VFC: MAJOR editing in this chappie. I think it's better now and I assume that it makes a little more sense now. Well…here are the ages in case you forgot…or…are just joining us!

Vegeta — 19

Bulma — 16

Yamcha — 16

Puar — 15

Goku — 14

Chi-Chi —14

"Talking" 'Thinking/Flashbacks/dreams…etc.' Saiya-go (A/N: Author's Notes)

One Girl, One Wish

Chapter Three: Pain...

"Pain… without love
Pain… I can't get enough
Pain… I like it rough
'Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all…"

– Three Days Grace: Pain –

Vegeta awoke for about the third time that night. Every time he awoke, he had an uneasy feeling. 'Why do I keep feeling like this…? I've never felt this way before……' He felt as if there were an intruder in the palace. He sighed as he got out of his bed and began putting his clothes on. He had to find out what or who it was. "I'm not getting any sleep anyway……" he grumbled to himself.

When he finished dressing, he quietly opened the door just enough to see out. He examined the hallway and found nothing, but he couldn't shake that uneasy feeling he had. He slipped out into the dark corridor and closed the door gently behind him. He swiftly dashed up the hallway making as little noise as possible. He slowed only when he came to the first corner. Vegeta pressed his back against the wall and peeked around the corner. What he saw was a man. This man was tall and slender. He had light blue skin and, long emerald hair, which was pulled back. Vegeta narrowed his eyes and glared at the man. He knew this intruder…and he knew him well. He was the man who had given him at least six of the many scars on his body. This man was one of Frieza's top henchmen. This man…was Zarbon.

'What is he doing here…?' Vegeta asked himself, 'Is Dodoria here as well…?' Vegeta searched the hall with his eyes. He couldn't see the spiked pink man, but that didn't mean anything. He'd just have to sneak around as though Zarbon and Dodoria were in that hall even if Dodoria wasn't.

Vegeta heard Zarbon sigh, "Now… Lord Frieza said there was a girl here… but where is she?" the blue alien said. Vegeta flinched, 'Girl? Is he talking about…Bulma…?'

"Honestly, I don't understand what Lord Frieza would want with a mere Earth girl…but orders are orders…" Zarbon said as he gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear.

Vegeta tried to put everything together. He didn't understand. What would that repulsive lizard want with Bulma…? Whatever it was, he couldn't allow Zarbon to get his hands on her. …Not that Vegeta cared. No, he'd be glad to get rid of that annoying woman…or that's what he continued to tell himself… Vegeta shook his head to clear his thoughts. He saw that Zarbon had begun to walk through the hallway so Vegeta decided that he had better get moving towards Bulma's chambers.

When Vegeta was only a few footsteps away from Bulma's room, he noticed that the door was wide open. Suddenly, Vegeta felt something he hadn't felt for a long time; panic. Was he too late? Did Zarbon get here before he did? Did he take Bulma…? "No…" Vegeta said to himself. "I can't think like that…until I am certain she was…-" he trailed off. Vegeta slowly took the remaining steps to the open door. When he peered inside, he found nothing. Bulma was gone. He clenched his fists tightly causing a few drops of crimson to fall to the floor. Then he heard a small noise. Vegeta quickly turned around to meet the source of the noise. It was Bulma. She was safe.

"What the hell do you think you're doing…?" Vegeta asked sternly yet quietly. Inside he was relieved, but he wouldn't allow himself to damage his pride, so he had to hide his relief.

Bulma frowned and placed her hands on her hips, "I was looking for you, you big jerk!"

Vegeta growled, "You could have gotten yourself killed! If that were to happen I would never hear the end of it from that stubborn old man!"

Bulma folded her arms and looked away from Vegeta, "Geez, I'm sorry!" she retorted sarcastically.

Vegeta opened his mouth to say something more, but the sound of footsteps stopped him. "Shit…" he said quietly. "Come on, and hurry…!" He said as he took hold of Bulma's wrist and jerked on it roughly. This caused her to yelp. "Shut up! We have to go now!" Vegeta said irately. Bulma nodded and the two sprinted down the dark corridor.

"Vegeta, what are we running from…?" Bulma asked as they continued to sprint down the hall.

"Zarbon," Vegeta replied quickly without looking back at her.

"Zarbon?" Bulma repeated the name.

