Chapter 2

The city was still buzzing with life when Bulma decided to head home earlier than intended. She had met a few friends while she was milling about the nightlife, but even their companionship wasn't enough to keep her out late. Her motorbike hummed as she turned down the winding roads that lead to her home, all well secluded from traffic. Dirt and leaves blew by as she kept pace to her destination. She thought she needed a night out yet her exposure to the crowds, the music, and the overall party vibe just didn't resonate with her. It took her going out to realize what she needed was time in to herself.

The headlight of the bike illuminated a few crepuscular and nocturnal creatures hiding in the grasses. Wild rabbits popped up on their hind legs to see the source of the light as lightning bugs glittered all around. It was peaceful, and the ride did help put her soul at ease. She turned into her drive, parked, and got off her bike to head inside her home.

"Siiiiighhhh…"

Bulma removed her helmet setting it down on a small accent table nearest the front door. The house was quiet and still with the soft glow of the illuminated Christmas tree coming from the main living area. She pursed her lips and walked hesitantly over to the tree staring at its beauty. She smiled.

"I guess it's time to put you away for now."

She reached out and touched the needles as a quite a number fell from the branch to the floor below. The needles were turning brown to signal the imminent fate of the tree. She turned off the lights, unplugged everything attached to it, then pulled a capsule from tree that served as an ornament of sorts. She reached out and, in an instant, encapsulated the tree inside. She rolled the capsule between her fingers as she unknowingly smiled in reverie.

Christmas Tree Year 733

It was the same Christmas tree that Bulma's parents had the year she was born and gave it to her on her 18th birthday. She only brought it out a few days each year to preserve its beauty, but even though time may stop in a capsule, it resumes once it's out.

"Looks like I have to preserve you next year my old friend."

Bulma made her way upstairs and placed the capsule in a small wooden box with a few other personal items she'd collected over the years. Sentimental items from family long passed, and things she'd collected from her many trips abroad as a child. She closed the lid, replaced the box in its spot for safe keeping, then walked over to the large glass doors leading to her balcony. Opening the door she walked outside to relish in the crisp breeze and gentle moonlight. It was such a beautiful night, a night that she didn't want to go to waste. She peered inside her room at a small clock.

It's only 1030pm.

She shifted on her feet turning back inside her room. "I think I'll go for a walk. That sounds like exactly what I need right now."

Downstairs to the front door to ensure it was lock, and then out the back of the house towards the far end of her backyard. The property she owned butted up against a national reserve which made her backyard scenic and free from the threat of encroaching buildings. Besides, even when talks of selling parts of the reserve to other corporations or housing developments occurred, Bulma was first in line to personally contribute the funds needed to prevent that from occurring—ever. Bulma was a conservationist of sorts, but she also loved her privacy as well as the view.

She walked through a few trails that she was very familiar with as she thought about nothing. She could hear the owls in the trees and the sounds of the crickets chirping away in harmony with one another underneath the brightness of the moon. This was so peaceful, and exactly what she needed.

I think I'll visit my spot—it's been a long time since I've been there.

Vegeta sat on the ledge of a large flattened boulder projecting out from the cliff high above the woodland landscape before him. One leg was pulled up as the other swung without care over the edge, his left arm draped on his knee while his right arm reached to his side supporting his body. He stared out over the landscape observing the distant glow of the city yet again, and the blackness of the forest he secluded himself in. He had been here for two days now, and he was no closer to a solution to get off this rock than when he got here.

Curse you, Kakarot…

He was tired. He was hungry. He was angry. He was alone.

He gritted his teeth seething at all of the events that led him to this precise moment in time. The wind blew from his back over the boulder and towards the darkness of the trees around him. He clenched his fist, then opened it just to raise his hand and extend his palm. He looked at the city in the distance as he curled his thumb into his outreached palm, "I could kill all of you right now. You wouldn't even feel a thing."

*crunch*

*crackle*

Vegeta's ears perked up at the sudden noise coming from behind. He lowered his hand, and slowly turned around to see the source of this noise.

*crackle*

*crunch*

*snap*

Something is coming this way.

