her purse and got out her capsule that contained her car and with a puff of smoke the car emerged, she pulled out her keys and lowered her ki as she got into the car, truth be told she needed some time to think, and that just wasn't possible with Vegeta around, she quickly got to the theatre and parked her car and emerged from her car and flared her ki around her once again then she saw Vegeta get out of his car with the same kind of aura as her, it was blue, she went and opened the passenger side door to get Ami out of his car seat, he latched on to her like this was the last time he was going to see her. They all walked in to the theatre and Vegeta paid for all three of them, they got a few snacks and went into the theatre and took their seats as they waited for the movie to start, since Ami was so short he sat on Bulma's lap and Vegeta sat next to them.

later

The movie now was almost done and Ami was now on Vegeta's lap with his head resting on Bulma's lap, suddenly Bulma felt Vegeta's hand on hers, she looked at him strait in the eyes and he leaned towards her ear.

"We need to talk, can I come to your house after I put Ami to bed."

"Sure, you know where I live?"

"No, where do you live?"

"At Capsule Corp. you know where that is?"

"Yeah."

They sat quietly, holding each other's hands for the rest of the movie until it was over, and Vegeta gently lifted Ami into his arms, careful not to wake the boy, Bulma walked out to her car as Vegeta did the same, she glanced once more at the car from inside her own as it drove away, she pulled out of her own parking spot and drove to her house to await her prince.

Well that was chappy 3, next installment of "The Strength of One's Own Heart" Vegeta comes to Bulma's house and they chat in Bulma's gym, about what you say? You will just have to wait for that.

With much love:

Kirusuchinu Ransu