Vegeta came to a stop causing Bulma to trip and fall flat on her face. "Owww!" she whimpered. Vegeta shushed her. "Don't you 'shoosh' me!" she spat.

"Shut the hell up!" Vegeta whispered harshly, "If you don't shut your big ass mouth, we'll both wind up dead!"

Bulma furrowed her eyebrows and was about to argue when she heard a voice coming from behind. "Ah, here you are." the voice said.

Bulma gasped. "Zarbon what the hell are you doing here?!" Vegeta barked as he absentmindedly stood in front of Bulma ready to take action if needed; ready to protect her…

"Prince Vegeta…" Zarbon began, "long time no see… Now if you'll kindly hand over the girl I'll be on my way and there will be no pain on your part." Zarbon demanded with a twisted smile on his face. Vegeta stood his ground and growled. "No? Have it your way then…"

Without warning, Zarbon charged at Vegeta. Vegeta shifted into battle stance, he knew he was no match for Zarbon but he had to try. Suddenly Zarbon disappeared causing Vegeta to flinch. He searched the room for Zarbon's location, "Damn it!" Vegeta felt a blow to his abdomen.

"Vegeta!" Bulma cried as Vegeta fell to the floor.

Vegeta coughed out a bit of blood causing Zarbon to chuckle. "Sh-shut up…you bastard…" Vegeta muttered as he shakily stood up. He wiped a trickle of blood from his mouth then swiftly flung himself towards Zarbon. Vegeta threw a swift kick Zarbon's way, but the blue alien caught the prince's leg. Vegeta gasped as Zarbon flung him into the wall behind him. Vegeta cried out in pain as his body collided with the wall then fell to the floor once again.

"This seems familiar…Don't you think so, Vegeta?" Zarbon said while laughing slightly.

"Vegeta!" Bulma screamed. She couldn't hide the fear in her voice no matter how desperately she tried.

Vegeta arose once more only to get beaten down again by Zarbon. "Vegeta, why must you fight me even though you are clearly too weak?" Zarbon asked with a smirk. Vegeta ignored him as he threw his fist towards Zarbon's face. Zarbon took hold of Vegeta's fist just before it made contact, "Tsk, tsk, Vegeta… Haven't you learned by now what happens to those who attempt to bruise my beautiful face?" Vegeta's eyes widened slightly as he began to regret his actions. Zarbon smirked as he brought his other fist down hard on Vegeta's captured left arm. A sickening crack was heard as Vegeta let out a blood-curdling cry of pain. Zarbon released Vegeta's arm, which fell limply to his side. The prince clenched his teeth as he grasped his now broken limb with his other hand and fell to his knees. He felt light headed. The corridor seemed to be spinning. Vegeta saw Bulma running towards him while screaming; he could also hear Zarbon's sickening laughter. Then... Nothing. Vegeta saw and heard nothing as he fell into an ominous void of familiar darkness.

When Vegeta awoke, he felt a throbbing pain in his left arm. His whole body ached as well. Vegeta let out a long agonized moan; this pain… was too much. What was it? How had he come to feel this pain? He couldn't remember a thing. All he could remember was… Bulma. He was protecting her from someone. Oh yes, Zarbon, he was protecting her from Zarbon. Bulma… What had happened to her? More importantly, why had he been protecting her? He didn't feel any sort of fondness towards her…at least he didn't think he did… How could he? She was just a bratty, teenaged, human girl when he was a Saiyan warrior.

Vegeta attempted to ease his eyes open. It was bright. Why was it so bright…? 'Where am I…?' Hesaw a blurry, distorted figure. He couldn't tell who or what it was because he had to shut his eyes again. He heard words…Were they coming from the distorted figure?

"V…eta…?"

The ache in his head made the words unclear… What was this person – or thing – saying…?

"Ve…g…ta…?"

The voice sounded so far away… The words were somewhat garbled and incoherent… but they were becoming clearer to him.

"Vegeta?"

His name. The voice was saying his name. Whom did the voice belong to? The voice was so familiar, but when Vegeta tried to recall whom the voice belonged to, the excruciating pain in his head stopped him. Why did his head ache so badly? Vegeta let out another long, painful moan.

"Vegeta, are you ok? Please tell me you're ok…"

The voice, he knew whose voice it was now. Vegeta tried to speak but he could not form any words, he could just groan in pain.

"Vegeta, are you ok? Can you move your head? If you can, nod once if you're ok."