He wasn't fearful of whatever it would be—probably one of those four long legged creatures he seen earlier. The things with the antlers and the long noses. Except this was moving a bit differently. It moved like a bipedal—a human. Vegeta narrowed his eyes as the noise got closer, and closer, and eventually stepped through the foliage of the cliffside.

Bulma reached out to move the many branches and small vines that had overgrown her pathway mentally berating herself for not bringing a pair of gloves with her—or knife—or anything to help move the brush. She could see the cliffside from behind a large overgrown bush, she was almost at her destination. She reached through the bush with a bit of force in effort to get through but managed to get a little stuck in the process.

"Son of a…come one."

She pushed through and popped out the other side a bit awkwardly, her footing unsteady but easily corrected. She looked up…

…and screamed.

Vegeta stood there as the epicenter of all the noise made its way through the foliage to stand in front of him face to face now. He recognized her immediately, and by the look on her face she recognized him as well. Except she was inhaling deeply from being startled but trying to scream at the same time. She wasn't really making any noise, but she looked scared to death. He remembered that look on her face albeit this was a bit more exaggerated, and considerably more amusing. He had startled her to near death.

As fast as her panic set in, she calmed down and clutched her chest, "You almost gave me a damn heart attack!"

Vegeta crossed his arms loosely across his chest, "Pity that it was 'almost'." Bulma opened her mouth in retort but was cut short by the Saiyan, "What are you doing here? What do you want?" Vegeta turned around to resume his silent stare over the horizon. Bulma wanted to badly to smack him in the back of the head, but she refrained.

"Actually, Vegeta, I didn't know you were here."

Vegeta snorted, "Oh please. In this vastness of countryside, you mean to tell me that you just happened to come to this exact spot where I would be standing? That is a little farfetched of a story—here I thought you were the brains of your operation."

Bulma shook her head and sighed out loud, "Well, you should because you are kinda in my spot. The proof is under your feet." Bulma pointed down as Vegeta turned back to her, and then looked down. He looked closer at the rock that he was standing upon and noticed small etchings. Bulma slowly walked over to a small section of the boulder, kneeled, and brushed loose dirt away to reveal several carvings she'd made in the rock over the years—most as a kid, but some relatively recent in the past few years.

"I used to come here as a kid, and many times in my teen and adult years just to get away from everything. It was the perfect spot to stop and reflect." She looked up at Vegeta, "I can see why you chose it as well." Vegeta turned from Bulma and posed to leave before he felt a small hand reach out and lightly touch his forearm. Such an action usually meant instant harm, usually death for the invader of his personal space, and his face said it loud and clear as Bulma looked up at him.

"Please, Vegeta, just give me 2 minutes, hear me out."

He said nothing, but didn't leave either, so Bulma took that as her moment to get off her chest what she has in her head since their arrival on Earth.

"Vegeta, I know you have got to be tired, hungry, pissed off and angry at everything and everyone around you right now, especially myself, but please—"

She placed her hand to her chest and took one step forward.

"—I am not offering you a handout, nor do I think you can't take care of yourself. I am the reason you are here, and I can make it right, but I need you to let me help you."

There was a small moment of silence between them before she continued while she still had his attention.

"Please, would you reconsider my offer? It will be as private as possible, and you wouldn't have to interact with anyone, period."

He remained still as if he was hearing her words for the first time, so she didn't stop.

"Besides, last I understood you are royalty, and don't you deserve better accommodations than—well…" Bulma looked around at the woodlands surrounding them.

"—this?"

Vegeta looked away for a moment, and then to Bulma who never looked away. He took a couple steps toward her as he studied her face. He looked her over as if trying to find out her motive, what she had to gain from her proposal, yet he found none.

"Why do you care so much about my business, woman?"

Bulma wasn't expecting him to say anything, in all honesty, she thought he was just going to leave. She smiled and looked over the horizon as the lightning bugs blinked and sparkled around them. The cool breeze picked up blowing between them as she reactively brought her hands up to rub her arms from the chill.

"Because if I don't care, who will?"

…

…

…

Silence.

