A/N: I know it's been a while, but I'm out in Saskatoon for Christmas and hadn't found the time between the few weeks before I left and now to get another chapter out. I'm sorry, and I'm working on the 24th installment right now.

Black Sunrise

Chapter 23:

She swung her bare legs back and forth, knees rubbing against the papered surface of the examining table. The black plastic-like material would have made her legs stick to it if it weren't for the paper under her. It made her feel gross somehow and after having loathed doctors since Matt had died, she wasn't all that impressed to be here. How long does three minutes take? She thought darkly to herself. Dark red curls were pulled back tightly away from her face in a french-braid while it hung away from her back, head tilted to look up and the ceiling. Green eyes stared at the white wall above her, looking at one spot, never blinking. The green door was closed, its silver knob unturned though she wished that it would open and put an end to her fretting. Could the tests have been wrong? She didn't think so, for she had bought two, knowing that one could most defiantly have been mistaken.

The doorhandle turned and the door parted slightly, a doctor laughing at something someone had said. "Yes. I know. I'll talk more about that after. Yes. Patient to see." A man walked into the white room, black clipboard in his hands. He was easily well over thirty, his head balding and what was left of his hair was grey. "Well, you're pregnant."

Well, he's blunt. Bulma mused to herself and jumped off of the table. "Thanks."

"Do you want this child?"

"What the hell do you think I am? Someone to go and murder an unborn child? I'm not that much of a monster."

"There are some people out there that don't want to have children and I'm sorry if my comment offended you. You're going to need to go up to the Hospital for some tests and an ultra-sound to see how far along you are."

"6 weeks."

The doctor looked at her from over the rim of his glasses. "You're sure about this?"

"As sure as I am that I'm getting out of this stupid clinic right now and never going to come back." She slid off of the table and snatched away the piece of paper that the man held out to her. "By the way, you could be a little more courteous towards those that come to you seeking medical help." Bulma opened the door and then walked through it, slamming it had enough that not only the sound echoed through the halls but the pictures that stood in their cheap frames rattled. People looked at her as she walked through the front office and then through the door. Bulma didn't care.

Isis jumped up from her patch of warm cement and let out a joyous bark as her mistress came closer and untied her from the bike rack. "Come on darling. Let's go home and get away from these stupid morons."

So, she was pregnant and yet she knew she was, but needed it confirmed. Now what? She was going to go home and write a letter to someone that had never questioned her and would know what to do. Yes, that's what she was going to do. The others that moved on the sidewalk brushing against Bulma jumped out of the way as Isis let out a threatening growl and then stopped instantly while the red-haired woman walked on in a daze.

"What is it?" Fear tightened in her stomach as she walked back to her dog who had decided to not move and bark furiously, her forepaws splayed outwards. "Isis? What is it? What do you see?" Her green eyes scanned the people around her, looking for a familiar face but found none. "I don't understand what you're barking at." Little did she know, a man sat in a coffee-shop, newspaper obscuring his face from the public's eye.

The little dog was going to be more of a handful than he thought and it was almost time for the damned mutt to fall out of the picture. Yes my pet I know who you are and you haven't fooled me. I'm one step ahead of you.

"Isis, come on! Let's get home." But the black and tanned dog wouldn't move. Fear tightened its hold on Bulma's stomach and she could feel her heart throbbing in her chest. She wanted to get away from this place but her blasted dog wouldn't move.

Where's Vegeta when you need him? The man in the coffee-shop smirked to himself, letting go of one side of the printed paper so he could take a sip of his scalding, bitter coffee.

His scent drove her nose wild and yet she couldn't find him. Why couldn't she pin-point him? He wanted to harm her mistress and she couldn't do anything about it! How could she save 'Ma's' life if she couldn't find the person that threatened it? Giving up, the black and tanned dog walked slowly away from the glass window beside Bulma who gave a sigh of relief.

The walk back tot he apartment was uneventful, as always, Bulma stopping to buy some milk and rent a movie while she left Isis tethered up outside. It was just about mid-afternoon when Bulma unlocked the door to her apartment building and stepped inside. They waited for the elevator and as soon as the metal doors slid open, Bulma pulled Isis in and then pressed the 'close door' button. "Wait!"

A slim hand pushed the doors apart and then slide inside. Bulma looked at the woman, Keisha, with a lifted eyebrow and concern in her eye for her face was heavily covered with makeup and yet the purple shadows showed through. "Hello." She said softly, nodding her head in Bulma's direction.

"Hey." Isis gave a snort and then sat down, shoulder pressing against bare leg. Keisha's dark eyes were glued to the floor while Bulma's were stuck on the woman in the small enclosure beside her. She couldn't help but feel sorry for the woman that she didn't even know. "Excuse me, but where did you come from if you haven't lived here long?"

"It doesn't matter. I'm here now and I'm going to stay here..."

"Do you have any siblings?" Are you related to Vegeta?

"No."

The doors parted and the both of them stepped out. "Well, I'll be seeing you." Keisha took off at a fast pace down the hallway and then pulled out her keys, entering her apartment. Bulma shook her head slowly and walked three doors down and unlocked her own door. Letting go of the leash, she let her lips curl in a soft smile as Isis wandered around the apartment making sure that there was nothing that could harm her mistress. Kicking off her footware she tossed her keys into the crystal bowl and locked the door behind her. Isis came back, as she always did to have her leash removed.

Once it was hanging on its hook Bulma made her way into her bedroom and pulled out a black binder filled with lined paper and then walked into the living room. Sitting on the couch while Isis was on her rug, she turned on the t.v with the remote and settled her back against the couch. Flipping open the plastic covered cardboard that made up her binder, she drew out her pen and thumbed to a fresh page that wasn't filled with Vegeta's name.

