Chapter 5: Alone

"Vegeta?"

"What woman?"

"I'm going to the store, we're out of ice cream. I'll be back later."

"Whatever."

Bulma turned away from the direction of the gravity room and walked into the house, picking up her car keys and heading to the door again, shutting it softly behind her. Walking to her car, she softly patted the capsule in her pocket, trying to remain calm as to not tip Vegeta off that she was planning something. This was her moment, she'd decided this was the right time. She'd come up with the plan to leave sometime last week but couldn't seem to find the right moment. After the cold brush off Vegeta gave her after making love a few days ago though, she knew anytime really was a good time, he wouldn't care anyhow.

She had thought about just staying at a hotel, but for 9 or more months? She really didn't want important, high-class people at a nice hotel seeing her pregnant, they could be potential clients. She thought of maybe renting an apartment, but again, the idea didn't appeal to her. Thats when she remembered her parents' old vacation home. It was on a little island not too far from the city. Sure it was far from CC, but it was pretty close to the hospital, just in case anything went wrong with the baby. And she could fax her dad and tell him she was taking a little vacation and didn't want anyone to know and bother her, and she knew he wouldn't ask any questions. It was just too perfect.

Then came the idea of Vegeta coming after her, and he could very easily sense her ki, so she knew he'd find her in a heartbeat. How about robotic guards? no, he'd just destroy them like the decoys in the gravity machine... come on Bulma, you're smart, you can come up with something...

That's when she remembered her latest completed experiment... an energy senser. All she had to do was reverse a few wires and trinkits to make it hide energy instead of looking for it and it'll solve her problems. She had originally thought of creating it when she was dating Yamacha. Sure it was kinda stalker-ish, but he was always gone and she didn't have anyway to find him. It's a good thing she created it though, it helped her find him alright, parked hours from the city in a dark secluded area overlooking town... and having sex with someone she didn't know, nor cared to find out about. She dumped him immediately the next day.

She easily found the device, played with it a little bit, and got it to hide her ki. She had changed its shape too. Before, it looked like a scouter but now, it looked like a lovely gold, chain braclet, so she can wear it at all times and keep her ki hidden. But it wasn't until she had driven 20 miles in the direction of town after telling Vegeta she was going to the store that she put it on and activated the small invention.

Sigh... this is it. You're really leaving him... Hmpf! I don't need him anyways. i've got my baby and we're gonna be happy. I'll deal with him later. With that last thought in her mind, she made a left at the next stop sign, driving away from the direction of the store and far away from Capsule Corp.

******

It was beginning to get late when Vegeta walked out of the GR and walked towards CC. He had a small white towel wrapped around his shoulders and he used it to quickly wipe away the sweat from his face. Upon walking into the house, he immediately looked around expectantly for his dinner. He didn't see the woman anywhere to decided she probably left it in the fridge or something for him.

Vegeta walked over to the fridge and opened it, looking for anything that looked like a cooked meal for him. He didn't see anything and frowned. He was going to scream for Bulma until he spotted something that would make a good enough meal, deciding he didn't have the patience to deal with her right now anyways.

After eatting, Vegeta headed upstairs to take a shower and go to bed.

Morning came and Vegeta woke up at around 8 in the morning. Later than usual but he'd done alot of traning last night so he dismissed oversleeping. He padded downstairs and found himself immediately looking for Bulma. He hadn't seen nor heard from her since she said she was going to the store yesterday, and he hated to admit it, but he wanted to see her.

He looked in the kitchen, she wasn't there. The living room, not there. Her lab, not there either. So he walked upstairs to her bedroom, not bothering to knock, and walked in, looking around for her. Still no Bulma.

where in the world is that woman? he asked himself, trying to think of somewhere she would be. What about the blasted screeching mate of Kakarotts? Maybe Bulma's with her?

Vegeta got dressed and flew to Kakarott's house. Goku was sparing with Gohan in the front yard and he looked up at Vegeta's flying form after sensing his ki.

"Hey Vegeta! This is a surprise!" Goku greeted good-naturedly to Vegeta after he had landed a few feet from him. "You come to spar?"

"Not right now Kakarott. Any other day I'd be glad to beat you down, but I'm hear looking for the woman."

"Bulma?"

"No you moron the other blue-haired earthling that I know and happen to live with." Vegeta muttered impatiently

"you live with another-" goku started, a confused look on his face.

"NO! you idiot. Now where's Bulma?"

"I don't know Vegeta, I haven't seen her the last couple of days. Why?" Goku asked, concerned for his friend's safety and whereabouts.

"Don't worry about it."

Then vegeta was off flying. Not at Kakarott's house... hmm... how odd. But then where could she be?

He decided he was going to do a quick sweep of the town by air and hopefully he would sense her. After hours of searching with no luck, Vegeta returned to CC.

He walked into the living room and sat down on the couch, thinking over possible ideas as to where Bulma was. How she could've disappeared. She would've mentioned something to him if she were going away for awhile. Sure, he would'nt care, but she would've said something anyways. It was after hard thinking, he'd remembered something important. Something the woman had said.

"That's it Vegeta! I've had enough of you and the way you treat me! I'm leaving! You hate me so much, well then I guess I'll be doing you a favor, but you'll never see me again!"

Vegeta's eyes widened almost comically, but this was no funny matter. Panic shot through him and consumed him within seconds. She was gone. She actually did it. She left him. She didn't fear what he would do even after he told her she was his and could never leave him. And now he was alone, without her. Forever.

Now Vegeta felt another emotion.

Anger.

A pure, deep, all-burning and consuming RAGE! How dare she leave him! The Prince of all Saiyans! How dare she make him fear being without her! He'd make her pay for playing with his heart.