Vegeta never said another word before he took to the sky leaving Bulma on top of the boulder she'd carved into so many years ago. She watched him go but didn't try to yell out or plead with him to stay. He was a grown man, who was going to do whatever he wanted his way regardless. She walked to the edge of the boulder, sat down, and took in the cool night as she gazed across the landscape. She smiled, and giggled to herself under her breath, "Vegeta, what will I ever do with you?"

Vegeta sat perched upon the roof of a small building watching the people walk by not the slightest aware of the threat that loomed overhead. He'd only been there maybe 15 minutes after leaving Bulma, and his mind wouldn't focus on anything but her proposal and his time on Earth. He looked at the people below…most seemed to be inebriated which didn't surprise him the least.

That's one characteristic that seems to be common among every civilized planet.

Vegeta rolled his eyes and continued his people-watching of the humans below. It was such a weird culture because there were so many cultures blended all around. Though he wouldn't admit it he found it interesting that one race on one planet could divide into so many cultures, and with each have so many different attributes. His mind would wander, but always go back to the woman he had just left far away on a rock.

What is her motive…what is she up too?

He couldn't figure her out, and it bothered him. His mind wandered back to one of their first interactions on Namek—how scared she was of him. He could've killed her, Hell, he had planned to do so right after he interrogated her about the dragon ball locations.

But he didn't. He didn't even ask her about their location either.

If I had done it right then I wouldn't be in this position right now.

However, a tiny voice from the recesses of his mind whispered back to him that of course he wouldn't be here—he'd still be dead—and that bothered him. Deep down he wanted to live, and here he was now, alive and healthy. If he were to die a warrior, it wouldn't be by getting defeated by his nemesis. That wasn't a warrior's death. He clenched his fist and focused his attention to the mindless chatter of the humans beneath him, but it was exactly that—mindless chatter. It should help him stop thinking about everything going on.

Until…

"Whoa! Hey man look at that!"

Vegeta perked up to the sudden volume of a man on the sidewalk looking through the window of an electronics display store. The human, obviously intoxicated, grabbed the attention of his other male friends as they peered into the window.

"I dunno man, you're getting married tomorrow…you shouldn't be looking at other women!"

"Nah, it's all good tho…I mean look at that fine piece of ass right there!"

They group faced the window which received the attention of Vegeta across the way, but high above not to be seen. Vegeta looked into the window to see what these males were gawking on about and noticed a screen with images repeating over and over as if on a news cast.

"Bro, I mean, bro, seriously…"

*Newscaster 1*: "And if you thought your summer plans were wet and wild check out these exclusive pictures we have of the most eligible bachelorette on Earth!"

Several photos of a blue-haired woman in a red two-piece bikini appeared on the screen. Vegeta narrowed his eyes—he recognized who it was.

*Newscaster 2*: "That's right Tom, we have new footage of billionaire Capsule Corp heiress Bulma Briefs taken by our confident sources that show her weekend getaway in July to Flora Island!"

"Brooooo, could you imagine being the guy to nail that down?! Damn she's smokin' HOT! And she's sooooooo RICH, bro! I'd like to put a baby in her just to get a paycheck!"

Vegeta watched as more images of Bulma flashed across the screen, and he watched the reactions of the men standing out front. They were disgusting. Vegeta could see that these pictures were obviously taken without her knowledge, and watching these clowns get off on such a dishonorable invasion of privacy made him want to disintegrate them and everything around them.

"Seriously tho…did you hear that someone else tried to break into her place a few weeks ago? The news said that makes, like 10 attempts this year alone! That's like one break in every month! Fucking weirdos out there, yeah she may be hot, and rich, but her life must suuuuuuuuck."

"And she's a constant target! Like she has a big red laser dot on her back at all times!"

The group of guys turned from the glass heading towards their original destination. Vegeta could hear their conversation fade out as they walked away.

"Yeah, she might have it all…but what is the point if you are a constant prisoner in your own home."

"You're one to talk asshole, you're getting married tomorrow—you're gonna be a prisoner!"

The men laughed as they faded from sight.