To my dearest friend Mitch,

I'm very sorry that it has taken me so long to write this letter but I'm sure that you understand better than anyone what it's like to get acquainted with a new life. I'm writing to let you know that I'm alright for the most part in my new life. It's taken me a while to get used to the heat and the sun, but I've got a flat that overlooks the ocean and I really enjoy it. I wish you could see what it looks like I, though I'm not going to send and pictures for fear of Vegeta discovering them. How is he? Is he alright?

The people here are treating me as well as can be expected. Isis is growing quickly and I almost wish that I hadn't taken her with me; but we both know that Vegeta would have flown off the hook. It's good to have that little piece of home with me in these lonely times.

I have written this letter with three things in mind. To ask you about Vegeta. About Rayne and to tell you something.

How is he? Is he really alright with the fact that I'm no longer there? Is he taking care of our daughter? Is he seeing anyone? I have so many questions running through my head that I don't know what to ask anymore. I miss him so much that it hurts to breathe. He is always on my mind and it distracts me from my every day life. I wish I could be there right now and I wish that I didn't have to leave but I hope you understand even if he doesn't that I had to do what I had to do.

How is Rayne? How much has she grown? Is she speaking yet? How about walking? I feel like the worst mother in the world, not being able to be there with my daughter to watch her grow up.

Mitch, I don't know what to do. As much as I'd like to return home there is no way I can do that until I confront my worst fear and get it over with. Jade is a threat to everyone that I hold dear to me and I cannot live with that any longer. Now that I have found true love I cannot let anything stand in the way of my happiness even if it means I live through a few months of unspeakable pain. I'm pregnant…I found out for sure today. I don't want you to tell Vegeta because that's my job, but I don't know how to go about doing it. If I tell him now, he's going to want to come up here, or he'll want me to come back there. It's better if he doesn't know yet.

I feel like such a monster keeping this from him but you're the only one that I can tell at the point in time. Not even my own parents know yet. I don't want them to know either. After you've finished reading this letter please do something with it so that no one can find it. I'm going to inclose an address, not my own mind you, but I'll make sure that you have the address to write too.

I hope that everything is going well for you and that your life is still enjoyable. Please make sure that Vegeta keeps his nose out of trouble and stays the good boy I know he can be. I'm sorry that this is so short but if I write any more I'm going to cry.

With all my love,

B.

She looked at the letter in front of her and shook her head. Straightforward and to the point. Nothing about where she's begun living so no one can find her and yet it held all of the important questions that she wanted to ask over the phone or in person, but knew she couldn't. At the very bottom of the page she wrote the first initials of her alias and her work address

Lifting herself up from the couch, she made her way into her room and pulled out an envelope. Scribbling down Mitch's name and address she went back to her letter and folded it the managed to get the paper into the envelope without too much trouble. Licking the seal, she closed it and then gave the envelope a kiss. Grabbing a stamp, she took a breath and then placed it on the top right hand corner.

"Isis. C'mon. Let's go post this letter."

Walking into the living room green eyes fell upon the sleeping form of her cherished pet. Deciding not to disturb the dog, she quietly slipped her feet into her sandals and grabbed her keys and purse. Opening the front door Bulma slipped out of her apartment and down the hallway. The elevator ride was short enough and as soon as the doors parted enough to let her though she made her way out the front door and turned right. People milled all around her, bumping into her from all sides as she fought her way through the crowded street.

Rounding another corner, her eyes fell upon the post office and with a thudding heart, she walked up to it and stood outside the front door while her digits clutched the letter in her hand. Taking a deep breath, Bulma opened the door and walked inside and straight to the counter.

"Can I help you?"

"I'd like to send a letter to Japan."

"Where in Japan?"

Bulma handed over the letter and told the woman working where it was going too. "All right, your total comes to $4.38…from $5. Your change Miss. Have a great day."

"You too."

Pushing the door with her shoulder she exited the small building and stood on the sidewalk looking across the street. A red mustang started to slow down on the other side of the road and stopped in her line of vision. Her heart quickened. It was the same car that Vegeta drove, the exact same car. Lifting her chin, she shook all thoughts of him coming down here to look for her out of her head as she watched the driver as he bent down to pick something up off of the floor and held her breath as his face slowly turned towards her.

Her heart stopped. She knew those eyes! Thin lips curled up in a smug smirk as he lifted a hand and pointed at her. Jade! Looking around her, she moved away from the car and back down the way that she came. Bulma moved quickly, steeling herself not to look over her shoulder to see if Jade had turned the car around to follow her. Stopping at the streetlight, she glanced around, once quickly check that she wasn't being followed by the man that had haunted her life for a few years now.

She didn't see the car and as she crossed the street, she willed her legs to move at their normal pace and when she rounded the corner, she broke out into a run. Sandaled feet pounded over the sidewalk as she neared her apartment building and pulled out her keys. Skidding to a halt she jammed the key in the lock and opened it. A car stopped behind her and as she looked over her shoulder she saw the red paint of the vehicle. Tearing down the hallway, she threw open the stairwell door and took the steps three at a time until she reached her floor and then threw that door open and raced down the hallway to her apartment door and unlocked it as the elevator door opened.

The slamming of the door startled Isis who came tearing into the front hallway with a loud growl and once she saw that it was her mistress, she quieted her vicious snarl. "It's ok….it's ok." Bulma didn't know if she was trying to ease the panic in her heart or the panic that her dog had just went though. Turning around, she peeked out the eyehole and watched as the man she hated more than anything in the world walked passed her door.