The voice sounded worried, but it was still somewhat soft and soothing. Vegeta attempted to move his head. He could do it. He nodded once, slowly. He heard the voice sigh; he gathered that it was relieved.

"Thank Kami… I thought you were dead!" the voice said softly.

'So did I…' Vegeta said to himself.

"Is he gonna be ok now?"

Another voice, it also sounded vaguely familiar. It sounded like a young boy.

"I hope so…I really hope so…"

Bulma. That's whom the voice belonged to. So she was ok. How had she escaped Zarbon? Vegeta couldn't think at the time. The pain of his arm and head was too much for him to think. He moaned once again.

"Vegeta, it's ok… You should get some rest."

"…Bul…ma…?" the prince finally managed to say.

"Yes Vegeta, it's me, Bulma. I'll be right here… You should get some sleep."

Vegeta nodded weakly then immediately drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Bulma sighed forlornly. She was furious with herself for not being able to aid Vegeta when he needed it. She didn't know what she could have done to help, and that is mostly the reason why she felt so horrible.

Bulma felt as though she could break down and cry, just cry like there was no tomorrow. But she couldn't, at least not in front of her friends; Puar who was trying her best to comfort her, Goku who didn't fully understand what was going on, and Yamcha who was just leaning against the wall, his arms folded, and a sour expression of apathy on his face. Therefore, she did her best to box up her emotions in her head.

"Bulma… I don't understand why he's unconscious… I mean, it's just a broken arm…" Yamcha said rather coldly.

This, however, was the wrong thing to say. Bulma rose from her chair beside Vegeta's bed and glared hard at the scar-faced teenager. "Just a broken arm…?" Bulma repeated, "It's not just a broken arm, Yamcha…" Bulma said, her voice practically dripping with venom. "You weren't there, so you don't know what happened… Vegeta got the tar beaten out of him even after he was knocked unconscious! That monster didn't know when to stop! It's a good thing this guy showed up, or Vegeta would be dead right now!"

"My name's Bardock, by the way…" explained the father of Goku.

Yamcha tightly clenched his fists, "I just don't understand why you care about him so much! He hasn't been nice to you, he's called you names, and he doesn't seem to care the least bit about you!" Yamcha retorted, raising his voice louder and louder with every word.

Bulma lowered her head. She felt the tears begin to build up, "Maybe you're right, Yamcha…" she whispered softly. "Maybe he doesn't care…and I'm just wasting my time…caring for him…" Bulma sniffed and wiped a tear from her eye. "But I don't care… He's my soul mate…remember…? The dragon wouldn't make a mistake, I'm sure of it… and…it might take some time but…I think Vegeta will come around… A person can't always be rude and uncaring……right? I think that underneath all of that arrogant hotheadedness there's a good man…… I just have to find out how to bring him out… " Bulma said as she smiled weakly.

Yamcha sighed heavily, "Fine… Whatever… I just don't want you to get hurt, Bulma…" he said as he turned to leave

"Yamcha! Where are you going?" Puar asked.

"Away…" was Yamcha's soft reply.

"Wait, I'll come with you!" Puar called after him.

"No Puar… I need to be alone for a while…" Yamcha said softly.

"But Yamcha…" Puar squeaked, but it was too late; Yamcha had already left.

Bulma turned her head to look at Vegeta, 'You do care…I know you do…and I'm going to prove it to Yamcha… He just said those things because he's jealous…at least…I hope that's the reason………Well, we'll find out once you wake up, won't we?'

— Three days later —

Vegeta felt as though he hadn't moved for months. He was feeling drowsy and he felt like sand had been poured into his eyes. 'Guh, how irritating…' He opened his eyes slowly. First his left, then his right. Once they were opened, he examined his surroundings. It was the middle of the night, he guessed, as it was too dark to really see anything. He grumbled to himself as he sat up, wincing slightly, 'Damn arm…' he said to himself. Hold up… Who had wrapped up his broken arm and bandaged up his newly acquired gashes? He pondered the question for a moment then shook it off; he didn't really care anyway…

Once again, he looked around. Still, he really couldn't see anything, nothing but the teal haired girl sitting on a chair next to his bed hunched over and sleeping soundly with her arms folded under her head and resting on his lap…… Vegeta was stunned, 'Why is she here…?'