Vegeta stood on the ledge of the building letting the words of a bunch of drunkards resonate through his mind. He peered back to the direction of Bulma's residence, and if on cue his stomach growled with fierce intensity.

TCH!

Sometime later…

Bulma remained at her happy place for quite some time before the chill of the wind had become a bit more than she could handle. It was well past midnight now—she could tell it was very late by the dimming of the city's glow. Bars were closing, clubs were winding down, and people were headed back home to lead their normal lives at dawn's first calling.

Slowly she stood up to stretch out her tired, achy muscles, and turned to the direction of her home. She was quiet as she retraced her steps that led to her home, walked through the trails stepping on the falling leaves as they crunched under her feet. She emerged from the tree line behind her home and steadily made her way through the back entrance, and into her warm abode. Bulma pulled her scarf from her neck and removed her jacket as she walked upstairs carelessly tossing them over a small table that decorated the hallway. She made it a few steps in the direction of her room before a noise got the better of her curiosity. A small squeaking of sorts—but as quickly as she heard it the sound had vanished.

That's odd.

Bulma stood still on the second-floor hall training her ears to listen for any other sound but heard nothing. She slowly turned and looked at the end of the hall where she had left the light on for Vegeta those couple nights ago.

I wonder…

Bulma turned around and made her way to the spare suite.

Slowly, step by step, she closed in on the room. The door was ajar with the light on which was how she'd left it to begin with, but there was something different.

Is that…?

She entered the room and looked around. It was empty.

Well, that was until she heard the squeak once more.

Bulma spun around towards the point of the sounds origination to be met with the figure of a man staring back at her.

A half-naked man donning nothing but a bath towel.

It was Vegeta.

Bulma stood there with her mouth hung open at the sight, not even aware that her staring was starting to make him feel a bit uncomfortable. He watched as she began to stutter for a moment at the sight of him in front of her but took no mind to it as he was a guest now, or at least that's what she said.

"V-ve-vegeta! You startled me!"

Vegeta raised his eyebrow at her as he turned slightly and exited the doorway of the bathroom, "I startled you? Lest I am mad you are the one who walked in on me." Bulma swallowed hard, "Yeah…I kinda did, didn't I?" Bulma smiled as she turned and walked over to the dresser on the far wall. She pulled open the drawers and retrieved a few items before walking over to the bed and laying them out.

"These should fit you for the time being, at least until I can launder you…"

Bulma turned to see Vegeta's armor lying in a small heap inside of the bathroom. It was filthy. It was tattered and torn. It was beyond even trying to fix, and Bulma was certain if she attempted to launder it that it would break her machine.

She pointed at the heap and waved her hand in dismissal, "…no. Just, no. We're throwing that out. I'll MAKE you new armor before I even attempt to launder THAT shit." Vegeta straightened up to retort. How dare she mock his armor? The armor that saved him many times more than he could count? The armor that defined his presence? The armor that was…outdated, and lacking upgrades?

Vegeta held back and thought his options thoroughly. Bulma was a tech genius—there's no telling what she might come up with. If she wanted to make him new armor, then he wasn't going to stand in the way of it—just as long as it wasn't pink or made him look like some gentle flower.

So, he relaxed slightly at her ongoing tirade, and let her have her way.

Still, he wasn't here to make a friend, he wasn't here to be a pal, and he certainly wasn't here to stay. He was here until he could leave, and the sooner the better. Vegeta was brought out of his internal thoughts by a small, yet happy voice beaming as she exited the room.

"Get dressed then meet me downstairs. I'll start cooking you something to eat."

In a flash she was gone, and he could hear her delicate feet pitter patter across the hall, down the stairs, and fade away into another part of the house.

He turned to the garments on the bed—simple grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt. Looser fitting, comfortable, but most importantly, CLEAN. He looked at the open balcony window, and then around the room he was in. He could want for nothing here, well, nothing except the demise of his rival and the ability to achieve Super Saiyan. Bulma lived a life of luxury, and if he was to be stranded anywhere, at least he could live like a prince here until his imminent departure.

"This will certainly do for now."