"Hey," Vegeta said as he placed his right hand on Bulma's shoulder and attempted to shake her awake. When nothing happened, Vegeta growled, "Woman, wake the hell up!" he said slightly louder as he proceeded to shake her. Still, she didn't stir. Vegeta eventually sighed and gave up. He laid his head back down on the pillow and gazed up at the ceiling. What is that woman doing here? Had she been the one who tended to his wounds…? Feeling slightly surprised, he continued to stare blankly up at the ceiling. Does this woman actually…care for him…? Vegeta shook his head. He decided not to think more on this until the morning came; when his thoughts didn't seem to be so scattered and illogical. Slowly, he allowed his eyelids to drift over his eyes and eventually fell back into a deep sleep.

— In The Morning —

When Bulma finally awoke, she yawned and stretched her arms. She looked towards Vegeta who was still slumbering soundly. Bulma never would have thought that Vegeta, the cold, heartless Saiyan warrior, could look so peaceful. His usual scowl was not present making it seem like he was a kind, gentle, and caring man… Bulma giggled to herself. The words kind, gentle, caring, and Vegeta did not belong in the same sentence, unless the sentence was something like, "Vegeta slaughtered the kind, gentle man without caring."

"Excuse me, Miss Bulma…" said a deep voice.

Bulma stopped her giggling and turned her head towards the door. There was a man standing there. He looked almost exactly like Vegeta, but this man had a mustache and a goatee and was a whole lot taller than Vegeta. Bulma quickly identified this man as King Vegita, the father of Vegeta, and king of this planet.

"Miss Bulma, I would like to speak with you for a moment…" he said as he walked further into the room.

"Ok," Bulma said, "What about?"

"About…my son… Is he… alright…?" King Vegita said the last few words quietly.

Bulma nodded her head and smiled, "He'll be back on his feet insulting people and finding new ways to drive me insane in no time!"

King Vegita chuckled, "That is good hear," he said as he turned to leave.

"Um… King Vegita, sir…? Can I ask you something?" Bulma asked while looking down at her feet.

"Hmm? What is it?" the king asked as he turned around to face Bulma once more.

Bulma raised her head to look King Vegita in the eyes, "Would it be possible to let me go to back my home planet for a while?" she asked quietly.

"I don't see why not," the king replied smiling slightly, "You would most likely want to tell your family of the arrangements between my son and yourself."

"Yeah, that and my parents have always told me that they would like to meet the man before I get married…" Bulma said, "I've never understood why, though… because I've always thought that I would get married to someone who they didn't like…" she continued while giggling.

"I see," King Vegita said as he slightly chuckled as well. "Just tell me where your planet is located and I shall prepare a ship for you."

"See, that's the problem…" Bulma said as she twiddled her thumbs, "I…don't really know…how to get there…because…I got here by a wish…"

"I see…" the king said as he stroked his goatee with his hand. "What did you say the name of your planet was?"

"Earth, but why would that matter…?" Bulma asked. She thought it was sort of strange how well she and King Vegita got along… now if only she could get to that thickheaded son of his….

"Earth……Earth… Why does that sound familiar…?" King Vegita said to himself as he continued to stroke his goatee.

"Excuse me, Sire…" said a voice from the hall, "Did you just say 'Earth'?"

"Yes," the king replied as he turned to face the man in the hall, "Do you know of it?"

"Yes sire! A few days ago, we found a man and a young girl who had crash-landed on our planet. The man died, but the girl survived. She's in the doctor's care as of now," the man explained, "The girl said her name was 'Chi-Chi' and the man she was with was her uncle."

Bulma's face lit up. Chi-Chi? Was the girl the man mentioned the same Chi-Chi as the Chi-Chi she knew?

The king frowned, "What does this have to do with-"

"Sire," the man interrupted, "the man and the girl are from the planet Earth. The ship wasn't too badly damaged…I think we could get the coordinates for Earth from the ship's computer."

"Then why are you still standing here? Go to that ship and get the coordinates!" the king ordered.

"Yes sire!" the man said as he saluted then took off running at full speed down the hall.

"Well then, Miss Bulma," King Vegita said as he turned to face Bulma, "it seems as though you now have a way to get back to your home planet." he said with a smile on his face.

Bulma smiled back at him, "Thank you so much," she paused then a small smirk formed on her face, "'Dad'!"

The king laughed, "You are very welcome." he said. "So it's settled then, you and Vegeta shall leave for Earth as soon as he is well."

"Right!" Bulma said cheerfully, "Oh! Do you think you could send that girl the man found in here? I want to talk to her…I think… she's someone I know…"

King Vegita nodded, "I shall have the doctor send her in here right away. Now I must go attend to other matters, but I will come back to check on you as soon as I can." this being said, the king turned and left the room.

Bulma turned her head towards Vegeta. He was still asleep. Bulma sighed, 'Vegeta, will you just wake up already?! I want to go home…' she said to herself. Then, as if he had read Bulma's mind, Vegeta began gradually opening his eyes. Bulma felt her heart begin to race. "Vegeta? Are you awake?"

Vegeta glared at her, "No…I open my eyes every now and then while I'm sleeping… Of course I'm awake, you idiot!" he barked.

Bulma rolled her eyes, "Well, excuuuuuse me!" she replied.

Vegeta sighed heavily as he sat up. "Vegeta I don't think you should-"

"I'm fine!" Vegeta interrupted.

"Geez… I'm sorry for caring!" Bulma said as she folded her arms.

"I'm sorry for caring"? These words racked Vegeta's mind. So… she does care about him… Vegeta was about to say something, but a girl who seemed to be the same age as Goku interrupted. "Bulma?" she said.

"Chi-Chi!" Bulma exclaimed happily, "So it is you! But…how did you end up here? Some guy said you crash landed here, but why were you in a ship in the first place?"

Chi-Chi shrugged, "I don't know… My dad just told my uncle to take me and get away to somewhere far away. He said that a freezer was going to attack Earth… which I don't understand…How could a freezer attack Earth?"

Vegeta didn't think much of what this girl had said until…a thought hit him, "Do you mean…Frieza…?"

"Yeah…something like that…" Chi-Chi replied, "I'm gonna go look around now…for my Goku!" she said enthusiastically as she walked out of the room.

Vegeta felt as though his heart had stopped. Bulma raised an eyebrow, "Frieza? Who the heck is Frieza?"

"He calls himself 'Lord Frieza'…" Vegeta explained, rolling his eyes.

"But…who is he?" Bulma asked.

Vegeta sighed, "Frieza is the one who is responsible for the destruction of hundreds of planets… however… he isn't the one destroying them…"

"Then who's destroying them….?" Bulma asked. She was having one of those 'I don't want to know but yet I do' moments.

Vegeta tightly clenched the fist of his unbroken arm, "He makes us, the Saiyans, do his dirty work while he keeps his own hands clean. Therefore, while we are out there on the battlefield covered in blood doing his work, he sits there on his disgusting lizard ass and laughs! He says he'll protect our race if we obey him, but it's just a lie he made up to make the Saiyans believe that he meant them…no harm…He has taken the lives of countless Saiyans for his own amusement…He has even made my mo—" Vegeta bit his lip to prevent himself from saying anything else. He had already told Bulma too much…

"Your what?" Bulma asked.

"Nothing…It's none of your business……" Vegeta replied as he shook his head and took back his cold demeanor.

"Fine……" Bulma said, sounding disappointed. Then, it hit her. Her eyes grew wide and she began to panic. "Vegeta! If this Frieza guy is really on Earth then…my parents are in serious trouble! We have to go there and get them! I don't want my parents to die!!"

Vegeta frowned, "How the hell are we supposed to do that?! Frieza's men could be all over the planet… Once we arrive we'll be dead!" he said as he stood up, flinching from slight soreness.

"Then we'll just have to sneak around or try to outsmart them…" Bulma replied as she folded her arms.

Vegeta glanced down at his broken arm, "If I had both of my arms I could just slay any one of Frieza's men……" he said proudly. 'Any of them excluding Zarbon, Dodoria, and Frieza himself…' he thought melancholically.

"But you don't, so we'll have to outsmart them…" Bulma said with a prideful countenance.

"Are you sure that's a good plan…?" Vegeta asked.

"Of course! I mean… I thought it up… and I am the smartest girl in the universe!" Bulma said quite haughtily.

Vegeta could not contain the exasperated sigh that escaped his lips, "…Right…" he said feeling slightly aggravated.

VFC: HOLY MOTHER OF VEGETA!! I made this chappie better (I think…)! Woot! Go me! n.n